Hajj
4.2 · 5 reviews
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Pilgrim review 1İkram Aldayf, SID luxury 401 via dar el salaam
- Overall experience
- Strongly recommend
- Communication
- Communication was great. Initially it was over email with flight and hotel details. Then it was over WhatsApp with our Group Leader and Sheikh during Hajj
- Mina & Azizyah
- Non shifting, Muasim. There was a bus from our hotel in Medina to our camp in Mina. Camp was very clean, bathroom was cleaned regularly. There were bathroom stalls with toilets, a shower, hooks, toilet paper, and a trash can. Bring your own toiletries and towels. Max had to wait five minutes to use the bathroom. We had rolling beds with storage underneath for a small carry on. We were in a smaller tent, had around 160 people in our tent. But there were tents that were larger with more people around us in the same camp. Lots of snacks, juices, water, instant noodles, and ice cream available 24/7. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served buffet style and good variety. Tents were cold so bring a light sweater or sleeping bag if you get cold easily. No pharmacy so bring all medication with you. There was a clinic but I didn’t use it. Issues with getting to Jamarat since no bus provided by agency. On 10th DH, decided to talk to Jamarat at 6:30am. It was 2.5 km walk but due to heat it was very difficult. On 11th DH opted to take public bus to our hotel in Mecca, then take taxi or bus to Jamarat from there. There are no taxis in Muasim since authorities don’t allow them into camp. Can be dropped off close to Muasim then have to walk to tent. On 12th DH, agency was providing a bus to Azizia for people with shifting package. We took that bus to Azizia, then a taxi to the Jamarat. We then took a bus back to our Mecca hotel. Our agency took our carry ons by bus back to our hotel so we didn’t have to come back and get them after completing the Jamarat in 12th DH. The authorities have made it difficult to schedule busses to Jamarat from Muasim, so recommend staying at Majar Al Kabsh if people have hard time walking in heat or hard time navigating public transportation. Lot of elders in our camp had others stone Jamarat for them. Don’t see section for Arafat but wanted to add my experience: Had nice tent with around 200 people, and sleeping sofa. Pack light since not a lot of room. Tent got really hot, so bring instant ice packs, cooking towel, and misting fan. Heard this wasn’t an issue in Majar Al Kabsh. Bathroom wait time was 30-40 minutes in 110 degree heat. People were getting heat exhaustion waiting in line since bathrooms were outside without a lot of shade. Were not clean. No showers. Heard bathrooms weren’t an issue at Majar Al Kabsh. Breakfast and lunch provided as simple buffet, some snacks, water bottles, juices, and ice cream. People in the same package who had Majar Al Kabsh said there Arafat was a luxury experience with food carts, buffets, piles of fruit like mangos, and no issues at the bathroom.
- Dedicated scholar
- Yes
- Muzdalifah
- Carpets on the ground with sleeping bags in piles. Got there late (around 1am) so found empty spot in between other groups. Provided water bottles and food in plastic bags. Recommend using bathroom in Arafat or waking up early since line got really long at Fajr. Left after Fajr, lots of rush for bus, but bus was right outside the enterance.
- Transportation
- Bring lots of patience to Hajj. Ikram AlDayf representatives were at the airport waiting for us and loaded us up quickly on bus. Due to delays, took around two hours to get to hotel. Recommend taking taxi instead to hotel and letting group leader know you’re taking taxi instead. Bus provided to Mina and back, but not from Mina to Jamarat. Had to either walk or take public transport. Bus provided from Mecca hotel to Medina, but it broke down at the hotel so waiting two hours for replacement. Dar el Salaam was good at communicating and getting back up bus. Lots of checks on the way to the airport, so plan to be there 6 hours before hand to account for this. For Majar Al Kabsh, heard there were two hour wait times for the train in the heat. Recommend bringing a collabsabke stool (can buy at Bin Dawood), misting fan, and instant ice packs if taking the train.
- Guidance & reflection
- Dar el Salaam did a wonderful job providing spiritual and practical guidance. During Ramadan, they started the spiritual videos. After Ramadan, they started the practical videos on our schedule and packing based on our specific packages. Lots of spiritual videos on Hajj. Once we arrived, had lectures on umrah and hajj. Led us on Umrah Tawaaf and Sa’ee, and Jamarat once. But wouldn’t rely on sheikh or group leader leading us because easy to lose them in the crowds.
- Would you recommend?
- Yes, great communication and very helpful if any issues occurred
- Rating
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Pilgrim review 2Ikram AlDayf via Dar el Salaam
- Overall experience
- Recommend with certain cautions
- Communication
- Communication was ok, but could have been better. Certain questions on WhatsApp were often ignored but not always.
- Mina & Azizyah
- Non-shifting majr al kabsh. Camp was good. Very comfortable tents and sofa beds. Good food. Distance to jamarat was great. The bathrooms, however, were disappointing. We shared just 4 sinks for wadhu. The toilet stalls, which also included shower, were very small and often did not have toilet paper. There were long lines often, especially before prayer time.
- Dedicated scholar
- There was a designated scholar inside our Mina camp who often gave speeches . There was not any communication for designated scholar for Arafah and muzdalifah, but there were multiple scholars presant.
- Muzdalifah
- It was ok. Sleeping bags were very thin. The boxed food was not good. Bathrooms were bad.
- Transportation
- Train and bus transportation was good, but you had to come early to take the first bus or else you’d have to wait for second or third bus, which sometimes could take some time. The bus drivers, however, were bad. One group was left stranded in the wrong hotel upon arrival and had to uber to the hotel. Some lost their luggage. Some busses dropped people off in wrong terminals at the airport.
- Guidance & reflection
- Our original religious scholar was changed and we received no communication on why that happened. This was one of the biggest disappointments. Our replacement scholar was not very involoved. Most of the logistics guides and details was provided via WhatsApp, which was helpful. On the plus side, we had separate well known scholars that provided guided tours in Medina, this was very well done.
Pilgrim review 3Ikram AlDyf Dana Milenium 123 via Ikram Aldyf
- Overall experience
- Recommend
- Communication
- Fair
- Mina & Azizyah
- Good
- Dedicated scholar
- No
- Muzdalifah
- Good
- Transportation
- Good
- Guidance & reflection
- Fair
- Would you recommend?
- Maybe
- Rating
- ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Pilgrim reviews are published by Mabroor Essentials as submitted. Kawthar does not rank or endorse any group.