Mecca and Madinah are prestigious cities for Muslims, and they want to visit and perform Umrah rituals to get closer to Allah. Planning the Umrah trip involves different services, including an Umrah visa application, Umrah tickets, airport transfers, and accommodations in Saudi Arabia.
Therefore, all-inclusive Umrah Packages bring all these in one place within a single deal so pilgrims can focus more on their spirituality rather than pilgrimage management. Not only this, the Umrah pilgrimage also involves visiting nearby locations of Makkah and Madinah to explore the holy land better.
But how do you know which places you need to visit with what type of Umrah travel plan and how to organize it beyond the pilgrimage? Well, this blog post is all about these concerns you may have regarding how to explore Saudi Arabia during pilgrimage.
Planning an Umrah journey to Saudi Arabia
Undertaking an Umrah journey is a comprehensive experience, starting with planning with all-inclusive Umrah packages. These packages are like a one-stop shop for your pilgrimage needs, created to enhance your experience in Saudi Arabia.
If you are performing Umrah rituals for the first time, you should go with 7 Nights 5 star Umrah Package to get personalized guidance throughout the pilgrimage. They also offer custom tours to must-see tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia within or beyond the pilgrimage cities.
However, Saudi Arabia is a diverse land of natural wonders, historical landmarks, modern evolution, and cultural traditions. How would you know which places to explore? Well, we’ve made it easier to find with the following guide. Go through it and find your go-to places now.
Places to discover in Saudi Arabia during pilgrimage
1. Holy sites
Makkah and Madinah are home to major holy sites of Islam, providing a gateway for pilgrims to explore them as part of the pilgrimage. Exploring religious sites in Makkah and Madinah is essential as all of these help pilgrims learn more about Islamic history and bring them closer to Allah.
Visiting the grand Mosque, Masjid Al-Haram, the hills of Safa and Marwa, the Zamzam well, and masjid an-Nabwi are the places every pilgrim experience while performing Umrah rituals.
However, the Umrah pilgrimage isn’t all about exploring these spiritual landmarks. Rather, it also requires exploring other sites that pilgrims use to complete Hajj rituals, like Mount Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah. All these places have great significance in Islam as each reminds Muslims about the rituals of the most rewarding act of worship in Islam, the Hajj.
2. Makkah and Madinah
Beyond religious landmarks involved in Umrah rituals, Makkah and Madinah offer many other places to explore. For instance, pilgrims should explore Jabal Al Naur to revive Islamic history, the Hira cultural district to learn about Arabian culture and traditions, and Jannat Al-Mualla in Makkah to pray for the souls buried there.
Similarly, Madinah also hosts a number of must-explore religious sites beyond masjid an-Nabwi. For instance, you can explore the Quba Mosque, Uhud Mountain, Masjid al-Qiblatain, and Jannat Ul Baqhi to maximize learning and pilgrimage outcomes.
Keeping your travel needs and preferences in mind, all-inclusive Umrah packages include additional tours to all these places within budget so you can make the most of your time and money in one place.
3. Traditional Souks of Makkah and Madinah
Though pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia solely to perform Umrah rituals and achieve their spiritual goals, shopping is essential to the pilgrimage. Some pilgrims love to shop for themselves, while others have to buy souvenirs for their loved ones to make them happy. So, the best way to shop in Saudi Arabia is to visit traditional Souks, like local markets in a region containing everything routine.
Makkah and Madinah are cities in Saudi Arabia that offer easier access to Souks everywhere. These marketplaces host local handicrafts, textiles, and gold jewelry, which pilgrims often buy.
Other souks sell spices, dates, fresh organic products, sweets, and local cuisines. Pilgrims can also find religious items like prayer rugs, the Holy Quran, Islamic books, and Abayas to buy as gifts for family members.
Overall, shopping at traditional Souks is a unique experience and an affordable way to save more.
Before planning your pilgrimage, find out if your 7-night 5-star Umrah package offers additional tours to post-Umrah destinations, including Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Ula, or Abha. Also, consider your exploration preferences before deciding what to discover in Saudi Arabia after completing Umrah rituals in Makkah and Madinah.
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