Adding Jeddah, Taif and Madinah ziyarah to your Umrah

For most pilgrims from Bangladesh, the journey is simple and complete: Umrah in Makkah, some blessed days in Madinah, and the flight home. Nothing should crowd that. But if you can spare a few more days, and especially if you are travelling with parents who need a slower pace, a little extra time lets you rest properly and see places you may have heard about all your life.

Keep Umrah at the centre of the plan

The worship comes first, and the extra days should fit around it, not the other way round. For most families the easiest approach is to complete Umrah first and add the Jeddah or Taif days later in the trip, before the flight home.

If you are thinking of spending time in Jeddah before going to Makkah, the question of ihram and the miqat matters, because you pass the miqat on the way in. Scholars give guidance on this depending on your intention, so ask a scholar you trust before you fix the order. The same applies if you plan to travel out to Taif and come back to Makkah for another Umrah.

Whether your visa allows you to travel around the country also depends on the type of visa you hold, and the rules have changed in recent years. Softway Travels checks what currently applies when you book.

Jeddah: Al-Balad and the Corniche

Most flights from Dhaka land in Jeddah, so it is the natural place for an extra day or two. Its old quarter, Al-Balad, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with tall coral-stone houses, carved wooden balconies, narrow lanes and old souqs selling spices, dates, perfume and cloth. It is at its best in the late afternoon and evening, when the heat drops and the lanes fill with people.

The Corniche runs along the Red Sea, with long waterfront walks, mosques by the water and King Fahd's Fountain, one of the tallest fountains in the world. It is an easy, gentle outing for elderly family members, with plenty of places to sit and a cooler breeze off the sea.

Taif: cool air in the hills

Taif sits high in the mountains above Makkah, and the difference in temperature is the first thing you notice. It is known for its rose farms and rose water, fruit markets and green valleys, and the winding mountain road up from Makkah is a sight in itself. You may see baboons by the roadside; do not feed them or get close.

Taif works well as a day trip from Makkah, or as a quiet overnight stop for families who want a break from the crowds and heat. Pack a light jacket for the evenings.

Ziyarah in Madinah

Beyond prayers at Masjid an-Nabawi, many pilgrims visit the places connected with early Islamic history. The visits most often included are:

• Masjid Quba, the first mosque built in Islam.
• Mount Uhud and the graves of the martyrs of the Battle of Uhud.
• Masjid al-Qiblatayn, associated with the change of the qiblah.

Visits to the Rawdah inside Masjid an-Nabawi usually need a time slot booked in advance through an official app, and the process changes from time to time, so check it before you travel. For what is recommended at each place, follow the guidance of a scholar rather than what you hear in the crowd.

Planning rest days for elderly family

Older parents often find the walking, crowds and heat harder than expected. A few simple choices make a big difference:

• Plan a full rest day after Umrah, and another after the journey to Madinah.
• Choose hotels close to the Haram in both cities, even if it means fewer nights elsewhere.
• Use the wheelchair services available at the Haram for tawaf and sa'i if walking is difficult.
• Go out early in the morning or after Asr, and stay indoors in the midday heat.
• Keep medicines and prescriptions in hand luggage, and carry water at all times.

A rested pilgrim worships better. Build the rest into the plan from the start rather than hoping to find time for it later.

The Haramain high-speed railway links Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, which can make the longer journeys easier on older travellers than a long road trip. If you are new to the rites themselves, our step-by-step Umrah guide covers them simply.

Our Makkah Umrah package can be extended with Jeddah, Taif or extra days in Madinah, and the Umrah team at Softway Travels can plan the order, hotels and transport around your family's pace.