There are three types of Haj. As an organiser of Haj Tours, it is not a matter for us to suggest which type of Haj you should perform. Our suggestion is that you consider all three types and choose, with the help of your nearest religious scholar (Aalim) which is best for you given your own particular circumstances.

Haji-e-Tamattu. This is where an Umra is performed performed first and then ehram is adorned with the intention of performing Haj on the night of 7th Zul Hajja. A Hadi//Nahr is offered for the discharge of Ihram.

Haje-e-Qiraan. This is when ehram is adorned for the whole of the Hai period and Umra is performed and you remain in ehram until Haj is over. A Hadi/Nahr is offered for the discharge of ehram.

Haji-e-Ifrad. This is where intention is made only for the Haj and one remains in the ehram until Haj is over. No Hadi/Nahr is offered.

You may only get a visa for umrah on a non British passport if:

• You have an “indefinite stay” endorsement on your passport
• You are here to stay with your spouse who is a British National
• You are here on a work permit
• You are here on a student visa

Depends:

a) On the type of Haj that you intend to perform
b) Your travel schedule
c) The Saudi Air and Land Traffic Control.

a) Haj-e-Tamattu requires performing Umra First. Hence you will need to allow sufficient time to rest upon arriving in Makka before proceeding with Umra. You will need to take off the Ihram after Umra and put it on again for Haj on the night of 7th Zul Haj.

Haj itself takes 6 days. On the night of 7th Zul Haj you will be transported to Mina for Yaum Tarwiah. On the morning of 9th Zul Haj you will be transferred to Arafat for the day and to Muzdalifa that night. On the morning of 10th Zul Haj you will be transferred to Mina again. You will than spend that night and the following two nights as a minimum or three nights as maximum in Mina. On the 12th/13th Zul Haj you will need to perform the Tawaf-e-Wida (departure). In all, the total number of days associated with Haj alone are seven minimum, and eight maximum.

b) Your travel schedule is pivotal to the number of days. In addition, you must make allowance for slippage in that schedule for un-expected situation to arise such as delays in flights, delays in Immigration control and internal transportation and delays in handling of your passport by the allocated "Mutawwif" or Moassasa.

You may be planning to visit Madina Munawwara too which has an impact on your travel plan. Flexibility in the schedule is crucial again given the likelihood of delays as specified above. Travelling to Madina by road and to Jeddah takes three times as longer compared to non-Haj season. Hence, an intended visit to Madina for only "one day" effectively will mean "three days".     

c) The Saudi Government enforces travel restrictions during Haj Season. There is a last day for all overseas flights to land at Jeddah. There is also a last date of travel to Madina by land and for travel by air. There is a last date for travel to Makka by land and the earliest date for pilgrims to leave Saudi Arabia.

The summary of all the above effectively ties down the pilgrim to a minimum of ten days to enter Saudi Arabia and to leave irrespective of whether you intend to visit Madina or not.

THE WARNING TO THOSE INTENDING TO ENTER AND LEAVE WITHIN A SPECIFIC PERIOD IS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR AIRLINER HAS SCHEDULED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES TO COINCIDE WITH YOUR TRAVEL PLAN AND THAT YOU HAVE A CONFIRMED SEAT ON IT.

A non-refundable deposit of £1000 per person is required at the time of booking.

Limited seats are available. Registration is based on first come first serve. Based on our prior experiences, some of our programs will be sold out inshAllah in first half of Ramadan and most will be sold out just after Eid time so please hurry and reserve your seat.

Yes, groups will be accompanied by guides (male & female) who have experience in performing hajj. Also, for specific religious guidance and lectures, we have arranged for an Imaam to accompany each group. Inshallah, the imama will be available to answer any religious questions.

From the prescribed Miqat. However, passengers on airliners should be in Ihram before their flight and should perform the Salat and Niyyat for the Ihram once the Pilot announces the impending crossing of Miqat.

Where the airliner is a non-muslim one and the crossing of Miqat is not likely to be announced then you must make Niyyat for your Ihram prior to boarding your flight even though the Miqat may be hours after the takeoff. This is a precautionary measure to overcome the likelihood of you being asleep when the Miqat is crossed and no Niyyat having being made.

Only you know- apart from Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, whether or not you have breached one or some of the processes of Haj that invokes payment of a Damm.  The best way of ensuring that you observe the conditions of Hajj is to acquaint yourself with all the "Rukns" or conditions before leaving home for your Pilgrimage. Be in the company of those who are experienced or have performed their Haj before or attend talks given by travelling Ullamas (scholars) in most of the good Haj groups.

Consult your Aalim; better still a Mufti if he is available for advice.

There are some aspects of the Haj that cannot be performed if a Hajja has her monthly period but can carry on with Haj. She must not enter into the Haramein and must not perform Tawaaf. Consult your Aalim (scholar) for further details.

We can arrange the sacrifice for you, it will cost approximately £65. You will be given the precise information in Makkah at the time of Hajj.

An absolute minimum of 21 days must be given to allow for visa authorisation, visa processing and the necessary accommodation, flight reservations and confirmations.

Unfortunately we cannot take pilgrims who do not have a Mahram..

No, Ziyarah trips may be arranged through a limousine company or any taxi driver locally.  Alternatively we can arrange at minimal cost.

People do fall ill. Most of the illness is preventable. However, in case of minor or serious illness, we will do our best to assist in seeking medical attention. However, we cannot and do not provide personal service. In fact no other group does. We will advise and assist should you be taken seriously ill and need hospitalisation within the given limits of our ability and within reason. We urge you to seriously consider this point and be prepared to meet such eventuality should it arise. One way to ensure is to have another member of your family with you on the journey. Same applies should there be a death during the journey. We will do everything, within our limit, to see through the process of hospital admission, mortuary, medical and bureaucratic clearance and the burial within the location of the death.

In the unlikely event of you having a problem with the accommodation/transportation-booked, we will issue you with a number of emergency contact numbers that you should contact in the first instance-otherwise you may contact us by phone or fax here in the UK and we will do our utmost to resolve your problem ASAP.

Our itinerary has been set according to the official Saudi calendar, however, if due to the actual sighting of the moon the day is adjusted, we have no control over this and will have to adjust the programme accordingly. We cannot prepare for this eventuality in advance and will do our utmost to make alternative arrangements.

We do not have a published deadline for bookings – our capacity is limited once we sell the last seat for a particular package, we will not be able to accept any further bookings. Our packages are very popular and sell very quickly - we therefore recommend that you book as soon as possible.

Payment is required in full prior to visa authorisation application – this is a requirement by the Ministry of Hajj. Refunds on the ground arrangements portion of the payment cannot be given. Depending on the ticket type we may be able to refund the ticket amount less a cancellation charge if allowed by the airline. If the ticket has not yet been issued then there will be no cancellation charge.

This can vary depending on the exchange rates and the rate has been as high as 7 riyals to the pound to 5 riyals to the pound.

The Haj Visa is strictly for performing Haj. You are not at liberty at all to move anywhere else beyond the boundary of Makkah and Madinah. The port of Jeddah is only for the purpose for the transit. Many people are misguided in believing that the official identity issued by the Moassasa is a permit to undertake journeys outside the two Holy cities. The official I.D. is a formal receipt issued to you because your passport is retained by the Moassasa.