FAQ

Paperwork

• Ensure you have your passport and flight itinerary with you.
• Recommend to take a photocopy of your passport details and Hajj visa (in case it gets misplaced or lost)
• Recommend to take a photo of your passport details and Hajj Visa on your phone for backup also.
• If you take any special types of medicines or injections or machines (special treatments, diabetes etc.) and therefore have a large amount in your luggage this will be picked up on screening potentially when you enter Saudi Arabia. Please ensure you have a letter from your Doctor stating the need and reason for you to carry your medicines with you.

Spending Money

• Recommend taking $1,000 -$2,000 with you depending on how much shopping you are planning to do for family and friends. Note if you plan on solely focusing on worship while you are there $500-$750 is enough to take.
• ATMs are available so take your EFTPOS card with you.

Bags

• 1 x Large travel bag for Check in luggage (Maximum 30kgs weight when packed)
• 1 x Small travel bag for Carry on luggage (Maximum 7kgs weight when packed)
• 1 x Backpack to take items to Mina (provided)
• 1 x Drawstring bag to carry prayer mat, water bottle and put shoes in when you go to the Haram in Madinah or Makkah (provided)

Method of Packing

• If you are travelling alone ensure you pack enough clothes for 1-2 days inside your small travel bag that you will take with you on to the airplane. This is so that if for any reason your large travel bag that you check in goes missing (can happen) you will have enough to survive for a couple of days while sorting yourself out for the rest of the trip if required.
• If you are travelling with a companion then it is recommended to pack half of your clothes in each other’s large travel bags. This is again to help in case one of the bags goes missing. I would also pack just 1 day worth of clothes in your small travel bag that you will take with you on the airplane. This is all just for contingencies.

Medicine/Health

• Take with you any required medicines that you are required to take on a regular basis (see taking note from Doctor with you above)
• Recommend taking Vitamin C tablets with you to take on a daily basis
• Recommend taking multivitamins with you to take on a daily basis
• Energy boosters such as Berocca
• Recommend taking band-aids and in particular blister band-aids with you in case your feet get blisters due to all the walking
• Recommend taking aeroguard with you (non scented and non alcohol) so that you can use that in Ihram in particular for Arafah and Muzdalifah
• Recommend for men to take chaffing cream with you e.g. Neat3B or Vaseline or Paw Paw Cream.
• Recommend taking some face masks with you. If you are worried about getting sick, wear them when you leave your room. In particular, if you suffer from asthma etc it will come in very handy for you in Mina and is a lifesaver for all in Muzdalifah due to the Diesel of the buses. For the women I recommend Kimaar (Niqab during Ihram is not allowed) and Niqab (when not in Ihram) as it works better than a face mask.
• Sunscreen and small umbrella if you suffer from the heat. The scholars have commented that sunscreen is allowed to be worn during Ihram as it is used for medicinal purposes
• Sunglasses, to avoid the glare from of the sun and in particular as it reflects from the tiles all around the Haram.
• Baseball Cap for Men if desired
• Wide brim or Visor hat for Women.
• Disposable Razors to prepare yourself for Ihram
• Nail cutter to trim your nails for Ihram
• Scissors (ladies only to cut hair to come out of Ihram)
• Toothbrush
• Hand sanitizer
• Eye Drops if you suffer from dry eyes
• Non scented and non-alcoholic deodorant for when you are in Ihram
• Spray Bottle (to help keep you cool when in the tents in Mina/Arafah)
• Water Flask/Bottle or alternatively you can just buy them there
• Small zip lock sandwich bags for your stones
• Pocket tissues or non-scented and non-fragranced wet wipes (have one on you at all times as you never know when you might need to go answer the call of nature)
• I would recommend getting a course of antibiotics from your Dr in case you fall ill with a bad case of the flu while over there

Islamic Material

• Pocket Quran
• Dua books
• Pad and pen to write down all your duas and a journal of your trip
• Lectures to listen to while walking to and from the Haram

Clothing/Footwear/Practical

• Enough clothing for 1 week including underwear, cotton singlets (quick dry even better), Abayahs etc
• Comfortable thongs/sandals for Men (for use whilst in Ihram)
• Comfortable running/walking shoes for both Men and Women (highly recommend a pair of slip on Go Walk Skechers)
• Recommend taking a cheap pair of Crocs/Thongs that you can use to go to and from the bathroom in Mina, that you can stand having a shower in with the water running through and that you can leave behind when you leave Mina
• Athar/Perfume for Men Only
• Washing Powder
• 2 x Medium Sized Towels (1 for Mina and 1 for Sheshah)
• Bumbag or small zippable pouch to wear underneath clothing to keep your valuables and money etc.
• International adapter for power as well as double adapter or small extension cord if necessary.

What to buy from there

I would recommend buying the following items from there, however, they can be taken from here if so desired:

• Ihram for men (only if you are going to Madinah first, if you are going straight to Makkah then Ihram will be provided from Australia)
• Ihram belt (as above)
• Sleeping bag for Muzdalifah
• Prayer mat
• Athr (perfume for men)
• Prayer Caps for men
• Niqab for women
• Unscented and Non-Alcoholic Soap and Shampoo (Ihram Kit)
• Siwak toothpaste