6 Days in Mecca: A Pilgrim's Plan
Non-Muslims cannot enter Mecca. This 6-day plan gives the 5-day core (Umrah, ziyarah, Medina) an extra day of rest between the rites and the trip to Medina. For the fullest version, see the 7-day plan , which spreads the sacred hills across 2 separate days.
Before you travel
- Nusuk Umrah permit and visa
- MenACWY meningitis vaccination certificate
- Ihram garments (2 seamless white cloths for men; modest dress for women)
- A hotel near the Haram, verified through Nusuk (search hotels in Mecca )
- Haramain High-Speed Railway tickets for the Mecca-Medina leg (hhr.sa )
Day 1: Arrival and Umrah
Morning
Arrive at Jeddah (JED) and travel to Mecca, about 70km, by car or the Haramain train. Check in and enter ihram before the miqat.
Afternoon
Perform tawaf, 7 anticlockwise circuits of the Kaaba, then sa’i, 7 passes between Safa and Marwa, closing ihram with halq or taqsir.
Evening
Rest and eat simply near your hotel.
Day 2: Rest and repeat Umrah
Morning
A quieter tawaf at Fajr.
Afternoon
Rest through the heat of the afternoon.
Evening
Return to the Haram for Isha prayer.
Day 3: Ziyarah, the sacred hills
Morning
Climb Jabal al-Nour to the Cave of Hira, about 3km from the Haram, roughly 1,750 steps, 1-2 hours each way. Go early to beat the heat.
Afternoon
Rest, or visit Jannat al-Mu’alla cemetery if energy allows.
Evening
A final evening at the Haram before leaving Mecca.
Day 4: Farewell tawaf and travel to Medina
Morning
A closing tawaf at the Masjid al-Haram before checking out.
Afternoon
Travel to Medina on the Haramain High-Speed Railway, roughly 2-2.5 hours. Check into a hotel near the Prophet’s Mosque.
Evening
Visit the Prophet’s Mosque for Maghrib and Isha prayer.
Day 5: Medina
Morning
Visit Quba Mosque, the first mosque built in Islam.
Afternoon
Visit Mount Uhud and the nearby martyrs’ cemetery.
Evening
Return to the Prophet’s Mosque for evening prayer.
Day 6: Medina and departure
Morning
If a Rawdah Al-Sharifah slot is available via Nusuk, use it, then visit Al-Baqi cemetery nearby.
Afternoon
Travel to Medina’s airport (MED) or back to Jeddah for your departure flight.
| Focus | Days |
|---|---|
| Umrah rites and rest | 1-2 |
| Ziyarah, sacred hills | 3 |
| Medina | 4-6 |
One concrete tip: don’t try to fit both sacred hills into day 3. This plan already has a full week of walking and heat exposure; save the second hill for a longer trip, covered in the 7-day plan.