Umrah with elderly parents: planning the transport

Taking your parents for Umrah is a good thing to do, and the road between airports, hotels and the Harams is where most small problems start. This guide covers Umrah with elderly parents from the transport side: which vehicle to choose, how to plan for a wheelchair, how long they can sit, and what to tell your driver in advance.

This guide is for families travelling with older parents. The advice here is practical. It is not medical or religious advice, so speak to a doctor about fitness to travel and to a scholar about any ritual question.

Start with three questions

Before you choose a vehicle, answer these with your parents.

1. How long can they sit in one stretch? One hour, two hours or more. This sets your rest stops.
2. How do they walk? Without help, with a stick, with a frame, or only in a wheelchair.
3. What is the plan for the Haram? Some travellers walk part of the way and use a chair for the rest.

The answers decide the vehicle, the pick up point and the timing, so write them down and share them with the driver.

Choosing a vehicle

A higher seat is usually easier to get into than a low sedan. A sliding door helps too, because there is less turning in a tight space.

Situation	Vehicle to consider	Why
Two parents, light bags, short trips	Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata	Lowest fare, quiet, 4 seats and 2 large cases
Two parents and you, with a folding wheelchair	Hyundai Staria	7 seats, sliding doors, folding chair travels in the boot at no extra charge
A family of four with an older traveller	GMC Yukon XL	A high seat is easy to get into, 7 seats and 6 large cases
A big family group	Toyota Hiace	11 seats and 10 large cases, one vehicle instead of two, folding chair fits

The seats and bag counts above are the ones we publish for each vehicle. See our fleet, Hyundai Staria, GMC Yukon XL and Toyota Hiace.

Our advice is usually to take one size up from what you first thought. Luggage takes more room than people expect, and nobody should sit with bags on their lap.

Wheelchairs

A folding wheelchair travels in the boot of the Staria or the Hiace at no extra charge, and the driver helps the passenger into a seat. Tell us before booking if the passenger cannot leave the wheelchair, so the right vehicle is sent.

Be clear about what you need.

• A folding chair that you carry. We plan the boot space around it.
• Help to walk to the vehicle. The booking form has a box for this, and the driver helps with the bags and the door.
• A person who cannot leave the wheelchair. Tell us before booking, so we can say plainly what we can arrange.

We do not run these services, we only drive to the gate.

The airport arrival

Arrival is long for older travellers, so plan it carefully.

• Ask your airline for wheelchair assistance when you book your flight.
• Send us the flight number, so the driver arrives when your flight lands and waits through a long immigration queue at no extra charge.
• If the flight lands in the early hours, check that your hotel room will be ready. Otherwise your parents may wait in a lobby. Ask the hotel about early check in.
• Tell us about bags. A parent who carries medicines, a walking frame and a folding chair needs room for these.

See Jeddah Airport arrival for Umrah for the full arrival steps.

Long drives and rest stops

Short city rides are easy. The long intercity drives need planning.

• Jeddah Airport to Makkah takes 1 hr 15 to 1 hr 45. Plan one short stop if your parents need it.
• Makkah to Madinah takes 4 to 5 hours. Plan stops every 1 to 2 hours. Prayer stops are in the fare. See the drive from Makkah to Madinah.

Let your parents decide when to stop. A driver who is told “we stop when asked” will do so.

Ziyarat with older parents

A ziyarat tour is 2 hours by car, or 4 hours on the full ziyarat with longer stops, and the driver waits at each stop. Some stops are easier than others.

• A folding wheelchair travels in the Staria or Hiace boot at no extra charge, and the driver helps the passenger into a seat. Tell us before booking if the passenger cannot leave the wheelchair.
• The ground is uneven at Uhud and at Jabal Rahmah in Arafat, so good shoes matter.

See Madinah ziyarat taxi and Makkah ziyarat taxi. For the sites themselves, read Makkah ziyarat places and Madinah ziyarat places.

A checklist to send before you travel

• Number of travellers and number of large bags
• Ages, and any need for a child seat for younger family members (free on request)
• Whether a folding wheelchair travels with you, and how many
• Anyone who needs help walking to the vehicle
• The name of each hotel, and the arrival and departure times
• A phone number that someone will answer, ideally with WhatsApp
• Any medicines that must be within reach, not in the boot
• Preferred language for the driver: Arabic, English or Urdu

Questions people ask

Sources

• Saudi Press Agency, Inclusive Hajj, services for elderly pilgrims and pilgrims with disabilities: spa.gov.sa/en/N2124901
• Umrah Online Taxi vehicle capacities and fares: our fleet and routes and prices
• Umrah Online Taxi ziyarat tour notes: Madinah ziyarat taxi