A pilgrimage to Mecca

One of the customs of the pilgrimage is to cross the space between the two small hills Safa and Marwah near the Ka'ba seven times, within the imposing Masjid al-Haram mosque. The corridor traversed by the pilgrims is now 450 metres long. The walk in question is a way of remembering Hajar's journey to fetch water for her son. A few kilometres from the centre of Mecca, the Mountain of Light (Jabal al-Nour), where Mohammed is said to have had his first revelation with God, is also a respected and visited place.

If you're going to Mecca, you're bound to pass by the Great Mosque. Revered by millions of Muslims around the world, the doors of the Mosque are always open. The central building, the Ka'ba, protects the Black Stone. This famous stone is very difficult to get close to, as all visitors want to kiss it. Masjid Taneem is a second mosque located a few kilometres away, with areas dedicated to bathing, ablutions and changing rooms for pilgrims.

You can enjoy grilled chicken or lamb kebabs, with soups and salads. One of the country's specialities is camel meat. Another typical dish is kebsa, prepared with rice and meat. Turkish, Lebanese and Iranian influences are also found in Saudi cuisine, in the many restaurants in Mecca. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited, as is that of pork. Tea and coffee are the two most popular beverages. Date lovers will be delighted with dessert.

If you go to Mecca, you'll be able to bring back zamzam water, a prayer rug, khol, silver jewellery, incense and various local handicrafts. You'll find all this in the souks, of course, but also at the famous Makkah Mall, Mecca's best-stocked shopping centre, with prices ranging from bargains to more expensive items from luxury boutiques. The area also boasts a number of restaurants, so there's plenty of time to grab a snack while you shop.

☀️ Best period: avoid travelling to Saudi Arabia during the months of April, May, June, July, August, September and October. Temperatures can be truly scorching at this time of year, sometimes reaching 45°C. Prefer the months of November and March, which fall between the scorching summer and the surprisingly harsh winter.

🚌 Getting around: to get to Mecca, you can use taxis or VTCs such as Uber or Careem, take a bus or the train. However, if you choose the latter option, be aware that Mecca station is only accessible to Muslims. The bus service, Saudi Coach Bus, also links Mecca to many cities in Saudi Arabia.

The gigantic Abraj Al-Bait towers tower over the Great Mosque, with the world's most impressive clock on the highest of them (six times bigger than Big Ben). You can stay in the luxurious five-star hotels, which number five, or in the equally pleasant flats for rent, located in this vertiginous complex, and go shopping on several floors with hundreds of boutiques, each more varied than the last.