At the time stipulated and place of pick up, you will board the bus to Mina from Makkah on the first day. This can take from 15 minutes up to 2 hours. The bus has to make 2 loads as per government requirements. From Mina after Fajr, sometimes your turn may come up to 10 am, do not panic, the authorities will make sure you will get to Arafaat. Wait your turn, then board the bus and it will take you to Arafaat, this can take anything from 1 to 4/5 hours.

After sunset, wait your turn. The bus will take you to Muzdalifah.

This can take a long time and be most frustrating. Generally the bus does not come back to pick the first lot but stays with the second lot.

Even the second lot is not taken to the Mina tents but left on any bridge or spot near the tents for you to find your way. Very few busses take passengers to Makkah, unless privately arranged or private transport properly organised. From Makkah there is a private transport organised by your agents or public transport by way of busses, official legal ‘taxis’ or public private ‘taxis’. Agents arrange transport to reach Makkah etc, after the 5th Day of Hajj. It is better to walk back as explained earlier.

In the tent, men and women are separated in Mina and Arafaat work out a method of communication so that when the need arises, one is able to call one’s partner. Some groups use mike systems, when calling for someone, be clear otherwise the wrong person may respond.

In Muzdalifah, one is lying near one’s spouse etc because there are no official tents in Muzdalifah. Toilet facilities are different in Mina,– Arafaat, on the road and in Muzdalifah. Try to convince your agent to have separate sitting facilitates for men and women in the eating areas of the hotel.