A day in Taif gave me three things that Makkah could not offer at once. I prayed in mosques that mark one of the hardest journeys of the Prophet (peace be upon him). I also breathed mountain air that stays fresh in summer. On the road back, I stopped at a miqat for a second Umrah. I have made this trip by taxi with my family four times, and this is how I plan it now.
Taif in Brief
- Distance: roughly 90 km from Makkah on the Al Hada road
- Height: about 1,800 metres above sea level
- Drive time: about 90 minutes from my Makkah hotel to the top of Al Hada
- Two routes: the steep Al Hada road and the flatter As Sail road
Following the Prophet’s Journey Through Taif’s Mosques
In the tenth year of his mission, the Prophet (peace be upon him) travelled to Taif to invite its people to Islam. The leaders of the city rejected him and drove him out. Standing in the places linked to that day, I felt how much patience that journey demanded.
Four mosques in the old town mark the journey, and all of them sit within about 15 minutes of each other.
- Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas stands beside the grave of the Prophet’s cousin. It is the largest of the four and the natural place to pray Dhuhr.
- Masjid Addas marks the vineyard where Addas, a Christian servant, brought grapes to the Prophet after he was turned away.
- Masjid al-Kou marks a place where the Prophet is said to have rested and prayed on the same journey.
- Masjid al-Madhun is a small historic mosque in the old town.
I allow about three hours for all four, so my family can pray at each without rushing. We end the visit with Dhuhr at Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas, then head out of the old town for lunch.
Cooler Air on Al Hada and in the Rose Farms
On my last Umrah, the Makkah heat had worn everyone down by the second week. My children were tired, and so were my parents. By lunchtime in Taif, we were sitting in a rose farm in fresh mountain air.
The change began on the Al Hada road, which climbs about 1,500 metres through roughly 22 km of tight bends. Near the top, my driver stopped at a viewpoint where the whole plain towards Makkah spread out below. Baboons sat along the barriers, so I kept the food in the car and the children close.
Taif is usually around 10 degrees cooler than Makkah. On a summer day when Makkah passed 40 degrees, I found Taif in the low 30s. On a winter trip, the early morning on the mountain dropped below 10 degrees, and fog hid the viewpoint until late morning.
The rose harvest in late March and April is the best time to visit. Farms in Al Hada and Al Shafa distil rose oil during those weeks, and many let visitors watch. In summer, Souq Okaz, the historic poetry fair, runs for a few weeks, although its dates change every year.
After lunch, I stop at the market for rose water, rose oil, Taif honey and dried figs. They cost far less than at the airport. Bottles over 100 ml must travel in checked luggage, so I pack them carefully.
Returning to Makkah in Ihram Through Qarn al-Manazil
Anyone who enters Makkah from Taif with the intention of Umrah must enter ihram at Qarn al-Manazil. The flatter As Sail road passes it at As Sail al-Kabir, where the miqat mosque has washrooms and space to pray.
When I plan a second Umrah, I shower at the hotel in the morning and carry my ihram in the car. At the miqat, I change, make my intention and pray two rak’ah, then Asr. Before the trip, I book my Umrah permit in the Nusuk app, choosing a time after my return.
I also ask the taxi company to confirm the miqat stop in writing when I book. On my last trip, Hujjaj Umrah Taxi confirmed it in the same message as the pickup time.
The drive from the miqat to the Haram takes about an hour. When I leave Taif by 3pm in summer, I reach the Haram around 5:15pm, with time to begin tawaf before Maghrib.
On the trips when I did not intend a second Umrah, I stayed in normal clothes. The miqat then became a simple prayer stop.
Putting the Day Together
I only plan Taif on trips of ten days or more, since on a short trip it takes time away from the Haram. I never go on the day I land. A long flight, a mountain road and a ten hour day are too much together, so I wait until day three or later.
In summer, this order gives me the clearest views and the easiest return:
- 7am: leave the Makkah hotel, with ihram packed if needed
- 8:30am: stop at the Al Hada viewpoint
- 9:30am: visit the four mosques, ending with Dhuhr
- 1pm: lunch at a rose farm or in Al Shafa, then the market
- 3pm: leave Taif on the As Sail road
- 4pm: stop at Qarn al-Manazil
- 5:15pm: arrive back at the Haram
In winter, I reverse the loop so the fog has time to clear. I go up the As Sail road, visit the mosques first, and come down Al Hada in the afternoon. The Al Hada road has its own miqat at Wadi Muhrim, which is part of Qarn al-Manazil, so a second Umrah still fits.
A driver who knows the Ziarat Taif route already follows this order. Mine took the mosques in a sequence that avoided market traffic and waited outside each one.
Day Fares by Vehicle
A Taif taxi is priced per car for the whole day, covering door to door travel, fuel, tolls and the driver’s waiting time.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Day fare (SAR) |
| Toyota Camry | Up to 4 | 500 |
| Hyundai Staria | Up to 7 | 550 |
| GMC Yukon XL | Up to 7 | 700 |
| Toyota Hiace | Up to 10 | 700 |
For my family of four, the Staria cost only SAR 50 more than the Camry. That small difference bought room for jackets, shopping and ihram bags, so nobody held anything on the mountain road.
When I choose the best Umrah taxi for a Taif day, I look for a company that sends the driver’s name the night before. It should also confirm the As Sail return in writing and charge the day fare with nothing added.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Al Hada road hard for people who get car sick?
It can be difficult, because the road has many tight bends. I give the front seat to anyone in my family who gets car sick, and we eat a light breakfast and keep a window open. Travel sickness tablets taken before leaving also help. For anyone who suffers badly, I ask the driver to use the flatter As Sail road both ways.
Do I need a special permit to visit Taif?
No, a visit to Taif needs no extra permit. The city lies in the Makkah region, so an Umrah or tourist visa covers it. I carry my passport or a copy of my visa all day, because checkpoints on the roads back into Makkah may ask to see it. Keeping it in a small bag makes each check quick.
What should I wear for the Taif trip?
I wear modest, comfortable clothes and good walking shoes for the mosques and the market. I bring a light jacket in any season, since the mountain air is cooler than Makkah, and a warm layer from November to February. When I plan a second Umrah, I pack my ihram, a small towel and slippers in a separate bag.
Can elderly parents manage the Taif day trip?
My parents managed it well, with some care. The mosques are easy to reach, and the driver dropped us at each door. The long day and the winding road were the harder parts, so we took regular rest stops and kept water in the car. For anyone who tires easily, one night in Taif with a return through the miqat next morning works well.