Season 2 · Women only
Come for Umrah. Hike the Hijrah.
Walk from Makkah towards Madinah through the valleys the Prophet ﷺ crossed.
Hosted by Shaiba Akbari · powered by Hijrah Group
It begins with Umrah.
Worship, Jumu'ah, and the mountain of Thawr, where the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه hid for three nights before setting out.
Total reliance on Allah, and careful planning.The city falls away.
Hotels give way to open valleys and caravan tracks. Out here, Suraqah ibn Malik chased the travellers for a reward, and turned back.
Certainty in the most vulnerable moment.A tent, a goat, a blessing.
At the tent of Umm Ma'bad, a weak goat gave milk, and she gave us the best-known description of the Prophet ﷺ. You'll receive it as a gift, shaped like a na'layn.
Hospitality, barakah, character.Walk after Fajr. Rest by 2pm.
Around 15–25 km in the cool of the morning, with Seerah stops on the way. Saudi guides and 4×4s stay with the group the whole time.
Wadi Laqf.
A narrow, rugged passage of about seven kilometres travelled during the Hijrah. Here you walk the terrain instead of only hearing about it.
The Hijrah was faith, and it was planning.Makkah is behind you now.
Dhi Salam opens Imam al-Busiri's Burdah, a landscape of longing for the Prophet ﷺ. The reflections turn from leaving to arriving.
Then the stars come out.
Camp is up before you arrive: your own pop-up tent, a shower trailer and dinner together. Then dhikr, conversation, and a sky you won't forget.
Then Quba. Then Madinah.
After days in the desert, Madinah stops being the next stop on an itinerary. It becomes the city of refuge, welcome and peace.
Two departures · January 2027
Choose your walk.
Each group is women only and kept small, so everyone gets personal guidance and space to reflect.
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Hosted the original women's Hijrah Hike
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The original women's Hijrah Hike · Hosted by Shaiba Akbari
For years, this road was walked by men with private guides. Last season, we walked it as women.
Walking toward Madinah after days in the desert changed how I read the Seerah. Sacrifice, trust and companionship stopped being words. This January we're going again, twice. Many sisters come on their own, and I'd love for you to be one of them.
Shaiba
Last season · real photos and video
The walk above is drawn. This is how it looked.
What's included
From Jeddah to Madinah, handled.
Taken care of
- Shared hotels in Makkah and Madinah
- Individual pop-up tents, a communal area and a shower trailer in the desert
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, water, snacks, tea and coffee on the route
- Agreed airport transfers, all programme transport and 4×4 support
- Saudi route guides, Umrah support, ziyārah and Seerah teaching from female and male teachers
On you
- International flights (we confirm arrival and departure windows first)
- Saudi visa or eVisa
- Travel insurance, which is required
- Personal hiking gear and broken-in shoes
- Room upgrades and personal spending
The investment
Two journeys. One price.
You get both for one price, lower than any alternative we know of. By working directly with Saudi guides and logistics teams, with fewer people in between, Hijrah Group has brought the price down without cutting the quality.
Prices are rounded to the nearest 100 in each currency. Card payments add 3%. Your welcome pack confirms the exact amount and payment currency.
- ApplyFree, about 3 minutes. It doesn't reserve a place or ask for payment.
- Get acceptedYou receive your welcome pack and a payment link from Hijrah Group.
- Secure your place25% deposit, then 50%, then the final 25% before you travel.
- Meet your sistersOnce your deposit is in, you join your group's WhatsApp.
Thinking about joining?
Your questions, answered honestly.
Tap a note to open it. Still unsure? Email khanomqahwa@gmail.com.
Is this the actual Hijrah route?
We hike selected landscapes connected to the researched route of the Hijrah, drawing on the work of Professor Abdullah Alkadi. Away from the cities, the open desert lets you reflect on the Seerah where it happened.
Do we walk all the way from Makkah to Madinah?
No.
The full route is far too long for one group hike. We travel between chosen sections by 4×4 and walk around 15–25 km on a hiking day. Hikes start after Fajr and finish around 2pm, with rest stops and a lunch break.
How hard is the hiking?
You don't need to be an experienced hiker. You should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven desert ground. You'll get preparation guidance, and 4×4s stay with the group.
In the weeks before, walk regularly, add hills or stairs, and break in your hiking shoes.
What if I can't finish a hike?
Where conditions allow, the support vehicles give you a chance to rest or leave a section. This can't be promised at every single location, which is why preparing beforehand matters.
Can I come on my own?
Yes.
Many women come alone. Once your place is secured you join your group's WhatsApp, so you meet your sisters before you fly. You're also welcome to come with your mum, a sister or friends.
Who will be with us on the trip?
Shaiba hosts both departures, and the groups are women only. We have female and male teachers for the Seerah sessions.
Our Saudi support team are men. They drive the 4×4s, set up camp, cook and move luggage.
How old do I need to be?
You need to be 20 or over to join.
Do we camp every night?
No.
Each journey has 3 nights in Makkah, 3 nights on the Hijrah route and in the desert, and 4 nights in Madinah. Camping is balanced with hotel stays, worship and Jumu'ah in both cities.
Will I have my own tent? Are there showers?
The plan is individual pop-up tents plus a communal area. We bring a shower trailer to camp. It's still the desert, so expect real outdoor conditions.
Is food included?
On the desert section, yes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, water, snacks, tea and coffee.
Are flights and the visa included?
No.
You book your own flights and Saudi visa or eVisa, and we're happy to help. Please wait until we confirm arrival and departure windows before buying flights. Most journeys fly into Jeddah and out of Madinah.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, it's compulsory.
It should cover Saudi Arabia, medical treatment, hiking or trekking, emergency assistance, repatriation and travel disruption.
Are both departures the same?
Every journey follows the same direction: Makkah, then the Hijrah route, then Madinah. Hotels, teachers and hiking sections may vary. The heart of it stays the same: Umrah, hiking, Seerah, reflection, Madinah.
What should I pack?
You'll get a full packing list before travel. Expect broken-in hiking shoes, good socks, modest breathable clothing, a warm layer for desert nights, a small day bag, water bottle, head torch, power bank, sun protection, blister care and your medication. Don't bring a tent.
Can the itinerary change?
Yes. Weather, route access, prayer times, safety and group welfare all shape the final plan. Hijrah Group and the Saudi team make the final decisions on routes, distances and camps.
What happens after I apply?
We read every application and get back to you by email or WhatsApp. If you're accepted, you'll get your welcome pack and a payment link. Your place is confirmed once your deposit and documents are in.
Applying is free and doesn't reserve a place.
Who is Hijrah Group?
Hijrah Group runs the whole Saudi side of the journey: accommodation, transport, local guides, desert logistics, bookings and safety. Its founder, Aktar Hussain, first completed the route in 2024, and groups are kept to 24.
January 2027 · Women only
Don't just travel to Madinah. Walk towards it.
Two departures, very few spots.
Free to apply. Your place is secured after acceptance and deposit.