What We Configure for Family Groups
Unlike standard individual packages, family group travel requires deep customization across multiple layers:
🛏️ Custom Hotel Room Layouts
Families often prefer staying together rather than being split into separate double rooms. We configure:
- Quad Sharing Rooms: 4 standard beds. Most cost-effective layout for a family of 4.
- Interconnecting Rooms: Two adjoining rooms (typically a double and a twin) with a private connecting door inside. Perfect for parents with older children.
- Family Suites: Featuring a living room and 1-2 bedrooms. Highly popular in 4-star and 5-star properties (like Hilton Suites Makkah).
👶 Children & Infants Transit Rules
- Infant Fares (Under 2 years): Charged only a small portion of the ticket (usually 10% of adult fare, plus taxes). They travel on an adult's lap. Bassinets must be pre-booked at least 72 hours before flight.
- Child Fares (2-11 years): Receive a dedicated seat on flights with a 25-33% discount on the base ticket price.
- Stroller Policy: Standard strollers can be checked in at the boarding gate free of charge on all major carriers (PIA, Saudia, Emirates).
Family Package Cost Structure
A clear breakdown of how fees and discounts apply to family members:
Stroller & Wheelchair Guidance at the Haram
Navigating the large crowds with children and seniors requires coordination. Review our official access tips:
- Stroller Restrictions: Strollers and prams are generally not allowed on the ground floor of the Mataf (the immediate circle around the Kaaba) during peak crowd hours. They must be taken to the first floor or roof levels, which have designated stroller/wheelchair lanes.
- Wheelchair Lanes: The first floor features a wide, structured lane dedicated to manual wheelchairs and strollers. The mezzanine level features electric scooter tracks (single or double-seater scooters can be rented for SAR 115-230).
- Haram Elevators: Look for the elevators located near King Fahd Gate and King Abdulaziz Gate to access the upper floors easily with strollers or wheelchairs. Avoid escalators as security will turn you away for safety reasons.
Family-Friendly Pakistani Dining in Makkah & Madinah
Dining with children and elderly parents requires finding restaurants with family seating sections (partitioned dining halls) and familiar Pakistani cuisines. Here are the top recommendations:
- Al-Tazaj (Makkah & Madinah): Famous for fresh, grilled chicken (Farooj) and rice. High-speed service, clean premises, and very popular with children. Tends to be crowded right after Isha.
- Faisalabad Restaurant (Ajyad District, Makkah): Offering authentic Pakistani dishes (Biryani, Roti, Daal, Korma) with a dedicated family hall upstairs. Located within walking distance of the Clock Tower.
- Lahore Restaurant (Madinah Northern Expansion Area): Offers a complete Lahori menu (Halwa Puri for breakfast, Nihari, Karahi) with family compartments. Highly recommended for family lunches.
Lost-and-Found & Kid Security Protocols in Holy Mosques
With millions of pilgrims sharing the same space, kids can easily get separated. Safeguard your family with these strict precautions:
| Safety Layer | Action Plan for Parents | Haram Infrastructure Support |
|---|---|---|
| Identification Cards | Place a card in the child's pocket containing: Child's name, parents' WhatsApp (+92 format), and Saudi hotel name. | Security personnel can instantly contact hotel desks if a lost child is found. |
| Haram Meeting Points | Choose a specific, highly visible landmark (e.g., Gate 89 outer ramp, or Clock Tower entrance lobby) as the meeting point. | Simplifies reuniting without relying on cellular networks which can fail. |
| Official Lost Kids Centers | Teach children to look for female security guards in uniform. | Masjid al-Haram has a dedicated Lost Children Office near the King Abdullah Expansion gates. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — there is no minimum age for Umrah. Children under 2 travel as lap infants (no seat charge). Children aged 2–11 receive child seat discounts. We advise on Ihram requirements for children during the Tarbiyah session.
Yes. We configure hotel rooms specifically for your family — quad rooms (4 beds), family suites, or adjacent double rooms depending on family size. Room configurations are confirmed in writing before deposit payment.
Masjid al-Haram has full wheelchair accessibility, ramp access for all floors, and wheelchair rental services inside the Haram. We pre-book wheelchair assistance at both Lahore and Jeddah/Madinah airports, and advise on ground-floor or lift-accessible hotel rooms.
Children require a valid passport (6+ months validity), their Nadra birth certificate (or FRC - Family Registration Certificate), and their parents' active passports/CNICs. Marriage certificates (Nikah Nama) are required for processing the mother and children under the father's guardianship.
If the child sharing the room does not require an extra bed (sharing the existing double/triple beds with parents), hotel charges are waived. If a dedicated bed or extra cot is required, the child is charged at standard per-bed sharing rates.
Yes. Major pharmacy chains (like BinDawood and Nahdi) located in the Clock Tower and central shopping streets carry international brands of diapers (Pampers, Fine Baby), baby milk powder, and processed baby food jars.
Premium 5-star hotels in Makkah offer concierge-vetted babysitting services at hourly rates. This must be requested 24 hours in advance at the hotel lobby. Private local agencies are also available, though booking in advance is advised.
Children under 5 years old are generally not allowed inside the Rawdah Al-Sharifah during official booking slots to prevent crowding and safety hazards. One parent must stay with the child in the main mosque courtyard while the other visits.
Yes. The management of Masjid al-Nabawi provides free manual stroller lending services near the outer northern courtyards (specifically near Gate 25). A valid ID (passport or residency card) must be deposited.
Our refund policy applies. If cancellation is done 15+ days before departure, a partial refund is processed minus visa fees and airline cancellation penalties. We highly recommend adding basic travel health insurance to cover emergency medical cancellations.