Earlier on back in the UK when I was at Gatwick Airport, the travel agent that I booked the trip with had messaged me on WhatsApp to wish me well and also to let me know the number for the KSA tour company who would be organising my transfers and umrah guide. After confirming my passport, boarding pass and KSA Visa they had provided me with the number for the Umrah Guide who would be joining and advising me on completing the Umrah.
However they mentioned that this had been arranged for 6AM straight after I had landed. I knew prior to even landing in Jeddah that this was going to be quite difficult as I wasn’t even in my Ihram clothes. I’m sure many pilgrims like the ones on the plane travel straight to Makkah to perform the Umrah first thing on entering Saudi Arabia which is a blessed act to do however I found this to be very impractical as I felt I would need to check in to my hotel, rest, shower and have something to eat and prepare properly before attempting the Umrah.
I messaged the guide as well as the tour company to advise them that I would not be able to do the Umrah at 6 – the time now at the hotel – and if I could rearrange for the following day.
This was fine by the company but I’m not sure why it was assumed I wanted to do the Umrah first thing. The Umrah guide went quiet after I messaged if we could do the Umrah tomorrow and that I would not be able to make it. I didn’t make a big fuss over this and just left him to it, I’ll just wait until he replies I guess.
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