Shifting or non-shifting Hajj: choosing the right package

If you have compared Hajj packages you have seen the words shifting and non-shifting everywhere, usually with a large difference in price and very little explanation. Here is what they mean for the days you actually spend in Makkah.

The short version

• Non-shifting: you keep the same hotel near the Haram for the whole stay in Makkah, including the days of Hajj.
• Shifting: before the days of Hajj you move to accommodation in Aziziya, a residential district a few kilometres from the Haram, and return afterwards.

Both include the same Mina tents, the same Arafat and Muzdalifah arrangements, and — on every Bakhla departure — the same Indian meals three times a day and the same ground team.

What shifting looks like on the ground

1. Arrive in Makkah and stay near the Haram for the first stretch: Tawaf, Umrah, and days of worship a short walk away.
2. A day or two before 8 Dhul Hijjah, the group moves to Aziziya by bus. Luggage goes with our staff.
3. From Aziziya the buses to Mina are shorter and the crowds are lighter — this is the practical reason the arrangement exists.
4. After the days of Hajj, the group returns towards the Haram for the farewell Tawaf and the remaining days.

Our CEO has completed thirty Hajj journeys. His advice is unchanged every year: for a first Hajj, the days of Hajj themselves are what you will remember, not which hotel you slept in on the nights around them.

Who each option suits

	Non-shifting	Shifting
Distance to the Haram during Hajj days	Walking	Bus or taxi
Moving luggage	Never	Once each way, handled by our team
Best for	Elderly pilgrims, anyone with mobility concerns	Families, first-timers, budget-conscious groups
Price	Higher	Lower

Questions we get every season

Is Aziziya far? Around four to six kilometres from the Haram. During the days of Hajj you are in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah in any case, so the distance matters mostly on the nights immediately before and after.

Will I miss prayers in the Haram? During the days of Hajj, nobody is in the Haram — everyone is at the Mashaer. Before and after, the group is near the Haram in both packages.

Can a family split between packages? Yes, and it is common: elders on non-shifting, the rest on shifting, meeting at Mina.

Every departure page on this site says which arrangement it uses, right under the hotel list. If you are still unsure, send us an enquiry and we will talk it through with your family.