 |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|
QUESTIONS ABOUT AL AQSA WITH IBADAH TOURS
Why Choose Ibadah Tours?
Our experience in Masjid Al Aqsa is second to none.
Our service is the best.
We offer flexible payment plans.
We deliver what we promise through the Will and Mercy of ALLAH ﷻ.
You might think you are paying more in comparison to other tour companies, but our tours are worth every penny.
For example, the Hotel we use, only a 5 min walk away from the Masjid, other operators at their best may charge £5-£50 less for the package, but either their days are shorter, the hotels are further away and less in quality, flights are not included or flights have crazy stopovers, they have no luggage allowances, they room you up in fours and fives, tour leaders not available etc etc etc. You all get the jist!
Come on, this journey for many is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Why pay for a Fiat when you can have a Lamborghini Aventador at almost the same cost?
Is it safe to travel?
We have been taking groups of between 10 - 00 people to Masjid Al Aqsa almost 6 times a year for around 10 years. We are probably the most experienced operator in tours to Masjid Al Aqsa, and we assure you that each and every client of ours has enjoyed their experience and returned home safely through the Will and Mercy of ALLAH ﷻ.
How long are our Tours?
We have 2 Tours within our dates, as we also include Jummah in all of our packages we always want you to get as much rest as possible in order to be energised enough to take in what we have to offer.
We have a Walking Tour of the Masjid Al Aqsa compound and the Old City which lasts between 3-5 hours on average and usually means you will be walking for around 10,000-15,000 steps. Good one to burn off those extra calories.
We also have a Bus Tour which takes up the whole day, we leave early morning and usually arrive back at the hotel after Salatul Isha. For a detailed look at our tours please click here.
Is it better to travel individually or with a group?
Through our experience of catering for both types of clients over the years, we assure you that travel within a group is much better. As long as you are travelling with a reputable organisation, you will not only enjoy the experience more, but you will make friends that may last a lifetime. Most importantly there is Baraqa in travelling with a group.
Our group tours include experienced tour guides and team leads who assist you every step of the way.
Can I enter the Masjid?
Yes, tourists are completely fine to enter the Masjid. We encourage all our clients to keep their permit and passport at hand throughout the tours. You may be asked a few questions before entering the Masjid by guards, however these are normal and nothing major.
Does my passport get stamped?
No, In the past the Israeli immigration authorities stamped passports, however, since January 2013 a new scheme was introduced whereby all visitors are given an entry permit in paper format instead of an entry stamp on arrival. This is the case for all travellers now. You should keep this permit with your passport until you leave as this is evidence of your legal entry.
Do we need to book the same flights as the group?
No, you can book your own flights but you need to speak to our team first and ensure there are spaces available for your ground services. There may also be an extra cost upon you for transfers to and from the Airport.
What makes us different from other operators?
We thrive on serving the guests of ALLAH ﷻ as humbly as possible. We don't do what we do for publicity, but for rewards.
Our philosophy from day one has been to serve the Ummah in the most efficient, sincere and transparent way as possible before any financial gains.
We sincerely believe we are only in this industry due to the Mercy of ALLAH ﷻ.
When it comes to service, honestly, we are second to none. This is not pride speaking, this is simply the truth.
We have assisted many other agents in being able to take Pilgrims to Masjid Al Aqsa and provided advice on how to better their services towards you all.
We don't want it all. Our Rizq is written, we just want to serve those who wish for us to host them in the best way possible.
We respect all religions and cultures and always remind our clients to do the same, especially when travelling to a land that holds 3 of the main religions in the world.
Good Characteristics and Mannerisms is the way forward.
You'll only truly know what we are and what sets us apart if you travel with us.
Will I have to pay for food or meals?
This is where you can make a huge saving. All of our packages with the exclusion of Ramadhan include breakfast and dinner, Our Ramadhan packages include Suhur only. Tea's and Coffee's are available 24 hours a day at the hotel FREE of charge.
Are unmarried couples allowed to share?
We do not allow any unmarried couples to share rooms on any of our tours. Anyone that is found out will be removed from our tours with immediate effect and will have to cover their own costs and expenses from the point of removal.
In fact the Hashimi Hotel are also strict upon this and do not offer rooms to unmarried couples.
Do I have to observe Hijab?
Dearest Sisters, you are the Queens of Islam. Your dignity is our dignity, although we hope and pray we all understand the true value of observing Hijab (men too), our beautiful religion teaches us not to force it upon anyone.
Having said that, it is very important for all to know that observing Hijab is mandatory when entering Masjid's, and all those who are entering the Masjid both males and females MUST dress modestly.
When is the latest date to clear my outstanding balance?
It is very important for you to clear any outstanding amount on your invoice/s no later than 30 days prior to departure. Help us help others.
We are the first organisation to allow flexible payment plans for Islamic Pilgrimage within our industry. Even though it can leave us with huge bills to pay beforehand from our own pockets, we know that it can benefit a Muslim and in turn be rewarding for us, which is why we do it.
We are surprised why other organisations have not taken this method on board as it definitely allows a larger client base, but just goes to show we have always been here to serve you all as humbly as we can in order to ease any burdens we may feel in our graves. We kindly ask you to make Dua’ we remain sincere in what we do towards the Ummah and also ask you to repay our trust in you by completing the payments on time.
Does the Hotel have a laundry service?
The Hashimi Hotel provides a laundry service and an average sized laundry bag approximately costs around 50 Shekels.
How far is the Hotel from the Masjid?
The Hashimi Hotel is the best hotel in location to the Masjid, It takes an average person 5-7 mins to walk into the compound of Masjid Al Aqsa. It is the only hotel within the Old City of Jerusalem. All of the other hotels are outside the Old City, which means the Walk to and from the Masjid takes significantly longer.
What is the exchange rate and what is the local currency?
The exchange rate varies from time to time of course. The current approximate exchange rate is:
4 Shekels to the £.
3.42 Shekels to the $.
2.56 Shekels to the Canadian $.
Can females travel alone in groups?
All of our tours and packages are family friendly, we allow single females to join us on our tours so long as they understand they will be room sharing with other females.
Do I require a Visa?
No. Those travelling with British, EU & US passports are given the Visa upon arrival at the Airport. The Visa is only provided through immigration staff upon arrival at the Airport. The security checks and clearance for your Visa can take a little while. So bring plenty of patience with you.
Unfortunately many agencies/operators falsely advertise that they will obtain the Visa as part of the package. This is NOT true.
Can we join from other parts of the world?
We cater for many clients of different nationalities, to see if you can join us on our Tours, please take a look at our Masjid Al Aqsa page and you will be able to see the countries we can cater for. Click here
What if I cancel after booking?
Kindly adhere to our terms and conditions for our cancellation policy. This can be found by clicking here.
OUR HAPPY TRAVELLERS
All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
IBADAH TOURS IS A TRADING NAME FOR MK HOLIDAYS LTD
