Practical guidance
Elderly pilgrims and accessibility
Wheelchairs, lifts and the best routes, choosing a hotel with a level walk, and health precautions for older pilgrims.
Updated 23 October 2026Draft: awaiting review1 min read
Wheelchairs and carts
- Free wheelchairs are available at main entrances, first come, first served. Bring your ID.
- Pushers can be hired at the official counters; agree the price first.
- Electric carts run on the upper levels of the mataf and the masʿa.
- A private wheelchair with an attendant can often be arranged through your hotel. As a rough guide this cost 200–300 SAR a day on the old site's last check, so confirm the price locally.
Routes in the Haram
- Lifts and escalators serve every floor and are calmer than stairs
- Ramps are available at the main gates
- The ground floor is the shortest route but the most crowded; the upper levels are longer and calmer
- King Fahd Gate has long been recommended for visitors with limited mobility
Choosing a hotel
Distance in metres is not the whole story. Makkah is hilly: some hotels a few hundred metres from the gate sit at the top of a steep climb. Our hotel finder shows the walking time and the climb on the way back for every hotel.
Look for lifts, step-free entrances, accessible bathrooms and 24-hour reception. A ground or low floor near the restaurant helps too.
Health precautions
- Do the rites in the coolest hours: after Fajr, or late evening
- Take frequent breaks, sit when you need to, and drink before you feel thirsty
- Bring every medication with a doctor's letter, plus extra supplies
- Travel with a companion, and carry hotel details and an emergency contact
More in health and wellbeing.