Shifting Hajj Packages from Canada

A shifting Hajj package means you check out of your Makkah hotel before the Hajj days and move into an Aziziyah apartment plus Mina tents for the five days of the rites. Because the Makkah hotel room is not held empty for you during that week, the package costs noticeably less than a non-shifting one. Everything else flights, visa, Madinah stay, meals, transport, guidance stays the same.

What is a shifting Hajj package?

A shifting Hajj package is a Hajj booking where your accommodation changes during the days of Hajj (8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah). You stay in a Makkah hotel before Hajj, move to an Aziziyah apartment and Mina tents for the rites, then move back into a Makkah hotel afterwards.

The alternative is a non-shifting Hajj package, where your Makkah hotel room is held for the whole trip and you can return to it any time during the Hajj days.

Here is the plain version:

Shifting: your room changes. You pay less. You carry a small bag for five days.
Non-shifting: your room never changes. You pay more. You never repack.

Neither one is more correct religiously. Both complete the same Hajj. The rites at Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and Jamarat are identical. This is a comfort and budget decision, not a fiqh decision.

Shifting vs Non-Shifting Hajj Packages

	Shifting Hajj Package	Non-Shifting Hajj Package
Makkah hotel during Hajj days	Checked out, room released	Kept for you the whole time
Where you rest between rites	Aziziyah apartment	Your Makkah hotel
Cost	Lower — usually the best value tier	Higher
Typical trip length	Often longer, more nights included	Often shorter and more compact
Repacking	Once before Hajj, once after	None
Big suitcase during Hajj	Stored in Aziziyah, still reachable	Stays in your hotel room
Distance from Masjid al-Haram in Hajj days	Aziziyah is roughly 4–5 km from the Haram	Whatever your hotel distance is
Best for	Budget-conscious pilgrims, fit walkers, families stretching one budget across two or three people	Elderly parents, mobility issues, anyone who wants zero disruption
Also called	Economy shifting, Aziziyah package	No-Aziziyah package

If after reading this you decide you want the room held the whole time, that is a perfectly good choice. Explore our Non-Shifting Hajj Packages. We would rather you booked the right one than the cheaper one.

You can also compare the full range of Hajj Packages from Canada across every tier.

What actually happens, day by day?

This is the part most agencies skip. Here is the honest schedule of a shifting package.

Before Hajj in Madinah and Makkah: You fly from Canada, spend your Madinah nights near Masjid an-Nabawi, then travel to Makkah, put on Ihram, and perform Umrah if your package is Tamattu. You stay in your Makkah hotel and pray at the Haram freely. Nothing has shifted yet.

7 Dhul Hijjah: the shift You check out of the Makkah hotel. Your large suitcase goes into your Aziziyah apartment. You pack one small bag: Ihram, a change of clothes, medication, unscented soap, a mat, sandals, phone charger, snacks. That small bag is what you live out of for the next five days.

8 Dhul Hijjah (Yawm at-Tarwiyah): You move to your Mina tent. Air conditioned, mattress on the floor, shared washrooms, meals brought to the camp. It is basic. Millions of people are doing exactly the same thing at exactly the same time.

9 Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah): The heart of Hajj. Buses take you to Arafat after Fajr. You spend the day in duaa. After Maghrib you move to Muzdalifah, sleep under the open sky, and collect pebbles.

10 Dhul Hijjah (Eid al-Adha): Jamarat for the first stoning, then Qurbani, then trimming or shaving the hair, then Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i. This is the longest day on your feet.

11, 12 and optionally 13 Dhul Hijjah: Back in Mina for the remaining stoning. On a shifting package, this is where the Aziziyah apartment earns its keep — you can go back for a proper shower, a real sleep, clean clothes and your suitcase.

After Hajj: You shift back into a Makkah hotel for your remaining nights, perform Tawaf al-Wida, and fly home.

What's included in our shifting Hajj packages?

Return flights from your Canadian city to Jeddah or Madinah
Hajj permit and visa processing through the official Nusuk Hajj route
Hotel nights in Madinah near Masjid an-Nabawi
Hotel nights in Makkah before and after the Hajj days
Aziziyah apartment for the Hajj period, with luggage storage
Air conditioned Mina tents, Arafat tent and Muzdalifah arrangements
All ground transport between Jeddah, Madinah, Makkah and the Mashair
Daily meals during the Hajj days
Qurbani arrangement
Canadian group leader and an experienced Hajj guide on the ground
Ziyarat in Madinah and Makkah
Pre-departure orientation session before you fly
24/7 support line while you are away

What is not included?

Meals outside the Hajj days unless stated
Meningococcal (ACWY) vaccination and any other required shots
Travel and medical insurance
Excess baggage charges
Personal spending, gifts and Zamzam shipping
Passport renewal fees

How much does a shifting Hajj package cost from Canada?

Hajj pricing from Canada is set close to the season, once Saudi releases the official package tiers and airfares are confirmed. Anyone quoting you a hard figure a year out is guessing.

Our Hajj 2027 shifting packages start from CAD$4,396 per person, sharing.

What moves the price up or down:

Room sharing. Quad sharing is cheapest. Double or triple costs more per person. A private room costs the most.
Hotel star rating and distance in Makkah and Madinah before and after Hajj.
Mina tent zone. Tents closer to Jamarat cost more. Ask which zone before you book.
Departure city and flight routing. Direct routings cost more than one-stop.
Trip length. Longer stays include more hotel nights.
When you book. Late bookings pay peak airfare. This is the single easiest saving to control.

Payment: we offer a deposit and instalment plan so the amount is spread out rather than landing all at once. Ask us about the schedule.

Who should choose a shifting package — and who shouldn't?

A shifting package is a good fit if you:

Are reasonably fit and comfortable walking several kilometres a day
Are watching the budget, or funding Hajj for two or three family members
Have done Umrah before and know what the crowds feel like
Do not mind a shared washroom and a mattress on the floor for five nights
Want more nights in Saudi for the same money

Consider non-shifting instead if you:

Are travelling with elderly parents or anyone with knee, hip or heart problems
Use a wheelchair or walker
Have a medical condition that needs a private, controlled space
Are travelling with young children
Find that repacking and moving between places causes you real stress

Every year pilgrims pick the cheaper option to save a few thousand dollars, then spend the Day of Arafah exhausted instead of in worship. The money is not the point of the trip.

If you are unsure, call us and describe the group. We will tell you straight, even when the answer is the package that earns us less.

Your real questions, answered honestly

Where exactly is Aziziyah, and is it far?

Aziziyah is a residential district of Makkah, roughly 4 to 5 km from Masjid al-Haram and much closer to Mina and Jamarat than most Makkah hotels are. During the Hajj days that closeness is the advantage. Outside the Hajj days you are in a proper Makkah hotel instead, so you are not stuck far from the Haram for your whole trip.

What happens to my big suitcase?

It sits in your Aziziyah apartment for the whole Hajj period, and you can get to it. Take only a small backpack to Mina. Pack your medication in the small bag, not the suitcase.

How bad are the Mina washrooms, really?

Shared, busy, and cleaned throughout the day, but they are the most common thing pilgrims find difficult. The Aziziyah apartment is exactly why many people choose shifting — you can go back and shower properly. Bring your own soap, a small towel, wet wipes and sandals.

Are the tents air conditioned?

Yes, Mina tents are air conditioned. Bring a light blanket anyway — people sleep with the fan direction they didn't choose.
I'm worried about the walking.

Fair. Expect 10 to 20 km on some days, especially 10 Dhul Hijjah. Start training now: walk 5 km three times a week, break in the sandals you plan to wear, and tell us honestly about any mobility issue so we can place you in the right group.

Can I book directly, or does it have to be Nusuk?

For Canadian pilgrims, Hajj bookings go through the official Nusuk Hajj portal at hajj.nusuk.sa, run by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. That is not a step we can skip and neither can anyone else. What we do is get you registered correctly, make sure your photo and passport details pass validation, guide you to the right package when releases open, keep your funds ready in your Nusuk wallet, and then handle everything on the ground and everything from the Canadian side.

Be careful of anyone in Canada who says they can get you a Hajj permit outside this system. That is the most common Hajj scam.

What documents do I need?

Canadian passport or valid travel document with at least six months' validity
Proof of Canadian residency if you are not a citizen
Nusuk Hajj profile with a compliant photo
Meningococcal ACWY vaccination certificate, plus any other shots required for the season
Travel insurance

Requirements are confirmed each season by the Saudi authorities, so we check yours against the current rules before you fly.

Can women travel without a mahram?

Saudi rules on this have been relaxed in recent years, with women generally able to perform Hajj as part of an organised group. The exact wording is confirmed each season, so speak to us and we will tell you what applies for Hajj 2027 rather than what applied three years ago.

How much time off work should I book?

Most shifting packages from Canada run somewhere between 18 and 28 days including travel. Ask us for the exact dates of the package you are considering, then request leave early — Hajj dates are known well in advance, which helps with an employer.

What if I need to cancel?

Cancellation terms are set by the Nusuk system and the Saudi operator, and the deduction depends on how close to Hajj you cancel. We will walk you through the exact terms in writing before you pay anything. Get this in writing from any agency, not just us.

Departure cities across Canada

City	Airport	Typical routing
Toronto	YYZ	One-stop via Istanbul, Doha or the Gulf
Montreal	YUL	One-stop via Europe or the Gulf
Ottawa	YOW	Connecting via Toronto or Montreal
Calgary	YYC	One-stop via the Gulf
Edmonton	YEG	One-stop via the Gulf
Vancouver	YVR	One or two stops
London, Ontario	Via YYZ	Ground transfer arranged on request

We arrange shifting Hajj packages from every major Canadian gateway:

Our office is in London, Ontario, so pilgrims across Southwestern Ontario are welcome to come in and sit down with us in person.

Planning a trip before Hajj to get used to the Haram? Our Umrah packages are the best possible preparation. Most first-time Hujjaj tell us the Umrah trip made Hajj far less overwhelming.

How to book your shifting Hajj package?

Talk to us first. Call 647 258 1244 or send a WhatsApp. Tell us who is travelling, their ages, any health issues, and your budget.
We recommend shifting or non-shifting based on that conversation, not on price.
Register on Nusuk. We help you set up the profile, fix the photo, and get the passport details right — the two things that hold most people up.
Fund your Nusuk wallet ahead of the package release so booking is instant when the window opens.
We secure the package and send written confirmation of exactly what you have bought.
Pre-departure orientation. Rites, packing, health, and what to do if you get separated.
You fly, with a Canadian group leader and 24/7 support on the ground.

Packages typically go live only a short window before they sell out. The people who get the package they wanted are the ones who registered early.

Why Canadian pilgrims book with Qiblatain?

Over 16 years arranging Hajj and Umrah travel
TICO registered | Harmain Travel Limited, TICO number 50018801, operating as Qiblatain (Registration 1001525103)
Ministry of Hajj authorised
A real office at 785 Wonderland Road South, Unit C3, London, Ontario N6K 1M6
Staff who speak English, French, Urdu, Arabic and Hindi
24/7 support, in Canada and in Saudi Arabia
Written confirmations, clear inclusions, no surprise add-ons

TICO registration matters more than most people realise. It means your money is handled under Ontario's travel industry rules, not on a handshake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "shifting" mean in a Hajj package?

It means your accommodation changes during the Hajj days. You leave your Makkah hotel before 8 Dhul Hijjah and stay in an Aziziyah apartment and Mina tents for the rites, then return to a Makkah hotel afterwards.

Is a shifting Hajj package cheaper than non-shifting?

Yes. Because your Makkah hotel room is not held empty for around a week, the total cost is lower. It is usually the best value tier available to Canadian pilgrims.

Does a shifting package affect the validity of my Hajj?

No. The rites are identical. Shifting and non-shifting are accommodation arrangements, not religious categories.

How far is Aziziyah from Masjid al-Haram?

Roughly 4 to 5 km. It is closer to Mina and Jamarat than most central Makkah hotels, which is why it works well during the Hajj days.

Where does my luggage go during Hajj?

Your main suitcase stays in your Aziziyah apartment, where you can access it. You take only a small bag to Mina.

Are Mina tents air conditioned in a shifting package?

Yes. Tents are air conditioned with mattresses and shared washroom facilities, and meals are provided at the camp.

Is a shifting Hajj package suitable for elderly parents?

Usually not the best choice. The extra movement and repacking is hard on anyone with mobility or health issues. A non-shifting package is generally kinder for seniors.

How much does a shifting Hajj package cost from Canada?

Prices are confirmed once Saudi releases the season's packages and airfares are set. Our Hajj 2027 shifting packages start from CAD$4396 per person sharing. Contact us for a current quote.

When is Hajj 2027?

Hajj 2027 corresponds to 8–13 Dhul Hijjah 1448 AH, expected around 14 to 18 May 2027, with the Day of Arafah expected on 15 May 2027. Final dates depend on the moon sighting.

Do I have to book Hajj through Nusuk from Canada?

Yes. Canadian pilgrims book Hajj through the official Nusuk Hajj portal operated by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Qiblatain guides you through registration, package selection and payment, and manages your travel and ground services.

Can I add extra nights in Madinah or Makkah?

In most cases yes, depending on the package structure. Ask us before you book, not after.

What vaccinations do I need for Hajj from Canada?

A meningococcal ACWY certificate is required, and other vaccinations may apply depending on the season's health rules. We confirm the current list with you before departure.

How many days off work do I need?

Most shifting Hajj packages from Canada run around 18 to 28 days including travel. We can give you exact dates so you can request leave early.

Which is better, shifting or non-shifting Hajj?

Neither is better overall. Shifting is better for value and for fit pilgrims. Non-shifting is better for comfort, seniors and anyone who wants no disruption. Tell us your group and we will recommend honestly.