• Is the tour recognized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India?
• What is the quota to take Pilgrims for Hajj allotted to it from the Ministry last year and this year?
• This can be checked as below :
  a. Hajj License.
  b. Website of Federation Hajj PTO’s of India> http://fhptoi.com > Approved Agents and Member List
  OR
  c. Website of All India Hajj Umrah Tour Organisers Association > https://www.aihutoa.com > Members > Member List
  d. Website of Ministry of Minority Affairs – Hajj Division – http://haj.nic.in/pto >> List of registered HGO’s
•  Check if the registered Office of the Tour Operator is owned or rented ?
• Check if the Tour Operator possesses all necessary goverment Licenses example: Shop & Establishment License(Ghumasta), MSME License(Udyam), GST certificate, PAN Card in the name of Proprietor , Maharashtra State Trade License (Parvana). Please note only tour operators duly registered are permitted to take pilgrims as per the quota allotted to the . Visas are also issued strictly on the basis of quota sanctioned. So the tour operator cannot exceed the limit set by the quota allotted. Unregistered tour operators either buy visa from others & dump additional financial burden on the pilgrims or worse, cancel the entire tour demolishing all the hopes of potential pilgrims.

•  Check the type of accomodation whether it is a Hotel, Apartment, Building, or Villa
•  The distance of the accommodation from the Great Mosque? If the accomodation is Far how will your travel to the Grand Mosque ?
•  What is the rating of the Hotel, Apartment, Building, or Villa, i.e. 5-Star, 4-Star, 3- Star or no star?
•  Are there sufficient lifts ?
•  How and Where the Food will be served ?
•  Will there be beds or mattresses in the room?
•  How many people will share a room?
•  Is the bathroom attached or shared between many rooms?
•  How close will a taxi drop you and then how much to walk to reach Haram or your accommodation?

The Shifting Hotel is part of The shifting Style package. It means you are staying far from the Haram usually 2/3 Days before Hajj starts and 2/3 Days After Hajj is completed. This type of Package is called the Aziziah or Shifting Package or the Shifting Hotel or Aziziah Hotel.

•  Is the Tour operator providing free laundry Service?
•  The laundry service is unlimited or in the form of coupons?
•  If coupons, how many coupons are provided? This is to ensure that coupons given by the tour operator are not exhausted in washing only the Ihrams.
•  What clothes are allowed, What is not allowed or What clothes should i avoid giving in laundary ?
•  How the Laundary will be picked up and delivered ?

•  Non Shifting Style Hajj Package:Your stay shall be facilitated in a luxury Hotel close to the Haram all throughout the period of Hajj which provides maximum comfort and minimizes hardships.
•  Shifting Style Hajj Package:The shifting style package means you are staying far from the Haram during the peak season of the Hajj, usually 2/3 Days before Hajj starts and 2/3 Days After Hajj is completed, this can vary depending upon tour operator and package cost. The distance can vary from 3 km to 10 km. The Hajis however, are likely to stay near the Haram after or before the Peak Season. This type of Package is called the Aziziah or Shifting Package and the accomodation during this period is called Shifting period hotel or Aziziah Hotel. Because its a very common practice to place pilgrims in Aziziah during the shifting period.

The Five days of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah are Hajj Days. These are the most important days when the pilgrim passes through the experience of staying in Tents and on Plain ground. To ensure its smoothness the pilgrims should thoroughly check the facilities offered by the Tour operator.

• What is the name & number of Moallim & how far is the tent from Jamarat?
•  Is any responsible, experienced representative of the tour operator physically present with you all through your Days in Mina & Arafat or is he just periodically visible?
•  Will you get the tent numbers for your stay in Mina in advance?
•  Will the tour organizer help you in getting space or will you have to adjust yourselves in the Tents?
•  Where will i keep my luggage when leaving for Five days of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah ?
•  Where will i spend the night n Muzdalliffah ?
•  During your stay in Mina, will there be provisions for Food, Beverages, and Mineral Water etc ?
•  How Food will be served and where to eat ?
•  During the 5 days of Hajj who is responsible for transportation? Moallim or the tour organizer?
•  If it is the Tour organizer then what are the facilities offered?
•  For the transportation during Hajj i.e. makkah muazzama-Mina-Arafat, how many Hajis shall be accommodated in each Bus and will you get a chance to sit inside the bus or travel standing or even worse, on rooftops.
•  Will each bus have group leader to guide the Hajis?
•  While performing the Rami at the Satan will the Tour operator accompany you in a group or you will have to manage your own affair? (this avoids getting lost in the crowd)
•  While going around for Ziyarat (Tawaf-e-Ziyarat) does the Tour organizer keep food arrangements at both the places i.e. in makkah muazzama Mukarramah as well as Mina?
•  After completing the Hajj rituals, on your way back to makkah muazzama from Mina, who will carry your luggage?

•  Which Airlines are you going to travels on?
•  Is your flight to Jeddah or Madinah Munawwarah direct or with a Stopover? If it is with a stopover, how long will the stop be?
•  If the halt is longer, do you get a hotel stay or will you have to wait & tire yourself at the Airport lounge?
•  Will your departure and return journey tickets be confirmed?
•  Will the return journey from Madinah Munawwarah Munawwarah be in a direct flight or you have to unnecessary travel back to Jeddah by bus?
•  How much luggage can i carry ?

• Declare your medical condition to the tour operator before travelling. In case of illness.
•  Will a qualified physician & any medical facilities be provided?
•  Will the tour operator carry with him sufficient Medical provisions i.e. Medicines of General use?
•  If you need a wheel chair at the Airport, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah or During Tawaf discuss with tour operator during booking.

• Hajj application form should be submitted with booking amount of Rs.1,50,000/- by Cheque, Demand Draft or by Pay Order (Payable at Mumbai or Pay by NEFT / RTGS Transfer. Balance amount to be paid in 2 easy instalments
•  Second Instalment of – To be decided
•  Third and Final Instalment – To be decided
•  Compulsory valid passport of 6-month validity before the departure for Hajj
•  8 Photographs of 4 X 6 cms with white background
•  Compulsory Pan card
•  Compulsory Adhaar Card
•  Compulsory Mobile Number
•  Compulsory Whatsapp Number
•  Compulsory Email Address
•  Valid Meningitis Immunization Certificate
•  Compulsory Fully Vaccinated Certificate (Two doses of Covisheild)
•  Carrying Any Form or Substance of Narcotics / Drugs are banned & punishable by death penalty in Saudi Arabia
  <center><strong>Note: These are mandatory requirements by the Government of Saudi Arabia for All HAJI’s.</strong></center>