Pilgrims are required to carry an Original Passport, CNIC, and E-Tickets.
Also, pilgrims are requested to carry at least three copies of their passports. Photocopies of passports may be required by the airline at boarding and would be required for the purchase of local SIM for mobile phones.
Pilgrims are also provided Karwan e Minhaj ul Hussain badges with the contact information of the Group Leader. These badges must be worn and displayed by the pilgrims throughout the journey to help identify group members.
It is recommended to carry only essential items in your baggage. You may like to carry a small handbag for medicines, snacks, and other personal items that you may require during transit time at the airports and on bus trips.
Always keep a photograph, copy of the passport, and identity card in your suitcase
Carry required medication for a total number of travel days plus 5 extra days.
It is recommended to carry an extra pair of reading glasses.
It is also recommended to carry a light blanket or a shawl or chaddar to stay warm during transit at airports.
Before leaving Lahore please check the weather forecast for each destination and carry appropriate attire.
Cash should be in your handbag and not in your suitcase.
Do not bring with you items like jewelry and other valuables including documents like your driving license as that you may not need during the pilgrimage.
Your luggage is your responsibility; always know where your luggage is kept.
The legal limit for carrying Pakistani currency abroad is Rs 3,000 per traveler. Please follow this rule as you may be checked by FIA for its compliance.
It is recommended that you carry US Dollars as they are readily convertible. The legal limit per traveler is USD 5,000. FIA may check travelers for compliance with this legal limit.
Kindly carry with you the balance amount that is need to be paid to the Group Leader against the charges for the pilgrimage in the denomination of 100 US Dollars bills.
Traveler’s cheques are not accepted in Iraq and Iran.
Please do not carry Old Iraqi currency.
Pilgrims may carry the cash for donations in various Harams, charities, and Niaz or other payments as they may desire. However, the total amount carried should not exceed USD 5,000 per Traveler.
Pilgrims are provided with group baggage identification tags to be attached to their check-in and hand baggage. This helps identify luggage at airports, during road trips, and at hotel check-in and checkout.
Pilgrims should follow the baggage rules of the respective airlines they are traveling on.
In case of excess baggage, the pilgrim will have to pay baggage charges to the airline and all customs duties, if levied.
Karwan Minhaj ul Hussain Group is not responsible for any lost or delayed baggage. However, our Group Leader/volunteers will assist pilgrims at boarding counters at airports for smooth movement.
In case of lost baggage, the pilgrim will have to file a ‘loss of baggage’ report with the airline and do the follow-up with the airline himself/herself.
The pilgrims should contact the Group Leader to arrange Majalis / Nauha Khawani individually or collectively as a group. The Group Leader will allocate an appropriate time and venue for such an event.
The Group Leader will arrange group Ziarat on all important and significant dates and places. Please join the group and do not wander about without the Group Leader’s knowledge. This instruction is issued to ensure the safety and security of all group members.
Please note that mobiles, cameras, iPods, and other electronic gadgets are not allowed to be taken inside Haram in Iraq. Please respect this rule for your own sake.
Pilgrims should refrain from discussing politics or any controversial subject during the travel and from discussing their political or religious views with strangers.
The pilgrims are advised not to discuss or argue with any tour operator or guide.
The pilgrims are requested to support and assist the Group Leader, volunteers, and all group members in order to make this sacred journey pleasant and memorable for everyone.
Hotel accommodation arranged does not necessarily bear a “Star” rating. However, the hotels arranged will be clean, comfortable, and reasonable in size. These hotels are within convenient walking distance from Haram.
The Group Leader will allocate the rooms. He will make all reasonable efforts to meet the accommodation needs of all pilgrims. Elderly pilgrims, families with small children, and pilgrims with special needs may be given priority and preference in room allocation. In case of any problem/issues with allotted rooms, pilgrims are expected to remain patient and contact the Group Leader only after all the rooms have been allotted. The Group Leader will make all reasonable efforts to meet the pilgrim’s reasonable request keeping in view the resource constraints.
The pilgrims shall stay in the rooms of the hotels as allocated by the Group Leader. The hotel accommodation maybe two, three, or four beds per room. The pilgrims shall not stay at places other than the accommodation chosen by the Group Leader or move away from the group.
In case of pilgrims traveling alone, the Group Leader will select roommates.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the group will be served at the restaurant of the hotel where the pilgrims are staying or at any other location and time that the Group Leader announces.
Meal timings and locations are to be observed. In case of a missed meal reasonable effort will be made to accommodate the pilgrim, however, no rebate/refund claim will be entertained.
In case the Group Leader is not able to arrange for meals, allocated payment for that meal will be distributed within the group.
Hotel management is instructed to carry out housekeeping in presence of occupants. Generally, housekeeping is carried out on alternate days or on a request basis.
Towels and toiletries may not be provided at all hotels. The pilgrims are therefore requested to pack toiletries and towels for personal use.
Electricity load shedding in Iraq is quite high – Normally they have 8 hours of national electricity and 16 hours of generators. Our understanding with hotel management is to run lifts and air conditioners on generators however for reasons of generator breakdown or rest we may suffer shut down of air conditioners for a couple of hours a day.
Buses will be available for inter-city as well as a pilgrimage to surrounding places at announced hours. The pilgrims shall observe the time schedule set by the Group Leader. Those who fail to reach the bus at the announced time will have to make their own arrangement.
The Group Leader shall list the names of pilgrims that will ride in a particular bus (in case more than one bus is arranged).
A bus number may be allotted to each pilgrim and the pilgrim is to travel in the allocated bus unless otherwise instructed. This allows the Group Leader to manage transport effectively.
Preference must be given to ladies, children, and elderly persons while getting in and out of the buses.
Male pilgrims shall sit in the front part of the bus while female pilgrims ladies shall sit in the rear portion.
In case of a long bus journey, the pilgrims may therefore carry some snacks and drinks with them, however, the pilgrims are responsible for picking up their garbage and to dispose of it upon the end of the journey.
Pilgrims who require mobility assistance devices such as wheelchairs are requested to arrange and carry them with them as they will not be provided by Karwan Minhaj ul Hussain.
WC (western toilets) may not be available in all rooms. In such cases, the Group Leader will try to provide mobile commode chairs or Exchange the room.
For traveling to Iraq, group visas are issued on paper and are with the Group Leader. Individual passports are only stamped for entry and exit. Hence it is not possible to entertain requests for individual travel plans.
The pilgrimage package only includes the cost of the following:-
Airfare, visa approval charges, and visa fees.
Ground transport from the airport to the hotel, atraf ziarat, intercity travel and return to the airport.
Accommodation,
Three meals a day during stay and travel.
The pilgrimage package does not include
Shopping, charity, laundry, and telephone call.
Refreshments or meals at airports, personal expenditure, or costs of medical or other emergencies.