JournalOur group leaders keep a running note of what they end up buying for pilgrims once the party has landed. This list comes from that note rather than from a generic packing guide.
Unscented everything. Soap, toothpaste, deodorant, wet wipes. In ihram, scented products are a problem, and unscented versions are harder to find in Makkah than you would expect. Buy them in Nigeria.
A second pair of sandals. Sandals get lost outside the Haram constantly. Bring a cheap spare pair and a small drawstring bag to carry them in rather than leaving them at the door.
Medication with its prescription. Bring enough for the whole trip plus a week, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Nigerian brand names often do not exist in Saudi pharmacies and a pharmacist cannot help you without the generic name.
A refillable bottle. Zamzam is everywhere, bottled water is not always. A one-litre bottle saves both money and a great deal of walking.
Warm layers, genuinely. Madinah in December and January gets cold at night, and hotel air conditioning in Makkah runs hard year-round. Pilgrims who packed only for heat regret it by the third night.
Cash in small denominations. For sadaqah, barbers, and the taxis that do not take cards. Change is hard to get and small notes disappear fast.
What to leave behind. Heavy luggage, formal clothing you will not wear, and anything valuable enough that losing it would upset you. You will be carrying your own bags more than you expect.
