Turkey may receive the vast amount of its tourists during the summer months, but travelers who arrive here during the winter season are in for a treat.

If you’re here to see the big archaeological and historical tourist attractions, you’ll find the major ruins, monuments, and museums crowd- and queue-free, which makes in-depth sightseeing more pleasant.

Many of the most famous of Turkey’s ruins also lie along the coastal region, which only has a mild winter.

Heading inland, central and eastern Turkey is blanketed with snow during the depths of winter.

Two areas in particular have turned their winter wonderland landscapes into tourism hot spots. People specifically come to both Cappadocia, smack in the center of the country, and Kars, in the far northeast, to capture scenes of their snowy countryside.

For winter sports enthusiasts, Turkey’s ski and snowboard scene gets better every year. Several ski centers throughout the country offer modern facilities and ski pass prices that are incredible value compared to the cost of skiing in European and North American ski resorts.

To find out how to plan your trip, use our list of the best things to do in Turkey in winter.

Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.

1. Hot-Air Ballooning in Cappadocia

The vast amount of travelers may arrive in Cappadocia between April and October but in winter, when the fairy chimney formations are topped with a dusting of snow, the landscape here is at its most magical.

The best way to experience the sinewy valleys, filled with hoodoo rocks and spiky cones, in all their snowy glory is from the air.

Cappadocia’s hot-air ballooning is one of Turkey’s most famous activities and top of most tourists’ things to do list. Ballooning runs year-round here (though it sometimes has to be called off due to inclement weather) and provides bird’s-eye panoramic views across the landscape.

You’ll need to wrap up warm and be prepared for sub-zero temperatures when being picked up for your ballooning tour, as balloon flights take off just after dawn.

For your best chance of snowy landscapes, come in January or February. Although snow is possible any time from November through to April, these two months generally bring the most snow.

2. Lake Çıldır Sleighing

A favorite winter destination for Turkish tourists, who flock here during February, Lake Çıldır is still well off most foreign visitor’s radars. This high-altitude lake, in Turkey’s mountainous northeastern corner, is a winter wonderland and well worth the long journey out here.

The lake is Turkey’s second biggest, measuring 123 square kilometers.

During the winter months, Lake Çıldır freezes solid and is surrounded by a landscape of snowy mountains. Locals run horse-sleigh trips and ice-fishing trips out onto the lake throughout the depths of winter. It’s a highly popular way to experience this fantastical snow-blanketed landscape, which seems to have dropped straight out of a storybook.

Sleighing tours often include a visit to one of the ice-fishing sites on the lake, where local villagers demonstrate their traditional winter fishing skills.

As well as the traditional sleighing activities, snow mobile rental and other more modern transport methods are available on the lake.

On winter weekends, the lake gets very busy with visitors, so try to come midweek.

3. Eastern Express Train Trip

Turkey’s most famous train route is the Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi) between Ankara and Kars, and winter is the most popular season to jump aboard.

This 24-hour train ride is all about the scenery, and during the depths of winter, the landscape of high plateaus and craggy mountains that frame Turkey’s northeast region are completely blanketed in snow.

Although this train journey remains little used by foreign visitors, it’s massively popular with Turkish tourists, so advance booking is highly recommended. The train has been known to get fully booked, months in advance.

The train ride ends in Kars, one of Turkey’s best places to visit for winter activities and things to do, as it’s the nearest center to base yourself for trips to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ani, as well as Lake Çıldır.

4. Skiing at Uludağ

Uludağ (Mount Ulu) is Turkey’s busiest ski center, thanks to it being within easy reach of Istanbul.

Reached by either road from the city of Bursa, 36 kilometers to the north, or by the Bursa Teleferik, which is the longest cable-car ride in the world, the ski resort area on the slopes here offers full facilities for a day of skiing or snowboarding and full rental facilities for ski equipment.

From the resort area, there are 28 kilometers of pistes ranging from beginner to experienced skier levels, with 16 lifts available for transport to the various slopes.

For those who want a ski break, rather than just a day trip, there are 27 hotels in the resort area.

The ski season here runs from late-December to early-March but is generally at its best during January and February.

5. Explore Kars and Ancient Ani

Kars is one of Turkey’s prime bases for winter escapades.

This small city, in Turkey’s far northeast, has become a winter getaway destination in recent years. Its burgeoning popularity is due to it being the closest city to stay to launch yourself out on trips to Lake Çıldır and the many other tourist attractions of the northeast.

The number one attraction near here is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ani, which is a fascinating ruin to explore at any time of the year but looks particularly beautiful when its monuments are dusted with snow.

Sitting on the high plateau, smack against Turkey’s border with Armenia, Ani was an important trade route town that became the capital of the Armenian kingdom in the 10th century. Control over this trading center was fought over for two centuries, passing first to the Byzantines in 1045, then to Seljuk, Georgian, and Kurdish forces before the Mongols arrived in 1236.

The city’s decline began with a mammoth earthquake in 1319 and was sealed by the shift in trade routes later that century, after which the site was abandoned completely.

Today, Ani’s elegant church ruins and other monuments sit scattered across the plateau. Many of the buildings still standing date from its grandest era, when it reigned as the Armenian Kingdom’s capital, but there are also ruins from its Seljuk era.

Kars itself has a castle and a couple of historic mosques, as well as some fine 19th-century architecture left over from the period the town was under Russian control. It’s known as a foodie city, with the winter months a good time to tuck into its local roast goose dish specialty.

6. City Break in Istanbul without the Crowds

Istanbul is a year-round city-break destination but there are a few really good reasons to head here during winter.

Hotel prices drop substantially from November through to March, meaning you can snag a great accommodation deal at this time of year.

This is also the season that sees far fewer tourists in town, so you get to visit Istanbul’s major monuments, such as Topkapı Palace and the Hagia Sophia, without the massive crowds and the queues that are par for the course during summer.

The major mosques of Istanbul’s historic old town area – in Sultanahmet and around the Grand Bazaar – look incredibly pretty with their grand domes dusted with a sprinkling of snow, making this a good season for photographers.

An extra bonus for foodie travelers in the city during winter is the street food scene. This is the season when the street-cart vendors around town start selling sahlap (a hot milky drink made from orchid tubers) and roast chestnuts – perfect fodder for snacking on a wintry afternoon while touring Istanbul’s tourist attractions.

7. Palandöken Skiing

Palandöken Ski Center (also known as Ejder 3200) sits on the slopes of Mount Palandöken, seven kilometers from the city of Erzurum in Turkey’s northeast.

This ski resort is generally thought to be Turkey’s best with excellent facilities combined with 43 kilometers of slopes (making up 22 pistes). There are 13 ski lifts, including a main cable car, connecting the ski runs.

With the resort area sitting at 2,200 meters, this is Turkey’s highest altitude ski center and so attracts plenty of adventurous, experienced skiers, who want to ski off-piste down the treeless high-altitude slopes.

There are trails here, though, that are also good for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, and facilities for families such as a toboggan park.

If skiing isn’t enough, Palandöken is also where you come for winter tandem paragliding.

Due to the resort’s high altitude, the ski season here tends to be longer than at other Turkish ski centers, with skiing possible usually for around 150 days annually from December through to April.

Regular public transport from Erzurum to the resort area means that ski day trips are easy. The ski center itself has plenty of hotel accommodation as well as cafés, restaurants, and spa facilities.

Come on a weekday if you can because on the weekends, the main ski runs can get packed.

8. Discover Lake Abant

Surrounded by thick pine tree forest, Lake Abant is a freshwater lake in northwest Turkey, 39 kilometers south of the city of Bolu. The lake sits at the center of a national park at around 1,200 meters high and covers an area of just over 1.2 square kilometers.

With walking trails looping around the lake and both bike and horse riding available on the trails, it’s a year-round destination for visitors wanting a nature escape.

In winter, though, photographers flock here to capture snaps of the winter wonderland vistas on strolls around the lake. During the depths of this season, the entire lake surface freezes, and the pine trees are frozen white, turning the lake area into a sublime snowy panorama.

Sitting roughly halfway between Istanbul and Ankara, this one of Turkey’s most accessible destinations to seek out Turkey’s wintry vistas.

9. Ruin Hop the Coast While it’s Quiet

The vast majority of Turkey’s tourists arrive on the coast during July and August, but if you want to escape the crowds at Turkey’s most famous archaeological sites, head here in winter instead.

Sure, you’ll have to pack warm clothes but there are plenty of blue sky days even within the depths of winter on Turkey’s Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines. Although snow will not be a problem along the coast, which only has a mild winter, you do have to be prepared for rain, so don’t forget your umbrella.

While many smaller resort towns, along the coast, where tourism is focused on sun-and-sand vacations, almost completely shut up shop during the winter months, larger towns and cities such as Fethiye and Antalya, and towns where the tourism focus is on archaeological attractions, such as Selçuk, offer plentiful accommodation year-round. Room rates at most hotels are massively discounted from November to March, adding an extra budgeting bonus into a winter stay.

This is the season to come if you want to see Ephesus, Aspendos, and Pamukkale without the tour bus crowds. At some of the Mediterranean’s most famous ancient Lycian sites, such as Xanthos and Tlos, you might even be lucky enough to be the only visitor on-site.

10. Skiing at Sarıkamıs

It may not be as popular as Turkey’s other ski centers, but Sarıkamıs is something of an in-the-know secret among winter sports lovers.

Sitting 55 kilometers southwest of Kars, Sarıkamıs is particularly revered among its fans for its excellent powder snow, which skiers here claim are the best snow conditions in Turkey.

The long season skiing opportunities, usually from early December through to April, also make it a favorite destination with winter visitors.

There are four long pistes, surrounded by thick pine forest, and three connecting lifts.

Skiing and snowboarding here is good for beginners through to advanced skiers, and the resort area has five hotels and full equipment rental facilities.

Its vibrant culture, famous food, and vast history wow all who venture here, while its glorious landscapes, from the sun-soaked Mediterranean to the mighty mountains and arid steppe, are tourist attractions in themselves.

Whether you want to lap up the Byzantine and Ottoman glories of Istanbul on a city break, laze on the beach, delve into history wandering through ruins such as Ephesus, or see some of the world’s most surreal panoramas in Pamukkale and Cappadocia, this country offers visitors a wide range of things to do.

For ideas on the best places to visit read our list of the top tourist attractions in Turkey.

Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.

1. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) Mosque

2. Ephesus

3. Cappadocia

4. Topkapı Palace

5. Pamukkale

6. Antalya

7. Cruising the Mediterranean

8. Mount Nemrut

9. Ölüdeniz

10. Aspendos

11. Pergamum

12. Ani

All of our partner hotels who are welcoming guests have developed comprehensive protocols for safe visits. Reduced capacity, regular deep cleaning procedures, specially trained staff, and contactless service are just a few of the features that these properties have instituted in order to provide the safety and peace of mind you need while traveling. If a hotel doesn’t satisfy our stringent qualifications, we take them off our list until they do. 

We’ll give you peace of mind 

Confidence in your travel plans is always an essential quality; these days, it’s more important than ever. Our goal at Widad Tours, from day one, has been to take the worry and stress of travel planning out of your hands. Our clients know that when they travel with us, all they need to do is show up and enjoy their journey. 

In today’s climate, this means ensuring maximum flexibility before your trip, and faultless protection while you travel. Hotels and resorts around the world have revised their booking policies to facilitate free and easy cancellation, should your plans change for any reason – whether that be something out of your hands (such as new travel restrictions) or simply personal choice. In fact, it’s never been easier to plan a trip. Postponing or cancelling is entirely hassle-free, and if all goes well, you get to finally embark on that much-needed trip, at lower rates than ever before. 

Trusted experts on your side 

One of the benefits of working with Widad Tours is the attention to detail you receive from a small, passionate team. Our advisors are experts in their respective destinations, and know every detail about safe travel to and within those places. No question or request is beyond their scope. With a smaller team, there’s no red tape to work through – you receive immediate, personalized attention from your dedicated advisor who knows every detail about your trip. 

Everyone is waiting excitedly for the day when we can travel again. When you book with the experts, that day can be today. Our team always strives to create a perfect journey and remains uncompromising in our approach to health and hygiene. There’s no better time to plan a flexible trip with advisors who can provide you critical peace of mind. We can’t wait to plan your next journey!

Stay safe and well. 

Ramai juga yang bertanya dan nak tahu bagaimana suasana dan pengalaman yang bakal kita lalui sepanjang berada di musim panas dalam masa yang sama sedang menahan diri dari lapar dan dahaga. Apa bezanya? Ini tips  mudah khusus bagi jemaah yang pertama kali ingin menjejakkan kaki di Tanah Suci di dalam bulan Ramadan.

1- SUHU YANG PANAS & KERING

Kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia suka pergi umrah pada hujung tahun sebab cuacanya lebih sejuk dan tentunya lebih selesa. Selalunya yang pergi umrah bulan Ramadhan kerana mahu mencari kelainan merasai suasana ibadah umrah ketika berpuasa.

Sepanjang Ramadhan, suhu di tanah suci dalam lingkungan 40 darjah Celcius. Pengalaman saya paling tinggi pernah capai sehingga 46 darjah Celcius. Lagi panas dari Malaysia. Sudah namanya pun bulan Ramadhan, memang akan jatuh dalam musim panas.

Ramadhan dalam bahasa arab bermakna PANAS YANG MEMBAKAR. Kalimah Bahasa Arab Ro Mim Dhal itu bermaksud ketajaman atau kepedihan pada sesuatu kerana kesan kepanasan dan lainnya. Jadi, jemaah semua memang kena banyak buat persediaan diri sebelum datang ke sini.

Tapi jangan risau. Di sini, cuacanya PANAS DAN KERING. Tak sempat nak bepeluh lencun seperti di Malaysia. Peluh akan cepat kering dan badan memang tidak akan berbau. Sampaikan kita boleh pakai baju yang sama seharian tanpa rasa ‘melekit’. 

Tipsnya, bawa pakaian nipis dan tak perlu bawa banyak stok baju.

2 – SUASANA BERBUKA PUASA YANG UNIK DAN MERIAH

Suasana berbuka di Madinah lebih meriah berbanding di Makkah. Waktu inilah kita akan saksikan banyak syarikat-syarikat dan perniagaan berlumba-lumba ‘cop’ tempat untuk menaja makanan berbuka puasa. 

Di Makkah pun ada majlis iftar tetapi kemungkinan kerana faktor rekabentuk di luar masjid yang agak luas dan menyukarkan penyediaan makanan yang teratur. Tetapi masih lagi satu pengalaman yang unik untuk kita rasai. 

Berbanding Madinah, kawasan dataran di luar masjidnya yang luas dan berbentuk segi empat tepat di dalam kawasan berpagar. Menjadikan proses penyediaan makanan berbuka dan pembersihan lepas solat Maghrib lebih teratur. Jangan lepaskan peluang lihat bagaimana meriahnya suasana selepas majlis berbuka.

Datang awal sejam atau lebih untuk dapatkan lokasi berbuka yang ‘STRAREGIK’. Biasanya sekitar sejam sebelum berbuka puasa, payung akan ditutup. Waktu inilah jemaah ambil peluang merakam momen indah seluruh kawasan dataran Masjid Nabawi yang redup dibelah cahaya matahari petang.

Memang indah dan sangat rare! Hanya di Madinah.

3 – DI MANA PORT BERBUKA PUASA TERBAIK?

Selain dari berbuka puasa di hotel, kita ada pilihan untuk turun ke dataran masjid dan berbuka puasa berjemaah. Boleh pilih nak berbuka di luar atau di dalam masjid. Menu juga berbeza. 

Di Madinah, sama ada kita duduk di dalam atau luar masjid, kita PASTI akan dapat makanan.  Biasanya di luar masjid, makanan yang berat dan sedap sikit macam nasi mandi, shawarma, roti, buah-buahan, air laban dan lain-lain. 

TIPS – Kalau rajin ajaklah mutawif berbuka dengan mencari daging kambing atau kibas, biasanya pihak penaja akan bawa lauk pauk dalam periuk besar. Jumpa periuk besar tu, duduklah di atas tikar sebelahnya. Nak cari ayam mandi, kena cari peti besi makanan warna silver. Ada banyak di sekitar kawasan dataran. Sahih ada nasi mandi ayam.

Semasa dalam perjalanan ke masjid lepas Asar pun, kita akan jumpa orang dah mula edar makanan dan minuman.  Tipsnya, hulur sajalah tangan juga ambil makanan tu. Jangan malu-malu. Barulah rare. Memang semuanya diniatkan untuk sedekah kepada orang ramai.

Lain pula di Makkah di mana tidak semua tempat ada orang edar makanan di dalam masjid. Kalau nak merasa berbuka di dalam masjid, pergi ke tingkat 2 di mana setiap tempat yang ada karpet, memang akan ada satu kumpulan penaja yang akan edar makanan dan air. Kita boleh boleh iktikaf situ. Siap ada aircond. Banyak-banyak tempat, port tu saya perasan, orang asyik tawar nak bagi makanan sampaikan boleh bungkus bawa balik.

4 – KENALI JENIS-JENIS MINUMAN KETIKA BERBUKA

Air zam-zam yang memang ada merata-rata dalam masjid di Makkah dan Madinah. Kita boleh bawa botol siap-siap sebab senang. Tak perlu ulang alik nak tadah banyak kali untuk ambil air zam-zam.  

Duduk di Madinah memang dijamin murah rezeki. Kalau nak rasa air selain air zam-zam, Boleh belajar cuba 4 jenis air biasanya disedekahkan sebelum waktu berbuka;

1. Shai – teh yang ada rasa pudina. Ini memang susah nak jumpa. Kena pandai cari.

2. Laban – susu masam. Kadang dapat susu segar. Sekali minum, boleh jadi ketagihan.

3. Qohwah – kopi. Ini paling rare. Kalau boleh minum saya tabik spring!

4. Jus buah-buahan – Air manisan dalam botol seperti jus nenas, jus oren, jus manga dan lain-lain. 

Kebanyakkannya orang akan tawar minuman shai (teh) dan qohwah (kopi). Kalau kita dengar dua perkataan ni, saya sarankan korang pilih shai sahaja. Sebab  qohwah (kopi) Arab original ini bukan macam kat Malaysia. Kopi dia macam air herba siap ada rasa bunga lawang, cengkih dan kayu manis dan lain-lain. 

Saya sendiri pengalaman rasanya sekali saja, memang melekat dalam ingatan. Tak boleh nak telan masuk. Siapa tak biasa boleh hilang terus deria rasa dan selera sebaik sahaja berbuka.

Bagi yang pertama kali mengerjakan umrah, inilah pengalaman yang patut kita semua merasa. Ambil peluang rasai sendiri keunikan berbuka puasa di sana, kalau sedap boleh ‘mentong’ kata orang jawa. 

5 – TEKNIK MINUM AIR ZAM-ZAM SEMASA BERBUKA PUASA

Tips berbuka puasa di Makkah dan Madinah yang rare ini, saya syorkan supaya jemaah tidak minum air zam-zam atau sebarang air sejuk sebagai ‘muqaddimah’ ketika berbuka puasa. Katanya ini tips nak elakkan batuk terutamanya sepanjang berada di tanah suci. Pilih air zam-zam yang ditulis NOT COLD sebagai keutamaan ketika berbuka. Ini untuk yang nak jaga kesihatan. Tahan sekejap nafsu minum air sejuk tu ya. Lepas solat bolehlah qodho balik.

6 – SOLAT BERJEMAAH DI MASJID

Waktu berbuka puasa hanya sekitar 10-15 minit. Bukan lama sangat pun. Tips dari saya, kalau boleh makanan yang berbungkus, jangan makan lagi. Simpan dulu makan lepas solat Maghrib nanti. Kalau tidak takut tak sempat habis. Dia sudah bungkus SAPRAH. Takut kita rasa macam kena halau pula nanti.

Selepas berbuka yang ‘ringan-ringan’, terus siap-siapkan diri untuk solat berjemaah. Jangan bimbang. Lepas solat Maghrib semua orang macam ‘berkelah’ di kawasan dataran.

Kawasan dataran juga nak dibersihkan. Jadi kena cepat-cepat cari tempat di dalam masjid. Dalam bulan Ramadhan, susah sangat nak dapat solat dalam masjid. Bukan sahaja selepas waktu berbuka, boleh dikatakan setiap waktu.  Kalau 15 minit sebelum azan kita tak bertolak lagi ke masjid, memang jawabnya kita akan solat di luar masjid atau di tepi jalan.

Kalau di Madinah, penjaga pintu muslimat akan benarkan masuk selagi ada tempat solat. Hatta di kawasan pejalan kaki ruang solat. Selagi tak penuh sampai ke pintu, selagi itu kita boleh masuk.

Berbeza di Makkah, pihak pengawal akan menghadang pintu lebih awal walaupun kita nampak masih ada ruang solat lagi di dalamnya. Kadang-kadang mereka bukan tutup pintu sahaja, tapi tutup jalan siap pasang dengan penghadang.  

Kalau jemaah nampak dia tutup jalan atau pintu, jangan cepat sangat putus harapan terus solat tepi jalan sahaja.  Sebenarnya dia tak tutup semuanya, ada trick dia. Mereka akan tutup jalan/pintu secara beransur sikit demi sikit. So kita kena cepat beralih cari pintu lain pula sampai jumpa kalau mahu juga solat di dalam.

Seeloknya pada bulan Ramadhan, biasakan diri kita keluar ke masjid 1 jam sebelum azan dan kita sudah berada di dalam masjid menunggu waktu solat. Kan banyak faedahnya dapat iktikaf di dalam masjid. Bulan puasa lagi.

7 – MACAM MANA NAK CARI PINTU YANG MASIH DIBUKA?

Bila kita berada di Makkah, memang kena cepat pergi ke masjid terutamanya kalau waktu Subuh dan lepas waktu Asar. Dalam pukul 5.30 petang tu sudah kena turun dari hotel. Sebab waktu inilah orang tengah berpusu ke masjid nak solat Subuh dan Maghrib kemudian terus bersedia untuk solat tarawikh dalam masjid.

Tipsnya kita kena pandai cari pintu mana yang masih dibuka. Sebenarnya dari jauh pun kita boleh nampak. Di atas setiap pintu ada papan elektronik LED berwarna merah atau hijau. Kalau hijau, cepat-cepat berjalan menuju ke pintu tu. Kalau dari jauh dah nampak merah, cepat-cepat cari sign yang berwarna hijau. Jangan pula ikut arus orang ramai yang sedang masuk ke sign pintu warna merah.

Bagi yang tidak tak faham, mereka akan tunggu dan merayu pada pak guard yang jaga tu untuk benarkan masuk ke dalam. DIJAMIN pak guard tu memang tak akan buka sekali pintu tu ditutup. Jadilah tetamu Allah yang bijak mencari pintu ya!

8 – BAWA SEJADAH BESAR

Ketika mengerjakan umrah di bulan Ramadhan, kita digalakkan bawa sejadah besar. Ini kerana peratusan untuk solat di luar tu agak tinggi kalau kita lambat ke masjid. Ini tips bagi yang selalu bangun lambat atau tak sempat nak masuk masjid. 

Ini juga tips untuk elak solat di atas lantai yang kotor terutamanya kalau kita terpaksa solat di jalan atau solat lepas habis watu berbuka puasa. Sebab lepas habis berbuka, lantai di luar masjid memang agak kotor, melekit sebab banyak nasi, air, dan kuah yang tumpah.  Cleaner start bersihkan kawasan luar masjid lepas habis solat Maghrib. 

Buat persiapan yang bijak. Sekurang-kurangnya kita boleh solat atas sejadah yang bersih. Ini pun untuk keselesaan kita sendiri.

9 – TUKANG SPRAY AIR

Kalau bulan biasa, setiap kali kita penat atau duduk sahaja dalam masjid, boleh santai-santai lepak sambil minum air zam-zam yang diletakkan di mana-mana dalam masjid.  Masa balik solat, boleh pula pekena aiskrim Makkah. Ini macam rutin harian orang sana.

Tapi bulan Ramadhan memang sah kita kena puasa. Antara cara nak segarkan diri, selalulah spray air zam-zam ke muka dan mana-mana anggota badan. Bagi sejuk dan segar sikit muka tu.

Dan nanti kita akan nampak ada orang main spray je air kat korang ketika tawaf atau di ruang yang sesak. Jangan dimarah pula kena sembur. Sebenarnya niat mereka hanyalah mahu segarkan diri kita.  Itu antara keunikan orang sana membuat amal sedekah. Ramadhan kan musim panas. Siap spray pakai tong racun pun ada. Jangan terkejut dan melatah pula ya.

10 – SEDEKAH DI HARAMAIN

Kita sangat tahu sedekah bulan Ramadhan di sini luar biasa kerana masing-masing yakin dan mahu mendapatkan ganjaran yang Allah berikan pada sesiapa menyediakan makanan kepada mereka yang berbuka.

Dan kita akan jumpa ada orang yang sediakan hanyalah tisu. Ya, tisu sahaja! Mereka ni akan duduk sahaja sambil pegang kotak tisu sambil menunggu di tempat tawaf atau tempat solat. Ada yang sedekahkan buah kurma dan ada juga edarkan makanan ringan untuk jemaah yang lalu lalang.

Semua orang mencari jalan bagaimana nak bersedeqah. Tanya mutawif nanti. Macamana nak bersedeqah di Tanah Suci. Ada banyak cara. Tak susah pun nak buat pahala di bulan Ramadhan.

11 – WAKTU LAWATAN KE RAUDAH

Slot/Permit untuk solat di Raudhah (lelaki/wanita) masih lagi diperlukan. Tetapi bagi jemaah lelaki, hanya untuk menziarahi makam nabi dan para sahabat dah tak perlu memohon permit untuk masuk. Buat masa sekarang, jemaah lelaki memang tiada masalah untuk masuk ke Raudhah.

Cuma bagi slot Raudhah jemaah wanita, memang agak mencabar. Atas rezeki masing-masing juga kalau dapat masuk ke Raudhah. Slot akan sentiasa penuh. Namun, jangan lupa untuk berdoa kepada Allah S.W.T untuk memudahkan serta mengizinkan kita untuk masuk ke Raudhah.

Tempoh masa bagi setiap slot hanya 10 minit sahaja. Tapi yang bestnya memang tak perlu bersesak-sesak ataupun berebut-rebut untuk masuk ke dalam Raudhah. Proses untuk ke Raudhah lebih teratur dan sistematik. Cuma memandangkan bilangan jemaah semakin meningkat, slot juga sentiasa penuh.

12 – MACAM MANA NAK SPONSOR MAKANAN BUKA PUASA DI HARAMAIN?

Kalau jemaah nak juga merebut pahala memberi makanan orang di tanah suci, kita boleh beli makanan dan distribute sendiri. Cara lain kita boleh bagi duit pada kedai dan pihak kedai tersebut akan uruskan semuanya.

Sebagai contoh jika di Madinah, boleh beli kurma ajwa di pasar kurma dan air jus di Supermarket Bin Dawood. Kemudian letak dalam satu plastik jadi senang nak agih di perkarangan dataran masjid semasa orang lalu lalang nak pergi masjid atau agih kepada jemaah di dalam masjid.

Ketika di Makkah pula, kita boleh bagi duit kat kiosk makanan tepi jalan yang buat pakej begini.  Pilih sahaja pakej makanan yang kita nak sedeqahkan.  Semasa proses pengedaran makanan tu, kedai yang akan agihkan. Kerja kita bagi duit sahaja dan minta pihak mereka uruskan.

13 – SUASANA WAKTU MALAM 

Di tanah suci suasana malamnya sangat meriah dengan ibadah yang mana kebanyakkan orang tidak tidur pada waktu malam di bulan Ramadhan.  Sebab kat sini, selesai solat tarawikh 20 rakaat  lebih kurang pukul 11 malam. Dan imam masjid di Makkah dan Madinah akan mulakan qiamullai bermula pukul 12-12.30 malam. Jadi masa rehat sini sangatlah sekejap. Paling kurang 1 jam sahaja. 

Kebiasaannya bermula Maghrib, orang ramai tak akan keluar dari masjid lagi sampai waktu Subuh sebab nanti memang kita tahu susah dah nak dapat masuk kawasan masjid lepas tu. Lepas waktu Subuh, memang ramai yang bergelimpangan tidur di dalam masjid. Jangan pelik. Itu normal.

Jika jemaah memang nak tunggu sampai waktu qiam, kita memang dah kena bersedia dengan kelengkapan dan mula masuk masjid bermula 1 jam lepas Asar paling lewat. Kalau tidak, kita dah susah nak dapat tempat solat yang selesa terutamanya di Makkah. 

14 – WAKTU BILA ORANG TIDAK RAMAI?

Kebanyakan waktu tak ramai jemaah di dalam masjid adalah ketika waktu Dhuha. Antara sebabnya kerana kebanyakkan sudah kembali pulang ke hotel selepas berjaga sepanjang malam dalam masjid. Mereka balik untuk berehat dan siapkan kelengkapan lain untuk malam seterusnya.

Waktu Dhuha atau selepas solat Subuh adalah waktu pendidikan jiwa. Kuliah ini yang penting untuk memahamkan kita matlamat dan tujuan kita tunaikan ibadah umrah. Banyak fadhilat umrah yang kita kongsikan untuk jemaah faham APA HASIL IBADAH YANG MAHU KITA BAWA PULANG NANTI.

KESIMPULAN

Menunaikan ibadah umrah dan juga berpuasa Ramadhan di Tanah Suci amat besar ganjaran pahalanya. Malah ada hadis Nabi s.a.w yang menyatakan :

“Sesiapa yang melakukan Umrah dalam bulan Ramadhan seolah-olah mereka mengerjakan Haji bersama-sama denganku.”

Buat Umrah menyamai ganjaran pahala Haji. Tetapi harus diingat melakukan Umrah 7 kali menyamai pahala Haji memang tidak ada dalil dari Al-quran mahupun hadis. Apa yang penting kita nak ambil ialah hikmah dan pelajaran berpuasa dan melaksanakan umrah di bulan istimewa ini.

Kenangan menunaikan ibadah puasa dan umrah di bulan Ramadhan di Tanah Suci Makkah memang amat mengujakan dan sangat RARE! Tanyalah pada mereka yang sudah ke sampai di sana pada bulan Ramadhan, pasti jawapannya senada dengan saya.

Share dan tag jika anda dapati tips yang dikongsikan bermanfaat. Saya doakan kita semua dijemput menjadi tetamu Allah dan dimudahkan segala perancangan kita menuju ke Tanah Suci. Amin.

Kredit : Shauqi Hasan

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I throw myself down among the tall grass

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and

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