A day in the mountains, an hour and a half from the Haram
Makkah's heat wears people down, especially families who have been in the city for a week or more. Taif is the nearest relief: a mountain city where the air is noticeably cooler, the roads are lined with fruit stalls, and the evenings can call for a jacket. A Makkah to Taif taxi turns that into an easy outing. The car collects you at your Makkah hotel, climbs the escarpment, takes you around Taif, and brings you back in time for evening prayers at the Haram.
Prices
The fixed fare we publish for this route is a round trip, which is how most people travel it:
| Makkah → Taif → Makkah | Passengers | Round-trip fare |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Up to 4 | 400 SAR |
| Family SUV / van | Up to 7 | 600 SAR |
| VIP | Up to 3 | 800 SAR |
If you only need one way, for example because you are moving to a hotel in Taif for a few days, send the details on WhatsApp and we confirm the one-way fare before you book. The price covers the whole car and is paid on arrival.
A suggested day out
Every family plans differently, but this order works well for a first visit:
- Leave Makkah after breakfast. The run to Taif is about 90 km and usually takes around an hour and a half.
- Climb the Al Hada road. The hairpin bends up the mountain are part of the experience. Ask the driver to pull in at a lookout for photos.
- Al Hada and Al Shafa. Fruit and honey stalls, cooler air, and views back over the plain toward Makkah.
- Lunch in Taif, then an afternoon at Al Rudaf Park among its granite boulders, or a stroll through the souq for rose water and perfume oils.
- Head back in the late afternoon to reach Makkah around Maghrib or Isha.
In spring you can swap one stop for a rose farm during the harvest. Tell us your plan when you book and the driver will follow it, or ask him to suggest one.
Before you go up
- Bring a layer. Even in summer the temperature at the top is far lower than in Makkah, and winter evenings in Al Shafa are genuinely cold.
- Prone to car-sickness? The Al Hada bends are tight. Sit in front if you can, eat lightly before the climb, and ask the driver to take it gently.
- Large family? The SUV or van is more comfortable on the bends than squeezing everyone into a sedan.
- Road closures. If the Al Hada road is closed for maintenance or fog, the driver uses the Al Sail road instead. It is longer, but the fare is unchanged.
Taif through the seasons
| Season | What it is like | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Peak visitor season; the biggest temperature gap with Makkah | Book early, especially family cars |
| Spring | Rose season and green hillsides | Ask the driver about rose farms open to visitors |
| Autumn | Mild weather and fewer crowds | A good time for a quiet day in Al Hada and Al Shafa |
| Winter | Pleasant days, cold nights up high | Pack warm clothes if you are staying into the evening |
What to send with your booking
Send your Makkah hotel name or location, the date and departure time, the number of adults and children, and whether anyone needs extra care, such as an elderly relative or someone who struggles with winding roads. If there are particular places you want to see, list them too. The driver can then suggest an order that saves time and avoids doubling back across Taif.
Coming back for another Umrah
Going up to Taif needs no ihram. But Taif lies beyond the miqat, so if you plan to perform another Umrah when you return, you enter ihram at the miqat on the way down before reaching Makkah. Tell the driver in the morning so he plans that stop on the return leg. The details are on our Taif to Makkah page.
Staying longer in Taif
Some pilgrims split their trip: a few days in Makkah, a few days in Taif, then back to Makkah or straight to Jeddah airport for the flight home. We can arrange each leg. For rides within Taif while you are there, see Taif taxi, and for getting around Makkah before you leave, see Makkah taxi.
Questions about the Makkah to Taif trip
How long does the drive take?
Usually around an hour and a half each way via the Al Hada road. It takes longer if the driver has to use the Al Sail road.
Does the driver stay with us in Taif?
On a round trip the driver either stays with you in Taif or comes back at an agreed time. Settle this when you book so the plan is clear.
Can we go in the evening instead?
Yes. Some families leave after Asr, enjoy the cool evening in Al Hada and come back late at night. The fare is the same.