Why the Prophet ﷺ travelled to Taif, the mosques to visit, the famous roses and the dramatic Al-Hada mountain road — a day trip from Makkah.
High in the Sarawat mountains, Taif sits around 1,700–1,900 m above sea level and is often 10 °C cooler than Makkah. It is an easy and moving day trip.
Getting there
- Distance from Makkah is about 90 km via the Al-Hada road, around 1½ hours by car.
- The Al-Hada mountain road climbs the escarpment in dozens of hairpin bends, with wide views over the valleys — a highlight of the trip. Baboons are often seen beside the road; do not feed them.
The Prophet's journey to Taif
In the tenth year of prophethood, after the deaths of his uncle Abu Talib and his wife Khadijah (ra), the Prophet ﷺ walked to Taif to invite its people to Islam. He was rejected and driven out with stones. Resting in a garden, he made his famous dua of patience and trust in Allah. There a Christian servant named Addas brought him grapes and, hearing him speak of the prophet Yunus, embraced Islam.
When the angel of the mountains offered to crush the city, the Prophet ﷺ refused and hoped that its people's descendants would worship Allah alone (Bukhari, Muslim) — a lesson in mercy pilgrims still reflect on today.
Places to visit
- Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas — the large mosque named after the Prophet's cousin and great scholar, who lived his last years and is buried in Taif.
- Masjid Addas — a small mosque linked by tradition to the meeting with Addas.
- Shubra Palace — an early 20th-century palace in traditional style.
- Al-Shafa and Al-Hada — mountain areas with fruit farms and viewpoints.
Taif roses
Taif is famous for its rose water and rose oil, distilled from roses that flower in spring (around March and April). Farms open to visitors during the harvest.
Ihram from Taif
If you are travelling from Taif to Makkah to perform Umrah, your Miqat is Qarn al-Manazil — at As-Sayl al-Kabir, or Wadi Mahram on the Al-Hada road. Enter ihram there.
Plan it with us
Our Taif day trip runs in a private car from your Makkah hotel, with stops at the mosques, viewpoints and rose farms. Message us on WhatsApp for a fixed quote — a real person replies, usually within minutes.
Cover photo: Al-Hada mountain road, al-Taif, Saudi Arabia by Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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