Can I take a bus from Makkah to Taif?

Yes. Rome2rio lists a Northwest bus from Makkah Bus Station to Taif Bus Station that takes about 2 hours and leaves every 3 hours. It gives fares of USD 10 to 26, depending on the listing. A private car is quicker and lets you stop at the sights.

When is the Taif Rose Festival 2027?

Wego says the dates are not yet confirmed and will likely fall between late March and early May, based on past years. Saudipedia says the festival began in 2005 and runs 10 to 14 days in spring. Check Visit Saudi or the Ministry of Culture for the announcement before you plan around it.

Do I need to book Taif cable car tickets in advance?

House of Saud says tickets are bought in person at the upper station. Expect queues of 20 to 40 minutes at peak times, and weekdays are quieter. Hours vary seasonally and during Ramadan, so confirm them before you leave. Young children may ride free with a paying adult, but confirm at the counter.

Where is the miqat on the road between Makkah and Taif?

Qarn al-Manazil, also called as-Sayl al-Kabir, is on the Taif to Makkah road. Saudipedia places it about 80 km from Makkah and about 35 km north of Taif. The Prophet set it as the miqat for the people of Najd. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi's one-way Taif page lists a free stop there on request.

Day trip from Makkah · Taif · road, fare and sights · 2026

Taif Day Trip from Makkah

The Al Hada mountain road between Makkah and Taif — 87 km, 1.5 to 2 hours on the Al Hada road, and a plan that gets you back to Makkah before dark.

Taif is about 87 km (54 miles) from Makkah, also spelled Mecca. The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours on the Al Hada mountain road, and the distance is the same in both directions. A day trip with no plan can leave you stuck on a bend with the sun going down.

I am Rohail Arshad, founder of Hujjaj Umrah Taxi. Many pilgrims add a Taif day to their Makkah stay. This guide covers the road, the taxi fare and the best places to stop. Where two sources give different numbers, I show both.

Jump to:

The Al Hada road Taxi fare Plan by hour Places to see Best time Ihram Book your day trip FAQ

The Al Hada Road Between Makkah and Taif

Saudipedia describes the Al Hada road, also called Aqabat al-Kurr, as crossing a mountain that rises about 2,177 m above sea level. A route planner shows 58.3 miles (about 94 km) and 1 hour 6 minutes, so the figures shift with your hotel and the traffic.

Saudipedia says it is the only road in Makkah Province where trucks and large buses are prohibited all year. It is often closed for fog and rain, which can also cause rockfalls. The Saudi Gazette reported that it closed for maintenance for about two months from 1 January 2025, with the Alsail Alkabeer road as the alternative. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi's Taif page adds that the road is checkpoint-controlled during Hajj.

I recommend asking your driver about the road the evening before you go.

Makkah to Taif Taxi Fare for a Private Car

Hujjaj Umrah Taxi publishes fixed fares per car for Taif. Its Taif page also cites market quotes of SAR 300 to 900, depending on vehicle and season.

The full-day Taif ziyarat taxi includes fuel, tolls, parking and a driver who waits at every stop.

Vehicle	Seats	One way	Full day
Toyota Camry	Up to 4	300 SAR	500 SAR
Hyundai Staria	7	350 SAR	550 SAR
GMC Yukon	7	400 SAR	700 SAR
Toyota Hiace	10	400 SAR	700 SAR
Toyota Coaster	17	On request	1,000 SAR

Extra time on the full-day tour costs SAR 80 per hour for sedans and SAR 100 per hour for vans. A one-way trip with the Taif taxi service has the same fare from Makkah to Taif and from Taif to Makkah. I recommend the full-day option if you want more than one stop.

A Suggested Plan by Hour for a Taif Day Trip From Makkah

One day is enough for Taif if you leave early. This is my suggested order, and the times are estimates.

7:00 amleave Makkah.
9:00 amride the Al Hada cable car, which generally opens at 9 am.
11:00 amvisit Shubra Palace after checking its opening times.
12:30 pmhave lunch and pray Dhuhr at Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas.
1:15 pmstop at Masjid Addas and Masjid Al-Kou.
2:15 pmvisit a rose farm in season, or Al Rudaf Park.
3:30 pmleave for Makkah, arriving by about 5:30 pm.

Places to See on a Taif Day Trip From Makkah

Al Hada Cable Car and Its Views Above the Road to Taif

House of Saud describes a ride of about 4.5 km that takes 15 to 20 minutes each way, with a descent of about 600 m. The upper station is beside the Ramada Al Hada Hotel, about 20 km west of central Taif. Tickets were 150 SAR one way and 300 SAR round trip as of 2025. A toboggan ride costs 30 SAR extra.

Shubra Palace, a 1905 Palace and Museum in Taif

Shubra Palace was built in 1905. King Abdulaziz later used it as his headquarters in Taif, and it became a museum in 1986, according to Arab News. The article gives no opening hours or ticket prices, so check before you go.

Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas, the Taif Mosque Many Pilgrims Visit

The mosque is the resting place of Ibn Abbas, the Prophet's cousin and an early scholar, who was buried there in 687, according to Wikipedia. It was rebuilt in 1958. Wear modest clothing, stand outside the grave enclosure and keep your voice low, as Hujjaj Umrah Taxi's Taif ziyarat page advises.

Masjid Addas and Masjid Al-Kou Where the Prophet Rested in Taif

In the tenth year of prophethood, the Prophet walked from Makkah to Taif to ask the tribe of Thaqif for support. They refused, and he left the city injured. Masjid Addas marks the spot where he stopped to rest, and Masjid Al-Kou holds the stone where local tradition says he made his well-known dua. They are two of the ziyarat places in Taif. Both lie about 4 km from Masjid Abdullah ibn Abbas, and both are working mosques.

Taif Rose Farms and the Best Time to See Them

Visitors go to the farms at Al-Hada and Al-Shafa to watch the harvest and distillation. Al Riyadh Daily reported about 550 million roses in the 2026 season, on more than 910 farms, and a season of around 45 days.

Al Rudaf Park, a Lake and Picnic Area in Southern Taif

Wasalt describes a large park in southern Taif with a man-made lake, pedal boats, shaded picnic areas and a children's playground. It is lit in the evenings.

Best Time for a Taif Day Trip From Makkah

Taif sits about 1,800 m above sea level, so its climate is milder. Saudipedia gives a July average of 27.1°C, a January average of about 13.9°C, and winter lows near 3°C. Bring a jacket for the cable car and for evenings.

Taif has two main seasons:

Rose season: spring. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi's Taif page names March and April for the rose farms.
Cable car season: House of Saud says October to April is cooler and clearer.

Ihram on a Taif Day Trip From Makkah and Why to Ask First

Ask a scholar before you leave, because the answer depends on your school of fiqh and on your plan to perform Umrah again. One Hanafi answer on MuftiOnline says to wear ihram again when returning to Makkah if you passed the miqat on the way to Taif.

Ready for Taif? Book Your Day Trip From Makkah With Hujjaj Umrah Taxi

Let a professional driver take the mountain road while you enjoy the sights. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi picks you up from your Makkah hotel lobby and brings you back to your door at the end of the day.

One WhatsApp message books either Taif option, and the confirmation is instant. Nothing is charged online and no deposit is needed. You pay the driver after the trip, and cancellation is free up to 12 hours before pickup.

Child seats are free on request, and wheelchair loading help is included. For the full-day tour, the driver's contact reaches you the night before. The company is part of Al Harbi Transport and is registered with Nusuk.

MAKKAH TO TAIF · ONE WAY OR FULL DAY · FIXED FARE · PER CAR

Book your Taif day trip from Makkah

Hujjaj Umrah Taxi drives the Al Hada road for you, waits at every stop and brings you back to your Makkah hotel. From SAR 300 one way or SAR 500 for the full day in a Camry, with fuel, tolls and parking included. Driver contact sent the night before, nothing charged online, free cancellation up to 12 hours before.

Send your date, group size and the stops you want on WhatsApp and we reply with one fixed price.

Get a quote on WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a bus from Makkah to Taif?: Yes. Rome2rio lists a Northwest bus from Makkah Bus Station to Taif Bus Station that takes about 2 hours and leaves every 3 hours. It gives fares of USD 10 to 26, depending on the listing. A private car is quicker and lets you stop at the sights.
When is the Taif Rose Festival 2027?: Wego says the dates are not yet confirmed and will likely fall between late March and early May, based on past years. Saudipedia says the festival began in 2005 and runs 10 to 14 days in spring. Check Visit Saudi or the Ministry of Culture for the announcement before you plan around it.
Do I need to book Taif cable car tickets in advance?: House of Saud says tickets are bought in person at the upper station. Expect queues of 20 to 40 minutes at peak times, and weekdays are quieter. Hours vary seasonally and during Ramadan, so confirm them before you leave. Young children may ride free with a paying adult, but confirm at the counter.
Where is the miqat on the road between Makkah and Taif?: Qarn al-Manazil, also called as-Sayl al-Kabir, is on the Taif to Makkah road. Saudipedia places it about 80 km from Makkah and about 35 km north of Taif. The Prophet set it as the miqat for the people of Najd. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi's one-way Taif page lists a free stop there on request.