Destinations
China
“Seek knowledge, even unto China”. When early Muslims heard this saying, attributed to the Prophet (PBUH), some of them resolved to put those words into practice by travelling to that legendary far off land.
Islam officially reached China in 651 during the Tang Dynasty, after Uthman ibn Affan (577-656) the third Caliph had sent his envoy there. Although it is known that Muslim tradesmen and travellers had visited China much earlier, perhaps as early as 618.
As a result of these early tentative contacts Islam began to flourish over the years resulting in a brilliant synthesis of Chinese and Arabian thought and culture. Chinese scholars began studying Islamic works while Muslims learned the ancient Chinese arts and sciences, later even introducing them to the West.
Places Visited
We offer tours to Xian, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing, all these have examples of rich Muslim culture; our tour will incorporate the best examples from these cities along with many of the more traditional tourism sites.
Sites will include; Tiananmen Square, The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, Ming Palaces Terra-cotta soldiers, Muslim quarters and bazaars in main cities, Great Mosques of Xian and Beijing, Tomb of Sahaba Saad bin Abi Waqas (ra) and much more. We will also provide information and guidance on the best halal places to eat out at.
Beijing Muslim Tour
Duration; 5 days/ 4 nights
Itinerary: Visits to Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and many other fascinating sites. The tour will also incorporate halal breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout.
Beijing/ Shanghai Muslim Tour
Duration; 7 days/ 6 nights
Itinerary (Beijing): Visits to Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and many other fascinating sites.
Itinerary (Shanghai): Visits to Xiaotaoyuan Mosque, Bund & Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yuyuan Garden and other sites.
The tour will include flight from Beijing to Shanghai and also incorporate halal breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout.
Best of China Tour (Beijing/ Xian/ Shanghai)
Duration; 9 days/ 8 nights
Itinerary (Beijing): Visits to Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and many other fascinating sites.
Itinerary (Xian); Daxuexixiang Mosque, Terra Cotta Warriors, The Great Mosque, Muslim Market and other sites.
Itinerary (Shanghai): Visits to Xiaotaoyuan Mosque, Bund & Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yuyuan Garden and other sites.
The tour will include flight from Beijing to Shanghai and also incorporate halal breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout.
Travel Advice
Passport(s) must be valid for 6 months on the return date of trip. A visa is required prior to arrival, obtainable from Chinese Consulate. Requirements are valid passport, 2 passport photos and completed visa application.
Vaccination recommendations: Typhoid, Hepatitis A. For further information, please consult your doctor.
Al-Andalucía
Al Andalucía, the very name conjures up an almost mythical world of fascination and charm which history books have described as the greatest achievement of Muslim Civilisation. Andalucía is also testimony to greatest example of Muslim Christen and Jewish coexistence known as “Convivencia”, perhaps the most enduring legacy of European debt to Islam. From architecture to philosophy, from astronomy to sciences, Muslims in Andalucía reached the pinnacle of discovery and invention while helping spark the age of enlightenment. This tour is a must for anyone who wants to experience the heritage of European Islam.
Places visited; Cordoba, Granada and Seville, the main cities holding most of Muslim architecture and artefacts.
Sites will include; The Mezquita Ruins of Madinat al Zahra, Torre de la Calahorra, Al Hambra, Al Bayzin, The Giralda, Alcazar of Seville and other museums and forts.
Travel Advice
Visas: No visa required for EU nationals however a valid passport is required providing the stay does not exceed three months. Other passport holders will require a visa.
Vaccination recommendations: Non urgently required
Istanbul
For almost 600 years Istanbul was the seat of the last Caliphate. From the time the Ottomans first captured the eastern side in 1353 the new rulers were proud to build upon the marvels of their predecessors. The Ottomans proved themselves the most enigmatic of Europe’s empires and helped create an almost mysterious aura of the Orient. While the Turks continued to expand to become perhaps the greatest empire of its age, Istanbul remained the cornerstone of their prowess.
The charm of Istanbul continues to attract millions of tourists each year with its layer upon layer of manifest history. From establishing the first mosque in Kadikoy in 1353 to the building of the Topkapi Palace, the grandeur of the Ottomans was contrasted with their position as standard-bearers of the faith.
Dome Tours will take you to the most important Islamic sites in Istanbul while providing commentary of their history and relevance.
Places visited
Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Eyup Sultan Mosque, Ibrahim Pasha Palace and other museums, tombs and bazaars.
Travel Advice
Visas: UK passport holders must have a valid passport and can obtain a multiple-entry visa on arrival for three months, but other passport holders must obtain a visa from an overseas Turkish mission prior to arrival.
Vaccination recommendations: Hepatitis A
Malaysia
Perhaps the most beautiful of Muslim countries, this tropical paradise has become one of the most desired of destinations. Malaysia is diverse in people and landscape from the bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur with its towering office blocks and shopping malls to the serenity of Penang and Langkawi with their emerald beaches and stunning waterfalls.
Malaysia has so much to offer, whether the endless malls for the shopaholics or jungle trekking and Scuba diving for the more adventurous or those seeking to simply relax on the beaches. Another hallmark is the remarkable array of delicacies available on offer; traditional Malay cuisine with its meat and rice dishes, Chinese cuisine with a distinctive tropical touch or perhaps the unique Malaysianised Indian food, truly a gastronome’s heaven.
Children will also find much to enjoy in Malaysia with its numerous exciting theme parks and attractions such as; Petrosains exhibition housed within the Petronas Towers, Sunway Lagoon and Safari Lagoon theme Parks, National Science Centre, Butterfly Park and many more.
Places visited
Kuala Lumpur, Putra Jaya, Penang, Langkawi
Sites to see
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, Petronas Towers, Taman Negara National Park, Batu Caves,
Travel Advice
Visas: UK nationals require a passport, but do not require a visa, providing the stay does not exceed three months. Other passport holders will require a visa.
Vaccination recommendations: Typhoid, Hepatitis A.
Thailand
Thailand offers some of the most be breathtaking scenery in the world which reflects its status as the ultimate travel destination. From the urban chaos of Bangkok, to the beautiful mountains of the north, to the amazing beaches and islands of the coast, Thailand offers a huge range of activities and attractions, its spectacular scenery offers a fascinating and charming travel experience.
Muslims in Thailand
Around 80% of peoples in the southernmost provinces of Thailand are Muslim, these regions include; Pattani, Yana and Narathiwat. Muslims first came to these lands as Arab and Persian travellers and traders in the 15th century. The people of these regions share a common ancestry with the Muslims of the Malay Peninsula; this common heritage includes dialect which stemmed from the Arabic alphabet.
Muslim Thailand Tour
The regions of Pattani, Yana and Narathiwat offer many beautiful examples of Muslim heritage in Thailand; our tours will include visits to many of these sites.
Itinerary: Pattani Central Mosque, Teluk Manak mosque, Krue Se Mosque, Toh Pasai Cemetery, Phaya Indira Cemetery and many other mosques, museums and bazaars.
Other sites
Travel Advice
Visas: Visas are not required for travel by UK passport holders endorsed British Citizen, for periods of 30 days or less. Other passport holders will require a visa.
Vaccination recommendations: Typhoid, Hepatitis A.
Egypt
Egypt, renowned for being home to one of the world’s greatest civilizations, with its pyramids, temples and other antiquities. The Nile Valley – holds most of the spectacular evidence of this ancient civilisation including the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza near Cairo, and the Valley of the Kings in the southern city of Luxor.
From the 6th Century Egypt became forever identified with the then emerging new faith of Islam, when the campaign of Amr ibn Aas brought the region into the realm of the Muslim empire. Although much of its population accepted the new faith, there remains till today a sizeable Christian population of 14 million in Egypt. Today Egypt’s Islamic legacy, with the Muslim identity of its people and its grand Islamic architecture, sits at ease with its Pharonic history.
However Egypt is not just about ancient history its contemporary culture includes attractions such as the Muhammed Aly and Sayyidna al- Hussein mosques and numerous bazaars like Khan al- Khalili, reputed to be one of the busiest markets in the world. The capital city of Cairo known as the “City of a Thousand Minarets” is home to some of the most enchanting souks selling anything from cloth to perfumes, and where every shopkeeper is eager for a haggle.
Other attractions have been developed to cater for the thriving tourist industry like trekking in the desert and scuba diving in the Red Sea, with modern tourist resorts like Sharm al Sheikh and Hurghada.
Places visited;
Cairo City Tour
Duration; 4 days/ 3 nights
Places visited; The Pyramids and Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Citadel, Muhammad Aly mosque and Khan Khalili Bazaar.
Cairo Luxor/ Aswan Tour
Duration; 7 days/ 6 nights
Places visited; The Pyramids and Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Citadel, Muhammad Aly mosque and Khan Khalili Bazaar. The Temples of Karnak and Luxor. West Bank, Valley of Kings, Colossus of Memnon.
This trip includes many other highlights and also includes return flights from Cairo to Luxor.
We also have other exciting planned trips too including; safari programs to Al Menya and the White Desert, and excursions to Alexandria and the stunning beaches of Hurghada. Call us for more details.
Travel Advice
Passports: you will need a full British passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond your date of return. Two clear pages are required.
Visas: A visa is required, which is obtainable on arrival at a fee (approximately £15).
Vaccination recommendations: Typhoid, Hepatitis A. For further information, please consult your doctor.
India (Delhi & Agra)
The Mughals of India built some of the most magnificent and ostentatious examples of architecture in history, the greatest obviously being the Taj Mahal in Agra. But who were the Mughals what was their legacy and why do they continue to allure thousands of travellers?
Let Dome Tours take you to the magical city of Delhi and witness the history of Muslim India come to life before you. From the splendour of the Mughal Empire at the Red Fort to their last stand at Humanyuns Tomb during the 1857 Mutiny against the British, Delhi holds the key to the history of Muslim India. Perform the Juma prayer at the historical Jamia Masjid, afterwards take a stroll through Chandni Chowk, where Muslims poets would traditionally hold their “Masheras”, then later, experience the evening mysticism at the mausoleum of Nizamuddin Auliya.
Sites to see; Red Fort, Tomb of Humanyun, Jamea Masjid, Mauseleum of Nizamuddin Aulia Old Bazaar, excursion to Agra for Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort.
Travel Advice
Visas: British citizens must have a valid passport and a visa obtainable from Indian High Commission or Consulate.
Vaccination recommendations: Although no vaccinations are required for entry into India, recommended vaccinations are; Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Diphtheria.
