Arbaeen March

The Arbaeen March is the most important gathering of Shia Muslims worldwide, which takes place annually on the Arbaeen.

Millions of Shia followers and lovers of Ahl al-Bayt on a journey to Karbala to eagerly traverse the path to the holy shrine and express their devotion to the commander of the martyrs.

If you plan to participate in the Arbaeen walk, purchasing an airplane ticket from the FlySepehran website is the best option for you to quickly and conveniently reserve your ticket and embark on a journey that is a dream of all lovers of Ahl al-Bayt.

Next, we will talk about the dos and don’ts of the Arbaeen walk, the points and subtleties that double the spiritual value of the trip for you, and although a large part of it is done by walking, it turns the journey into a quality experience.
Stay tuned to Sepehran blog.

Zero to one hundred guide of the Arbaeen walk:

• Ticket price
• Departure date
• Travel expenses
• Essential supplies
• Required documents
• Arbaeen road
• Arbaeen and women
• What is Mawkib?
• Food and drink
• Personal hygiene
• Important points

Arbaeen ticket price 1402 FlySepehran

There are different ways to travel to Iraq, but the shortest route is to Najaf and starting the walk from there.

We at FlySepehran have provided the possibility of quick and easy direct purchase of Najaf tickets. So, you can prepare the prerequisites of this spiritual journey for yourself and your companions and get ready to go.

Your direct purchase from the FlySepehran website means cost-effective buying, which means not paying additional costs.

To find out the price of Arbaeen airplane tickets, go to the “Najaf airplane ticket” page and check the ticket price for the desired date and the dates before and after it.

We suggest that when purchasing a Najaf airplane ticket, select your flight seat to spend the flight path calmly. For information on how to select and reserve it, go to the “Seat Selection” page, and if you need a wheelchair, register your request through the official website of FlySepehran.

Starting Date of Arbaeen Walk

The date of Arbaeen in the year 1402 coincides with September 6, 2023, or the 20th of Safar 1445 in the Islamic calendar. The Arbaeen walk typically starts 4 to 5 days before the actual date of Arbaeen. However, the start time of the walk depends on your travel itinerary and the distance you plan to cover on foot. Most pilgrims arrive in the city of Najaf by the 16th of Safar, and they join the crowd of enthusiasts for Imam Hussein in the evening of the 16th and the morning of the 17th.

Costs of the Arbaeen Walk

The costs associated with the Arbaeen walk can be broken down into several categories, including registration fees, transportation, accommodation, meals, and souvenir purchases. Below are the details:

Registration Fee in the Samah System

The registration fee on the Samah system is one of the first expenses of the Arbaeen pilgrimage and is usually paid within Iran. Registration on the Samah system is intended to provide a clearer view of the number of Arbaeen pilgrims and to plan services accordingly.

Registration on the Samah system is done online and requires a bank card with a second internet password (dynamic code). Check whether registration is needed for Arbaeen 1402 before your trip by visiting this link.

Transportation Costs to Najaf

How you get to Najaf, where the walk starts, completely depends on your preferences, budget, and travel timeline. Depending on your plan, transportation costs can include:

airfare to Najaf, train, bus, or taxi fares to the border towns of Iran, and taxi fares from the Iraq border to Najaf.

The costs vary depending on the mode of transportation. For the cost of flight tickets to Najaf, refer to the FlySepehran website. If you intend to travel by train or bus, check ticket prices on reputable websites.

We recommend purchasing flight tickets and other means of transportation from official and reputable websites to not only get cost-effective and direct purchasing but also benefit from 24-hour online support.

Accommodation Costs in Najaf and Border Cities

If you plan to book a hotel in Najaf or have a short stay in one of Iran’s border cities, you should also add the hotel reservation cost to your travel expenses. So,the amount is entirely dependent on your preference; whether you reserve a 5-star hotel in Najaf or stay in one of the hotels in Iran’s border cities, it will determine the overall cost of your trip

Food and Drink Expenses during Arbaeen Walk

The Arbaeen walk is one of those trips where, apart from the cost of the airplane ticket and possibly booking a hotel in Najaf or in the border cities of Iran, there will be no other expenses. Along the route from Najaf to Karbala, there are stations (mawkib) set up to host pilgrims that, in addition to providing meals, also provide sleeping arrangements, bathing, and laundry facilities. Therefore, during the walk, you will not incur any expenses for food and drink as you will use the services (completely free) of the mawkibs.

Purchasing Souvenirs from Iraq

And now, souvenirs! Although this is a spiritual journey, no trip is complete without souvenirs. If you intend to buy Iraqi souvenirs and of course have enough time for shopping, seal, rosary, prayer mat, dates, Dur Najaf (a type of gemstone), silver ring, sajaq (a traditional Iraqi sweet), coffee, and its products can be good choices.

Essential Items for Arbaeen Walk

If this is your first experience traveling for the Arbaeen walk, you probably have repeatedly asked your acquaintances and people who have travel experience about what essentials to take with you. Although it is customary for pilgrims to travel light for the Arbaeen walk, if you have excess baggage on this trip, you can register and pay for your excess baggage online by visiting the official website of FlySepehran and entering your national code/passport number. For information on excess baggage registration services on FlySepehran, visit the ‘purchase excess baggage‘ page.

Required Documents for Arbaeen Walk

A valid passport is the only document you will need for the Arbaeen walk. Although in the past, a transit card was issued for those pilgrims who did not have a passport, currently having a passport is mandatory for traveling to Iraq. Traveling to Iraq does not require a visa, however, before buying an airplane ticket and traveling to Iraq, make sure about the visa process and travel regulations to Iraq.

Arbaeen Pilgrimage Road

The main route for the Arbaeen pilgrimage is from the city of Najaf to Karbala. The distance from Najaf to Karbala, known as the Arbaeen Road or the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Road, is about 80 kilometers. On average, the journey takes around 17 hours, but it could last up to 25 hours depending on the physical capability of the pilgrims and their companions.

The length of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Road is marked with pillars known as “Umood” (poles). There is one pole every 50 meters, and their total number exceeds 1400. These poles can be used to update your companions on your location.

Women in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage

Women have taken the lead in the Arbaeen pilgrimage, often walking side by side with their fathers, husbands, and children, adding a family atmosphere to the journey. So, women of various nationalities participate enthusiastically in the pilgrimage, often inspiring the entire family to join the vibrant Arbaeen rituals.

An important note concerning elderly and pregnant women is that they require special care. For the elderly, it is recommended only if they are free from specific health issues, while pregnant women should consult their doctors before the journey and be assured of their health conditions.

What is a Mawkab?

On the Arbaeen Pilgrimage Road, there are stations set up to provide the necessary services for the pilgrims.
Known as “Mawkabs,” these stations resemble the tents and Husseiniyahs (Shia religious places) you can see in Shia-majority cities around the world during Muharram and Safar.

Mawkibs offer medical services, food and drinks, cultural activities, bathing and personal care, tailoring and shoemaking, as well as rest and sleep facilities.

Food and drink during Arbaeen pilgrimage

Hospitality for Arbaeen pilgrims is provided in the rest stops, known as Mawakib. Although, hospitality is common between two rest stops as well. Sometimes, you will see the hospitable people of Iraq inviting you to be their guest at their home. However, the places for serving meals are these very rest stops.

On the Arbaeen pilgrimage route, all meals are served free of charge.

The breakfast serving time is usually after the morning prayer until about 8 am, lunch is usually served between 12 pm and 2 pm, and dinner is served after sunset until around 10 pm.

Although the cooks prepare food wholeheartedly and anytime you approach for a meal, they provide it generously. But, it is better for maintaining order and considering the condition of the people working in these roadside kitchens, who try to share in the reward of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, to visit the Mawakib during the specified hours.

Throughout the route, water, tea, and Iraqi coffee are abundantly available. So, cups and glasses are plentiful, to maintain personal hygiene. Your health, and to prevent the production of single-use plastic waste, it is recommended to carry your own water bottle and personal cup.

Personal hygiene during the Arbaeen pilgrimage

A journey that involves long distances to be covered on foot, resting and sleeping in Mawakib and public places. Also, spending a lot of time in train stations or airport lounges or bus terminals, and using the facilities of the Mawakib for meals, requires utmost attention to personal hygiene.

Although medical stations are deployed throughout the walking route to help you if needed, prevention is better than cure.

Observing personal hygiene during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, although an individual matter, has a collective impact.

Here are some tips that paying attention to can ensure your and your companions’ health.

1. Before traveling, make sure you are in perfect health and if you have any symptoms of illness, reconsider your trip or consult your doctor.
2. Take every opportunity to wash and rest your feet. After washing, completely dry your feet, apply moisturizer if needed, and wear clean socks.
3. Clean socks mean healthy feet. Carrying one or two pairs of clean, cotton socks is not excessive. During rest, wash your dirty socks and if washing is not possible, keep them in a plastic bag separate from your clean clothes.
4. Taking a shower, even a short one, removes fatigue from your body and also keeps your skin clean and healthy.
5. If there is no opportunity to shower during the journey.Dry your body sweat and change your underwear.
6. Since your resting place is in the Mawakib and in public areas, bring your personal bedsheet.
7. Do not forget to drink healthy liquids (water/tea). Drinking water and warm liquids keeps your intestines moist and helps balance your temperament.
8. In case of observing symptoms of diarrhea, pain, vomiting, headache, and fever, avoid eating watery, greasy, and unhealthy foods, and refer to the mobile medical centers stationed on the route.
9. Regularly wash your hands or use hand sanitizer. This keeps you immune from various diseases.
10. Do not neglect oral and dental hygiene and use drinking water to rinse your mouth.
11. Maintain social distance with others and if any of your fellow travelers has symptoms of a cold or flu, keep your distance from them.

Important points for the Arbaeen journey

Do not consume or carry these items, otherwise, accept the consequences:

• Various types of narcotics
• Codeine-containing drugs
• Psychedelic drugs
• Alcoholic beverages

1. Avoid taking photos and videos in suspicious situations and if you observe any suspicious activity, inform the officials.
2. Do not carry a large amount of cash, valuable items, gold and jewelry, or important documents such as a driver’s license. The only document you need is a passport.
3. Entrust your personal belongings to trusted friends and companions and avoid leaving personal items in crowded places.
4. Do not take photos or videos at inspection points, military bases, and borders.
5. If staying in a hotel, do not leave your personal belongings and documents there.
6. Do not give your identification documents to strangers. If you lose your documents, inform the officials to prevent any misuse of your documents.

Frequently asked questions