Trio brave elements and enjoy hospitality of fellow Muslims on 8,000km pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for haj, a route not taken in 500 years.

More than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world gathered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the Hajj, an Islamic pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest city. The religious trip is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every Muslim who is financially and physically capable.

This year’s pilgrimage, attended by more than 1.8 million people, was under tight logistical planning and safety precautions designed to manage the intense heat and large crowds