Wednesday, May 09, 2012 -
Seven men from Tajikistan have arrived in Afghanistan at the start of their walking journey to the Saudi holy city of Mecca, news outlets reported Wednesday.
The men – who are all in their sixties – hope to arrive in Mecca for the start of the hajj in late October, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Wednesday.
The pilgrims plan to walk 2,858 miles from Tajikistan, through Afghanistan and Pakistan, and onto Mecca.
The group of men should be in good hands on the journey. The group’s leader, Abdulaziz Rajabov, is a former athlete who has completed the massive trek to Islam’s holiest city on foot before.
Tajik authorities helped the men obtain the necessary visas for the journey. The men have no travel insurance and expect to spend nights in mosques, instead of hotels.