Alburujpress Reviews 69

Visiting Al Aqsa in the heart of Bayt Al Maqdis, Jerusalem, also known as Al Quds region was an unforgettable journey made possible by the dedication and support of the Al Buruj Press team, with special gratitude to Brother Zayd and Abdul Jolil. From the very beginning, their guidance and insights were invaluable. They not only assisted with booking arrangements but also provided us with a comprehensive briefing that gave us a clear picture of what to expect on this spiritual adventure.

Our stay at the hotel, strategically located near Al Aqsa, was nothing short of convenient. Thanks to Al Buruj Press, they negotiated inclusive breakfast and dinner options, which not only saved us a few quid but also spared us from trying to eat in the scorching 30-degree heat of the day.

One of the highlights of our pilgrimage was the guided coach trip to the Masjids housing the Maqams of the Nabis and Sahabas. Local Palestinian guides, handpicked by Al Buruj Press, provided us with insightful details, allowing us to connect deeply with the historical significance of these places. It was a powerful experience that brought to life the pages of the books we had read.

What truly set Al Buruj Press apart was their accessibility. Whenever challenges arose, they were just a message away. Through a convenient WhatsApp channel, they delivered real-time information about potential issues and offered practical solutions, ensuring our peace of mind throughout the journey.

In summary, if the opportunity to visit Al Aqsa ever arises again, I wouldn't hesitate to choose Al Buruj Press as my trusted companion. They understand the unique needs and aspirations of pilgrims, and their support made this spiritual odyssey an enriching and seamless experience.

I have had the honour of visiting the blessed lands of Al Quds with Al Buruj 4 times, 2 of these trips were during Ramadan and each trip has left me yearning to return again and again. Al Buruj have catered an educational, spiritual and thoughtful tour, which allowed me to explore the rich history and importance of Al Aqsa. From the pre trip meetings to welcome arrivals on landing I felt immediately reassured by the tour guides Zayd and Abdul Jolil. It was an honour to be in the company of the revered scholars of Al Aqsa for their beneficial reminders. The close proximity of the hotels to the Al Aqsa compound allowed additional ease and convenience in accessing the Al Aqsa compound. The hotel was clean and comfortable, the staff becoming familiar and friendly faces. I highly recommend Al Buruj Press for anyone intending to visit Al Aqsa. Zayd and Abdul Jolil offered attention to detail, excellent service that facilitated ample opportunities to immerse ourselves in the full spiritual journey. Whether you are travelling as a solo female/male, as part of a family or amongst friends, Al Buruj will provide an unforgettable journey that leaves you in anticipation of returning again. Jazakhallah khair Zayd and Abdul Jolil and team, we pray that Allah swt elevates your status and allows you to keep doing this beneficial work.

First time visiting the holy land Sept 2023. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Alhamdulillah we found it to be a very informative and educating experience. We couldn’t believe how much was covered in 4 days. There was a lot of walking involved and mixed with hot weather can be tiresome, so people with young children or elderly people should keep this in mind when booking. The hotel staff were accommodating, it was a 10 minute walk from the Al Aqsa compound and the food was excellent. The organisers were in contact with us via their WhatsApp group, providing constant updates and announcements. Both brothers, Zayd and Abdul Jalil were very approachable and showed real leadership. I will definitely be recommending Al Buruj Al Aqsa tour to my friends and family.

Alhamdhulillah I started my experience of going to Al Aqsa with Al Buruj back in 2020, and I was left wanting more and to see more with Al Buruj as I trusted the team leads in delivering.

Alhamdhulillah over the past few years I have done a long weekend stay as well as Ramadan trips with Al Buruj and feel like part of the Al Buruj team and family when we finally see each other in our visits to Al Aqsa.

Al Buruj have always aimed to get the most out of the trip and have tried to accommodate to all visitors in the tour group to the best of their capabilities.

I would definitely recommend to start your journey to Al Aqsa with Al Buruj tour group and insha'Allah familiarise yourself with Al Aqsa before doing any solo trips to Palestine.

Jzk to all the team leads from all of my visits to Al Aqsa with Al Buruj, as you have made it fun, full of laughter and banter and most importantly a good spiritual experience in Al Aqsa.

Alhumdulillah, another great trip to Masjid Al-Aqsa organised by Al-Buruj. The trip was extremely well organised. Prior to departure, we had two Zoom sessions with the group leaders who gave a step-by-step overview of what to expect during our trip, and it was also an opportunity for everyone to ask questions.

I took the morning flight from Luton, a lot of people who travelled with us were very nervous, when we arrived at Tel-Aviv we had Br. Zayd with us, which was very reassuring. The evening group had Br. Jolil with them throughout. Alhumdulillah, we had no issues at the airport and were always reassured by Br. Zayd.

Communication is always key during these types of trips, and it was really useful to have a face to face briefing session organised the following morning where we could meet others in the group. Again, the team leaders were at hand to take questions and give us an overview of what to expect. It was a nice touch that both the team leaders made themselves accessible to the group by giving their personal mobile numbers for any issues we might have. At this briefing we were also given Al-Buruj string bags and lanyards which were useful in identifying other attendees when we were out and about.

Our first day was packed and included Jummah at Masjid Al-Aqsa and a walking tour of key Abrahamic sites around Jerusalem. The tour guides were clearly experienced and knew their history!

Our second day was a free day for us to explore the area on our own. There was also a more in-depth tour of the Al-Aqsa compound, which Al-Buruj organised, which was great. For those who wanted to do a bit of shopping, one of the group leaders organised a meet-up and showed the group key shopping areas within the old city.

Our third day was packed with the coach tour, which took us to key sites in the West Bank, including to Hebron, Bethleham and Jerico. Again, our tour guides were great and really engaging! There must have been over 100 attendees, and I was very impressed how the team leaders managed the different requirements of the group - ranging from solo travellers, those less mobile and those with young children. The bonus here was a trip to the Mountain of Temptation and also going to Mount of Olive after sunset - both of which was additional and a lovely surprise from the team leaders.

On Monday morning we had some more free time. The team leaders told us about the Islamic Museum and also the library, both situated within the Al-Aqsa compound so we had an opportunity to visit these places in small groups. On the recommendation of the team leaders, we also went to an awesome cafe for some Knafeh!

Overall, it was such an awesome few days away - very much spiritually uplifting! This is the second year I've gone with Al-Buruj. Look forward to making it a hat-trick with them next year Insha Allah! Jzaks to Al-Buruj and the team leaders for making it another memorable visit!

I went to Al Aqsa with Al Buruj in September 2023, and here's my honest review.

On the positive side, we managed to see pretty much everything that the tour promised. The food at the hotel that we stayed at was good, and I can't fault the staff at all (the hotel was sub par, but the staff were lovely). When Alburuj did communicate with us, the messages were detailed and clear.

On the negative side, the communication from Alburuj prior to the trip was terrible. The organisers took forever confirming anything prior to the trip, and when questioned on it, the tone of messages was very condescending. Apparently we were getting fixed on the details whereas they were looking at the 'bigger picture.'

On that note, the 'big picture' seemed to be to take as many people as possible. Alburuj would do well to recognise that the focus should be on quality not quantity. The group was 130+ which was far too big for them to handle. There were only two leaders from AB who struggled to get people to respect timings. The tour on the final day was supposed to last from 8am to 7pm, but didn't finish until 9pm meaning that we missed most of our salah at Al Aqsa masjid. I understand that there was some traffic due to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah (which AB should have known about but apparently didn't) but with a 130+ people it was incredibly slow to organise the group - people just didn't respect the timings and the AB organisers were out of their depths.

They also split the group in two, with the majority staying at the Holy Lands hotel and the unlucky few of us staying at the New Victoria hotel. Again, this was an issue of having too large a group. I was one of the unlucky few - the New Victoria hotel was AWFUL. The bathroom was disgusting, there were ants, the shower had no water pressure and lukewarm water, and not even a proper shower (it was step down bath which was really dangerous). It wouldn't have felt so terrible if the AB organisers had stayed with us and perhaps given their comfortable room at the Holy Land hotel to someone more needy, but instead they stayed at the nice hotel and left us on our own (only turning up on the final night). They were so absent that the hotel staff were asking us where the leaders were. Not only that, but when they did turn up, I was really disappointed to hear them joking about the state of the hotel.

When I booked with Alburuj, I had asked them if there were any spaces left and they had confirmed that there were. Had I known that they had too much interest and would put me in a poor hotel, I would have asked to join the October group instead. I've looked at the prices on Booking.com and there's a BIG difference in price between the New Victoria and Holy Land hotel, so we paid the same amount as those staying at the Holy Land and had a terrible experience - it's left us feeling as though they ripped us off. Another thing, they claim the following on their website 'Classes with the Main Imam of Masjid al-Aqsa and others (based on availability)' - there were NO classes and no mention of it either. I'm guessing had we asked we would have been told that there's 'no availability'

Did I complain to Alburuj organisers at the time? No. Why is that? Because the few times I did offer the younger of the two any feedback/questioned something, he was very rude and condescending. I’m not allowed to name him as per trust pilot rules (even though he’s named in the positive reviews) but if you ever speak to him you’ll know who I’m referring to, he doesn’t have the right adab to address people. I know that they'll accuse me of 'slander' but giving an honest review of a business is my duty and right. This guy is not equipped at leading these things, maybe in a decade or so when he has grown up but right now they really need more mature handling. I am not the only one who found him rude.

Will I be booking through Alburuj again? No. It's a shame as I was looking to book Umrah with them later this year, but they've lost my respect after this trip and I'll be avoiding the them going forward.

If you're a single sister (who doesn't do social media), or travelling with anyone over 50/children, don't book with them - they won't look out for you. If you're a young couple, and especially if you have a social media presence, you'll be fine. And if you know the group leaders personally, you'll also be fine.

EDIT: just to clarify (again) at no point during the booking process did AB mention that we would be staying at the New Victoria. I’m re-re-editing this due to further claims by AB. This info was provided a few days before the trip on Watsapp and I have evidence of that. I also have evidence that we were given permission to miss the welcome meeting, and when enquired about what was shared in the meeting this was when the brother was rude and said we should have been there. This is what I mean about adab.

A beautiful Palestine experience.
I had the honour of visiting Palestine this September 2023 with Al Buruj Press and alhamdullilah I had the experience of a life time. From the planning of the trip prior to departing, right the way through to the actual experience and returning home- we have been fully supported by both brother Abdul Jalil and brother Zayd. They have been amazing with the group and despite having to manage over 100 of us, they did so with immense professionalism and efficiency ensuring nobody is left behind or forgotten about. They maintained excellent communication with the group at all times, sending out alerts and updates and checking up on everyone to ensure we are all safe through the entirety of the trip. Al Buruj caters to all ages, ethnicity’s and for both genders as we came across many solo-travelling brothers and sisters who felt safe and secure during their time in Palestine. The tours and prayers in the Al Aqsa compound is a memory never to be forgotten Mashallah and will forever hold a special place in my heart. The guided tours including the walking tour and the coach tour were very informative and extremely jam-packed full of unique experiences. During this time, were also given time and freedom to roam around and explore for ourselves. The historical and religious knowledge I have learnt from this trip is like no other and this is all thanks to the kindness of Al Buruj and their staff.

I am very grateful to Al buruj press for putting together a wonderful itinerary in the blessed lands of Al Aqsa. They paid care and attention to allow the group to maximise as much as possible that a short trip can offer. From the introduction to the compound, the walking and bus tours and the beautiful concluding visit to Mount of Olives I am leaving with a full heart and a yearning to revisit again soon. A special thanks to Zayd and Abdul Jolil for keeping me happy throughout the trip. You will be graced with my face in Ramadan 2024 inshallah.

In August, I went on a trip to Jerusalem organised by this Alburjpress. Unfortunately, my entire journey was extremely disappointing with them. Regrettably, the whole experience was just unsatisfactory.
My disappointment began at the airport, where I was left stranded without any assistance or guidance from the company's team. I found my way to my accommodation at 1 a.m., with no support or concern shown by the organisers. I expected a warm welcome and a reliable team presence upon arriving in Jerusalem, but instead, I was left figuring it out for myself This lack of contingency planning for unexpected situations, such as the deportation of a team leader, is evidence of poor management. During a Zoom call one week before the trip, the leader shared his experience of going numerous times, and the last time he went, he was, in fact, in interrogation for 14 hours and was walked to the plane with handcuffs. Sharing this with us was worrying because how could they not anticipate that he might not be allowed back into the country, especially when he was escorted back during his last visit? There was a potential risk of him being deported, which is exactly what happened. It was careless of them not to send another leader for backup. We were literally left leaderless.

Despite my timely arrival at 8 p.m., the bus departed without waiting for all participants to board, leaving me to arrange my own transportation to the hotel. I had chosen this company as a solo traveler seeking a group experience, but I ended up navigating unfamiliar territory alone. When I arrived at the hotel, I missed my dinner and was told that if I came late, they would prepare a packed meal for me. However, upon my arrival, that did not happen, and I was informed that the kitchen was closed.

Throughout the trip, I received inadequate guidance and information about the promised sights. Instead, I felt rushed and often found myself figuring it out on my own. Not all the promised sights were visited, and the experience was marred by sellers interrupting our journey to sell their products. This constant disturbance detracted from the spiritual experience I had hoped to gain from the trip. We even joined a talk with a different group because we didn't receive any of those moments and were saddened that we were missing out on opportunities to learn. The nicest moment for me was joining a talk with another group at the end of our trip and having the opportunity to learn about the Al Aqsa mosque in detail. This happened by chance as we were in the same hotel with another mufti. When I messaged Alburjpress asking them to share this message with the whole group since I didn't have their contacts, they ignored my message and did not bother to respond or share.

I am disgusted with their behavior. They showed no empathy towards us and did not acknowledge their mistake. Instead, when they finally responded, it was in a defensive and rude tone. The lack of leadership and organisation was evident, with chaotic situations where sellers came onto our bus trying to sell things and wasting hours of our valuable time that could have been spent inside the places and mosques. The company's focus should have been on providing a secure and meaningful experience. Another problem with this company is they also took an excessively long time to respond to our inquiries. This situation cannot be a learning experience for them as they have been doing this for many years.

In conclusion, my trip to Jerusalem with this company fell far short of my expectations. I had anticipated a well-organized and spiritually enriching experience but instead felt lost and unsatisfied throughout the journey. As a member of a significant Muslim organisation, I hope this feedback prompts improvements and changes for future trips. They should put in the same effort and energy every time they go to this trip. Maybe it is repetitive for them, but all the girls in the trip and even the families all deserve to get the same experience as when they began doing this. This trip is supposed to be educational and spiritual, and I didn't get the full experience, which saddens me, as Israel isn't a place you can easily visit.

I would not recommend this group to other sisters and families. They eventually messaged that they would hold a Zoom call with everyone to discuss various matters. However, I have still not received a response and that's why I decided to post everything. There are many other groups that will be with you throughout the whole journey, focusing on sharing Islamic knowledge. Also, I would recommend going with a leader who's a Sheikh or Mufti, someone with knowledge of Islam. They are the ones who will provide you with details and facts, not someone who just names the buildings and then tells you to go see them on your own.

I booked this trip (10-15 Aug) as a solo female who wanted to visit al aqsa and heard of AB. A number of things went wrong on this trip, the first being the team leader being denied entry to the country - apparently unusual but there was a clear lack of a contingency plan from AB and we were effectively left leaderless throughout the trip, now as a solo female person who didn't know anyone else on the trip in a land that can be unstable was unnerving. Day 1 of trip was basically a travel day with many people including elderly and children waiting at the airport once through security for 6+ hours. AB had informed us that we could take a taxi at our own cost to the hotel - but we had pre-paid for this trip to include transfers. After being denied entry the team leader sent us a WhatsApp message to tell a local palestinian guide would show us to the mosque on Friday. The guide came and he showed us where to pray on Friday and that was it - the end of day 2. On day 3 and 4 we visited a number of sites outside of the compound a total of 7 - happy to list them. Which is nowhere near the substantial list of spots that were promised by AB. What was even worse was that the purpose of the trip was to visit al-aqsa but we had arrived to the compound late so the majority of the sites like al buraq mosque, maqaam maryam etc were closed. We were given a rushed tour of the place and that was it and missed almost all of them - again happy to list in detail. Furthermore important sites for Christiany (both churches) and Judaism (western wall) we didnt enter because 'as muslims we only need to know the theory' What this meant was that on the final day (Monday) which was the free day myself and a couple of girls had to rush around to revisit all the sites including aqsa we had missed by ourselves. Most of which with better organised planning we wouldn't have had to do. We even had to organise a bus to take ourselves to the mount of olives in the evening, as this was not taken care of. Overall, the lack of organisation and communication was appalling, the team leader would send a WhatsApp message late in the evening or at the last possible time to give suggestions for the next day. And sent us one voice message as a group in total to tell us of a an important palestinian tradition of 'tipping the tour guide'. The promised talks, and spiritual nuggets that were promoted as part of the trip was absent. Luckily another group staying at the hotel allowed us to join in to their Islamic discussion and invited us to join the talk with the Imam of al aqsa. Would add here that all of the other groups had at least 2 team leaders and one was company was cheaper than the cost the AB trip. Overall, a trip like this is a once in a lifetime for a lot of people myself included. And it was disappointing at the least. Luckily the trip had other solo females and we could all group together and support each other throughout the 5 days as this was lacking from AB.

Alhamdulillah trip to Al Aqsa was amazing. Tour guides were very informative and was great meeting everyone across the UK

An experience I will always cherish! The itinerary was well organised and filled with various educational, spiritual, historical and social activities. I only wish that we had more time to enjoy Al-Aqsa and make more memories. Overall, I’m very grateful for the opportunity!

I had a great time, every day was filled with lots of activities and all the tour guides had a vast amount of knowledge which was super interesting to listen to, would definitely go again with Al buruj! The only thing i would say as feedback is to add another day to the trip as time flies by super fast.

Beautiful Al-Aqsa trip!
A wonderful trip for us students, truly breathtaking. A feeling like no other being in Al-Aqsa grounds, the Palestinian people were so kind and generous. The tours around different sights and cities were insightful, visiting the many masjids were incredibly peaceful. Knafeh top 10/10 treat! Jummah and seeing all the Muslims together was an amazing sight to see, with how full it was aswell! Yearning to go again with Al Buruj as they were so helpful, group lead and olders gave great advice and insight. Days went by really quick, never want to leave behind such beautiful land!

Vising Palestine with al buruj was a beautiful experience and i couldn’t have asked for nothing more perfect as everything was beautifully planned and made to make us comfortable and enjoy everyday. Not to mention the amount of peace and serenity you feel as soon as you enter.

An incredibly safe, well organised and engaging trip which covered the complex religious histories of Palestine really well. We were given the opportunity to visit areas outside of Jerusalem such as Hebron, Bethlehem and Jericho as well spending plenty of time in the Al-Aqsa compound. The structure of the days were well thought out and overall it was a safe and spiritually enlightening trip. I would 100% recommended visiting with Al Burj.

Horrible customer service. I paid £24 for an event, I was charged twice as the website had an error, I contacted the organisers for a refund via email and instagram, they responded very rudely but said they will issue a refund. It has now been 3 months since they have said it will be processed within “2-3 days”. I have tried contacting them for my money but they have ignored my message even whilst seeing it.

My trip to Al-Aqsa Mosque was truly unforgettable. The spiritual aura surrounding the mosque was palpable from the moment I stepped inside. The architectural beauty and historical significance of the place were awe-inspiring.

Praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque was a deeply moving experience, and I could feel a profound connection to the spiritual history of the site. The tranquility of the surroundings and the sense of peace that enveloped me were beyond words.

I also want to commend the professionalism of the tour group that accompanied us. Their knowledge and guidance enhanced the experience, providing valuable insights into the history and significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the entire Old City of Jerusalem.

I'm already counting down the days until I can return next month. Al-Aqsa Mosque is not just a place; it's a journey of the soul, and I can't wait to embark on it once again with such a professional tour group by my side.

A unique trip that I recommend for everyone.

Visiting Palestine with this group was an amazing experience, from the guided tours, to visiting other cities, and most importantly, praying in Masjid Al Aqsa.

I‘m excited and looking forward to go again as I have now booked another trip with Al Buruj

I had an incredible experience as part of the Al Aqsa tour thanks to Al Buruj.

Al Buruj sent detailed itinerary in advance of each day with great coverage of the key sites. It was a packed agenda and perhaps an extra day would have been useful and not so rushed but overall an amazing trip. The group leader Anwar was very helpful and a true gentleman.

It was a life changing experience on so many levels for me and Palestine will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you to Al Buruj for making my first experience so memorable. I will love to return next year in sha Allah with some of the group members.