French traveler walks 8,000 kilometres to perform Umrah

After a nearly year-long journey on foot, a French traveler arrived in Saudi Arabia this week to perform the Umrah pilgrimage.

In an interview with Saudi media, Mohamed Boulabiar revealed the dedication behind his ambitious journey. He spent two years training for an 8,000-kilometer walk.

Starting off from Paris on August 27, 2023, he traversed 13 countries on foot, including Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, and Jordan before finally reaching his destination in Saudi Arabia.

The adventurer carried a map, a backpack containing essential supplies, and a tent weighing 25 kilograms and sought rest at mosques during the nights. 

He also met hospitable strangers along the way who offered him accommodation in their homes. 

According to Boulabiar, the weather was the most difficult challenge he faced throughout his remarkable journey.

He said that he started off in summer and reached Medina in spring, after passing through winter and autumn.

During the interview, he said, “I departed in the summer and arrived in the spring, passing through autumn and winter, enduring storms and thunder. At one stage of the journey, a snowstorm at the Greek border delayed my trip by a week.” 

“It has been a dream since childhood. I yearned to arrive in Makkah on foot, emulating the Prophet [PBUH],” Boulabiar stated.