Tangier
Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier in 1304 CE to a Berber family of judges.
Ibn Battuta's First Journey
A young man from Tangier left for the Hajj and became history's greatest traveller — in twelve cards.
The resolve
At twenty-one he resolved on the Hajj to Makkah, and set out alone.
Overland
He travelled overland through Tlemcen, Bejaia and Constantine to Tunis.
The wedding
In Tunis he married a judge's daughter and stayed two months with his in-laws.
Tripoli
He joined a caravan to Tripoli then Cyrenaica, his bride with him.
Alexandria
He reached Alexandria and saw its lighthouse, palms and ancient schools.
The saint
He visited a saintly man who said: I see the love of travel upon you.
Cairo
Cairo amazed him — he called it the mother of cities and the east of the world.
The Nile
He sailed the Nile into Upper Egypt, then returned to join the pilgrims' caravan.
Aydhab
He tried crossing from Aydhab to Jeddah and failed, so returned and changed route.
Damascus and Madinah
He passed through Damascus visiting its shrines, then Madinah and the Prophet's sanctuary.
Makkah at last
He entered Makkah a pilgrim, and his travels never ended — thirty years and seventy-five thousand miles.
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- Tangier
Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier in 1304 CE to a Berber family of judges. - The resolve
At twenty-one he resolved on the Hajj to Makkah, and set out alone. - Overland
He travelled overland through Tlemcen, Bejaia and Constantine to Tunis. - The wedding
In Tunis he married a judge's daughter and stayed two months with his in-laws. - Tripoli
He joined a caravan to Tripoli then Cyrenaica, his bride with him. - Alexandria
He reached Alexandria and saw its lighthouse, palms and ancient schools. - The saint
He visited a saintly man who said: I see the love of travel upon you. - Cairo
Cairo amazed him — he called it the mother of cities and the east of the world. - The Nile
He sailed the Nile into Upper Egypt, then returned to join the pilgrims' caravan. - Aydhab
He tried crossing from Aydhab to Jeddah and failed, so returned and changed route. - Damascus and Madinah
He passed through Damascus visiting its shrines, then Madinah and the Prophet's sanctuary. - Makkah at last
He entered Makkah a pilgrim, and his travels never ended — thirty years and seventy-five thousand miles.