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The Travels of Ibn Battuta

Introduction.

Welcome to this tour of Ibn Battuta's medieval travels!

You will be following in the footsteps of this famous 14th century Muslim traveler, exploring the places he visited and the people he encountered. To help you learn more about his adventures there will be images of the people and places he saw, information on the food he might have tasted, and "side trips" into the past and future.

Ibn Battuta started on his travels in 1325, when he was 20 years old. His main reason to travel was to go on a Hajj, or a Pilgrimage to Mecca, to fulfill the fifth pillar of Isla.. But his traveling went on for around 29 years and he covered about 75,000 miles visiting the equivalent of 44 modern countries which were then mostly under the governments of Muslim leaders of the World of Islam, or "Dar al-Islam".

He met many dangers and had numerous adventures along the way. He was attacked by bandits, almost drowned in a sinking ship, and nearly beheaded by a tyrant ruler. He also had a few marriages and lovers and fathered several children on his travels!

Near the end of Ibn Battuta's life, the Sultan of Morocco insisted that Ibn Battuta dictate the story of his travels to a scholar and today we can read translations of that account, which was originally titled  Tuhfat al-anzar fi gharaaib al-amsar wa ajaaib al-asfar, or  A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling . 

That title is a bit of a mouthful so the text is generally just called Ibn Battuta's  Rihla,  or  Journey.

Ibn Battuta in Egypt; painting by Hippolyte Leon.

About this Virtual Tour

The Travels of Ibn Battuta: A Virtual Tour  began as a Web resource written in 1999 by Nick Bartel for his students at Horace Mann Middle School, San Francisco, California. It was one of several large online resource units Nick constructed during the early days of curriculum on the internet. Most units were lost during technical changes over the years at San Francisco Unified School District, where the original pages were hosted. Since that time, online resources for teaching world history through traveler's narratives have increased dramatically, but Nick's pages are still some of the most valuable for classrooms. In 2012 he gave permission to ORIAS to rebuild and rehost the site at UCB, where it could be updated and "rescued" from the virtual void. The Center for Middle Eastern Studies provided funding to help in this process.

Special thanks go to Ross Dunn who worked with Nick on the initial project and whose wonderful book, The Adventures of Ibn Battuta , provided much of the content.

Thanks also to World Affairs Council, San Francisco Unified School District CIPD, and many students at Horace Mann for their help with the original pages!

The Setting

Dar al-Islam in the 14th Century

The first map below shows the Muslim World (or Dar al-Islam) about 1300. The second map shows the route of Ibn Battuta's journeys. Ibn Battuta mainly traveled to places with Muslim governments in the areas inside the black border marking the Dar al-Islam. Beyond that, Muslim traders had already ventured out into China, Indonesia and further, and had established small Muslim communities in many regions of the world. Ibn Battuta would seldom be far from fellow Muslims on his travels, and he would greatly benefit from the charity and hospitality offered to Muslim travelers and pilgrims.

The Journey

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Ibn Battuta: The Extraordinary Journey of a Pioneering Traveler

In the annals of history, there are only a few individuals whose audacious expeditions have left an indelible mark on the world. Among these legendary explorers, Ibn Battuta, the intrepid Moroccan traveler, stands tall as one of the most remarkable and daring adventurers of the 14th century. Born in Tangier in 1304, Ibn Battuta embarked on an epic odyssey that would span nearly three decades and cover over 75,000 miles, an unparalleled distance for his time. His journey, chronicled in his famous travelogue “ Rihla ,” serves as a gateway to understanding the medieval world’s geographical expanse, cultural diversity, and historical significance.

Early Life and Education:

Ibn Battuta came from a scholarly family, and his early education focused on Islamic law, jurisprudence, and the Quran. At the age of 21, he embarked on his travels with the intention of performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Little did he know that this journey would become the beginning of a remarkable odyssey that spanned three continents.

Setting Sail on a Quest for Knowledge:

Ibn Battuta’s thirst for knowledge and a desire to experience the wider Islamic world ignited his passion for exploration. At the age of 21, he set out on his pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey that would become the catalyst for his extraordinary travels. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity and the spirit of adventure, he chose to venture far beyond the boundaries of his homeland, determined to embrace the unknown and unravel the secrets of distant lands.

An Odyssey through Diverse Lands:

The start of Ibn Battuta’s travels in the early 14th century took him through the Middle East, from the cosmopolitan cities of Cairo and Damascus to the historic centers of learning in Baghdad. The Silk Road beckoned him to the Anatolian plains and the Crimean Peninsula, where he encountered the Golden Horde. His explorations led him further, traversing the vast Sahara Desert and venturing into the heart of Africa. He crossed the Sahara’s unforgiving terrain, arriving at the fabled cities of Timbuktu and Gao, witnessing the prosperity of the West African kingdoms.

Explorations in Africa:

Ibn Battuta’s travels in Africa were extensive and daring. He crossed the Sahara Desert, exploring the fabled cities of Timbuktu and Gao in present-day Mali. He continued south to the Niger River and then traveled through the Swahili Coast, where he visited Zanzibar, Kilwa, and other prosperous trading cities along the eastern coast of Africa.

Journey to Asia:

Ibn Battuta’s voyages continued as he ventured into the Indian subcontinent. He visited the Sultanate of Delhi, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Maldive Islands. His admiration for the cultural diversity of India is evident in his accounts of the grand palaces, bustling bazaars, and majestic temples he encountered during his stay.

Ibn Battuta’s Visit to India: Embracing the Tapestry of Diversity

During his extensive travels, Ibn Battuta’s journey to India stands as one of the most captivating chapters of his travelogue, “Rihla.” In the early 1330s, he set foot on the Indian subcontinent, which was then a land of vibrant kingdoms and rich cultural heritage. His adventures took him to the Sultanate of Delhi, ruled by Muhammad bin Tughluq, a dynamic and powerful monarch.

Ibn Battuta’s accounts of India are a vivid portrayal of the subcontinent’s remarkable diversity. He marveled at the grandeur of Delhi’s architectural marvels, including the Qutub Minar and the Red Fort. His admiration extended to the bustling bazaars and vibrant marketplaces, where merchants from across the world converged to trade in exotic spices, textiles, and precious gems.

Traveling further south, Ibn Battuta was captivated by the coastal city of Calicut (now Kozhikode) in Kerala. He described it as “one of the greatest and most beautiful cities,” with its abundance of coconut palms and thriving maritime trade. In Calicut, he encountered the legendary Indian seafarer and navigator, Zheng He, a prominent figure in the history of maritime explorations.

During his stay in India, Ibn Battuta also visited the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Maldive Islands, further enriching his understanding of the Indian Ocean’s extensive maritime network.

Must Read: Top 5 Tropical Travel Destinations in the World – Here’s What You Need to Know

His observations of India’s diverse cultures, languages, and customs were recorded with great detail, providing valuable insights into the subcontinent’s social fabric during the 14th century. Ibn Battuta’s accounts have become an invaluable historical resource for understanding the medieval Indian society and its cultural tapestry.

His visit to India was not only a testament to his intrepid spirit as a traveler but also a testament to the intricate connections between India and the wider Islamic world. Ibn Battuta’s impressions of India highlight the profound impact of cultural exchanges during that era, fostering a deep appreciation for the nation’s extraordinary richness and captivating allure.

China and Beyond:

From India, Ibn Battuta embarked on a perilous journey through the maritime Silk Road to China. He traveled to Beijing, where he met the Yuan emperor, Kublai Khan. His descriptions of the Chinese society and customs are invaluable historical accounts.

Return to Morocco:

After nearly three decades of travel, Ibn Battuta finally returned to Morocco in 1349. His astounding journey had covered a vast expanse of the known world, including North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, and China.

Legacy and Impact:

Ibn Battuta’s travelogue, “Rihla,” chronicled his incredible journey and became one of the most significant travel writings of the medieval era. His detailed accounts of the places he visited, the people he encountered, and the cultures he experienced provided invaluable insights into the diverse world of the 14th century.

Conclusion:

The tale of Ibn Battuta’s extraordinary journey continues to captivate and inspire generations of travelers and scholars alike. His unparalleled odyssey traversing Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond, provides a window into the world of the 14th century. Through his meticulous observations and accounts, Ibn Battuta not only documented the geographical expanse of the medieval world but also highlighted the profound connections between diverse cultures and civilizations. His legacy as a trailblazing traveler and chronicler of history endures, encouraging the exploration of new horizons and fostering a deeper appreciation for the world’s cultural richness and shared heritage. Ibn Battuta’s odyssey reminds us that the spirit of exploration knows no boundaries, and that the pursuit of knowledge and understanding is a timeless quest that transcends generations.

Image Source – https://www.baytalfann.com/

Here are Frequently Asked Questions abour Ibn Battuta

Q: Who was Ibn Battuta, and what is he famous for? A: Ibn Battuta was a 14th-century Moroccan explorer known for his extensive travels across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, chronicled in his travelogue “Rihla.”

Q: How many countries did Ibn Battuta visit during his travels? A: Ibn Battuta visited over 40 modern-day countries, covering a distance of over 75,000 miles during his remarkable journey.

Q: What motivated Ibn Battuta to embark on his travels? A: Ibn Battuta’s thirst for knowledge, curiosity about the wider Islamic world, and a desire for adventure motivated him to set out on his explorations.

Q: What is “Rihla,” and what does it reveal about Ibn Battuta’s travels? A: “Rihla” is Ibn Battuta’s travelogue, providing detailed accounts of the places he visited, the people he encountered, and the cultures he experienced during his journeys.

Q: How did Ibn Battuta document his travels without modern technology? A: Ibn Battuta relied on his remarkable memory, diligent note-taking, and storytelling skills to document his travels, later compiling them into his travelogue.

Q: What were some of the significant cities Ibn Battuta visited in India? A: Ibn Battuta explored the Sultanate of Delhi, Calicut (Kozhikode) in Kerala, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives during his time in the Indian subcontinent.

Q: How did Ibn Battuta’s travels contribute to our understanding of medieval geography? A: Ibn Battuta’s journeys provided valuable information about the medieval world’s geographical expanse, trade routes, and cultural interactions.

Q: What were some of the challenges Ibn Battuta faced during his travels? A: Ibn Battuta encountered various challenges, including harsh weather conditions, dangers on land and sea, and linguistic barriers.

Q: What legacy did Ibn Battuta leave behind, and how did his travels impact history? A: Ibn Battuta’s legacy includes his extensive knowledge of medieval cultures and geography, contributing to a deeper understanding of the era’s historical context.

Q: How is Ibn Battuta remembered and celebrated today? A: Ibn Battuta is revered as one of history’s greatest explorers, and his travels are celebrated through museums, historical sites, and academic studies worldwide.

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The Life and Travels of Ibn Battuta, World Explorer and Writer

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Ibn Battuta (1304–1368) was a scholar, theologian, adventurer, and traveler who, like Marco Polo fifty years earlier, wandered the world and wrote about it. Battuta sailed, rode camels and horses, and walked his way to 44 different modern countries, traveling an estimated 75,000 miles during a 29 year period. He journeyed from North Africa to the Middle East and Western Asia, Africa, India and Southeast Asia.

Fast Facts: Ibn Battuta

• Name : Ibn Battuta
• Known For : His travel writing, which described the 75,000-mile journey he took during his rilha.
• Born : February 24, 1304, Tangier, Morocco
• Died : 1368 in Morocco 
• Education : Schooled in the Maliki tradition of Islamic law
• Published Works : A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling or The Travels (1368

Early Years 

Ibn Battuta (sometimes spelled Batuta, Batouta, or Battutah) was born in Tangier, Morocco on February 24, 1304. He was from a fairly well-to-do family of Islamic legal scholars descended from Berbers, an ethnic group indigenous to Morocco. A Sunni Muslim trained in the Maliki tradition of Islamic law, Ibn Battuta left his home at the age of 22 to begin his rihla , or voyage.

Rihla is one of four forms of travel encouraged by Islam, the best known of which is Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. The term rihla refers to both the travel and the genre of literature that describes the journey. The purpose of rihla is to enlighten and entertain readers with detailed descriptions of pious institutions, public monuments and religious personalities of Islam. Ibn Battuta's travelogue was written after he returned, and in it he stretched the conventions of the genre, including autobiography as well as some fictional elements from the 'adja'ib or "marvels" traditions of Islamic literature. 

Setting Off 

Ibn Battuta's journey began from Tangier on June 14, 1325. Originally intending to make a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, by the time he reached Alexandria in Egypt, where the lighthouse was still standing, he found himself entranced by the people and cultures of Islam. 

He headed for Iraq, Western Persia, then Yemen and the Swahili coast of East Africa. By 1332 he reached Syria and Asia Minor, crossed the Black Sea and reached the territory of the Golden Horde. He visited the steppe region along the Silk Road and arrived at the oasis of Khwarizm in western central Asia. 

Then he traveled through Transoxania and Afghanistan, arriving in the Indus Valley by 1335. He stayed in Delhi until 1342 and then visited Sumatra and (perhaps—the record is unclear) China before heading home. His return trip took him back through Sumatra, the Persian Gulf, Baghdad, Syria, Egypt, and Tunis. He reached Damascus in 1348, just in time for the arrival of the plague, and returned home to Tangier safe and sound in 1349. Afterwards, he made minor excursions to Granada and the Sahara, as well as to the West African kingdom of Mali.

A Few Adventures

Ibn Battuta was mostly interested in people. He met and talked with pearl divers and camel drivers and brigands. His traveling companions were pilgrims, merchants, and ambassadors. He visited countless courts.

Ibn Battuta lived on donations from his patrons, mostly elite members of Muslim society he met along the way. But he was not just a traveler—he was an active participant, often employed as a judge (qadi), administrator, and/or ambassador during his stops. Battuta took a number of well-placed wives, generally daughters and sisters of the sultans, none of whom are named in the text. 

Visiting Royalty

Battuta met countless royals and elites. He was in Cairo during the reign of the Mamluk Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun. He visited Shiraz when it was an intellectual haven for Iranians fleeing the Mongol invasion. He stayed in the Armenian capital of Staryj Krym with his host, the governor Tuluktumur. He detoured to Constantinople to visit Andronicus III in the company of the Byzantine emperor Ozbek Khan's daughter. He visited the Yuan emperor in China, and he visited Mansa Musa (r. 1307–1337) in West Africa. 

He spent eight years in India as a qadi in the court of Muhammad Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi. In 1341, Tughluq appointed him to lead a diplomatic mission to the Mongol emperor of China. The expedition was shipwrecked off the coast of India leaving him with neither employment nor resources, so he traveled around southern India, Ceylon and the Maldive islands, where he served as qadi under the local Muslim government.

History of the Literary Rilha 

In 1536, after Ibn Battuta returned home, the Marinid ruler of Morocco Sultan Abu 'Ina commissioned a young literary scholar of Andalusian origins named Ibn Juzayy (or Ibn Djuzzayy) to record Ibn Battuta's experiences and observations. Over the next two years together, the men wove what would become the Book of Travels , based primarily on Ibn Battuta's memories, but also interweaving descriptions from earlier writers. 

The manuscript was circulated around different Islamic countries, but not much cited by Muslim scholars. It eventually came to the attention of the west by way of two adventurers of the 18th and 19th centuries, Ulrich Jasper Seetzen (1767–1811) and Johan Ludwig Burckhardt (1784–1817). They had separately purchased abridged copies during their travels throughout the Mideast. The first English language translation of those copies was published in 1829 by Samuel Lee.

Five manuscripts were found by the French when they conquered Algeria in 1830. The most complete copy recovered in Algiers was made in 1776, but the oldest fragment was dated 1356. That fragment had the title "Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling," and is believed to have been a very early copy indeed if not an original fragment. 

The complete text of the travels, with parallel Arabic and a French translation, first appeared in four volumes between 1853–1858 by Dufrémery and Sanguinetti. The full text was translated first into English by Hamilton A.R. Gibb in 1929. Several subsequent translations are available today. 

Criticism of the Travelogue

Ibn Battuta recounted tales of his travels throughout his voyage and when he returned home, but it was not until his association with Ibn Jazayy that the stories were committed to formal writing. Battuta took notes during the journey but admitted that he lost some of them along the way. He was accused of lying by some contemporaries, though the veracity of those claims is widely disputed. Modern critics have noted several textual discrepancies which hint at substantial borrowing from older tales. 

Much of the criticism of Battuta's writing is aimed at the sometimes confusing chronology and plausibility of certain parts of the itinerary. Some critics suggest he may have never reached mainland China, but did get as far as Vietnam and Cambodia. Parts of the story were borrowed from earlier writers, some attributed, others not, such as Ibn Jubary and Abu al-Baqa Khalid al-Balawi. Those borrowed parts include descriptions of Alexandria, Cairo, Medina, and Mecca. Ibn Battuta and Ibn Juzayy acknowledge Ibn Jubayr in the descriptions of Aleppo and Damascus. 

He also relied on original sources, relating historical events told to him in the courts of the world, such as the capture of Delhi and the devastations of Genghis Khan.

Death and Legacy 

After his collaboration with Ibn Jazayy ended, Ibn Batuta retired to a judicial post in a small Moroccan provincial town, where he died in 1368.

Ibn Battuta has been called the greatest of all travel writers, having traveled farther than Marco Polo. In his work, he provided priceless glimpses of the various people, courts and religious monuments around the world. His travelogue has been the source of countless research projects and historical investigations.

Even if some of the stories were borrowed, and some of the tales a bit too marvelous to be believed, Ibn Battuta's rilha remains an enlightening and influential work of travel literature to this day.

• Battuta, Ibn, Ibn Juzayy, and Hamilton A.R. Gibb. Ibn Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354 . London: Broadway House, 1929. Print.
• Berman, Nina. " Questions of Context: Ibn Battuta and E. W. Bovill on Africa ." Research in African Literatures 34.2 (2003): 199-205. Print.
• Gulati, G. D. " Ibn Battuta in Transoxiana. " Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 58 (1997): 772-78. Print.
• Lee, Samuel. "The Travels of Ibn Batuta Translated from the Abridged Arabic Manuscript Copies " . London: Oriental Translation Committee, 1829. Print.
• Morgan, D. O. " Battuta and the Mongols ." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 11.1 (2001): 1-11. Print.
• Norris, Harry. " Ibn Battuta on Muslims and Christians in the Crimean Peninsula ." Iran & the Caucasus 8.1 (2004): 7-14. Print.
• Waines, David. " The Odyssey of Ibn Battuta: Uncommon Tales of a Medieval Adventurer." London: I.B. Tauris & Cp, Ltd, 2010. Print.
• Zimonyi, István. " Ibn Battuta on the First Wife of Özbek Khan ." Central Asiatic Journal 49.2 (2005): 303-09. Print.
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Voyages of Ibn Battuta

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 Across North Africa
• 2.2 Cairo to Mecca
• 2.3 Mesopotamia and Persia
• 2.4 East Africa
• 2.5 Anatolia
• 2.6 The Mongol lands
• 2.8 The Maldives and Sri Lanka
• 2.9 Toward China
• 2.11 Homeward bound
• 2.12 Iberia and West Africa
• 3 The Rihla

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battutah , commonly known as Ibn Battuta (1304–1368/1369) was a Berber explorer and scholar, and among the most well-travelled people of his time, reaching further than Marco Polo had a few decades earlier. His journeys were a showcase of the Islamic Golden Age .

Understand [ edit ]

Ibn Battuta came from a family of legal scholars, and he was trained in that field. At age 21, he set out from Tangier for his hajj , the pilgrimage to Mecca , and continued travelling until his forties, mostly in the Islamic world, India and imperial China .

He documented his journeys in the Rihla – always with the definite article, because rihla is a generic Arabic word for a travelogue. However, many scholars are uncertain if he visited all of the places mentioned in the Rihla or whether he based some of his descriptions on hearsay, and whether he visited them in the order provided in the book.

The University of California Berkeley has a good online account of Ibn Battuta's travels. Our text below is based on that.

Destinations [ edit ]

The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca was Ibn Battuta's first long journey, starting in 1325. He travelled overland, at first alone but later joining various pilgrim caravans.

Across North Africa [ edit ]

Cairo to Mecca [ edit ]

There were several routes from Cairo to Mecca, and he chose what was then usually the safest — south along the Nile in territory controlled by the Mamluk rulers of Egypt, then across the Red Sea to Jeddah . However, as he approached the Red Sea port involved, he found out that its ruler was in revolt against the Mamluks and there was fighting nearby, so he turned back to Cairo.

From there he took another route to Mecca, first going to Damascus via Gaza , Hebron and Jerusalem .

Mesopotamia and Persia [ edit ]

After his year in Mecca, he visited what are now Iraq and Iran , which were then parts of the Mongol-ruled Ilkhanate .

East Africa [ edit ]

He returned to Mecca, then travelled by sea along the coast of East Africa , visiting Aden , Mogadishu , Malindi , Mombasa and Zanzibar .

After returning to Yemen, he went east on foot to Oman (which proved to be a difficult journey), by boat up the Persian Gulf , then overland back to Mecca.

After some time recovering in Mecca, he was ready to continue his journey east. In nearby Jeddah , he spent several months while looking for a ship that would take him to India, but to no avail.

Anatolia [ edit ]

He figured he might be able to join a Turkish trade caravan heading east, so he set off north toward Anatolia , travelling via Egypt and Damascus. He left Syria on a Genoese galley which took 10 days to cross the Mediterranean to arrive at Alanya, on the southern coast of Anatolia.

Ibn Battuta praised "the land of the Turks" for its beauty, delicious cuisine, and its people's hospitality, but was surprised by the Turks' less than perfect compliance with Islamic norms.

Ibn Battuta extensively travelled the land, and was hosted by an Islamic fraternity in most towns. He eventually made his way to Konya, the capital of the Mevlevi Sufi order.

At the time of Ibn Battuta's visit, there was no central authority in Anatolia, as the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum collapsed following the Mongol invasion, and numerous petty kingdoms known as beylik s had emerged in the power vacuum left behind. Ibn Battuta visited several of the local rulers, including Orhan, the chief of the nascent statelet that was to become the Ottoman Empire .

In November 1331, he started his trek north, which proved to be full of trouble. His progress was cut off by a raging river, then a guide got them lost (apparently on purpose as the guide later demanded a ransom ), and as the winter approached he almost froze to death, but he eventually managed to get to Sinop on the Black Sea coast.

The Mongol lands [ edit ]

From there he went into Mongol territory, first that of the Golden Horde . His boat struggled through the severe storms common in the Black Sea , and finally reached Caffa, present-day Feodosiya in Crimea, several days later.

He visited many Black Sea ports, inhabited by a multinational merchant population and receiving the rich produce of the steppe as well as that brought over via the Silk Road. He departed from Azov to catch up with the travelling court of Uzbeg Khan of the Golden Horde, whom he learned was a few days ahead.

At the time, the area was inhabited by Turkic and Mongolian nomads. He described their cuisine based on horse meat (still a delicacy in some of the modern nations in the wider region such as Kazakhstan ) and how they let their horses and other livestock free range on the open steppe. He also mentioned the nomad drinks of kumis, fermented mare's milk still popular in Turkic Central Asia and in Mongolia , and boza, a thick malt drink now common in Turkey and the Balkans .

Ibn Battuta met the khan's court, which he likened to an entire city on the move, near Beshtau, in what is now Stavropol Krai north of the Caucasus Mountains. From there, he went north to Bolghar, although some modern historians dispute this. If it's true that he had been there, that was the northernmost point he ever set foot in — indeed he noted that the summer nights that far north were unusually short to him.

While in Bolghar, Ibn Battuta thought about venturing further north into the "land of darkness", likely somewhere deep inside Siberia , which could only be reached by a dog sled and was said to be inhabited by a mysterious group of people. But such a trip never materialized.

From Bolghar, he returned to the khan's court, and they moved to Astrakhan together.

At Astrakhan, he heard the khan's wife, a Byzantine princess by birth, was about to leave for her father's realm to give birth to her baby there. So in July 1332 Ibn Battuta joined her party for a 75-day trip back along the Black Sea to Constantinople, where he stayed for more than a month.

As he went back to Astrakhan, it was already winter, brutal in the Eurasian steppe. He approached Sarai on the frozen Volga River.

From Sarai, his route trended south, into the Chagatai Khanate .

India [ edit ]

Leaving Mongol lands, he continued to the Indian subcontinent .

Eventually, the Sultan decided to use him as an envoy to China and put him in command of an expedition that included 15 Chinese envoys returning home. They went off toward the coast with a rich and well-guarded caravan, but had some serious trouble with rebels and bandits; at one point Ibn Battuta became separated from the caravan and was robbed of everything but his trousers. However, they did make it to the fortress of Daulatabad where they rested up for a few days before continuing to Cambay , then along the coast to Gandhar where they boarded four ships.

A severe storm came up, the junks put to sea (without Ibn Battuta) to ride it out, and two of them were sunk. The third ship set off for China, without Ibn Battuta; he pursued briefly, but gave up. That ship made it as far as Sumatra , but then was seized by a local king.

Left penniless, and afraid of what the Sultan might do if he returned to Delhi a failure, he found employment with one of the southern Muslin sultans for a while, then did some more travelling.

The Maldives and Sri Lanka [ edit ]

Leaving Sri Lanka, he had more bad luck. One ship was sunk by a storm, but he was rescued and boarded another ship; that one was taken by pirates and again he was robbed of everything except his trousers. However, the pirates put the passengers ashore unharmed and they made their way back to Calicut.

Toward China [ edit ]

From Calicut he decided to continue toward China; he returned to Malé and got on an eastbound ship.

The Sultan owned ships which traded with China, and sent Ibn Battuta off on one.

China [ edit ]

He landed in China at Quanzhou, then travelled by land to other cities.

Homeward bound [ edit ]

Returning to Quanzhou, he found a junk owned by the Sultan of Samudra in port, and boarded it to begin his three-year journey home. After a stop in Samudra he sailed to India, landing at Quilon then returning to Calicut where he boarded a westbound ship.

When Ibn Battuta had visited 11 years before, the Ilkhanate had been peaceful under a strong sultan. However, that sultan had died and the region was now chaotic as various generals and nobles vied for power. Ibn Battuta left Persia quickly, going west via Baghdad and Damascus.

He went back to Palestine , Cairo, Jeddah and Mecca, then returned to Egypt to take a ship west.

Iberia and West Africa [ edit ]

By now, Ibn Battuta had visited most of the Muslim world ( dar al Islam ), as well as areas beyond it. His last major journey was to Islamic kingdoms he had not yet seen.

The Rihla [ edit ]

After the West African journey, he settled in Tangier, worked as a judge, and wrote a book:

The work became well-known in the Muslim world, but was not much known in the West until the early 1800s.

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Hotel Information

Royal Golf de Fes - 0.9 km / 0.5 mi Borj Fez Mall - 0.9 km / 0.6 mi Royal Palace - 1 km / 0.6 mi Jewish Cemetery - 1.1 km / 0.7 mi Bab Semmarine - 1.3 km / 0.8 mi Atlas Garden - 1.7 km / 1.1 mi Parc Jnane Sbile - 2.1 km / 1.3 mi Blue Gate - 2.6 km / 1.6 mi Der Batha Museum - 2.6 km / 1.6 mi Medersa Bou-Inania - 2.8 km / 1.7 mi Nejjarin Fondouk - 3.6 km / 2.2 mi Al Attarine Madrasa - 3.6 km / 2.2 mi Kairaouine Mosque - 3.6 km / 2.2 mi Borj Nord - 3.6 km / 2.3 mi Tombs of the Merenides - 3.7 km / 2.3 mi

The preferred airport for Riad Ibn Battouta is Fes (FEZ-Saiss) - 14.7 km / 9.1 mi

Property Location With a stay at Riad Ibn Battouta, you'll be centrally located in Fes, within a 15-minute drive of Medersa Bou-Inania and Tombs of the Merenides. This 4-star guesthouse is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Borj Fez Mall and 0.6 mi (0.9 km) from Royal Golf de Fes.

Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 7 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Your bed comes with premium bedding, and all rooms are furnished with sofa beds. Rooms have private balconies. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary, while DVD players and cable programming provide entertainment. Detached private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature spring water baths and complimentary toiletries.

Amenities Pamper yourself with onsite massages or take in the view from a terrace. This guesthouse also features complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and babysitting/childcare (surcharge). Getting to nearby attractions is a breeze with the area shuttle (surcharge).

Dining Enjoy a meal at the restaurant or snacks in the coffee shop/cafe. The guesthouse also offers 24-hour room service. Meet other guests and eat at the complimentary reception. Need to unwind? Take a break with a tasty beverage at one of the 2 bars/lounges. For your convenience, a complimentary breakfast is served daily from 8 AM to 11 AM.

Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Event facilities at this guesthouse consist of conference space and a meeting room. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.

Know Before You Go

• This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
• Up to 8 children 1 year old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Children may not be eligible for complimentary breakfast.
• Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.

The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.

• Airport shuttle fee: MAD 200.00 per person (one way)
• Airport shuttle fee per child: MAD 200 (one-way)
• Self parking fee: MAD 20 per stay
• Valet parking fee: MAD 20 per day (in/out privileges)
• Crib (infant bed) fee: MAD 200 per stay
• Rollaway bed fee: MAD 200 per stay

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

Mandatory Fees and Taxes

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

• A tax is imposed by the city: MAD 23.0 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.

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