Stunning aerial photos as millions of Muslims make the annual pilgramage to Mecca

Two million Muslims from around the globe began the hajj pilgrimage this week as they travelled to the holy city of Mecca.

The journey is said to be one of the five pillars of Islam, the cornerstones of the Muslim faith, and is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It remembers the experiences of Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad, and every Muslim must make the journey at least once in their lifetime.

There are few religious structures as holy or as iconic to so many people as Kaaba, the famous black structure in Mecca which is seen as the final destination for the millions of Muslims who join the pilgrimage every year.

AP and Reuters photographers captured the magnificent event.