Lyon, January 13, 2026 – Dogan Voyages, a travel agency in Lyon renowned for organizing pilgrimages to Mecca, abruptly closed its doors at the end of December, leaving many clients with cancelled trips and significant financial losses. The agency, located on Rue de la Part-Dieu in Lyon (3rd arrondissement), has shown no signs of activity since its closure, with a locked store, an unavailable website, and an uncontactable phone number.
Abrupt Closure Leaves Pilgrims in Limbo
The sudden closure has left numerous faithful individuals who had planned to undertake a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks or months without a solution. For some, the financial prejudice amounts to several thousand euros.
In a statement published on its social media on December 31, Dogan Voyages initially claimed that “recent departure cancellations are linked to exceptional circumstances beyond our control.” The agency, which stated it had been accompanying pilgrims for over 30 years with “seriousness, commitment, and respect,” assured clients that its teams remained “fully mobilized” to assist them, particularly regarding refunds.
However, many internet users have criticized these justifications as “vague” and “nebulous.” Others report “radio silence” since the announcement of the cancellations.
Clients Express Growing Anger and Financial Loss
The indignation among affected clients is palpable. “I am one of those people, I paid the full amount for a trip planned for January 25th, and suddenly they canceled everything without any explanation. They don’t answer the phone, they don’t reply to emails, and now I don’t know what to do,” testified a Lyon resident.
Another client shared her frustration: “I paid 6,000 euros for 4 people, and for now it’s radio silence. So what to think, how to remain calm and confident…”
Beyond the considerable sums of money disbursed, with no compensation in sight, clients also point to a perceived lack of honesty on the part of the agency. “They harassed me for two weeks beforehand to pay the full amount of my reservation, telling me it was to guarantee my place. It was not true,” stated another customer.
She further questioned, “They continued to cash in, and two weeks later they send an abstract email to the client that explains nothing and disappear off the radar. We have no news. And several thousand euros have been spent. Why did they cash in on December clients if it’s not dishonesty, what is it?”
Legal Action Initiated as Complaints Mount
In response to the collective outcry, Azzedine Gacine, the rector of the Villeurbanne mosque, addressed the issue on his social media, offering advice “to avoid any problems concerning the Hajj and the ‘Umra” (two Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca).
Gacine emphasized, “Cashing checks even when the agency knew the trip could not take place is unacceptable and causes direct harm to pilgrims. It is recommended never to hand over cash, never to pay the full amount before official confirmation, and always to inquire about the agency (references, licenses, reviews, history…).”
Seeking clearer explanations and prompt refunds, some clients have decided to pursue legal action against the travel agency. The Lyon public prosecutor’s office confirmed to the editorial team that “several complaints have been filed on charges of fraud and breach of trust.”
Dogan Voyages, when contacted by actu Lyon, remained unreachable.
This incident underscores the importance of due diligence when booking significant travel, especially for religious pilgrimages, and highlights the vulnerabilities faced by consumers when businesses cease operations without warning.
