Umrah Packages from UK 2026 - Starting from £615/pp

Planning Your Umrah from the UK 2026: What to Know Before You Book

Getting flights, a place to stay, and a visa is the easy part. The things that can improve your experience during your trip are things most pilgrims do not think about until it is time to go on their trip. This guide focuses on the things pilgrims do to plan their trip to the Umrah that they might not know about. We will discuss some of the things pilgrims do behind the scenes to plan their trip to give you an edge once you set foot in Saudi Arabia.

How far in advance should you book?

The timing of your plan plays a larger role than most people think. Hotels close to the Haram have surging demand and are expensive. During Ramadan and the summer school vacation, the best hotels sell out. The best approach is to book:

• During Ramadan and summer school vacation – 3 to 6 months
• During other months (February, September, October) – About 2 months
• If you are planning to travel during the above times and are part of a large group, you should book even earlier.

Booking in advance gives you more time to plan the other things you need to do before your trip, like getting your visas and vaccinations.

Health and Vaccination Requirements

Saudi Arabia requires meningitis (ACWY) vaccinations for all Umrah pilgrims. These vaccinations must be administered within a specified time frame, which is subject to change. You should contact your GP or a travel clinic to verify the time frame.

While physicians are allowed to exercise a reasonable amount of discretion based on a pilgrim's age and health status to recommend some additional immunisations or travel precautions, the following are vaccinations pilgrims may be advised to consider:

• Influenza vaccination for the elderly.
• Polio vaccination if the pilgrim is arriving from a polio-endemic/transit country.
• A general travel health evaluation may be appropriate for travellers with a medical condition. This should be assessed based on the traveller's ability to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage.

If you are travelling with elderly parents and/or small children, it is advised that you make your pilgrimage as early as possible because delays are commonly attributed to the vaccination status of the travellers and the availability of appointments.

What to Pack: Things Pilgrims Tend to Forget

There are some essentials beyond the typical clothing that travellers to the Haram should bring. Those include:

• A comfortable pair of shoes: A lot of time is spent walking between the Haram and the hotel and walking long distances to perform Tawaf and Sa’i.
• A crossbody bag: This is useful for keeping your ID, room key and phone when you go to pray and need to leave your bags elsewhere.
• A water bottle: Zamzam water is available for free, and a water bottle makes it easy to stay hydrated when you are spending a lot of time in the mosque.
• A pack of duas: It is sometimes hard to rely on your phone to show you duas when you pray in the Haram, and a lot of people prefer not to use their phones.
• A first aid kit: This can help you with any blisters or a headache that you may get from all of the standing.

What to Expect in Makkah

Some people feel anxious because they do not know what to expect in Makkah.

• Because of the physical toll prayer can take, people often rest at their hotel between prayers. Many people aim to pray Tawaf at Maghrib and Fajr because those prayers are typically less crowded.
• Evening hours find many of us back at the Haram. Some perform Umrah for family and friends who could not medically or financially make the journey.
• Some pilgrims, out of anxiety or an overzealous sense of devotion, attempt to perform the whole Hajj in the first 48 hours, thus exhausting themselves before the spiritual heart of their journey.

Making the Most of Your Time in Madinah

A stay in Madinah allows a pilgrim the opportunity to disengage from the hectic pace of Makkah. Here, rest, reflection, and spiritual advancement occur naturally. In addition to visits to the Prophet's Mosque and the Rawdah, one should plan time to visit:

• Uhud and the site of the Battle of Uhud
• Jannat al-Baqi, the graveyard adjacent to the Prophet's Mosque
• Care should be taken not to rush visits to the sites in Madinah. Many pilgrims take long, narrow, and unproductive detours to other cities and countries after their visits to Makkah and Madinah.

Common Mistakes First-Time Pilgrims Make

• There are many ways to overextend yourself on the Hajj. For instance, some plan their schedules so aggressively that they exhaust themselves in the process.
• Also, many underestimate the amount of walking they will need to do. The Haram is larger than it appears from afar and covers a lot of surface area.
• Many plan their first Hajj at the last minute. Though it is possible to gain last-minute authorisation to go, many first-time pilgrims feel a great deal of anxiety in the process because of poor time management.
• You also need to be judicious about how much you pack. While you are allowed to bring as much as you want, it is a hassle to move around with a lot of bags. Hotels have limits to the number of bags they will transport for you. 
• Also, plan your time judiciously. Some think that time will be set aside for them to pray and meditate, but in reality, many feel that time will be best spent planning other activities.

Things to Check Before You Leave

• A passport that will remain valid for at least half a year from your expected return date.
• I have my meningitis (ACWY) vaccination certificate.
• I have purchased travel insurance and saved the electronic and hard copies of the policy and related documents.
• I have packed Ihram and prayer clothes.
• I have packed medication with a label describing the medication and purpose.
• I have given my emergency contact details to my family.
• I have raised a cash Sterling-Saudi Riyal visa travel currency or travel card.
• I have photocopied my passport, visa, and booking confirmation and kept the originals separately.
• I am now ready to arrange transport and accommodation.

Ready to Plan Your Trip?

I can plan a trip but prefer others to do the Booking. Our company is happy to take bookings and assist with logistical planning to ensure your family is prepped for the trip, not just booked a package. Call us on 0203 475 4003.