For many Muslims in the UK, a first Umrah is something talked about for years before it happens. Then the dates are chosen, the family is gathered, and a long list of practical questions arrives all at once. This guide covers the basics: what the journey involves, when to go and how the travel itself fits together.
It is not a guide to the rulings of worship. For questions of fiqh, please speak to a scholar you trust before you travel.
What Umrah is
Umrah is often called the lesser pilgrimage. Unlike Hajj, which takes place on fixed days in the month of Dhul Hijjah, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. It is shorter, and the rites themselves can be completed in a few hours, although most pilgrims spend several days in Makkah and then travel on to Madinah.
The rites in brief
- Ihram. Pilgrims enter a state of consecration before crossing the Miqat, the boundary points around Makkah. Men wear two plain white unstitched cloths; women wear modest everyday clothing. While in Ihram certain things are set aside, among them perfume, cutting hair or nails and, for men, covered heads and stitched garments. If you fly directly to Jeddah, you will usually enter Ihram before or during the flight, so it helps to know where the Miqat falls on your route.
- Tawaf. Seven anticlockwise circuits of the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram.
- Sa'i. Seven passages between the hills of Safa and Marwah, now enclosed within the mosque, remembering Hajar’s search for water.
- Halq or Taqsir. Men shave the head or shorten the hair; women cut a small length from the end of their hair. With this, Umrah is complete and the restrictions of Ihram are lifted.
Madinah and Masjid an-Nabawi
Visiting Madinah is not part of the Umrah rites, but very few pilgrims leave without spending time there. The Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid an-Nabawi, has a calmer feel than the Haram in Makkah, and many people say their days in Madinah are the ones they remember most clearly. Two to four nights is common.
Ziyarat
Guided Ziyarat visits take in the places linked to the early history of Islam. In Madinah these usually include Masjid Quba, Mount Uhud and Masjid al-Qiblatayn. In Makkah, a guide can take you to Jabal al-Nour, Jabal Thawr, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. A good guide explains the history without rushing you, and plans the timings around prayer.
Choosing when to go
Because Umrah can be performed all year, the season you choose changes the experience a great deal.
- Ramadan is the most sought after time, especially the last ten nights. It is also the busiest and the most expensive, and hotels close to the Haram are often booked many months ahead.
- The winter months, roughly November to February, are cooler and generally quieter, which suits older travellers and young children. UK school holidays in this period are popular with families, so plan early.
- Summer is very hot, with daytime temperatures that can pass 40°C. Many pilgrims still go, and plan their time in the mosque around the cooler hours.
Visas
Saudi Arabia offers Umrah and tourist visa routes, including online applications, and for many UK passport holders the process is now far simpler than it used to be. Rules change, though, sometimes at short notice and sometimes by season. We confirm the current requirements for each traveller’s passport before anything is booked.
Flights, hotels and getting between the cities
Most journeys from the UK fly into Jeddah, with direct and one-stop options from London and connecting routes from regional airports such as Manchester and Birmingham. Flying into Madinah and starting there is also possible, which some families prefer: it gives a gentler first few days before entering Ihram for Makkah.
Hotel location matters more on Umrah than on almost any other trip. Staying within a short walk of the Haram means you can return to rest between prayers, which makes a real difference for older parents or anyone with limited mobility. Hotels further out are often good value, but check how the shuttle runs at prayer times.
The Haramain high-speed railway links Makkah, Jeddah (including the airport station) and Madinah. The journey between Makkah and Madinah takes a little over two hours, compared with around five by road. Private road transfers remain the simpler choice for some groups, particularly with a lot of luggage or a wheelchair.
What to pack
- Two sets of Ihram garments for men, plus a belt or pouch for documents.
- Comfortable sandals or slip-on shoes that are easy to carry.
- Unscented soap, shampoo and deodorant for your time in Ihram.
- A small bag for shoes inside the mosque, a refillable bottle and a light prayer mat.
- Any regular medication, in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription.
Travelling with parents or children
Families often travel across three generations. Plan the pace around the oldest and youngest in the group: fewer early starts, more rest after Tawaf, and a hotel close enough that nobody has to walk far at midday. Wheelchairs can be used for Tawaf and Sa'i, and there are designated routes for them. Agree a meeting point in the mosque before you go in, because crowds can separate people quickly.
How we arrange Umrah journeys
Europe26 DMC tailor-makes Umrah journeys from the UK and Europe. We look after flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah chosen for their distance from the Haram, transfers between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah by road or high-speed train, and guided Ziyarat. Each trip is quoted on request, and arrangements are confirmed only once we have checked the current visa rules and availability for your dates.
If you are starting to plan, the Umrah page has an enquiry form. Tell us how many people are travelling, roughly when, and where you would fly from, and we will take it from there.
