Umrah Packages from the UK: The Complete Guide
Wiki Article
Making a pilgrimage to the Umrah
is a wonderful dream for most UK Muslims. To make sure that that spiritual
pilgrimage is as enjoyable and rewarding as can be, learning about how Umrah
packages work, how much they cost, when to go, and what to expect is vital.
That's all contained in this guide and more.
What an Umrah Package from the UK Is
Before a package is selected, one
should know what usually comes within it, and what extras can be anticipated.
Regular inclusions:
·
Return
flight: Usually from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow etc. UK main
airports to Jeddah (sometimes Medina).
·
Visa:
Umrah visa or tourist visa allowing Umrah. Often organized by the travel agency
in most cases.
·
Accommodation:
Makkah (Mecca) and Medina hotels for as many nights as you'd like. Class
(3-star, 4-star, and 5-star) and proximity to Haram (the Holy Mosque) will make
a big price difference.
·
Ground
Transport: Airport to hotel, holy cities to holy cities, and possibly
intra-city transfers, and Ziyarah (visits) transport.
·
Meals:
Breakfast is at least included; other meals are included in some packages. The
higher the cost of the package, the greater the chance that more than breakfast
is included.
·
Ziyarah /
Visits: Guided tours to prominent places of interest in Mecca, Medina, and
surrounding areas are sometimes included in tours. They are not always
included; this is often an add-on or option.
Things extra which may not be included:
·
Personal expenses, laundry, tips
·
Private conveyance, luxury upgrade on hotel stay
(special arrangements)
·
Vaccinations/certificates in excess of those
compulsory, insurance
Visa and Entry Requirements
One should be extremely careful
while ensuring visa requirements as well as associated formalities so that one
does not face any delay or problem.
copyright-bearing UK citizens as
well as residents are required to possess valid passports (usually not less
than 6 months' duration).
·
A
relevant visa should be possessed: either a Saudi Umrah specialty visa or an
e-visa for a Saudi tourist allowing the performance of Umrah.
·
Vaccine:
meningitis (ACWY) vaccination at least is mandatory. Document can be requested.
·
Female
pilgrims: as per Saudi policy, travel with a mahram can be prohibited if
below a certain age. Best to confirm current policy.
·
Reservations:
Reservation of hotel & transport reservation (land journey within Saudi
Arabia) could be required to be booked prior to copyright under new
regulations.
Cost Ranges: What to Expect
Prices differ massively depending
on time of year, quality of hotel, how much in advance you book, where in the
UK you're departing, etc. The following are approximate prices and examples.
Package Type Approx. Price (Per Person) What You
Get / Notes
Basic / Economy (3-star hotels, dorm accommodation, modest
proximity)
£700-£1,000 off-season
7-10 nights, local airport
flights, hotel modestly distant from Haram.
Mid-Range (4-star hotels, closer Haram, improved services)
£1,100-£1,600+
More comfortable, higher quality
of hotel, greater ground transport and meal duration. More likely to be
accommodating on time table.
Luxury / Premium (5-star, best location, possibly deluxe services)
£1,700-£3,000+ especially in peak
season
If you require very close to
Haram, luxury accommodations, maybe private transportation & more personal
service.
Also note:
During peak season (Ramadan, UK
school holidays, December etc.), the prices rise considerably.
Booking in advance saves a great
deal of money. Agents recommend 2-3 months before mid-seasons, 4-6 months before
peak season.
Best Time to Visit & Booking Strategy
How soon you make your Umrah
makes a huge difference for price and experience.
Seasons & Weather
·
Winter
(Nov-Feb): Cold, pleasant weather, less crowd. Best times.
·
Spring
(Mar-Apr): Pleasant, but the closer you are to Ramadan, crowds start to
show up.
·
Summer
(Jun-Aug): Very hot. But occasionally cheaper, less crowd, especially for
those who can stand the heat.
·
Autumn
(Sep-Nov): Sort of midway between summer heat and winter chill. Some months
in here are good value and bearable weather.
Booking in Advance
Book hotels and flights 4-6
months prior to get optimal possibilities and prices if you're going during
peak demand times (Ramadan, Christmas).
Vacationing during off-season can
be booked with moderate notice, yet still try booking at least 2-3 months
ahead.
Flexibility
Be flexible about which airports
you travel from and which days: flying from Manchester instead of London, or
mid-week instead of at the weekend, can make it cheaper.
If you're not a hotel
finicky-brit about location or stars, you can save loads of cash.
What to Watch Out for When You're Selecting a
Package
All packages are not equal. For
value for money and protection against risk:
1. Proximity to Haram: Hotels close to
Haram/mosque save walking, time & transport cost & stress. But these
are expensive.
2. Rating and quality of hotels: 3 vs 4 vs
5 stars are suitable for comfort as well as luxury, amenities, food etc. Check
reviews from past pilgrims.
3. Flights: Direct or indirect; departure
airport; flight timings. Too many stops can make pilgrimage tiresome.
4. Ground transfers & transport included:
Airport to hotel, hotel to Haram, Medina–Mecca transfer etc. Note them in
calculations if not noted.
5. Visa service: Is agency handling it;
how reliable and timely; is hotel & transport booking enough to meet visa
requirement.
6. Group vs private: Group packages can
offer cost saving; private ones more flexibility and luxury.
7. Health & vaccination requirements:
Particularly meningitis vaccine; any current Covid or other health procedure;
travel insurance.
8. Reputation & protection: Travel
Company must be ATOL or otherwise regulated. Transparency in what's included,
cancellation policy etc.
Costs additional to the Package
Even after paying for your
package, some additional costs typically arise:
·
Shopping, food other than included meals
·
Travel insurance (if not included)
·
Personal items (Ihram equipment, sandals, and
toiletries)
·
Driver tips / gratuities etc.
·
Vaccination or medical check-up if necessary.
These too differ widely depending on personal
preference.
Recent Changes & Mandatory Requirements
(2025-2026)
·
Saudi Arabia has introduced regulations that
hotel and transport bookings must be reserved before visa is approved.
·
Conditions on visa can differ too; stay updated
through official sources or trusted travel agents.
·
Prices and availability shift dramatically in
Ramadan, Hajj season, and school holiday periods.
·
Pilgrims' Tips from the UK
·
Book ahead. Even if you're going "in a few
months", start to ask for quotations today.
·
Off-season travel if possible — lower prices,
fewer people, maybe more spiritually aware energy. While summer is hot,
mornings and evenings can be used for traveling so that one doesn't have to
cope with heat.
·
Have things done in writing on paper: copyright
renewed, vaccination certificate, copyright, and confirmation of
hotel/transport.
·
Be realistic about hotel nearness vs cost: at
times it's worthwhile to pay a bit more for nearness rather than traveling
money & time.
·
Join or arrange group travel if feasible; group
rates function to minimize cost.
·
Watch airlines for specials; sometimes low-cost
air carriers or off-peak promotions can cut flight costs.
Conclusion
Umrah from the UK can be done in
any price combination — low, mid-level, or luxury. The price and convenience
variables are time of year, hotel level, proximity to Haram, whether you fly
direct or not, and whether or not you book ahead.
By being aware of what you are
taking in your package, what is required in the way of visa & health, and
by making the correct decisions based on your own comfort level, you can make
your pilgrimage not only spiritually enriching but also bureaucratically
hassle-free and economically feasible.