10 Essential Umrah Travel Tips

Tip 1: Pick the right time of year. Hotel rates and air fare vary throughout the year. If you don’t have children and you’re not restricted to term times, try to avoid December, April and August (unless they coincide with Hajj season during which Umrah is closed anyway) as these tend to be the more expensive periods for Umrah. If you are restricted to term times, check out half term holidays as these will be slightly cheaper.

Ramadan Umrah is filled with spirituality, is exceptionally rewarding and you'll feel a great atmosphere in taraweeh, qiyaamul layl and iftaar. But Ramadan is very busy, the number of people sometimes surpasses hajj and if it’s your first time going, you might not want to feel taken aback by the rush.

Tip 2: Book with the right agent. Go for an agent that provides a professional service and is willing to go out of their way to accommodate your needs. Get feedback from people who have used agents you’re interested in and check online for google or Trustpilot reviews.

Tip 3: Don’t just choose the cheapest package you can find. Cheap package means cheap hotel. Three-star hotels in Makkah and Madinah are not of the same standard as Europe and can at times be a little unpleasant. In fact, even higher rated hotels could have unpleasant surprises, such as poor housekeeping and poor customer service.

Another factor to bear in mind with cheaper hotels is that they’re likely to be situated at a distance from the holy Mosques, which means you won’t be able to walk back to your hotel between Salaah times. You’ll have to pay for a taxi each time you wish to go to for Salaah and back. Some hotels that are far from the holy Mosques do offer shuttle bus services, but these are limited to specific times, such as an hour before every Salaah.

Tip 4: Pre-book your transfers. While pre-booking is slightly more expensive, it will save you the trouble of looking for a taxi as soon as you’ve landed and when you intend to travel to the next destination. And if you’re not familiar with going rates, some taxi drivers may take advantage.

Tip 5: Learn how to perform Umrah. Read up the method of performing Umrah. This is your journey to the sacred lands and you want to fulfil this act of worship properly. If you find Umrah guides and books mind-boggling and confusing, check out a video or try sit with someone who has performed Umrah and go through the key steps.

Tip 6: Pack properly:

- Keep your ihraam and slippers in your hand luggage if you are going to Makkah first (whether you’ll be putting your ihraam on from your home airport, transit airport or on the plane). Don’t forget your ihram belt!

- Take a pair of shades with you. The sun’s reflection can be quite strong on the white marbled floor, especially in Makkah.

- A drawstring bag is a must. This will come in handy to put your slippers and prayer mat when you enter the holy Mosques. Slippers do go missing from shoe racks unfortunately, so you want to keep them with you.

- Shoulder bag for a small water bottle, du’aa book and any other small bits you may need.

- Travel prayer mat. Many areas in the Grand Mosque in Makkah are not carpeted, so a light travel prayer mat will come very handy. You may also need this to pray salaah during your journey.

- Snacks (sandwiches or anything filling, not just crisps and chocolates!). There could be delays at the airport or whilst checking in at the hotel, and if you plan to perform your Umrah as soon as you arrive in Makkah, you’ll need the nutrition.

- For women: a small scissor (in your check-in bag). You’ll need this to cut your hair in order to come out of ihraam.

- If you are travelling between October and February, pack some warm clothing as it does get chilly.

- Coloured marker to label your zamzam (see tip 10 below).

Tip 7: Food. This one may take you by surprise… Take precaution while purchasing food in Makkah and Madinah. Always ask whether the meat or chicken is ‘watani’ (locally slaughtered). A lot of the food around the holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah is imported from South America and Australia.

Tip 8: Visit key historical sites. To really appreciate the life of our beloved Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon Him) and apprehend the sanctity of the holy lands, go with a qualified guide. Taxi drivers will offer this service, but guides will provide much more detail of the significance of historical sites which will be much more spiritually uplifting and fulfilling.

Tip 9: Spend your time wisely. You’re going to visit the holy cities, so make the most of it by reaping as much reward as you can. Don’t get distracted by the shopping malls and the comfort of your hotel. (And… don’t give in to the desire of taking selfies with every corner of the kabah in the background...).

Tip 10: Don’t forget to purchase zamzam from the airport. Whether you’re flying back from Jeddah or Madinah, you will have the option to purchase a 5 litre zamzam bottle, packed in a box, from outside the airport. (Remember to purchase before you enter the terminal building. You will be asked to show your passport). The cost will be under 10 Saudi Riyal per bottle, and they will only allow one bottle per passenger.

This will be categorised separately from your airline’s standard luggage allowance. (For example, if your airline has a limit of 30kg, you can take 30kg of luggage plus a 5 litre zamzam bottle per person). When you enter the airport, you will be provided a label for your zamzam at the check-in counter. Airport staff will direct you where to deposit your zamzam box as it not dropped off with your check-in baggage.

Mark your zamzam distinctly with a coloured marker so that it doesn’t get mixed up with someone else’s upon arrival.

Remember us in your du'aas!