Your First Short Umrah from the UK or USA: A Simple Planning Guide

1. Choose when to go

Umrah can be performed at any time of the year, except during the days of Hajj. Most pilgrims from the UK and the USA travel in the school holidays: half-term, Easter and the summer in the UK; Thanksgiving, the winter break and spring break in the USA. Ramadan, and especially its last ten nights, is the busiest and most expensive time.

The weather matters too. From around November to February, days in Makkah are warm rather than hot, which makes walking to the Haram and performing Tawaf much easier, especially for older parents and children.

2. Decide how many nights

Most short packages split the nights between Makkah and Madinah, for example 5 nights in Makkah and 4 in Madinah. Give yourself at least two full days in each city: one for rest after the journey and at least one for worship and ziyarat.

3. Sort out your visa

British and American passport holders can usually apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa online, and it can be used for Umrah outside the Hajj season. Rules change from time to time, so always check the current requirements before you book. Our team checks this for every booking.

4. Know what a package includes

• Flights from your home airport to Jeddah or Madinah, and back.
• Hotels in Makkah and Madinah, with the walking distance to the mosque shown clearly.
• Visa and the required insurance.
• Transfers between the airport, Makkah and Madinah.
• Ziyarat tours of the historic sites, if you want them.

5. Pick the room that suits you

Package prices are usually per person, and they depend on how many people share a room: quad (4), triple (3), double (2) or single. Families often choose quad rooms; couples choose double rooms.

Next step

Browse our Umrah packages, or use Plan with AI to describe your trip in your own words and get three suggestions with prices in pounds or dollars.