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:
- Proximity to Haram: Hotels close to Haram/mosque save walking, time & transport cost & stress. But these are expensive.
- 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.
- Flights: Direct or indirect; departure airport; flight timings. Too many stops can make pilgrimage tiresome.
- Ground transfers & transport included: Airport to hotel, hotel to Haram, Medina–Mecca transfer etc. Note them in calculations if not noted.
- Visa service: Is agency handling it; how reliable and timely; is hotel & transport booking enough to meet visa requirement.
- Group vs private: Group packages can offer cost saving; private ones more flexibility and luxury.
- Health & vaccination requirements: Particularly meningitis vaccine; any current Covid or other health procedure; travel insurance.
- 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.