Affordable Umrah from the UK - Costs, Best Times and Tips

Each year, thousands of British Muslims fly from Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. It is a short pilgrimage to Makkah and, unlike Hajj, you can do it at most times of the year.

If it is your first time, there is a lot to sort out. You need to pick a month, set a budget, get a visa and book hotels in two cities. This guide covers the practical side of planning Umrah from the UK in 2027, in plain terms.

What is Umrah?

Umrah is a set of rites done at Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque in Makkah. You put on ihram (simple white clothing for men, modest dress for women), walk seven times around the Kaaba, walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and then cut or shave your hair. The rites take a few hours.

Most people from the UK stay for seven to fourteen nights. They usually spend part of the trip in Makkah and part in Madinah, where the Prophet’s Mosque is. Madinah is about 450 km north of Makkah. So you need flights, two hotels, transport between the cities and a visa. Plan it the way you would plan any long-haul trip.

When to go in 2027

The month you pick changes the price, the weather and how busy the mosques are.

Ramadan (early February to early March 2027). Ramadan 2027 should start around 7 or 8 February, depending on the moon. It is the busiest and most expensive time to go. Places for the last ten nights often sell out months in advance.
Hajj season (mid-April to early June 2027). Umrah visas are usually stopped for a few weeks around Hajj. If you want a spring trip, go in March or wait until after Hajj.
Summer (June to August). Prices can be fair and it fits the school holidays. But it is very hot. Daytime temperatures in Makkah often go over 40°C, which is hard for older people and small children.
Autumn (September to November). This is the best time for most people. The weather is milder, the mosques are quieter and prices are usually at their lowest.
December. The Christmas holidays make this the busiest month after Ramadan for UK families. Flights around Christmas sell first, so book by early summer.

How much does Umrah cost from the UK?

It depends on a few things. A basic trip with flights, visa, hotels and transfers can start from a few hundred pounds per person in the quiet months. A five-star trip in Ramadan or at Christmas can cost well over £1,500 per person.

These four things make the biggest difference to the price:

The month. Ramadan and December cost the most. September to November costs the least.
How close the hotel is. In Makkah, the hotels next to the Grand Mosque, such as those in the Clock Tower, cost much more. A hotel a ten-minute walk away can save you a lot.
Direct or indirect flights. A direct flight from London to Jeddah takes about six hours. Flying via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul takes longer but is often cheaper.
How many share a room. Most prices are per person in a room of four. Doubles and triples cost more each.

There are two main ways to book. You can arrange flights and hotels yourself, or you can book a package through a licensed agent. For a first trip, a package is usually easier. The agent sorts out the visa, the hotels and the transport between cities. If you are comparing prices, it helps to put a few Umrah packages from UK agents side by side, as this shows you what a fair price is for your dates and hotels.

On top of the package price, keep £100 to £150 per person aside for things that are not usually included. These are meals, travel insurance, the meningitis jab and extra luggage on the way home.

How to pick a good Umrah package

The cheapest price is not always the best deal. Ask these questions before you pay a deposit:

Is it ATOL protected? Any UK package with flights should have ATOL protection from the Civil Aviation Authority. Ask for the number and check it on the CAA website. If the company goes bust, ATOL protects your money.
Which hotels will I stay in? A good agent will tell you the hotel names in Makkah and Madinah before you pay. Be careful if they only say “a hotel near the Haram”.
How long is the walk? You may walk to the mosque five times a day. A 5-minute walk and a 20-minute walk are very different, more so with older parents.
Is transport included? Check that airport transfers and travel between Makkah and Madinah are covered. This could be by coach or by the Haramain train, which takes under three hours.
Who can I call? Ask who to contact if something goes wrong in Saudi Arabia, and whether a group leader travels with you.
Can I pay in parts? Many UK agents take a small deposit and let you pay the rest monthly. This helps if you book early.

If you already plan to go next year, it is worth browsing Umrah packages 2027 from UK agents now. Group trips for autumn, December and the last ten days of Ramadan open early. The sooner you book, the longer you have to pay.

Visas, Nusuk and jabs

Getting a visa is much easier than it used to be. UK passport holders can get the Saudi tourist e-visa online. It lasts a year, lets you enter more than once, and can be used for Umrah outside Hajj season. There is also an Umrah visa, which your travel agent usually sorts out.

Much of the process now goes through Nusuk, the official Saudi app for pilgrims. You use it for Umrah permits and to book a time to pray in the Rawdah, a special area of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Nusuk permits are free, so do not pay anyone for one.

You must have the meningitis ACWY jab. Many UK chemists offer it for about £40 to £70. Get it at least ten days before you fly. It is also worth checking the NHS Fit for Travel page for Saudi Arabia.

Women aged 18 and over can now do Umrah without a male guardian (mahram). This means more women from the UK can travel alone or in women-only groups.

Tips for the trip

Bring good sandals. You will walk a lot each day, so wear sandals you have already broken in. A small bag for your shoes at the mosque is handy.
Men should pack two sets of ihram. A spare set is useful in the heat.
Check the rules on Zamzam water. Many people bring Zamzam water home as a gift. Airlines have their own rules, so check your luggage allowance first.
Drink water and rest. It can be warm even in winter, and the crowds are tiring. Plan some quiet days, mainly if older family members are with you.
Keep copies of your papers. Save your passport, visa, insurance and hotel bookings on your phone and in an email to yourself.
Take the train. If your package does not include it, the Haramain train between Madinah and Makkah is quick and comfortable.

Umrah is an act of worship first. Good planning just means you are not worried about a missed transfer or a hotel that is further away than you thought. Pick your month early, set a budget, book with an ATOL-protected company that is clear about hotels and costs, and get your visa and jab sorted in good time.

You could be going alone, as a couple or with the whole family. Either way, there are plenty of choices in 2027. Start early, ask the right questions, and the rest is much easier.