How to Book Umrah from the UK

1. Decide when you want to travel

Most UK pilgrims travel in the December school holidays, in Ramadan or at Easter. These dates are popular, so hotels near the Harams fill up first. If your dates are flexible, quieter months are usually easier to book and often cost less.

2. Set your budget and hotel level

The biggest difference in price is the hotel. 3 star hotels keep the cost down, 4 star hotels are closer and more comfortable, and 5 star hotels are usually a short walk from the Haram. Think about who is travelling, especially children or elderly parents, before you choose.

3. Choose a complete package

A package brings everything together in one booking, so you have one team to deal with. A good Umrah package from the UK usually includes:

• Return flights from a UK airport
• Your Saudi Umrah visa
• Hotels in Makkah and Madinah
• Ground transport between the airport, Makkah and Madinah

4. Check the company is ATOL Protected

If your package includes flights, it should be ATOL Protected. This is the UK scheme that protects your money and makes sure you are not left stranded if a travel company fails. Ikhlas Travel holds ATOL number 74904. Some flights and flight inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected under the ATOL scheme. However, ATOL protection does not cover every holiday and travel service listed on this website.

5. Secure your booking

Once you are happy with your quote, you secure your place with a deposit. At Ikhlas Travel this is £100, and you can pay the balance in easy instalments before you travel.

6. Prepare your documents

Check that every passport is valid for at least 6 months from your travel date. Send the passport details your travel company asks for, so your visa and tickets can be issued in good time. Our Umrah checklist covers everything else you need.