An Umrah is a blessing that is bestowed upon the chosen ones. Once you get the call for Umrah from Allah, there are plenty of ways in which you can travel to the holy lands of Makkah and perform the Umrah rituals. Along with Makkah, pilgrims also go to Madinah to pray at Masjid e Nabwi and pay their respects at the Roza e Rasool.
The different methods by which you can go for Umrah include planning it yourself or using a premade deal. Among the deals, Umrah group packages are the most common and popular option as they are cost-effective and offer a wide range of services and amenities to the pilgrims.
If you are planning to go for Umrah anytime soon with the help of group Umrah packages, this is an extremely useful guide. It explains everything you need to know before leaving for a group Umrah.
What to Consider Before Booking a Group Umrah Deal?
An Umrah package includes different features that make it easy for pilgrims to complete the journey. A typical deal comes with amenities like flight and hotel booking, meals, on-ground transport and guided tours to holy places (in some deals).
These deals are offered by travel agencies all over the world and before booking them, the pilgrims must check different things. Here are the different things you must consider.
Agency Status
If you are booking a group Umrah deal from the UK, make sure the agency is certified by the local authorities and Saudi’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. After this, it is a good idea to check their reviews and feedback from the customers. Ask them about the real-time feedback from their recent customers along with the names of the hotels they are offering in the deal. Once you get these names, Google them on your own and see their level and quality.
While you are researching the agency status, don’t forget to see if they have been named in any scams or frauds. If all of these things are fine, then you can move ahead.
Location of the Hotel
The distance of the hotel from the Grand Mosque in both Makkah and Madinah can greatly affect your overall experience. Let us make you understand this with a simple analogy. If your hotel is located around 100 meters from the mosque, you can easily access the mosque without requiring any transport. Even if you have elderly people or kids with you, you can reach the mosque without any hassle. But if the hotel is around 1500 meters or 2 kilometers away, you will require transport to reach the mosque.
In addition to this, the hotels close to the Masjid al Haram or Masjid e Nabwi offer much better services. When you come back to your room after performing Umrah, you would want to relax and a better hotel with more amenities can make things more comfortable for you.
Duration
Another important thing to check is the duration of the deal and how many days of stay it offers in Makkah and Madinah. If you are opting for a 7-day Umrah package, it will typically have 3 days in Makkah and 3 in Madinah with one day reserved for travelling. A direct flight from the UK to Saudi Arabia is around 6 to 7 hours but it can be much longer if stopovers are included. So, it is better to check these things as well.
Time of the Travel
The time of the year you pick to travel will have a great impact on the overall price of the package. If you are traveling during Ramadan, you will be paying more instead of off-peak times like summer months.
Similarly, if you are picking cooler months for your pilgrimage, the price is higher compared to hot months. In such a situation, booking ahead is a wise approach as it enables you to get good deals. Many travel agencies nowadays offer flexible payment options such as paying in equal installments. In this way, you can pay a small advance, get the price locked and then pay the full amount with ease.
Additional Services
Before confirming the deal, a pilgrim must also check what extra services are added in the deal. While doing so, the price of the deal with respect to the inclusions must also be assessed. For example, if you are getting a group Umrah package with a minor amount difference and it is offering on-ground transportation for ziyarats, grab it. Plus, it is also quite useful when you are going for the first time.
Similarly, if a deal includes meals but has a huge price difference, stay away from it. You can get hygienic and delicious food from streetside vendors or even small restaurants nearby the mosques for extremely affordable prices. This is how you must vet the deal before moving ahead.
What to Pack for Group Umrah?
Here is a suggested packing list from our experts that will not let you down during your journey.
- It is better to keep two Ihrams, so if one gets dirty, you can use the other one. Plus, decide on the fabric of the Ihram as per the weather. A towel Ihram is best for winter months and breathable fabrics work great in summers.
- Keep unscented toiletries with you as fragrances are not allowed while you are wearing Ihram.
- Women must keep decent-colored abayas and modest clothing.
- Having comfortable footwear is very important as you will be walking a lot during your trip.
- A small backpack or waist pouch must be with you as well so you can have essentials for your time in the mosque or outdoors.
Final Words
Are you looking for affordable group Umrah 2026 deals? Then contact Muslims Holy Travel right now and talk to their skilled booking agents. They have some exceptional deals at highly economic prices that make your Umrah stress-free and smooth.
