Are you performing Umrah from the UK for the first time? If you answer yes, this guide will give you some essential travel tips to make your pilgrimage to Makkah more memorable and enjoyable. For UK Muslims, going to Umrah is a beautiful wish they want to fulfill at least once. However, for first-time travelers, it can be a challenging task because of a lot of excitement. To tackle this difficult situation, doing several essential tasks, such as hiring reputable Umrah Travel Agents before traveling, is crucial. Let’s begin our informative guide that includes necessary travel tips for first-time Umrah pilgrims from the UK below:
Knowing About Umrah
First, learn about Umrah, its significance, and its rituals. Umrah is a non-obligatory pilgrimage to Makkah that can be done at any time of the year. This religious trip has four main rituals, including wearing Ihram garments, Tawaf (circumambulating the Kaaba), Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwa), and Halq (shaving the head) or Taqsir (trimming the hair).
Every first-time traveler must know that Umrah is a beautiful Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They should be aware of the significance of the lesser pilgrimage in Islam. Moreover, first-time travelers should remember that Umrah is an excellent way to seek forgiveness and numerous blessings from Allah. So, everyone should complete it correctly.
Visa And Documentation
To enter Saudi Arabia, travelers from the UK typically require a visa (EWV, Visit visa, Umrah visa, etc.). It is important to apply for this visa in advance through a trusted travel agent who is an expert in Hajj and Umrah. The agent will guide you through the necessary documentation, which usually includes a valid UK passport with at least six months of validity remaining, passport-size photographs, and proof of vaccination against certain diseases (depending on the Saudi government’s policy).
Note: Recently, no specific required vaccinations for Umrah have been issued, but it is essential to check the latest health guidelines from the Saudi Ministry of Health closer to your travel date.
Book Your Umrah Package
Arranging your Umrah travel without any travel agent is possible now. However, it cannot be challenging for first-time travelers to Makkah to organize their sacred journey for first-time Makkah travelers independently. If you plan your lesser pilgrimage through a travel agent as a first-time traveler from the UK, look for agencies authorized by ATOL and approved by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Before booking your Affordable Umrah Package from any travel agency, check its previous and current customers’ reviews on Google and other travel-related websites like Trustpilot, Yell, and more.
Umrah Flights From The UK
Think about direct flights from major UK airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester to Jeddah or Madinah. However, choosing indirect flights is necessary when traveling on a low budget.
Accommodation For Umrah
For more comfort, choose hotels near the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, but these lodging options may be more expensive. If you are going to Umrah on a tight budget, looking for accommodation options within a few minutes’ distance from the Haram is essential.
Ground Transport Within Saudi Arabia
Cars, buses, taxis, and Haramain High-Speed Railway
Ziyarah Tours In Makkah And Madinah
Visiting numerous historical sites in the two Holy Cities in Islam.
Improve Your Physical Health
Improving your physical health is an important task that should be completed before leaving for Umrah. First-time pilgrims must remember that Umrah involves many walking and long rituals, and carrying out these long rituals easily is only possible when you have good physical health.
Consider some crucial steps to maintain your physical fitness. First, start regular walking or light exercise some weeks before leaving for Saudi Arabia. Second, eat digestive food, which includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, and more. Sleeping regularly is also effective in improving your physical health for Umrah.
Pack Your Luggage Suitably
When we travel to a location different from our hometown, we think about other things. Packing your luggage according to your traveling area is also essential. This rule applies to an Umrah trip. First-time travelers from the UK must bring items relevant to the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah.
Items That Are Suitable For Umrah Include The Following:
Two sets of Ihram (Men wear two unstitched white sheets as their Ihram clothing. But women can wear any type of loose-fitting clothing that follows the rules of Islam.
Comfortable and loose-fitting clothing
Comfortable footwear (shoes, sandals, and slippers)
Travel documents (Passport, Saudi visa, return flight ticket, hotel booking confirmation, and more)
Personal hygiene items
Necessary medicines (bandages, painkillers, antibiotics, and more)
Emergency contact numbers (friends, family members, UK Embassy, or your travel agent)
Electronics (Mobile phone and its charger, headphones, travel and adapter)
Other items (cash, snacks, sunglasses, Tasbeeh, prayer mat, and more)
Also, first-time travelers should pack their luggage according to the weather in Saudi Arabia. Bring light clothing and other items suitable for hot weather if you are traveling during summer. However, warm clothing is necessary when traveling for Umrah during winter. Finally, pack your luggage light because heavy luggage can irritate you in crowded areas of Makkah and Madinah during the holy journey.
Bring Saudi Currency
The currency in Saudi Arabia is the Saudi Riyal (SAR). ATMs are available throughout the kingdom, and UK bank cards work in most machines with extra fees. However, exchanging some British Pounds (GBP) for Saudi Riyals (SAR) before leaving for Saudi Arabia is essential. This will help you when you buy souvenirs or dates from local markets in Makkah and Madinah.
Use Modern Mobile Applications
Today, technology has reduced the challenges/issues that many pilgrims faced in the past when they went on Umrah. The Saudi government has taken many steps to make Umrah more accessible and manageable for travelers to Makkah. Today, different mobile apps are helpful for travelers to avoid issues throughout religious trips.
The Nusuk App, launched by the Saudi Ministry, is valid for issuing Umrah permits, booking Rawdah visits, and more. Google Maps and Careem help travelers explore Makkah and Madinah and transport within these cities. Many translation apps are very helpful when communicating with your fellow pilgrims who belong to different countries, languages, and cultures.
To Sum Up
For first-time UK travelers, performing Umrah is a beautiful but challenging task for several reasons. However, some essential travel tips can help turn this complex task into a fantastic experience, such as hiring Trusted Umrah Agents UK, improving your fitness, and more.
Do Read: Must-Know Benefits of Choosing Ramadan for Your Umrah Journey
