Umrah on a Budget from the UK: How to Save Money

Quick answer: The cheapest way to do Umrah from the UK is to travel outside Ramadan and school holidays, choose a 3 star package, share a room with three or four people and stay flexible on flights. Our 3 star packages start from £490 per person for 7 nights, with prices depending on dates and confirmed in your quote. Smaller savings on food, transport and Ziyarat add up too.

What is the cheapest time to go for Umrah?

Your travel dates make the single biggest difference to the price. Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, and UK school holidays such as Easter, summer, Christmas and half terms are the most expensive times, because demand for flights and hotels near the Haram is at its peak.

Better value usually comes from:

• The weeks after Hajj, once Umrah visas reopen.
• Term-time months, if you do not have school-age children.
• Midweek departures, which are often cheaper than weekend flights.

Winter term-time dates offer good prices and the mildest weather, which is a welcome bonus. For example, January Umrah packages combine cooler days with quieter periods.

Our guide to the best time to perform Umrah compares the months in more detail.

Are 3 star Umrah packages good value?

For most budget travellers, yes. A 3 star package includes the same essentials as a more expensive one: return flights, the Umrah visa, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and transfers. The difference is mainly the hotel's distance from the Haram and its facilities.

Our 3 star prices, per person and sharing, start from:

Package	Price from	Roughly per night
7 nights, 3 star	£490	£70
10 nights, 3 star	£630	£63
12 nights, 3 star	£720	£60

As you can see, longer stays cost more in total but less per night. Prices depend on your dates and are confirmed in your quote. You can browse all our 3 star Umrah packages to compare options.

Our 3 star packages use hotels such as Emaar Andalusia, Al Kiswah Tower, Emaar Mektan, Zaha Al Madinah and Emaar Taibah. Some are within walking distance of the Haram, while others rely on a shuttle, so check the details in your quote. You can read more about each on our 3 star Umrah hotels page.

When is it worth paying more?

A budget trip is only good value if you can manage it comfortably. Spending a little more can be worth it if:

• You are travelling with elderly parents or anyone with limited mobility, as a closer hotel saves a great deal of walking.
• You are travelling in summer, when walking in the heat is hard.
• You want to pray as many prayers as possible inside the Haram.

Our 4 star packages start from £690 per person for 7 nights, and 5 star from £1,230. Another option is mixing standards, for example a closer hotel in Makkah and a 3 star hotel in Madinah, where walking distances are often shorter.

How much can you save by sharing a room?

Room sharing has a big effect on the price per person. Quad rooms are the cheapest per head, followed by triple rooms, with double rooms costing the most. Our "from" prices are based on sharing.

• Families of four or five can often fit into a quad room.
• Friends or relatives travelling together can share a quad and split the cost.
• Couples who want privacy pay more for a double, so weigh this against the savings.

If you are travelling alone, ask whether a shared room with other pilgrims of the same gender is available, as this can bring the cost down.

How can you save on flights?

Flights are a large part of the package price, and a little flexibility helps.

• Consider indirect flights. A connection through a hub city adds a few hours but can cost less than a direct flight, which takes about 6 to 6.5 hours from London.
• Compare UK airports. Prices vary between London, Manchester, Birmingham and other airports, so check more than one if you can travel.
• Be flexible by a few days. Shifting your departure can reduce the fare.
• Book early, especially for popular months, as cheaper seats sell first.
• Check the baggage allowance so you are not caught out by extra fees.

Flying from an airport near home also saves on train fares, petrol and airport parking, which are easy to forget when comparing prices. For example, pilgrims in the North West can look at Umrah packages from Manchester rather than travelling down to London.

Once you are in Saudi Arabia, shared transfers and coaches between Makkah and Madinah usually cost less per person than a private car. The Haramain train is faster, at about 2.5 hours, but you will also need taxis to and from the stations, so compare the full door-to-door cost.

How much should you budget for food?

Food can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. Hotel buffets near the Haram are convenient but cost more. Local restaurants, bakeries and fast-food outlets in the streets around both Holy Mosques offer filling meals for much less.

• Check whether breakfast is included in your package.
• Buy fruit, bread, yoghurt and dates from supermarkets for simple meals in your room.
• Drink Zamzam, which is free throughout the mosques, rather than buying bottled drinks.
• In Ramadan, many pilgrims break their fast in the Haram, where dates and water are shared freely.

Can you do Ziyarat cheaply?

Yes. Ziyarat tours are a lovely part of the trip, but they do not have to be expensive. Several important sites in Madinah, such as Jannat al-Baqi next to Masjid an-Nabawi, are within walking distance. Masjid Quba is a short taxi ride, and some people walk there in the cooler morning hours.

Group Ziyarat tours split the cost of a coach and guide between many people, so they are often cheaper than hiring a private car. Our guide to Ziyarat places in Makkah and Madinah explains which sites to prioritise.

Other ways to keep costs down

• Set a spending budget for gifts, dates and prayer mats before you go. Prices near the Haram are often higher than a few streets away.
• Do not skip travel insurance. A medical bill abroad would cost far more than the policy.
• Avoid paying twice: check what is already included, such as transfers and the visa, before buying extras.
• Compare like for like. A cheaper quote may use hotels further away or exclude transfers. Our article on booking a package versus doing it yourself explains what to check.

Found a cheaper like-for-like quote elsewhere? Send it to us through Beat My Quote and we will take a look.

When you are ready, our package finder shows what is available for your dates and budget, and our team can suggest the best-value options.

Related guides: Money for Umrah: Currency, Cards and Cash Guide · Umrah Shopping Guide: What to Buy in Makkah and Madinah · Umrah Visa from the UK: Requirements and How to Apply

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest Umrah package from the UK?

Our cheapest packages are 3 star, from £490 per person for 7 nights, sharing a room. Prices depend on dates and are confirmed in your quote.

Is a 3 star Umrah package worth it?

For many pilgrims, yes. You get flights, visa, hotels and transfers, with hotels a walk or shuttle ride from the Haram. Elderly travellers may prefer a closer hotel.

When is Umrah cheapest?

Usually outside Ramadan and UK school holidays, such as the weeks after Hajj and term-time winter months. Midweek departures can also be cheaper.

How much spending money do I need for Umrah?

It depends on your meals, shopping and Ziyarat. Eating at local restaurants and setting a gift budget keeps costs down.

Is it cheaper to share a room on Umrah?

Yes. Quad rooms are the cheapest per person, and our "from" prices are based on sharing. Double rooms cost more per person.