With more than a decade managing Ramadan Umrah packages between Aqdas Travel and I, I’ve taken hundreds of UK families through it. The questions are always these: “What Ashra should we pick? “Is it really that crowded?” “What does that price really entail?” And let me give you the straight dope.
Realities of Ramadan Umrah Rewards to know about
The spiritual maths are simple- carrying out Umrah in Ramadhan is equivalent to Hajj, citing several hadith as basis. But here’s what will be different come 2026 in particular – Ramadan will take place across February and March, which results in lovely Saudi Arabian weather (18-25 degrees) but also half is term school holidays happen in the UK forcing up demand AND prices.
I tried three different departure times during 47 client bookings last Ramadan. The contrast in price was stunning: the same hotels, the same airline, only different weeks – a difference of up to £680 per person.
The Three Ashras: A Rational Approach to Decision Making
Never Underestimate First Ashra (Days 1-10) A neglected preference
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spiritual Focus | Mercy (Rahma) |
| UK Package Price | £899-1,200pp |
| Crowd Level | 40% below final 10 days |
| Prayer Space | More convenient Taraweeh spaces, organised Tawaf |
I refer to this as the “strategic sweet spot.” They’re getting the same spiritual rewards with much better logistics. Hotels around Haram for £180/night last 10 days? Available for £95/night here. This year, thinner crowds mean your ageing father and mother will actually be able to do Tawaf rather than just moving with the mass of people.
Real Client Story: The Malik family from Birmingham booked First Ashra 2025 saved £1,850 for a family of four* Vs last 10 nights pricing, got a hotel 3 mins walks away from Haram & Mr. Malik (age 68) could do Umrah three times at ease.
Second Ashra (Days 11-20): The Balance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spiritual Focus | Forgiveness (Maghfirah) |
| Average UK Package Price | £1,150-£1,450 pp |
| Crowd Level | Picking up after 1st half; noticeably busier |
| Best For | Intensity seekers who don’t mind bypassing peak chaos |
This mid-point is marked by slow growth in prices. If you are flexible, aim for days 11-14 before the spike. Once beyond day 15, you’re in essence paying last-10-nights prices but without knowing the certain time of Laylatul Qadr.
Last 10 Nights: The Climax
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spiritual Focus | Deliverance from Hellfire + Laylatul Qadr |
| Typical UK Package Prices | £1,650-2,500+ per person |
| Crowd Density | 2-3 million Hujjaj, thick density |
| Reality Check | 45 Minutes Tawaf can last 3-4 hours instead |
Here is the unvarnished truth from someone on the ground who has worked coordinating things: The spiritual intensity is like nothing else, but the physical costs are crazy high. I’ve had 30-year fit olds in a panic because of the crowds. There are health concerns, there are small children who can be terrors on a plane under the best of circumstances, and sometimes, like this time for me and possibly you if you chose to fly far to visit relatives in February, when it’s especially brutally cold or scorchingly hot outside while most of your family is packed into an overheated indoor space that smells of too many competing foods because it has walls but no ceiling so as not to miss anything someone else might be receiving hospitality wise elsewhere except on behalf of their still-living mother who isn’t coming after all … Well.
The Laylatul Qadr Calculation: It is thought to occur on odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or the 29th). To enhance your odds, you need at least a seven-night stay across multiple odd-numbered nights — shorter stays can take you out of the running.
True UK Package Prices: The Full List for 2026
Let’s break the myth of “Cheap Ramadan Umrah packages.” Here’s what it really means to add £899, and what you’ll actually pay:
| Cost Category | Basic 3-Star Package | Mid-Range 4-Star | Premium 5-Star Near Haram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | £899 | £1,299 | £1,899 |
| Travel Formalities Processing | Included | Included | Included |
| Flights (Economy) | Included (1-stop) | Available Direct | Available Direct |
| Hotel (Per Night) | 15-20 min walk | 8-10 min walk | 2-5 min walk |
| Ground Transport | Shared coach | Private car | VIP chauffeur |
| Meals (Suhoor/Iftar) | Not included | Partial board | Full board |
| Travel Insurance | Additional £45-65 | Additional £45-65 | Often included as part of the package |
| Checked Baggage | Additional £60-100 | Often provided as a part of the package | Included |
| On-Ground Expenses | Approx. £200-300 | Approx. £150-250 | Approx. £100-150 |
| Ziyarat Tours | Extra cost | Sometimes provided within the overall package | Usually included |
| Total Realistic Cost | £1,284-1,484 | £1,644-1,799 | £2,099-2,299 |
Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions:
- Saudi sim with data: £15-25 (necessary for the booking app of rawdah)
- Ihram towels/supplies, if not purchased elsewhere: £30-40
- Zamzam water shipping (5L): £25-45
- Emergency pharmacy/toiletries: £20-50
- Gifts/souvenirs: Budget £100-200 realistically
Cost-Saving Strategy I Use for Clients: Early bookings 4-6 months in advance, £50 per person deposit to secure early-bird savings (usually available at a rate of 10%-15%) – then monthly payments. This method saved my clients an average of £185 per head in 2025.
The Importance of Having ATOL Protection When Organising Ramadan Packages
And here’s what befell one Manchester family last year who had not booked through an ATOL-protected agency: their operator collapsed just three weeks before they were due to leave. They were out £4,200 and had nowhere to turn.
ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) is protection for your money with participating firms if the operator goes out of business. This is not optional for Ramadan — the high season of maximum financial exposure. We have never had a client lose money to an operator failure at Aqdas Travel (ATOL 12834) but I’ve helped seven non-ATOL clients move when their operator went bust.
Verification Step: Insist on your ATOL certificate that includes ALL of the details on your booking before any deposit is paid. Reputable companies furnish this to a client with 24 hours of the booking.
The 60-Day Prep Plan (What We Know Works)
60 Days Before Departure
Physical: Begin walking, 3-5 km each day. Ramadan Umrah is 8-12 km walking daily during a fast, your body needs to be conditioned. I suggest to increase the distance with time: week 1-2 (2km) week 3-4 (3.5km), week 5-8 (5 km+).
Confirmation of Booking: Verify actual minutes or walking in meters not your hotel. A “500m from Haram” hotel may be 15 minutes away because of crowd shuffling and pedestrian circuitous paths.
30 Days Before Departure
Travel Formalities Process: UK processing is normally 7-10 working days but Ramadan applications increase. Apply 4-6 weeks ahead. Common rejection reasons I’ve noticed: passport validity <6months, poor photo quality (use matte finish, no glasses), lack of vaccination certificates.
Group Coordination: If you’re with friends (the more the merrier), assign one person for “logistical lead.” Make a WhatsApp group and share all documents, decide on a lost-person spot (I suggest the King Fahd Gate entrance—easy to find), etc.
15 Days Before Departure
Rawdah Permit Booking: 1. Download the Nusuk app and create verified accounts for all adults in your family. Slots are made available 24-48 hours in advance, and they fill almost immediately. Program up to 3 different alarm times throughout the day to get you ready for work in the morning.
Packing Strategy for Fasting:
- Electrolyte sachets (essential to keep you hydrated through Suhoor)
- Comfortable walking sandals (you should wear them in now, not in Makkah)
- Lightweight Ihram towels (airport security-approved)
- Portable charger (10,000mAh and above—you are going to kill your phone with apps)
Crowd Control Hacks From a Woman Who Does Them Every Week
The Haram isn’t the same density 24/7. Here’s the insider timing intelligence:
Best Tawaf Timing (First/Second Ashra):
| Time Slot | Crowd Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 AM – 4:30 AM | 70% less busy | Cooler temperatures |
| 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Moderate | Post-Fajr dispersal |
| Avoid | Peak crowds | 30 minutes prior any prayer, After Iftar rush (6:30 PM-10:30 PM) |
Last 10 Nights Tawaf Reality:
- Anticipate a full Umrah to take 2.5-4 hours
- Elderly/children: enter through the wheelchair accessibility entrance, Bab As-Salam
- Solo Female Travelers: Safest time to travel right after fajr
Taraweeh Prayer When to join: Arrive 2.5-3 hours before Maghrib if you want a spot inside. For rooftop/courtyard we can do in 1.5 hours comfortably. Carry a small prayer mat — marble floors are too hot for comfort even in February.
Common Booking Errors I’ve Saved the Day For (with Solutions!)
Mistake #1: Booking packages based solely on price without vetting the flight routes.
A customer signed up for a “£799 deal” including 14-hour layover in both directions in Cairo. Total travel time: 22 hours each way, with nothing to eat or drink. They paid £320 to transfer to our direct flight package.
Mistake #2: Not understanding different terms for hotel distances.
300 meter from Haram is a term that can take 3 meanings:
- Straight-line distance (ignores buildings, checkpoints)
- Route via streets on foot (real street path)
- Crowd-adjusted time (what matters most)
Ask a question: “How many minutes’ walk during peak Ramadan crowds?”
Mistake #3: Not getting travel insurance for “the Travel Formalities also includes health coverage.”
Saudi Travel Formalities insurance is for emergency medical situations — not trip cancellation, lost baggage and family emergencies that trigger a hasty return. A comprehensive travel insurance policy would cost £45-£65 but in the event you have any losses they provide cover of over £3000.
What to Really Expect: The Unfiltered Time-Line
Physical Reality
You’ll walk 10-15km daily. Your feet will hurt. You’ll be fasting in crowds. The first two days is hell adjusting—then your body gets used to it. Following day 3, my clients agree that they actually feel energized rather than sluggish.
Emotional Journey
There is something profound about breaking fast in the Haram with 2 million strangers. Those dates passed to you at Maghrib taste different surrounded by that unity. I’ve seen hard British businessmen weep during the Tawaf, and stoic grannies turned soft in Taraweeh. This is not hyperbole — this is what happens when spiritual intention and sacred space twin up to a T on the third floor.
Logistical Challenges
The hotels will be noisier than you imagine! (Ramadan is social, not silent). Lifts will be crowded. Room service will be slow. Just believe this up front and you won’t hate yourself. The 5-star hotel service you’re accustomed to in the UK: Things are a little marshal iftar when we contrast this style of accommodation with what’s on offer from some of Makkah’s lavish hotels come Ramadan.
Frequently Asked Questions: Straight Answers
Q. Can I do Umrah while fasting?
Yes, and most pilgrims do. But Sa’i while Fasting needs energy. If you have any health concerns, speak to your doctor before. Breaking your fast is not sinful if health requires it — Islam values well-being.
Book of last 10 nights, how far in advance?
4-6 months for good options, 8-12 months in case of premium hotels near Haram. By January 2026 for Ramadan (which begins in mid-February), first-tier accommodations will have been largely booked up.
Are group packages actually cheaper?
Large groups 4 and more, save on average 10 to 18% in house share accommodation and bulk transport. Solo passengers would pay a premium of 30-40% during Ramadan peak season.
What’s a good length of time for first-time pilgrims?
10-14 nights. This gives you 3-4 days in Makkah for Umrah, buffer for crowds, 3-4 days in Madinah for Rawdah visits, and doesn’t rush the spiritual experience. The standard 7-night packages are often something of a rush in the intensity of Ramadan.
Women traveling without mahram during Ramadan for Umrah?
Saudia Travel Formalities rules changed in 2021 Women above 45 years of age can travel without mahram in organized groups. But women-specific packages offer further comfort and logistics (prayer spaces, female guides). We set them up just for Ramadan.
Your Ramadan Umrah Next course of action.
If You’re Booking for Ramadan 2026 (February-March):
This Week:
Check number of ATOL-protected firms; Make sure hotel walking distance is ‘reasonable’; Get full cost breakdown (with baggage/ insurance)
Next 2 Weeks:
Choose the Ashra that sounds best to you (budget/crowd control) and book them with a deposit agreement you understand their refund policy
60 Days Out:
Start exercising, apply for Travel Formalities and book travel insurance
30 Days Before:
Confirm group preparations, rehearse Umrah rites, purchase Ihram attire
15 Days from Departure:
Download Nusuk/Tawakkalna apps, Pack smartly & Emergency contact list details fellas!
Which UK Airport to Depart From:
There are non-stop flights from London Heathrow, Manchester and also Birmingham flying to Jeddah. Gatwick and some smaller airports typically require connections — and 4 to 6 hours additional end-to-end travel time. Those extra hours to fast really matter during Ramadan.
Final Words From 10 Years On the Ground
The best Ramadan Umrah package is not the most affordable or high-end—it’s right for your physical ability, family status, and spiritual aspiration. I have had minimum 3-star hotel clients that had life-changing experiences when they just got what they expected for their money and I’ve had premium package pilgrims who were disappointed because they wanted Four Seasons service in the busiest pilgrimage season of the year.
Time it right (first Ashra gives 90% spiritual reward with 40% less chaos), go through verified ATOL agents, prepare your body and mind, and most importantly – this journey isn’t perfect. It’s about presence.
They have been forgiven and a chance given to stop sinning during the rest of your life.
