Three years ago, I met Sarah at Birmingham Airport. She was travelling to Makkah with her 4-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. The boy was screaming because she’d forgotten to pack his favourite dinosaur toy. She looked at me and said, “This is a terrible idea, isn’t it?”
Last month, she sent me photos from their third Umrah trip. The kids were smiling in front of the Kaaba. They’d asked to go back.
I’ve worked with families planning Umrah for six years now. I’ve seen every scenario you can imagine. Here’s what nobody tells you about taking children to Makkah from the UK.
Can Your Kids Actually Do This?
People ask me all the time: “Is my child too young for Umrah?”
Honestly? There’s no right answer. I’ve seen 2-year-olds who sat quietly through Tawaf like little angels. I’ve also seen 10-year-olds who needed constant breaks and attention. It depends entirely on your child.
Technically, any age works. Babies, toddlers, primary school kids, teenagers. There’s no minimum age requirement. But here’s what I tell parents: think about how your child handles crowded places back home. Do they cope with busy shopping centres? Do they panic in big crowds at the mosque during Jumu’ah?
If your 5-year-old melts down at Tesco on a Saturday afternoon, Makkah during peak hours will be challenging. Not impossible, just challenging.
The question isn’t really about age. It’s about temperament.
School Holidays and When British Families Go
Most families I work with plan around school terms because nobody wants their kids missing lessons. Here’s when British Muslim families typically travel:
February Half-Term is brilliant. One week. Mild weather in Saudi Arabia around 20-25 degrees. Not too crowded. Prices are reasonable. Perfect for a focused trip with younger children who can’t handle long journeys.
Easter Break gives you two full weeks. Enough time to relax, not rush, let the kids adjust to jet lag properly. Weather’s warming up but still comfortable. It’s popular though, so book early or pay premium prices.
Summer Holidays in July and August are dirt cheap compared to other times. There’s a reason. It’s absolutely roasting in Makkah. We’re talking 40-45 degrees. But if your kids handle heat well and you plan everything for early mornings and late evenings, you’ll save a fortune. I’ve sent families who did summer Umrah and managed perfectly fine. They just avoided midday like the plague.
October Half-Term is my personal favourite. One week, pleasant weather, not stupidly expensive. Good balance all round.
December Holidays cost the most. Everyone wants to go during Christmas break. The weather’s lovely and cool, perfect for kids. But you’re competing with every British Muslim family who had the same idea. Expect to pay £1,500-£2,000 more than summer for the same package.
Location Matters More Than Anything Else
I’m going to be blunt about this. Hotel location makes or breaks family Umrah.
A basic 3-star hotel five minutes from the Haram beats a fancy 5-star hotel 25 minutes away every single time. Your kids will need toilet breaks. They’ll get tired. They’ll want quiet time. That extra walking distance will destroy you.
Book within 10 minutes walking distance maximum. Closer is better.
Request family rooms or interconnecting rooms. Cramming everyone into one standard room creates tension. Your 8-year-old doesn’t want to sleep at the same time as your toddler. Your teenager needs some privacy. Get proper space sorted from the start.
Look for hotels with lifts that actually work. I know that sounds basic, but some cheaper places have lifts that break down constantly. Hauling tired children and luggage up five flights of stairs after a long flight is nobody’s idea of fun.
Getting Ready Before You Leave Home
Start talking to your kids about Umrah 4-6 weeks before departure. Not in a scary way. In an exciting way.
Show them YouTube videos of the Kaaba. Let them see what it actually looks like. Tell them stories about Prophet Ibrahim and Hajar in language they understand. A 5-year-old doesn’t need complex theology. They need “We’re going to visit a very special house that belongs to Allah.”
Practice patience in crowded places. Take them to busy shopping centres. See how they cope. If they struggle with crowds at your local mosque, work on that before you book flights.
Pack familiar snacks from home. I cannot stress this enough. Your kids might hate Saudi food. They might refuse everything. Having digestive biscuits, crisps, cereal bars and other UK snacks saves you so much stress.
Don’t pack too many toys. One favourite item is enough. The journey itself is stimulating enough for most kids.
What Tawaf with Children Actually Looks Like
Tawaf means walking around the Kaaba seven times. With small children, this takes forever. I mean it. An hour minimum if they’re walking. Maybe 90 minutes.
Do it early morning after Fajr prayer, around 6-7 AM. Fewer people. Cooler temperature. Your kids haven’t hit their tired-and-cranky phase yet.
Hold hands constantly. The crowds can be intense. I’ve seen parents lose sight of their kids within seconds. Keep them close. Some families use those backpack leash things for toddlers. No shame in it.
Sa’i is the walking between Safa and Marwah seven times. That’s about 3 kilometres total. Brutal for little legs. Use a buggy for young ones. Let older kids walk part of it but take rest breaks.
The bit where men are supposed to run between the green lights? Doesn’t apply to children or anyone in wheelchairs. Just walk at whatever pace works for your family.
Packing Smart Instead of Packing Everything
You don’t need to bring your entire house. Here’s what actually matters:
For babies and toddlers, bring nappies for the first few days. You can buy more in Makkah. Baby wipes, formula if you’re not breastfeeding, a lightweight buggy or baby carrier. That’s basically it.
For primary school age kids, pack comfortable shoes they’ve already worn in. Never new shoes. Light cotton clothes. A sun hat. A small backpack so they can carry their own water bottle and feel independent.
For everyone, bring basic medicines. Calpol for kids, plasters, antiseptic cream. Hotel rooms near the Haram have air conditioning. Bring something warm for sleeping because they blast it.
Forget most toys. Bring one comfort item if your child has separation anxiety. That’s enough.
The Bits Nobody Warns You About
You will not pray every single prayer in the Haram with your kids. Accept this now. One parent stays in the hotel room with sleeping children while the other goes to pray. You take turns. Both parents do not need to attend every prayer together.
Your children will get cranky. They’ll complain. They might have a full meltdown in the middle of the Haram. This is normal. They’re kids. They’re tired, jet-lagged, in a strange place with weird food and different everything.
Plans will change. Your carefully organized schedule will fall apart when your 6-year-old needs an emergency toilet stop mid-Tawaf or your toddler refuses to nap at the designated time.
Roll with it. The goal isn’t perfect execution of a rigid itinerary. The goal is your family experiencing something spiritually meaningful together.
What This Actually Costs British Families
Let me give you real numbers. Not the package price. The real total cost.
For a family of four (two adults, kids aged 5 and 8), a week-long February half-term trip:
The package itself from reliable operators costs around £4,200. That’s flights, hotel, transport.
But then you need money for meals not covered in your package. Maybe £350 for the week. Kids’ snacks and treats, another £120. Shopping and souvenirs, £200. The inevitable emergency purchases when your child forgot something essential, £80. Local transport for visiting historical sites, £100.
Total realistic spend: about £5,000.
Summer packages bring this down to maybe £3,800 total. December shoots up to £6,500-£7,000 easily.
Most operators offer children’s discounts. Under 2s often travel free on your lap. Ages 2-11 get 10-25% off adult prices. Over 12s pay full rates.
Manchester departures sometimes work out cheaper than London flights, especially during school holidays. Worth checking.
Five Things That Actually Help
First: Do your main Umrah rituals within the first 24 hours of arriving. Your kids have peak energy after they’ve slept off the journey. Get Tawaf and Sa’i done while they’re fresh. Takes all the pressure off the rest of your trip.
Second: Use hotel pools strategically. Most hotels near the Haram have small pools. Let your kids burn off energy there during the hot midday hours. They’ll cooperate much better during evening prayers.
Third: Bring high-value treats for bribery. Small chocolate bars work wonders. “If you hold my hand nicely during Tawaf, you get a Kinder egg after.” Parenting is survival. Use whatever works.
Fourth: Buy gifts in Makkah instead of bringing them from home. Your kids will love choosing their own prayer mat or tasbeeh beads from the shops there. It’s more meaningful and saves you precious luggage space.
Fifth: One parent focuses on one child during busy times. Don’t both try to manage both kids through crowds. Each parent takes responsibility for one child. Simpler. Less stressful.
When to Actually Book This
Ramadan packages offer incredible spiritual value but come with massive crowds and higher prices. Amazing experience if your family can handle the intensity.
February and October half-terms give you the best balance of weather, crowds and cost. December costs more but the weather is perfect for children.
Summer saves you serious money but you’re battling heat. Early morning and late evening activities only.
Book 4-6 months ahead for school holiday trips. Closer to departure, prices jump and availability drops.
Why This Matters Despite the Chaos
Your kids won’t remember every prayer time or perfect Tawaf. They’ll remember standing before the Kaaba with you. They’ll remember their first sip of Zamzam water. They’ll remember you holding their hand during Sa’i.
That mum from Birmingham I mentioned at the start? Her son is 11 now. He asks to go back every single year. The forgotten dinosaur toy is a family joke. The spiritual connection they built is permanent.
Taking kids to Umrah is messy, expensive and exhausting. It’s also one of the most meaningful things you’ll ever do together.
Choose your dates. Work with people who understand British families. Prepare realistically instead of idealistically. Then go make memories your children will carry forever.
The perfect family Umrah doesn’t exist. The meaningful one absolutely does.
