The best time to book last 10 nights Umrah for Ramadan 2027 is six to nine months ahead, ideally between May and August 2026. The last ten nights are expected to start on the evening of Saturday 27 February 2027, and Haram facing Makkah hotels sell out first. By November, expect fewer choices and higher prices.
That’s the short answer. The longer one depends on which hotel you’re after, whether your children are in school that week, and how comfortable you feel paying a deposit months before the moon is sighted. One thing to settle early: the Saudi calendar is the one that counts. Your local mosque in Bradford or East London might start Ramadan a day later, but your hotel, your Nusuk permit and Taraweeh in the Haram all follow Makkah.
The Ramadan 2027 dates your booking hangs on
These are the expected dates based on the Umm al-Qura calendar. They can still shift by a day.
- First fast: Monday 8 February 2027
- Last ten nights begin: evening of Saturday 27 February
- 27th night: evening of Friday 5 March, the odd night most widely sought for Laylat al-Qadr
- Eid al-Fitr: Tuesday 9 March, or Wednesday 10 March if Ramadan runs to 30 days
So most UK pilgrims wanting all ten nights fly out on 25 or 26 February. If you’re planning itikaf, aim for the earlier date, since it begins before maghrib on 27 February. Coming home is the awkward bit. Thousands of people want seats on the same handful of post Eid flights into Heathrow and Manchester, which is why the return leg often costs more than the outbound.
Why last 10 nights Umrah costs so much more
Simple supply. There are only so many rooms within a five minute walk of the Haram, and during the last ten nights nearly everyone who can afford one wants one. Industry reporting from recent seasons suggests Makkah hotel rates roughly double for Ramadan and can triple in the final ten days, with the sharpest jumps closest to the mosque.
What often gets missed is how UK operators buy those rooms. Most commit to blocks of nights with Saudi hotels months ahead and pay a large share upfront. While that allocation lasts, your quote reflects what they paid. Once it’s gone? You’re paying whatever the hotel charges that week, plus a margin. Some hotels also sell the last ten nights only as a fixed block, so a five night stay can cost close to the full ten.
For a sense of scale, UK operators in autumn 2026 were advertising 14 night packages with ten nights in Makkah from roughly £1,200 per person at 3 star, rising to around £2,600 for clock tower five star stays. Those are “from” prices on quad sharing, and couples wanting a double room pay noticeably more. We’ve broken the numbers down properly in our Ramadan Umrah cost guide for UK pilgrims.
Which Makkah hotels go first, and roughly when
Hotels don’t sell out all at once. They go in rings, starting with the ones you can see the Kaaba from.
| Hotel tier | Examples | When rooms usually run out | Book by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock tower and Haram facing 5 star | Fairmont, Raffles, Swissôtel, Pullman Zamzam | Largely gone by early summer, sometimes sooner | March to May |
| Other 5 star within about 300 metres | Hilton Suites, Hyatt Regency, Anjum | Late summer into September | August |
| 4 star in Ajyad and Ibrahim Khalil, 400 to 800 metres | Elaf Ajyad, Dar Al Eiman properties | October to December, with prices rising monthly | November |
| 3 star further out, often with a shuttle | Aziziyah and Misfalah areas | Often available into January | December at the latest |
In practice, the most common mistake is assuming five star means close. Some five star hotels up in Jabal Omar are a 10 to 15 minute walk on a normal day. With crowd barriers and closed gates in the last ten nights, that same walk can take 40 minutes after Qiyam. And shuttles from the cheaper areas often can’t get near the Haram around peak prayers, so ask exactly where the bus drops you.
A realistic deposit and booking timeline
Here’s how the months usually play out for a late February departure.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| March to May 2026 | The ideal window. A deposit, from around £99 to a few hundred pounds per person depending on the operator, secured a named room from an operator’s allocation. That ship has sailed for 2027. |
| June to August 2026 | The new Umrah season opened on 1 June, and five star rooms outside the clock tower were still available. |
| September to November 2026 | When most people actually book. Four and three star rooms are realistic. Insist on a named hotel, not “or similar”. |
| December 2026 to early January 2027 | Balances typically fall due six to eight weeks before departure. Your operator logs your hotel and transport on Nusuk Masar, because a dedicated Umrah visa isn’t issued without a confirmed booking there. Passport details must match exactly. |
| Late January to early February 2027 | Visa issuance. A dedicated Umrah visa is now valid for 30 days from issue, so timing matters. One issued on 20 January would lapse around 19 February, a week before most groups even fly. Many British passport holders use the Saudi tourist eVisa instead, which runs for a year with multiple entries, so ask your operator which route they’re using. |
| February 2027 | Book your Nusuk Umrah permit slot the moment it opens. |
The Nusuk permit catches people out
Your visa gets you into Saudi Arabia. Your Nusuk permit gets you into the Umrah itself. In recent seasons the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has allowed one Umrah permit per person during Ramadan, and last ten day slots have filled within days of opening. Praying in the Haram during those nights hasn’t needed a permit, though Umrah and the Rawdah in Madinah have. Rules are confirmed fresh each year, so treat this as the pattern, not a promise. Most people simply perform their Umrah on arrival, since they land in ihram anyway.
Travelling with children who are in school?
Here’s a very UK snag. February half term in most English councils falls in mid February 2027, usually 15 to 19 February, well before the last ten nights begin. A family trip covering 27 February to Eid therefore means term time absence. That easily passes 10 sessions, roughly five school days, which is the point at which a penalty notice must be considered in England. The penalty is £160 per parent, per child, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days. Some families travel in half term for the earlier part of Ramadan instead. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own rules and half term dates, so speak to your school before paying a deposit.
Already November? Here’s where you stand
Honestly, you’ve probably missed the clock tower. That doesn’t mean you’ve missed the last ten nights. A well located 4 star in Ajyad is still achievable for most dates. If budget is tight, a six or seven night stay covering the 23rd, 25th and 27th nights can cost less, provided the hotel isn’t only selling the full block. Spending the last ten nights in Madinah is worth weighing too, since hotels near Masjid an-Nabawi tend to hold availability a little longer.
Be wary of anything that looks too cheap this late. Ask for an ATOL certificate, the hotel’s name in writing, and confirmation it’ll be logged on Nusuk Masar. Planning a trip outside Ramadan instead? Our guide on how far in advance to book Umrah covers the rest of the year.
If you’d like us to check which Makkah hotels still have last ten night rooms for your dates, the team at Aqdas Travel can look at current availability for departures from London, Birmingham and Manchester and give you a straight answer, even if that answer is “book Ramadan 2028 now”. Most people who end up disappointed didn’t choose the wrong hotel. They waited to see what prices would do, and in Ramadan prices only go one way.
Related reading: When is Shab e Barat 2027 in the UK
Questions people ask about booking the last 10 nights
How many months before Ramadan should I book last 10 nights Umrah?
Six to nine months is the sweet spot, so roughly May to August 2026 for Ramadan 2027. That gives you a genuine choice of hotels near the Haram. Booking three or four months ahead still works, but expect 4 star and 3 star options rather than clock tower rooms.
Is Umrah in the last 10 days of Ramadan more expensive?
Yes, noticeably. Makkah hotel rates near the Haram can roughly triple compared with quieter months, and they’re higher than the first 20 days of Ramadan as well. Return flights after Eid also carry a premium because UK demand peaks on the same few days.
Can I still book last 10 nights Umrah in December?
Usually, though choice shrinks fast. By December you’re mostly looking at 3 star hotels or 4 star rooms further from the Haram. If you’re travelling on a dedicated Umrah visa, your hotel must be logged on Nusuk Masar before it’s issued, so leaving it until January gets risky.
When is the balance due on a Ramadan Umrah package?
Most UK operators ask for the balance six to eight weeks before departure, which means early January for a late February trip. Some ask earlier for Ramadan because they pay Saudi hotels upfront. Check the payment schedule and ATOL protection before paying any deposit.
Do I need a Nusuk permit to pray in the Haram during the last ten nights?
In recent seasons, no. Prayer in the Haram hasn’t required a permit, but performing Umrah and visiting the Rawdah have, and only one Umrah permit per person was allowed during Ramadan. Saudi authorities confirm these rules every year, so check again close to travel.
