17 Jun, 26
by Muslims Holy Travel
January vs February Umrah: Which Is Better for UK Pilgrims?
Winter is one of the most popular seasons for UK pilgrims to take this spiritual journey. The reason behind this popularity is the ease with which they can perform Umrah rituals. People of the UK are not prone to the intense weather of Saudi Arabia. But due to travel costs, school holidays, and package availability, most pilgrims entangle themselves between January vs February Umrah. You get different kinds of Umrah offers in both of these months and it really affects your entire journey.
Apart from packages, both months have their own pros and cons for UK pilgrims. Unfortunately, not many pilgrims from UK are aware of these things and end up choosing the wrong month. The following article will provide you with a complete Umrah travel guide to help you make an appropriate selection. If you are wondering, “January vs February Umrah: Which month is better?” then the following article will provide you with a complete UK Umrah travel guide to make the right choice.
Why Choose Winter For Umrah?
The people of the UK live in a very moderate temperature and most of the time it is cold weather. They cannot tolerate the intense heat that Saudi Arabia faces throughout the year. Even though the country witnesses a hot atmosphere during winter as well, but it is bearable for UK pilgrims. That’s why it is very hard for UK pilgrims to perform Umrah during summer. The heat can make them fall sick and drain their energy. The elderly and kids also face numerous issues making summer infeasible for Umrah with family. Winter gives them the opportunity to perform Tawaf and Sa’i without any worry. These two rituals demand physical strength and not many UK pilgrims possess such strength.
They can perform these rituals but can’t fight the heat at the same time. That’s why the majority of them consider winter as the best time to perform Umrah from UK. Moreover, winter Umrah packages from recognised travel agencies also compel them to choose this season. They get multiple kinds of discounts and advantages that they can’t ignore with these packages. January is the popular choice as the best month for Umrah in winter because of the winter holidays. But February also has some unavoidable advantages that you need to consider before making a selection.
January Umrah – Pros & Cons
It is the coolest month and holiday season in the UK making it a perfect time to take this journey. Additionally, it is the time when UK pilgrims face the coldest weather. A January Umrah also gives them the opportunity to avoid this cold weather and feel the sun a little. It is also a time when UK pilgrims will witness fewer crowds during Umrah. They can perform all of their rituals peacefully and comfortably. Moreover, January Umrah packages from UK also attract many pilgrims to spend a luxurious journey. Fewer crowds also mean you get to book the best hotel and use brilliant airlines.
Not just that, it also means you will not have to wait for flights and they will be readily available for you. These are only the advantages of January Umrah while there are disadvantages that you should take into account. Due to the New Year celebration, the prices of hotels and flights might increase. It can make things difficult for pilgrims who come from low income households. January Umrah is great for families to take this journey together but many schools in the UK remain open. Furthermore, the higher demand in the first two weeks makes things really difficult for poor families to take this journey.
February Umrah – Pros & Cons
This month offers a very stable temperature making it suitable for UK pilgrims to take this journey. Another positive thing about February Umrah is that you will experience fewer pilgrims compared to January. It will be easy for you to book flights with your required timing and you’ll not face availability issues. This month will allow you to book hotels nearest to the Haram in Makkah and Madinah. Many travel agencies offer promotions and discounts this month because of it being an off-peak season. You will find attractive services with February Umrah packages from the UK that will offer more comfort for your journey.
But on the other hand, you might witness an increase in prices around the UK half-term holidays. Kids also get off in some areas of the UK paving the way for an increased demand for school holiday Umrah. Moreover, too many families booking their journeys will cause an increase in prices too. All of these things will also make it harder for people to book at the last minute. You will need to take all of these things into account when you have to make a selection.
Which Month is Cheaper for Umrah?
Umrah in January or February costs differently but it is a very subtle difference if you pay attention. The airfare will be high at the start of January because of a huge number of pilgrims. Similarly, hotels will be very expensive during this time for the same reason. You may feel the need to book hotels that are away from the holy mosques to save money. But then you will have to use on-ground transportation and it will increase your budget. However, you can minimise your expenses by utilising January Umrah packages from the UK. Many good travel agencies offer many kinds of Umrah packages considering the holiday season.
The same situations you will face if you take this journey during the last weeks of February. Prices will go up due to school holidays and a surge of family bookings. Early booking of February Umrah packages from UK can save you a lot of money. So you will need to avoid the start of January and the end of February to enjoy a cheaper journey. The best time in this regard would be late January and early February.
Weather in Makkah and Medina
The temperature in Saudi Arabia during winter remains moderate with January being the coldest month. But the average daytime temperature in both holy cities remains almost the same throughout winter. You will find nights even colder and many pilgrims also choose nights to perform their rituals. Firstly, you will not find any issues performing your rituals during the day in January. Secondly, even if your hotels are far away from each holy mosque, that will not be a problem. You can easily walk because the weather will allow you to do that.
Most pilgrims worry about elderly pilgrims when it comes to long distance hotels. But they can use a wheelchair because the weather will not bother them. Similarly, you might face a little hot weather in February but it will not be unbearable. You would still perform all your rituals easily during the day. February weather in Saudi Arabia might create issues for elderly pilgrims. The weather can get a little hotter especially during the last days of the month. But they can schedule their rituals and prayers at night to avoid the heat. It is important to take into account that the weather remains cold at night even in February.
January or February Umrah for Families and Elderly Pilgrims
Every Muslim likes to have a comfortable and peaceful journey when it comes to Umrah with family. Women, kids, and elderly pilgrims need extra care regardless of the season you choose for this journey. However, you will face bigger crowds in January Umrah that will make it harder for the elderly and kids to handle. They will face difficulty navigating through those thick crowds making their overall experience bad. The weather will be friendly so kids may be able to find a way to perform their rituals easily. However, elderly pilgrims should choose February or the end of January for their rituals. All in all, to minimise your expenses, it would be great to find suitable family Umrah packages winter for your spiritual journey.
Moreover, you can choose February to enjoy a relaxed and peaceful journey. You will not find bigger crowds and higher prices in this period. Elderly pilgrims can choose nighttime to perform their rituals if they want to avoid the sun. These strategies will allow you to avoid any inconvenience and enjoy a budget-friendly Umrah. Additionally, families and elderly pilgrims will not face any issues in January. The only problem they might face in January is bigger crowds at the sacred sites. Nevertheless, a lot of families take this journey in February so the problem will remain the same. Considering these factors, you can choose January to perform Umrah with kids and Elderly pilgrims can select February.
Tips to Save Money with Winter Umrah Packages
The most fruitful way to save money on this journey is by following the early booking procedure. Fortunately, there are many travel companies that offer very kind winter Umrah packages. You can easily have a luxurious trip without spending a lot but early booking can help you more. Usually, people think that off-peak Umrah travel is cheap but that is a mistake that everyone commits. The first thing that you need to do is to find a reputable travel agency for your journey. Avoid the peak school holiday weeks and the New Year holiday weeks to book your travel. No matter what you do, it would be nearly impossible to find cheap Umrah packages during these weeks. Secondly, booking your journey 2-3 months prior will get you a lot of benefits. You can book the most comfortable flights and luxurious hotels at very low prices.
Final Verdict – January vs February: Which is better for UK Pilgrims?
Now, given the aforementioned insights, we can draw a few conclusions. January is the coldest month, offering a great opportunity for families to take this journey. You will find better deals due to the New Year celebration. It will be easier for you to find suitable flights and comfortable hotels near the Haram. The crowds will be fewer compared to peak season and it is the best time to find good Umrah packages. Whereas, February offers mild weather and fewer crowds compared to January. You will find flexibility in finding appropriate flights and departure timing. It is also a great time to find cheap Umrah deals and countless promotions.
The best choice would be the one that aligns with your personal needs. You can choose any month if it offers the best amenities and services required for your journey. To find the best deals, you must book your journey with Muslims Holy Travel. It is the best travel company operating from the UK. Lastly, the answer to the “January or February Umrah: Which Month is Better?” question depends on your priorities and the kind of experience you require. That’s why review what you need and then make a selection.
