-
Umrah Packages
- Most Selling
- By Rating
- Umrah By months
- Popular cities
- Exclusive Deals
- Yearly Packages
- hajj Packages
- Halal Holidays
- Guide
- Contact Us
- Inquire us
18 Jul, 25
by Muslims Holy TravelA lot of factors need to be considered when it comes to planning an international trip. The need for proper planning increases even more when there is a religious purpose involved. This is specifically true for Umrah and Hajj trips. Muslims typically visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah during Umrah. While all the Umrah rituals are associated with the city of Makkah, the importance of Madinah is also too much to ignore. In the majestic city lies the grand and beautiful Prophet’s Mosque, commonly known as Al Masjid an Nabawi or Masjid e Nabwi.
This mosque is also home to the grave of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), where Hajj and Umrah pilgrims offer their salaam whenever they visit Madinah. Despite doing Umrah in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visiting Masjid e Nabwi, there are plenty of other things to do in both cities as well. If you want to perform Umrah with 100% satisfaction, explore all the holy places in both cities, and go shopping (dates and gifts), then you need to plan your trip properly. For this purpose, we at Muslims Holy Travel can help you achieve this without any fuss.
We offer a wide range of Umrah packages from the UK. Whether you want to go on a group Umrah for family or embark on a solo journey, we have got you covered. However, if you want to plan the trip yourself, this post is perfect for you. In this guide, we will explain how to plan a perfect Umrah with stays in both holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
As far as the Umrah rituals are concerned, they only take 3 to 6 hours to complete. However, the total duration of the Umrah trip for overseas pilgrims is at least 3 days. Two days are kept for travelling, while 1 day is allocated for Umrah. In such a trip, pilgrims will simply board a flight, check in at a hotel, perform Umrah, and then return on the very same day. Such an itinerary will not give them any time to visit the holy sites in Makkah or go to Madinah. This is why most Umrah trips are at least 5 days long and can go up to a month, depending on the preferences of a pilgrim. For example, some pilgrims going for Umrah in Ramadan like to stay in Makkah and Madinah for the whole month.
Pilgrims usually allocate 7 to 14 days for Umrah as this duration allows them to spend ample time in both holy cities and realise their dream of performing the lesser pilgrimage in a proper way and without any hurry. For example, if you stay for 4 days in Makkah, you can do Umrah twice, keep one day to explore the holy sites and then go to Madinah. Once in Madinah, they can pray at Masjid e Nabwi, visit Rawdah, go to ziyarat places, and explore the markets in the city.
However, when it comes to performing the Hajj, the rituals are spread across 5 days. This is why the minimum duration of a Hajj trip is 12 or 14 days. Some Hajj packages are even 40 days long. In a nutshell, it all depends on your preferences and budget. At Muslims Holy Travel, we offer Umrah packages of different durations, starting from 5 days to 14 days. You can also get customised deals for 20 days or even a whole month if you want. Similarly, we also offer luxury deals or 3 star Umrah or economical Umrah packages to cater to pilgrims with different budgets.
Based on our above discussion, it is enough to say that you can plan your Makkah leg of the Umrah trip in 4 days without any issues. This time will give you ample chances to do Umrah twice, visit holy places, explore the nearby markets, and leave for Madinah without any problems.
Most of the people opt for flights that land in Jeddah as it allows them to do Umrah straight away after checking in at the hotel. The reason behind this is that they wear the Ihram before boarding the flight or during the flight. If you are travelling by booking an Umrah package, a car or bus will be waiting for you upon arrival. On the other hand, if you have planned a DIY trip, you will have to get a taxi or call one through a ride-hailing app. The first thing to do after landing is to get a local SIM card with internet data, so you can navigate maps and stay connected with your loved ones back home. There is also the option of using HHR as the station is inside the Jeddah airport. However, it needs prior booking.
The distance between Makkah and Jeddah is around 90 kilometres, and it takes somewhere between 60 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the traffic and how soon you get a taxi or a bus. If you want to keep the transportation cost low, opt for the SAPTCO bus or shared transport. Once you reach Makkah, go straight to your hotel, check in, and leave for Umrah. Make sure you follow all the limitations imposed on a pilgrim after wearing the Ihram.
Don't stop for rest or freshening up in your hotel room, as such things can break the sanctity of Ihram. It is better to head for Umrah as soon as possible. Umrah is comprised of four different rituals, such as Tawaf (circling the Kaaba 7 times), offering nafals after Tawaf (behind Maqam e Ibrahim), Sai (running between the hills of Safa and Marwa), and Halq (shaving or trimming the hair from the head). This marks the Umrah complete, and you can remove the Ihram. Go back to the hotel, take some rest, and get ready for the next day. Some pilgrims prefer Umrha on the second day; they can keep the Ihram on, otherwise, they will have to wear it again from Masjid e Ayesha, which is the nearby Miqat.
On the second day, you have two options: you can either go for Umrah if you haven't removed Ihram. But if you have, don't worry, the nearest Miqat is only 15 minutes away from Masjid Al Haram. We suggest you remove Ihram after the first Umrah, as doing two pilgrimages consecutively might exhaust you. Get up early in the morning and head to Masjid al Haram to offer Fajr prayers.
If you are lucky, you might get a chance to touch or kiss the Black Stone if the crowds are less. Recite the Quran in the holy mosque and make prayers. You can go back to your hotel now. If you have booked a hotel that offers a buffet breakfast, make sure you give yourself enough time to eat fully. Take some rest if you want, or plan your day for ziyarat trips. The best holy places to visit in Makkah other than Masjid al Haram are mentioned below.
Other than these sites, there are plenty of sacred sites as well where the Messenger of Allah either stayed, prayed or preached the teachings of Islam. You can also visit these places. During the rest of the day, you can do whatever you like. Most people go to the Haram to offer prayers, while some rest for the next day.
If you have opted to go for ziyarats on the second day of your trip, now is the right time to perform the second Umrah of your trip. If you have done Umrah on the second day, replace our suggested 2nd day with your 3rd day of the trip.On the third day of your trip, offer Fajr prayers in Masjid al Haram, do breakfast and head to Masjid Ayesha, also known as Tasneem Mosque, to re-enter the state of Ihram. You can go there by taxi as it is a 15-minute drive. Make Ihram’s niyyat and return to the Haram for your second Umrah.
Drink ZamZam to your fullest and take some rest inside the mosque after doing Umrah. During the rest of the day, you can pray or explore the commercial areas near the holy mosque. Many hotels offer tea and coffee with Kaaba views. You can go there to spend some time as well. The food scene in Makkah is also great. If you are a foodie, we suggest you visit the street-side stalls and try some local delicacies. The prices are low, but the taste is very good.
Plan this day depending on the time you have booked your transport for Madinah. If you book a package from us, we offer a minivan or a sedan as per the number of pilgrims. For example, if you are going on a Ramadan Umrah with group, these packages come with a coaster to take you from Makkah to Madinah. If your transport is early in the morning, you can do the farewell tawaf (Tawaf al Wida) the night before departure or before leaving. This tawaf is not compulsory for Umrah pilgrims as it is for Hajj pilgrims. Keep your luggage in the vehicle and leave for Madinah.
Madinah has the honour of being the first Islamic state in the world. When the Holy Prophet (PBUH) migrated from Makkah, the people of Madinah were extremely happy after hearing the news of his arrival. Everyone wanted to take him to their house, but he preferred to stay at a place that belonged to no one, and this is where he laid the foundation of the mosque. Although the Prophet (PBUH) lived in Madanah for only 10 years, it still came to be known as the city of the Prophet. Let’s check out how you can spend your 4 days in Madinah.
The time you spent travelling to Madinah from Makkah depends on the way you travelled. For example, it only takes 2.5 hours by the Haramain high-speed train. By road, the journey lasts for four to six hours, depending on the traffic conditions. After you reach the city, check into your hotel and take some rest. In Madinah, pilgrims are not wearing Ihram, so they can delay visiting the Prophet’s Mosque. If you want to visit Rawdah, the area between the Secret Chamber and the Pulpit.
Bookings to visit this place and offer nafal here are only made through the Nusuk app. Make sure you do it as soon as possible. After you have shaken off the tiredness of the journey, go to Masjid e Nabwi and offer 2 rakats of Tahiyyat al-Masjid (Greeting the Mosque). After these prayers, offer Salam to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Abubakar (RA) and Umar (RA) at the Rawdah Area. The Prophet’s mosque is a very beautiful place to explore and visit. Spend some time there while visiting it, offer prayers, and recite the Quran as much as you can. Attend the Isha prayers there. Now you can get back to your hotel or stay back for more prayers.
Getting a chance to visit Rawdah is a big blessing from Allah Almighty. Due to the increasing nature of crowds day by day, many pilgrims don't even get a chance to go there. This is why it is recommended to book an appointment as soon as possible. On the second day, get up early, offer Fajr prayers, do breakfast and get ready for the day ahead. The best way to spend the second day is to stay in the mosque until your time to visit Rawdah arrives. There are a lot of people waiting to enter this blessed place in Masjid e Nabwi.
So, it is recommended to arrive early. The Rawdah is also known as Riyad al Jannah, a garden from Paradise. Offering prayers there is simply like visiting paradise itself. This is why Muslims love visiting there. After you are done with your Rawdah appointment, stay back in the mosque, or you can head out to explore the nearby markets. The markets in Madinah are cheaper than Makkah, and the dates found here are of better quality. Moreover, as you will be boarding a flight back home from Madinah, it is a pragmatic decision not to gather extra luggage from Makkah. After you are done shopping, explore the local food scene or visit the places that you find interesting.
There are plenty of holy sites in Madinah as well that pilgrims can explore during their Umrah trip. Just like Makkah, each of these sites has a profound importance in the life of Muslims because of the events that took place around them. The best way to visit these sites is to book a tour or hire a taxi. Some of our packages also offer transport for ziyarats. You can book them to avoid any inconveniences.
After you are done with your breakfast and evening prayers, leave for your tour. The most common places for ziyarat tours include the following:
• Masjid Quba: It is the first mosque built in Islam. People pray two rakat nafals as they have a reward equal to Umrah.
• Masjid Qiblatain: It is the mosque where the Qiblah direction was changed from Jerusalem to Makkah.
• Mount Uhud: This is where the famous battle of Uhud was fought between Muslims and Quraish.
• Al Baqi Cemetery: It is the graveyard where many notable Sahabas are buried.
After you are back from the tour, go back to your room to relax a bit and then either explore the local markets or go to Masjid e Nabwi for prayers. Make sure you spend a couple of hours reciting the Holy Quran while you are in the mosque.
The last day is quite difficult for Muslims as it is not easy to depart from the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Plan your last day in the city according to your flight’s time. If your flight is late in the morning, offer Fajr prayers in Masjid e Nabwi and leave for the airport as per the timing. Pilgrims with afternoon and evening flights usually get more time to pack and offer their last prayers more easily. Regardless of the time of your flight, make sure you offer a farewell salam to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) before departure. This is a very emotional moment, and rightly so, because Muslims love the Prophet even more than their family members. Leave for the airport with a promise to come back for another Umrah or Hajj as soon as possible.
The beauty of an Umrah trip is that it can impact the pilgrim in so many positive ways. However, retaining these positives is up to the pilgrim. It teaches us humility, patience, tolerance and the fact that all greatness belongs to Allah. If you are looking to perform Umrah this year or next, we are right here to help with our exceptional Umrah packages. Reach out to us to get a perfect Umrah deal as per your preferences and budget.
Yes. You can plan your Umrah trip just the way you like it. There is no compulsion on pilgrims to do Umrah before visiting Madinah or vice versa. From the ritual's point of view, visiting Madinah is not even essential for Umrah or Hajj pilgrims.
You can visit Makkah and Madinah in a smooth and stress-free way by booking our Umrah packages. These deals come with all the essential services like visa assistance, flights, accommodations, on-ground transportation, meals, and many others. By booking such packages, you don't have to worry about anything, and you can focus entirely on your trip.
It depends on your preferences. From a technical point of view and as per the trends, most people go to Makkah before Madinah. When you first arrive in Makkah, the energy levels are quite high, and this makes Umrah easier. As you spend some time in Makkah, you may start feeling a bit low on energy. Madinah, on the other hand, is a much more relaxed affair, as you can manage things at your own pace. This is why you should start with Makkah first.
.webp)
