Umrah Guide
A useful starting point for those who are performing Umrah for the first time. This guide includes what happens during Umrah, in what order, and what to sort out before you go.
Before You Travel
Saudi Arabia requires a specific "Umrah Visa" for all hajjis performing Umrah. This may be obtained via Nusuk or Saudi e-visa. We can guide you through the visa process, from documentation and application requirements to submission, or even submit the application on your behalf.
Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date. Entry requirements periodically change, so check what is currently required for Saudi Arabia from your origin point well before you travel, and ask us if anything is unclear. Typical vaccines prior to travel for Hajj or Umrah include Meningococcal Meningitis, Polio, and Yellow Fever.
Things to pack may include your ihram garments, ihram appropriate shoes, sunglasses, hat, portable fan, medications, and electroyltes.
Knowing the order of the rites ahead of time allows you to be more focused during your Umrah.
A planning summary.
This page is a practical summary to help you plan. It is not a substitute for scholarly guidance.
Ihram and The Miqat.
You enter the state of ihram before crossing the miqat, the boundary set for the route you are arriving by. If you are flying, that usually means changing and making your intention before landing or on the aircraft. Once in ihram, certain everyday actions are prohibited until you leave the state of ihram. Your exact miqat point applies depends on where you fly into, and we will tell you which one is yours before you travel.
The Rites
Medina and Other Ziyaret
Medina is not part of the rites of Umrah, but most people travel to it to visit Masjid-e-Nabawi. Masjid an-Nabawi is the center of the visit. Around it, we arrange ziyarat with guides who can explain each site rather than simply driving you past it. How long you stay is your call. Most travelers give Medina three or four days, and travel there via the high-speed rail. There are several sites around Makkah that you can arrange ziyaret for as well.
Going home.
We arrange transfers back to the airport and, if you are flying out of a different city than you arrived in, the travel between them. Zamzam is handled at the airport rather than in your luggage, and the rules differ by airline and route.
Ready to plan your Umrah?
Tell us your dates and who is traveling, and we will build it around that.