🕋❄️ Winter Faith & Wanderlust: Umrah Plus Turkey 2025 Itinerary

A soul-stirring journey across sacred sands and snow-capped lands

📝 Important Note & Disclaimer

This Winter Faith & Wanderlust: Umrah Plus Turkey 2025 — 18 Days Under RM6,000 guide is a personal travel journal and reference, not a commercial UmrahPlus package.

I am not a licensed travel agent and do not sell Umrah packages. All information shared here is based on personal planning, research, and on-ground experience — intended to help independent travelers plan smarter and save better.

This post may contain affiliate links (for example, Trip.com, Klook, or Shopee).
If you book through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — helping to keep this guide free and regularly updated.

💗 Thank you for your trust and support — may your journey be safe, meaningful, and full of blessings.

✈️ Flights — Smart Saver via Trip.com Multicity

Before starting your 18-day journey of faith and wanderlust, you’ll want to plan flights that are affordable, time-efficient, and align with your Umrah + Turkey itinerary.
Use Trip.com’s Multicity Flight Search — it’s a powerful tool that lets you compare routes, layover times, and total costs easily.

The Price Graph Tool helps you spot the lowest airfares — sometimes changing your travel date by just a day can save nearly RM500 compared to a direct flight.

Your goals are simple but strategic:
1️⃣ Arrive in Jeddah in the morning, continue to Madinah by NwBus, and reach before Asar.
2️⃣ Depart Jeddah to Istanbul overnight, arriving early for a full day of sightseeing.
3️⃣ Keep your total trip around 11D8N — balanced between the spiritual calm of Umrah and the winter magic of Turkey.

Here’s an example of a smart flight combination you can book:

💰 Total Airfare: RM2,932 (Economy Class)
🧳 Baggage: 7 kg cabin
🍴 Meals included

✈️ Part 1 – Spiritual Prelude: Umrah in Saudi Arabia (10 Days)

Every believer dreams of standing before the Kaabah. The moment your feet touch the marble floors of Masjidil Haram, reality hits — you’ve arrived where millions of hearts have prayed before you.

After months of planning, health checks, and budgeting, it all begins here. Each step between Safa and Marwah, each whispered du’a under the black sky of Makkah, reminds you that Umrah is not just a ritual — it’s a journey of the soul.

But here’s one thing I learned early: fitness matters.

Menunaikan Umrah bukan sekadar ibadah rohani — ia juga perjalanan fizikal yang menuntut ketahanan.

You’ll easily walk 10–12 kilometers a day, from your hotel to the mosque and back. A pair of ergonomic sandals, a small pouch for essentials, and a smartwatch (to track steps and heart rate) make a world of difference.

For accommodation and ground details, check out DIY Umrah Smart Saver 2025 – 11D8N | From RM3,212.

Day 1 ( Jan 12 ) – Departure from Kuala Lumpur → Abu Dhabi → Jeddah

• Flight Etihad Airways EY 411 KUL 09:35 → AUH 12:50
• 13-hour layover in Abu Dhabi — perfect mini tour!
• No re-check of baggage required

Make the most of your stopover! Inspired by Layover Diaries: Abu Dhabi – 6 Hours at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque & Beyond.

Suggested Layover Plan

• 🌙 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – marble domes & calm courtyards.
• 🏛️ Qasr Al Watan – the presidential palace of lights.
• 🎨 Louvre Abu Dhabi – masterpieces under a floating dome.
• 🌅 Corniche Walk – sunset skyline stroll.
• 🍽️ Dinner at Al Fanar Restaurant & Café for authentic Emirati flavors.

Return to the airport for your 2:05 AM connection to Jeddah.

Day 2 ( Jan 13 ) – Arrival in Saudi & Transfer to Madinah

Arrive Jeddah 04:15 a.m. After immigration, Fajr and breakfast at the airport, board NWBus to Madinah (07:45 or 10:45).
Arrive Madinah around  after Assar, check in and walk to Masjid An-Nabawi. Perform prayers, send salawat to Rasulullah ﷺ, visit Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah and let the calm of Madinah embrace you.

🛏️  Check in at Artal Taibah Hotel 

💡 Tip: Download the Nusuk App to book Raudhah and Umrah permits for free. (Available on Google Play Store, Apple App Store or AppGallery)

Days 2 - 4  ( Jan 13 -15 ) – Madinah: Tranquility & History

Spend three serene days in worship and learning.

Perform five daily prayers at Masjid Nabawi, reflect after Tahajjud.
Visit Masjid Quba (first mosque in Islam), Masjid Qiblatain (where the Qiblah was changed), Uhud Mount and the Date Market  – shop Ajwa & Sukkari for souvenirs.

Evenings are for quiet dhikr and journaling your du‘a.

Day 5  ( Jan 16 ) – Journey to Makkah & First Umrah

Check out and travel to Makkah by NWBus or Haramain High-Speed Train.
Stop at Miqat Bir Ali to wear Ihram and make niyyah. If you travel to Makkah by train, wear ihram from hotel and the miqat location will be announced on train.

Arrive Makkah by mid-day, check in near Masjid al-Haram, perform your first Umrah and taste the moment the Kaabah comes into view — pure awe.

🛏️  Check in at Al Kiswah Tower 5 Hotel 

Days 6–9  ( Jan 17 - 20 ) – Makkah: Worship & Reflection

Stay close to the Haram. Do extra Tawaf and Sunnah Umrah as energy allows.
Optional ziyārah to Jabal Thur, Arafah and Mina.
Evenings of tea and Qur’an recitation on the hotel balcony as the adhan echoes through the valley.

💡 Tip: Bring comfortable sandals and a smartwatch — average walking distance can exceed 5 km per day!

Day 10  ( Jan 21 ) – Farewell to Makkah → Fly to Istanbul

Travel to Jeddah Airport after Isha.
Flight Pegasus Airlines PC 695 JED 02:10 (Day 11 - Jan 22)→ SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Istanbul 06:05 AM.

Sleep on board — your new adventure starts at sunrise.

❄️ Part 2 – Journey Through Turkey (8 Days)

After completing Umrah, many travelers extend their trip to explore the land where East meets West. For me, that meant a week wandering through Turkey — tracing the Ottoman legacy, admiring ancient mosques, and watching sunrise balloons over Cappadocia.

January is still winter in Turkey. Temperatures range between 0°C to 10°C, perfect for quiet travel — fewer tourists, lower prices, and snow-kissed scenery.
Pack thermal wear, gloves, and a cozy jacket — trust me, Turkish tea tastes even better in the cold.

Full itinerary: Winter Journey Across Turkey: From Istanbul to Cappadocia for Under RM3,626.

Day 11  ( Jan 22 ) – Istanbul: Mosques & Bazaars

Arrive early morning; freshen up and take Fajr at the airport mosque.
Explore Sultanahmet - Old City on foot:

• Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque face each other in majestic symmetry.
• Descend into the Basilica Cistern.
• Lose yourself in the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of spices & lamps.

🍴 Must-Try Foods: Pottery Kebab (Old Ottoman Café), Turkish desserts (Hafiz Mustafa 1864), BBQ (Zübeyir Ocakbaşı).

🕕 Evening: Board overnight FlixBus to Ankara. 

Day 12  ( Jan 23 ) – Ankara: Echoes of History

Arrive at dawn; breakfast by Kızılay Square. Visit Anıtkabir (Atatürk Mausoleum), climb Ankara Castle for panoramic views, stroll through Kugulu Park before your evening FlixBus to Cappadocia (4 hrs).

🛏️  Upon arrival in Cappadocia, check in at Harman Cave Hotel 💰 ~RM255 twin with breakfast).

Day 13  ( Jan 24 ) – Cappadocia: Hot Air Balloons & Fairy Chimneys

Rise before dawn for the iconic Hot Air Balloon Ride (~RM330).
Watch the sun paint the valleys gold.
Later explore the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open-Air Museum, Love Valley and local souvenir shops.
 

Evening FlixBus to Konya (3 hrs).

🛏️ Upon arrival in Konya, check-in at THINK Hotel Konya 💰 RM296 / night (Breakfast included)

Day 14  ( Jan 25 ) – Konya: City of Rumi

Visit the Mevlana Museum, resting place of Jalaluddin Rumi.
Walk Alaaddin Hill Park & the Tropical Butterfly Garden.

Night FlixBus to Bursa. 

Day 15  ( Jan 26 ) – Bursa: Ottoman Heritage & Snow

Arrive at dawn to the former Ottoman capital.
Pray at Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque), wander the Cumalıkızık Village (UNESCO site).
Optional cable-car ride in Uludağ National Park for winter views.

Evening FlixBus back to Istanbul; 

🛏️ Upon arrival in Istanbul, check-in at Sultan Hostel & Guesthouse 💰 RM 417 twin with breakfast.

Days 16–17  ( Jan 27 - 28 ) – Istanbul: The Grand Finale

Spend two leisurely days exploring Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, and take a Bosphorus Cruise to see Europe and Asia from the water.
Evenings in Taksim Square or a sunset coffee at Galata Tower.

Day 18  ( Jan 29 ) – Homebound Reflections

Final shopping in Kadıköy Food Market. Transfer to Istanbul IST Airport for Etihad Airways EY 098 IST 14:10 → KUL 08:05 (+1 day) via Abu Dhabi.
One last look at the skyline where minarets kiss the clouds — Alhamdulillah for a journey of faith and wonder.

💰 Estimated Budget (per person)

☕ Allow ≈ RM 50 per day for meals & snacks. Most Turkish and Saudi hotels include breakfast.

🧳 Smart Saver Tips

• Pack thermals, scarf and comfortable walking shoes.
• Use night buses to save 3–4 hotel nights.
• Skip the hot-air balloon or choose shared basket to save RM 330.
• Book everything via Trip.com multicity for best fare graphs.
• Use Shopee/TikTok Shop links for thermal wear, powerbank, pouch bags.
•  Keep some cash (Turkish Lira & Saudi Riyal)

💭 Final Reflection

From the quiet dawn of Raudhah to the icy morning skies of Cappadocia, this journey reminds you that faith and curiosity can coexist beautifully.
When you walk from the tawaf circles of Makkah to the cobblestones of Istanbul, you realize every path — no matter how cold the winter — leads back to gratitude.