HOW TO DO UMRAH
- THE HALALBOOKING GUIDE
HALALBOOKING’S DIY UMRAH PLANNER
Are you thinking about booking Umrah yourself? You no longer need to book an Umrah package or travel with a group. Now it’s easy to book flights, accommodation and make other Umrah arrangements online. Halalbooking’s unique Umrah features and filters make choosing accommodation stress-free.
YOUR UMRAH CHECKLIST
- Choose your dates:
You can travel any time except for Hajj, but more popular times can be more expensive e.g. winter, school holidays or Ramadan Umrah - Book your hotel:
Use Halalbooking’s unique Umrah features to find accommodation in the most convenient location at the best price - Umrah visa:
Obtain the correct visa for Umrah by checking the official ‘Visit Saudi’ portal - 63 countries can now obtain tourist eVisas for Umrah online. - Book your flight:
Most pilgrims fly in to Jeddah (JED) or Madinah (MED) - check for the best deals from your local airport and book early for best rates - Book a transfer:
When you have booked your hotel on Halalbooking, you can also add airport transfers for a hassle-free arrival and departure - Umrah packing list:
Start making a list of essential items for Umrah including your Ihram clothing, comfortable footwear and vaseline to avoid chafing - Download useful apps:
As well as the Halalbooking app, you will need the Nusuk app to book your Umrah appointment in Makkah and Rawdah appointment in Madinah
DIY UMRAH WITH HALALBOOKING
- CHOOSE YOUR HOTEL
Choose from hundreds of hotels on Halalbooking and use these unique Umrah features and filters together with our verified guest reviews to find the right one for you:
Hotels for Umrah
Search for hotels in Makkah or Madinah’ or select the Umrah holiday theme to see both. Umrah features are summarised under each hotel. Filter by ‘Umrah Features’ to find those you want.
I really liked my stay here as it was our first time staying at the Fairmont clock tower will be staying here again. Having small children it’s easy for us to get into Haram and back
Haram view & Kaaba view rooms
Use the filters to find hotels with Haram and Kaaba view rooms and click on a hotel to see available rooms. If it has both room types, filter the rooms on the hotel page itself to select one or the other or both.
I like the accessibility to Haraam and mall, the lifts were quick, direct and easy to use. Rapid and impeccable room service. Room very clean and on timely basis. The food was also very nice. We took a haraam view room and got to see the Ka’bah which was splendid. I definitely look forward to visit the hotel again.
In Madinah, check which direction your room faces
If your room is south-facing, you will be looking towards Masjid an-Nabawi when praying in your room, but if it is north-facing it will be behind you. South-facing hotels are also closer to the Ladies section.
Wonderful location close to Gates 328-330 in the Haram. We stayed as a family group with elders and young children. Rooms were perfect for our needs. The ladies area of the Masjid was easily accessible and similarly men could easily get a space through gates 17/18. Shops and other amenities e.g. laundry are close by. Recommended.
Hotels in walking distance of Haram
See how long it takes to walk from your hotel to Masjid al-Haram in Makkah or Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah and sort search results by Distance to Haram.
The location of hotel is perfect as when you step out you can see the masjid. The rooms are spacious and cleaned regularly. We were on the 7th floor and the cleaners were superb, efficient and polite and could not do enough to make our stay comfortable.
Distance to Ladies section of Masjid an-Nabawi
In Madinah, you can see how long it takes to walk from your hotel to the Ladies section of the Haram.
Very short walk to the mens entrance. If ladies leave through the back entrance of the hotel its closer for them to reach the womens entrance faster. I was with young children and it was a very good location for distance.
Haram-connected prayer hall
Choose a hotel in Makkah with a Haram-connected prayer hall to allow you to pray in the same jamaat as in the Masjid al-Haram whilst you are in the hotel.
Location was great and having a prayer hall was very convenient.
Free shuttle to Haram
If travelling on a budget, hotels a little further from the Haram may be more affordable. Use this filter to find hotels with a free shuttle service.
The shuttle service to and from the haram was excellent. There was always a shuttle available for pick up and drop off at least every half an hour.
4 and 5 star hotels in Makkah near the Haram
Choose from our selection of 4 and 5 star hotels in Makkah, offering exceptional amenities and proximity to the Haram.
Great staff, very clean and neat, and very near to everything, Great experience, definitely will recommend and book again.
Full flexibility with free cancellation
If your dates may change or you want to spread your payments to budget better, choose our Book now, pay later or Free cancellation rates.
The hotel description was accurate and I used the option to wait to pay until just before my arrival, upon which I had no issues. Will definitely use again!
UMRAH PLUS
- ADD A STAY IN ANOTHER DESTINATION
The place where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), established the first Muslim community, following the Hijrah, home to the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid an-Nabawi, and many of the most important sites in Islam.
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site with its 7000 year-old tombs and stunning rock formations such as the 52-metre high Elephant Rock, set in the midst of the desert with its lush oasis.
Fascinating Jeddah, on the shores of the Red Sea, is the historic gateway to Makkah. Explore the quaint streets, authentic buildings and ancient city gates of Al-Balad, the old town at the heart of the modern city.
he ultra-modern capital boasts breathtaking architecture in the midst of the pristine desert landscape, offering contrasting experiences. Visit the Al Masmak Fortress, the historic town of Diriyah and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.
Read more from our DIY Umrah
VISIT SITES OF THE SEERAH OF
THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW)
The sacred cave on Jabal Nur where the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet (SAW) by the angel Jibril (AS)
The cave where the Prophet (SAW) and his companions hid, when they were being pursued by the Quraish
The first place of worship built by the Prophet (SAW) following the Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah
The masjid where the Qibla first changed direction from Al Quds (Jerusalem) to Makkah in 2 AH
The important battle ground where the Muslims defeated a powerful army of the Quraish, despite being heavily outnumbered
This 8 km long mountain was the site of the significant Battle of Uhud - at its foot is the cemetery where the martyrs were buried
Further reading about DIY Umrah:
For more practical details on how to plan your Umrah trip, visit our Umrah DIY page for comprehensive Guide to DIY Umrah.
For more information about Islamic sites in the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) read our blog article.
