In Islam, Umrah has great spiritual importance for Muslims. It can be done at any time of the year, unlike Hajj. Umrah is a voluntary act that promotes an intimate relationship with Allah Almighty. It represents forgiveness, faith renewal, and soul purification for Muslims.
Making your Umrah trip a success requires proper planning and preparations, whether you plan to perform Umrah in November or any other month. You can’t compromise this holy act at any cost. So, in this guide, we will explore some tips on how you can carefully plan your Umrah trip.
Make your budget and decide when to go:
Making your travel budget is one of the most important aspects of organizing your Umrah journey. You may require expert assistance if you need to know the complete cost of everything, including your visa, airfare, lodging, and meals.
- The following factors influence your budget:
- The airline of your choice.
- The time of your aircraft departure.
- The hotel of your choice.
- How many days do you spend there?
Also, deciding when you have to depart is essential when planning your budget. All your budget depends upon the season you are travelling. For example, if you like to travel during Ramadan, you have to make enough budget.
Flights and Accommodation booking:
You must book flights based on your budget. To find low-cost flights, you should compare prices and determine which airlines provide reasonable prices. Try to schedule your travel two months in advance.
Here are some popular airlines:
- Etihad Airways
- Saudi Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- British Airways
Moreover, it would help to look for reputable hotels in Makkah and Madinah with high ratings to make reservations. Accommodation is necessary to stay in the holy cities, so book that in advance.
Prepare your luggage wisely:
Luggage is mandatory for every trip, including your Umrah trip. During the Umrah trip, you don’t need otherworldly items. You need only the essentials, also known as Umrah essentials; when packing, choose the essential items and pack wisely/smartly.
- Umrah clothing
- Ihram attire
- Hijab, pins, Jubba
- Abaya
- Comfortable shoes
- Medications
- Self-care hygiene items
Remember to include only necessary items such as heavy, bulky, and fancy dresses, which are not perfect for the Umrah environment.
Are you curious to know: what is dress code for Saudi Arabia is? If not follow the below link: https://ayesharajpoot1.wordpress.com/2023/05/25/dress-code-in-saudi-arabia/
Ensure your finances:
Finances are a must-have when planning your Umrah journey. With enough finances, your trip might be complete. When you are in Saudi Arabia, you will need your money to spend. If you do the shopping and other expenses, cash is mandatory. Saudi Arabia uses SAR, and you must convert your finances into SAR.
Perform Umrah correctly:
Do you know the mandatory steps of Umrah? Umrah is all about including the rituals that you must have to perform. See the list below:
- Ihram
- Tawaf
- Sa’ee
- Halq/Taqsir
Ihram wears the specific attire for pilgrimage, which has different shapes for both men and women. Tawaf is Umrah’s second step, which is about circling the Holy Kaaba. At the same time, Sa’ee is the third ritual, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Lastly, Qasr or Halq/Taqsir marks your Umrah completion with a cut or shaving. This is a mandatory step of Umrah as well as Hajj.
To sum up, planning your Umrah trip is the first step of your pilgrimage performing idea. If you don’t arrange, you might face some issues, so following some tips and guidelines is best. Remember that you are going on an Umrah trip, not any other worldly trip, so follow the local culture and customs by respecting Umrah. Ensure to have proper flights for travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Hajj And Umrah 