Easter Umrah 2027: Dates
and Alternatives

The short answer: no Easter Umrah in 2027

We are often asked for Easter packages, because the two-week spring break is one of the few times families can travel together. For 2027, though, we are not able to offer them, and neither can any other operator selling Umrah visas. The reason is simply the calendar: the Saudi authorities stop admitting Umrah pilgrims before the school holidays begin.

Rather than leave you with a dead end, this page explains the dates and sets out the options that do work for UK families in the 2026–27 season.

How the 1448 Umrah calendar clashes with Easter

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah publishes an official calendar for each Umrah season. For 1448 it sets three cut-off dates, and every one of them sits before or right at the start of the Easter break.

Even the earliest school break, starting on 26 March, comes three days after the last entry date. A family leaving on the first Saturday of the holidays simply could not be admitted on an Umrah visa.

Why the season closes in spring

The closure clears the way for Hajj. In 1448, 1 Dhul Hijjah is projected for 7 May 2027 and the Day of Arafah for 15 May, with Eid al-Adha expected the following day. In the run-up, the Kingdom prioritises Hajj pilgrims, and UK government guidance notes that travellers who are not performing Hajj may be prevented from flying into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif during the Hajj period.

The best alternatives for 2026–27

March, before the 23rd

The closest option to Easter is the short window after Eid al-Fitr. Travel between around 10 and 23 March 2027 is possible, provided your visa is issued by 9 March, so you must book early and we apply in good time. This falls in term time, so it suits adults, couples and retired parents more than families. Average highs in Makkah are about 35°C. Read more on our March Umrah packages page.

February half-term, during Ramadan

The half-term holiday on 15–19 February 2027 lands in the first half of Ramadan, which many families see as a blessing rather than a compromise. It is the best school-holiday alternative to Easter this season. See our February half-term Umrah page for dates and prices.

Ramadan more widely

If you are not tied to school dates, any part of Ramadan 2027, expected from around 8 February, offers mild weather and an atmosphere quite unlike any other month.

Christmas 2026

There may still be availability over the winter break, which runs from 19 December 2026 in much of England. Our Christmas Umrah packages are timed around it.

Summer 2027

The next long school holiday after Easter is summer. Umrah in summer 2027 depends on the 1449 season, which has not yet been announced. By precedent it is expected to reopen after Hajj, typically around late May or June, and we confirm dates as soon as the Ministry announces them. It will be hot, with Makkah averaging highs above 43°C in July. Register interest via our summer Umrah page.

What about the tourist e-visa?

Some people ask whether a tourist e-visa could get around the closure. UK government guidance says the e-visa can be used to perform Umrah outside of the Hajj season, but performing Umrah also requires a Nusuk permit booked for a specific date and time. We sell packages within the official Umrah season only, and we do not offer April 2027 travel. If you are considering an independent trip, check the latest official Saudi guidance and the FCDO advice for Saudi Arabia, which currently advises against all but essential travel and can affect whether your insurance is valid.

Use the Easter break to get ready instead

If summer 2027 is now your target, the Easter holidays are a good moment to deal with the paperwork that often holds families up:

• Passports: each one needs at least six months’ validity from the day you arrive in Saudi Arabia. Children’s passports last five years, so check expiry dates now.
• Vaccinations: meningitis ACWY is required for everyone aged one and over, at least 10 days before arrival. A conjugate vaccine certificate is accepted for five years, so a jab in spring can still cover a later trip.
• Learning the rites: practising tawaf and sa’i at home, or attending a local Umrah class, helps children and first-timers feel confident.

Our April and June pages explain how the closure and the expected reopening affect those months.

Will Easter Umrah be possible in future years?

Quite possibly. The Islamic year is roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian one, so the Umrah closing window drifts earlier each year, while Easter stays in late March or April. Over time, the Easter holidays should move back into an open season. We will only confirm this once the Ministry publishes each new calendar, and we will update this page when it does.

Our months overview, at Umrah packages by month, shows which months are open, closed or awaiting announcement.

Talk to us about your dates

If your heart was set on Easter, tell us who is travelling and when you can get away, and we will suggest the nearest workable dates. Our flight-inclusive packages are ATOL protected under ATOL No. 11203. Ask for a quote or send us a WhatsApp message, and we will help you find a time that works for the whole family.