Umrah Packages
from Edinburgh

Planning Umrah around Edinburgh’s school holidays

Scottish term dates run on a different rhythm from England’s, and that changes which Umrah windows work for Edinburgh families. City of Edinburgh Council has published its 2026–27 calendar, and the table below sets each break against the Saudi Umrah season.

Independent and some other schools set their own dates, so double-check if your children are not at a council school.

The Scottish summer advantage

Because Scottish schools finish in late June, Edinburgh families may be able to travel earlier in the summer than relatives in England. The 1449 season is expected to reopen after Hajj, typically around late May or June, and we confirm dates as soon as the Ministry announces them. Bear in mind that average highs in Makkah reach about 44°C in June; our summer Umrah packages and June Umrah pages cover the heat in more detail.

Winter break: Christmas and New Year

Edinburgh pupils are off from 21 December to 5 January, returning on the 6th. That timing can suit a trip spanning the turn of the year, and our Christmas Umrah packages are built for exactly this. Seats for Christmas and New Year departures go early.

Flying from Edinburgh Airport

No Scottish airport has a non-stop flight to Jeddah or Madinah at present, so every Umrah from Edinburgh involves one stop. The good news is that Edinburgh has a better choice of connections than most regional UK airports.

Pegasus also flies from Edinburgh to Istanbul’s second airport, Sabiha Gökçen, though we price our packages on Turkish Airlines. Etihad’s Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi route is not currently operating.

From Istanbul, the onward flight to Jeddah takes around 3h45 to 4h05, and the full journey usually lands somewhere between 9 and 12 hours depending on the connection. A routing through Doha can also reach Madinah directly, with Qatar flying that leg about twice a day in roughly 2h15 to 2h40.

Ihram on a one-stop journey

If you fly into Jeddah, you must be in ihram before crossing the miqat, as the city lies inside the boundary. Many Edinburgh pilgrims change during the Istanbul layover and make the niyyah when the crew announce the miqat on the second flight, roughly half an hour before. Starting in Madinah instead means no ihram on the plane at all; you would enter it at Dhul-Hulayfah on the way to Makkah. Follow the guidance of your own scholar.

Getting to Edinburgh Airport

The airport lies about 13 km west of the city centre and is normally around 25 minutes by car. Tram and bus links also run from the centre, which works well for couples travelling light, while larger families usually find a lift or taxi easier with luggage.

Edinburgh’s Muslim community is long-standing and closely connected, and we often hear from families travelling together with friends from Glasgow and across central Scotland.

Choosing your hotels

All packages are available for 7, 10, 12 or 14 nights. Seven nights means four in Makkah and three in Madinah; the longer stays split the nights equally.

For the best value: 3★ from £625

3★ packages use Emaar Andalusia (700–800 m from Masjid al-Haram) or Al Kiswah Towers (900 m–1.4 km) in Makkah, with Zowar Alalami (300–350 m) or Al Aqeeq Al Rawda by Sedra (about 650 m) in Madinah.

For a shorter walk: 4★ from £725

Our 4★ Umrah places you at Elaf Kinda (160–280 m) or Sheraton Makkah Jabal Al Kaaba (about 200 m, via a pedestrian bridge), then Dallah Taibah (160–200 m) or Elaf Taiba (220–500 m).

For elderly parents or limited mobility: 5★ from £895

The 5★ packages offer Pullman ZamZam Makkah (100 m) or Swissôtel Makkah (210 m) in Abraj Al Bait, and Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick (50 m) or Pullman Zamzam Madinah (110 m).

From-prices are per person sharing a quad room and cover return flights from Edinburgh, the Umrah visa, hotels and transfers; the final figure is confirmed at booking. On Edinburgh departures, all hotel levels fly Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.

What to pack for winter in the holy cities

Leaving a Scottish December for Makkah means swapping cold, dark afternoons for average highs of around 32°C, with nights near 21°C. Madinah is cooler, averaging about 26°C by day and 14°C at night in December, so a light layer is welcome after Isha.

Men need two plain, unstitched white sheets for ihram. Women should pack loose, modest clothing that covers the body. Comfortable footwear matters more than most first-timers expect, given how much walking the Haram involves. January Umrah is slightly cooler still and, outside the holidays, quieter.

Beyond the two mosques: ziyarat for Edinburgh pilgrims

Between prayers, most visitors from Scotland want to see the places that bring the Seerah to life. In Makkah, Jannat al-Mu’alla is the cemetery where Khadijah (RA) is buried, and the mountain of Jabal al-Nour, home to the Cave of Hira, is visible from much of the city.

Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah are quiet outside the Hajj days, which makes them easier to visit with children or elderly relatives. In Madinah, the first mosque, Masjid Quba, and the battlefield of Uhud are favourite stops, and the Seven Mosques mark the site of the Battle of the Trench.

Starting in Madinah via Doha

If you would rather begin your trip in Madinah, a Qatar Airways routing through Doha can be requested. From Madinah airport it is around 20 to 30 minutes to Masjid an-Nabawi, and you would put on ihram later at Dhul-Hulayfah when heading to Makkah. We will confirm availability and any price difference for your dates.

Rawdah, Nusuk and documents

Your Umrah itself needs a Nusuk permit booked for a set date and time. A visit to the Rawdah in Madinah is also booked through Nusuk and is limited to once every 365 days, with separate time windows for men and women.

Passports need six months’ validity from arrival, and everyone aged one and over must have the meningitis ACWY vaccine at least 10 days before landing.

Children may enter the Two Holy Mosques at any age, though Umrah and Rawdah permits have been reported to need a minimum age of five. If you are travelling with little ones, plan who will stay with them while others perform tawaf and sa’i.

Booking and travel advice

Flight-inclusive packages are ATOL protected (ATOL No. 11203); read our booking policy for full terms.

The UK government currently advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, so keep an eye on the FCDO page for Saudi Arabia from booking through to departure, and ask your insurer how that advice affects your policy.

Request your Edinburgh Umrah quote

Travelling with family in the west? Our Glasgow Umrah packages explain the options from there, and Manchester departures offer a non-stop flight if you are willing to travel south. Whenever you are ready, ask for a free quote or send us a WhatsApp message with your dates and group size.