Umrah Packages
from Sheffield

Why Sheffield pilgrims fly from Manchester

Sheffield has three airports within reasonable reach, but they are not equal when it comes to Umrah. East Midlands is the quickest to drive to, yet it currently has no flights to Istanbul or the Gulf hubs, only leisure routes. Leeds Bradford, as far as we can see, has no hub-carrier service either.

That leaves Manchester as the practical choice for South Yorkshire. It offers a non-stop Saudia service to Jeddah plus frequent one-stop connections, and it is the airport our Sheffield packages use.

Drive times are approximate and depend heavily on the weather and the time of day. If another airport would genuinely suit your family better, ask and we will look at what is possible.

Over the Pennines: planning the journey

The road from Sheffield to Manchester climbs across the Peak District, and in winter it can be affected by snow, fog or closures at short notice. Leave a generous margin, particularly for flights in December, January and February.

Some Sheffield families travel the night before and stay near the airport, especially with elderly parents or small children. Others prefer the train into Manchester and a connection on to the airport station, which avoids the hill roads entirely; check current timetables before you choose this.

The late-evening Saudia flight that begins on 1 November 2026, leaving at 22:10, can make the day easier for South Yorkshire travellers: you can work a morning, pray Asr at home and still reach Terminal 2 with plenty of time to spare.

Saudia non-stop or Turkish via Istanbul?

Which airline you fly depends on the hotel level you choose. On 4★ and 5★ packages you take Saudia direct from Manchester to Jeddah, either the daily 13:45 departure landing at 23:05 or, on some days from November, the 22:10 flight arriving at 07:50. The flight time is about 6h20 to 6h40.

The 3★ packages route through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, which runs three or four flights a day from Manchester. The second leg to Jeddah takes about 3h45 to 4h05, so the overall journey is usually somewhere between 9 and 12 hours depending on the connection.

The connection has one practical upside: there is a natural break in which to change into ihram before boarding for Jeddah. On the non-stop flight, most people put ihram clothing on before leaving Manchester and make the intention when the crew announce the miqat, normally around half an hour before crossing it.

Sheffield packages by hotel level

Each level comes in 7, 10, 12 or 14-night versions. Seven nights are split four in Makkah and three in Madinah; the longer options are shared equally between the cities.

3★ from £625 per person

Our 3★ packages pair Emaar Andalusia (700–800 m from Masjid al-Haram) with Zowar Alalami in Madinah (300–350 m), or Al Kiswah Towers (900 m–1.4 km) with Al Aqeeq Al Rawda by Sedra (about 650 m). This tier suits fit, budget-minded travellers who do not mind a longer walk to the Haram.

4★ from £725 per person

The 4★ option brings you much closer: Elaf Kinda (160–280 m) or Sheraton Makkah Jabal Al Kaaba (about 200 m, linked by a pedestrian bridge), followed by Dallah Taibah (160–200 m) or Elaf Taiba (220–500 m) in Madinah. You also gain the non-stop flight.

5★ from £895 per person

For the shortest walks, 5★ packages use Pullman ZamZam Makkah (100 m) or Swissôtel Makkah (210 m), both in the Abraj Al Bait complex, then Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick (50 m) or Pullman Zamzam Madinah (110 m).

All prices are per person based on four sharing, include return flights, Umrah visa, hotels and transfers, and are confirmed at the point of booking.

Dates that work for South Yorkshire families

Sheffield schools and academy trusts set their own calendars, so treat the following as the general English pattern and check your child’s school.

• Christmas is the main family window of the 1448 season, and it books up early. Our December Umrah page covers the month, with Makkah highs averaging around 32°C.
• February half-term (mid-February 2027) lands in the early part of Ramadan, which is expected to start around 8 February. Our February half-term packages and Ramadan Umrah pages explain the options and the higher seasonal prices.
• Eid al-Fitr is expected on 9 March 2027, also the last day Umrah visas can be issued this season.
• Easter 2027 is not available: the final entry date for pilgrims is 23 March 2027.

Couples, retirees and anyone free during term time will find early March or February attractive for spending Ramadan in the holy cities. Our month-by-month guide compares the whole season.

Making the most of your days in Makkah and Madinah

Once the Umrah rites are complete, many Sheffield pilgrims spend their remaining days between prayers in the Haram and visits to places tied to the life of the Prophet. In Makkah, Jabal al-Nour holds the Cave of Hira, where the first revelation came, and Jabal Thawr is where the Prophet and Abu Bakr sheltered during the Hijrah.

A drive through Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, where Jabal al-Rahmah stands, helps first-timers picture the days of Hajj. Some pilgrims also go to Masjid Aisha at Tan’eem, the nearest point outside the Haram boundary, to enter ihram for an additional Umrah.

In Madinah, the Seven Mosques at the site of the Battle of the Trench and Jannat al-Baqi beside Masjid an-Nabawi are popular stops. A visit to the Rawdah is booked through the Nusuk app, is allowed once every 365 days, and has separate time slots for men and women, so plan it early in your Madinah stay.

Moving between the two cities

The Haramain High Speed Railway connects Makkah and Madinah in roughly two hours on direct services, or up to about 2h45 on others. Tickets are sold through the operator’s website and app, though the service is not guaranteed under current conditions. Madinah airport, meanwhile, is roughly 25 km from the Prophet’s Mosque.

Documents and health checklist for Sheffield travellers

1. Passport valid for at least six months after your arrival date.
2. Meningitis ACWY vaccination for everyone aged one or over, given no later than 10 days before arrival. A conjugate certificate lasts five years; a polysaccharide one lasts three.
3. Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which the Saudi health ministry recommends for all Umrah pilgrims.
4. Travel insurance arranged separately, since ATOL protection is not insurance.
5. Your Nusuk Umrah permit slot, which must be booked for a specific date and time.

Weather to expect

Sheffield winters are grey and damp, so the warmth is usually welcome. Makkah averages about 31°C by day in January and 35°C in March, while Madinah is several degrees cooler, with January nights around 12°C. Pack a light jacket for Madinah evenings and breathable clothing for Makkah.

Before you pay a deposit

Flight-inclusive packages are ATOL protected (ATOL No. 11203), and you should receive an ATOL Certificate once booked. Our booking policy sets out the details.

It is sensible to check the current FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia, which presently advises against all but essential travel, at the time of booking and again before departure; insurance cover can be affected by what it says.

Get your Sheffield Umrah quote

Pilgrims elsewhere in Yorkshire face similar choices, so our pages for Leeds and Bradford may also help. When you know roughly when you would like to go, send us your details for a quote or contact the team on WhatsApp, and we will match flights from Manchester with the right hotels for your group.