Summer Umrah
Packages 2027

Summer 2027 at a glance

For families with children at school, the six-week summer break is the most flexible time of the year. There is no rush to fit a pilgrimage into a single half-term week, parents can choose 10, 12 or even 14 nights, and teenagers who are old enough to remember the experience can share it with grandparents.

The honest caveat for 2027 is that summer Umrah depends on the next Umrah season, 1449, which the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has not yet announced. The 1448 season ends on 7 April 2027, and Hajj follows in May. By precedent the season is expected to reopen after Hajj, typically around late May or June, and we confirm dates as soon as the Ministry announces them. Last year the season opened for visas and entry on 31 May 2026, shortly after Hajj.

School summer holidays across the UK

Scottish schools break up roughly a month before English ones, which opens up very different travel windows depending on where you live.

English families who want to avoid the heaviest bookings sometimes choose the final fortnight of August, while Scottish families can go as early as the end of June. If you are flying from Scotland, our Edinburgh Umrah packages page covers the routes.

May half-term

English May half-term in 2027 runs from 31 May to 4 June. Whether a trip is possible that week depends entirely on when the 1449 season actually opens. We will not sell it until the dates are official.

Early in a new season, hotels and flights are often easier to secure than in the August peak, so June can be an attractive choice for adults and Scottish families. Our June Umrah page tracks what we know about the reopening, and we will update it the moment the Ministry confirms the 1449 calendar.

Dealing with the heat

There is no getting around it: the Hijaz in summer is very hot. Long-term averages show Makkah reaching about 43.9°C in June, 43.2°C in July and 42.9°C in August, with overnight lows close to 30°C. Madinah is no cooler at this time of year, averaging around 43.8°C in August.

Pilgrims cope well with the right routine. Most of the people we send in summer perform their Umrah after Isha or before Fajr, rest in the hotel through the afternoon, and go to the mosque for Maghrib once the sun has dropped.

Practical heat tips

• Carry water at all times and drink before you feel thirsty, particularly children and older relatives.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing, and carry a light umbrella for shade on the walk to and from the mosque.
• Book ziyarat trips for early morning rather than the middle of the day.
• Choose a hotel close to the Haram, so the walk in the heat is short.

Summer package prices and hotels

Our summer packages start from the prices below, quoted per person with four sharing a room. Return flights, Umrah visa, hotels and transfers are all included, and the price is confirmed at booking once the 1449 season dates are set.

How payments work is explained on our booking policy page.

Why distance counts double in summer

In December a 1.4 km walk is pleasant. In August, at over 40°C, it can be draining, especially for young children and older parents. That is why we encourage summer families to look seriously at the 4-star packages, where the Sheraton’s pedestrian bridge and Elaf Kinda’s 160–280 m distance keep exposure short, or the 5-star packages, inside Abraj Al Bait in Makkah. If budget is the priority, our 3-star options still work well for those who time their walks for the cooler hours.

Making the most of a longer summer stay

With six weeks of holiday to play with, many families choose our 12 or 14-night packages, which split the time evenly: six or seven nights in each city. That extra time leaves room for ziyarat beyond the two mosques, ideally planned for the early morning before the heat builds.

In Makkah

• Jabal al-Nour: the mountain of Cave Hira, where the first revelation came.
• Jabal Thawr: where the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr sheltered during the Hijrah.
• Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat: a chance to show children the sites of Hajj, including Jabal al-Rahmah.
• Masjid Aisha at Tan’eem: the nearest point outside the Haram for entering ihram for an additional Umrah.

In Madinah

• Masjid Quba: the first mosque, where two rak’ahs carry the reward of an Umrah.
• Mount Uhud: and the martyrs’ cemetery, including the grave of Hamzah (RA).
• Masjid al-Qiblatayn and the Seven Mosques: sites of the change of qibla and the Battle of the Trench.

On the way home, each pilgrim can usually take one sealed 5-litre bottle of Zamzam bought at the official airport counter in Jeddah or Madinah; check the allowance with your airline.

Flights for a summer departure

For 4-star and 5-star bookings from Heathrow and Manchester we fly non-stop with Saudia to Jeddah, which takes around six to six and a half hours. Other cities and our 3-star packages route with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul; Glasgow is the exception, with Emirates via Dubai. Summer airline schedules are not finalised yet, so treat routings as indicative until we confirm them at booking. Families in South Yorkshire usually drive to Manchester, about an hour and a quarter away; see our Sheffield Umrah packages.

Madinah first, or Makkah first?

There are no direct flights from the UK to Madinah, but routing via Jeddah lets you choose which city to start with. Starting in Makkah means entering ihram in the air before the miqat; starting in Madinah means you put on ihram later at Dhul-Hulayfah, which some families with young children find easier.

Getting ready for a summer trip

• Passports: at least six months’ validity from your arrival date. Check them before the Easter break, when passport offices get busy.
• Meningitis ACWY: mandatory for everyone aged one and over, at least 10 days before arrival.
• Permits: Umrah and Rawdah visits are booked through Nusuk; the Rawdah is limited to one visit every 365 days.
• Travel advice: the FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia. Advice can change considerably over several months, so review the latest FCDO update before you book and before you fly, and check your insurer’s position.

Register your interest for summer 2027

Because the 1449 dates are not yet official, the best step now is to tell us when you would like to travel. We will hold your details and contact you as soon as the season is confirmed, so you are first in line for the closer hotels. Flight-inclusive packages are ATOL protected under ATOL No. 11203. Request a summer quote or drop us a message on WhatsApp. If summer heat is a concern, compare the cooler October half-term instead, or browse the July and August guides.