DIY Umrah from the UK
Plan your own Umrah from the UK
A free, step by step planner for your flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, visa, transfers and eSIM. Compare providers side by side, then book directly with each one.
Travelling somewhere else? Explore other travel
How the planner works
Your Umrah, in the order you book it
Each stop is a step in the planner, with a short explanation and the providers to compare. Tick steps off as you go. Your progress is saved on your own device, with no account needed.
Flights
Compare fares from UK airports on Trip.com and TravelUp, plus current Riyadh Air offers.
Open this step: FlightsHotels
Choose a hotel close to the Haram, then check prices on Agoda or Hotels.com.
Open this step: HotelsUmrah Visa
Apply once your flights and hotels are booked. Your options depend on your passport.
Open this step: Umrah VisaTransfers
Plan the airport run, the Makkah to Madinah leg and the trip back, bookable with Kiwitaxi.
Open this step: TransfersZiyaraat
Guided visits to the historic sites in Makkah and Madinah, if you have a spare half day.
Open this step: ZiyaraatUmrah Essentials
A packing list, and the items worth buying before you fly.
Open this step: Umrah EssentialsTravel InsuranceOptional
Cover for medical costs, delays and cancellations.
Open this step: Travel Insurance (Optional)
First time planning?
Guides to read before you book
Umrah
First-Time Umrah: A Practical Timeline From Booking to Departure
A realistic week-by-week outline of what to sort out between booking your Umrah trip and boarding the flight.
Visa Information
Saudi Arabia ETA for UK Passport Holders 2026: Everything You Need to Know
What the Saudi ETA for UK citizens covers, what it costs and how to apply, checked against GOV.UK and the official KSA Visa platform on 29 September 2026.
Hotels
How Close is Close Enough? Understanding Hotel Distances Near the Haramain
A hotel listed as "5 minutes from the Haram" doesn't always mean what you'd expect. Here's how to actually judge distance.
Umrah
Umrah Packing List: What You Actually Need
Ihram, a light bag, comfortable sandals: what actually matters when you're packing for Umrah, and what you can safely leave at home.
Travel Essentials
Best eSIM for Saudi Arabia 2026: The Complete Guide for UK Umrah Travellers
Five eSIM providers for Saudi Arabia, compared honestly for UK Umrah travellers, so you land connected instead of stuck in an arrivals hall queue.
Travel Essentials
Umrah Essentials 2026: What to Actually Buy Before You Go
A shopping guide, not a checklist. The Umrah essentials genuinely worth buying before you fly, from ihram sets to unscented sunscreen, with real Amazon UK options for each.
Ask TravAir for help
Would you rather not do it all yourself?
Tell us your dates, your departure airport and who is travelling. We can talk you through the options, send you a quote, or make the bookings for you.
Staying connected
An eSIM for Saudi Arabia
An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone, so there is no card to swap. Install a data plan before you fly and it connects when you land, which means maps, WhatsApp and your booking confirmations work straight away. Your UK number stays active for calls and texts.
Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your UK network before you buy.
Compare eSIMs for Umrah
Data eSIMs by country, including a Saudi Arabia plan, set up by scanning a QR code before you fly.
- Install it at home and it connects when you land
- Data only, so your UK number keeps working for calls and texts
- Plans and prices are shown on Yesim's site before you pay
An eSIM store with country and regional plans, bought and installed through the Airalo app.
- Country plans for Saudi Arabia and regional plans for longer trips
- Top up in the app if you run low
- Plans and prices are shown on Airalo's site before you pay
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
Explore other travel
Travelling somewhere else?
The same partners cover trips beyond Umrah: hotels, flights, experiences and the essentials, worldwide.
- Hotels worldwideMakkah, Madinah and further afield
- FlightsCompare fares and claim delay compensation
- Create your own holidayFlights, hotel and extras with Expedia
- UK staycationsStays closer to home
- Experiences and toursDay trips and activities by city
- Attraction ticketsMuseums, landmarks and passes
- Car hireCompare rental cars
- Airport parkingPark at UK airports
- Travel essentialseSIMs, insurance and Wi-Fi
Booking partners we link to
- Trip.com
GetYourGuide
Common questions
Questions people ask us
What are the booking buttons on transfers, car hire, tickets and flights?
They take you to booking partners such as Kiwitaxi, DiscoverCars and Tiqets, where you book directly and the partner confirms your booking. You can still message us on WhatsApp if you would rather have help.
How accurate are your hotel distances from the Haramain?
Each hotel page shows the distance to the Haram listed for that hotel, and whether we think it is a realistic walk. A listed distance is not always the walking route, and hills, road crossings and heat all add time, so check the route on a map before you book. Our guide to hotel walking distances explains what to look for.
Do I pay online through the website?
Not for travel. When you book through a partner link, you pay the partner on its own website. If we make a booking for you, we confirm the details and the price with you before anything is booked. The only payment on this website is an optional tip on the DIY Umrah Planner, processed by Stripe.
Do you only handle Umrah, or worldwide travel too?
Umrah from the UK comes first, but our guides and booking partners also cover hotels, flights, transfers, car hire and experiences worldwide. If you need help with a trip somewhere else, message us and we will tell you whether we can help.
Can I change my dates after booking?
For bookings we have made for you, message us as early as possible and we will work within the airline's and hotel's own change policies. Bookings made through a partner link follow that partner's change and cancellation terms, so contact the partner directly.