Build It Your Way
DIY Umrah Planner
Every step of your own Umrah in the order you book it, from your flights to your final checks. Compare providers, book directly with each one and tick steps off as you go.
Your plan
Tick steps off as you go. Your progress is saved on this device, with no account needed.
Tips for first-timers, families, older relatives and tight budgets
Your first Umrah
- Book your flights and hotels first, then apply for your visa with your travel details to hand.
- Read the first-time timeline so you know what to do in each week before you fly.
Travelling with children
- Every child needs their own visa application and a passport valid for 6 months after arrival.
- A hotel close to the Haram makes it easier to go back and rest between prayers.
Travelling with older relatives
- Choose the shortest walk you can afford, or a hotel with a shuttle and lifts.
- Request airport assistance when you book flights, and check your insurance covers existing conditions.
Keeping costs down
- Avoid Ramadan and UK school holidays if your dates are flexible.
- A hotel a little further from the Haram, or with a shuttle, usually costs less.
DIY Umrah means booking your flights, hotels, transfers and extras yourself, directly with each provider, instead of buying one package from a travel company. The Umrah itself is the same either way.
It does not mean working it all out alone. The steps below are in the order most people book, each one explains what to look for, and the WhatsApp link on the steps is there if you get stuck.
Booking through an agent or DIY
A package through an agent
- One company arranges the flights, hotels and transfers
- Usually one total price for the whole trip
- ATOL protection when the package includes flights and the company holds an ATOL
- Some packages include a group leader
- Changes go through the company, on its terms
DIY Umrah, no agent
- You book each part directly with the airline, hotel or transfer company
- You see each price before you pay it, and choose where to save
- You pick the hotels, flights and dates that suit you
- You can change one part without touching the rest
- Stuck on one part? Ask TravAir on WhatsApp, and advice is free
Both are valid choices. Compare them in more detail
Fares for the same route and dates can differ between providers, so compare a few before you book. Umrah flights from the UK usually land at Jeddah, for Makkah, or at Madinah.
Read our guides before you book
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
How close you stay to the Haram affects both the price and how easy each prayer is, so compare the walk as well as the price, and check more than one provider before you book.
Read our guides before you book
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
See hotels near the Haram on a map
The hotel map is provided by our partner Stay22 and loads once you accept optional cookies.
Would you like a hand choosing?
Tell us your dates and budget, and we will send you a free quote.
With your flights and hotels booked, apply for your visa or travel authorisation. Some applications ask for your travel details, and which one you can get depends on the passport you travel on. Choose your passport below.
Read our guides before you book
Which passport will you travel on?
With a full British citizen passport you can apply online. The official Saudi platform offers UK citizens the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): valid for 730 days with multiple entries, and a visa fee listed as 50 Saudi riyals. GOV.UK also lists the tourist e-visa and the visa waiver. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after you arrive, and each person, children included, needs their own application.
The British citizen rules do not apply just because you live in the UK. Your options depend on your nationality and sometimes on your UK residence status, so check them on the official KSA Visa platform, which asks for your nationality first. If you hold two passports, you must leave Saudi Arabia on the one you entered with.
Rules checked 29 September 2026; the official sites always take priority.
There are three separate transfers worth thinking about on an Umrah trip: from your Saudi airport to your hotel, between Makkah and Madinah, and back to the airport at the end. Sort each one below.
Read our guides before you book
Most pilgrims need three transfers:
- From Jeddah or Madinah airport to your hotel, so a driver is waiting when you land.
- Between Makkah and Madinah, by road or on the Haramain High Speed Railway.
- From your hotel back to the airport for the flight home.
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
Beyond the two mosques there's real history worth setting aside half a day for, Jabal al-Nour and the Cave of Hira in Makkah, the Quba Mosque and Uhud in Madinah. Book a guided tour for either city below.
Read our guides before you book
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
Ihram, a light bag, comfortable sandals and more, everything worth packing, picked and ready on Amazon.
Read our guides before you book
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
An eSIM means you land already connected for maps, WhatsApp and the Nusuk app, where Umrah permits are booked, instead of looking for a SIM shop on arrival. Install it at home before you fly.
Read our guides before you book
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
GOV.UK says the tourist e-visa includes health cover up to 100,000 Saudi riyals, while the ETA and the visa waiver include none. A travel policy can cover medical costs, cancellation and delays, so check what yours includes.
Read our guides before you book
You book directly with the provider. TravAir may be paid for referrals.
Tick these off in the last week before you travel. Your ticks are saved on this device only.
This planner is free to use and kept up to date by a small team. If it has helped you, leave your details below and consider buying us a coffee.
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Before you start
Common questions about planning it yourself
Can I do Umrah without a group package?
Yes. Outside the Hajj season you can book flights and hotels directly, apply for your own visa online and book your Umrah permit in the Nusuk app. The rituals are the same whether you travel with a group or on your own.
Do I need a travel agent to get my Umrah visa?
Not with a full British citizen passport: GOV.UK lists the ETA, the tourist e-visa and the visa waiver, all applied for online. With another passport, check the official KSA Visa platform for the options open to you. Only the Saudi authorities issue visas.
Is booking everything separately cheaper than a package?
It can be, but not always. Planning it yourself lets you see each price and choose where to save, such as a hotel a little further from the Haram. A package can also be good value, and it comes with ATOL protection if it includes flights and the company holds an ATOL. Compare both for your dates.
Does the planner save my progress?
Yes, on the device you are using. Your ticks are stored in your browser, with no account needed, so you can close the page and pick up where you left off. They do not move between devices.
What if I get stuck on one part of it?
Message us on WhatsApp and tell us which step you are stuck on. Advice is free, and if you would like, we can send a quote or make that booking for you.