Itinerary for Umrah - 5, 7, 10, 14 & 15-Day Plans for UK Pilgrims

According to research, around 1,26,00o British pilgrims fly out to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. The highest number of pilgrims from the UK travel to Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan to perform Umrah for enormous rewards. However, most people face itinerary-related issues and need a good itinerary for Umrah to have a smooth journey between Makkah and Madinah.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to build the right itinerary for Umrah based on your plan. We cover practical Umrah itineraries for 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days and 15 days.

Let’s dive right in:

A good itinerary for Umrah is a realistic plan that’s simple and flexible to help you reach your main goal without unnecessary hassle for a seamless journey. 

You have to be very careful distributing your time for the four main core parts of Umrah. That is:

• Entering Ihram with the intention for Umrah
• Tawaf
• Sa'i
• Halq or Taqsir

Second, don’t forget to rest properly. A journey from the UK involves a long flight, airport time, transfers, waiting in the queues and walking.

Third, create a sensible Makkah and Madinah split. Give Makkah enough time for worship at Masjid al-Haram and Madinah enough time for Masjid an-Nabawi and other holy place visits.

Fourth, keep travel time visible in the plan. It takes 2 hours & 20 minutes via the Haramain High-Speed train, and 4-5 hours via private car. Moving from Makkah to Madinah is a long distance. Allow time for hotel check-out, the journey, hotel check-in and settling in.

Fifth, prayer has to be the priority, not sightseeing. Ziyarat and other visits should fit around your main purpose of worship.

Finally, if you’re travelling with family, match the plan with them, since elderly pilgrims need a slower daily schedule. The best umrah itinerary remains manageable from the first day to the last.

A umrah itinerary for 5 days is suitable for pilgrims who have very limited time, like a few days of leave. It is a fast plan with a little room for extra activities.

Day 1: Travel from the UK, arrive in Saudi Arabia, transfer to Makkah or Madinah according to your booking, check in and rest.

Day 2: Prepare for Umrah and complete Tawaf, Sa'i and Halq or Taqsir. Keep the rest of the day light, following the forbidden acts of Ihram.

Day 3: Spend the day in Makkah. Focus on prayers, Quran, personal worship and rest. You can add a short Ziyarat if your schedule allows.

Day 4: Travel to Madinah, check in and visit Masjid an-Nabawi (2.5 to 6 hours journey).

Day 5: Complete your final prayers, check out and travel to the airport for your return flight.

For five days, you can cut extra sightseeing first; don’t make every day a tour day.

A umrah itinerary for 7 days gives first-time pilgrims a better balance between the rites, worship, travel and rest.

Day 1: Arrival: Travel from the UK, reach your arrival city, transfer to your hotel, check in and rest.

Day 2: Umrah: Complete your Umrah rituals.

Day 3: Makkah worship: You can spend the day near Masjid al-Haram. Use your time for prayers, Quran and personal worship rather than filling the day with excursions.

Day 4: Makkah: Continue worship and use part of the day for Ziyarat.

Day 5: Makkah to Madinah: Travel to Madinah, check in and spend time at Masjid an-Nabawi.

Day 6: Madinah: Pray at Masjid an-Nabawi and visit holy sites if included in your plan. Also schedule your time for worship.

Day 7: Departure: Complete your final prayers, check out and travel to the airport.

The 7-day Umrah plan works well for first-time pilgrims because it avoids a packed schedule.

 An Umrah itinerary for 10 days gives more breathing room than a 5- or 7-day trip.

Days 1-2: Arrive in Makkah and complete Umrah rites.

Days 3-5: Stay in Makkah. Focus on prayers, Quran and personal worship. Use one of these days for Ziyarat and excursions to holy places.

Day 6: Travel from Makkah to Madinah and check in.

Days 7-9: Spend time at Masjid an-Nabawi, attend each prayer, visit holy sites and keep time for rest. If you plan another Umrah, arrange it by visiting the Miqat point and entering the state of Ihram again, with the right intention but not just to fill the schedule.

Day 10: Complete final prayers, check out and return to the UK.

Ten days gives more space between travel, worship and rest. 

  An Umrah itinerary for 14 days gives you enough time to slow down the trip, best suited if you’re travelling with elderly or family.

Days 1-7: Arrive, perform Umrah and spend the remaining days in Makkah for worship, rest and suitable Ziyarat.

Day 8: Travel to Madinah.

Days 9-13: Stay in Madinah for prayers, worship, visit Rawdah and complete other suitable visits.

Day 14: Final prayers and departure back to the UK.

For an Umrah itinerary for 14 days, add one extra day to either Makkah or Madinah based on your flight, hotel booking and personal preference.  

Being a UK pilgrim, you should check travel documents before fixing your dates. 

For British citizens travelling on a full British passport, Saudi Arabia requires the passport to have at least six months' validity after arrival. According to official GOV.UK an appropriate visa or travel authorisation is required, and eligible travellers can use an ETA for Umrah outside the Hajj season.

It’s better to check flight times before choosing hotel nights; if you arrive late, you might not be able to do sightseeing.

Check a few parameters like the location of the hotel; compare how far it is from Haram, walking distance, type of room, transportation services and what is included in the package.

It’s mandated by the UK government that each pilgrim boarding to Saudi for Umrah will be provided with an ATOL certificate along with the flight ticket.

Make sure to check the latest Saudi entry and pilgrimage rules before departure. GOV.UK currently states that Umrah pilgrims need a valid meningococcal ACWY vaccination certificate 10 days before arrival, as the vaccination certification only considered valid 10 days after it was administered.

Pack only what you need:

• Ihram clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Modest clothing
• Prayer items
• Phone and charger
• UK-to-Saudi power adapter
• Medicines
• Passport and travel documents
• Small bag for daily use
• Refillable water bottle

Note: Keep important documents and medicines in your hand luggage.

The best itinerary for Umrah is the one that gives you enough time for worship without creating unnecessary pressure. Five days suit a short trip, seven days give a balanced plan, and 10 to 14 days allow a slower pace, especially for the elderly.

If you are travelling from the UK, you must compare the full package, not just the headline price. Check flights, hotels, transfers, travel documents and financial protection before booking. A clear plan helps you spend less time managing travel details and more time focused on your pilgrimage.