Makkah is the holiest city of Saudi Arabia, where Islam was founded. This is the city where Muslims from pilgrimage such as Hajj and Umrah in the Grand Mosque. The Holy Kaaba, a cube-shaped building, is also located inside the Grand Mosque of Makkah. Apart from the Masjid al-Haram, there are several historical landmarks and places located in Makkah. Now, only Muslim tourists can enter Makkah City for religious purposes.
Reaching Makkah from the United Kingdom is not a task. You must take care of each and everything, such as from flight to accommodation, to visit Makkah. A good example is that if you are travelling from London, UK, you must find out the all-inclusive Umrah packages from London. Similarly, there are several other tips for reaching Makkah from the UK that you should know. Let’s see what these are!
Keep Your Travel Documents at Hand
All your travel documents should be ready before travelling for the Umrah trip. Documents must include the following:
- Valid visa
- Passport
- Photographs
- If any vaccination is required
- Umrah and Rawdah permits
- Vouchers and invoices (optional)
- Any other essential travel document
Now, the digital system is covering the entire process of Umrah. So, keep all your travel documents in electronic form, such as in mobile or tablet. However, it’s also better to keep documents in hard form. Additionally, obtain your Umrah and Rawdah permits from the Nusuk mobile application. If you are planning to travel for a long weekend or during school holidays, start checking slots on the Nusuk app 1-2 weeks before travel, as slots get sold out quickly due to the rush.
Use the Haramain Train from Jeddah to Makkah
Haramain High Speed Railway is the fastest train system in Saudi Arabia. It has around five to six stations, including Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah. From Jeddah to Makkah, it takes only 35 to 40 minutes, and the ticket costs 60 to 70 SAR for economy class. Pilgrims and tourists can book tickets online via the Haramain Railway mobile application or by using the website portal. In Makkah, Haramain Train’s station is located near Rusayfah and from there, you will have to take a 10-minute taxi or bus to reach the Haram.
If you don’t want to travel by the Haramain train, you can use a taxi service or a private car. Make sure to book private transport in advance in your Umrah package. But if you have a lot of luggage or are travelling with family members, the easiest options also include Uber or Careem transport. The distance will take 1 to 1.5 hour to reach Makkah from Jeddah.
Book at the Correct Time – Cheap and Better
One of the smart tips to reach Makkah is booking the travel package at the right time. This decision can save thousands of pounds. If you book an Umrah package from Manchester at the last minute, you will get expensive rates. According to research, flights from the UK to Saudi Arabia are comparatively cheaper if you reserve at least three to four months earlier. Try to choose weekdays because weekend mostly expensive.
For instance, let’s suppose you want to fly from London to Jeddah during November, it’s recommended to reserve your package at least in March or April. However, if you will travel during school holidays such as Easter or summer break, you must give priority to package logistics.
Smart Umrah Packing Tips
The packing for the trip to Makkah should be strategic because you are leaving the cold weather of the United Kingdom and going to a hot and dry place. If you are travelling during the summer months, then pack cotton-made clothes. Comparatively, if travelling in winter, then include warm clothes in your packing. Keep in mind that the Ihram should be unstitched for men and consist of two pieces of cloth for both the upper and lower body parts. Ensure to include an extra pair of Ihram in case you need them in emergencies. Additionally, try to include these items in your luggage:
- Modest casual clothes for daily wear
- Footwear: shoes and flip-flops
- Shoe bag
- Personal care items
- Fragrance-free products (optional)
- Painkillers
- Sunscreen and an umbrella
- Your mobile phone
- Digital counter/Tasbeeh
- Power bank or travel adapter
- Medications
Note: Keep in mind that you can’t use fragranced products while wearing Ihram attire.
Make your Umrah Stay Smarter
Smarter stay not doesn’t only means to stay at a good accommodation, but also means to choose those accommodations which are located at a suitable distance from the Haram boundary. Try to get those hotels which are located approximately 5 to 10 minutes’ of walk from the Haram Shareef. If your hotel is far away from the Haram, use the shuttle service or public transportation. In addition, book your hotel 3 to 4 months in advance, as prices double at last the moment.
Accommodation in Makkah is divided into multiple categories. There are several types of hotels, such as economy, standard, luxury, and deluxe. As you are travelling from the United Kingdom, your accommodation must be reserved in time. One more thing you should know is that the standard of hotels in Makkah is not equal to that in the UK. But now the Saudi government is setting the standard of hotels in the holy cities according to international-level ratings.
Keep Local Currency for Payments
You will definitely need to spend money during Umrah. For this, payment must be made in the local currency, the SAR (Saudi Arabian Riyal). So, convert and spend your hard-earned British pounds into Saudi Riyals in a way that avoids unnecessary bank charges and exchange rate losses. If you exchange money at airports, the person at the foreign exchange counter will charge you more. It’s better to exchange inside the country, not at the departure or destination point.
Now, digital payment is enhancing the gateway process. Every country is now using digital payment methods. However, at the local points, such as food or shopping, you may have to pay in cash. Keep approximately 300 to 500 SAR daily cash in your pocket. Normal UK bank cards often charge a fee of 2.99% per transaction. If you want to avoid this fee, you can use Monzo, Revolut, Starling Bank, or Chase UK cards.
To wrap up, travelling for Umrah from the UK is a spiritual experience, but a little smart planning can make it even more relaxing. Do not consider these smart tips just to save money for Umrah travel; it’s about making the spiritual journey easier. Remember that the UK is one of the well developed country in the eyes of the Saudi government. Hence, the convenience of e-visas and excellent connectivity for Brits has made reaching Makkah easier than ever before.
