Umrah guide · For pilgrims
What's included in an Umrah package, and how to compare them
Two Umrah packages with the same price can be very different trips. The hotel, how far it is from the Haram and how many people share a room make most of the difference. Here is what a package covers and what to ask before you pay an advance.
Labbyk editorial team 4 min read
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An Umrah package bundles everything a pilgrim needs into one price: the flights, the visa, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, transport between the cities, and usually a Ziyarat tour. Agencies across India sell packages that look alike on a flyer, and the details decide whether your parents walk five minutes to the Haram or take a shuttle bus five times a day.
- Dates and lengthDeparture date, number of nights in each city.
- FlightsDirect or connecting, and from which city.
- Hotels and Haram distanceNamed hotels, star rating, walking time.
- Price for each room typePer person, by how many share a room.
- What's includedVisa, transport, Ziyarat, meals, guide.
What a package usually includes
Flights
Return tickets from your city to Jeddah or Madinah. Direct flights cost more than flights connecting through the Gulf, but are far easier for elderly pilgrims. Check the baggage allowance, and whether the airline lets you bring a can of Zamzam water home — many do, but the rules differ by airline.
Visa and insurance
The agency applies for your Umrah visa through its partner in Saudi Arabia, and the mandatory health insurance comes with it. You give your passport details, photographs and any vaccination certificate the current rules ask for.
Hotels in Makkah and Madinah
This is where packages differ most. A typical 15-day package splits the nights between the two cities, often more in Makkah. Check the name of each hotel (not “or similar”), its star rating, whether breakfast or full board is included, and above all how far it is from the Haram.
Room sharing
Prices are per person and depend on how many share a room. Sharing rooms (often 5 or 6 people) are cheapest, then quad (4), triple (3) and double (2). A good package page shows the price for each room type side by side, so you aren't quoted the sharing price and charged for a double.
Transport and Ziyarat
Airport transfers and the journey between Makkah and Madinah, by bus, car or the Haramain high-speed train. Most packages include a Ziyarat tour of the historic places in both cities — Jabal al-Nour, Jabal Thawr, Arafat and Mina in Makkah; Masjid Quba, Uhud and Masjid al-Qiblatayn in Madinah.
Meals, guide and extras
Many Indian groups include Indian meals, which matters to elderly pilgrims. Ask whether a guide or scholar travels with the group, whether there are training sessions before departure, and whether a local SIM, laundry or a wheelchair helper is included.
Haram distance: the number that matters most
The closer the hotel, the higher the price. Hotels facing the Haram in Makkah cost several times more than hotels in Aziziyah, a few kilometres away, which run shuttle buses. But “500 metres” on a flyer can mean a flat five-minute walk or a climb up a hill, and the distance to the nearest gate isn't the distance to the Mataf.
- Ask for the walking time, not only the metres, and whether the route is flat.
- For hotels with a shuttle, ask how often it runs, and whether it stops at prayer times and on Fridays (often it does).
- For elderly pilgrims, a closer hotel is worth more than a higher star rating.
Questions to ask before you pay
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which hotels, exactly? | “Or similar” lets the agency swap a hotel for a cheaper one. |
| How far from the Haram, walking? | Five minutes on foot or a shuttle bus changes the whole trip. |
| Price for each room type? | A sharing price can look like a bargain next to a double-room price. |
| Flights direct or connecting? | A long layover is hard on elderly pilgrims. |
| What isn't included? | Meals, Ziyarat, the Rawdah booking and local transport can all be extra. |
| What is the cancellation policy? | Visas and hotels are paid in advance; know what you get back. |
| Is there a written itinerary and receipt? | Every payment should come with a receipt in the agency's name. |
Why the same package costs more in some months
Prices follow demand. Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, is the most expensive time of the year, followed by the school holidays in December–January and in summer. The months right after Hajj and the quieter weeks between seasons are usually the cheapest. Book early for Ramadan: the hotels closest to the Haram sell out months ahead.
Red flags
- No office address, no registered business name, or no receipts.
- Hotels described only as “near Haram” or “5 star or similar”.
- A price far below every other agency for the same dates and hotels.
- Pressure to pay the full amount in cash immediately.
