Who should book an Umrah package without flights?
Booking without flights is a good idea in five cases.
You have air miles or a companion voucher. Using points for a Jeddah flight can save several hundred pounds per person.
You have found a cheaper flight yourself. Sometimes a sale fare or an indirect route beats what any agency can book. If you have found one, take it.
You are already travelling. If you are visiting family in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India or the Gulf, flying to Jeddah from there costs far less than flying from the UK.
You want to stay longer. Some people spend two or three weeks in Saudi Arabia and need the flights to fit around other plans.
You are travelling as a large family or group and want to split the booking, with flights arranged separately.
If none of these apply to you, book a package with flights instead. It usually works out cheaper. It is also simpler, because we book the whole trip in one go, and your money is protected by ATOL.
How much does a land-only Umrah package cost?
Prices start from £249 per person. What you pay depends on three things: the hotels, how long you stay, and when you go.
The visa, the permit help and the transfers cost about the same all year round. It is the hotels that change the price. A room in Makkah during Ramadan can cost four or five times what the same room costs in October.
So the same package can be under £249 in the autumn and over £1,000 in Ramadan. If you can move your dates, ask us to price two or three options and compare them.
Two times of year need planning well ahead. Our December Umrah Packages from UK go early because of the school holidays. Our UK Ramadan Umrah Packages are the busiest and dearest of the year. For both, sort your hotels four to six months ahead, and book your flights as soon as you know your dates.
Can you get an Umrah visa without booking flights?
Yes, but there is one rule to know about. Saudi Arabia only gives you an Umrah visa once your hotel and transport are confirmed on Nusuk. We do that part for you. We also need your flight details before we send off the visa, so book your flights first and then send us the booking reference.
The rest of the rules are the same as any Umrah trip:
- Your visa is cancelled if you do not enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of it being issued, so we apply at the right time for your travel date
- You need a Nusuk permit to enter the Grand Mosque, and a separate booking for the Rawdah in Madinah. We register both
- You need travel insurance with medical cover
- You need the MenACWY vaccine and a certificate
- Your passport must have at least six months left on it
- Women can perform Umrah without a mahram, at any age
Full details are on our Umrah visa page.
Is a land only Umrah package ATOL protected?
No, and here is why. ATOL only covers bookings that include flights. If there are no flights in your booking, there is nothing for ATOL to cover.
We hold ATOL 12192, and every package we sell with flights is covered by it. A booking without flights is not. For your own flights, you are covered by the airline's terms, or by your card provider if you paid by card.
If that protection matters to you, book a package with flights instead. Tell us your dates, and we will tell you honestly which one works out better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I book Umrah hotels and visa without flights?
Yes. We arrange the visa, Nusuk permit, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and all transfers. You book your own flights and send us the details.
Is a land only Umrah package cheaper?
Only if you can find flights cheaper than we can, or you are using air miles. For most UK pilgrims, a package with flights works out cheaper and is ATOL protected.
Do I need to book flights before applying for the visa?
Yes. We need your flight details before we submit your visa application.
Can you arrange just the visa, with no hotels?
Yes, as a separate service. See our Umrah visa page. Note that a visa still requires a Nusuk-verified hotel booking, so we will talk you through what is possible.
Can I add Ziyarat tours to a land only package?
Yes. Guided Ziyarat in Makkah and Madinah can be added to any package.
How far will my hotel be from the Haram?
Our 3-star hotels are usually a 10 to 15 minute walk or a short shuttle ride. 4-star hotels are 5 to 10 minutes. 5-star hotels are 1 to 2 minutes. Your quote gives the exact distance.
