Most people spend weeks planning the travel side of Umrah or Hajj. They compare flights, check hotels and sort out visas. But the part that matters most is often left until the last minute: learning what to do, what to say and why.
When you arrive in Makkah, the crowds, the heat and the emotion of seeing the Kaaba can make it hard to think clearly. If you already know the rites, the duas and the meaning behind them, you can focus on your worship instead of reading from your phone. This guide covers what to learn before you go, how to improve your Quran recitation for the trip, and the practical steps for booking from the UK.
Start with the basics: Umrah and Hajj are not the same
It helps to be clear on the difference first.
Umrah can be done at most times of the year. It has four main parts: entering ihram, tawaf (walking seven times around the Kaaba), sa’i (walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah) and cutting or shaving the hair. The rites take a few hours.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a duty for every adult Muslim who is able to go, once in their life. It takes place on fixed dates each year, from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. In 2027, Hajj is expected to fall around 14 to 19 May, with the Day of Arafah around 15 May. The exact dates depend on the moon.
Many people from the UK do Umrah first, sometimes more than once, before they go for Hajj. It is a good way to get used to the travel, the mosques and the crowds.
Learn the rites step by step
The rites of Umrah
- Before you cross the miqat, the boundary for entering ihram, you make your intention and put on ihram. Men wear two plain white cloths. Women wear modest everyday clothes. On a flight from the UK to Jeddah, you pass the miqat before landing, so most people put on ihram at home or at the airport and make their intention on the plane when the crew announce it.
- Walk around the Kaaba seven times, anti-clockwise, starting from the corner with the Black Stone.
- Two rak’ahs of prayer. After tawaf, pray two rak’ahs, ideally behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is space, or anywhere in the mosque. It is Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak’ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second.
- Zamzam water. Drink Zamzam water and make dua.
- Sa’i. Walk seven times between Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and ending at Marwah.
- Cutting the hair. Men shave their heads or trim their hair. Women cut a small amount, about the length of a fingertip.
The main days of Hajj
- 8th Dhul Hijjah. Go to Mina and spend the day and night there.
- 9th Dhul Hijjah. The Day of Arafah, the most important day of Hajj. Pilgrims stand in prayer and dua from after midday until sunset, then go to Muzdalifah for the night.
- 10th Dhul Hijjah. Stone the large pillar (Jamarat al-Aqabah), offer the sacrifice, shave or trim the hair, and do Tawaf al-Ifadah.
- 11th to 13th Dhul Hijjah. Stay in Mina and stone the three pillars each day.
- Before leaving Makkah. Do the farewell tawaf.
Hajj is much longer and more tiring than Umrah. Attend a Hajj class or seminar before you go. Most UK providers run one, and many mosques hold them too.
Learn the key duas and words
You do not need to memorise long passages. A few short phrases, said with meaning, are far better than a book you cannot follow in the crowd.
The talbiyah. This is said often from the moment you enter ihram until you start tawaf (for Umrah) or until you stone the first pillar (for Hajj):
Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.
It means: “Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. All praise, blessings and power belong to You. You have no partner.”
Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone. During each round of tawaf, it is Sunnah to recite:
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina ’adhaban-nar.
“Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the next, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”
At Safa. When you start sa’i, recite the verse: Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha’a’irillah (“Safa and Marwah are among the signs of Allah”, Surah al-Baqarah, 2:158).
Apart from these, there are no fixed duas you must say during tawaf or sa’i. You can pray in your own words and in your own language. Many people write a list of personal duas before they leave, for themselves, their family and anyone who has asked to be remembered.
Improve your Quran recitation before you go
Umrah and Hajj give you a lot of time in the mosque. Between prayers, many pilgrims sit and read the Quran for hours. It is one of the best uses of your time there, and it is much more rewarding if you can read well and understand some of what you are reading.
A few months before your trip, think about:
- Working on your tajweed. Even a short course can make a big difference to how you recite in salah and when reading the Quran in the mosque.
- Learning the meaning of short surahs. You will recite them in every prayer. Knowing what they mean helps you focus.
- Memorising a few more surahs. Having more surahs by heart means you can vary what you recite in your extra prayers.
- Setting a reading goal. Some people plan to finish the whole Quran during their stay. Others pick one surah and read it slowly with its translation.
Learning with a qualified teacher online is a flexible way to do this around work and family. Starting three to six months before you travel gives you enough time to see real progress.
Prepare your body as well as your mind
Umrah and Hajj involve a lot of walking. Tawaf and sa’i together can be several kilometres, and on top of that you will walk to and from the mosque for each prayer. During Hajj, you may walk many kilometres a day.
- Start walking more at home a couple of months before the trip.
- Break in the sandals or shoes you plan to wear.
- Speak to your GP if you have a health condition or take regular medicine.
- Get the meningitis ACWY jab. It is required, and you should have it at least ten days before you travel.
Booking from the UK: the practical side
Once you know when you want to go, the next step is booking. For Umrah, most people from the UK book a package that includes flights, visa, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and transfers. Many people simply search for Umrah packages UK and compare what each one includes before choosing.
Hajj is different. Places are limited, and UK pilgrims must now book through the official Saudi Nusuk Hajj system and an approved provider. Prices are much higher than Umrah, often from around £3,500 per person up to £7,000 or more, depending on the hotels, the tents in Mina and whether you stay in one hotel throughout. If you are planning ahead, it is worth reading about Hajj packages from UK early, so you understand the options and the timeline before registration opens.
Whether it is Umrah or Hajj, check these things before paying:
- ATOL protection. Every UK package with flights should be ATOL protected. Ask for the number and check it on the CAA website.
- Hotel names and distances. Ask which hotels you will stay in and how far they are from the mosque in minutes.
- Religious guidance. For Hajj especially, ask whether a scholar or guide travels with the group.
- Payment plans. Many providers take a deposit and let you pay the rest monthly.
A simple timeline
- 6 to 12 months before. Decide on Umrah or Hajj and your dates. Start a Quran or tajweed course. For Hajj, look into registration.
- 3 to 6 months before. Book your package. Start learning the rites and duas. Begin walking more.
- 1 to 2 months before. Attend a class or seminar. Write your list of personal duas. Get your jab.
- The week before. Pack, keep copies of your documents, and make peace with anyone you need to.
Final word
Going to Makkah is a trip, but it is also an act of worship. The more you learn before you go, the more present you will be when you get there. Learn the rites, practise the key duas, spend time with the Quran and look after your health. Then book with a trusted, ATOL-protected provider, and you can travel knowing you are ready.
