Oct 29, 2026 · @Adeel Kang
If you ask a British Muslim family when they would most like to go for Umrah, many will say Ramadan. Breaking your fast in sight of the Kaaba, praying Taraweeh in the Haram and spending the last nights of the month in Makkah is something people save up for over years.
It is also the most expensive time of year to go. The same seven-night package that costs around £700 in November can cost three times as much in the last ten nights of Ramadan. But “Ramadan” is not one price. When in the month you travel, and how early you book, matter far more than most people realise.
I have helped relatives book Ramadan Umrah from Birmingham and London several times, and each time the biggest savings came from timing, not from hunting for a mystery deal. This guide explains when Ramadan 2027 falls, what Umrah packages from the UK should include, and how to keep a Ramadan trip affordable without ending up in the wrong hotel.
the best time for a Ramadan Umrah in 2027 depends on what matters most to you. For the lowest prices and calmer crowds, go in the first ten days, roughly 8 to 17 February. For Laylat al-Qadr, go in the last ten nights, roughly 28 February to 8 March, and expect to pay about twice as much.
When Is Ramadan 2027, and How Do Prices Change Through the Month?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027 and end around 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday 9 March. The exact dates depend on the moon sighting, so they may move by a day.
Prices do not rise evenly across the month. They climb as Ramadan goes on, and they peak in the last ten nights, which in 2027 run from roughly 28 February to 8 March. These nights include Laylat al-Qadr, and demand for hotels near the Haram is at its highest.
| Part of Ramadan 2027 | Rough dates | Rough package price from the UK (per person, 7–10 nights, sharing) |
| First ten days | 8–17 February | £1,100–£1,500 |
| Middle ten days | 18–27 February | £1,300–£1,900 |
| Last ten nights | 28 February–8 March | £2,000–£3,500 or more |
These are guide prices, not quotes. Hotels in the first ten days of Ramadan are often 30–50% cheaper than in the last ten nights, when rates near the Haram can reach two to three times their normal level. February half-term in England also falls in the middle of the month, which pushes up flight prices that week.
What Umrah Packages from the UK Should Include
Whatever the month, a proper package from a UK agent should cover the same basics. In Ramadan it matters even more, because sorting things out yourself once you land is much harder.
• Return flights from a UK airport such as Heathrow, Manchester or Birmingham
• Visa processing, or clear help if you hold a British passport and are applying yourself
• Named hotels in Makkah and Madinah, with the walking distance to the Haram in metres
• Airport and intercity transfers, ideally timed around iftar rather than in the rush just before it
• A UK office you can phone and a contact on the ground in Saudi Arabia
In Ramadan, hotel distance is the line to read twice. The crowds before Maghrib and Taraweeh are huge, and a hotel 900 metres away can mean missing prayers inside the Haram altogether. Some hotels also add a compulsory iftar or suhoor charge in Ramadan, so ask whether meals are included.
When I am comparing quotes, I use a UK specialist that lists the hotel, star rating and distance openly as my benchmark. The Umrah packages UK travellers can book through Islamic Travel show these details up front and are ATOL-protected, so they give you a fair yardstick before you look at cheaper offers. If a Ramadan deal will not tell you which hotel you are staying in, treat it with caution.
Six Ways to Make a Ramadan Umrah Cheaper
Cheap Ramadan Umrah packages do exist, but they come from planning, not luck.
1. Go in the first half of the month. You still get Ramadan in the Haram, with fewer crowds and much lower hotel prices. For families with young children or older parents, it is often the better experience anyway.
2. Book as soon as packages open. Ramadan 2027 packages are expected to go on sale from mid-November 2026. The best-located affordable hotels go first, and prices rarely fall as Ramadan gets closer.
3. Avoid the half-term week. Flights in the week of February half-term cost more. A departure a few days either side can save a noticeable amount per person.
4. Split your nights well. Spend the early part in Madinah, where hotels are cheaper, and move to Makkah later. If you can only afford a few nights in Makkah during the last ten, make them count.
5. Share a room. Triple and quad rooms bring the hotel cost per person down sharply, and the hotel is the biggest part of a Ramadan bill.
6. Travel in a group. Many agents give a small discount per head for groups of four or more, and mosque or family groups often get better hotel allocations.
The one place not to cut back is distance. A cheap package with a long walk to the Haram is not cheap in Ramadan, when you will be making that walk several times a day while fasting.
Practical Things to Know Before a Ramadan Umrah
The visa deadline is close to Eid. The last date for issuing Umrah visas this season is expected to be 9 March 2027, the same day as Eid. If you hold a British passport, you can use the Saudi tourist eVisa instead, but apply early anyway. If you live in the UK on another passport, your agent must lodge your Umrah visa through the Nusuk system well before then.
Book your Nusuk permits early. You need a free Umrah permit in the Nusuk app for a set date and time. In Ramadan, slots for the last ten nights go very quickly. A visit to the Rawdah in Madinah needs a separate booking, and you can only book one every 365 days.
Plan around prayer times. To get a place inside the Haram for Maghrib, arrive at least 90 minutes early. Tawaf is usually a little calmer between about 11pm and 2am. In the last ten nights, the ground floor around the Kaaba is often closed off at busy times, so allow extra time.
Fasting while travelling. Travellers are allowed to delay their fast on the day they fly, and many people choose to. Speak to a scholar you trust if you are unsure, and drink plenty of water at suhoor once you arrive, as walking distances are long.
Health. A meningitis ACWY certificate is required, given at least ten days before you travel. Most UK pharmacies offer it for around £30–£50.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ramadan 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on Monday 8 February and end around 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 March. The exact dates depend on the moon sighting.
How much are Ramadan Umrah packages from the UK?
As a rough guide, about £1,100–£1,500 per person in the first ten days and £2,000–£3,500 or more in the last ten nights, based on seven to ten nights sharing a room. Hotel distance from the Haram makes the biggest difference.
How can I find cheap Ramadan Umrah packages?
Travel in the first half of Ramadan, book as soon as packages open in mid-November, avoid the half-term week and share a room. These save far more than chasing last-minute deals.
Is the last ten nights of Ramadan worth the extra cost?
For many people, yes, because of Laylat al-Qadr. But it is extremely crowded, so families with young children or elderly parents often find the first half of the month easier.
Do I need a Nusuk permit for Umrah in Ramadan?
Yes. Every pilgrim needs a free Umrah permit booked in the Nusuk app for a set date and time, and Ramadan slots fill quickly.
What should Umrah packages from the UK include?
Flights, visa help, named hotels in Makkah and Madinah with their distance to the Haram, transfers, and a UK contact. Make sure the company has a valid ATOL number.
Ramadan Umrah from the UK costs more than any other time of year, but it does not have to be out of reach. Pick your part of the month carefully, book early, and spend your money where it counts: on being close to the Haram.