For a lot of Muslim families in Britain, the yearly trip abroad now comes in two forms: Umrah, and a proper holiday where nobody has to worry about what is in the food or who is at the pool. The good news is that both have become far easier to book from the UK than they were ten years ago. The less good news is that both are full of packages that look cheap and turn out not to be.
I have planned Umrah trips and beach holidays for my own family and for friends who wanted someone else to do the research. What follows is what I have learnt about choosing Umrah packages from the UK and all-inclusive halal holiday packages: what you should get for your money, what a fair price looks like in 2026, and the small checks that save you from a bad week.
It is written for anyone, whether this is your first Umrah or you simply want a family holiday that fits your faith without fuss.
Umrah Packages from the UK: What You Should Get for Your Money
A fair Umrah package from the UK in the quieter months, roughly October to November and mid-January to February, starts at about £600–£800 per person for seven to ten nights. In Ramadan the same trip can go well past £2,000. Almost all of that difference comes from flight prices and hotel demand, not from the agent.
When you compare quotes, look at what is included rather than the headline price. A complete package should have:
- Return flights from a UK airport such as Heathrow, Manchester or Birmingham
- Visa processing, or clear help if you are applying yourself
- Named hotels in both Makkah and Madinah, with the walking distance to the Haram
- Transfers from the airport, between hotels and between the two cities
- A UK contact and someone you can reach on the ground in Saudi Arabia
The hotel is where cheap deals cut corners, so read that line twice. A 3-star hotel 200 metres from the Haram is a very different trip from a 2-star one 900 metres away, especially with elderly parents or young children. Shuttle buses are offered, but in busy hours most people end up walking.
When I am pricing a trip, I compare everything against a UK specialist that lists the hotel name, star rating and distance up front. The Umrah packages from UK offered by Islamic Travel are a good example: the details are on the page and the trips are ATOL-protected, so you know what a properly built package looks like before you start comparing. If a cheaper offer will not say which hotel you are staying in, it is not really cheaper.
The visa side, briefly
If you hold a British passport, you can apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa online yourself. It allows Umrah outside the Hajj period and usually costs about £100–£120 with insurance. If you live in the UK on another passport, you need a proper Umrah visa through a licensed agent, and your hotel and transport must be booked through Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk system first. That visa is now valid for 30 days.
Whichever route you take, you also need a free Umrah permit in the Nusuk app and a meningitis ACWY vaccination, given at least ten days before you fly.
All-Inclusive Halal Holiday Packages: What “Halal” Should Actually Mean
An all-inclusive halal holiday is a normal beach or resort holiday, built so you do not have to compromise on faith. The word “halal” gets used loosely in travel adverts, so it helps to know what a genuine one includes.
At a properly halal resort you should expect:
- Halal-certified food in every restaurant, not just one halal option on the buffet
- No alcohol served, or at least none in the main restaurants and pool areas
- Separate pools, beaches or spa times for women, so sisters can swim comfortably
- Prayer rooms, prayer mats and qibla direction in the rooms, with nearby mosques
- Family-friendly entertainment without nightclub-style evenings
All-inclusive means your meals, soft drinks and snacks are covered, so you are not eating out each night trying to find somewhere halal. With children, that alone makes a big difference to the budget and to everyone’s mood.
Popular destinations from the UK
Turkey is the favourite for good reason. Resorts along the Antalya and Alanya coast are under four hours from most UK airports and have the widest choice of fully halal hotels. A week all-inclusive in May, June or September is often good value compared with the school summer holidays.
Malaysia suits families who want culture as well as beaches, with halal food everywhere and mosques never far away. Morocco offers a short flight and a mix of city and coast. Dubai and the Maldives sit at the higher end, with many resorts now offering private pool villas, which some families prefer to a separate women’s pool.
One honest point: “halal-friendly” and “halal” are not the same thing. Halal-friendly usually means halal food is available but alcohol is still served across the resort. Neither is wrong, but know which one you are booking.
Can You Combine Umrah with a Halal Holiday?
Yes, and more families are doing it. Many flights from the UK to Saudi Arabia stop in Istanbul or Dubai anyway, so adding three or four nights there, either before or after Umrah, often costs less than a separate holiday later in the year.
The order matters. Most people prefer to do Umrah first, while they are fresh and focused, and then rest somewhere easy. Going the other way round can leave you tired and sunburnt before the most important part of the trip.
If you hold a British passport and travel on the Saudi tourist eVisa, you can also see more of the country itself, such as the old town in Jeddah or the Red Sea coast. If you travel on an Umrah visa, keep the 30-day limit in mind when planning extra stops.
Ask your agent to quote the combined trip as one booking. That way the whole thing sits under one ATOL certificate, and if a flight is cancelled, one company is responsible for sorting it out.
Four Checks Before You Book Any Package
The Foreign Office has warned for years that Umrah fraud targets British Muslims, and fake “halal resort” deals turn up every summer too. These four checks take ten minutes.
- Check the ATOL number. Any UK firm selling flights and a hotel together must have one. Look it up on the Civil Aviation Authority website and make sure the company name matches.
- Get the hotel name in writing. For Umrah, ask for the distance to the Haram. For a halal holiday, check the hotel’s own website to see whether alcohol is served and whether the women’s pool is open all day or only at set times.
- Pay by credit card. Section 75 protection covers purchases between £100 and £30,000. A bank transfer to a personal account gives you nothing.
- Read independent reviews. Use Google or Trustpilot, not the testimonials on the agent’s own site, and look for recent ones from families like yours.
If an agent cannot answer these questions straight away, keep looking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Umrah packages from the UK cost?
In the quieter months, expect around £600–£800 per person for seven to ten nights. Ramadan and school holidays can push prices above £2,000. The hotel’s distance from the Haram makes the biggest difference within any season.
When is the cheapest time to go for Umrah?
October to November and the second half of January are usually the cheapest. Avoid Ramadan and the Easter and summer school holidays if price matters most.
What is included in an all-inclusive halal holiday?
Usually all meals, soft drinks and snacks, with halal-certified food, no alcohol in shared areas, separate pool or spa facilities for women and prayer facilities. Always check each hotel’s own description, as standards vary.
Which country is best for a halal holiday from the UK?
Turkey has the widest choice and the shortest flights. Malaysia is best for culture and food, and the Maldives and Dubai suit families who want private villas.
Can I do Umrah on a tourist visa from the UK?
Yes, if you hold a British passport. You still need a free Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before visiting the Haram.
Do I need any vaccinations for Umrah?
Yes. A meningitis ACWY certificate is required, given at least ten days before travel. Most UK pharmacies offer it.
Whether you are planning Umrah, a halal holiday or both, the rule is the same: choose by what is included, not by the lowest price. Get that right and the trip can be what it should be: restful, and spent with the people who matter.
