Last year a colleague in Luton told me she had given up on Ramadan Umrah. She had priced up the last ten nights for herself and her husband, seen a figure close to £6,000, and decided it was out of reach. A few weeks later, with a bit of help, she booked ten nights at the start of Ramadan instead, in a good hotel a short walk from the Haram, for a little over £2,700 for the two of them. She fasted in Makkah, prayed Taraweeh in the Haram every night, and came home saying it was the best trip of her life.
Ramadan Umrah does not have to mean the most expensive version of it. Cheap Ramadan Umrah packages do exist, but they come from making a few clear choices about when to go, where to stay and when to book. This guide explains those choices for Ramadan 2027 and shows where the real savings are.
Ramadan 2027 is expected to run from around 8 February to 8 March. The cheapest way to do Umrah in Ramadan from the UK is to travel in the first ten days, avoid the February half-term week, share a room and book early. Ten nights in the first part of Ramadan can start at around £1,200–£1,500 per person when sharing, compared with £2,500 or more for the last ten nights.
Three Ways to Do Umrah in Ramadan 2027 and What Each Costs
Not every part of Ramadan costs the same. Prices follow demand, and demand peaks sharply in the final ten nights, when many pilgrims hope to catch Laylat al-Qadr in the Haram.
| Option | Rough dates in 2027 | Typical price per person, ten nights, sharing | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| First ten days | Around 8–18 February | £1,200–£1,500 | Fasting and Taraweeh in the Haram, calmer crowds, best value |
| Middle of Ramadan | Around 18–27 February | £1,400–£1,900 | Still manageable crowds, prices starting to rise |
| Last ten nights | Around 27 February–8 March | £2,500–£4,000+ | The most blessed nights, the biggest crowds and the highest prices |
These figures are a guide for packages with flights from London or Manchester and 3 to 4-star hotels within a reasonable walk of the Haram. Premium hotels overlooking the Haram in the last ten nights can cost far more.
There is no wrong choice here. If the last ten nights are what your heart is set on, it is worth saving for. But many people do not realise how much of the Ramadan experience is still there in the first half of the month: the atmosphere at iftar, the packed Taraweeh prayers, and the feeling of fasting in the holiest place on earth. For families on a budget, the first ten days are often the sweet spot.
One thing to watch: the February half-term for schools in England is expected to fall in mid February 2027, right in the first part of Ramadan. Dates vary by council, so check yours. Flights in that week cost more, so travelling just before or just after it can make a real difference.
Where the Real Savings Come From
Once you have chosen your part of Ramadan, these are the choices that bring the price of an Umrah package down without spoiling the trip.
Share a room. Hotels near the Haram price by the room, not the person. A quad room shared by four adults, or a family of four, can cut the hotel cost per person by a third or more compared with a double. In Ramadan, when room rates are high, this is the biggest single saving available.
Pick the right hotel distance, not the closest. The hotels right on the Haram plaza carry the highest Ramadan premium. Hotels five to ten minutes’ walk away often cost far less and are still close enough to get back for suhoor and a rest between prayers. Beyond fifteen minutes, the walk becomes hard during the late-night crowds, so I would not go further than that in Ramadan.
Be flexible with flights. Direct Saudia flights from Heathrow and Manchester are convenient but fill up early for Ramadan. One-stop routes through Istanbul or a Gulf hub, especially midweek, can save £100–£250 per person. Flying into Madinah and starting there can also be cheaper on some dates.
Book early. For Ramadan, early really does mean cheaper. Firms release a limited number of rooms at their best rates, and once those go, prices only climb. Booking in the autumn is far better than waiting until January.
Apply for your own eVisa if it helps. British passport holders and many UK residents can apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa themselves at visa.visitsaudi.com for SAR 535, about £105–£115 with insurance. Some packages are cheaper without the visa included. Just make sure you compare like with like.
A Booking Timeline for Ramadan 2027
With Ramadan only a few months away, timing matters. This is the order I would follow if I were booking today.
- Now to mid November 2026: decide which part of Ramadan you want, agree a budget with your family and compare quotes. This is when the best Ramadan rates are still available.
- By the end of November: book your package and pay the deposit, ideally by credit card for Section 75 protection on purchases between £100 and £30,000.
- December: check passports are valid for at least six months after your return date. Renew straight away if not.
- Early to mid January 2027: apply for your eVisa if it is not included in your package, and get your Meningitis ACWY jab at least 10 days before travel.
- As soon as your visa is issued: book your Umrah permit in the free Nusuk app. Ramadan slots, especially for weekends and the last ten nights, go quickly.
- Late January: confirm hotel names and transfer details in writing, and save copies of everything on your phone and on paper.
If you are reading this later in the season and prices have already risen, do not give up straight away. Cancellations do happen, and firms sometimes release extra rooms. But the earlier you start, the more choice you have.
Avoiding False Savings
The cheapest Ramadan quote is not always the cheapest trip. These are the hidden costs I see most often.
- Meals. Many Ramadan packages include suhoor only, or nothing at all. Iftar near the Haram is easy to find, but eating out every night for ten nights adds up quickly. Check what is included.
- Unnamed hotels. “4-star in Makkah” can mean almost anything. Without a hotel name and a walking distance, you cannot compare one quote with another.
- Transfers in Ramadan. Taxi prices in Makkah rise sharply in the evenings. A package that includes airport and intercity transfers can save more than it seems.
- Extra visa charges. If the visa is included, ask what it costs. The official eVisa fee is about £105–£115, so anything far above that is a mark-up.
- Copycat websites and social media deals. Ramadan is a busy time for scammers. Only book with a UK firm whose ATOL number you can check on the Civil Aviation Authority website.
When I compare Ramadan offers, I like to start from a package that sets everything out clearly. The cheap Umrah packages from Islamic Travel list the hotel names, their distance from the Haram and what is included, and they are ATOL-protected. Using a clear package like that as a starting point makes it easy to see whether a lower price elsewhere is a real saving or simply a weaker trip.
Finally, ask yourself what matters most to you in Ramadan. For some people it is being able to pray in the Haram itself every night. For others it is having parents rested and comfortable enough to fast. Spend your money on that, and save it everywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there cheap Ramadan Umrah packages from the UK?
Yes. The cheapest Ramadan packages are usually for the first ten days of the month, with shared rooms and hotels a short walk from the Haram. Ten nights can start at around £1,200–£1,500 per person.
When is Ramadan 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and end around 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 March, depending on the moon sighting.
Why are the last ten nights of Ramadan so expensive?
Most pilgrims want to be in Makkah for Laylat al-Qadr, so hotels near the Haram fill up and charge their highest rates. Prices for the last ten nights can be double those at the start of the month.
When should I book a Ramadan Umrah package?
As early as possible. For Ramadan 2027, booking by the end of November 2026 gives the best choice of hotels and prices.
Can I get cheap Umrah packages outside Ramadan?
Yes. Outside Ramadan and school holidays, especially in November and the second half of January, packages can start at around £700–£900 per person when sharing.
Do I need a Nusuk permit for Umrah in Ramadan?
Yes. The Umrah permit is free and booked in the Nusuk app after your visa is issued. Book early, as Ramadan slots fill quickly.
Ramadan Umrah is one of the most rewarding journeys a Muslim can make, and it does not have to be out of reach. Choose your part of the month wisely, book early and spend where it matters most, and the blessings of Ramadan in Makkah can be closer than you think.
