Best Time to Perform Umrah: A Month-by-Month Guide for Pilgrims

Umrah is one of the most vital trips for a Muslim. Though a Muslim can perform it at any time in the year, sometimes certain months are advisable due to climatic and crowd conditions. The following is the month-to-month guide that will help you make the right choice.

1. January

Pros:

Saudi Arabia’s January is relatively cooler, thus being perfect for the pilgrims.
Since it's an off-season period, most of the pilgrims don't visit this place, and hence it is less crowded while doing Umrah.
Airline companies and tour operators may offer discounts as it is not a prime season

Cons:

It would be a drawback for some who enjoy a longer period of daylight during their Umrah.

2. February

Pros:

Mild climate: Similar to January, February will be pretty cold and cool.
Fewer crowds: Although it is a bit more than January, it is very bearable.
Still affordable: February is also relatively cheap when it comes to Umrah travel packages and lodging.

Cons:

Rain: Sometimes, it does a little rain, but rarely until a light rain.

3. March

Pros:

Weather has softened: It is softened at this time because the winter is leaving, and spring has started.
For families: School holidays in some places fall in March, and that is ideal for families who wish to travel.
Crowds aren't too massive as yet. Crowds are up but nowhere near peak season

Cons:

Prices start to escalate: With Ramadan now over, the packages begin to go up a little.

4. April

Pros:

The end of March is in general not very chilly and April starts rather mild and with quite warm days.
Thus, during this period many people who perform Hajj and Umrah feel comfortable in the religious environment in Makkah and Madinah.

Cons:

It is becoming crowded
Price: By this time, the Umrah packages are pretty expensive due to the increased demand.

5. May

Pros:

High Spiritual Value: It is found to be very rewarding if one offers Umrah this month.
Special Night Prayers: Prayers that can only be said at this time further the spiritual experience.
Significant Nights: In the last part of the month, there are special nights included.

Cons:

Large Crowds: Many people usually perform their Umrah during this time, and this makes movement a cumbersome task.
Higher Costs: For cost factors, it seems that travel and accommodation costs are normally higher.

6. June

Pros:

Important Time: Early June is still imbued with the spirituality from the previous month.
Fewer Crowds: During a rush, and after it is over; this makes it easy to have a quiet time.
Availability: The next spot has indicated that booking hotels and flights will be easier.

Cons:

Hot Weather: It may at times be extremely hot to handle when the sun is out, thus the daytime rituals can be quite a challenge.
Costly Packages: Some restaurants have a higher price list immediately after the peak time of the month but lower at the end of the month.

7. July

Pros:

Crowds are fewer since most pilgrims have completed their Umrah by July.
It is an off-season price so packages are less expensive during this time.
School holidays: families can spend the summer with their children on Umrah

Cons:

Extremely hot weather: July is one of the hottest months in Saudi Arabia where it reaches extremely high temperatures during the day. This can make a hard experience the rituals that go with performing Umrah

8. August

Pros:

Calmness after Hajj: Once the Hajj season finishes, crowds reduce drastically. The experience with Umrah comes as a calm one.
Inexpensive: Packages are cheaper because they happen to fall in the off-season.
School holidays: Many countries break up for their summer holidays in August which is considered perfect for families.

Cons:

Scorching weather: Just like July, it is one of the most scorching months. For people who cannot stand the heat, this will be a challenge.

9. September

Pros:

The temperature dipped down: Summer vacations will finally end, and the heat will subdue quite considerably. This time is more bearable for travelers
Less crowd: While traveling in the off-season, fewer people travel at such times, so lesser long queues for rituals
A cheaper journey: Several tour agencies foresee fewer tourists for this season since the holidays are nearing their end.

Cons:

“How would big families like to book a pilgrimage when the school holidays are closing up” is the most negative drawback for performing Umrah in September.

10. October

Pros:

Weathers: Of all the months that have been rated ideal for Umrah, the month of October is good because the warm weather is prevailing.
The crowds are not too tough to handle since the number of pilgrims at this time is more than the number of pilgrims in September but much fewer compared with any time during the peak times, when there is Ramadan or Hajj.
Since the packages of Umrah are not too pricey because of lower demand as well these are quite fairly priced too.

Cons:

More crowd of pilgrims: With the weather having become even better, people feel happy for the performance of Umrah, and thus the crowds have now become larger compared to the past months, as well.

11. November

Pros:

Weather: It is relatively cooler during November; hence pilgrims can carry out rituals outdoors without extreme heat.
Crowds before Hajj: Although it peaks further during this month, it is still much leaner compared to the Hajj.
Bargained travel packages: Travel agencies usually offer cheaper deals due to individuals flying in during this period.

Cons:

Higher demand: More pilgrims arrive due to relatively cooler weather during the later part of the month.

12. December

Pros:

Ideal climatic conditions: It will be just as apt for the pilgrims since it would experience mild and pleasant temperatures.
Less crowded: Early December is not that crowded; less number of people stay here for a long period, hence faster performing Umrah.
Holiday seasons: December is usually the holiday season in many countries, and by doing so, a family would have enough time to perform Umrah.
Cheaper: Umrah packages tend to be less expensive during early December compared to the latter part of the month.

Cons:

Prices increasing towards the End of the Month: School term holidays tend to fall in the last days of December, during which most people take advantage of the year-end breaks. This tends to increase the cost of travel and accommodation.

General Guidelines on Choosing the Best Time for Umrah:

Weather

The climate can affect your Umrah experience. Some months appear more suitable for performing an umrah than others due to better conditions such as better temperatures than others that may hinder the performance of the ritual due to hot weather.

Crowds

The number of pilgrims is among the factors which determine how comfortable you are during the Umrah. Off-peak, in general, means that the virtual line will be shorter and it won’t take a long time before one’s turn comes; in contrast, busy periods result in overcrowding.

Budget Friendly

Timing can also be effective in helping one cut costs on transport as well as on lodging. This gives you more options as getting an Umrah visa besides Ramadan may be a little cheaper than going in the summer for instance.

Family Friendly

There are certain seasons people prefer, for instance when children are out of school. This is because traveling during these periods enables families to engage in Umrah without having to worry about school sessions.

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