Umrah Packages from Gatwick Airport 2026 and 2027 | Flights to Jeddah from £499 per Person
Umrah packages from London Gatwick start at £499 per person for 7 nights, with return flights, your Saudi visa, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and every transfer once you land.
Gatwick has two habits that catch out more pilgrims than any other UK airport, and neither one is about price.
The first is that the North and South Terminals have no airside link. None. Arrive at the wrong one and you leave security, cross the airfield on a shuttle, and check in from scratch. The second is that Gatwick makes no boarding announcements. Your gate appears on a screen and nowhere else, and if you miss it, nobody calls your name.
Put those together with a family who have just finished praying and lost track of time, and you have the exact scenario we spend most of our Gatwick phone calls preventing.
Quick answer
7 nights from £499pp. 10 nights from £545pp. 12 nights from £579pp. 14 nights from £625pp.
Two terminals, no airside connection. Check which one before you leave the house.
Gatwick allows liquid containers up to 2 litres in both terminals.
Gatwick is a silent airport. Watch the screens. There are no boarding calls.
Hold any package with a £99 deposit.
Packages Umrah, 7 Huxley Avenue, Manchester M8 0SJ. WhatsApp or call +44 7737 144 335. |
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North or South? Get this wrong and it costs you 45 minutes
Most UK airports connect their terminals airside. If you end up in the wrong one you take a train, still inside security, and you are fine.
Gatwick does not work like that. The North and South Terminals sit on opposite sides of the airfield with no airside link between them. Getting it wrong means exiting through security, riding the shuttle across, and starting the whole process again. On a busy morning that is three quarters of an hour minimum, and it can be a lot worse.
The rough split
Terminal | Who is generally here | Relevant if |
|---|
North Terminal | Long-haul and Gulf carriers, plus easyJet | You are connecting through Dubai, Doha or Istanbul |
South Terminal | British Airways short-haul, plus Ryanair, Wizz, Vueling and Jet2 | You are on a European leg first |
For Umrah routings out of Gatwick you are most often at the North Terminal, because that is where the carriers that connect onward to Jeddah tend to sit. But this is a pattern, not a promise.
The rule that overrides everything
Check your boarding pass. Airlines move terminals at Gatwick more than people expect. Jet2 opened a new base in March 2026 and put it at the South rather than the North where most leisure carriers sit, and easyJet consolidated at the North, and both changes caught regulars out.
Every itinerary we send names your terminal. Screenshot it the night before, because the car park is exactly where mobile signal disappears.
If you do end up at the wrong one
The free Gatwick shuttle runs 24 hours a day and takes around two minutes to cross. It is the recovery, not the problem. The problem is the second security queue at the other end.
One practical note. The railway station connects directly to the South Terminal. So if you are arriving by train and flying from the North, factor in the shuttle before you start counting your three hours.
Gatwick is a silent airport
This deserves its own section because it is the single most likely way to miss a flight here, and almost nobody knows about it in advance.
What it means
Gatwick does not make general boarding announcements. Your gate number appears on the flight information screens and that is the only place it appears. There is no voice telling the departure lounge that gate 104 is now boarding, and no final call with your name in it.
Why this hits Umrah passengers harder
Because you are more likely than the average passenger to be doing something other than staring at a screen. Praying. Making wudu. Managing three children. Sitting with an elderly parent who has just had a long walk and needs to rest.
All of that is normal and none of it is a problem, provided somebody in your group has the job of watching the board.
And the walks are long
Some Gatwick gates are genuinely distant. Certain North Terminal gates are an eighteen to twenty minute walk from the main departure area, and the pier is reached across a glass bridge over a live taxiway. At the South Terminal the satellite gates are a serious hike too.
The instruction that follows from this is simple and it is the most useful thing on this page. Start walking when your gate appears on the screen, not when you think boarding might have started. On a Jeddah flight with luggage, children and someone who cannot rush, that twenty minutes is not optional.
Practical set-up for a family
Nominate one person as the screen watcher before you split up. Agree a meeting point that is not the prayer room, because the prayer room is where somebody will be when the gate goes up. And download the airport app, which pushes gate updates to your phone.
Gatwick or Heathrow? An honest answer
If you live in South London, Surrey, Sussex or Kent this is the actual question, and no Umrah agency answers it straight because most of them just want you to book.
Where Gatwick wins
Distance, if you are south of the river. Gatwick sits 29 miles south of central London near Crawley, straight off the M23 at junction 9. From Croydon, Brighton, Crawley, Redhill or most of Kent it is a shorter and far less painful drive than crossing London to Heathrow.
The train is better too, and that matters more than people credit. Gatwick sits on the Brighton main line with Thameslink, Southern and the Gatwick Express all serving it, and all three accept contactless with daily capping. Thameslink in particular runs a long north-south spine, so a lot of people reach Gatwick without changing trains at all.
Gatwick also has the more generous security rules, matching Heathrow at 2 litres, and it is a simpler airport to walk around once you are in the right terminal.
Where Heathrow wins
Saudi connectivity, and it is not close. Heathrow has direct daily services to Jeddah on multiple carriers across three terminals. Gatwick’s Saudi options are thinner and more of its routings go through a Gulf hub.
What that means in practice is a connection rather than a direct flight, which adds hours and a second boarding. On a short trip with elderly parents that is a real cost.
How we actually decide
We price both for your dates and tell you the difference in money and in total travel time, then you choose.
The rough rule we use. If you are south of the M25 and the fare difference is small, Gatwick usually wins on the door to door experience even with a connection, because you have not spent two hours getting to the airport before you start. If you are travelling with someone frail or elderly, a direct flight from Heathrow is usually worth the longer drive.
We are not going to pretend Gatwick is better than it is. If Heathrow is right for your trip we will say so and book it.
Ask us to price both airports
Liquids at Gatwick, and the drop-off charge that stings
Two litres, both terminals
Gatwick has scrapped the 100ml limit following approval of its CT scanners, and containers of up to 2 litres are allowed in cabin bags across both the North and South Terminals. Liquids and laptops stay inside your bag at the scanner, and the clear plastic bag is gone.
Useful on an Umrah trip because you can carry a proper bottle of unscented soap for Ihram rather than decanting it into something tiny.
The exception nobody expects
Vacuum flasks and insulated metal bottles still have to be emptied, even under the 2 litre rule. The scanner cannot read through a double wall. Bring it empty and fill it airside.
The return leg is a different rule
Jeddah and Madinah run the 100ml limit, and so do a long list of UK airports including Manchester, Stansted, Luton, East Midlands and Newcastle. Whatever Gatwick allows on the way out has no bearing on what you can carry on the way home.
Pack generously leaving Gatwick, pack tight coming back, and put anything large in the hold for the return.
Drop-off is £10 and there is no payment booth
Gatwick raised its forecourt drop-off charge from £7 to £10 on 6 January 2026. That buys ten minutes at either terminal, then it is £1 per additional minute up to a maximum of £30 and a maximum stay of thirty minutes.
Here is the part that generates penalties. There are no ticket machines and no payment booths at either forecourt. The whole thing runs on number plate cameras and you pay online, by phone, or through a registered account, either before you go or by midnight the following day.
Forgetting is not accepted as a reason to cancel the notice. So if a relative is dropping you off, send them the payment instruction before they leave the house, because they will drive away with no idea they owe anything.
The free alternative
Gatwick’s long stay car parks have a free drop-off arrangement with a shuttle to the terminals. It costs you fifteen minutes and saves you the tenner, which on a family seeing off five people is worth knowing about.
Getting to Gatwick
Train, and why it is the strong option here
The railway station is built into the South Terminal, which is unusually convenient. Three operators serve it.
Thameslink runs the north-south spine through central London, so places like Bedford, Luton, St Albans and much of north London reach Gatwick without changing trains. Southern covers the Brighton line and much of Sussex and Surrey. The Gatwick Express is the fastest from Victoria and the most expensive per mile.
Southern advance tickets start around £11 and Thameslink standard singles run about £15.10. All three accept contactless and Oyster with daily capping, so you do not need to queue for a ticket.
Coach
National Express runs to Victoria Coach Station from around £6, taking sixty to ninety minutes depending on traffic. Cheapest option by a distance and fine if you are not in a rush.
Driving
Straight off the M23 at junction 9, signposted from the roundabout. Simple compared with the approach to Heathrow. The North Terminal drop-off sits on the lower level between the hotel and the multi-storey, reached via Airport Way or London Road.
How early to arrive
Gatwick recommends three hours for long-haul and two for short-haul. Take the three seriously.
Gatwick is Europe’s busiest single-runway airport and it handled 42.8 million passengers in 2025, a lot of it leisure traffic concentrated into early morning departure banks. If your Jeddah connection leaves at nine in the morning, you are queuing behind everybody going to Alicante and Tenerife. The Fast Track lane runs from 4am to 8pm, which tells you when the airport expects the crush.
Add the Umrah baggage factor on top. Four and five cases per family, most at the weight limit, plenty of them repacked at the desk.
Prayer facilities at Gatwick
Both terminals have multi-faith provision, and the South Terminal has a multi-faith chapel among its facilities.
As with most UK airports, dedicated ablution provision is limited rather than absent. Many travellers use the washrooms next to the prayer areas or perform tayammum. A small towel in your hand luggage handles most of it.
Check the terminal map or ask at an information desk on the day for exact locations, since facilities move with building work and Gatwick has had a lot of that.
The one warning worth repeating
If you go to pray, take somebody with you who is watching the screens, or set an alarm. This is the silent airport. Nobody is going to come and find you.
Prices from Gatwick
Hotel tier | 7 nights | 10 nights | 12 nights | 14 nights |
|---|
3 Star | From £499 | From £545 | From £579 | From £625 |
4 Star | From £629 | From £679 | From £715 | From £769 |
5 Star | From £690 | From £745 | From £790 | From £825 |
Per person, quad sharing, off-peak departures. Includes return flights, Saudi Umrah visa, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and all ground transport inside Saudi Arabia. Ramadan, Christmas and school holidays price higher.
Same as our Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham departures
We price every UK airport identically. If a Gatwick routing genuinely costs more for your dates because it needs a connection, we tell you the number rather than burying it, and we show you the Heathrow alternative alongside.
How the price is set
We check comparable UK packages every month and sit £20 under the lowest we can find for the same nights and the same hotel tier. That is the whole policy.
Tier detail: 3 star, 4 star, 5 star, and the luxury range with Haram facing and Kaaba view rooms.
How long to go for
7 nights from Gatwick, from £499
Four nights Makkah, three Madinah. Covers Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i and Halq comfortably, plus the Rawdah and the main Madinah sites.
Worth checking whether your Gatwick routing is direct or connecting before you commit to seven nights, because a connection at both ends eats most of a day twice. Our 7 night 3 star package is the most booked thing we sell.
10 nights from Gatwick, from £545
Six nights Makkah, four Madinah, and only £46 more than the 7 night.
If your routing connects through a Gulf hub, this is the one to book. You have already spent the travel time. Six nights in Makkah lets you perform Tawaf at four genuinely different times of day. Fajr with the Mataf half empty and the marble cold underfoot. Mid morning. After Maghrib when it is fullest. Then past midnight when it thins out again.
12 nights from Gatwick, from £579
Seven Makkah, five Madinah. Suits retired pilgrims and groups where the pace has to match the slowest person.
14 nights from Gatwick, from £625
Eight Makkah, six Madinah. £45 a night against £71 a night on the 7 night trip, same flights, same hotels. The longer you go, the less the connection costs you proportionally.
Picking one
If you are | Book | Why |
|---|
On a direct routing with limited leave | 7 nights | Workable if there is no connection |
On a connecting routing | 10 nights | Do not spend a day travelling for four nights in Makkah |
Going for the first time | 10 nights | You stop feeling lost around day three |
Travelling with elderly parents | 12 or 14 nights | Nothing has to be rushed |
Retired | 14 nights | Cheapest per night by a distance |
What is included
Return flights from Gatwick
Direct where it exists for your dates, or a single-ticket connection through a Gulf hub where it does not. Either way it is one ticket with protected connections and your bags checked through.
Saudi Umrah visa
Submitted through Nusuk, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah platform, and tracked to approval. Four to seven working days.
Hotels in Makkah and Madinah
Named hotel, distance to the Haram in metres, nearest gate. In writing, before you pay the balance.
All ground transport in Saudi Arabia
Airport to hotel, the Makkah to Madinah leg, and the return to the airport.
A named agent on WhatsApp
One person from first message to return flight, contactable at Saudi hours.
Not included
Travel insurance, your meningococcal ACWY vaccine, meals beyond breakfast where breakfast applies, Gatwick parking, drop-off or train fares, and whatever you buy out there.
Where our Gatwick passengers travel from
Coming from | Drive to LGW | By train |
|---|
Croydon, Sutton, Merton | 30 to 45 min | Direct, around 15 to 20 min |
Crawley, Horley, Redhill | 10 to 25 min | Direct, a few minutes |
Brighton, Hove | 40 to 50 min | Direct, around 30 min |
Central and south London | 1 hr to 1 hr 15 | Direct, 30 to 45 min |
Luton, Bedford, St Albans | 1 hr 30 to 2 hrs | Thameslink, no change |
Guildford, Woking, Surrey | 40 min to 1 hr | Via Redhill or Clapham |
Maidstone, Medway, Kent | 1 hr to 1 hr 20 | Via London or Redhill |
Portsmouth, Southampton | 1 hr 30 to 2 hrs | Via Havant or London |
That Thameslink line is the quiet advantage of this airport. If you are in Luton, Bedford or St Albans you can reach Gatwick without changing trains, which for a family with luggage is worth more than twenty minutes saved on paper.
City guides: London, Luton, Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth.
Best months to fly from Gatwick
Month | Makkah temp | Crowds | Fares from LGW | Note |
|---|
January | 20 to 28°C | Low | Lowest | Cheapest month, quietest airport |
February | 20 to 30°C | Rising | Low | Half term week lifts prices |
March | 22 to 32°C | Very high | Peak | Ramadan 2027 runs into early March |
April | 26 to 35°C | Moderate | Moderate | Easter, and Gatwick gets busy |
May | 30 to 38°C | Low | Low | Quiet and warm, good value |
June | 35 to 42°C | Moderate | Moderate | Leisure traffic building |
July | 38 to 45°C | Moderate | High | Gatwick at its absolute busiest |
August | 38 to 45°C | High | High | Hot, and long security queues |
September | 35 to 40°C | Low | Low | Very good value, airport calms down |
October | 28 to 35°C | Low | Low | Best all-round month |
November | 24 to 32°C | Low | Lowest | Quietest Haram of the year |
December | 20 to 28°C | High | High | Book by September |
Gatwick-specific note. July and August are worse here than at most UK airports because of the volume of leisure traffic on a single runway. If you are travelling then, the three hour guidance becomes a hard floor and Fast Track is worth the money.
Month pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
How to book
- WhatsApp +44 7737 144 335 or call. Tell us the month, nights, how many people, ages of any children, and whether Heathrow is also an option for you.
- Same-day itemised quote, priced for both airports where it is worth comparing. Airline, terminal, flight numbers, hotel names, distance in metres, total price.
- Pay a £99 deposit per person. Interest-free instalments on the balance.
- Book your ACWY vaccine appointment straight away, not the week before you fly.
- Send us your passport, a photo and the ACWY certificate by WhatsApp.
- We submit the visa through Nusuk and track it to approval.
- You get the travel pack: e-tickets, your Gatwick terminal in writing, hotel addresses in Arabic for taxi drivers, and Zamzam guidance for your airline.
- You travel. Your agent is on WhatsApp throughout.
Balance due eight weeks before departure. Book four or more months ahead and we can usually spread it monthly.
Got a quote elsewhere? Send it over. Beat My Quote.
Umrah from Gatwick: 115 questions answered
Grouped by topic. Direct answer first, detail underneath where it earns its place.
Terminals
How many terminals does Gatwick have?
Two. North and South.
Which terminal do Umrah flights use at Gatwick?
Most often the North, because the long-haul and Gulf carriers are based there. Check your boarding pass, because it varies by airline.
Can I walk between the terminals?
Not airside. There is no airside link at all. You would have to exit security and take the shuttle.
How long does the shuttle take?
About two minutes, and it runs 24 hours a day, free of charge.
What happens if I go to the wrong terminal?
You leave security, take the shuttle across, and check in from scratch. Budget 45 minutes minimum, more on a busy morning.
Which terminal is the railway station attached to?
South. If you arrive by train and fly from the North, add the shuttle to your timings.
Which terminal is British Airways at?
South, for its Gatwick short-haul operation.
Which terminal is easyJet at?
North. Gatwick consolidated all easyJet flight codes there, so the old split is gone.
Do airlines move terminals at Gatwick?
More than you would expect. Jet2 launched a Gatwick base in March 2026 at the South rather than the North, which caught out people who assumed it would sit with the other leisure carriers.
How do I make sure I get this right?
Screenshot your boarding pass the night before. The terminal, the gate deadline and your seat all survive a dead mobile signal in the car park.
The silent airport
Does Gatwick announce boarding?
No. Gatwick makes no general boarding announcements. Your gate appears on the screens and nowhere else.
Will they call my name if I am late?
No. Nobody will come and find you.
How do I know when to go to the gate?
Watch the flight information screens, or use the airport app which pushes gate updates to your phone.
How long is the walk to the gate?
Some gates are eighteen to twenty minutes from the main departure area. The North Terminal pier is reached across a glass bridge over a live taxiway.
When should I start walking?
When the gate appears on the screen, not when you think boarding might have started.
What if I am praying when the gate goes up?
Have somebody in your group watching the board, or set an alarm on your phone before you start. This is the single most common way people get caught out here.
Is there any warning at all before the gate closes?
On the screens. That is it.
Liquids and security
What is the liquid limit at Gatwick?
2 litres per container, in both terminals, following approval of the CT scanners.
Do I need a clear plastic bag?
No. Liquids and laptops stay inside your hand luggage at the scanner.
Can I take a full bottle of water through?
Yes, up to 2 litres, unless it is a vacuum flask or insulated bottle.
Why do vacuum flasks have to be emptied?
The scanner cannot read through a double wall. Bring it empty and fill it airside.
Does the 2 litre allowance apply on my way home?
Only where you actually depart from. Jeddah and Madinah run 100ml, as do Manchester, Stansted, Luton, East Midlands and Newcastle among others.
What about unscented soap for Ihram?
Buy it in the UK and bring it. Gatwick lets you carry a full-size bottle through, which is genuinely useful.
What about medication?
Exempt from the volume limit, but declare it before screening. Carry the prescription or pharmacy label and keep it in hand luggage.
Is Fast Track worth it?
At Gatwick in summer, often yes. It starts from around £6 pre-booked online and costs more on the day. The lane operates from 4am to 8pm.
When is Gatwick security worst?
Early morning, because of the leisure departure bank. If your flight is mid-morning you are queuing behind everyone going to Spain.
Drop-off, parking and getting there
How much is the Gatwick drop-off charge?
£10 for up to ten minutes at either terminal, then £1 per additional minute, capped at £30 for a maximum thirty minute stay.
When did it go up?
It rose from £7 to £10 on 6 January 2026.
Where do I pay?
Not at the airport. There are no machines or booths. Payment is online, by phone, or through a registered account, before your visit or by midnight the following day.
What if I forget to pay?
You get a Parking Charge Notice. It is enforced by number plate cameras and forgetting is not accepted as grounds for appeal.
Is there a free drop-off?
Yes, at the long stay car parks with a shuttle to the terminal. It costs about fifteen minutes and saves the £10.
Whose problem is the drop-off charge?
The driver of the vehicle. So if a relative is dropping you off, send them the payment link before they leave the house.
Which train companies serve Gatwick?
Thameslink, Southern and the Gatwick Express. All three accept contactless and Oyster with daily capping.
What is the cheapest way to get to Gatwick from London?
The National Express coach to Victoria from around £6, taking sixty to ninety minutes. Southern advance tickets from around £11 are the cheapest rail option.
Can I get to Gatwick from Luton or Bedford without changing?
Yes. Thameslink runs the north-south spine straight through, which is the quiet advantage of this airport.
How do I drive there?
M23 junction 9, signposted from the roundabout. Considerably simpler than the approach to Heathrow.
How early should I arrive?
Three hours for long-haul, which is Gatwick’s own guidance and worth taking seriously on an Umrah flight.
Why do Umrah check-in queues take so long?
Families check in four or five cases each, most at the weight limit, and a good number get opened and repacked at the desk.
Gatwick or Heathrow
Which is better for Umrah, Gatwick or Heathrow?
Heathrow on Saudi connectivity, Gatwick on convenience if you live south of London. We price both and let you choose.
Does Gatwick have direct flights to Jeddah?
Gatwick’s Saudi options are thinner than Heathrow’s, so more Gatwick routings connect through a Gulf hub. We tell you which yours is before you book.
Is a connection a big deal?
It adds hours and a second boarding. On a 7 night trip with elderly parents that matters. On a 14 night trip it barely registers.
I live in Croydon. Which airport?
Usually Gatwick, on the door to door experience, unless someone in the group is frail enough that a direct flight is worth the extra journey.
I live in Kent. Which airport?
Gatwick, almost always. Crossing London to Heathrow with luggage is its own ordeal.
I live in north London. Which airport?
Heathrow on distance, but Thameslink to Gatwick without changing trains is worth pricing before you decide.
Will you tell me honestly if Heathrow is better?
Yes. If Heathrow suits your trip we will say so and book it from there.
Prayer facilities
Is there a prayer room at Gatwick?
Both terminals have multi-faith provision, and the South Terminal has a multi-faith chapel.
Where exactly is it?
Check the terminal map or ask at an information desk on the day. Gatwick has had a lot of building work and facilities move.
Are there wudu facilities?
Limited rather than absent, as at most UK airports. Many people use the washrooms nearby or perform tayammum. A small towel in your hand luggage helps.
Can I pray and still catch my flight?
Yes, provided somebody is watching the screens or you have set an alarm. Remember there are no boarding calls here.
Is there halal food at Gatwick?
Some options in both terminals, though the choice is not extensive. Most families eat before they travel.
Prices and payment
How much is Umrah from Gatwick?
From £499 per person for 7 nights, up to £825 for 14 nights in a 5 star hotel, including flights, visa, hotels and Saudi transport.
What is your cheapest package?
£499 per person, 7 nights, 3 star, quad sharing, off-peak.
How much for 10 nights?
From £545 at 3 star, £679 at 4 star, £745 at 5 star.
How much for 12 nights?
From £579 at 3 star, £715 at 4 star, £790 at 5 star.
How much for 14 nights?
From £625 at 3 star. That is £45 a night, the best value per night we sell.
Is Gatwick more expensive than Heathrow?
We price them the same. If a Gatwick routing genuinely costs more for your dates, we show you the number and the Heathrow alternative side by side.
How much is the deposit?
£99 per person.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes, interest free, if you book four or more months ahead.
When is the balance due?
Eight weeks before departure.
Do you price match?
We price under. Send a written quote through Beat My Quote.
Is quad sharing compulsory?
No. Twin or double adds roughly £180 to £340 per person depending on tier and season.
Do children pay less?
Yes. Under twos travel as lap infants for a nominal fare, two to elevens get a reduced rate sharing with two adults, twelve and over pay adult.
When are prices lowest?
January and November, with September and October close behind on better weather.
How far ahead should I book?
Three to four months normally. Six months or more for Ramadan and December.
Visa, vaccine and documents
How do I get an Umrah visa?
We submit it through Nusuk, the official Saudi platform. Four to seven working days.
What documents do you need?
Passport with at least six months validity from your travel date, a passport photo, and your meningococcal ACWY certificate.
Do I need a vaccine?
Yes, meningococcal ACWY is mandatory for the visa. No certificate, no visa.
Where do I get ACWY near Gatwick?
Your GP, or a private travel clinic. Pharmacy travel services across South London, Surrey and Sussex offer it. Allow at least ten days before you fly.
How long is the certificate valid?
Generally several years. Keep it.
How long is an Umrah visa valid?
90 days from issue with a 90 day maximum stay, and you can travel anywhere in Saudi Arabia on it.
Can I do Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
Yes, tourist visa holders may perform Umrah. Rules change, so confirm the current position before relying on it.
What if my passport is not British?
Not a problem with UK residency. Tell us the nationality at enquiry because processing times differ.
What if a visa is refused?
Rare, and usually a document issue we can fix and resubmit. We tell you the same day.
Do I need travel insurance?
Strongly recommended. Cancellation, medical and repatriation cover are the ones that matter.
Ihram and the flight
Where do I change into Ihram at Gatwick?
After security, before boarding. Or on the aircraft before the Miqat is crossed.
Do I travel to the airport in Ihram?
No. Travel normally and change at the airport.
What if my flight connects through Dubai or Doha?
Change during the layover, before boarding the Jeddah leg. The Gulf hubs are well set up for it.
When is the Miqat crossed?
Flying into Jeddah, roughly half an hour before landing. The crew announce it. You must be in Ihram with your intention made before that point.
What if I fly into Madinah first?
You do not enter Ihram on the plane. You enter it at Dhul Hulayfah, also called Abyar Ali, about 9 km outside Madinah on the road to Makkah.
Should I pack Ihram in my hold bag?
No, hand luggage. On a connecting itinerary especially, your case might not arrive with you.
What do women wear for Ihram?
No prescribed garment. Loose modest clothing covering everything except face and hands.
In Saudi Arabia
How close will my hotel be to the Haram?
3 star is typically 700 metres to 1.2 km with a shuttle. 4 star 300 to 700 metres. 5 star 200 to 500 metres, or under 200 on the luxury tiers.
Will you tell me the hotel name before I pay?
Yes, in writing, with the distance in metres and the nearest gate.
Can I get a Kaaba view room?
Yes, on the luxury tier. Pricing is on the luxury packages page.
How far is Jeddah airport from Makkah?
About 90 km, an hour to ninety minutes by road. Included in your package.
How do I get from Makkah to Madinah?
Included. Air conditioned coach, about four and a half hours by road.
What is the time difference?
Saudi Arabia is three hours ahead of the UK in winter and two hours ahead during British Summer Time.
Do you arrange Ziyarat?
Yes, in both cities. Makkah covers Jabal al-Noor, Jabal Thawr, Mina and Arafat. Madinah covers Masjid Quba, Masjid Qiblatain, Uhud and the Seven Mosques.
How do I visit the Rawdah?
Free timed permits through the Nusuk app. Nobody can sell you one. Women visit in separate sessions with fewer slots, so book early.
Can I perform Umrah more than once on one trip?
Yes. Return to the nearest Miqat, most people use Masjid Aisha at Taneem, re-enter Ihram and come back.
Can I bring Zamzam home?
Yes, checked baggage only, and only the official factory-sealed 5 litre bottle bought at the Saudi airport counters. Shop-bought Zamzam gets refused at check-in.
Does Zamzam count against my baggage allowance?
On the main Umrah carriers it is carried free and outside your standard allowance. Confirm with your airline, and we confirm it in your travel pack.
Families, elderly pilgrims and groups
Which package suits elderly parents?
A hotel under 300 metres from the Haram, 12 or 14 nights, travelling between November and February. And if a connection is involved, consider Heathrow instead.
Is Gatwick hard work with elderly travellers?
The airport itself is fine and simpler to walk than Heathrow. The two risks are the long gate walks and the lack of boarding announcements. Plan for both.
Can I book special assistance?
Yes, through the airline, ideally at least 48 hours before you fly. Tell us and we note it on the booking and remind you. Assistance staff will also make sure you get to the gate, which solves the silent airport problem.
Are wheelchairs available at the Haram?
Yes, at the mosque. There are upper level Tawaf areas designed for wheelchair use where the circuit is longer but far less crowded.
Is Umrah suitable for young children?
Plenty of families manage it. Each child in Ihram needs one adult whose only job is that child.
Can we get connecting rooms?
Yes, and we price them properly rather than squeezing six people into a quad.
Is there a family security lane at Gatwick?
The South Terminal has a family-friendly security lane, which is worth asking for if you are travelling with small children.
Do you do group bookings?
Yes, from five people upward. Mosque groups, ISoc trips and extended family parties across South London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
Ramadan and timing
Is Umrah in Ramadan equal to Hajj?
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj in reward, reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. It does not remove the obligation to perform Hajj itself.
When is Ramadan 2027?
Around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting.
How much more does Ramadan cost?
40 to 70 per cent above off-peak, and more again for the last ten nights.
When should I book for the last ten nights?
As early as you can. Rooms near the Haram for that window sell out earlier than any other date in the year.
Best month if I cannot go in Ramadan?
October or November. Mild, quiet and cheapest.
Is Gatwick worse in summer than other airports?
Yes, noticeably. It is Europe’s busiest single-runway airport and July and August concentrate a huge amount of leisure traffic. Three hours becomes a hard floor.
Anything else
Can women travel without a Mahram?
Under current Saudi rules, women aged 18 and over may perform Umrah as part of an organised group without a Mahram. Confirm the position for your specific travel date.
Do you speak Urdu?
Yes, English or Urdu, no difference in price or service.
You are based in Manchester. Does that matter?
Not for the work. Quotes, documents, visas and support all run on WhatsApp and phone, and we book every UK airport.
Can I change my dates after booking?
Usually, subject to airline and hotel rules. Tell us early, because change costs rise sharply near departure.
What if my connection is missed?
Everything is on one ticket, so the airline reroutes you. Message your agent and we rearrange the ground side around it.
Who do I contact while I am out there?
The same agent who built your booking, on WhatsApp, at any hour.
Can I add a holiday afterwards?
Yes. Turkey, Dubai and Egypt combinations work particularly well from Gatwick given the routings. See special packages.
Can I book hotels only?
Yes, if you already have your visa and flights. Ask for a land only quote.
Where can I read more?
Our blog covers Ziyarat sites and the practical side, and the packages hub has every tier and month in one place.
Related pages
Book your Umrah from Gatwick
Umrah packages from London Gatwick from £499 per person. Seven to fourteen nights, one ticket with protected connections, held with a £99 deposit. And we will tell you honestly if Heathrow suits your trip better.
Packages Umrah
WhatsApp or call: +44 7737 144 335
Office: 7 Huxley Avenue, Manchester, M8 0SJ
English and Urdu. Same-day quotes.
Trading name of Uraan Travel Ltd. Serving South London, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and the south coast. |
Send us your month, your nights and your numbers. We will come back the same day with the airline, the terminal in writing, the hotel, the distance in metres and the total.
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