December Umrah Packages 2026 - Christmas Holiday Departures

December Umrah Packages 2026 from the UK

Our December Umrah packages are built around the dates most UK families can actually travel: the Christmas school holidays, from around Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Each package includes return flights from the UK, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, Umrah visa processing and transport between the two cities, with 7, 12 and 15 night options in 3, 4 and 5 star hotels.

December is one of the most comfortable months of the year for Umrah. Daytime temperatures in Makkah sit in the high 20s to around 30°C rather than the 40°C-plus of summer, which makes tawaf and sa’i far easier for children and older parents. It is also one of the busiest months, so flights and hotels near the Haram go up in price as Christmas week approaches.

Haram Zone Travel is a UK-based Hajj and Umrah travel company. Below you will find our package options, exactly what is and is not included, the best dates to travel, what drives the price, and how booking works.

Get a December Umrah quote   Call or WhatsApp us: +44 203 504 2414

December Umrah Packages at a Glance

All prices are per person, based on the room sharing shown. Final prices depend on your travel dates and departure airport, and are confirmed in writing before you pay a deposit.

Not seeing the dates or hotel you want? Every package can be adjusted. Tell us your dates, airport and budget and we will price it.

3-star December Umrah packages

Best for: budget-conscious pilgrims who spend most of their day in the Haram and only use the hotel to sleep. 3-star hotels are usually a longer walk from the Haram or connected by a hotel shuttle. We state the approximate walking distance for every hotel in your quote so there are no surprises.

4-star December Umrah packages

Best for: families and older pilgrims who want to return to the room between prayers. 4-star hotels tend to be closer to the Haram, with better lifts and breakfast included. In December, this is the tier we recommend most often for families, because shorter walks matter more when the Haram is busy.

5-star December Umrah packages

Best for: pilgrims who want hotels at or very near the Haram gates, double rooms and the least walking. These rooms sell first in the Christmas week, so 5-star requests should be made as early as possible.

Christmas Umrah Packages: Best Dates for December 2026

The right dates depend on whether you are tied to the school holidays. In many English councils, schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and return on Monday 4 January 2027. Check your own council or school, as dates vary, and Scottish holidays run on a different calendar.

Three things worth knowing:

•   The Christmas week is the most expensive week. Flights leaving the UK on 19 and 20 December are usually the first to fill, and prices rise with them. Moving your departure by even two or three days can make a real difference.
•   Rajab begins in December. 1 Rajab 1448 is expected around 10 December 2026, subject to moon sighting. If performing Umrah in Rajab matters to you, every December date from that point falls within it.
•   Come home with a day or two spare. Children returning to school on 4 January usually cope far better with a 2 January flight home than a 3 January one.

What Is Included in Our December Umrah Packages

Every December package includes:

•   Return flights from your chosen UK airport to Jeddah or Madinah, with checked baggage as per the airline’s fare
•   Umrah visa processing
•   Hotel accommodation in Makkah and Madinah for the nights shown
•   Airport transfers in Saudi Arabia
•   Transport between Makkah and Madinah (coach or private car, depending on the package)
•   Breakfast at hotels where stated (On customer demand)
•   Ziyarat tours in Makkah and Madinah
•   UK-based support before you travel and a contact number while you are in Saudi Arabia

What Is Not Included

Being clear about this up front saves problems later:

•   Lunch and dinner, unless your package states half or full board
•   Travel insurance (strongly recommended; check that it covers pre-existing medical conditions)
•   Meningitis ACWY vaccination and any other medical costs
•   Travel to your UK departure airport
•   Extra baggage beyond the airline allowance
•   Personal spending, including zamzam containers, gifts and sim cards
•   Wheelchair hire or pushers in the Haram (we can advise on arranging these)
•   Upgrades to Haram-view rooms unless booked in advance

How Much Does Umrah Cost in December?

The price of a December Umrah package depends mainly on five things. Understanding them helps you see why two “12 night” packages can be hundreds of pounds apart.

1. Your travel dates. Departures on 19–21 December carry the highest flight and hotel prices of the month. Early December is usually the cheapest time in the month to travel.
2. Hotel distance from the Haram. In Makkah, every few hundred metres closer to the Haram costs more. This is the biggest single difference between 3, 4 and 5-star packages.
3. Room sharing. Prices are quoted per person. A quad room (four people sharing) is the lowest price per person; a double room is the highest. Families of four often get the best value in a quad.
4. Flight type. Direct flights from London to Jeddah or Madinah cost more than indirect flights with a stop in the Gulf or Istanbul, but save hours of travel with children.
5. When you book. Seats on Christmas departures are limited. The later you book, the fewer fare options remain.

Looking for cheap December Umrah? The most effective ways to lower the cost without lowering the quality of the trip are: travel in early December if you can, choose an indirect flight, share a quad or triple room, and pick a 3-star hotel in Madinah (where hotels are generally closer to the mosque) while keeping a closer hotel in Makkah.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. You can secure a December Umrah package with a deposit and pay the balance in instalments, with the full amount due before departure. The payment schedule is set out in writing before you book.

Weather in Makkah and Madinah in December

December brings the mildest Umrah weather of the year. Typical averages are:

Makkah stays warm, so light cotton clothing works during the day. Madinah is the one that catches UK pilgrims out: evenings near Masjid an-Nabawi can feel genuinely cold, especially if you sit in the courtyard for Isha or Fajr. Pack a warm layer, socks and, for children, a light jacket. Rain is rare but brief heavy showers do happen.

Is December a Good Time for Umrah?

For most UK families, yes. December combines three things that rarely line up: school holidays, annual leave over Christmas, and comfortable temperatures for walking-heavy rituals.

The trade-off is crowds and price. The Haram is noticeably busier from mid-December, particularly on Fridays and in the days around New Year. If you are flexible, early December offers similar weather with fewer people and lower prices. If you are tied to school dates, the Christmas holidays are still an excellent time to go, as long as you plan for busier tawaf times.

Tip from our team: tawaf after Fajr and late at night is usually calmer than after Asr and Maghrib. Older pilgrims may find the upper floors of the Masjid al-Haram more comfortable for tawaf, even though the circuit is longer.

December Umrah for Families, Elderly Parents and Groups

Travelling with children

Most of our December bookings are families travelling in the school holidays. To make it work:

•   Choose a 4-star hotel or above in Makkah, so you can bring children back to the room between prayers
•   Ask for a 14-night package if your children are young; it allows a slower pace and rest days
•   Prams are generally allowed in parts of the Haram but can be restricted at busy times; a lightweight carrier is easier in crowds
•   Agree a meeting point with older children in case you get separated (a named gate number works well)

Our family umrah packages page covers family room options in more detail.

Travelling with elderly parents

December is often the best month to take older parents, because the heat is not a factor. Wheelchairs and pushers are available at the Haram, and electric carts can be used for tawaf and sa’i on the upper levels. Tell us about mobility needs when you enquire so we can recommend hotels with short, step-free walks.

Travelling as a group

Mosques, extended families and friends often travel together in December. For larger parties, our group umrah packages can include a group leader, shared transport and rooms allocated together.

Flights to Umrah from UK Airports in December

We arrange December Umrah flights from:

•   London Heathrow and Gatwick: the widest choice of direct and indirect flights to Jeddah and Madinah
•   Manchester: a convenient option for the North West and Yorkshire, including travellers from Bradford
•   Birmingham: for the Midlands; see our umrah packages from Birmingham for regional departures
•   Glasgow: usually via an indirect connection

Flying into Madinah first and leaving from Jeddah (or the reverse) means less road travel. Most pilgrims perform Umrah first, starting in Makkah; if you fly into Madinah first, you will enter ihram at the miqat (Dhul Hulayfah) on the way to Makkah. We will explain which routing suits your package.

Visa and Documents for December Umrah

Haram Zone Travel processes the Umrah visa or travel authorisation as part of every package. What you need to provide:

•   A passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date in Saudi Arabia
•   A recent passport-style photograph
•   Proof of meningitis ACWY vaccination (required for Umrah pilgrims)
•   Details of any accompanying family members

British citizens can currently travel for Umrah outside the Hajj season on an electronic authorisation, according to the UK government’s Saudi Arabia entry requirements. Saudi rules can change at short notice, so we confirm the current requirement for your nationality when you book. Visa approval is decided by the Saudi authorities and cannot be guaranteed by any travel company.

Once you arrive, visiting Riyadh ul Jannah (the Rawdah) in Masjid an-Nabawi requires a pre-booked time slot through the official Nusuk platform. We show you how to book it before you leave the UK.

How Booking Works

1. Enquire. Send your dates, departure airport, number of travellers (adults and children) and preferred hotel standard.
2. Get a written quote. We send hotel names, walking distances, flight details and a full price breakdown.
3. Pay a deposit. This secures your flights and rooms. The balance can be paid in instalments.
4. Send documents. We process visas once passports and vaccination details are received.
5. Receive your travel pack. Tickets, hotel vouchers, transfer details and contact numbers before departure.
6. Travel with support. You have a contact number for help throughout your time in Saudi Arabia.

Why Book December Umrah with Haram Zone Travel

As a UK-based Umrah travel agency in UK, we only arrange Hajj and Umrah travel. That focus shows in the details:

•   Written quotes with named hotels and walking distances, not “or similar”
•   Clear inclusions and exclusions before you pay anything
•   Deposits and instalment plans for December travel
•   Departures from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow

If you are comparing December dates with other times of year, you can browse all of our Umrah packages, including Ramadan and February half-term options.

Plan Your December Umrah

Christmas departures are the first to fill. If you are hoping to travel between 19 December and 3 January, send us your dates and airport now and we will hold the best available options while you decide.