DIY Umrah (do it Yourself Umrah) | Book your own Umrah

DIY Umrah is becoming popular day by day. Many people are frustrated by the old traditional methods of planning their Umrah. The journey is sweeter than any journey and becomes exhausting while planning. It is due to the behavior of travel agencies and all the file work that needed to be done before Umrah. 

Do it yourself Umrah is considered the healer of those travelers who want to do Umrah on their own. It is the best way to plan freely and to do what and how you want to do things. 

There is no need for any agent who guides you or plans for you. It’s just you and the beautiful streets of Makkah and Madina. Sometimes people just want to disappear in those blissful streets. Everywhere you look, there is “Noor”.

So you have the chance to get those feelings while wandering in those streets. Grab your case before it gets late.DIY Umrah can do wonders for you. 

Here I am to guide you step by step on how to book Umrah by yourself.

How To Book Your Own Umrah Package

Proper planning is required for doing Umrah on your own. Now here is the detailed discussion about how to plan your own Umrah packages. Read it carefully to get all the information before making any decision.

Updates about Booking your own DIY Umrah

Since 2019, the government of KSA has decided to open its gates for visitors to explore and enjoy the charming beauty of Saudi Arabia. Now you can grab your Saudi tourist Visa online, explore every part of Saudi Arabia, and perform Umrah too.  This decision is the plan of their Saudi Vision 2030. 

According to this plan, by the end of 2030, 30 million pilgrims will be able to visit the Land of Arabia. In this way, the KSA will become a tourism hub by the end of 2030. 

Until 2019, the pilgrimages were allowed to visit only Makkah, Madina, and Jeddah. But now they can visit the whole of the kingdom to enjoy the serene beauty and can also perform Umrah rituals. 

Follow the step-by-step guide on How to perform Umrah DIY on your own. 

Let’s get deep into all of the above-mentioned steps:

Umrah Planning 

Here is an amazing conversation I heard today (from the date of writing this article) while drinking water from a public cooler.

 Two laborers were chatting about Hajj, the major pilgrimage, and one of them said, “It doesn’t matter if you are poor or rich, just make intentions, and Allah will call you. Just go and get a passport and see the magic.”

The same is true for you. If you have intentions, Allah will make your ways easy. Plan your trip and be ready for the best experiences of life. 

Clear your mind and start thinking about the journey. The second thing you have to do is to start saving your money at least 6 or 7 months before having a visa. Try to get information about the deals and accommodations provided by travel companies and airlines. This will help you get a budget-friendly plan for your Umrah.

Deciding Finances 

The second thing which should be considered is your budget. Although the DIY Umrah is cost-effective one must have plans for it. Otherwise, it may cost you more than the traditional ways. 

The following are the things to consider while planning your finances for the Umrah trip.

The number of individuals and their ages matter the most in the planning process. You have to estimate roughly by counting the individuals and their respective ages.

 For example, if your parents are with you, you must consider a nearby Hotel in Haram for their ease. Similarly, there is a concession in kids’ Umrah finances. 

The more you want to explore, the more it gets expensive. 

Expenses are also dependent on seasons. In some seasons you get cheap tickets, while in others you will find them costly. So you have to keep dates in mind while planning for the trip. 

And last but not least, your hotel. Try to get information about the hotel prices before booking to make your plan more accurate. 

Deciding Dates 

Planning your own Umrah is special as it is flexible in many ways. Your planning is completed when you finally decide on your dates of travel. You should consider two things while deciding the traveling dates. 

Health

In summer, the Kingdom gets so hot. People cannot go out of their hotels. While winter days are the best to perform Umrah. For a perfect DIY Umrah, you must consider your health as a priority.

 Budget

In Ramadan, the Umrah costs increase by 10 times. You can get cheap flights on off-peak days.

Note that last year an estimated 7 million people performed Umrah, so who can wait for off-peak days? Or you can say there are no off-peak days until and unless the Saudi Govt delays or bans visitors from some countries. This mostly happens for a month or two any year.

The beginning Umrah Season is more budget-friendly. 

To save money, it is recommended to perform DIY Umrah on major Western holidays like Christmas, Easter, school holidays, etc. 

Moreover, in some seasons, airline tickets become so cheap that a middle-class man can afford them. 

Getting Visa and Required Documents

The next thing to be done is getting a visa. Keep in mind that you have two ways to get a visa. One is to contact a travel agent and the other is an online e-visa. 

Following are the required documents you need for an Umrah visa.

Read how to apply for an Umrah visa online to get in-depth information. 

Moreover, I recommend you get a Saudi tourist e-visa for your convenience. You can receive your e-visa in mere half an hour. 

Booking of Flights 

The next big thing in a DIY Umrah is booking a flight. For booking cheap flights you must consider the dates. Almost all major airlines hold sales for some days in a year. Try to grab your opportunity in those days. 

If you want to go in April, don’t book a flight in February or March instead book the flights in December and especially on Christmas days. It will save lots of your money.

Flights Sale

These sales are most common in April, June, September, and December. Most airlines provide 40% off during sales.

Loyalty Program

A regular traveler may have loyalty points for any airline company. You can use these points to get discounted tickets and hotel bookings. 

Many international companies have loyalty programs. Sign up for their loyalty program to be their loyal customer and get those loyalty points. Every time you use their flight, you’ll get points which may help you the next time you travel.  

Hotel Booking

There is a booking hack that most people don’t know. It is important to know if you are doing a DIY Umrah. Try to book those hotels which are new in the market. They’ll provide you with the best services that are cost-effective

A new hotel tries to stay in the market, so it provides more and takes less. 

Hilton, Marriot, and Conrad, the 5-star hotels are more affordable and luxurious than the others.

Where to Stay

People Also ask, “Which side of Haram should we stay?” There is no special answer to this as everyone has their likes and dislikes. But the clocktower side is quite busy, and it’s not preferable. You can still choose it if you want. 

Hotels sale

Just like airlines, hotels also hold sales after every few months. Keep these sales in mind along with the flight sales. The lucky one gets both.

You should book your hotels just before visa issuance. After securing the flights and hotels, apply for Umrah or Saudi tourist visa online. 

Transportation 

Jeddah To Makkah

The easiest and most comfortable way is to book a cab outside the Jeddah Airport. The cab will drive you to the train station, from where you can reach Makkah and perform your DIY Umrah.

Makkah to Madina

There are three ways to reach Madina from Makkah. 

By train:

It is the most convenient way as many travelers use this. Moreover, it is cheaper and reduces the time for reaching the beautiful destiny. It costs only 30£ per person while traveling on the train. 

By Bus 

Using the bus is the alternative way of enjoying the journey from one holy city to the other. 

The SAPTCO buses are available there to make your travel more comfortable and full of pleasure.

I recommend using the VIP service which costs approximately £35 and includes the most comfortable table and more extensive seating for the traveler.

This alternative is provided by the Government of KSA.

In Madina hop-on, and hop-off buses are available for tourists to visit Ziyarat places. Stop at one stop see the magnificently beautiful historic sites of Islam and then again grab a bus to move to the next Ziyarah place.

By Cab

If you love solo traveling it’s the most precious alternative of reaching Madina from Makkah. 

You just have to book a cab from outside your Hotel. The cabs are easily accessible and can provide more ease and comfort.

The excursion is about £50 but you can bargain with them. Make sure you book a cab according to your budget and is affordable. Moreover, you can pay them hourly to visit the Ziyarat places around Makkah.

Madina to Jeddah

If you are in Madina, the best practice for departing from KSA is to go to Jeddah. It is preferable as Madina’s airport is not that big. And it is often difficult to exit from there. 

There is no need to book a cab, use the train to reach Jeddah. From the train station, use a cab to reach Jeddah airport.  

Till now, we were doing all talk no action. Now is the time to know how to book your own Umrah package.

Here is how you can book your DIY Umrah.

I recommend seeing the prices of cabs online and negotiating with the drivers directly. 

 Here is a short video explaining how to book Umrah by yourself. DIY Umrah Explained.

 

Pros and Cons of DIY Umrah

Myths about DIY Umrah 

Although the DIY Umrah is gaining popularity, people are still unaware that they can perform Umrah on their own. They know the traditional ways but not the most advanced ones. They rely on travel agents, which causes them more financial loss. 

People also think that by doing DIY Umrah, they couldn’t have hotels to stay in Makkah and Madina. 

So if you have any misconceptions in your mind, share them with us and let us clear your mind before planning the most beautiful religious and spiritual trip. 

Conclusion

Doing DIY Umrah is not as difficult as people think. Better planning and a desire to save more money can make it possible.

You need to get information about everything necessary for doing Umrah and Hurrah! You have done it. 

From proper planning to booking and then tightening your seatbelts is all you have to do. 

If it still doesn’t work for you, try the traditional method, which is costly but easy. 

Note: if it’s your first foreign travel, then I recommend you choose a travel agent.