JED · 21.49° N · 39.19° E · Saudi Arabia
The holiest city in Islam and the destination of Umrah. Our Makkah hotels stand beside or facing the Haram, with direct flights to Jeddah from Heathrow or Manchester.
Umrah asks a great deal of a traveller, so we keep the arrangements simple: a hotel close to the Haram, direct flights to Jeddah and a team in London you can call.
Makkah is home to the Masjid al Haram and the Kaaba, and only Muslims may enter the city. Umrah can be performed at any time of year except during Hajj. Ramadan is the busiest season, and the cooler months from November to February are the most comfortable.
Most pilgrims fly to Jeddah, then travel about 80 kilometres by road or by the Haramain high speed railway, which stops at Jeddah airport and continues to Madinah. Hotels range from towers overlooking the Haram, such as those in the Abraj Al Bait complex, to quieter properties a short shuttle ride away. Staying close lets you walk to prayers at any hour.
We offer seven nights at Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, beside the Masjid al Haram, with Saudia direct from Heathrow, and ten nights at Swissôtel Makkah, facing the Kaaba, with Saudia direct from Manchester. See Umrah with NCL Tours to plan your journey.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia. Please read its latest travel advice for Saudi Arabia before you book, and talk to our team about what it means for your plans.
Entry rules depend on your passport and why you are travelling, so check the official sources below before you book. Makkah is open only to Muslims. Pilgrims use Nusuk, the official Saudi platform, for Umrah permits. As of 21 October 2026, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, including Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, and against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border: read its advice before you book.
See a travel health professional well before your trip and read TravelHealthPro's Saudi Arabia page and its Hajj and Umrah advice, as pilgrims have their own health entry requirements. Makkah is hot for most of the year: drink plenty of water, keep out of direct sun where you can and pace yourself. Coughs and colds spread easily in crowds, so wash your hands often.
The currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR). Carry some cash for small purchases, tell your bank before you travel and check what your card charges abroad.
General information only, not legal or medical advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you travel.
Checked on 24 October 2026
Umrah is possible through most of the year. The mildest months are December to February, with average highs of about 31 to 33°C. From May to September average highs are about 42 to 44°C, so plan for the heat.
Book a travel health appointment well before you go and read TravelHealthPro's Hajj and Umrah advice, as pilgrims have their own health entry requirements. In Makkah, drink plenty of water, keep out of direct sun where you can and wash your hands often.
Checked on 23 October 2026
For milder weather, December to February, when average highs are about 31 to 33°C. From May to September average highs reach about 42 to 44°C, so drink plenty of water and stay out of the midday sun. Umrah itself can be made through most of the year.
Checked on 23 October 2026
No. Makkah is open only to Muslims. Visitors who are not Muslim may still travel to other parts of Saudi Arabia, such as Jeddah, if they meet the entry rules.
Checked on 23 October 2026
Makkah has no airport of its own. The nearest international airport is in Jeddah, about 70 km away on the Red Sea coast, and Madinah also has an international airport; a high speed railway links all three cities. Please read GOV.UK's travel advice for Saudi Arabia before you book, as it can advise against travel to some airports.
Checked on 23 October 2026
Umrah permits are issued through Nusuk, the official Saudi platform of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, on its app and website. Permits and the rules around them change, so check Nusuk and the official travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
Checked on 23 October 2026
Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims can make through most of the year. Hajj, by contrast, takes place on set dates in the Islamic calendar, and during the Hajj season Umrah is limited to those performing Hajj.
Checked on 23 October 2026
