Umrah Packages in UK Have Made Lesser Pilgrimage Affordable

by Safeena Rahman Travel Addict

Undertaken by numerous Muslims across the world every year, Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage that involves the journey by a pilgrim from his or her place of residence to the holy city of Makkah. When compared to Hajj, it is not an obligation and can be performed at any time during the year. Hajj is a major pilgrimage in Islam and among its five pillars, which makes it an obligation for all the Muslims who are physically fit and financially capable for the journey to Makkah. Often, when compared to Hajj, Umrah is referred to as the 'major pilgrimage' or the 'lesser pilgrimage'.

As the journey involves travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the pilgrim’s place of residence, the Muslims living in countries far from Saudi Arabia need to consider their health and the overall costs involved in the journey. Many Muslims living in the United Kingdom postponed their lesser pilgrimage in the past owing to budget concerns. However, over the years, numerous travel companies or tour operators specialising in the Islamic religious tours of Hajj and Umrah have come up in different parts of the country. Owing to an increase in the number of Umrah packages UK tour operators provide every year, Muslims residing in the country have many choices both in terms of travel companies and packages.

The UK Muslims have also gained immensely from the increased use of smartphones and easy access to the internet. Almost all the travel companies or tour operators who offer Umrah packages have their own websites that are optimised in order to make them mobile-friendly. In recent times, anyone who wishes to book a package for performing Umrah can simply search online for a suitable one, and they would get plenty of choices. After going through the packages that match their travel preferences and the available budget, they can go ahead and make their booking.

Before they go ahead and book any of the suitable Umrah packages, they have to verify whether the travel company or tour operator providing the package is reliable. Today, there are numerous tour operators and travel companies in the UK that provide such packages. Only the ones that are authorised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj can arrange the Hajj and Umrah tours. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that the country’s Muslims verify the company they are booking with has been authorised by the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry. Going through the reviews given online by the company’s past customers would also help to a great extent in choosing the right tour operator.

Muslims living in the UK who intend to perform their Umrah can reduce the cost involved in the journey to Makkah by a significant amount by booking their desired package several months in advance. There are many tour operators or travel companies that offer good discounts on packages that are booked much earlier. Once the prospective pilgrims are certain about their date of departure and the number of days they intend to spend in Makkah, they can book the desired package well in advance to reduce the overall cost of their journey.

The UK Muslims must also go through a number of options for getting cheap Umrah packages.