Your next step is simple. Decide your travel dates, how close you want to stay to the Haram and who is travelling with you. Then ask for a written itinerary with hotel names, walking distances and flight details. Reach out to AL Islam Travels for a free quote and ask them to match options to your budget and family needs. A calm plan made early leaves you free to focus on worship once you arrive.
Some pilgrims want more than a quick visit to the holy cities. AL Islam Travels hears this from families in the UK, Canada and Australia who ask whether a 12 Nights 5 Star Umrah Package gives them the unhurried stay they have in mind. In most cases it does. Twelve nights leave time to recover from the flight, complete Umrah calmly and still keep many quiet days for worship in both mosques.
Comfort matters most for older parents, young children and first-time pilgrims. A hotel a few minutes from Masjid al-Haram saves energy for tawaf and sa’i. A good room gives you proper sleep between prayers. Would you rather spend your strength on worship or on a long walk back to a distant hotel?
This guide covers what the package includes, how hotel options compare, how the twelve nights can run, what shapes the price and how to choose a provider you can rely on.
Why a twelve-night luxury stay suits Umrah
Most pilgrims make this trip once, or once in many years, so they want every day to count. Seven nights can feel tight once you add travel time, a Rawdah visit and ziyarat. Twelve nights remove that pressure. A 12 Nights 5 Star Umrah Package usually bundles your Umrah visa, return flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, airport transfers and often the Haramain train in one booking.
Demand keeps rising. Saudi Vision 2030 sets a goal of welcoming 30 million Umrah pilgrims a year by 2030 (Saudi Vision 2030, Pilgrim Experience Program, 2019). More visitors mean busier courtyards and tighter hotel supply. Rooms close to the Haram fill first, and they fill early.
Five-star hotels in both cities sit close to the mosques. Many offer views of the Kaaba or the Prophet’s Mosque, lift access, quiet rooms and halal buffet meals. For older travellers and families with children, these details change how the whole stay feels. Why do so many pilgrims from the UK, Canada and Australia choose this option? Comfort protects energy, and energy protects focus.
Hotel and flight options near the Haram
Choosing your hotels
Not every five-star hotel gives the same experience, and distance makes the biggest difference. In Makkah, the Abraj Al Bait complex faces the Haram directly and houses the Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower and other five-star hotels. Streets just behind it add a short walk and often more space for the money.
In Madinah, hotels around the Prophet’s Mosque, such as the Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick, sit a few minutes from the courtyards. A licensed Umrah consultant in the UK told us that walking distance is the first thing families ask about and the last thing they regret paying for. Closer rooms cost more, yet the time saved matters for anyone with limited mobility.
Flights from the UK
Flights shape comfort too. A direct flight from London to Jeddah or Madinah takes about six hours. A one-stop route from Manchester or Birmingham adds several hours, so weigh a lower fare against a longer day of travel.
Here is how the main options compare.
| Option | Distance to mosque | Room type | Best for | Comfort level |
| Abraj Al Bait hotels, Makkah | Directly facing the Haram | Haram or Kaaba view rooms | Elderly pilgrims, wheelchair users | Highest |
| Five-star hotels on nearby streets, Makkah | 5 to 10 minutes on foot | Standard and family rooms | Couples, active travellers | High |
| Five-star hotels beside the Prophet’s Mosque, Madinah | 2 to 5 minutes on foot | Courtyard or mosque view | All travellers | High |
| Five-star hotels with shuttle service | Short drive or longer walk | Large family and group rooms | Big families, groups | Moderate |
A day-by-day Makkah and Madinah itinerary
The twelve-night flow
Twelve nights leave room for a steady rhythm. Most packages split the stay into five nights in Madinah and seven in Makkah, though six and six works well too. Here is a typical flow:
- Day 1: Land in Madinah, transfer to your hotel, rest and pray Isha at the Prophet’s Mosque.
- Days 2 to 5: Visit the Rawdah, booked through the Nusuk app, then see Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud and Masjid al-Qiblatain.
- Day 6: Put on ihram, make your intention at Dhul Hulayfah and travel to Makkah.
- Day 6 evening: Perform tawaf, pray two rakats, walk sa’i between Safa and Marwa and finish with halq or taqsir.
- Days 7 to 12: Pray at the Haram, join a ziyarat visit to Jabal al-Nour and Jabal Thawr and keep free hours for worship.
- Day 13: Perform farewell tawaf and transfer to Jeddah airport.
Travelling between the two cities
The Haramain high-speed railway links the two cities over about 450 kilometres, with trains reaching 300 km/h and a trip time near two and a half hours (Saudi Arabia Railways, 2018). That beats a long coach ride in summer heat.
Why do some pilgrims feel rushed even on a longer trip? Their packages often squeeze in too many group tours. Ask how many free hours your itinerary leaves for personal worship, and how many days sit open after Umrah is complete.
What shapes the price and how to choose a provider
Cost factors
Price follows a few clear choices. A 12 Nights 5 Star Umrah Package from the UK often costs between £2,800 and £4,800 per person outside peak dates, based on what we see in the market. Ramadan, Easter and the summer holidays can lift that figure sharply.
The main drivers are hotel distance and view, flight type, room sharing and meal plan. A quad room costs less per person than a double. Private transfers cost more than shared coaches. Your departure city, whether London, Manchester or Birmingham, changes the fare too.
Take a family from Birmingham travelling with two parents in their seventies. They first chose a hotel ten minutes from the Haram to keep costs down. After mapping five daily prayers, they moved to a hotel across the road. The parents reached every prayer in the mosque instead of resting in their room.
How to choose a provider
Start with the legal basics. In the UK, the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 require financial protection for packages, and ATOL cover from the Civil Aviation Authority applies when flights are included. Saudi Arabia issues Umrah visas through approved channels, and travellers need proof of the meningitis ACWY vaccine.
Next, ask for hotel names, walking distances, baggage rules and cancellation terms in writing. Check who supports you on the ground in Makkah and Madinah if a flight changes. Do the reviews mention the same hotel names you were offered?
A specialist that handles Umrah every season, like AL Islam Travels, will already know which hotels sit closest to the Haram, how Nusuk bookings and visa timelines work and how to arrange transfers between cities. A general high-street agent who sells a few Umrah trips a year may not have that detail to hand.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a 12 Nights 5 Star Umrah Package?
Most packages include your Umrah visa, return flights, five-star hotels in Makkah and Madinah, airport transfers and breakfast or half-board meals. Some add the Haramain train, guided ziyarat and travel insurance. Check the written itinerary for the exact list before you pay.
How much does a five-star Umrah package from the UK cost for twelve nights?
Most cost between £2,800 and £4,800 per person outside peak dates. Ramadan, Easter and summer holidays raise the price. Hotel view, flight type and room sharing shift the total too. Ask for a full written quote so you can compare like for like.
Why do some 5 star Umrah packages cost less than others?
Lower prices usually reflect a longer walk to the Haram, shared rooms, connecting flights or off-peak dates. Compare hotel names and distances line by line before you judge value. A cheaper package can cost more in time and energy.
Can I fly from Manchester or Birmingham on an Umrah package?
Yes. Direct flights usually run from London, but many travellers in the north and Midlands fly from Manchester or Birmingham, often with one connection. Ask your provider which routes suit your dates and budget, and check baggage allowances for each leg.
How far ahead should I book?
Book three to four months ahead for the best hotel choice. For Ramadan, book five to six months early, because rooms near the Haram sell out first. Early booking also gives you time to arrange passports, vaccines and visas without pressure.
Do I need a visa, and what rules apply from the UK?
Yes. UK passport holders need an Umrah visa, which your provider usually arranges. Your passport needs at least six months’ validity, and Saudi health rules require proof of the ACWY meningitis vaccine. Your Rawdah visit is booked separately through the Nusuk app.
Is a twelve-night five-star package suitable for older parents?
In most cases, yes. Short walks, lifts, wheelchair access and quiet rooms save energy for worship. A hotel close to the Haram often matters more than room size. Twelve nights also leave rest days between the main rites and ziyarat visits.
How hot is Makkah, and do five-star hotels cope with the heat?
Summer temperatures in Makkah often pass 40°C. Five-star hotels run strong air conditioning and the mosques are cooled, but plan tawaf for early morning or night. Winter, from November to February, is milder and suits long walks between prayers.
How many nights should I spend in Makkah and Madinah?
A common split is five nights in Madinah and seven in Makkah. This leaves time for Rawdah visits, ziyarat and a relaxed Umrah. Six nights in each city also works well, and you can reverse the order if your flight lands in Jeddah.
Is a luxury Umrah package from London or Manchester ATOL protected?
If a UK provider sells flights within the package, ATOL protection from the Civil Aviation Authority should apply. Ask for the ATOL certificate before you pay and check that the business is licensed. Packages without flights fall under the 2018 package travel rules instead.
Your next step is simple. Decide your travel dates, how close you want to stay to the Haram and who is travelling with you. Then ask for a written itinerary with hotel names, walking distances and flight details. Reach out to AL Islam Travels for a free quote and ask them to match options to your budget and family needs. A calm plan made early leaves you free to focus on worship once you arrive.
