There is no bad time to go for Umrah. But there are better times for you, depending on what matters most: weather, cost, crowds, reward, or simply when your family can get time off.
Here is how the year looks from the United States, with dates for the current 1448 season.
The season calendar comes first
Umrah visas are not issued year round. Each season opens after Hajj and closes before the next one. For the 1448 AH season, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah set these dates:
- Umrah visas reopened: May 31, 2026
- Last day Umrah visas are issued: March 9, 2027
- Last day to enter Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa: March 23, 2027
- Last day for Umrah pilgrims to leave: April 7, 2027
From April until after Hajj 1448 (expected in late May 2027), Umrah visas pause. The next season is expected to open in early summer 2027.
Month by month
| Month | Makkah weather | Crowds | Prices | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Hot, easing | Moderate | Moderate | Value, fewer families |
| November | Warm | Moderate, busy at Thanksgiving | Moderate | Short Thanksgiving trips |
| December | Warm days, cool Madinah nights | Very busy from Dec 18 | High | School holidays |
| January | The most comfortable | Moderate after New Year | Moderate | Weather and value |
| February 2027 | Comfortable | Rising, Ramadan from Feb 8 | High in Ramadan | Ramadan’s first half |
| March 2027 | Warming | Peak until Eid, then quiet | Very high, then falling | Last ten nights, or post Eid calm |
| June to September | Extremely hot | Lower | Lowest hotel rates | Budget, summer break |
Temperatures in Makkah run from average highs around 88°F (31°C) in December and January to well over 105°F (41°C) from May to September. Madinah is a few degrees cooler and much cooler at night in winter.
Winter: December and January
The best weather of the year. Tawaf at midday is bearable, evenings in Madinah call for a jacket, and walking between the hotel and the mosque five times a day is pleasant rather than punishing.
December is also when most American families can travel together, which makes the week between Christmas and New Year one of the most expensive of the year for flights and hotels near the Haram. If your family can go in mid January instead, the weather is the same and the prices are noticeably lower.
See our December Umrah packages for holiday departures.
Ramadan: February and March 2027
Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on Monday February 8, 2027, with Eid al-Fitr expected on March 9 or 10.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that Umrah in Ramadan is equal in reward to Hajj. That hadith is why Ramadan is the most requested time of the year, and why:
- Hotels near the Haram cost the most, especially for the last ten nights
- Masjid al-Haram is at its fullest, particularly on the 27th night
- Nusuk has limited repeat Umrah permits in recent Ramadans
- Visa applications for the last ten nights need to be in well before March 9
The first ten days of Ramadan are far calmer and cheaper than the last ten, while carrying the same blessing of the month. Our Ramadan 2027 packages cover all three parts.
Autumn: October and November
The shoulder season. Makkah is still hot in October but cooling, and by November the evenings are pleasant. Crowds are moderate, schools are in session, and hotel prices are reasonable.
Thanksgiving week is a useful window for working adults: four days off plus a few days of leave makes a 7-night trip possible.
Summer, after Hajj
When the new season opens after Hajj, Umrah is at its quietest and hotel rates near the Haram are often at their lowest. The reason is simple: the heat. Afternoon temperatures in Makkah regularly pass 110°F (43°C).
Summer can still work well, especially for students and teachers on US summer break, if you:
- Do tawaf and sa’i late at night or right after Fajr
- Stay close to the mosque, so you are not walking far in the sun
- Drink far more water than you think you need
US flights in June and July are not cheap, which cancels out part of the hotel saving.
By type of traveler
- First-timers: January, or the first half of Ramadan if reward matters most
- Families with school age children: Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break before the season closes, or summer
- Elderly parents: December to February for the weather, with a hotel at the Haram
- Budget: summer after Hajj, or mid January
- Maximum reward: Ramadan, especially the last ten nights
- Quiet worship: October, mid January, or the days just after Eid until the season closes
Book how far ahead?
- Ramadan last ten nights: as early as possible, ideally by the end of the previous year
- December holidays: by October
- Everything else: two to three months ahead is usually enough
Whatever time you choose, send us your dates and we will tell you honestly how busy and how expensive they are likely to be. Our guide to what Umrah costs from the USA will help you compare.
