We sell Umrah packages, so you would expect us to say you need one. You do not, necessarily. Thousands of Americans perform Umrah independently every year, and the rules now make it easier than it has ever been.
This is an honest look at both options, so you can choose the one that suits your trip.
What changed
For most of the last few decades, Umrah visas were only issued through licensed agents. Two changes opened the door to independent travel for Americans:
- The Saudi tourist eVisa. US citizens can apply online, and the visa can be used for Umrah.
- The Nusuk app. Umrah permits, Rawdah bookings and pilgrim services are now booked directly by individuals.
That means a US citizen can book a flight, a hotel and a permit without talking to anyone.
What DIY Umrah involves
Here is everything you arrange yourself:
- Visa. Apply for the tourist eVisa. The official fee including insurance is SAR 535, around $142.
- Flights. Search, compare and book.
- Hotels in both cities. Choose based on distance, reviews and cancellation terms.
- Airport transfer. A taxi or ride app from Jeddah or Madinah airport, often late at night after a long flight.
- Makkah to Madinah. Book the Haramain train, a car or a coach.
- Nusuk. Create your account, link your visa and book your Umrah and Rawdah permits.
- Ziyarat. Arrange tours of historical sites if you want them.
- Problems. Overbooked hotels, missed connections and lost permits are yours to solve.
Where DIY saves money
- Outside peak dates, hotel booking sites can show good rates, especially for hotels a little further from the mosque.
- Flexible travelers can pick cheaper flight days and airlines.
- Solo travelers or couples who are happy to share rides and use public transport keep costs low.
- No agency margin, which is real money on a large family booking.
Where DIY costs more than people expect
- Transfers. Taxis from Jeddah airport to Makkah at night, and between the cities, add up quickly. Reddit is full of pilgrims who were overcharged by drivers.
- Peak dates. In Ramadan and late December, rooms near the Haram sell out early and prices jump. Agencies often hold rooms well in advance.
- Mistakes. A hotel that looked close on a map but sits behind a tunnel. A non refundable booking for the wrong dates. A missed miqat.
- Time. Planning an Umrah independently is many hours of research, which is time well spent for some and not for others.
An example: 10 nights, two adults, a four-star hotel, off peak
| DIY | Package | |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Booked yourself | Quoted separately either way |
| Visa | About $142 each | Included |
| Hotels, 10 nights, double room | Varies widely by booking site and date | Included |
| Airport transfers | Taxi or ride app, both ends | Included, private car |
| Makkah to Madinah | Train, car or coach | Included |
| Ziyarat | Arrange locally | Included |
| Nusuk help | Self service | Included |
| Support if something goes wrong | You | Our team on WhatsApp |
For a couple comfortable traveling independently, DIY can save a few hundred dollars. For a family of six with grandparents, the difference often disappears once the logistics are counted, and the stress certainly does not.
Who DIY suits
- Pilgrims who have performed Umrah before and know the cities
- Confident solo travelers or couples
- Flexible dates outside Ramadan and school holidays
- Travelers who enjoy planning
Who a package suits
- First-time pilgrims who want to focus on worship, not logistics
- Families with young children, where the hotel walk and transfers matter
- Elderly parents who need wheelchairs, short walks and a private car
- Groups and masjid trips where one booking keeps everyone together
- Ramadan and December travelers who need rooms that sell out early
- Non-US passport holders, including many green card holders, whose visa options are more complicated
A middle path
You do not have to choose all or nothing. Many of our clients book their own flights using miles, and ask us to handle the visa, hotels and transfers. Others want the flight booked too. Tell us what you want to do yourself, and we will quote the rest.
If you go DIY, read our guides on the visa for Americans, booking the Rawdah on Nusuk and how to perform Umrah step by step. If you would rather hand it over, request a quote.
