For many families, taking a parent or grandparent on Umrah is the trip. It is also the trip that needs the most planning, because the distances, the heat and the crowds all weigh more on an older body.
This guide is for adult children planning Umrah for their parents, with the details that make the difference.
Choose the hotel before anything else
For elderly pilgrims, the walk to the mosque decides the trip. A hotel at the Haram means a parent can pray in the mosque, rest in the room between prayers, and go back again. A hotel twenty minutes away often means praying in the room.
- In Makkah, choose a hotel at the Haram, such as those in the Abraj Al Bait towers, or as close as your budget allows. Avoid hotels that rely on shuttles.
- In Madinah, many four-star hotels are a few minutes’ walk from the Prophet’s Mosque, so you can save a little there.
- Ask for a room near the elevators, and check whether the hotel has step free access from the street.
Our five-star packages are built for this: hotels at the Haram, breakfast included, and the Haramain train between the cities.
Start in Madinah
A few calm days in Madinah before Makkah give parents time to recover from the flight and the time difference. The rites of Umrah come later, when they are rested. Makkah or Madinah first?
At the airports
- Request wheelchair assistance from your airline when booking, or at least 48 hours before departure. It covers check in, security, boarding and the connection.
- Ask for aisle seats near the front and the bathrooms.
- On connecting flights, choose a layover of at least two to three hours.
- On arrival in Saudi Arabia, assistance is available through the airline. We meet you with a private car.
Wheelchairs and carts in the Haram
- Free wheelchairs are available at designated points near several main gates of Masjid al-Haram. Bring ID, as a document may be requested.
- Paid electric carts operate on the upper levels for tawaf and along the sa’i. They are popular, so there can be a wait.
- Hired pushers are available for wheelchairs. Agree the price before you start.
- Many families bring a lightweight folding wheelchair from home, which also helps in the hotels and in Madinah.
Wheelchairs and carts use the upper floors for tawaf. The circuits are longer than on the ground floor, but calmer and shaded.
The rites for older pilgrims
- Tawaf and sa’i in a wheelchair are valid. The person being pushed makes the intention and the dua.
- Take breaks. It is permissible to rest during tawaf and sa’i and then continue.
- Choose the time. Late at night or after Fajr is calmer and cooler.
- Pray seated if standing is hard. Chairs are provided in parts of both mosques.
- Ihram: older men can find the ihram sheets difficult. Safety pins, a good belt and practising at home help.
- Cutting the hair: for men who cannot shave comfortably, shortening the hair evenly is valid.
If a parent cannot complete the rites at all, scholars allow another person to perform Umrah on their behalf. See Umrah on behalf of a parent.
Health
- Bring all medication for the whole trip plus a week, in original packaging, with a copy of prescriptions.
- Plan for heat. Even in winter, the marble in the sun is hot. Carry water and an umbrella.
- Watch for dehydration, which confuses older people before they feel thirsty.
- Masks in crowds reduce the chance of respiratory infections. Read how to avoid getting sick on Umrah.
- The meningitis ACWY vaccine is required. Ask their doctor about the flu vaccine too.
Insurance
Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States. Some Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans offer limited emergency cover abroad. The insurance attached to Saudi visas covers emergencies only, with limited amounts.
For older travelers, a travel medical policy with emergency evacuation cover is worth serious thought.
Keeping everyone together
- Put a card in each parent’s pocket with the hotel name in Arabic and English and your phone number.
- Agree a meeting point at a numbered gate.
- Give them a simple phone with WhatsApp, charged, and location sharing on.
- In crowds, hold hands or keep a hand on the wheelchair.
A trip they will talk about
Older pilgrims often say that Umrah was the thing they had waited their whole life for. It is worth doing properly: the closer hotel, the private car, the extra days.
Tell us about your parents when you request a quote, including mobility and any health conditions, and we will choose hotels and timings around them.
