Umrah from Pakistan: A Step-by-Step Guide for Your First Umrah

Most people who call us about their first Umrah ask the same few things. When should we go? Which package makes sense for us? What if I get Tawaf wrong? These are fair questions, and after more than 20 years of sending pilgrims from Pakistan, we have heard them all.

So here is the advice we actually give, in the order you will need it.

Umrah is open almost all year. The only real break is around Hajj, when Umrah visas stop for a few weeks.

Ramadan is when everyone wants to go, and for good reason. Just be ready for it: hotels near the Haram cost a lot more, flights fill up early and the crowds are heavy. If you are taking elderly parents or small children, November to February is much easier. It is cooler, and walking to the Haram five times a day will not wear you out.

Don't just compare prices. Two packages at the same price can feel completely different once you are there. Ask for these in writing: the hotel names in Makkah and Madinah, how far each one is from the Haram, how many nights you spend in each city, how you travel between them, and whether meals are included.

We offer three levels, Premium, Deluxe and Economy, and we can adjust any of them around your dates, your budget or your family. If your mother can't walk far, tell us. A hotel closer to the Haram matters more than a fancier lobby.

You will need a passport valid for at least six months from your travel date, your CNIC (or NICOP if you live abroad) and a few recent photos. Make sure your name is spelled exactly the same on your passport and your other papers. It sounds like a small thing, but it can hold up your visa.

We apply for the visa for you and take care of the paperwork. The rules do change from time to time, so when you book, we will tell you exactly what is needed for your dates.

Umrah means a lot of walking. Sa'i alone, seven times between Safa and Marwa, is around three kilometres, and you will often be walking in heat and crowds. If you have diabetes, blood pressure or a heart condition, see your doctor a few weeks before you fly. Pack enough medicine for the whole trip plus a few extra days, and keep the prescriptions with you.

Saudi Arabia can ask pilgrims for certain vaccinations, such as meningitis. Check what is required for your dates before you book your appointment.

Umrah itself is five things. You put on Ihram at the miqat, make your intention and start the talbiyah. You do Tawaf, seven rounds around the Kaaba. You pray two rak'ah and drink Zamzam. You do Sa'i between Safa and Marwa. Then men shave or trim their hair and women cut a fingertip's length, and your Umrah is done.

On paper it looks simple. Standing in front of the Kaaba for the first time, with thousands of people around you, it is easy to lose count of your rounds or forget what comes next. That is what our Umrah Tarbiyat class is for.

It is free, at our office in DHA Phase II, Islamabad, every Sunday from 12 to 2. A Mufti takes you through each step, you practise Tawaf and Sa'i on a model, and you learn short duas with transliteration, so you don't need to know Arabic. Groups are small, so you can ask anything. You also get a printed guide and a WhatsApp group for questions while you travel. And you don't have to be travelling with us to join.

Men, take two sets of Ihram. One will get dirty or wet, and you will be glad of the spare. Women can wear their normal modest clothes.

Also pack shoes or sandals you have already walked in, unscented soap (perfume isn't allowed in Ihram), a small bag for carrying your shoes inside the Haram, your medicines, and photocopies of your passport and visa. Keep your passport and hotel details in your hand luggage, and save your group leader's number in your phone before you leave home.

Most Umrah packages from Pakistan include a few nights in Madinah. Use them well. Pray in Masjid an-Nabawi as often as you can, send your salam to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and visit Masjid Quba and Mount Uhud.

Depending on your package, we arrange guided visits to these places, so you know the story behind what you are seeing.

If you are planning your first Umrah and something here isn't clear, just ask. Call our Islamabad team on +92 333 1161580, look through our Umrah packages, or book a free seat at the next Umrah Tarbiyat. We would much rather answer your questions now than have you worrying about them in Makkah.