What should I pack for Umrah?
If you are planning to travel during Ramadan, preparing for Umrah requires thoughtful and careful planning, especially for first-time visitors. It is important to pack important and necessary items. Pack necessary documents, Umrah essentials, packed foods, and other useful items like an adaptor, a charger, and other important items.
Ihram Essentials (for Men)
Islamic travel provides a guidebook with an Umrah visa UK, consisting of guidelines regarding Ihram essentials. Ihram for men consists of two unstitched pieces of plain white and neat fabric, a pouch to carry money and important documents, and comfortable footwear. Men are advised to avoid sewn clothes, undergarments, head coverings, and scented items.
Clothing (Men & Women)
Men:
For men, it is necessary to pack loose-fitted clothes, comfortable footwear, undergarments, detergent, and hand wash. Men are prohibited from covering their faces and heads while performing Umrah, nor can they wear stretched clothes like pant shirts or other types of clothes.
Women:
Women should pack dresses in loose-fitting styles to casually wear, extra hijab, scarves to use, sleepwear, laundry bags, and flip flops to do ablution. Women are advised to avoid scented items and are prohibited from wearing revealing dresses.
Toiletries & Personal Care
Before embarking on your UK Umrah visa pilgrimage, it is important to pack your regular and daily essentials to provide hygiene and ease throughout your journey. Packing of personal care includes items you use on a daily basis, such as a toothbrush or floss, soaps, shampoo to use for personal cleanliness and hygiene, and wet wipes or tissues for faster clean-ups during travel and in large crowds. A nail-cutter, a comb, a small towel, and a face cloth help to stay organized, well-groomed, and provide quicker fresh-ups. Keeping these items in your bag ensures that you are prepared for any situation during your pilgrimage.
Health & Medication
Many travel agencies like Islamic Travel offer assistance in providing a list of necessities. These health necessities include:
- Prescription medicines (enough for the entire trip)
- Pain relievers, cold/flu tablets, and antacids
- Band-Aids and antiseptic cream
- Hand sanitizer (fragrance-free)
- Face masks (for crowded areas)
- Sunscreen and lip balm
Food & Snacks
When starting your Umrah pilgrimage, consider packing healthy, nutritious, and light foods to entertain yourself during the journey. Keep a bottle of water, juices, and fruits. Avoid unhealthy foods such as chips, candy, and fizzy drinks. You might consider bringing food with high fiber, natural sugar, and calcium to keep you healthy and hydrated.
Religious Items
Religious items include a prayer mat, a tasbeeh, a dua book, and a pocket-sized Quran. A drawstring bag, a pen, and a notebook to write important details. Though many travel agencies provide the option of buying Umrah necessities from KSA but it is still wise to pack all the necessities with you to use during the Umrah rituals. Staying prearranged and prepared secures a smoother and peaceful pilgrimage experience. Packing all necessary and useful items ensures to focus more on seeking forgiveness and collecting rewards without any unnecessary distractions.
Travel Essentials
When packing your travel essentials, keep the photocopies of important documents with you, including a valid passport, an Umrah visa, flight tickets, and travel insurance proof. Also, keep a proof of hotel and accommodation bookings as you may be asked to verify. Additionally, pack some practical and daily usage items such as a universal adapter and a fully charged power bank to keep your devices active and alive during your pilgrimage. All these items are necessary and important to use during long hours of travel and while travelling to visit the sacred sites in Makkah and Madina.
Optional but Useful Items
For extra comfort during your Ramadan Umrah packages, pack some other extra useful items, such as a neck cap for long hours’ flights, a cap or an umbrella to avoid yourself from sunlight, and a small backpack to keep important items like important documents, proof of accommodations, copies of photographs, water bottles, and snacks. Keep in mind to bring an eye mask or earplugs to use on flights and hotels, especially in shared rooms. Don’t forget to bring a foldable prayer mat for ease during prayers and at rest stops or airports. Use a zip bag to keep items like shoes or secure small personal belongings during Ziyarats.
