What should you pack for Umrah? The right list is short and practical: ihram clothing, comfortable footwear, fragrance-free toiletries, your documents and a few items for the heat and the long walks. This checklist covers men and women, tells you what to keep in your hand luggage and shows how much luggage each of our vehicles carries, so your bags fit when you arrive.
Documents and money
Keep these in your hand luggage, together in one pouch, with a digital copy on your phone:
- Passport and Umrah visa
- Flight tickets and hotel booking confirmations in Makkah and Madinah
- Your transfer details and the driver's phone number
- Travel insurance and any vaccination or health documents required for your trip
- Emergency contacts, including your group leader if you travel with one
- A small amount of Saudi riyals in cash and a bank card that works abroad
What do men need to pack for Umrah?
The main item is the ihram, two plain white unstitched cloths: one wrapped around the waist and one over the upper body.
- Two ihram sets, so you always have a clean spare. Towelling cotton is absorbent and breathable.
- A belt with zipped pockets for your phone, money and key documents
- Safety pins to hold the upper cloth in place
- Open-toed sandals or slippers with the ankles and top of the feet visible
- Everyday modest clothes for before and after ihram
What do women need to pack for Umrah?
Women do not wear a special ihram garment. Loose, modest clothing that covers the body is the standard, and the face and hands stay uncovered.
- Several loose, breathable abayas or modest outfits that are easy to wash and dry
- Plenty of scarves or hijabs, and pins or clips to keep them secure in crowds
- Comfortable socks and a spare set of clothes in your hand luggage
- Sanitary items and anything you need for your cycle, packed generously
Which shoes should I pack?
You will walk a great deal around Tawaf, Sa'i and the ziyarat sites. Bring a pair of sturdy, comfortable walking shoes for times when you are not in ihram, easy slip-on shoes for the mosque, and a small bag to carry them in. Break new shoes in before you travel.
Toiletries: what is allowed in ihram?
Perfumed products are not used once you are in ihram, so pack fragrance-free soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and sunscreen. It helps to buy them before you travel and use them for a few days first. Pack nail clippers and grooming items for before you enter ihram, since you cannot trim your nails or hair while in the state of ihram.
Health, comfort and heat
Makkah and Madinah can be very hot, and you spend long hours outdoors and standing on hard floors.
- Personal medicines in their original packaging, plus basic pain relief and rehydration salts
- A reusable water bottle and a cooling towel
- Fragrance-free moisturiser and foot care, because feet take a lot of strain
- A small first-aid kit with plasters for blisters
- A face mask and hand sanitiser for crowded places
Electronics and connectivity
Bring your phone, a power bank and a charger with a Saudi-compatible plug adapter. A local SIM or eSIM keeps you in touch with your driver, hotel and group. Download offline maps and keep your hotel name written in Arabic as well as English, which helps if you need directions.
What to keep in your hand luggage
Pack the following in your cabin bag, not your checked luggage: your documents, medicines, one ihram set and a spare clothing set, your toiletries for the first day and a phone charger. If your checked bag is delayed, you can still enter ihram and begin your Umrah.
What should I leave at home?
Leave behind anything that adds weight or worry:
- Perfumed toiletries and scented products
- Valuable jewellery and large amounts of cash
- Too many clothes. Laundry is easy to arrange, so pack light
- Anything you would be upset to lose in a crowd
Pack to your vehicle's luggage limit
Your bags need to fit in the vehicle that meets you. Our Toyota Camry takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, the GMC Yukon XL up to 5 passengers and 5 bags, the Hyundai Staria up to 7 passengers and 7 bags, the Toyota Hiace up to 10 passengers and 10 bags and the Toyota Coaster up to 18 passengers and 19 bags. If you bring more, tell us when you book and we will assign a bigger vehicle. See the full fleet and choose the right size before you travel.