A Guide on how to combine Umrah with Tourism

Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage that Muslims perform to take blessings from God. It’s a gratifying act in Islamic culture that only Muslims can expect. You must travel to Saudi Arabia’s holy city (Mecca) to perform Umrah.

However, Umrah can’t be the only purpose to visit Saudi Arabia, but it can be. But when you visit Saudi Arabia as a Muslim, you can plan your tourism as well. This tourism can teach you about the country’s rich history, culture, and nature. Besides visiting places, Saudi also offers different cuisines and dishes for its tourists. Many of the Umrah Packages offers the option to stay and explore the areas by combining your pilgrimage with tourism.

This guide will combine Umrah with tourism and give you some tips and suggestions while planning your trip to Saudi Arabia.

Planning your Umrah plus tourism trip

Whenever you plan your Umrah tourism trip, here are some essential things that you should consider:

Ensure your visa to travel to Saudi Arabia
Make sure your flights (direct or indirect)
Choosing the departure and arrival airport
Accommodation/hotels are necessary to stay in Saudi Arabia during the trip
Transportation – one of the most essential things to consider
It would be best if you make an itinerary for your tourism in Saudi Arabia

Perform Umrah correctly

Umrah includes just four steps/rituals that every pilgrim must perform. These main rituals are:

Wearing Ihram
Tawaf
Sa’ee
Qasr

It would be best if you performed Umrah first and then did your tour. By performing Umrah first, you can prepare and purify your soul and heart for the rest of your trip. It can be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to express your gratitude and love to Allah (SWT) first. Moreover, it will allow you to prepare for your spiritual journey and avoid distractions/interruptions from your tourism plans.

What to see and do in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has a lot of places to visit and activities to do there besides performing Umrah. Here are some of the famous and recommended places that you can expect in KSA during your tourism:

Jeddah:

The second largest and the gateway to Makkah – Jeddah. It also holds the arrival airport for most Umrah and Hajj pilgrims. Jeddah offers a unique, ancient, and contemporary experience for its visitors. What can you expect in Jeddah?

Al-Balad district (coral houses, wooden balconies, ancient souls)
King Fahd’s fountain – 260 metres high
Beaches
Parks
Malls/restaurants
A trip to Jeddah in incomplete without visiting the Corniche and waterfronts

Riyadh:

The capital and largest country of Saudi Arabia, it offers the country’s political, economic, and cultural hub. Besides its traditional look, it also provides modern sites. It’s a modern and dynamic city which offers its visitors a lot of things to do.

Kingdom Centre Tower
Al Masmak fortress
National Museum
Parks/gardens/souks/cafes

Medina:

It is the second holiest city for Muslims in Saudi Arabia after Mecca. It has the famous Mosque, which is known as Masjid An-Nabwi. This Mosque is the resting place of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Medina offers a lot of historical and religious sites for its visitors.

Masjid An-Nabwi
Quba Mosque
Masjid Al-Qiblatain
Medina Museum
Munt Uhud
Al Noor Mall
Souq Al-Ghazali/Al-Manakhi

Al Ula:

This is famous for its wonders and is located on the northwest side of Saudi Arabia. It holds many of the Middle East’s most exciting and impressive sites. One of the famous places it has is the trading hub of Nabataean civilization, where you will see tombs, temples, carvings, and rocks. Here are some more places in the Al Ula region.

Hegra – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Elephant Rock
Dadan
The oasis of Al-Ula
Wadi Al-Disa
The Hall of Frames

Here are the things that you can expect during your tourism to Saudi Arabia:

Cultural differences – will be automatically observed by you. That’s the Islamic country following the Sharia Laws.
Dress Code – is Arabic undoubtedly in Arabian countries. As a Muslim, it’s recommended to dress modestly by wearing a Jubba, Abaya, scarves, etc.
It would be best if you avoided alcohol, gambling, and music in public areas. Give respect to the local culture.
Language change – is acceptable because every country has its language. Arabic is the most widely used language in Saudi Arabia. For this, you can learn some Arabic phrases. Use technology such as language translator apps for your ease and convenience.
The currency – is the SAR (Saudi Arabian Riyal), used in KSA. You will have to change your home country’s currency to SAR.
Bullet train – travels between the holy cities and Jeddah. This is the Haramain Bullet train that you can expect with its luxury services for travellers.
Safety – Saudi is generally safe for tourists. But you should be mindful of your surroundings as well. If you face any, report the suspicious activity/incident to authorities.

When looking for the perfect fulfilment to Saudi Arabia, consider combining your pilgrimage with exciting tourist experience by using Umrah Packages 2024.