Here are the best DIY Umrah packages for December, part of my promise to help you save on your Umrah. There used to be a quiet season for Umrah. It’s disappearing faster than you can say cheese. There are more hotels now, especially branded ones, which is great for miles and points users. But flights have fewer options than hotels, so their prices keep going up. Christmas is one of the busiest periods for Umrah, with many UK and American Muslims choosing it for the cooler weather.
With Ramadan so close as well, prices are already climbing.
I checked the same direct Saudia flight from London on two weeks in December. Early December (6 to 13 Dec) is £794. The week before Christmas (19 to 26 Dec) is £1,456. That’s £662 more per person for the same seat.
This package is built on early December. If you can go before the schools break up, go then; if you cannot, you can input your dates for accurate pricing.
As always, my DIY Umrah packages are there to help you plan your Umrah, but also to show you how easy it is, so you don’t give agents up to 40% extra.
These are packages and hotels I would personally book myself and recommend. Some have cheaper alternatives. Thank you for booking through our links, as they help keep the site going.
Flights for a December Umrah
6 to 13 December · return · per person
Makkah hotels for December
6 to 10 December · 4 nights
The Marriott is the one I’d book this month. It’s walking distance and it’s cheaper than the Address for the same dates. If you’re watching the budget, the Novotel is under £20 a night each and has a free shuttle to the Haram.
Madinah hotels for December
10 to 13 December · 3 nights
Madinah is where December gets expensive, and there are fewer options than in Makkah. Three nights cost more than four in Makkah.
Ziyarah and guides
For the past 12 years, whenever I spoke about DIY Umrah, everyone would say: but what about ziyarah, you can’t do that without a group. Well, there are so many Makkah and Madinah tours on GetYourGuide now that it genuinely isn’t difficult to book yourself on one. You’ll be with other pilgrims, and the prices are very reasonable. There are museums too that you can explore, and you just take a taxi there.
Getting from Makkah to Madinah
The total for a DIY Umrah in December
December, per person, if you book it yourself
Children usually stay free in the room, so for kids you only pay their flight.
The same trip from the US, Canada and Australia
How I do it on points
For 12 years I have never paid a full flight for Umrah, because I use miles. That cuts the most expensive and least flexible part of your trip: your flights.
Using miles and points for Umrah is still underrated, but it can save you thousands as a family. Here is what that looks like.
On points, the London flight drops to about £142 in taxes.
That takes the whole trip to about £496 per person. Same flight, same hotels, same train.
These are example packages. They show you what an average Umrah costs in December. They’re not fixed quotes, and prices move daily. Click any link and search your own dates.
The links are ours and personally curated. We earn a small commission, and you pay nothing extra. Thank you for your support.
I’m Elena, the founder of MuslimTravelGirl. I’ve been planning my own Umrah trips for 12 years and I’ve saved about £100,000 on flights using points. We’ve reached 2M+ Muslims and taught 1,000+ students to do the same.
Want to book these flights yourself, for the taxes?
The exact cards, the points and the booking, for the UK, US, Canada and Australia. It’s all in my Starter Kit.
Get the Halal Travel on Points Starter Kit · £17 →DIY Umrah in December: your questions answered
Is December a good month for Umrah?
Yes, if you go early. The first two weeks are quieter, and the direct flight from London is about £794. The week before Christmas the same flight is £1,456. If you have to go during the school holidays, I urge you to start learning about miles and collecting them now.
How much does a DIY Umrah cost in December 2026?
From about £1,148 per person. That’s a direct Saudia flight from London, four nights in Makkah, three in Madinah, the Haramain train and a ziyarah tour, sharing a room. On points it drops to about £496.
Is it cheaper to book Umrah yourself than a package?
Almost always. You’re paying the same airlines and staying in the same hotels, without the agency margin on top. A similar trip as a package is on average £2,000+ per person. I have an article that explains the difference between DIY and agent packages.
Why is Madinah more expensive than Makkah in December?
There are fewer hotels close to the Haram in Madinah, and December is busy with visitors from the Gulf and Europe. Three nights there cost more than four in Makkah on these dates, and the cheapest options are older and further away.
Do I need a separate Umrah visa?
No. A Saudi tourist visa covers Umrah, and British citizens can also use the electronic visa waiver. I have articles and videos on both and how to apply. Full detail in my Saudi tourist visa guide.
Is the cheap flight worth taking?
It depends on your bags and your patience. The cheaper London fares stop in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi or Doha. If you fly Wizz Air you pay for bags as well, and you cannot take zamzam back. In busy months that usually pushes the cost close to the direct flight. What I do is take a budget airline in and fly Saudia home on miles.
Can I do this with children?
Yes, and it’s where DIY really pays. Children usually stay free in the room, so you only pay their flight, and on points that’s just the taxes. See every month’s prices on my DIY Umrah packages page.