How Many Days Does Umrah Take? Choosing the Right Length for Your Umrah

The question of how many days Umrah takes has two answers: while the act of Umrah itself can be completed within a few hours, an Umrah journey covering Makkah and Madinah usually lasts between one and two weeks. In this article, we explain in detail how much time the rites take, the common lengths of Umrah tours, how many days it is suitable to stay in Makkah and Madinah, the factors that determine the length of a programme and which length is more suitable for different types of traveller. At the end of the article, you will also find a sample outline of a ten-day programme.

How Many Hours Does the Act of Umrah Take?

Umrah consists of entering ihram, performing tawaf of the Kaaba in seven circuits (shawt), praying two rak’ahs of the tawaf prayer, performing sa’i between Safa and Marwah in seven circuits, and shaving or trimming the hair. For a traveller who has entered ihram at the miqat, reached Makkah and settled into the hotel, tawaf, sa’i and shaving or trimming the hair are usually completed within a few hours. While this time is shorter at hours when the crowds are thin, it can become noticeably longer at busy times such as Ramadan and Fridays.

The main factors that affect the time are the level on which tawaf is performed, the person’s walking speed, whether they are accompanied by an elderly relative or one who uses a wheelchair, and how often they take breaks. Tawaf on the ground floor takes less time, whereas on the upper levels the circuit widens and so the distance increases. You can find in detail how tawaf is performed on the different levels and what to pay attention to in the crowd in our article on how to perform tawaf.

How many days does it take to perform Umrah?

The act of Umrah can be performed in a single day, even within a few hours; more than one day is not needed to complete the act of worship. The reason programmes are kept longer is to set aside time to continue worshipping at Masjid al-Haram after Umrah, to visit Madinah and to see the blessed sites.

Is a certain number of days required for Umrah?

No, from a religious point of view there is no set length of stay for Umrah. The length of stay is determined by the visa conditions, the flight schedule, the person’s time off work, their budget and their state of health. For this reason, a short programme and a long programme are the same as far as the validity of Umrah is concerned.

How Many Days Do Umrah Tours Last?

Umrah tours organised from Türkiye generally range from one week to two weeks. Longer programmes are also organised during Ramadan and some special periods. The table below gives a general summary of the common programme lengths and who they are suitable for:

Those looking for a short and balanced programme can take a look at our 10-day Umrah programmes, while those who wish to worship at a calmer pace can explore our 14-day Umrah programmes. For programmes specific to Ramadan, the mid-year school holiday and the holy nights (kandil), the length is set according to the calendar of the period.

How many days does a Ramadan Umrah last?

Ramadan programmes are generally planned to cover the first, middle or last part of Ramadan, and their lengths are more flexible than in other periods. Programmes covering the last ten days are preferred by those who wish to spend at the Haram the nights that may be Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). Since the Hijri calendar depends on the sighting of the moon, the start and end days of the programme may also vary slightly as a result.

How Many Days Should You Stay in Makkah and Madinah?

How the time in an Umrah programme is divided between Makkah and Madinah directly affects the character of the journey. Although there is no general rule, since the act of Umrah is performed in Makkah, most programmes set aside a little more time for Makkah. Madinah, with its calmer atmosphere and the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi), is a stop that brings rest to the heart.

Whether the programme begins in Makkah or in Madinah is also important. In programmes that go to Madinah first, travellers recover from their tiredness and prepare spiritually, and then enter ihram at the Dhul Hulayfah miqat and travel on to Makkah. In programmes that go to Makkah first, Umrah is performed in the first days and Madinah becomes the calm conclusion of the journey.

How many days do you stay in Makkah?

In a ten-day programme, travellers usually stay in Makkah for five to six days. This period offers enough time to perform Umrah comfortably, then to spend time at Masjid al-Haram with voluntary tawaf and prayers, and to see places such as Hira and Thawr. In a short programme, it may be necessary to give up some of these visits.

How many days do you stay in Madinah?

Most programmes include a stay of three to five days in Madinah. This period makes it possible to pray the daily prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque, to visit the Rawdah and to see places such as Quba Mosque and Mount Uhud. Since the permits required to visit the Rawdah are limited, the number of days in Madinah also increases the chance of obtaining a permit.

How Many Days of Umrah Should You Choose?

The right length is not the same for everyone. Age, state of health, working life, who you are travelling with and your expectations of Umrah determine the choice. The suggestions below can make your decision easier:

• First-time travellers: A programme of at least ten days generally offers a more comfortable experience, allowing time to get used to the rites, recover from tiredness and get to know the sites.
• Elderly travellers: Programmes of twelve to fourteen days, in which the daily pace is kept low and time is set aside for rest, are more suitable.
• Families with children: Since it takes children time to adjust, very short programmes can be tiring; a programme of medium length may be preferred.
• Working people: If their time off is limited, programmes of seven to ten days that include weekends are a practical solution.
• Those who have performed Umrah before: As they are familiar with the sites, they can spend their time productively even on short programmes.

How many days should Umrah be?

For most first-time travellers, between ten and fourteen days is a balanced length that allows enough time for worship, for visits and for rest. However, the “ideal length” should be assessed together with the person’s state of health and means; what matters is that the time is long enough not to rush the worship.

What should women travellers consider when choosing the length?

It is useful for women travellers to leave a few days of flexibility in their programme, taking into account the possibility that their period may start during Umrah. On very short programmes, there may not be enough time to wait until they are pure to perform tawaf. We have touched on other details of this subject in our Umrah guide for women.

Factors That Determine the Length of Umrah

When deciding on the length of the programme, you need to take into account not only your days off but also other factors that affect the journey as a whole:

1. Season: The structure and length of programmes may change during Ramadan and the school holidays.
2. Flight plan: The departure city, whether the flight is connecting or direct, and the arrival airport affect the number of days.
3. Visa conditions: The length of stay allowed by the visa sets the upper limit of the programme.
4. State of health: For those with chronic conditions, long programmes with a calm pace are more suitable.
5. Budget: The length of accommodation and the location of the hotel directly affect the total cost.
6. Expectations: Whether you only want to perform Umrah or to set aside plenty of time for visits and worship determines the length.

We have explained, season by season, which period may suit you best in our article on the best time to go for Umrah. For the general framework of visa conditions, you can also take a look at our article on how to get an Umrah visa.

Important: The length of stay allowed by the Umrah visa and the restrictions applied on dates close to the Hajj season may be changed by Saudi Arabia. Before deciding on the length of your programme, confirm the current conditions with official sources and your travel agency.

Pros and Cons of Short Umrah Programmes

Short programmes of seven to eight days make Umrah possible for those with limited time off and mean less of a break from working life. Since the total length of accommodation is short, budget planning is also easier. For travellers who have performed Umrah before and know the sites, short programmes can be very productive.

On the other hand, on short programmes, factors such as the tiredness of the first day of travel, arrival and check-in procedures and the transfer between cities take up a significant part of the total time. For first-time travellers, this can narrow the time set aside for worship and reflection. There is also less opportunity to obtain a Rawdah permit and to see the places to visit.

Can Umrah be done in a week?

Yes, on a one-week programme you can both perform Umrah and make a short visit to Madinah. However, knowing from the outset that the programme will be intensive and that there will be less time for rest and repeated acts of worship helps you set your expectations correctly.

How to Make Use of Your Time on a Long Umrah Programme

On programmes longer than two weeks, most of the time can be devoted to worship. Praying the daily prayers in congregation at the Haram, performing voluntary tawaf, reading the Qur’an and making supplication are the most valuable benefits of long programmes. Resting during the hottest hours of the day and devoting the morning and evening hours to worship is the key to completing a long programme without becoming exhausted.

Can you perform more than one Umrah on a single Umrah journey?

According to the Hanafi school, it is permissible to perform more than one Umrah on a single journey. A person who is in Makkah enters ihram for a new Umrah by going outside the Haram boundaries, usually to the Aisha Mosque (Masjid Aisha) at Tan’im or to Ji’ranah. However, as there are also scholars who hold that spending time in voluntary tawaf is more virtuous than performing more than one Umrah, we recommend that you consider the matter in the light of the current fatwas of Diyanet (Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs).

How many times a year can Umrah be performed?

According to the Hanafi school, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year and more than once; only performing Umrah on the Day of Arafah and the four days of Eid al-Adha is prohibitively disliked (makruh tahriman). In practice, however, how many times a year you can go is determined by Saudi Arabia’s visa and permit rules.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Days in Umrah

However many days the programme lasts, making good use of the time depends largely on your daily routine. In the first days, the tiredness of travel, the difference in climate and lack of sleep make themselves felt; for this reason, taking a short rest after arrival makes it easier to perform Umrah more attentively and with devotion (khushu). Planning the day around the prayer times, resting in the hotel during the hottest hours and not neglecting to drink water are the most effective ways to maintain your energy, even on long programmes.

• Set a small worship goal for each day, such as reading a particular juz or performing a voluntary tawaf.
• Place the sightseeing days in the middle of the programme; keep the first and last days calmer.
• Do not leave shopping and souvenirs until the last day, and do not let them eat into your time for worship.
• Do justice to your time at the Haram by limiting your use of your phone and social media.

Sample Outline of a 10-Day Umrah Programme

The outline below is a general example of a ten-day programme that begins in Madinah. Each organisation’s programme may differ according to flight times and the period.

1. Day 1: Flight from Türkiye to Madinah, check-in at the hotel and the first prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque
2. Days 2–3: Worship at the Prophet’s Mosque, obtaining the permit for the Rawdah visit and offering greetings (salam)
3. Day 4: Visits to places such as Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud and Masjid al-Qiblatayn
4. Day 5: Entering ihram at the Dhul Hulayfah miqat, transfer to Makkah and performing Umrah
5. Days 6–8: Worship at Masjid al-Haram, voluntary tawaf and visits to the sites in Makkah
6. Day 9: A free day for worship and preparation for the return
7. Day 10: A final visit with the intention of farewell, transfer to Jeddah and return to Türkiye

When leaving Makkah after Umrah, performing the farewell tawaf is a good practice; according to the Hanafi school, the farewell tawaf is necessary (wajib) in Hajj but is not considered necessary for Umrah.

The length of Umrah determines not the value of the act of worship but the pace of the journey; what matters is finding the balance that suits you best. At RotaNur, we prepare programmes of different lengths on our Umrah tours and help you make the right choice for your age, your time off and your expectations. To decide together on the programme length that suits you, you can reach us via our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions