Visiting the House of Allah Almighty and paying respects at the Prophet Muhammad PBUH’s grave is a blessing that every Muslim wants to glory in. Many people save money for a long time and plan Umrah, several months before their departure.
Since Saudi Arabia is a desert country, the weather here is hot for at least 8 months. Thus, it is always better to find out the best time to reserve Cheap Umrah Packages especially if you’re with kids and older people. However, if you can perform Umrah in winter then this is the best time to do Umrah.
We’ll present the weather report of the Kingdom to help you understand why this is the case. You can also find out why December Umrah packages are the hottest pilgrimage deals, in this article. Remember to go through our special tips for doing Umrah in winter and thank us later.
Saudi Arabia’s Weather Report
Let’s look at the weather of KSA in summer first so you can find out why doing Umrah in this weather is hard. The summer season stretches from March to October. The central parts of the Kingdom are extremely dry and hot as the weather ranges from 27°C to 38°C in the coastal zones and 27°C to 43°C in the inland areas. The average annual rainfall is below 150 mm and most of it occurs in the winter month.
Looking at the winter time, the season starts in November and ends in February. The Mercury levels hover between 7°C to 20°C in the interior parts and 19°C to 29°C have been recorded in the coastal zones of the Red Sea. The climate is dry and cold which makes it easy to perform Umrah and explore other ziyarat and tourist sites in the country. The humidity level is around 50% but you can expect some rainfall in December that can cause a decrease in the moisture.
Analyzing the weather report of KSA, you can easily understand why November to February is the best time to do Umrah. However, pleasant weather is just one benefit. Let’s go through the other perks of the winter pilgrimage.
Bonus Benefits of Winter Umrah You Seldom Find in the Summer Season
The first benefit of doing Umrah in winter has already been covered in detail i.e., pleasant weather. However, there are other benefits that make Winter Umrah worth it. Let’s find out these perks:
1. Less Rush: November to mid-December and January to mid-February is the time when there is a minimum crowd. This is a big factor that makes Umrah easy during the winter season. A large number of people in a small area can cause suffocation which can be problematic for kids and the elderly. Thus, if you’re with family, then winter Umrah is the go-to option.
2. Economical Hotel & Flight Rates: Due to the smaller crowds during specific times of the winter, hotel and air travel companies drop their rates to encourage people to visit the country. This is another big reason for doing Umrah in winter. You can easily avail seasonal discounts and reserve hotels and flights at lower prices. For instance, it is possible to book a luxury hotel at the price of an average one. You can easily avail higher services at lower rates.
3. Vicinity: Pilgrims always hope to book hotels near the Haram and the Prophet’s Mosque. This is possible in winter if you book a 4 or 5-star hotel. As you know, booking these hotels becomes easy as hotel prices are dropped. So, if you’re going with kids, older people, or the handicapped, then you can easily book a hotel that is in the vicinity of the Holy Mosques, at lower rates.
Although all the winter months provide these benefits, there is a month in this season that is preferable to others due to its additional benefits. Let’s discuss this month!
Why December is The Best Time to Do Umrah?
Among all the other winter months, December is considered the best to do Umrah. However, the benefits of doing Umrah in the first half of the month are different than the second half. Let’s discuss them briefly:
1. First Half of December
Mid-November to mid-December is the most ideal winter time for Umrah. You can enjoy pleasant weather, face minimum crowds, reserve hotels and flights at low rates, and book hotels that are nearer the Holy Mosques. To sum it up, you can relish all the perks of winter Umrah in this month and make the most of your pilgrimage.
2. Second Half of December
Most people can’t perform Umrah in the first half of December as there is no holiday break during this time. However, the Christmas season starts in the second half of December and this is the time when most Muslims can easily perform Umrah, especially those living in European countries. Although hotel and flight rates increase due to rush, you can avail seasonal discounts by booking early.
Pro Tips To Make Your Winter Umrah Convenient
Travelling to another country can be pretty exciting but challenging as well. You have to navigate a lot of things like hotel and flight booking, looking out for the weather, finding transport to explore around, looking for food spots to eat, and finding clinics and hospitals in case of health issues.
Thus, it is always useful to do some research in advance and have some travel tips and tricks up your sleeve. This can help you feel prepared and confident as you depart for your tour. We also have some pro tips for your holy journey to ensure maximum convenience. Let’s discuss each in turn:
- The daytime during winter is sunny and pleasant in Mecca and Medina. However, the nights are really cold. Therefore, you must pack some jackets, sweaters socks, thermals, and jogger pants.
- You can only wear these clothes when you are not in the state of Ihram. Thus, you should buy thicker and warmer Ihram fabric. Ihram conditions for women are flexible. They can wear multiple clothes under the burqa.
- The sunlight can be harsh during the daytime even in the winter months. Therefore, always apply sunscreen before getting out to prevent rashes and sunburns. You can use unscented sunscreen (SPF 40 or higher) as the use of any sort of scent is prohibited in the state of Ihram.
- Wearing a hat is not permissible in Ihram so you can take an umbrella with you and wear sunglasses for maximum protection from the sun.
- Keep yourself well-hydrated during this time as well, as your body consumes the water stored inside the body. Therefore, keep taking small sips of water during your tour especially while doing Umrah.
Winter 2024 is around the corner so don’t delay and reserve your desired Umrah packages to embark on this spiritual journey with your friends and family. For maximum benefits, reserve Affordable December Umrah Packages offered by Muslims Holy Travel and pack your bags to embark on a journey that will bring you close to the Almighty.
