Umrah Packages Must Be Booked After Careful Consideration

By Author: Safeena Rahman
Total Articles: 202
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Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage performed by millions of Muslims living in different parts of the world by visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from their home countries. It is also called the 'lesser pilgrimage' or the 'minor pilgrimage' by many as Hajj is the major pilgrimage in Islam. As Umrah is Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) Sunnah, many Muslims perform the pilgrimage to get some spiritual rewards associated with it. It can be performed by all the financially and physically capable Muslims and is usually accomplished within a few hours due to the lesser number of rituals involved.

The journey to the holy city of Makkah is a long one for the pilgrims who reside in countries located far from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It, therefore, involves a certain amount of cost, which may not be affordable by many. There was a time when Muslims living in such countries had to postpone their plans of performing the pilgrimage owing to the lack of adequate finances. Today, the Umrah packages offered by many of the tour operators specialising in the Islamic religious tours have played an important role in making the journey to Makkah easy and affordable.

The availability of such packages online has also made it easier for the prospective pilgrims to browse through many options and book the one best suited to their budget. As the use of smartphones has increased over the years and the internet has become easily accessible to many, the tour operators have made their websites mobile-friendly. Such sites display all the available packages in various categories. An online search would also give many options in affordable packages for performing the lesser pilgrimage. Muslims intending to perform their Umrah can compare the costs of these packages and book the most affordable one for greater savings.

Before booking any of the packages, it must be kept in mind to book with a tour operator that has been authorised by the Hajj Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The travel company or tour operator must also be approved by IATA and ATOL. If all these conditions have been fulfilled, the prospective pilgrims must then plan their departure date and the number of days they would be in Makkah. Next would be the overall cost of the package and the facilities that have been offered in it for the pilgrims. Based on these details, they can go ahead and book a package that suits their budget the most with a reliable tour operator.

Muslims who are not concerned about the cost of packages can go for a high-end package that has the best facilities offered for them. Some of the tour operators place such packages in the category of 5-star, as the accommodation offered in them are usually in any of the 5-star hotels in Makkah close to the Masjid al-Haram. Upon booking one of such packages, the pilgrim would have great convenience in getting to the holy mosque. All the rituals associated with Umrah can be performed with complete peace of mind. The latest facilities offered in such hotels would also make their stay pleasant and memorable.