High season
Post-Ramadan May brings a noticeable drop in crowds while hotels release excellent rates. Plan worship around the cooler early hours.
Weather
Hot and dry, 30–40°C
Crowds
Post-Eid lull then steady
Prices from
£1,120 per person
Our most affordable complete Umrah package — visa, flights, hotels and transfers bundled with no hidden charges.
From, per person
£895£1,050
A longer, gentler stay for pilgrims who want unhurried worship without stretching the budget.
From, per person
£1,095
A short, well-paced week for working professionals — walking-distance 4-star hotels in both cities.
From, per person
£1,250
In May the Haram in Makkah operates at a high rhythm. We plan your hotel and transfer times around this, so you are never rushing through crowds before Salah. Our in-country coordinator will advise the best hours for Tawaf and Sa'i during your stay, and will help arrange Rawdah permits through the Nusuk platform in Madinah.
Pack light, breathable ihram clothing, an umbrella for shade and comfortable sandals you can carry. Our pre-departure pack includes a full May checklist tailored to the conditions above.
Planning an Umrah in May means understanding three things before you book: the weather you will actually pray in, how busy the Haram is likely to be, and what that means for hotel rates and availability. Here is the detail behind the summary above.
Expect hot and dry, 30–40°c across Makkah and Jeddah during May, with Madinah usually a few degrees cooler in the evenings. This affects everything from the clothing you pack to the time of day you plan Tawaf — many pilgrims shift their main worship windows to avoid the hottest hours when temperatures climb.
Bring breathable, loose-fitting ihram and everyday clothing, comfortable sandals that slip on and off easily for prayer, and a small umbrella or cap for shade while queuing outdoors. Sun cream and a refillable water bottle are worth packing regardless of season, since the marble courtyards reflect heat even on milder days.
Post-Eid lull then steady is the pattern we see most consistently in May. Our in-country coordinators adjust suggested Tawaf and Sa'i times accordingly, and where the Haram is busier we recommend arriving earlier for Jumu'ah and the five daily prayers so you are not standing at the back for extended periods.
Rawdah visit slots in Madinah are booked through the Nusuk app and can fill quickly during busier weeks. We help you register and select a slot as part of your booking, and will remind you nearer your travel date if a specific window needs to be re-booked.
Packages this month start from £1,120 per person, reflecting the high-season demand described above. Prices move with airline fuel surcharges and hotel occupancy, so the earlier you confirm a date, the more choice you have across 3, 4 and 5-star hotel tiers.
If your dates are flexible by even a week either side, ask us to compare — shifting a departure slightly can sometimes unlock a meaningfully lower fare or a better located hotel at the same price point.
Most pilgrims travelling in this window choose to spend the first half of their trip in Makkah, completing their Umrah rites and any additional voluntary Umrahs, before transferring to Madinah for a calmer close to the journey. This order also means your ihram restrictions are lifted earlier, leaving Madinah days free for unhurried Ziyarat and reflection at Masjid an-Nabawi.
Guided Ziyarat in both cities is included on our recommended packages below, covering key historical sites without turning the trip into a rushed sightseeing tour. Free time is built in deliberately, since worship — not sightseeing — remains the purpose of the visit.
Your Umrah e-visa is processed through the official Nusuk platform as part of every package we arrange, regardless of month. We handle the application using your passport and photograph, and confirm approval before your balance payment is due, so you are never left waiting anxiously close to departure.
During busier periods, processing queues on the Saudi side can lengthen slightly, which is why we recommend booking at least six to eight weeks ahead for this month wherever possible.
Families travelling with children should factor in May's conditions when choosing a board basis and hotel distance — a shuttle-served hotel can be harder work with young children in warmer months, while a short walk to the Haram is more manageable when the weather described above is milder.
Group departures in this window often include a scholar or group leader who can adapt daily plans around prayer times and rest breaks, which is particularly helpful for elderly travellers or anyone managing a health condition.
A deposit from £250 per person secures your chosen package for this month, with the balance due 45 days before travel. Every flight-inclusive booking is protected under our ATOL licence (ATOL 11842), and we are IATA accredited, so your payments are safeguarded throughout the process.
Once booked, you will receive a month-specific pre-departure pack covering the weather, clothing and Haram-timing guidance above, along with your Ziyarat schedule and hotel confirmation details.
Start planning
Our specialists hold allocations with Makkah and Madinah hotels throughout the year. Tell us your dates and we will confirm quickly.
