First Umrah Tips: 32 Practical Lessons for First-Time Pilgrims

These first Umrah tips are written for anyone preparing to stand before the Kaaba for the very first time. Excitement and nerves often arrive together, and that is completely normal. With a little preparation, your first Umrah can be calm, correct and deeply moving.

We have gathered 32 practical lessons from pilgrims and travel advisers, grouped by stage of the journey. Read them once now, then again the week before you fly.

Before the tips, here is the whole of Umrah at a glance. Every one of our first Umrah tips fits somewhere along these five steps.

First Umrah tips: before you go

The calmest pilgrims are usually the ones who did their homework at home. These first Umrah tips focus on the weeks before departure.

1. Learn the rites before you fly. Read our step-by-step guide to how to perform Umrah until you can describe the order from memory: ihram, tawaf, two rak‘ahs, sa‘i and cutting the hair.
2. Check your documents early. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity, confirm your visa and book your Umrah in the Nusuk app. Rules change, so check the official Nusuk website for the latest requirements.
3. Know your Miqat. Find out where your route crosses the Miqat and whether you need to be in ihram on the plane. Our Miqat finder makes this simple.
4. Break in your footwear. You may walk many kilometres a day. Wear your sandals at home for a few weeks so they do not cause blisters on arrival.
5. Pack light and smart. A small bag for shoes, a refillable bottle, a pocket prayer mat, unscented toiletries and a portable charger will be used every day. Our checklist below helps you pack in one sitting.

Prepare your heart as well as your bag

Practical preparation is only half of the journey. Before you leave, settle any debts you can, seek forgiveness from family and friends, and write a will if you do not already have one. Many pilgrims also make a list of people who asked them for duas.

Spend a few minutes each day reflecting on why you are going. Of all the first Umrah tips we share, this is the one experienced pilgrims mention most: the trip passes quickly, and those who arrive with a clear intention feel they used every moment well.

First Umrah tips in ihram

Ihram is both a state and a set of clothes. Many first-timers worry about breaking a rule, so these first Umrah tips cover what matters most. For full details, read the ihram rules guide.

6. Prepare before the Miqat. Take a bath, trim nails and remove unwanted hair at home. Men may apply perfume to the body, not the ihram cloth, before making the intention.
7. Make the intention clearly. At the Miqat, intend Umrah and say the Talbiyah. If you fear illness may stop you, you may add the condition reported in the hadith of Duba‘ah.
8. Know the prohibitions. Once in ihram, avoid perfume, cutting hair or nails, sexual relations and, for men, covering the head and wearing stitched, fitted clothing. Use unscented soap and wipes.
9. Keep the Talbiyah on your tongue. Men say it aloud and women quietly, from the Miqat until you begin tawaf.

First Umrah tips in Makkah

Arriving in Makkah can feel overwhelming. These first Umrah tips help you settle in before and after you perform the rites.

10. Rest if you need to. If you arrive exhausted, it is fine to rest briefly at the hotel before performing Umrah while remaining in ihram, so you can worship with focus.
11. Choose a landmark gate. Masjid al-Haram has many numbered gates. Agree one as your group’s meeting point and photograph its number.
12. Enter with the right foot and a dua. Pause, remember where you are and read the dua for entering the masjid.
13. Learn the layout. Spend your first few hours walking around the masjid, finding the tawaf area, the mas‘a for sa‘i, the toilets and wudu areas and the Zamzam stations. Once you know the layout, everything feels less daunting.
14. Carry less, not more. Bags are sometimes checked, and crowds move quickly. Keep only essentials, and put shoes in a bag rather than leaving them at the door.

First Umrah tips for tawaf and sa’i

Tawaf and sa‘i are the heart of Umrah, and they are where first-timers most often lose count or feel rushed. These first Umrah tips keep you calm and correct.

1. Begin at the Black Stone

   With wudu, face the Black Stone, say Bismillah, Allahu akbar, and begin with the Kaaba on your left. Men uncover the right shoulder (idtiba) for this tawaf.

2. Complete seven rounds

   Walk seven anticlockwise rounds outside the curved wall of Hijr Isma‘il. Men walk briskly (raml) in the first three if it is possible without harming anyone.

3. Pray two rak‘ahs

   Pray behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is space, or anywhere in the masjid, then drink Zamzam.

4. Walk between Safa and Marwah

   Start at Safa and finish at Marwah. Safa to Marwah counts as one lap and Marwah to Safa as another, making seven in total.

5. Cut the hair

   Men shave the head or shorten the hair; women trim a fingertip’s length. Your Umrah is then complete.

15. Use a counter. Losing count is the most common worry. Use our tawaf and sa‘i counter, a ring counter or simply tell a companion each time you pass the Black Stone. If unsure, build on the lower number.
16. Do not push for the Black Stone. Kissing it is a Sunnah, but harming others is not permitted. Pointing towards it from a distance at the start of each round is enough.
17. Make your own duas. There is no fixed dua for each round in the Sunnah. Speak to Allah in your own language, and read the Qur’anic dua between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone.
18. Use the upper floors at peak times. The rounds are longer, but they are often less crowded and suit those who struggle in the press of people.
19. Pace sa‘i sensibly. Men walk briskly between the green lights; everyone else walks normally. Rest if you need to; you can sit and then continue.

First Umrah tips for Madinah

Visiting Madinah is not part of the Umrah rites, but most pilgrims include it. These first Umrah tips help you make the most of Masjid an-Nabawi.

20. Book the Rawdah early. Visits to the Rawdah usually require a permit through the Nusuk app, and slots fill quickly.
21. Greet the Prophet ﷺ with adab. Walk calmly, lower your voice and send salam on the Prophet ﷺ, then on Abu Bakr and ‘Umar.
22. Plan your ziyarat. Masjid Quba, Uhud and the Baqi‘ cemetery are among the places most pilgrims visit. See our Madinah ziyarat guide for details.

First Umrah tips for staying healthy

Illness is the quickest way to lose precious days. These first Umrah tips are simple but effective.

23. Drink before you are thirsty. Zamzam is available throughout both Holy Mosques. Sip regularly, especially in warmer months.
24. Protect your feet and skin. Pack plasters, blister pads and an unscented balm for chafing, which is common for men in ihram.
25. Guard against coughs and colds. Respiratory infections spread easily in large crowds. A mask in crowded areas, hand gel and regular rest all help. Check vaccine requirements, such as meningitis ACWY, with your doctor.

Travel insurance that covers medical care abroad is essential, even for a short trip. Note the location of the nearest clinic to your hotel, and remember that Haram staff can direct you to first-aid points inside the masjid. These first Umrah tips for health may seem small, but they protect the days you have worked so hard to reach.

First Umrah tips for women

Sisters have a few additional rulings and practical points to know. Our full Umrah for women guide covers them in more depth, but these first Umrah tips are a good starting point.

26. Wear normal modest clothing. Women have no special ihram garments. In ihram, a woman does not wear the niqab or gloves, as reported by al-Bukhari; many scholars permit lowering a cloth over the face in front of non-mahram men.
27. Plan around your cycle. A woman may enter ihram while menstruating but should not perform tawaf until she is pure. Allow some flexibility in your dates if you can.
28. Check travel rules and rulings. Saudi regulations now allow women to perform Umrah without a mahram, but scholars differ on the religious ruling, so ask a scholar you trust.

First Umrah tips for elderly pilgrims

Many people perform their first Umrah later in life, often with children or grandchildren. These first Umrah tips help older pilgrims worship with dignity and comfort.

29. Stay close to the Haram. A hotel within a short walk makes the biggest single difference to an older pilgrim’s experience.
30. Use wheelchairs without hesitation. Wheelchairs and, at times, electric carts are available for tawaf and sa‘i. Ask at the official desks inside the Haram, as arrangements change.
31. Choose quieter hours. Crowds vary by season, but outside peak periods the mid-morning and the hours after midnight are often calmer for tawaf.
32. Build rest into every day. Plan one main act of worship per session and return to the hotel between prayers. Older pilgrims who pace themselves usually enjoy the whole trip rather than burning out in the first two days.

Families travelling with grandparents should agree in advance who will accompany them during tawaf and sa‘i, and keep a printed card with the hotel name and a contact number in their pocket. Following these first Umrah tips allows the whole family to worship together without anyone feeling rushed or left behind.

Common mistakes first-time pilgrims make

The final group of first Umrah tips is really a list of what not to do. Most of these mistakes come from rushing or from following the crowd without knowledge.

Remember that sincerity matters more than perfection. Allah knows the effort you have made, and the purpose of these first Umrah tips is to remove worry so your heart can be present. Keep the Umrah duas on your phone and return to this list whenever you feel unsure.

Putting these first Umrah tips into practice

Choose two or three tips from each group that matter most to you and write them on a card for your bag. Share these first Umrah tips with anyone travelling with you, so the whole group follows the same plan for meeting points, timings and rest. If you are still at the planning stage, our Umrah trip planner and Umrah packages pages can help you shape your journey. When you are ready, our team can send a tailored proposal through the quote form.

First Umrah tips: frequently asked questions