January marks the start of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It’s one of the coldest months of the year, almost in every part of the world, including Saudi Arabia. People celebrate the first day of January as the start of the New Year. Many start the New Year with new thoughts, beliefs, and goals. Have you also set some new goals for the New Year?
While January is a month that gives new feelings, a lot of people take advantage of this to make various plans and activities. Some like to start a healthy lifestyle, some make a well-financial plan, and travellers plan their travel plans. Well, if you are also one who makes travel plans for the whole year, then your bucket list must include an Umrah trip. As a Muslim, if you can afford it and go for this lesser pilgrimage of Islam, you must take advantage of this opportunity.
But, is January the best month to go for an Umrah trip? If it is best, then why? All of these questions may come to your mind. As a traveller, we consider this. So, in this blog post, we will explore “why January is one of the best months for Umrah”. Let’s see why!
Possibility of Cost Savings for Umrah during January
Can you really save costs during January Umrah as compared to other months? To answer this, you need to understand the peak and off-peak times of Umrah. The peak season is the time when a lot of Muslims travel to perform Umrah. In contrast, off-peak is when Umrah packages are low in demand. January is usually outside of the peak months because there is no special event at that time. However, international schools and colleges’ holidays may fall in the first week of January, which starts from the end of December due to Christmas. Therefore, airlines and travel agencies reduce their prices for better deals, and you can get affordable January Umrah packages.
If you plan, then choose the early days of the first month of the year because the last 15 days of December are expensive, especially flights. Even small vendors increase the prices. Suddenly, when the December holidays end, the first two weeks of January seem to be decreased. You will get the best quotation and save more cost from Umrah agents at that time for the spiritual journey. You can expect the price to be between £850 and £1,100 per person for a 7-night trip with standard services. At the same time, in late December, you can expect between £1,300 and £1,800+.
Remember, this is not a guarantee that you can assume the possibility of more cost savings. It totally depends on how many Muslims travel for Umrah each year during January and their personal preferences.
The Weather is Pleasant and Cooler for Umrah
January is a peak winter month in Saudi Arabia. This month is special God gifted to Saudi Arabia, because the country remains in hotter temperatures throughout the year, especially during May to September. Hence, from December to February, KSA faces cold weather, which is a pleasant time to perform Umrah. In January, the temperature of Makkah remains between 23°C to 28°C during the day and 18°C to 20°C during the night. While in Madinah, it’s around 20°C to 25°C during the day and between 10°C to 15°C during the nighttime.
Now, compare this minimal temperature with the higher temperatures of 40°C and 50°C during the summer. Can you perform Umrah at that time? Keep in mind that temperature directly affects the Umrah experience. You can easily walk around the Holy Kaaba for Tawaf seven rounds and get rid of heatstroke and sweating. Moreover, sitting at the courtyards of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi feels comfortable while recitation and Dhikr of Allah SWT.
During Umrah in January, you will feel pleasant and slightly warm daytime in Makkah and Madinah. However, at night, the cold is bearable in Makkah, but in Madinah, it might be a little colder. Therefore, must carry a light sweater or shawl while going for Umrah in January.
A Duration to Experience Lower Crowds during Umrah
You can expect lower crowds in Makkah during January. This month comes in winter with no global Islamic holidays. Secondly, many countries in the world, like in Europe or America, have summer holidays from June to August. So, they plan their travels for that time period. In January, people around the world are busy with their work and some Muslims plans for Umrah and book best Umrah packages. Hence, it’s a duration to experience lower crowds during Umrah. Keep in mind that fewer doesn’t mean very less pilgrims or you won’t face a group of people in holy cities. It implies only in comparison of peak times like Ramadan or Hajj.
When there are fewer pilgrims inside the Haram, you can focus more on worship and perform rituals devotedly. You will feel fewer jolts while performing Tawaf and easily kiss or touch the Black Stone. Local transport and intercity travel are more easily available and on time. With low crowds, the month of January gives you more time for worship with no stress.
The Off-Season Comfort of January
As you know, January usually falls under the off-season of the Umrah pilgrimage. There are no vacations, no Ramadan (depends on the cycle), and no Hajj days. You don’t need to stand in the long queues at this time of Umrah. Also, wheelchairs and lifts can be easily obtained without much rush. Most importantly, you can easily find the seating spaces to offer prayers inside the holy Mosques. This means disturbance-free worship with deep focus.
Additionally, the hotels of Makkah and Madinah, where you will stay for the January Umrah, are easy to check in and check out. Restaurants and food courts like McDonald’s, Al Baik, and Kudu quickly take your meal orders and process them. Moreover, shopping can be done easily at Clock Tower Mall, Date Market, and Madinah Markaziya Market. The behaviour of the shopkeepers is also relaxed. If you plan to use public transport during your Umrah trip, you can travel between cities and places effortlessly in January.
In conclusion, January is one of the best months for Umrah because of its pleasantness, low crowds, off-season, and good travel packages. Hence, it’s more than recommended to travel for Umrah in this comfortable month.
