Tips for your first time Umrah travel

 After the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage, Umrah is the second and only and most sacred pilgrimage of the Islamic faith. Umrah is also referred to as the ‘lesser pilgrimage’ or ‘minor pilgrimage’ because it isn’t a religious obligation but a Sunnah of our Holy Prophet (SAWW) to offer Umrah rituals. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Muslims keep on arriving in the holy land for the rituals of minor pilgrimage through Islamic Travel Offers Cheap Hajj and Umrah Packages. 

It remains the dream of every believer to be able to go on this sacred sunnah pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The reason being the infinite rewards and bounties it holds for pilgrims, which are no less than that of Hajj.  

Here are some of the tips to know about umrah for the first time.

Pre-plan your entire Umrah trip.

At the time when you are searching for a reliable Umrah travel package, always choose and hire the one that not only best suits your budget but also caters to all of your requirements. You can think about all the possible facilities you want to have in your travel package; the type of travel and accommodation facilities you want, transportation, etc., and specify it all to your agent. Thus, it’s better to look for Umrah packages that are pre-planned by your travel agent i.e., inclusive of flights, accommodations, and other required facilities i.e., all in one. 

The more you plan, the better your pilgrimage’s travel arrangements will be. Therefore, it's advised that you prepare yourself physically, spiritually as well as emotionally for this holy journey beforehand.

Hire a certified umrah travel agent.

Ensure that your Umrah travel agent/operator not only remains authorized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudia Arabia but also possesses the local licenses to operate its business. Also, checking for the membership certificates of the company is a better option. You must always compare different umrah travel packages of different agents before making your final buying decision. 

Learn about the rules of Umrah.

Before your departure to the kingdom of Saudia Arabia, take out some time for learning about the rules and regulations imposed for a pilgrim in the state of Ihram. Familiarize yourself with the prohibitions, permissions, and things to avoid while on the holy journey of Umrah. Learn in detail about the rituals of Umrah, their importance, and their origin. That’s the only way you’ll be able to perform Tawaf, Sayee, and Taqsir rituals properly. Also, learn about the specific prayers that a pilgrim needs to recite during the performance of these holy rituals.

Travel for Ziyarath.

When you have performed all of your Umrah rituals, you’ll still have plenty of time to spend in the kingdom (as your visa permits). Therefore, it is advised that you travel for Ziyarath of the holy sites in the region. For instance, the famous Ziyarath sites include the cave of Hira, Masjid-e-Ayesha (RA), the cave of Saur, Jabal-e-Rehmat, Jannat-ul-Baqi, Masjid-e-Jinn, and many others.

So, these are some of the tips for first-time umrah travelers. 

Necessary vaccinations for Hajj and Umrah travel

 Converging at the time of Hajj and Umrah rituals, millions of Muslim pilgrims travel throughout the year with Islamic Travel's best Hajj and Umrah Agents Offering Cheap Packages. Consequently, Haramain gets filled with a sea of pilgrims of different backgrounds who all are united under the religion of Islam. 

Since Saudia Arabia offers hajj and umrah visas for every country and every nation; many of these pilgrims are traveling from low-income countries i.e., with minimal access to healthcare. Thus, the risk of the spread of infectious diseases increases dramatically. Keeping in view the health and safety of everyone, The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) has therefore stipulated some mandatory vaccinations that have to be carried out prior to Hajj and Umrah visas being issued to the pilgrims because it’s one of the requirements in a visa application form. Yet, the vaccination requirements for every individual may vary i.e., depending on his/her region of travel.

Here’s a brief description of the necessary vaccinations for hajj and umrah travel.

Meningococcal meningitis.

The infectious disease of Meningococcal meningitis can affect the brain membrane; causing severe brain damage and at times, it can also be fatal if left untreated. Since the outbreaks of this particular disease were prominent during the hajj in 1987, 2000, and 2001, it has now been made necessary for all pilgrims to vaccinate themselves against Meningococcal meningitis.

So, pilgrims intending to perform Hajj or Umrah regardless of their region of travel and no matter the age are required to produce and submit a valid vaccination certificate against meningococcal meningitis infection to the relevant authorities. Specifically, the pilgrims arriving from countries within the African Meningitis Belt will also be given antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin) upon their entry to the kingdom of Saudia Arabia as an additional precautionary measure.

Poliomyelitis (Polio).

Polio is a viral illness that can potentially affect and cause temporary/permanent paralysis in the human body. Though the majority of the countries are declared polio-free now, it still exists as an outbreak in some countries. That’s why proof of the vaccination i.e., dose of an oral polio vaccine (OPV), or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is required from pilgrims.

The vaccine against polio must either be administered within the previous 12 months or at least 4 weeks before one’s arrival in Saida Arabia, regardless of the age or vaccination status. Despite this, some pilgrims would also receive an additional single dose of oral polio vaccine upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia as well.

Yellow fever.

Yellow fever is a fatal viral infection that is usually spread by certain a type of mosquitoes. As the disease of yellow fever is predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa, South America as well as certain parts of the Caribbean – all pilgrims traveling from these countries will be required to submit a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. 

The vaccination must either be administered by the pilgrims within the last 10 years or no less than 10 days prior to their departure to Saudia Arabia. Otherwise, pilgrims arriving in Saudia Arabia without a valid yellow fever certificate will be vaccinated on the spot and then put under surveillance (quarantine) for 6 days at least.

These are some of the necessary vaccinations required for Hajj and Umrah travel.