Whenever we make any plans, the first thing we do is selecting the suitable dates. The better dates you select according to your schedule, the better your experience will be. Similarly, it’s important to choose the best dates to travel. If it’s a journey for Umrah, this step becomes very crucial.
You may have noticed that whenever you intend to book an Umrah travel package, you are asked for dates. If you don’t plan well, your entire trip experience can be ruined. So, here you will see the best Umrah travel dates in 2026 school holidays.
School holidays provides a unique chance to depart for Umrah. Muslims from European countries, especially those in the UK, choose school holidays to perform Umrah. These holidays come in different months of the year such as spring, summer, and autumn term. You can select which period is most suitable for your Umrah departure. Let’s see some best dates for your pilgrimage in 2026 school holidays!
February Half-Term (Best for Ramadan Start)
2026 February half-term holidays is one of those lunar dates of the year when Europe school holidays and the beginning of Ramadan are clashing with each other. Ramadan is expected to start from February 18, 2026 and holidays will approximately begin from 16 Feb (sometimes 13 or 14 Feb). So, if you depart on 14 or 15 February, you can perform Umrah peacefully and spend 2-3 days before Ramadan. After that, start fasting and spend your days in Makkah and Madinah.
The major advantage of February holidays is that you can spend vacations and enjoy Ramadan fasting in holy cities. Having your first fasting experience inside Haram is a strange feeling with joy in the religious atmosphere. Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia has excellent weather during February. It’s mildly sunny with temperature around 25°C during the day and comfortably cool (16°C) at night. But here are some cons that you should keep in mind. Ramadan and holidays are high demand periods, so you should make your booking in advance. There will be a lot of crowds during this time.
Easter Holidays (After Ramadan)
Easter holidays (around 30 March to 10 April, 2026) is also a good period to perform Umrah. This period is also known as sweet spot to travel. As you know, during Ramadan millions of Muslims from all over the world come to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. Ramadan 2026 period will end nearly 19 March. Therefore, when you travel towards Saudi Arabia in Easter holidays, the rush at the Haram has already been reduced. Make sure to depart from Saudi Arabia by April 18, 2026 because the Hajj preparations will start (according to the Saudi Ministry).
The weather in Easter period is almost comfortable, neither too hot or nor very cold. It’s approximately 30°C to 35°C during the day and 20°C to 24°C at night (between March and April). This time, Easter holidays are coming in the month of Shawwal. You will get the opportunity to observe fasts of Shawwal in the sacred atmosphere of Makkah and Madinah. Moreover, post-Ramadan period is typically less crowded and packages’ rates are also seems to be low.
October Half-Term Holidays (Comfortable Duration)
October is the best period of Umrah, especially for those who wants to avoid the intense heat of summer. In 2026, these holidays will lie from October 26 to 30 which is approximately nine days including weekends. In October, the daytime temperature in Saudi Arabia stays between 35°C and 37°C. Evenings and nights become very peaceful. In Madinah, the weather is little better, you can feel slight chill in the evening.
October half-term holidays sometimes known as off-peak season for Umrah. You can book cheap flights as compared to December and Easter period. At this time, no major events (Ramadan or Hajj) take place in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, hotels very close to the Haram are available at the reasonable prices. An average family trip can save £400 to £600 if travel in October instead of December.
There will be less crowds at this time. So, you can comfortably perform Tawaf around Mataf, visit Rawdah, and Ziyarats points. Hence, make sure to arrange your trip as the holidays start. In Scotland, this vacation period can start a bit early from England, like 12 – 16 October.
December Break (Popular for Families)
December is the popular month for many Umrah travellers. It’s the last month of the year and Christmas holidays also fall in this month. The reason for this is not just school holidays but also the amazing weather of Saudi Arabia. December is almost the coldest month in the entire world and Saudi Arabia also falls in this category.
December is the popular period of the year when people around the world are on break and enjoying the holidays. For Umrah journey, it’s one of the best months. Most schools in the Europe will close from around 18th to 4th January, 2026. You will have about two weeks to enjoy your December break on Umrah trip.
The weather in Makkah and Madinah during December is not exactly like London or Manchester, but it’s perfect to perform rituals. In Makkah, temperature remains between 26°C – 30°C during the day and 18°C – 20°C at night. But Madinah becomes colder than Makkah, and night temperature can drop to 10°C and 13°C.
Tip: Umrah in December is a better decision because there will be no fatigue due to the heat. You can perform Tawaf comfortably even in the afternoon.
To conclude this article, not any time is bad for Umrah because the house of Allah SWT is always full of blessings for Muslims. But keeping the holidays in mind and proper planning can transform your journey from exhausting fatigue to relaxing worship. Whatever the best dates of Umrah is, book your flight and hotels at least 4-5 months in advance so that you can avoid the peak season inflation. Holidays can only give you a chance to travel, the main focus should be to concentrate on your worship.
