Umrah packing list: a complete checklist for men and ladies

How to use this Umrah packing list

This Umrah packing list is for families travelling from India for 15 to 20 days. It has a list for men, a list for ladies, and the things everyone needs, from the documents pouch to the small bag you carry to the Haram.

Most first-time pilgrims pack too much. Your days there are simple: hotel, Haram, meals and rest. Light clothes, good footwear and a few well-chosen things matter more than a full suitcase.

Pack in three parts:

• A documents pouch that stays on your body: passport, money and phone.
• A cabin bag that stays with you on the plane and the coach.
• A suitcase for everything else. After check-in at Mumbai, you may not see it again until you reach your hotel in Makkah.

Baggage weight, the number of bags, and the rules for power banks and Zamzam are set by the airline. They can differ between the outward and the return flight, so check the allowance on your own ticket before you buy a new suitcase.

Documents pouch: keep it on you

Use a thin pouch or zip wallet that you wear under your clothes or carry in a sling bag. It never goes in the suitcase.

Take a photo of every document and keep it on your phone. Share a copy with someone at home as well.

Cabin bag: what stays with you

Anything you may need on the plane, at Jeddah airport or on the coach to Makkah goes in the cabin bag. Keep it light enough to lift into the overhead locker yourself.

Power banks must go in the cabin bag, never in the checked suitcase. Airlines also limit their size, and some do not let you use or charge them during the flight.

For men: ihram and daily clothes

Buy your ihram early and wrap it once at home, so the first time is not on the day of travel. Many first-timers find that the lower sheet slips. A good belt and a little practice solve most of it.

Umrah packing list for ladies

There is no special ihram dress for women. Ladies wear their normal loose, modest clothes, so the list is simpler than many people expect. Choose cloth that lets air through and dries quickly.

For questions about women’s ihram, or about periods during the trip, please ask a scholar you trust.

Unscented toiletries and personal care

Once you are in ihram, you avoid perfume and scented products until the Umrah is finished. Most normal soaps and shampoos have a scent, so buy unscented ones before you leave. After the Umrah, you can go back to your usual things.

Medicines and a small first-aid kit

Pack enough regular medicines for the whole trip, plus a few extra days in case a flight changes. Keep them in the cabin bag, in their original strips or boxes, with the prescription.

Some medicines, such as strong painkillers, sleeping tablets and some medicines for anxiety, are controlled in Saudi Arabia. If you take any of these, ask your doctor for a letter and check the rules before you fly.

Your small bag for the Haram

You may walk between the hotel and the Haram several times a day. Carry a small backpack or sling bag and keep it light, because it stays with you through long prayers and tawaf.

Note your gate number when you go in. The gates of both mosques are numbered, and a gate number is the easiest meeting point for a family.

What to leave at home

A lighter bag is easier on the flight, in the hotel lift and on the walk to the Haram. These things add weight without adding much to your trip:

• Gold jewellery and other valuables you do not need
• Clothes for every day of the trip; about a week’s worth is enough
• Large bottles and big packs; small sizes are lighter and last the trip
• Heavy books; the Haram has copies of the Qur’an on its shelves
• Large amounts of cash; carry what you need and a card for the rest
• Strong perfumes; after the Umrah you can buy attar in Makkah or Madinah if you want it

Packing for the trip home

Laundry is part of our group packages, so you do not need a clean set for every single day. Pack for about a week and wash as you go.

Leave about a quarter of your suitcase empty for dates, prayer mats, tasbeehs and gifts. Weigh your bags at the hotel the night before you leave, not at the airport counter.

Zamzam is part of our package inclusions. Each airline has its own rule for Zamzam: how much, in what kind of container, and whether it counts in your baggage. The airline’s rule for your flight decides, so ask before you pack any Zamzam yourself.