A cousin of mine in Luton was offered a Hajj place last year for £3,900. The message came through a family WhatsApp group, with a smiling photo of the Kaaba and a promise of “guaranteed visa, 5-star Mina tents”. She called me before sending the deposit. The offer was half the price of anything legitimate, and it did not come through the official booking platform. She did not pay. Others in that group did.
Every year, British Muslims search for cheap Hajj packages in the UK, and every year some of them lose money to offers that sound too good to be true. The honest truth is that Hajj from the UK is never cheap in the way a holiday can be. But there are real ways to keep the cost down, and for some families an all-inclusive Umrah package is a better first step while they save. This guide explains both.
Hajj packages for UK residents can only be bought through Saudi Arabia’s official Nusuk Hajj platform. For Hajj 2027 (expected around 14 to 19 May), the most affordable packages for UK pilgrims are expected to start at around £7,000 per person, with most between £7,000 and £12,000. Any offer far below that, or outside Nusuk Hajj, is a serious warning sign. An all-inclusive Umrah package, by contrast, usually costs around £900–£1,500 per person in a quiet month and can be booked with any ATOL-protected UK travel firm.
What a Cheap Hajj Package from the UK Really Looks Like
Since 2022, pilgrims living in the UK, Europe, the US and Australia have booked Hajj through Nusuk Hajj, the online platform run by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Licensed providers list their packages there, and the Hajj visa is issued through the same system once you pay. That means the “cheapest” Hajj is simply the lowest-priced package on the official platform, not a special deal from a local agent.
Packages differ mainly by where you stay in Mina during the most important days, and by the hotels in Makkah and Madinah.
| Package level | What it usually means | Rough price per person, 2027 |
| Economy | Mina camps further from the Jamarat, shared tents, hotels further from the Haram, flights often not included | From around £7,000 |
| Standard | Better-placed Mina camps, 4-star hotels | Around £8,500–£10,500 |
| Premium | Camps closest to the Jamarat, 5-star hotels near the Haram | £11,000–£12,000 and above |
These are guide figures based on UK providers’ listings and should be checked when 2027 packages are released on the platform.
It is worth being clear about what an economy package means in practice. You will walk further, sleep in more crowded tents and spend longer on buses between the holy sites. For a young, fit pilgrim, that is often a fair trade. For older parents or anyone with mobility problems, the extra walking can make Hajj far harder, and a standard package may be worth the extra cost.
The real cost of Hajj is not just the package. Allow for flights if they are not included, vaccinations, travel insurance, and spending money for around three weeks away.
Honest Ways to Keep Hajj Costs Down
There is no secret back door to a cheap Hajj, but these choices genuinely bring the price down.
- Register early on Nusuk Hajj. Places are limited and the lower-priced packages tend to go first. Have your account set up, documents uploaded and budget agreed before packages are released.
- Choose an economy package if you are fit enough. The Mina camp is the biggest single price driver. If you can manage the extra walking, it can save several thousand pounds per person.
- Share a room. Packages with four to six people per room in Makkah and Madinah cost noticeably less.
- Check whether flights are included. Some packages leave flights to you. Booking early from Heathrow or Manchester can make that cheaper, but compare the total carefully.
- Save over time. Most families who go for Hajj have saved for years. A separate savings account, with a standing order on payday, makes it far more achievable.
The warning everyone should hear
City of London Police reported that UK pilgrims lost £195,752 to Hajj-related fraud in 2025, with one person losing more than £64,000. In March 2026 the force also warned about fake copies of the Nusuk platform. Hajj packages are not ATOL-protected, so the usual safety net for package holidays does not apply.
To stay safe:
- Book only on the official Nusuk Hajj website, from providers listed there.
- Never pay for a Hajj place through WhatsApp, social media or a “guaranteed visa” offer.
- Type the web address yourself instead of clicking links in messages.
- Keep every receipt and payment record.
- Report anything suspicious to Report Fraud straight away.
If an offer is thousands of pounds cheaper than every other package, the saving is not real.
What an All-Inclusive Umrah Package Offers
For many families, Umrah comes before Hajj. It can be done for most of the year, it costs a fraction of the price, and it can be booked with any licensed UK travel firm. A well-chosen all-inclusive Umrah package should take care of almost everything:
- Return flights from a UK airport, with luggage and a Zamzam allowance
- The Saudi tourist eVisa, or a dedicated Umrah visa if needed
- Named hotels in Makkah and Madinah, with their walking distance from the Haram
- Breakfast and dinner, or full board
- Airport transfers and the journey between Makkah and Madinah
- Guided ziyarat in both cities
- A UK contact and a group leader or local representative
In a quiet month, such as November or the second half of January, seven to ten nights usually cost around £900–£1,500 per person when sharing a room. School holidays cost more, and the last ten nights of Ramadan can pass £2,500.
“All-inclusive” has no legal definition, so always check what is actually covered. The two things most often missing are meals (some packages include breakfast only) and named hotels (some say “4-star or similar”). The visa is another one to check: British passport holders and many UK residents can apply for the eVisa themselves for SAR 535, about £105–£115, so a package that includes it should not charge much more.
Unlike Hajj, Umrah packages that include flights should be ATOL-protected, which gives you a refund or a way home if the firm fails.
Hajj or Umrah First? A Simple Way to Decide
| Cheap Hajj package | All-inclusive Umrah package | |
| Typical cost per person | From around £7,000 | Around £900–£1,500 off-peak |
| When | Fixed dates, around 14–19 May 2027 | Most of the year |
| How to book from the UK | Only through Nusuk Hajj | Any ATOL-protected UK firm |
| Protection | Not ATOL-protected | ATOL-protected if flights are included |
| Length | Around 2–3 weeks | Usually 7–14 nights |
| Physical demands | High, with long walks and crowds | Moderate, at your own pace |
Hajj is a pillar of Islam for those who are able, so if you have the health and the means, it should come first. But many families are not there yet, and that is where Umrah helps.
I usually suggest that families who hope to go for Hajj in the next few years make one off-peak Umrah first. You learn the layout of the Haram, the steps of Tawaf and Sa’i, how your parents cope with walking and crowds, and how your budget works in Saudi Arabia. When Hajj comes, much of the uncertainty is gone.
If you are choosing an Umrah package now, compare a few quotes side by side. Check that each one names the hotels, gives the walking distance to the Haram, lists the meals, names the airline and says whether the visa is included. A clear benchmark makes this much easier. The all-inclusive Umrah package options from Islamic Travel set out exactly that, with hotel names, distances from the Haram and what is included, and they are ATOL-protected. Holding other quotes up against a package laid out like that shows you quickly whether a lower price is a real saving or simply a thinner trip.
Whichever you choose, pay by credit card where you can for Section 75 protection on purchases between £100 and £30,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there cheap Hajj packages in the UK?
The most affordable Hajj packages for UK residents in 2027 are expected to start at around £7,000 per person. They are economy packages on the official Nusuk Hajj platform, with Mina camps further from the Jamarat and shared rooms.
Can I book Hajj through a UK travel agent?
Not in the traditional way. UK residents must book Hajj through Nusuk Hajj, from providers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Is a £3,000 or £4,000 Hajj offer genuine?
Almost certainly not. Any offer far below official package prices, or sold outside Nusuk Hajj, should be treated as a likely scam. Report it to Report Fraud.
What does an all-inclusive Umrah package include?
Usually flights, the visa, named hotels in Makkah and Madinah, meals, transfers, ziyarat and support. Always check, as “all-inclusive” has no fixed definition.
How much is an all-inclusive Umrah package from the UK?
In quiet months, around £900–£1,500 per person for seven to ten nights when sharing a room.
Are Hajj packages ATOL-protected?
No. City of London Police advises that Hajj packages are not ATOL-protected, so book only on the official platform and keep all payment records. Umrah packages with flights should be ATOL-protected.
Hajj and Umrah are journeys of a lifetime, and neither should be put at risk to save a few hundred pounds. Book through the right channels, be realistic about the cost, and if Hajj is still a few years away, an all-inclusive Umrah can be a meaningful first step on the way.
