Pack light — you will carry your own bag through crowded terminals and hotels. One medium checked bag plus a small backpack is plenty for most pilgrims. Keep a separate day bag for the rites.
Documents & money
- Passport (6+ months validity) + 4–6 spare passport photos
- Printed visa, flight tickets and hotel vouchers (plus digital copies)
- Vaccination certificate (meningitis ACYW135)
- Photocopies of passport & ID kept separately from the originals
- Some cash in Saudi Riyal + one debit/credit card
- Neck pouch or money belt worn under clothing
Ihram & clothing
- Men: 2–3 sets of ihram towels, an ihram belt with a pouch, safety pins, and comfortable sandals that show the ankle bone
- Women: loose, plain abayas or modest dress, extra scarves, comfortable closed walking shoes
- Lightweight, breathable everyday clothing for the hotel
- A light jacket or shawl (mosques and coaches are heavily air-conditioned)
- Quick-dry underwear and socks; a small travel clothesline
Toiletries — unscented for ihram
- Unscented soap, shampoo and toothpaste (scented products are not allowed in ihram)
- Unscented moisturiser, lip balm and vaseline (helps prevent chafing while walking)
- Toothbrush + miswak, comb, nail clippers (for after ihram), razor
- Travel towel, tissue packs and a small bar of laundry soap
- Sunscreen (sunblock is permitted in ihram as it is not perfumed)
Health & comfort
- Any prescription medicines in original packaging + a doctor’s note
- Paracetamol/ibuprofen, anti-diarrhoeal, oral rehydration salts, cold & flu tablets, throat lozenges
- Plasters, blister pads, antiseptic cream, hand sanitiser
- Face masks (crowds spread coughs — the “Hajj/Umrah cough” is real)
- Refillable water bottle and a small folding umbrella for shade
- A pouch or drawstring bag to carry your sandals during Tawaf
Electronics
- Phone + charger, power bank, and a UK/EU-to-Saudi (Type G/A) travel adapter
- Short charging cable and a multi-port USB plug
- Offline Quran / du’a app and offline maps downloaded before travel
Day bag for the rites
- Small prayer mat, pocket du’a book, tasbih
- Sandal bag, spare face mask, tissues, hand sanitiser
- Water bottle, a few dates or snacks, rehydration sachet
- Hotel card and your group leader’s phone number written on paper
Most-forgotten items
Spare glasses, a plug adapter, unscented lip balm, blister pads, safety pins for ihram, a photocopy of the passport, and a lightweight bag for carrying shoes into the mosque.
Check your airline’s baggage allowance and the latest Saudi customs rules before you fly. Zamzam water is provided as a sealed allowance on the return flight — you do not need to pack it.
Related: How to perform Umrah · Hajj 2027 guide · Umrah packages · Hajj packages
Questions About Your Trip?
Our advisors can walk you through everything from baggage to visas before you travel.