Before you go
Prepare for your pilgrimage.
Checklists, rituals, documentation, packing, and language — everything a first-time pilgrim needs, in one quiet place. Your progress is saved on this device.
Passport valid for 6+ months after return
Saudi requires 6 months validity at entry
Umrah visa via Nusuk app or approved agent
Nusuk is the official Saudi eVisa platform
Flights booked and confirmed
Usually into Jeddah (JED) or Madinah (MED)
Accommodation near Haram booked
Within 500m of Masjid al-Haram is a night-saver
Travel + medical insurance
Must cover Saudi Arabia; carry proof
Mahram paperwork if applicable
Women under 45 may need mahram documentation
Two paper photocopies + phone photos of passport, visa, insurance
Keep copies separate from originals
Emergency contacts shared with family
Meningitis ACWY vaccine (required)
Minimum 10 days before entry, valid for 3 yrs
Check current Saudi vaccination requirements
Requirements change — verify close to travel
Seasonal flu shot (recommended)
Prescription medications (enough + extra)
Keep in original labeled bottles
Personal first-aid kit
Plasters, electrolytes, pain relief, blister care, hand sanitizer
Break in walking sandals weeks before
You'll walk 5–15 km/day. Blisters end Umrah early
2 sets of Ihram (men) / modest travel clothing (women)
Ihram belt with zip pouch
For passport, cash, phone — no pockets in Ihram
Walking sandals — must not cover the heel or top of foot (for men in Ihram)
Loose long-sleeve tops, loose trousers, hijabs
Comfortable sleepwear + modest layer for hotel hallways
Reusable Zamzam-safe water bottle
Small crossbody bag for Haram visits
Small umbrella for sun/rain (permissible outside tawaaf)
Unscented soap, toothpaste, deodorant
Perfumes are prohibited during Ihram
Phone + charger + long USB cable + power bank
UK / EU plug adapter (Saudi uses Type G and A/B)
eSIM or plan for Saudi Arabia
STC and Zain offer Hajj/Umrah eSIMs
Cash in Saudi Riyals + backup card
Small notes for taxis, tips, and the Haram floor vendors
What you can't do in Ihram
Once you enter the state of Ihram at the miqat, the following are prohibited until you exit it: cutting hair or nails, using perfume or scented soap, sexual relations, hunting or killing animals, covered footwear or sewn clothing (for men), and covering the face (for women). Arguing and bad language are strongly discouraged.
If you break an Ihram rule inadvertently, there is a fidyah (compensation) — usually fasting three days, feeding six poor people, or sacrificing a sheep. Ask a scholar at the Haram for specifics.
The miqat
The miqat is the geographic boundary at which you must enter Ihram if you intend to perform Umrah. If flying into Jeddah from the west, you typically enter Ihram before your flight descends past the miqat. Ask your carrier — many announce it. For travellers already in Makkah, Al-Tan'eem is the nearest point to renew Ihram.
The rituals walkthrough has its own home
For each of the seven Umrah rituals — the act, the Sunnah, where scholars differ, and tips from recent pilgrims — see the Rituals page. Every claim sourced; every card scholar-reviewed.
Hajj is Umrah + a five-day cycle
Hajj includes everything in Umrah, plus a defined sequence of rituals over 8–13 Dhul-Hijjah. The preparation is heavier: you'll be outdoors for extended periods, in crowds of millions, with limited control over your schedule. Start everything below at least 6 months out.
Passport valid for 6+ months after return
Hajj visa through Nusuk or authorized operator
Quota-limited — book early. Hajj visas are only issued through official channels
Hajj package booked (flight + accommodation + transport)
DIY Hajj is not permitted; use an authorized operator
Travel + medical + life insurance
Will updated and witnessed
Traditional preparation — pilgrims historically set their affairs in order before leaving
Outstanding debts cleared or scheduled
Seek forgiveness from those you may have wronged
Family finances arranged for duration
Meningitis ACWY + any currently required vaccines
Saudi updates the list annually — verify 3 months out
Walking fitness — build to 10km/day, three months ahead
Heat conditioning — Hajj can exceed 45°C (113°F)
14+ day supply of prescription meds
If diabetic/cardiac: physician clearance + medical ID bracelet
Foot care kit — antibiotic cream, blister pads, foot powder
Non-scented sunscreen (perfume is haram in Ihram)
Oral rehydration salts for heat-exhaustion backup
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Hajj-specific packing
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3+ sets of Ihram / modest clothing
You'll sweat through these. More is better
Thin prayer mat (travel weight)
Thin sleeping bag or liner for Mina tents
Zip pouches for pebble collection (Mina/Muzdalifah)
You will throw 49 or 70 pebbles across the days — organize by day
High-capacity power bank (20,000+ mAh)
Small headlamp — overnight at Muzdalifah
Foldable backpack stool (optional but blessed)
Group ID wristband + laminated name tag
Getting separated in millions of people is common
Hotel + group leader phone written on paper in wallet
If phone dies or is lost, you still need to find your people
More cash than Umrah — ~2,000 SAR working fund
Whistle (safety, crowd separation)
The five days, ritual by ritual
The 12 Hajj rituals across 8–13 Dhul-Hijjah — with the Sunnah, scholarly differences, and validated tips for each — live on the Rituals page. Tap the Hajj toggle when you get there.
One last thing
No checklist prepares you for what happens the first time you see the Kaaba. Read what you can, pack what you need, then put the phone down, arrive, and let it meet you.