My Umrah Journey From the UK to Makkah

Last year, I finally had the opportunity to travel from the UK to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, something I had been thinking about for a long time. Even while booking my flight from London to Jeddah, I remember feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. It was my first time traveling for pilgrimage and I was not entirely sure what to expect in terms of travel arrangements or logistics once I arrived.

After a flight of roughly six hours, the plane landed at Jeddah Airport. I still remember passing through immigration, collecting my luggage, and feeling slightly overwhelmed because everything around me was new. Outside the airport, I met the driver I had arranged beforehand for my transfer to Makkah. He was holding my name on a small board, which was reassuring after a long journey.

The ride from Jeddah to Makkah took a little over an hour and a half. Somewhere along the route, the driver reminded me that we would soon pass the Miqat area and that this was the place to begin reciting Talbiyah. Having someone who understood the process made things clearer, especially since my mind was occupied with the emotional weight of what I was about to do.

The car ride itself felt calm. I spent the journey looking out of the window, trying to take in the fact that I was travelling towards the city that millions of Muslims long to visit. After arriving in Makkah, the driver helped me with my luggage and wished me a blessed pilgrimage before leaving. It was a small interaction, but meaningful enough that I still remember it.

Once I checked into my hotel and prepared myself, I made my way towards Masjid al Haram for the first time. Seeing the Ka‘bah with my own eyes felt unreal. I had seen it countless times in photographs and videos, but standing there in front of it was something completely different. I did not take pictures, I just stood quietly, trying to take in the moment and reflecting on how I had been guided to be there.

During my stay, I spent most of my time in prayer, doing Tawaf, drinking Zamzam water, and making dua for things I rarely speak about out loud. I also arranged a trip to Madinah later in my journey. The drive between Makkah and Madinah was long, but peaceful. It allowed time for reflection and quiet moments away from the rush of daily life.

What stood out most from the entire trip was how much humility the experience brings. Wearing Ihram removes almost every outward difference between people. Standing among thousands of others during Tawaf makes you feel part of something much greater than yourself. The rituals are simple, but they have a way of changing how you look at yourself and your relationship with your Creator.

Performing Umrah also reminded me how important patience is during travel. Things do not always go perfectly. Flights are tiring, crowds can be overwhelming, and navigating a new place takes effort. Yet somehow, when the intention is worship, everything becomes easier to handle.

Looking back, I am grateful for each part of the journey from leaving the UK, to arriving in Saudi Arabia, to finally reaching Makkah and Madinah. Even the small details, like meeting a kind driver at the airport or being offered a bottle of water during the ride, became a part of the memory.

If I learned anything from the experience, it is that Umrah is not just a trip. It is a journey inward. The travel, the rituals, the patience, and the silence all become part of something spiritual that continues even after returning home. I hope others who are planning the same journey will find comfort in knowing that it is normal to feel unsure at first, but once you reach the Holy Cities, everything begins to make sense in its own way.

May those who wish to visit Makkah and Madinah be granted the opportunity, and may every journey taken for worship bring peace and closeness to Allah.