This article was last reviewed on 26 July 2026.
Umrah can be expensive, so people constantly ask Reddit when to go for the best prices and lightest crowds. Here's what they said, and what to actually do with that advice.
Umrah can be expensive, so it's no surprise that people want to find the cheapest and least crowded times to go. You'll find questions on this topic asked often on Reddit. Below we list some of what Redditors have said along with our thoughts.
Cheapest Times to Go for Umrah
The consensus for the best times to go for Umrah seems to be after the most crowded times. Especially after Ramadan and after Hajj.
u/cool_guy141 (paraphrased): Best time is Muharram through Rabi' al-Thani, roughly July to October.
u/lock_clock_talk (paraphrased): Most likely June-July, after Hajj and after the harsh weather.
One poster noted that December to January are usually more expensive, which makes sense because that usually coincides with winter break and Christmas break for many countries. Many people come during these times because they can get time off of work or school. I've personally noticed the increase in crowding during known holidays like Thanksgiving in November, winter break in December, etc.
u/Worth-Feed8758 (paraphrased): Prices were noticeably lower in September, October, and November compared to December, roughly a third cheaper for a similar booking made in November versus December/January. Crowds were also lighter in that September–November window, based on family members' experience.
These comments all generally say the same thing: After crowded seasons (Ramadan & Hajj), and after holiday seasons (Thanksgiving, Christmas break, etc) are usually the best time to go.
Least Crowded Times to Go for Umrah
u/Admirable-Peach9540 (paraphrased): Muharram and Safar are less crowded months.
u/Unlucky-Respond-9597 (paraphrased): September, or right after Ramadan.
u/stealth941 (paraphrased): After Hajj.
u/nirliptota (paraphrased): Historically, the second and third day of Shawwal are the least crowded specifically for tawaf and sa'i.
Some commenters did say that it doesn't matter anymore since nowadays it's crowded all year around. While there's definitely some truth to this sentiment, you can absolutely find less crowded times to do Umrah if you plan properly Bi'ithnillaah.
One interesting idea to consider is to perform Umrah when the sun is out. Doing Umrah in the heat, if you can manage it, means you'll face a lot less crowding. I generally would not recommend it, and I advise everyone going for Umrah to prioritize their health and safety, but for those who are able, it is something worth considering.
u/8ismillah (paraphrased): Everyone says go after Isha or before Fajr because it's cooler, so that's when it's most packed regardless of what people claim. Going during the scorching heat of the day instead meant much easier access, including being able to touch the Kaaba multiple times.
u/8ismillah, later in the thread (paraphrased): Specified the quiet window was daily tawaf starting around 11am, in October, during the hottest part of the day. Included a photo taken at midday showing the area quiet, since most people were avoiding the heat.
u/humdrumfixing1 (paraphrased): Based on a trip two weeks prior, Fajr until Zuhr was the least busy stretch.
The truth is that the night time will always be more crowded than the day time, precisely because of the sun.
If you're planning to go for Umrah and are looking for the cheapest and least crowded times, there are a few things to take note of:
- The Islamic calendar shifts roughly 11 days from the Gregorian calendar each year. In 2016, Ramadan started on June 6th. In 2026, Ramadan started on February 18th. So you'll definitely want to take that into consideration when factoring in crowding, time of the year, weather, and pricing.
- If you're planning to go without a group to minimize costs, be sure to learn the steps of Umrah thoroughly so that you can perform it properly InShaaAllah once you're there. Check out our Umrah guide and Duas page if you've never performed Umrah before.
- Where you traveling from, how long you stay, and whether you also go to Madinah all factor into how much you'll end up spending on your Umrah journey. Check out our Umrah Cost Calculator for a general idea on what costs to expect.
