🧾 Umrah for First Timers – Complete Beginner’s Checklist (USA & Canada – 2025)
By Express World Travel | www.expressworldtravel.com| WhatsApp: +91-9045468943
🕋 First Time Going for Umrah from North America?
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry — thousands of Muslims from the USA & Canada perform Umrah every year, many for the first time.
This step-by-step beginner’s checklist will help you prepare mentally, spiritually, and logistically for a smooth and meaningful Umrah journey in 2025.
✅ 1. Understand What Umrah Is
Umrah is a non-mandatory pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed any time of the year. It includes:
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Ihram (intention + dress)
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Tawaf (circling the Kaaba 7 times)
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Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah 7 times)
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Hair cutting/shaving (men) or trimming (women)
🧠 Umrah takes 2–3 hours once inside Haram.
🛄 2. Documents Checklist for US/Canada Travelers
Make sure you have:
✅ Valid passport (at least 6 months validity)
✅ Umrah visa (arranged by your travel agent)
✅ Round-trip flight tickets
✅ Hotel booking confirmations
✅ Proof of vaccinations (COVID-19 + meningitis)
✅ Travel insurance (recommended)
✈️ 3. Book a Trusted Umrah Package
Choose a package based on:
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Budget: Land-only or all-inclusive
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Group or private
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Hotel distance from Haram
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Meals and ziyarah tours included or not
👉 Express World Travel offers packages from just $600 USD (land-only)
Includes hotel, meals, visa, ziyarats, transport, and guide.
🧳 4. What to Pack (First-Timer Essentials)
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ihram (for men) | Worn during rituals |
| Travel prayer mat | For rest stops |
| Slippers + bag | Needed inside Haram |
| Basic medications | Pain relief, digestion, etc. |
| Small backpack | For daily essentials |
| Portable charger | Phones needed for maps/contact |
| Copies of documents | Keep both physical & digital |
🎒 Pack light! Laundry services are available in most hotels.
🕌 5. Learn the Rituals in Advance
Before you go, learn:
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How to enter Ihram & say niyyah
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What to say during Tawaf & Sa’i
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Duas (supplications) — even short ones in your language
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The locations of key places (Kaaba, Safa/Marwah, Zamzam)
📱 Download an Umrah guide app or get a printed step-by-step book.
👨👩👧 6. Travel Tips for First-Time North American Pilgrims
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Jet lag is real — rest 1 day before starting Umrah
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Stay hydrated, especially in Makkah heat
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Don’t rush the rituals — focus on meaning, not speed
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Stick with your group leader or guide, especially on ziyarats
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Be patient — expect crowds, queues, and heat
💬 7. Rely on Your Travel Agent (That’s Us!)
We help first-time travelers with:
✅ Visa processing
✅ Packing and prep checklist
✅ Hotel & flight bookings
✅ Local support in Makkah & Madinah
✅ Group guidance in English, Urdu & Arabic
📞 Ready to Start Your First Umrah Journey?
Let’s guide you from Day 1 — from paperwork to prayers.
🌐 Website: www.expressworldtravel.com
📱 WhatsApp: +91-9045468943
📧 Email: info@expressworldtravel.com
🙌 “First-time Umrah doesn’t have to be hard. With the right team, it’s life-changing.”