Table of Contents
Independent Umrah Flexibility
Key Challenges and Preparation
Document Preparation and Fees:
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Worship
Umrah
Now it is becoming more flexible as there are many options to carry it out independently, without being bound by a tight schedule from a travel agent.
Independent Umrah travel allows pilgrims to organize all activities themselves, starting from worship schedules, pilgrimages, to transportation.
Armiya Farhana, a pilgrim who has twice experienced performing Umrah independently, shares the keys to success and the challenges she faces.
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Armiy, his nickname, used a Saudia Airlines transit visa with Morocco as the final destination country.
“Yesterday my final destination was Morocco, so I transited in Jeddah. As long as we use the Saudia airline, we only pay 35 dollars for insurance, the cost is free,” said Armiy, as reported by
Sec
.
Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, Armiy relied on modern and local modes of transportation for his mobility.He uses the Haramain fast train from the airport to the city, as well as online taxis and conventional buses, which are considered more accessible.
Without the assistance of a tour guide, technology becomes the main helper.Armiy completely relies
Google Maps
and
Apple Maps
as a direction.
“Now times are advanced, there are translators, and for location orientation there are also accurate applications,” said Armiy.
Independent Umrah Flexibility
The biggest advantage of a self-guided Umrah, according to Armiy, is complete flexibility.He can freely divide his time between obligatory worship activities and leisure activities such as pilgrimages, without having to follow a predetermined schedule.
“The good thing about independent Umrah is that the main thing is that we organize it ourselves, be flexible. So today we want to go where, what we want to do, according to our own time and conditions,” he said.
Key Challenges and Preparation
Even though it is flexible, independent Umrah still brings its own challenges.Armiy revealed that the language barrier and having to take care of the terms and conditions of the Umrah itself were the main challenges.However, he emphasized that technology is very helpful in adapting.
For prospective independent pilgrims, he suggested that the understanding of Umrah procedures be studied in depth, either through the guidance of a known ustaz or from trusted sources such as YouTube channels.
Document Preparation and Fees:
For those who are interested in trying the independent route, several crucial documents that must be prepared are:
– Passport with a minimum validity period of six months.
– Hotel reservations can be made via online platforms or official Saudi Arabian applications such as Nusuk.
– Airline tickets are the largest cost component.”If you get cheap tickets, your budget can be much more economical,” said Armiy.
He concluded, with careful planning, independent Umrah can be much more affordable than packages from premium travel agents.However, Armiy still suggests that prospective pilgrims who are not used to traveling alone should consider using a travel agent.
(ana/wiw)
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