Packing for Umrah in Harmattan season

Between December and February, Makkah and Madinah get genuinely cold at night. Pilgrims who packed for a hot country end up buying a jumper at four times the price in the first week, so this is worth ten minutes of planning.

What to bring

• One warm layer for the night prayers, since the marble courtyards hold the cold
• Two pairs of slip-on sandals, so one is always dry
• A drawstring bag for shoes, which saves searching the racks after every prayer
• Any regular medication in its original packaging with the prescription
• Unscented soap and toiletries for the days in ihram
• A small power bank, because the Nusuk app is where your permits live

What to leave behind

Heavy suitcases are the usual mistake. Zamzam comes home in a sealed container issued at the airport and does not need space in your bag, and gifts are cheaper and lighter in Madinah than in Makkah. Travel with room in the case rather than a plan to buy a second one.

One more thing that is not on any list: write your hotel name in Arabic on a card and keep it in your pocket. Every group has one person who gets turned around leaving the Haram at night, and that card ends the problem in thirty seconds.