How is an Umrah performed?

An Umrah has four steps: entering ihram, tawaf, sa'y and cutting the hair. Together they take a few hours.

An Umrah may be performed on any day of the year; unlike the Hajj it is not tied to a date. The four steps below are the act of worship itself — everything else about the trip, the flight, the hotel, the visits, is arranged around them. The rites together usually take three to six hours, depending on the crowds. The most useful preparation for a first visit is knowing the order beforehand: reading up in the crowds at the Haram is hard. On accompanied programmes your guide is with you at every step; whether guidance is included depends on the programme you choose. The sequence below is here so that you know in advance what is coming.

Entering ihram: before the Mikat boundary you perform the full ablution, put on the ihram garments, make the intention and recite the Telbiye.
Tawaf: seven circuits of the Kaaba beginning level with the Black Stone, followed by two rak'ahs of tawaf prayer.
Sa'y: seven passages between Safa and Merve. The first runs from Safa to Merve, and the seventh ends at Merve.
Cutting the hair: the hair is shortened or shaved. This ends the state of ihram and completes the Umrah.