Halifax to Medina for Umrah via Montreal and Istanbul: Sample Winter Itinerary

Flying to Umrah from Atlantic Canada takes some planning, because there are no direct flights from Halifax. Here is a sample routing FJ Travels and Tours put together for a January 2027 Umrah trip, with the connections and layover points worth knowing about.

The route

Outbound: Halifax to Medina (all times local)

• Halifax 1:25 PM, arrive Montreal 2:20 PM
• Montreal 7:55 PM, arrive Istanbul 1:25 PM (next day)
• Istanbul 3:30 PM, arrive Medina 6:55 PM

Return: Jeddah to Halifax

• Jeddah 7:50 AM, arrive Istanbul 12:00 PM
• Istanbul 3:45 PM, arrive Montreal 6:00 PM
• Montreal 9:15 PM, arrive Halifax 11:55 PM

This is an open-jaw itinerary. You fly into Medina and home from Jeddah, which suits a trip that ends in Makkah.

Layovers

• Montreal outbound: about 5.5 hours. That is long, but it is deliberate. In winter, a connection of only two hours in Montreal can be risky because of weather delays, and a longer buffer helps protect the rest of the journey.
• Istanbul outbound: about 2 hours.
• Istanbul on the return: nearly 4 hours.
• Montreal on the return: just over 3 hours.

Ziyarat

FJ can arrange a guided group ziyarat in both Makkah and Madinah. Let your agent know when you book so it can be added.

Good to know

• Choose your connection time carefully in winter. Snow and de-icing delays at Canadian airports are common from December to February, so a longer first layover is often the safer choice.
• Ask for seats together. If you are travelling as a group or family, request this at booking.
• Schedules change. Airlines sometimes adjust departure times after tickets are issued. In this case, the Jeddah departure was revised by a small amount. Check your email for an updated ticket copy and confirm any change with your agent.
• Payment. Deposits and instalments can be arranged with FJ. Your agent will send an invoice and match each payment to it, so keep your deposit receipts.

Want a similar itinerary from Halifax or another Canadian city? Contact FJ Travels and Tours for current options.

Prices were quoted in August 2026 in Canadian dollars, include taxes, and are subject to seat availability and change. Contact FJ Travels and Tours for today's price.