What is Umrah and how is it different from Hajj?
Short answer: Umrah is the “lesser pilgrimage” – ihram, tawaf, sa‘i and shaving or trimming – and can be done any time. Hajj is done only in Dhul Hijjah and includes Arafah.
Umrah consists of four acts: entering ihram at the miqat, seven circuits of tawaf around the Ka‘bah, seven laps of sa‘i between Safa and Marwah, and shaving or trimming the hair. It can be performed at any time of year and takes a few hours. Hajj is a pillar of Islam, done on fixed days (8th–13th Dhul Hijjah) and includes standing at Arafah, Muzdalifah, stoning the jamarat and the sacrifice. Guides: how to perform Umrah, how to perform Hajj, and the tawaf duas.
Answered according to the Quran and authentic Sunnah as explained by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah. For your own situation, ask a trusted scholar.