The actual ritual days of الحج span five to six days, taking place from the 8th through the 12th or 13th of ذو الحجة, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The timeline unfolds as follows: On the 8th of ذو الحجة (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), الحجاج enter the state of الإحرام and travel to the tent city of منى, where they spend the day and night in الصلاة and preparation. On the 9th of ذو الحجة (Yawm al-عرفة), الحجاج travel to the plain of عرفة for the wuquf — the standing — which is the most essential pillar of الحج. After sunset, they proceed to مزدلفة where they spend the night under the open sky, collecting pebbles for the stoning ritual.
On the 10th of ذو الحجة (يوم النحر, which is also Eid al-Adha), الحجاج return to منى to stone the largest pillar (Jamrat al-Aqabah), offer their animal sacrifice, shave or trim their hair (partially exiting الإحرام), and then travel to مكة to perform الطواف al-Ifadah and السعي. This is the busiest and most rite-intensive day of الحج. On the 11th and 12th of ذو الحجة (Ayyam al-Tashriq), الحجاج remain in منى and stone all three الجمرات each day after the sun passes its zenith. Pilgrims who wish to depart early may leave منى on the 12th after the afternoon stoning, provided they depart before sunset. Those who remain for the 13th must stone all three الجمرات once more, which is مستحب and provides additional reward.
While the ritual days themselves are five to six, most الحجاج spend considerably longer in المملكة العربية السعودية. A typical الحج trip lasts two to four weeks total. This includes: travel days to and from المملكة العربية السعودية (1-2 days each way); arrival in مكة for pre-الحج العمرة (العمرة al-Tamattu') and acclimation (3-7 days); the الحج rites themselves (5-6 days); post-الحج days in مكة for rest and additional worship (1-3 days); and often a visit to المدينة to pray at النبي's المسجد (4-7 days, typically before or after the الحج rites). Many الحج packages are structured as 14-day, 21-day, or 30-day itineraries to accommodate these elements.