The actual ritual days of হজ্জ span five to six days, taking place from the 8th through the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The timeline unfolds as follows: On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), হাজীগণ enter the state of ইহরাম and travel to the tent city of মিনা, where they spend the day and night in সালাত and preparation. On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-আরাফাত), হাজীগণ travel to the plain of আরাফাত for the wuquf — the standing — which is the most essential pillar of হজ্জ. After sunset, they proceed to মুযদালিফা where they spend the night under the open sky, collecting pebbles for the stoning ritual.
On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Nahr, which is also Eid al-Adha), হাজীগণ return to মিনা to stone the largest pillar (Jamrat al-Aqabah), offer their animal sacrifice, shave or trim their hair (partially exiting ইহরাম), and then travel to মক্কা মুকাররমা to perform তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah and সাঈ. This is the busiest and most rite-intensive day of হজ্জ. On the 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah (Ayyam al-Tashriq), হাজীগণ remain in মিনা and stone all three জামারাত each day after the sun passes its zenith. Pilgrims who wish to depart early may leave মিনা on the 12th after the afternoon stoning, provided they depart before sunset. Those who remain for the 13th must stone all three জামারাত once more, which is মুস্তাহাব and provides additional reward.
While the ritual days themselves are five to six, most হাজীগণ spend considerably longer in Saudi Arabia. A typical হজ্জ trip lasts two to four weeks total. This includes: travel days to and from Saudi Arabia (1-2 days each way); arrival in মক্কা মুকাররমা for pre-হজ্জ উমরাহ (উমরাহ al-Tamattu') and acclimation (3-7 days); the হজ্জ rites themselves (5-6 days); post-হজ্জ days in মক্কা মুকাররমা for rest and additional worship (1-3 days); and often a visit to মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা to pray at নবী করীম's Mosque (4-7 days, typically before or after the হজ্জ rites). Many হজ্জ packages are structured as 14-day, 21-day, or 30-day itineraries to accommodate these elements.