The actual ritual days of Hajj 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), pilgrims enter the state of ihram and travel to the tent city of Mina, where they spend the day and night in prayer and preparation. On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Arafat), pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafat for the wuquf — the standing — which is the most essential pillar of Hajj. After sunset, they proceed to Muzdalifah 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), pilgrims return to Mina to stone the largest pillar (Jamrat al-Aqabah), offer their animal sacrifice, shave or trim their hair (partially exiting ihram), and then travel to Makkah to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i. This is the busiest and most rite-intensive day of Hajj. On the 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah (Ayyam al-Tashriq), pilgrims remain in Mina and stone all three Jamarat each day after the sun passes its zenith. Pilgrims who wish to depart early may leave Mina on the 12th after the afternoon stoning, provided they depart before sunset. Those who remain for the 13th must stone all three Jamarat once more, which is recommended and provides additional reward.
While the ritual days themselves are five to six, most pilgrims spend considerably longer in Saudi Arabia. A typical Hajj trip lasts two to four weeks total. This includes: travel days to and from Saudi Arabia (1-2 days each way); arrival in Makkah for pre-Hajj Umrah (Umrah al-Tamattu') and acclimation (3-7 days); the Hajj rites themselves (5-6 days); post-Hajj days in Makkah for rest and additional worship (1-3 days); and often a visit to Madinah to pray at the Prophet's Mosque (4-7 days, typically before or after the Hajj rites). Many Hajj packages are structured as 14-day, 21-day, or 30-day itineraries to accommodate these elements.