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