Hajj involves visiting several key locations in and around Makkah. On the first day of Hajj, pilgrims travel to Mina, approximately 8 kilometres from Makkah, where they spend the night. The next day, they proceed to Arafat, about 14 kilometres from Mina, for a day of prayer, followed by night at Muzdalifah, located between Arafat and Mina. Finally, they return to Mina to perform the stoning of the Jamarat before concluding their pilgrimage at Masjid al-Haram.
Days of Hajj
| Day No.: | Date (Dhul Hijjah) | Day known as | Summary |
| 1 | 8th | Yawm al-Tarwiyah (the Day of Quenching Thirst) |
|
| 2 | 9th | Yawm al-Arafat (the Day of Arafat) or Yawm al-Wuquf (the Day of Standing) |
|
| 3 | 10th | Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) |
|
| 4, 5 & 6 | 11th, 12th & 13th | Ayyam al-Tashreeq (the Days of Drying Meat) |
|
Transport
Pilgrims on a coach
During the days of Hajj, most pilgrims are transported between sites via Bus. The cost of transport is normally included as part of your Hajj package unless you choose to use a taxi where possible.
The various trips from one place to the next can vary greatly in terms of duration for a journey of the same distance, depending on your location, the time you leave and the amount of traffic on the road. It is important to remain patient as delays with transport are very likely. It may sometimes take less time to walk to the next site, which pilgrims often choose to do instead of taking the bus.
On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, buses won’t be available to transport you to and from Makkah to perform Tawaf al-Ziyarah because pilgrims will be performing the various rituals at different points in the day. Therefore, arrangements for your transport will have to be made with a private bus or a taxi.
Walking
Although transportation is available as described above, many pilgrims choose to walk, some out of choice and others through necessity. Walking may sometimes be the only choice due to traffic congestion or the bus breaking down. Below is a table that illustrates the distances between each site and the approximate time it takes to walk between each one at a normal pace:
| Date | Location | Approx. Distance | Approx. Time Taken |
| 8th of Dhul Hijjah | Masjid al-Haram to Mina | 8 km (5 miles) | 2 hours |
| 9th of Dhul Hijjah | Mina to Arafat | 13 km (8 miles) | 3 hours |
| Arafat to Muzdalifah | 8 km (5 miles) | 2 hours | |
| 10th of Dhul Hijjah | Muzdalifah to Mina | 4 km (2.5 miles) | 1 hour |
| Mina to Jamarat | 3 km (2 miles) | 45 minutes | |
| Jamarat to Masjid al-Haram | 5 km (3 miles) | 1 hour 30 minutes | |
| Masjid al-Haram to Mina | 8 km (5 miles) | 2 hours | |
| 11th of Dhul Hijjah | Mina to Jamarat | 3 km (2 miles) | 45 minutes |
| Jamarat to Mina | 3 km (2 miles) | 45 minutes | |
| 12th of Dhul Hijjah | Mina to Jamarat | 3 km (2 miles) | 45 minutes |
| Jamarat to Masjid al-Haram | 5 km (3 miles) | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Thousands of pilgrims walking on the Jamarat bridge
Please bear in mind that the above distances and times are approximations and may vary due to the location of your tent, whether you have any women, elderly or infirm pilgrims with you and the crowds present.
Although you shouldn’t walk between each site and take the bus whenever possible, a significant amount of walking will still be involved. There may also be a fair distance from your bus to your accommodation, depending on how close the bus can get to your tent. You may find that buses may not be able to get anywhere near your tent due to crowding and congestion, leaving you no other option than to walk.
If you elect to conduct your entire Hajj on foot, keep in mind the distances and time it would take to walk between each site. For instance, on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, distances between sites will amount to at least 20 kilometres, which would take at least four hours to traverse.
If you intend to walk for the vast majority of Hajj, if not all of it, make sure:
- You are physically prepared and are able to manage the walking, ensuring it won’t affect other aspects of your Hajj.
- You know your way between each site, or you have a guide that does.
- You stay close to your group, ensuring you don’t get separated from them.
- You are accompanied by your husband/Mahram if you’re a woman.
There are a series of pedestrian tunnels between some of the sites, such as between Makkah and Mina. These tunnels make the journey easier by providing a direct route and shade from the sun. However, it can still get hot inside them. Refreshments, toilet and washing facilities, benches to rest on, and medical facilities may be provided between sites, although this varies from year to year.
