Itinerary
- Day 1
Machame Gate
You'll start with a one-hour transfer from your hotel to Machame Gate, where you'll pick up park passes and check in. Then it's time to head into the forest on a steady climb through lush jungle toward Machame camp at 3,100m/10,170ft. The ground underfoot is muddy, which gives you a real sense of what the mountain terrain is like right from the start.
- Start point
- Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Pick up , 09:00)
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer from hotel to Machame Gate
- Park pass pickup and check-in
- Trek through forest to Machame camp
Landmarks Machame Gate Machame Camp - Day 2
Machame to Shira Caves
The trek continues through forest as you climb toward the Shira Plateau, and you'll get rewarding views of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru along the way. By evening you'll reach Shira caves camp at 3,840m/12,600ft. After settling in, you'll do a short acclimatization walk of about 100m to help your body start adjusting to the altitude.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through forest to Shira Plateau
- Evening acclimatization walk (100m)
Landmarks Shira Plateau Shira Caves Camp Mount Meru - Day 3
Shira to Barranco Camp
After breakfast, you're trekking across high moorland where the landscape keeps changing around you. You'll pass underneath the Lava Tower and traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro using the Western Breach route, reaching Barranco camp at 3,900m/12,800ft by day's end. During the day you'll reach altitudes up to 4,600m/15,090ft, but you'll descend to sleep lower to help your body acclimatize better.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through high moorland
- Passing Lava Tower
- Western Breach traverse
- Trek to Barranco camp
Landmarks Lava Tower Western Breach Barranco Camp - Day 4
Barranco to Barafu Hut
You'll cross the Barranco Valley floor and tackle the steep Barranco wall, then continue on the South Circuit path through Karanga Valley. This trek takes about 7 hours total to reach Barafu Hut at 4,600m/15,090ft, and from there you get excellent views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. You'll rest and prepare overnight for the midnight summit attempt ahead.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Cross Barranco Valley
- Climb Barranco wall
- South Circuit trek through Karanga Valley
- Trek to Barafu Hut
Landmarks Barranco Valley Karanga Valley Barafu Hut Kibo Peak Mawenzi Peak - Day 5
Summit Attempt and Descent
The summit push begins around midnight as you head out by torchlight, climbing steep volcanic scree on graded zigzags. You'll reach Stella Point at 5,735m/18,810ft by sunrise, which takes about 5 to 6 hours. If you're feeling strong, you can push on for another 2 hours round-trip to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m/19,340ft to see the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs. After rest and food, you'll descend all the way to the final campsite at 3,100m/10,170ft, which means 11 to 14 hours of walking total for the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Midnight summit attempt from Barafu Hut
- Trek to Stella Point (5,735m)
- Sunrise viewing at Stella Point
- Optional trek to Uhuru Peak (5,895m)
- Descent to final campsite
Optional Activities
- Round-trip trek from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak (2 hours)
Landmarks Stella Point Uhuru Peak Mawenzi Peak 
- Day 6
Mweka Gate and Return to Moshi
Your trek wraps up with a descent through cloud forest down to Mweka Gate, and you'll want to watch your step since the trail can get slippery. At the gate you'll sign the register and get your summit certificate (green if you reached Stella Point, gold if you made it to Uhuru Peak). From there it's a drive back to Moshi where you can finally have a hot shower, dinner, and celebrate completing the mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Final descent through cloud forest to Mweka Gate
- Summit certificate registration
- Return transfer to Moshi
Landmarks Mweka Gate
