Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival at Kilimanjaro
You'll arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and head to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, the team gathers for a pre-climb briefing where you'll go through an equipment check and confirm your travel insurance is sorted. This sets the stage for what's ahead.
Included Activities
- Pre-climb briefing and equipment check
- Confirmation of mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro International Airport - Day 2
Machame Gate to First Camp
After about an hour's drive from Moshi, you'll reach Machame Gate to handle park formalities and meet your porter crew. The climb starts right into dense rainforest with a path that's less developed than main routes, so you can expect some overgrown sections and muddy conditions underfoot throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Park formalities completion
- Meet porter crew
- Guided climb through rainforest on Machame route
Landmarks/POIs Machame Gate Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 3
Forest to Shira Plateau
You continue through the forest as the terrain steepens and opens onto the Shira Plateau. The views really start to show themselves here, with Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru both visible rising above Arusha town in the distance. It's rewarding progress for the effort.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided climb through forest to Shira Plateau
Landmarks/POIs Shira Plateau Mount Meru - Day 4
High Moorland and Lava Tower
The landscape shifts dramatically as you move onto high moorland with views across the southwest side of Kilimanjaro. You'll pass underneath the Lava Tower and Western Breach as the day goes on. Reaching camp after spending most of the day at 4600m, you're following the strategy of walking at higher elevation but sleeping lower to help your body adjust.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek across high moorland
- Pass underneath Lava Tower and Western Breach
Landmarks/POIs Lava Tower Western Breach - Day 5
Great Barranco Wall and Karanga Valley
Starting early, you descend into the Great Barranco then face the long, tiring rock climb up the Great Barranco Wall. After passing under the Heim and Kersten glaciers and through Karanga valley, you reach camp at 3963m. If you're feeling strong, an afternoon acclimatization trek to around 4200m is an option before returning to rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided descent into Great Barranco
- Climb Great Barranco Wall
- Guided trek through Karanga valley
- Optional mid-afternoon acclimatization trek to 4200m
Landmarks/POIs Great Barranco Heim Glacier Kersten Glacier - Day 6
Barafu Camp Preparation
After breakfast, the walk to Barafu camp at 4640m crosses desolate scree slopes with no vegetation, making for a tough and steep slog in the thin air. Once there, you'll eat, rest in the afternoon, and keep yourself hydrated and warm. An early dinner follows, then it's time to try sleeping before heading out between 11pm and midnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Early dinner before summit attempt)
Included Activities
- Guided trek to Barafu Camp
Landmarks/POIs Barafu Camp - Day 7
Summit Day: Uhuru Peak and Descent
At midnight, the summit push begins with a steep climb toward the summit glaciers. You'll climb through scree for 4 to 5 hours gaining considerable height until sunrise hits Stella Point at 5739m, where ice cliffs inside the crater and the jagged Mawenzi peak come into view. One more hour reaches Uhuru Peak at 5895m. The descent takes you back through Stella Point and down the scree slopes to Barafu camp for breakfast, then continues to Mweka camp for rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Barafu Camp), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided midnight climb to summit glaciers
- Reach Stella Point (5739m)
- Reach Uhuru Peak summit (5895m)
- Guided descent to Mweka Camp
Landmarks/POIs Stella Point Uhuru Peak Mawenzi Peak - Day 8
Descent to Mweka Gate and Return to Moshi
A gentle trek down winds through rainforest to Mweka Gate where park formalities wrap up and you'll receive your summit certificate. Your vehicles meet you there for the drive back to Moshi, where a hot shower and cold drinks wait to mark the accomplishment. You'll stay overnight at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Bed & Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Guided trek through rainforest to Mweka Gate
- Park formalities completion
- Summit certificate presentation
- Hotel return transportation
Landmarks/POIs Mweka Gate - Day 9
Departure
Your next move depends on what's next for you, whether that's starting a safari, heading to Zanzibar, or flying home. A vehicle will be ready for your airport transfer at whatever time works best for you.
Optional Activities
- Begin safari
- Fly to Zanzibar
- Fly home
