Itinerary
- Day 1
Kilimanjaro
You'll land at Kilimanjaro airport and take a 40-minute drive to your hotel in Moshi. The place has a pool, internet, a small shop, and gear rental on-site. Spend the afternoon organizing your bags and picking up supplies like bottled water. Your guide shows up in the late afternoon to go over the trek details and answer any questions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek briefing with registered guide
Optional Activities
- Use hotel swimming pool
- Purchase bottled water at hotel shop
- Rent additional gear at hotel rental section
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro Airport - Day 2
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
After leaving Moshi, you'll head to Machame Gate near the village of Machame at the base of the mountain. Handle the permit paperwork first, then start trekking through montane forest. Rain's possible in here. You'll climb from 1830m to 2835m covering 5.5 km, which takes about 5 to 7 hours depending on your pace and the group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trekking through montane forest to Machame Camp
Landmarks/POIs Machame Gate Machame Village Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 3
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
From Machame camp, there's a steep climb for roughly an hour, then the path becomes easier as you head toward the Shira Plateau, which is an old collapsed volcanic crater. You'll cross the rocky area and trek east to Shira Camp. This leg covers 9 km from 2835m to 3850m through moorland, taking 5 to 6 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trekking through moorland to Shira Plateau and Shira Camp
Landmarks/POIs Machame Camp Shira Plateau Shira Camp - Day 4
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
Start early and hike away from views of Mt Meru into a rocky desert landscape. The climb toward Lava Tower is steady and gentle. Around 4200m, altitude effects can start showing up. You'll have lunch at Lava Tower, then drop almost 680m down to Barranco Camp at the wall's base. The full day goes from 3840m to 3985m over 12 km in 6 to 7 hours. The strategy here is 'climb high, sleep low.'
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trekking from Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Landmarks/POIs Mt Meru Lava Tower Barranco Camp Barranco Wall - Day 5
Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
This is a long one. You'll tackle the Barranco Wall with great views, then pass below Heim Glacier. After that, trek through Karanga Valley crossing three ridges and valleys. Keep climbing for another 2 to 3 hours until reaching Barafu, a cramped rocky camp. From 3985m to 4680m over 13 km takes 7 to 9 hours through Alpine Desert. The summit sits 1345m above you, which feels real close but the altitude's no joke.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trekking up Barranco Wall
- Trekking through Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
Landmarks/POIs Barranco Wall Heim Glacier Karanga Valley Barafu Camp - Day 6
Barafu Camp to Kilimanjaro Summit to Mweka Hut
You'll start before midnight for the tough climb toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This hard push takes 5 to 6 hours. After resting briefly at Stella Point, continue 200m and 1 to 2 more hours to reach the summit at 5895m. After your time at the top, hike down to Barafu then keep going to Mweka hut. The whole day is roughly 30 km over 13 to 16 hours, with 6 to 8 hours going up and 7 to 8 coming down.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Summit climb to Kilimanjaro peak (Uhuru Peak)
- Trek to Stella Point (5685m)
- Descent to Mweka Hut
Landmarks/POIs Stella Point Kilimanjaro Summit (Uhuru Peak) Kibo Crater Mweka Hut - Day 7
Mweka Hut to Mweka
This morning you'll do a short 3-hour descent through montane forest from Mweka Hut down to Mweka village, covering 8 km from 3100m to 1800m. Climbers who reached Stella Point get green certificates, while those who made it to Uhuru Peak at 5895m get gold certificates for completing the Machame Route.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final scenic trek through montane forest to Mweka
- Certificate ceremony
Landmarks/POIs Mweka Hut Mweka - Day 8
Kilimanjaro
You'll transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro Airport
