Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival at Kilimanjaro
You'll land at Kilimanjaro International Airport where someone from the tour will meet you for the drive to Springlands Hotel or a similar property. Check in and settle in for the night to rest up before the climb begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro International Airport - Day 2
Moshi to Mti Mkubwa Camp
After breakfast, the drive takes you about 100km through the Shira plateau toward Lemosho Gate, which takes 3 to 4 hours and gives you chances to spot big game along the way. From there, you'll hike 5km up to Mti Mkubwa camp, which sits at 2,200-2,600m elevation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Shira plateau with big game viewing opportunities
- Hike to Mti Mkubwa camp
Landmarks/POIs Lemosho Gate Shira Plateau - Day 3
Mti Mkubwa to Shira Camp
Starting with breakfast, you'll hike from Mti Mkubwa to Shira camp over about 5 hours at a relaxed pace that helps your body adjust to altitude. Kibo volcano's west face overlooks the camp. After lunch and setting up, you can either rest or take a short day hike through lower moorland where you'll see shrubs and wildflowers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Mti Mkubwa to Shira camp
- Optional day hike in lower moorland
Landmarks/POIs Kibo - Day 4
Shira Camp to Shira Camp 2
After breakfast and breaking camp, the hike to Shira Camp 2 is intentionally short and designed specifically for acclimatization. This gives your body more time to adjust as the elevation increases.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Shira Camp 2
- Day 5
Shira Camp 2 to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
The terrain changes as you head east into semi-desert and rocky landscape. About 5 hours of hiking brings you to Lava Tower at 4,600m elevation, which marks the toughest section so far and where some climbers start feeling altitude effects. You'll have lunch before tackling the scree path up to the tower, then descend about 680m over 2 hours to Barranco camp, which sits in a valley below the Great Barranco Wall and offers spectacular sunset views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served in designated area), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Lava Tower
- Descent to Barranco Camp
Landmarks/POIs Lava Tower Western Breach Great Barranco Wall - Day 6
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, you'll hike up the Barranco Wall in about an hour, then continue on to Karanga Camp with several ups and downs along the way. The afternoon includes a short acclimatization hike to help your body keep adjusting to the higher altitude.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike up Barranco Wall
- Hike to Karanga Camp
- Afternoon acclimatization hike
Landmarks/POIs Barranco Wall - Day 7
Karanga Camp Acclimatization Day
You'll have breakfast and then do an acclimatization hike heading toward Barafu Camp before turning back to Karanga Camp for dinner and the night. This approach of going higher and returning lower really does improve your odds of reaching the summit by giving your body proper time to adjust.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Acclimatization hike toward Barafu Camp
Landmarks/POIs Barafu Camp - Day 8
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
The hike to Barafu Camp takes you to a spot exposed to strong winds where tents sit on a narrow, rocky ridge. Spend time getting familiar with the area before dark falls. Check your gear including trekking poles, warm clothing, and headlamps for the summit push. Head to bed around 19:00 and try to get about 5 hours of rest before the midnight start.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Barafu Camp
Landmarks/POIs Barafu Camp - Day 9
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
You'll wake around 23:30 for tea and biscuits, then start the midnight summit push heading northwest through heavy scree toward Stella Point. The 6-hour climb to Stella Point challenges most climbers, but at 5,685m you'll catch a sunrise (if weather cooperates), then push through snow for 2 more hours to reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895m. After savoring the moment, you'll descend back to Barafu in 3 hours, grab your gear, and continue down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Tea and biscuits before midnight departure), Dinner
Included Activities
- Summit attempt from Barafu to Uhuru Peak
- Sunrise viewing at Stella Point
- Descent to Mweka Camp
Landmarks/POIs Stella Point Uhuru Peak - Day 10
Mweka Camp to Moshi
Following breakfast, the final descent from Mweka Gate down to Mweka village takes about an hour and involves muddy terrain. From there, the drive back to Springlands Hotel is where you'll have a hot lunch and take that first real shower in days. You'll receive your summit certificate then, either gold if you reached Uhuru Peak or green if you topped out at Stella Point.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hot lunch at Springlands Hotel)
Included Activities
- Descent from Mweka Gate to Mweka village
- Drive to Springlands Hotel
- Summit certificate presentation
Landmarks/POIs Mweka Gate - Day 11
Departure from Kilimanjaro
An early breakfast happens before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro International Airport
