Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival at Kilimanjaro
Your driver meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Moshi. Later that day, you'll sit down with your guide who walks through what to expect on the trek ahead and checks your gear. If anything's missing, you can rent equipment today before heading out tomorrow.
- Start point
- Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Machame Gate to Machame Campsite
After breakfast, you head to Machame Gate for registration and then start hiking through the rainforest. The trek covers 11 km over about 4.5 to 5 hours, taking you from 1,200m up to 3,000m elevation. By afternoon, you reach Machame Campsite where your tents are already set up waiting for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through rainforest from Machame Gate to Machame Campsite
- Park registration procedures
Landmarks Machame Gate Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 3
Machame Campsite to Shira Campsite
The rainforest is behind you now as you climb through valleys and rocky ridges lined with heather. This 5.8 km section takes roughly 3.5 to 4.5 hours to reach Shira Campsite on the western side. From here the views open up nicely with Mount Meru, the Shira Plateau, and Kibo Peak visible, especially as the sun sets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Machame Campsite to Shira Campsite
Landmarks Mount Meru Shira Plateau Kibo Peak - Day 4
Shira Campsite to Barranco Campsite
This is an important day for getting your body used to the altitude. You eat early, then trek east toward Lava Tower Rock which sits at 4,600m. After that acclimatization push, you descend to Barranco Campsite down in the valley. It's a longer day covering 10 km in 6 to 7 hours, but this adjustment time matters for how you'll feel higher up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Shira Campsite to Lava Tower Rock acclimatization point
- Descent to Barranco Campsite
Landmarks Lava Tower Rock - Day 5
Barranco Campsite to Karanga Campsite
Today's easier on distance at 6 km taking 3 to 4 hours total. You climb the Barranco Wall to 4,200m for more acclimatization work, then cross through ridges and valleys heading to Karanga Campsite. After lunch and a rest, you do another acclimatization hike up the scree slopes toward the southern ice field before coming back for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hot lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Climb Barranco Wall to 4,200m for acclimatization
- Trek through ridges and valleys to Karanga Campsite
- Afternoon acclimatization trek on scree slopes
Landmarks Barranco Wall - Day 6
Karanga Campsite to Barafu Campsite
This one gets tough with 4 km of steep climbing across the alpine desert to Barafu Ridge Campsite over 3.5 to 4.5 hours. The altitude and strong cold winds from Kibo Peak mean you'll be moving slowly. Dinner comes early at 5 PM so you can rest until midnight when the summit push begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Early dinner at 5 PM)
Included Activities
- Trek from Karanga Campsite to Barafu Campsite across alpine desert
- Day 7
Barafu Campsite to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Campsite
Midnight brings a light breakfast and then you start climbing in darkness before dawn breaks. Steep scree switchbacks lead you up to Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861m, which you typically reach between 4 and 5 AM. After roughly an hour hiking along the crater rim, you reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895m, the actual summit. Time at the top for photos and reflection, then you descend back through Barafu for lunch, rest briefly, and continue down through moorland and heath to Mweka Campsite by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast at midnight), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Summit ascent from Barafu Campsite to Uhuru Peak
- Descent to Mweka Campsite
Landmarks Stella Point Uhuru Peak Kibo Crater - Day 8
Mweka Campsite to Mweka Gate
The final mountain day starts after breakfast when you head down 9 km through montane forest to Mweka Park Gate in about 3 to 4 hours. You sign out at the gate and then get driven back to your hotel in Moshi to clean up and recover.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final descent from Mweka Campsite to Mweka Gate
Landmarks Mweka Gate - Day 9
Departure from Kilimanjaro
A vehicle picks you up for the transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.
