Itinerary
- Day 1
Arusha to Machame
Your pickup happens at 8AM from the Arusha hotel, then you'll head to Machame Village to grab supplies and pick up a packed lunch. The drive or walk to Machame Gate takes about an hour covering roughly 3 km, depending on how the roads are doing. After you register at the gate, the rainforest trek begins with a welcome lunch stop partway through. By late afternoon you'll reach the Machame camping area where your tent is already waiting.
- Meals
- Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Pickup from Arusha Hotel
- Visit to Machame Village
- Hike through rainforest to Machame Gate
- Welcome lunch stop during ascent
Optional Activities
- Purchase mineral water and supplies in Machame Village
Landmarks/POIs Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Gate - Day 2
Machame to Shira Plateau
Start early with breakfast at Machame camp, then climb for about an hour to reach the top of the forest. From there you'll hike for 2 hours through moorland on a more gradual path. After lunch and a short break, you'll keep going up a rocky ridge toward the Shira plateau where you can spot the Western Breach and its glaciers to the east. The Shira campsite sits at 3,840m and you'll arrive in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Climb through forest zone
- Hike through moorland zone
- Ascent of rocky ridge to Shira plateau
- Lunch stop during ascent
Landmarks/POIs Western Breach Shira Plateau Kibo - Day 3
Shira Plateau to Barranco
You're heading east into semi-desert and rocky terrain around Lava Tower, gaining altitude to 4,630m over about 5 hours of walking. Lunch comes at a set spot before tackling the rocky scree path up to Lava Tower. This is the hardest day yet, and some people start feeling breathless, irritable, or get headaches. After eating, you'll drop nearly 680m down to Barranco camping area in roughly 2 hours, plus you get excellent photo views of the Western Breach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through semi-desert and rocky landscape
- Ascent to Lava Tower (4,630m)
- Lunch in designated area
- Descent to Barranco camping area
- Views of Western Breach and Breach Wall
Landmarks/POIs Lava Tower Great Barranco Wall Western Breach - Day 4
Barranco to Barafu Hut
The day opens with climbing the Great Barranco Wall, which usually feels easier than it appears. Once you top out near the Heim Glacier, you'll move through Karanga Valley crossing several ridges and valleys. Then you'll connect to the Mweka route, the main descent path from the summit. After another hour or so you'll reach Barafu Hut, your final camp before going for the summit.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ascent of Great Barranco Wall
- Hike through Karanga Valley
- Arrival at Barafu Hut
Landmarks/POIs Great Barranco Wall Heim Glacier Karanga Valley Mweka Route - Day 5
Barafu to Uhuru Peak and back to Mweka
You'll wake around 11:30 PM, have some tea and biscuits, then head northwest into darkness ascending through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour climb is the hardest part mentally and physically on the whole route. You'll reach Stella Point at 5,685m and catch a beautiful sunrise if weather cooperates. The 2-hour push to Uhuru Peak follows with snow under your feet. After summiting and celebrating, you descend roughly 3 hours back to Barafu for rest, then continue down through moorland and forest to Mweka camp in the upper forest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Tea and biscuits before summit attempt), Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ascent through heavy scree to Stella Point
- Sunrise viewing at Stella Point (5,685m)
- Final ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m)
- Summit celebration
- Descent to Barafu Hut
- Descent to Mweka camp
Landmarks/POIs Stella Point Uhuru Peak - Day 6
Mweka to Arusha/Moshi
After breakfast your mountain crew celebrates with dancing and singing. You'll tip your guide, assistant guides, chef, and porters now. Then it's a 3-hour descent to Mweka Gate where you sign in and get your certificate, green if you hit Stella Point or gold if you reached Uhuru Peak. From there you walk 1 hour through Mweka village (3 kilometers), have hot lunch, then drive back to Moshi or Arusha to shower and celebrate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hot lunch in Mweka village)
Included Activities
- Staff celebration with dancing and singing
- Descent to Mweka Gate (3 hours)
- Certificate of completion ceremony
- Descent to Mweka village (1 hour/3 kilometers)
- Hot lunch in Mweka village
- Drive back to Moshi or Arusha
Landmarks/POIs Mweka Gate Mweka Village
