Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival at Kilimanjaro
You'll touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport where someone meets you for the drive to Chanya Lodge. After settling in, your head guide sits down to talk through the trek ahead, looks over your gear, and helps you grab anything you're missing for the climb.
- Start point
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 00:00 - 23:55)
Included Activities
- Meet and greet at airport
- Briefing with head guide
- Gear check
Optional Activities
- Equipment rental (gaiters, trekking poles, or other specialized gear)
- Day 2
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Head out from Moshi early for a 45-minute drive through Machame village to reach Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once permits get processed, the trek starts through rainforest with trails that wind through the lower elevations. Your guide points out local plants, animals, and wildlife along the way, though you'll notice the paths get muddy and slippery pretty quickly.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Machame village to park gate
- Guided rainforest trek
- Flora and fauna interpretation
Landmarks Kilimanjaro National Park Gate - Day 3
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, you leave the rainforest behind and start climbing a steep rocky ridge. The route crosses through a valley, then heads west into a river gorge before you reach Shira campsite. By now, the temperature starts dropping noticeably as elevation climbs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek from rainforest to Shira Plateau
Landmarks Shira Camp - Day 4
Shira Plateau to Barranco Camp
This day keeps you around the same elevation, but it's all about letting your body adjust. Trek east from Shira Plateau up a ridge toward Kibo peak, then continue southeast to Lava Tower, which locals call 'Shark's Tooth'. A junction to Arrow Glacier passes by before you descend to Barranco Camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek across Shira Plateau
- Acclimatization hike
- Lava Tower viewpoint
- Descent to Barranco Camp
Landmarks Lava Tower (Shark's Tooth) Barranco Camp - Day 5
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, tackle the steep Barranco Wall climb into Karanga Valley where the Mweka Trail junction sits. This is the kind of day where you really see how skilled your crew is, moving up that challenging wall with confidence. You overnight at Karanga Camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided climb of Barranco Wall
- Trek to Karanga Valley
- Junction viewpoint
Landmarks Barranco Wall Karanga Camp - Day 6
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Keep moving upward toward Barafu Camp. Once you arrive, you've finished the South Circuit with views of the summit from lots of different angles. Dinner comes early so you can rest up before the tough summit attempt that starts just after midnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Early dinner before summit night)
Included Activities
- Guided trek to Barafu Camp
- South Circuit completion with summit views
Landmarks Barafu Camp 
- Day 7
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Between midnight and 2 a.m., the final push begins. You'll climb between Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers using switchbacks heading northwest toward Stella Point on the crater rim. The sun comes up during a rest break, which makes the effort feel worth it. From there, one more hour gets you to Uhuru Peak, Africa's highest point where snow might show up. After taking time to celebrate, the descent starts down to Mweka Camp with lunch and rest at Barafu along the way.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Barafu during descent), Dinner
Included Activities
- Pre-dawn summit push to Uhuru Peak
- Guided ascent via Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers
- Sunrise at Stella Point
- Descent to Mweka Camp
Landmarks Uhuru Peak Stella Point Rebmann Glacier Ratzel Glacier Mweka Camp - Day 8
Mweka Camp to Moshi
You have breakfast and a ceremony to thank your crew for the climb. Then it's down to Mweka Park Gate for summit certificates. The terrain is wet, steep, and muddy at this lower elevation where warmth returns. By late afternoon, a vehicle picks you up at Mweka village for the 30-minute drive back to your hotel in Moshi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final descent to Mweka Park Gate
- Summit certificate presentation
- Appreciation ceremony with crew
Landmarks Mweka Park Gate - Day 9
Departure from Kilimanjaro
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.
- End point
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 00:00 - 23:55)
