Day 1: Arrival in Arusha / Moshi

Transfer from Kilimanjaro airport or Arusha bus terminal (e.g. from Nairobi) to your accommodation in Moshi or Arusha.

Day 2: Arusha – Machame Gate (1,790 m) – Machame Camp (3,010 m)

altitude Δ: 1220 m, distance: approx. 10 km, time required: approx. 5 hours

After breakfast you will be picked up from your accommodation and drive to the Machame entrance gate. After you have completed the formalities, you will register in the mountaineering book. Your trek begins with the ascent to Machame Camp through dense rainforest with old trees, lianas, lichens and moss. At this camp the tree heath zone begins. Dinner followed by an overnight stay in tents.

Day 3: Machame Camp (3,010 m) – Shira Camp (3,845 m)

altitude Δ: 840 m, distance: approx. 7 km, time required: approx. 5 hours

Today you start the day early with a freshly prepared breakfast. The path becomes steeper, you have an ascent over alpine moorland through the heath zone to Shira Camp in front of you. You will reach Shira Camp in the late afternoon. As a reward you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the vast Masai steppe and during sunset the evening sun will illuminate the Kibo glaciers. Dinner followed by an overnight stay in tents.

Day 4: Shira Camp (3,845 m) – Lava Tower (4,640 m) – Barranco Camp (3,960 m)

altitude Δ: 100 m, distance: approx. 10 km, time required: approx. 6 hours

Today you will climb about 800 meters of altitude. Nevertheless, your destination for today is almost at the same altitude as your starting point, ideal for the acclimatization strategy “climb high and sleep low”. The hike begins with a long hike over the Shira Plateau towards the Lava Tower. The route leads through the extensive Barranco Valley with its famous alpine climate zone with many unique plants. After 6 hours you reach the Barranco Camp. Dinner followed by an overnight stay in tents.

Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,960 m) – Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

altitude Δ: 650 m, distance: approx. 9 km, time required: approx. 7 hours

After your breakfast the ascent from Barranco Camp starts at the Great Barranco Wall, then continues to Karanga Valley Camp (4070 m). This site is challenging but offers great views of the southern glaciers of Kibo. From Karanga Valley Camp we continue on a ridge to Barafu Camp (4600 m), your base camp before the summit ascent at night. Dinner followed by an overnight stay in tents.

Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Mweka Camp (3,080 m)

altitude Δ: 1560 m, distance: 17 km, time required: approx. 12 hours

Night ascent with flashlight from Barafu Camp in northwestern direction through scree and snow to the summit of Kilimanjaro. After about 6 hours you will first reach Stella Point (5725 m) at the crater rim. Due to the altitude this is the physically challenging part of the hike. With good visibility you will experience a magnificent sunrise here. From here you need another hour to reach the summit of Uhuru Peak. Now you stand on the roof of Africa and enjoy the best viewpoint on the continent. Then you descend again to Barafu Camp, rest there for a while and continue your descent to Mweka Camp (3100 m).

Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,080 m) – Mweka Gate (1,630 m) – Arusha / Moshi

altitude Δ: 1450 m, distance: approx. 10 km, time required: approx. 3 hours

The last stage of your hike begins after a hearty breakfast. Afterwards you will walk gently downhill through the tropical rainforest to Mweka Gate. Your faithful mountain crew will bid you farewell here with a traditional ceremony and your summit certificate. Afterwards you will be brought to your accommodation for a well-deserved drink and dinner.

Day 8: Arusha / Moshi

After breakfast transfer to the central bus station, to the airline office in the city for your shuttle bus to the airport or extension e.g. Northern Circuit Safari or onward flight to Zanzibar.