Itinerary
- Day 1
Moshi to Machame Camp
You'll leave Moshi at 8am heading to Machame Gate where your guides, porters, and cooks meet you for registration and final prep work. From there, the hike begins through the moss-covered cloud forest, and as you climb higher the forest starts to thin out with heathers, grasses, and wildflowers taking over. If the weather cooperates, you'll catch sight of Kibo Peak in the distance before arriving at Machame Camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Machame Camp)
Included Activities
- Trek through Kilimanjaro cloud forest from Machame Gate to Machame Camp
- Professional guide, porter, and cook services for entire trek
Landmarks Machame Gate Kibo Peak Machame Camp 
- Day 2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
This stretch is the easiest on the Machame Route, though you'll still encounter uphill sections throughout the day. Bring plenty of water since the exposed terrain can get hot. Along the way you'll pass viewpoints looking out over the plains and forests below, with both Kibo and Mawenzi peaks visible above you. After stopping for lunch, you'll climb onto the Shira Plateau and continue to Shira Camp where you can rest for the remainder of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Shira Camp One)
Included Activities
- Trek from Machame Camp through high altitude plants to Shira Plateau
- Professional guide and support team throughout day
Landmarks Shira Plateau Kibo Peak Mawenzi Peak Mount Meru Shira Camp - Day 3
Shira Cave to Barranco Camp
This up-and-down day plays a key role in helping your body acclimatize. You'll climb 690 meters to reach 4,530 meters by early afternoon, then descend back down to Barranco Camp, which nets only 110 meters of elevation gain for the day. The route goes east through the Shira Plateau with a lunch break in between, and then climbs to the day's highest point before dropping down. Faster hikers can detour through Lava Tower if they want an extra challenge. Barranco Camp itself is the most scenic of all the campsites on this route.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Barranco Camp)
Included Activities
- Trek from Shira Cave through Shira Plateau to Barranco Camp
- Professional guide and support team throughout day
Optional Activities
- Detour via Lava Tower (300-foot lava formation) - available for faster hikers
Landmarks Shira Cave Lava Tower Barranco Camp - Day 4
Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
After an early breakfast, you'll start the long trek to Barafu Camp with a challenging 90-minute scramble up the Barranco Wall where you'll actually need your hands in certain spots. Once at the top, you descend into the greener Karanga Valley and keep moving toward Barafu Camp. Along this section you'll pass several of Kibo's glaciers including Heim, Kersten, and Decken. Dinner comes early since you'll need sleep before waking around midnight for the summit attempt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Barafu Camp)
Included Activities
- Trek from Barranco Camp through Barranco Wall and Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
- Professional guide and support team throughout day
- Glacier viewing (Heim, Kersten, Decken Glaciers and Rebmann Glacier)
Landmarks Barranco Wall Karanga Valley Heim Glacier Kersten Glacier Decken Glacier Rebmann Glacier Barafu Camp Kibo Peak Mawenzi Peak - Day 5
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Around midnight you'll begin the final push to Uhuru Peak, Africa's highest point, using headlamp light to navigate. The 6-hour climb to the crater rim at Stella Point is the toughest part of the entire trek with very steep sections. From Stella Point to Uhuru Peak the terrain becomes more gradual, though the altitude makes the ascent long and draining, taking about one hour. After photos at the summit, you'll descend to Mweka Camp and catch sunrise views of the crater, clouds, and glaciers. Breakfast and a short rest happen back at Barafu Camp before the 3-5 hour descent begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Barafu Camp before summit descent), Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Lower Mweka Camp)
Included Activities
- Guided night ascent from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak (Stella Point)
- Summit visit at Uhuru Peak
- Descent from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
- Professional guide and support team throughout day
- Headlamp-guided climbing throughout night ascent
Landmarks Uhuru Peak Stella Point Mweka Camp - Day 6
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Following breakfast, you'll hike down to Mweka Gate to officially finish your trek. This final section passes through the beautiful cloud forest that characterizes lower Kilimanjaro. Watch your footing on the descent since the trail gets slippery. Your vehicles will be waiting at the gate to drive you back to Moshi, and you'll have the chance to grab t-shirts and sodas before heading out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final descent through Kilimanjaro cloud forest to Mweka Gate
- Professional guide and support team throughout day
- Transportation from Mweka Gate back to Moshi
Optional Activities
- Purchase t-shirts and sodas at Mweka Gate
Landmarks Mweka Camp Mweka Gate
