9 Days Kilimanjaro Adventure via Machame Route
Kilimanjaro Trekking
- Arusha Town, Shira 1 Camp, Shira 2 Camp, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Millennium Camp,
Duration
7 Days Trekking
Tour Type
Trekking
Group Size
min 2 pax
Photos
Full Itinerary
9 Days /8 Nights
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), pick-up and drive to Aishi Machame Hotel (breakfast included). Aishi Machame Hotel is nestled in a quiet village at the foot of Kilimanjaro. The territory of the hotel is a lush garden with monkeys and galagos being frequent visitors. Here you will have everything you need for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, swimming pool and Wi-Fi. One of our managers will meet you for a briefing session at the appointed time to answer your questions and make sure you’re ready for the expedition.
Note:
Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.
Day 2: Trekking From Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Our guide and his crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning to greet you and give you another briefing. When everyone is good to go, you’ll set off for the south-western entrance into Kilimanjaro National Park: Machame Gate (1,800 m). The drive will take about 20 minutes. After a quick registration at the entry gate, you’ll start your trek towards Machame Camp (3,010 m). You’ll be passing through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly probable), so you’ll absolutely need to have your raincoat poncho ready in your backpack.
This will be your first day at high altitude, so it is strongly recommended that you heed the following instructions:
- Abstain from smoking and consuming alcohol and caffeine
- Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)
- Take Diamox to alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. However, please be wary of any medical contradictions with this medicine and consult your doctor prior to the trip.
- Pay attention and listen to your body; inform your guide if you start feeling unwell.
Change in Elevation: Machame Gate (1,800 m) — Machame Camp (3,010 m)
Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Day 3: Trekking From Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast you will start trekking up to your second camp – Shira (3,845 m). The charms of the rainforest will gradually fall, and you’ll get out into the open alpine zone where you’ll see the stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. When you arrive at the camp, you will have lunch, and after some rest the guides will take you on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp that features a 300-meter gain in altitude.
Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude meant to facilitate your acclimatization. You should take acclimatization hikes very seriously. They will increase your chances to successfully summit Kilimanjaro and prevent the development of altitude sickness.
Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp:
- Change in Elevation: Machame Camp (3,010 m) — Shira Camp (3,845 m)
- Hiking distance: 5 km
- Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Acclimatization hike:
- Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Destination point on the way to Lava Tower (4,120 m)
- Hiking distance: 2 km
- Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Day 4: Trekking From Shira Camp to the Lava Tower And Descent to Barranco Camp
After breakfast you will leave Shira Camp (3,845 m) and start your way towards a major trial of this trek: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It will probably be challenging, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimatize to the altitude you’ll need to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be served.
Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you will see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive both in its size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don’t worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.
Note:
If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing Lava Tower and change the route, following the trail for porters instead. In this case you will not reach the altitude of 4,630 meters on this day and get to the maximum of 4,400 meters.
- Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Lava Tower (4,630 m) — Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
- Hiking distance: 11 km
- Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Day 5: Trekking From Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp
Early wake-up, breakfast and start towards Barranco Wall. We recommend leaving the camp as early as possible to avoid other groups. Climbing this gorge wall is not difficult and doesn’t require any technical skills. It takes only about an hour. Once you’re at the top, you can have a rest and take pictures in front of the Kibo volcano.
After a short rest, you’ll start a more challenging hike towards Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents. In the camp you will have your hard-earned lunch, and in a couple of hours you’ll embark on another acclimatization hike towards Barafu Camp. Once you reach the 200-meter gain in altitude, you’ll turn back and return to Karanga Camp.
Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp:
- Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m) — Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
- Hiking distance: 5 km
- Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Acclimatization hike:
- Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Destination point en route to Barafu Camp (4,270 m)
- Hiking distance: 2.5 km
- Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Day 6: Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
This will be the day when you reach your summit camp Barafu (4,640 m), the point from which you’ll start your final trek to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). The crew will set up your camp ahead of time so that you can have a rest the moment you reach it. Once your strength is regained, you’ll embark on another acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then trek back to Barafu Camp. The rest of the day should be spent sleeping and relaxing before the summit attempt.
Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp:
- Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
- Hiking distance: 6 km
- Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Acclimatization hike:
- Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)
- Hiking distance: 2 km
- Hiking time: 1–2 hours
Day 7: Ascent to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp
At about midnight you’ll depart from Barafu Camp (4,640 m) and start your way to the peak of Kilimanjaro (5,895 m). The technical side of the climb is relatively simple – you won’t need any special mountaineering skills or gear. However, high altitude poses a serious challenge. Every two climbers will be assigned a personal guide to monitor your physical condition and raise your morale. Once you’re finally at Uhuru Peak, please try to forget about the dizziness in your head and properly bask in the euphoria of your achievement sinking in simply divine views around.
If you wish and feel up to it, you can do a short 20-minute trek down to the nearest glacier. Another optional extra for especially tough hikers is to do an about 3-hour trek to the crater; however, there are a lot of factors that need to align for this final venture to prove successful: your condition, weather and timing. If having assessed all factors, your guide approves of the idea, he’ll need to separate from the group to accompany you. This is a service that is traditionally rewarded with an extra gratuity for the guide upon descent from the mountain.
Once you’re done with the summit, you’ll return to Barafu Camp for lunch and rest, and in about two hours you’ll continue your descent to Millennium Camp (3,820 m) where you’ll stay the night.
Note:
Keep in mind that 90% of all accidents occur upon descent. Please pay attention to your feet not to trip over bumps and stones.
- Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Millennium Camp (3,820 m)
- Hiking distance: 15 km
- Hiking time: 8-12 hours
Day 8: Descent from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
Millennium Camp lies in the tropical rainforest. Once you wake up after the night’s sleep, you will feel relief due to the natural increase of oxygen in the air. After breakfast, you will head for the park’s exit: Mweka Gate (1,650 m). When you’re back at the hotel, you’ll be awarded commemorative certificates, and the whole crew will gather to congratulate you on your new achievement. This is when the tipping ceremony regularly takes place: the chief guide accepts the gratuities from participants and then splits them fairly between all crew members under our control.
- Change in Elevation: Millennium Camp (3,820 m) — Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
- Hiking distance: 12 km
- Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Day 9: Departure
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Note:
Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
Tour Inclusion
- Professional, experienced mountain guides and assistant guides
- Mountain crew: porters and a cook
- All park fees (entrance, camping/hut fees, rescue fees)
- Government taxes and VAT
- Accommodation before and after the trek
- Drinking water during the trek
Tour Exclusion
- International flights
- Tanzanian visa fees
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips for guides, porters, and cook
- Personal trekking gear (sleeping bag, trekking poles, boots, etc.)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
