Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Camp

• Elevation: 1,640 m (5,380 ft) to 2,850 m (9,350 ft)
• Distance: 11 km / 7 miles
• Time: 5-7 hours

After registration at Machame Gate, begin the trek through the dense montane rainforest. The trail is often wet and muddy, but it offers a chance to spot Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and a variety of bird species. The path gradually ascends to Machame Camp, where you’ll enjoy your first night on the mountain. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp

• Elevation: 2,850 m (9,350 ft) to 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
• Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
• Time: 4-6 hours

After breakfast, leave the rainforest behind and enter the moorland zone, where vegetation becomes sparser, and the air becomes cooler. The trail steepens as you ascend toward the Shira Plateau, a vast high-altitude desert with spectacular views of Kibo Peak. Upon arrival at Shira Camp, enjoy breathtaking sunset views over the plateau before settling in for the night.

Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp

• Elevation: 3,810 m (12,500 ft) to 4,630 m (15,190 ft) to 3,960 m (12,990 ft)
• Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
• Time: 6-8 hours

Today is a crucial acclimatization day. After breakfast, trek toward Lava Tower (4,630 m), a volcanic rock formation where you will stop for lunch and allow your body to adjust to the higher altitude. Afterward, descend into the Great Barranco Valley, where you’ll camp at Barranco Camp (3,960 m). The descent helps your body acclimatize, improving your chances of a successful summit.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp

• Elevation: 3,960 m (12,990 ft) to 4,035 m (13,250 ft)
• Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
• Time: 4-5 hours

Start the day by tackling the famous Barranco Wall, a steep but manageable scramble offering stunning panoramic views. After reaching the top, continue through rolling hills and valleys, making your way to Karanga Camp. This short trekking day is designed for acclimatization, allowing your body to adjust to the altitude before the final summit push.

Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp

• Elevation: 4,035 m (13,250 ft) to 4,640 m (15,220 ft)
• Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
• Time: 4-5 hours

After breakfast, trek towards Barafu Camp, the final base camp before your summit attempt. The landscape here is rugged, with little vegetation, as you enter the alpine desert zone. Upon arrival at Barafu Camp, rest and prepare for the midnight summit ascent. Dinner is served early, allowing climbers to sleep before the summit push.

Day 6: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

• Elevation: 4,640 m (15,220 ft) to 5,895 m (19,341 ft) to 3,100 m (10,170 ft)
• Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles
• Time: 12-14 hours

Summit Night
At around midnight or 1:00 am, begin the toughest part of the trek toward the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The ascent is steep, and temperatures can be extremely cold, but perseverance will lead you to Stella Point (5,756 m) just in time for sunrise. After a short rest, continue the final ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa!

After celebrating your achievement, descend back to Barafu Camp for a short break before continuing down to Mweka Camp (3,100 m), where you’ll enjoy your last night on the mountain.

Day 7: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Departure

• Elevation: 3,100 m (10,170 ft) to 1,640 m (5,380 ft)
• Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
• Time: 3-4 hours

After breakfast, begin the final descent through the rainforest zone back to Mweka Gate. This is a gentle walk, allowing you to soak in your final moments on the mountain. Upon arrival at the gate, you will receive your Kilimanjaro summit certificate before being transferred back to Arusha or Moshi for a well-earned rest or departure.