7-Day Kilimanjaro Breathtaking Trek via Machame Route

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arusha to Machame Camp

Depart your base hotel around 8:00 AM and drive to Machame Village, where your trek officially begins at the park entrance. The trail leads through dense tropical forest, featuring fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other lush vegetation.

Enjoy a picnic lunch halfway to the evening campsite. As you continue, the forest gradually opens to tall grasses and giant heather, walking along a ridge with the Semira Stream on your left and Weru Weru on your right.

Depending on pace, you’ll arrive at Machame Camp between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, where tents are set up near old metal huts once used for overnight stays.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Wake up around 6:00 AM to a steaming cup of tea or coffee, and, weather permitting, enjoy breathtaking views of Uhuru Peak. Today’s trek ascends a steep track through savannahs of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather. Along the way, encounter giant groundsels and a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams.

Enjoy lunch just below the Shira Plateau, about three to four hours from Shira Camp. The final stretch to the campsite takes roughly six hours, with most climbers walking slowly and resting every half-hour. Arrive between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

Overnight: Shira Camp (3,810 m / 12,500 ft).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Shira Camp to Barranco

This morning, the entire Shira Plateau opens up with sweeping vistas toward Mount Meru and the Shira Needles. The trek continues with a steady ascent to Lava Tower (4,570 m / 15,000 ft), where you stop for lunch and enjoy the dramatic surroundings.

After crossing the Bastians Stream, begin a descent into the Grand Barranco, an immense canyon. Along the way, admire numerous waterfalls fed by streams from the mountain, converging to form the Umbwe River.

Today’s trek takes approximately six hours, with arrival at Barranco Camp between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM, set at nearly the same altitude as the previous night.

Overnight: Barranco Camp (3,960 m / 13,000 ft).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

After breakfast, begin your trek to Karanga Camp, which is at a similar altitude to Barranco Camp. The hike starts with a short climb at Barranco Cliff, followed by a series of ups and downs along the mountain slopes. The terrain is manageable, and the climb is not considered difficult.

The trek takes approximately four hours, with arrival at camp around 1:00 PM for lunch. In the afternoon, an optional acclimatization hike is recommended if you feel up to it, helping your body adjust to the higher altitude.

Overnight: Karanga Camp (4,000 m / 13,123 ft).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

After breakfast, trek through Karanga Valley, where giant senecios and lobelias thrive. Continue the scenic climb to Barafu Camp, mostly across a moraine, with Mawenzi Peak towering to your right and Kibo Peak overhead. The terrain here is alpine desert, a mostly mineral environment with sparse lichens and mosses.

Arrival at Barafu Camp is typically around 3:30 PM. Climbers planning the summit attempt should rest and go to bed early, as the next day will be the longest and most challenging of the trek.

Overnight: Barafu Camp (4,630 m / 15,200 ft).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp

In the very early morning, between midnight and 2:00 AM, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point. The trail climbs steeply over stone scree and icy sections, requiring careful pacing and determination.

After reaching the summit and enjoying panoramic sunrise views, begin the descent directly to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The loose gravel makes gaiters and trekking poles essential for stability. Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest, where mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Mweka Camp (3,100 m / 10,200 ft).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mweka Camp to Gate out

On the final day, climbers descend from Mweka Camp to the park gate, a trek of approximately 4 hours, usually arriving before noon. At the gate, climbers are awarded summit certificates recognizing their achievement of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Afterward, enjoy a transfer to Arusha/Airport.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.