7-Day Kilimanjaro Adventure; Lemosho to the Summit

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

Arusha to Lemosho Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

Your day begins with an early breakfast at your hotel in Arusha. Around 7:30–8:00 AM, you’ll meet your mountain guide and crew, go through a final gear check, and then depart by vehicle for the Lemosho Gate, located on the western side of Kilimanjaro National Park. The scenic drive takes you through local villages, coffee and banana farms, and lush foothills. After registering at the gate and completing park formalities, porters divide gear, and the trek begins.

The trek starts at Lemosho Gate (2,100m) and winds through dense montane rainforest, one of the most biodiverse zones on Kilimanjaro. This part of the route is often quiet and serene, with fewer trekkers than other routes. As you ascend, keep your eyes peeled for blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and a variety of bird species.

You’ll reach Mti Mkubwa Camp (which means “Big Tree” in Swahili), nestled in the forest for overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

You’ll start the day with breakfast in camp, then begin your ascent through the last stretch of rainforest. The trail quickly climbs out of the dense forest into the heath and moorland zone, offering a dramatic change in scenery. Once you crest the ridge, you descend slightly onto the Shira Plateau, a vast, high-altitude plain formed by volcanic activity. You’ll arrive at Shira 1 Camp around midday for a rest and lunch break.

After lunch, the hike continues across the expansive Shira Plateau. The trail gradually ascends as you make your way east toward Shira 2 Camp, which sits at 3,850m. This camp offers excellent sunset views and is a great place for acclimatization, with cold, clear nights under the stars. Overnight stay in shira two camp.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Shira 2 to Barranco Camp

After an early breakfast, you begin a long, steady ascent into alpine desert terrain. The lush vegetation fades quickly as the trail climbs through rocky, barren landscape. This is a key acclimatization day-although you'll sleep lower than your high point, your body gets exposure to higher altitude to adjust gradually. You'll hike up to the Lava Tower, a dramatic volcanic rock formation standing at 4,630 meters. The climb is gradual but consistent, and you’ll likely begin to feel the effects of the altitude here (headache, shortness of breath, fatigue), which is normal. At the Lava Tower, you’ll stop for lunch and a longer rest. It’s a great place to take photos and assess how your body is adapting to the altitude.

After lunch, the trail descends sharply down to Barranco Valley, a visually stunning area filled with giant senecio trees, strange alien-like plants that grow only in high-altitude equatorial zones. After arrival at Barranco camp you'll have dinner and overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barranco Camp to karanga Camp

After breakfast, the day begins with one of the most exciting sections of the entire trek: the Barranco Wall, also known as the “Breakfast Wall” because it’s your first challenge of the day. This near-vertical rock face looks intimidating from camp, but it's actually a non-technical scramble. You’ll use your hands in places, but it's not a technical climb-more like a steep hike with some hands-on support. Your guides will assist you and ensure a safe, steady pace.

You’ll descend into the Karanga Valley, where you cross a small stream-often the last water source before base camp. Then it's a final short climb to Karanga Camp, perched on a ridge overlooking the valley. You’ll arrive at Karanga Camp in time for lunch and a well-earned rest. This camp is slightly higher than Barranco, and though the net elevation gain is small, today’s hike is excellent for continued acclimatization thanks to the physical effort and varied terrain. Lastly overnight stay at Karanga camp.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

The day begins with a moderately steep hike through a stark and wind-swept alpine desert. The landscape is dry, rocky, and exposed-with very little vegetation. The air is thinner now, and you’ll feel the altitude more intensely with each step. The trail steadily climbs along a ridge leading toward the base of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s highest volcanic cone. Though the hike is shorter in distance than previous days, the altitude makes it physically challenging.

You’ll arrive at Barafu Camp (meaning "ice" in Swahili) around midday. The camp is set on a narrow, exposed ridge with strong winds and sweeping views of Mawenzi and the southern glaciers. Once at camp: Porters will prepare lunch and hot drinks, you’ll have time to rest, hydrate, and prepare your gear for the summit push and dinner is served early (around 5–6 PM).

You’ll head to your tent early to rest, knowing that summit day begins just before midnight. The goal: to reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m) by sunrise.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Barafu to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

You’ll be woken late at night for a light meal and tea, then begin the summit push under a star-filled sky. This is the toughest part of the entire trek-both mentally and physically-due to the steep incline, cold temperatures, and very thin air. The route begins with a long, slow ascent up scree and switchbacks. You’ll move pole pole (slowly) to conserve energy. It’s cold, often windy, and can be mentally exhausting. After 5–7 hours, just before sunrise, you’ll reach Stella Point (5,756m) on the crater rim. This is a major milestone-from here, it’s about 45 minutes to 1 hour more of gentle uphill trekking to reach.

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the highest point in Africa. At Uhuru Peak, you’ll have time for quick celebration photos, but you won’t stay long due to the extreme altitude and cold. After summiting, you begin the long descent back to mweka camp.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Arusha

After an early breakfast, you’ll begin your final trek down Kilimanjaro through the lush and humid montane rainforest. This section is scenic and shaded, with birdsong and the chance to see monkeys (especially colobus or blue monkeys). You’ll arrive at Mweka Gate (1,640m) by late morning or midday. At the gate: You’ll sign out of the park register, receive your climbing certificates, green certificate for reaching Stella Point and gold certificate for reaching Uhuru Peak.

From Mweka Gate, your driver will meet you for the return transfer to Arusha. The drive takes approximately 4–5 hours, passing through rural villages, banana plantations, and coffee farms.

You’ll arrive back at your hotel or lodge in Arusha in the late afternoon or early evening-where a hot shower, clean clothes, and a warm bed will feel like paradise after a week on the mountain!

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

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