6-Day Kilimanjaro Trek Machame Route

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

Machame Gate 1800m to Machame Camp 3000m

Trek Duration: 5–7 hours | Distance: 11 km
Habitat: Afromontane Forest

After breakfast, you will drive to Machame Gate, located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Here you’ll complete park registration and meet your mountain crew—guides, porters, and cooks—who will be with you throughout the trek. The hike begins through a dense tropical rainforest where the trail may be muddy and slippery, especially if it has rained recently. This section of the climb is alive with birds, monkeys (such as colobus and blue monkeys), and a variety of lush vegetation. You will gain approximately 1,200 meters in elevation today, which helps begin the acclimatization process. Upon reaching Machame Camp, your tents will be set up and a warm dinner will be served as you rest and prepare for higher elevations.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Machame Camp 3000m to Shira Camp 3840m

Trek Duration: 4–6 hours | Distance: 5 km
Habitat: Moorland / Heath Zone

Today’s trail is shorter but steeper than Day 1, and the vegetation changes dramatically. You’ll leave the forest behind and enter the heath and moorland zone, marked by volcanic rock formations, low shrubs, and hardy alpine plants like giant lobelias and helichrysum. The trail climbs up a rocky ridge that offers spectacular views of the Shira Plateau and Kibo Peak on a clear day. After a picnic lunch on the trail, you’ll reach Shira Camp, located on the western edge of the ancient Shira Crater, one of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic cones. The area is open and often chilly at night due to the higher elevation and lack of vegetation. Your team will serve a hot dinner and brief you for the next day.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Shira Camp 3840m to Barranco Camp 3960m via Lava Tower 4630m

Trek Duration: 6–8 hours | Distance: 10 km
Habitat: Alpine Desert

This is one of the most important acclimatization days of the trek. You ascend to Lava Tower—a prominent rock outcrop at 4,630m—where you’ll stop for lunch and rest. The terrain becomes dry and dusty as you move through the alpine desert zone, with fewer plants and colder temperatures. The air is noticeably thinner, and some climbers may begin to feel the effects of altitude. After reaching Lava Tower, you descend about 670 meters to Barranco Camp, located beneath the impressive Barranco Wall and surrounded by unusual plant life like the giant Senecio. This "climb high, sleep low" strategy helps your body adjust and prepares you for the final push to the summit.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barranco Camp 3960m to Barafu Camp 4670m

Trek Duration: 7–9 hours | Distance: 9 km
Habitat: Alpine Desert

This is a challenging but incredibly scenic day. The trek begins with a climb up the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical rock face that provides panoramic views of the Karanga Valley and Mount Meru in the distance. After the wall, the trail undulates through several glacial valleys as you pass Karanga Camp (which you will not overnight at in this 6-day version). After a short rest and lunch at Karanga Valley, you continue ascending to Barafu Camp. The name “Barafu” means “ice” in Swahili, and this area is known for its cold winds and sparse, rocky landscape. Views of Mawenzi Peak, Kilimanjaro’s second-highest summit, are often visible. You’ll have an early dinner and rest as the summit push begins just before midnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barafu Camp 4670m to Uhuru Peak 5895m then descend to Mweka Camp 3100m

Trek Duration: 11–15 hours | Distance: ~17 km total
Habitat: Arctic (summit) to Moorland (descent)

The most demanding and rewarding day of your trek. Around midnight, you begin your final ascent under a star-lit sky. The climb to Stella Point (5,739m) is steep and slow, over loose scree and switchbacks. Most climbers arrive at the rim around sunrise, greeted by glowing skies and glacier-covered slopes. From Stella Point, it’s about a 45-minute walk along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m)—the highest point on the African continent. After celebrating, taking photos, and soaking in the moment, you begin your long descent. You’ll return to Barafu Camp for a hot meal and short rest before continuing the descent to Mweka Camp, where you’ll spend your final night on the mountain. Expect sore legs but a sense of deep achievement.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mweka Camp 3100m to Mweka Gate 1640m – Return to Arusha

Trek Duration: 3–4 hours | Distance: 10 km
Habitat: Montane Forest

Your final descent leads you back through the lush montane forest where the journey began. The path can be slippery, especially if wet, so trekking poles are recommended. Upon arrival at Mweka Gate, you'll receive a well-earned summit certificate and enjoy a final meal prepared by your team. After farewells with your crew, you’ll be transferred back to your lodge in Arusha or Moshi for a hot shower, celebratory dinner, and much-deserved rest. Additional nights or safari extensions are available for those continuing their Tanzanian adventure.

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.