6-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

We will collect you from your hotel then drive to Machame Gate, passing through the verdant Machame Village. At the gate, you’ll complete park formalities, meet your mountain crew, and begin your journey.
The trail winds through lush rainforest, with sightings of colobus monkeys, tropical birds, and giant ferns. The air is humid, and the ground may be muddy—trekking poles and gaiters are recommended. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Machame Camp, nestled in a clearing above the forest line.

• Elevation: 1,800 m → 3,000 m
• Distance: ~11 km
• Hiking Time: 5–7 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

After breakfast, you’ll leave the forest behind and enter a moorland zone dominated by heather, volcanic boulders, and wildflowers. The trail ascends steadily, offering sweeping views back toward the rainforest canopy.
Crossing a small valley, you’ll climb a rocky ridge before reaching the expansive Shira Plateau, an ancient lava flow now covered in alpine vegetation. Shira Camp sits with stunning views of Kibo Peak and the vast plains below.

• Elevation: 3,000 m → 3,840 m
• Distance: ~5 km
• Hiking Time: 4–6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Today is designed for acclimatization. You’ll trek gradually upward toward the Lava Tower, a striking 90-meter volcanic formation nicknamed the “Shark’s Tooth.” Lunch here provides your first real taste of high-altitude conditions.
From Lava Tower, the trail descends into the Barranco Valley, dotted with giant senecio and lobelia plants. Although you finish at a similar elevation to the morning, your body will have adapted to higher altitudes—essential for summit success.

• Elevation: 3,840 m → 4,630 m → 3,960 m
• Distance: ~10 km
• Hiking Time: 6–8 hours
• Habitat: Semi-desert → Alpine.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

The day begins with an exhilarating scramble up the Barranco Wall, a 257-meter cliff that rewards climbers with breathtaking views. The route then undulates through alpine terrain to Karanga Camp, your last water point before the summit push.
In the afternoon, you’ll continue to Barafu Camp, perched on a rocky, windswept ridge. This is the starting point for your midnight summit bid. From here, Mawenzi Peak stands tall to the east, while Kibo’s glacier gleams above you.

• Elevation: 3,960 m → 4,640 m
• Distance: ~9 km
• Hiking Time: 7–9 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Summit day begins between midnight and 2:00 am. The climb to Stella Point (5,756 m) is steep and slow, with the glow of headlamps zigzagging up the slope. At Stella Point, a spectacular sunrise often paints the horizon.
From here, it’s a short but demanding trek along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, where you’ll stand at the roof of Africa. After celebrating and taking photos, you’ll descend to Barafu for a rest, then continue down to Mweka Camp for your final night.

• Elevation: 4,640 m → 5,895 m → 3,100 m
• Distance: ~17 km
• Hiking Time: 11–14 hours
• Habitat: Arctic → Rainforest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

The final descent takes you back into lush rainforest. The air warms and thickens as you approach Mweka Gate, where you’ll collect your summit certificate—a proud reminder of your accomplishment.
From the gate, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel, where a hot shower and a celebratory meal await.

• Elevation: 3,100 m → 1,640 m
• Distance: ~10 km
• Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.