8-Day Mt Kilimanjaro Hike via Machame Route

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

Pick-up from the Airport

On this day, you’ll be picked up from either Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport and driven to Arusha Farm House. After you arrive and settle in, your guide will meet you shortly for a detailed briefing on the hike. He will walk you through the day-by-day itinerary and check to ensure you have all the necessary gear for the trek.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Arusha Farm House

• Mid-range lodge located in Arusha (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame Camp(2835m)

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha and driven to Machame Village. Here, you'll have the opportunity to buy mineral water and receive your packed lunch for the day. Depending on road conditions, you will either continue driving to the Machame Gate or walk the final 3 km stretch, which may take about an hour if the road is impassable due to mud.

Upon arrival at the gate, you’ll complete registration and begin your ascent into the lush rainforest. Expect a wet and muddy trail, especially if it rains which is common in this zone. The forest section is rich in vegetation and often misty, creating a unique and immersive trekking experience. You'll stop for lunch around the halfway point before continuing to Machame Camp, where you’ll arrive in the late afternoon for your first overnight on the mountain.

Hiking Time: 5–7 hours
Distance: Approximately 11 kilometers
Habitat: Afro-Montane Forest.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Machame Camp(2835m) to Shira Camp(3750m)

After an early breakfast at Machame Camp, you’ll begin a steady climb through the last section of rainforest before entering the heath and moorland zone. The initial ascent takes about an hour, followed by a more gradual 2-hour trek across rolling moorland. Following a short rest and lunch break, you’ll continue your hike up a rocky ridge leading to the Shira Plateau. From here, breathtaking views open up—especially to the east, where you can see the dramatic Western Breach and its impressive glaciers. You are now positioned due west of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s main summit.

After a final short hike, you’ll arrive at Shira Camp (3,840m). Porters will provide boiled water for drinking and washing, followed by a hearty dinner. As the camp is more exposed, expect colder conditions than the previous night, with temperatures potentially dropping well below freezing.

Hiking Time: ~6 hours
Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers
Habitat: Afromontane Forest / Heath.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Shira (3750), to Lava Tower(4630), to Barranco Camp (At 3900m)

Today’s route takes you eastward into a striking semi-desert landscape, characterized by rugged terrain and sparse vegetation. You'll gradually ascend through rocky paths leading to the Lava Tower, a prominent volcanic formation standing at 4,630 meters. Lunch will be served in a designated area near the tower.

After lunch, you’ll descend approximately 680 meters to reach Barranco Camp. This descent plays a critical role in acclimatization, following the “climb high, sleep low” principle. The 2-hour descent offers stunning photo opportunities of the Western Breach and the towering Breach Wall. Barranco Camp is nestled in a scenic valley at the foot of the Great Barranco Wall—your next challenge awaits the following day.

Hiking Time: 6–8 hours
Distance: Approximately 10 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Barranco Camp(3900m) to Karanga Camp(3995m)

After a night below the towering Great Barranco Wall, your day begins with a climb up this imposing but surprisingly manageable feature. Despite its daunting appearance, the scramble up the wall is often easier than expected. Once you reach the top, just below the Heim Glacier, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views showcasing the raw beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Karanga Valley is the final water point on the route, so it's important to fill up here, as there is no water available at Barafu Camp—your next stop. Known as the "ice camp," Barafu is an exposed, harsh campsite located on a narrow, rocky ridge where strong winds are common and the environment is bleak. Thankfully, tonight you’ll camp in the more sheltered and slightly less extreme conditions of Karanga.

Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

Karanga Camp (3995m) – Barafu Hut (4673m)

After breakfast, you’ll leave Karanga Camp and begin the steady ascent toward Barafu Camp. The trail soon intersects with the Mweka Route, which will be your descent path after the summit. After about an hour of hiking, you’ll reach Barafu Camp perched on a barren, wind-exposed ridge. At 4,673 meters, Barafu (meaning “ice” in Swahili) marks your final camp before the summit push. As there is no accessible water at this site, porters will collect water from the last stop in Karanga Valley. The terrain here is rocky and exposed, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the area and your tent setup before nightfall.

An early dinner will be served, allowing you time to rest before your midnight summit attempt. Your guide will conduct a detailed briefing on what to expect during the climb to Uhuru Peak and help ensure you are fully prepared for the challenge ahead.

Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

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

(Summit Attempt) Barafu Hut(4673m)- Uhuru Peak(5895m)- Mweka (3100m)

After spending the night near the imposing Great Barranco Wall an intimidating sight at first glance you'll begin your climb up this dramatic feature. Despite appearances, most find the ascent easier than expected. Once you reach the top, just beneath the Heim Glacier, you'll be rewarded with stunning views that highlight Kilimanjaro’s natural beauty. The Karanga Valley serves as the final opportunity to collect water, as Barafu Camp (often called "ice camp") offers none. Barafu is a harsh, exposed campsite perched on a narrow, rocky ridge frequently battered by strong winds. It’s a stark and unfriendly place to spend the night. From here, the summit lies 1,345 meters higher, and you'll begin the final push to the top later that same night.

Hiking Duration: Ascent takes around 7–8 hours, with the descent requiring 4–6 hours.
Total Distance: Approximately 18 km.
Habitat: Arctic conditions.

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)

After enjoying a well-earned breakfast, your mountain crew will hold a lively celebration featuring traditional singing and dancing. This is the moment when you’ll have the opportunity to offer your tips to the guide, assistant guides, porters, and cook(s). Once the festivities conclude, you'll begin your descent to Mweka Gate, a hike that takes about three hours. At the gate, all trekkers are required to sign the park registry to officially complete their climb. Those who made it to Stella Point (5,685 meters) will receive green certificates, while those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) will be awarded gold certificates. Following this, there’s an additional one-hour (3 km) walk down to Mweka village, where a hot lunch will be waiting. From there, you’ll be driven back to Arusha to enjoy a well-deserved shower and continue the celebration.

Hiking Duration: 3–4 hours
Distance: Around 10 km
Habitat: Forest zone.

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.