Route
7 Days Machame Route
Duration
7 Days
Trek Highlights
Conquer Africa's highest peak with the 7-Day Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route, known for its thrilling challenges and spectacular scenery. Dubbed the "Whiskey Route," this popular trail takes you through lush rainforests, dramatic ridges, and alpine deserts before reaching the iconic Uhuru Peak. With its gradual ascent and strategic acclimatization, the Machame Route offers climbers an excellent chance of success. Guided by experienced experts, this adventure promises breathtaking landscapes and the ultimate sense of achievement!
Itinerary
- Arrival Day: Arrive in JRO / Transfer to Arusha
- Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800m/5,900ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft)
- Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)
- Day 3: Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m/14,900ft)
- Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via the Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,800ft)
- Day 5: Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)
- Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)
- Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)
- Departure Day: Final transfer to the airport
Day By Day Description
Arrival Day: Arrive in JRO / Transfer to Arusha
Upon arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport or any location in Arusha, our Climbing Kilimanjaro driver will warmly welcome you. Look for our signboard featuring the company logo outside the arrivals hall. You’ll then be comfortably transferred to your Arusha accommodation at the Kibo Palace Hotel, where a relaxing bed-and-breakfast stay awaits. This seamless service ensures a perfect start to your Kilimanjaro trekking adventure.
Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800m/5,900ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,200 metres / 3,900 feet
Your head guide will accompany you on the drive from Arusha to the Machame Gate, where registration marks the start of your Kilimanjaro trekking journey. The trail winds through lush rainforest, Kilimanjaro’s wettest zone, so be prepared for afternoon showers that can make the path slippery. After a steady 6-7 hours of hiking, you’ll arrive at Machame Camp (9,800ft), situated at the edge of the forest and giant heather zones. This scenic location offers a well-earned rest after your first day of climbing.
Overnight at Machame Camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,800ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)
- Elevation Gain: 840 metres / 2,800 feet
Today’s trek is shorter but begins with a steep ascent along a ridge leading to Picnic Rock, a stunning viewpoint. From here, enjoy breathtaking views of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s summit cone, and the jagged Shira Plateau, the mountain’s third volcanic cone shaped by lava flows and erosion. The trail eases as you cross the Shira Plateau, eventually reaching Shira Camp, known for its spectacular panoramic views on clear days. Expect to spend 5-6 hours trekking through this remarkable Kilimanjaro trekking route.
Overnight at Shira Camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 3: Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m/14,900ft)
Elevation Gain: 710 metres / 2,300 feet Elevation Loss: 700 metres / 2,250 feet
Today’s Kilimanjaro trek takes you across expansive high-desert ridgelines to Lava Tower, a 300-foot volcanic plug reached after about 4 hours of hiking. If you have the energy, a scramble to the top offers incredible panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. Afterward, descend steeply into the picturesque Barranco Valley, home to unique giant senecio plants, a highlight of this Kilimanjaro trekking experience. Although you finish at nearly the same altitude as you started, this challenging day is vital for acclimatization and ends at the stunning Barranco Camp, nestled below the towering Barranco Wall.
Overnight at Barranco Camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via the Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,800ft)
- Elevation Gain: 350 metres / 1,150 feet Elevation Loss: 250 metres / 820 feet
After breakfast at Barranco Camp, the trek begins with an exciting climb up the Barranco Wall, a rewarding scramble offering stunning views of the camp below. Reaching 4,200m, you’ll traverse an undulating trail along Kilimanjaro’s mountainside, with breathtaking vistas of Kibo on one side and Mount Meru on the other. After descending into the scenic Karanga Valley, a short, steep ascent brings you to Karanga Camp, an ideal spot to rest and acclimatize. This segment of your Kilimanjaro trekking adventure takes approximately 3-4 hours, showcasing diverse terrains and incredible mountain landscapes.
Overnight at Karanga Camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 5: Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)
- Elevation Gain: 650 metres / 2,150 feet
This morning, you’ll embark on a steady climb to Barafu Camp, aptly named after the Swahili word for “ice.” Positioned on a ridge beneath Kilimanjaro’s summit cone, this camp marks the completion of the scenic South Circuit, offering breathtaking views of the summit from multiple angles. After a 3-hour trek, you’ll reach Barafu in time to relax, enjoy an early dinner, and prepare for your final ascent. From this vantage point, you can marvel at the iconic peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo, a highlight of your Kilimanjaro trekking experience.
Overnight at Barafu Camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,295 metres / 4,200 feet Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet
In the early hours, you’ll begin the thrilling final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Africa. This challenging 6-8 hour trek through the cold night is rewarded with breathtaking views as the sun rises over Mawenzi, painting the sky in rich red hues. Reaching Stella Point (5,750m) marks the crater rim, from where a gentle climb leads to Uhuru Peak. After celebrating your achievement, you’ll descend to Mweka Hut, enjoying lunch along the way, before resting with your last dinner on the mountain—a perfect end to your Kilimanjaro trekking adventure.
Overnight at Mweka Camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)
- Elevation Loss: 1,280 metres / 4,220 feet
Your final descent through Kilimanjaro’s lush rainforest takes 2-3 hours, offering a chance to spot monkeys and enjoy the vibrant scenery. At Mweka Gate, you’ll complete park formalities and bid farewell to the mountain. From Mweka Village, you’ll travel back to Moshi before continuing to Arusha for a relaxing stay at Kibo Palace Hotel. This marks the end of your unforgettable Kilimanjaro trekking adventure, with breakfast and lunch included.
Departure Day: Final transfer to the airport
Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your onward flight.
Included
- Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
- All Park fees Airport transfers Rescue fees
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Oximeter
- Medical Kit
- Emergency oxygen
- Crisis management and safety procedures
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters
- Accommodation in Arusha
- Portable toilet
Excluded
- Flights
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending monies for souvenirs etc.
- Travel insurance
