Day 1 ARRIVAL

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport https://www.kilimanjaroairport.go.tz/ Other Pickup Destination, where you will meet a Majali guide, and be transferred to the hotel. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are prepared to trek Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route for 7 days by checking your gear and giving you a brief breakdown of the trip.

Day 2 MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP

A guide and support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold another briefing. Then we will travel to the entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park, known as Machame Gate (1,800 m). After a few hours of formalities with the park rangers at the gate and you will be on the trail.. The group will stop for a light snack then start the hike towards the Machame Camp ( 3,010 m). Raincoats are necessary on this day in particular, as you will be walking through the rainforest.

Change in Elevation: Machame Gate (1,800 m) — Machame Camp (3,010 m)

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5-7 hours

Day 3 TREKKING FROM MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP

An early wakeup and breakfast. The first part of today’s trek is a slow gradual walk that is fairly steep as you climb up out of the jungle and see the stunning Shira Plateau for the first time. After reaching the camp and enjoying lunch we can explore the Shira Caves or continue on an acclimatization hike towards the Lava Tower. We will return to camp to enjoy dinner and rest.

Change in Elevation: Machame Camp ( 3,010 m) — Shira Camp (3,845 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Day 4 TREKKING FROM SHIRA CAMP TO THE LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP

After breakfast you will leave Shira Camp (3,845 m) and start your way to the key point of the route, the Lava Tower (4,630 m). Once we reach the Lava Tower we will stay here for 2 hours and enjoy lunch for proper acclimatization. After lunch we will pass by the Arrow Glacier (4876m)

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, and get to rest and enjoy a warm dinner.

Note:

Although you end the day at the same elevation you began at, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help you prepare for the summit day.

If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following instead the road for porters. In this case you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.

Change in Elevation: Shira Camp (3,845 m) — Barranco Camp(3,960 m)

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 6-8 hours

Day 5 TREKKING FROM BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA TO BARAFU CAMP

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall. The climb is on a steep ridge, hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp (4,035 m) , which features numerous ascents and descents during the route. After reaching the camp you will enjoy a warm lunch. Then, after a couple of hours you will begin the trek to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner and be prepared for the climb to the summit. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping.

Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Hiking distance: 9 km

Hiking time: 8-10 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

Day 6 ASCENT TO UHURU PEAK & DESCENT TO MILLENNIUM CAMP

Very early wake up, around midnight, we begin our climb to the summit. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. Then we will continue our accent toward Stella Point (5,669 m). This is the most challenging portion of the climb to the high altitude. At Stella Point we will enjoy a short rest and you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see ( unless you are a fast hiker, then you enjoy an amazing sunrise from Uhuru Peak) ( weather permitting). From Stella Point you may encounter snow along your 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). . After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak – the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the last point of the climb on the Machame Route, you will have reached the highest point in all of Africa — CONGRATULATIONS!

From the Summit, we will begin our descent to Barafu Camp to rest, and enjoy a warm lunch. Then we will continue to Millennium camp for the night.

Change in Elevation: Barafu (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) / Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Millennium Camp (3,950 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km ascent / 10 km descent

Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 3-4 hours descent

Day 7 MILLENNIUM CAMP TO MWEKA CAMP TO MOSHI

The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). At the gate you will need to sign-out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak. After which you will be transferred to the hotel where you will debrief with your crew and enjoy a well deserved rest.

Change in Elevation: Millennium Camp ( 3,950 m ) — Mweka Camp (3,048 m) — Moshi ( 1,524 m )

Hiking distance: 12 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Day 8 HOTEL CHECKOUT/ DEPARTURE FLIGHT

Hotel checkout is at 11am. From there a Majali guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight.