6-day Machame route
The "Whiskey route": the most popular and one of the most scenic routes.
The route at a glance
Machame is Kilimanjaro's most popular route: more scenic than Marangu, quicker than Lemosho, with great views every day.
You trek through five climate zones, from rainforest to the arctic summit. Your adventure starts at Kilimanjaro Airport with a warm welcome at a hotel in Moshi.
Have one more day? The 7-day Machame adds a night at Karanga Camp, which gives your body more time to adjust before summit night.
Detailed itinerary
- DAY0
Arrival in Moshi: karibu Tanzania
You land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your Wildecho Exped driver is waiting with your name. Transfer to a hotel in Moshi for a hot meal, the pool and a full briefing with your head guide. We check your gear; missing anything? We have rental gear in Moshi.
Overnight: Hotel in Moshi · dinner, bed & breakfast - DAY1
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
After breakfast, drive about 45 minutes to Machame Gate. After registration, enter the lush rainforest: muddy, green and full of monkeys. A 6-hour climb to Machame Camp.
Altitude1,640 → 3,000 mDistance11 kmTime6 hrsHabitatRainforestOvernight: Machame Camp - DAY2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Wake above the clouds. A steep climb through moorland and giant heather gains 850 m in 4–5 hours. Shira Camp has amazing views of Mount Meru and Kibo.
Altitude3,000 → 3,850 mDistance5 kmTime4–5 hrsHabitatMoorlandOvernight: Shira Camp - DAY3
Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Climb high to Lava Tower (4,630 m) for a hot lunch, then descend to Barranco Camp. Climb high, sleep low.
Altitude3,850 → 4,630 → 3,960 mDistance11 kmTime7–8 hrsHabitatAlpine desertOvernight: Barranco Camp - DAY4
Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
Conquer the famous Barranco Wall: about an hour of scrambling with your hands, then you are on top. Lunch in the Karanga Valley, then a 3-hour climb to Barafu base camp, where you can see the summit route from your tent. Early dinner at 5 pm, sleep by 6 pm.
Altitude3,960 → 4,640 mDistance9 kmTime8–9 hrsHabitatAlpine desertOvernight: Barafu Camp - DAY5
Summit day: Uhuru Peak, then down to Mweka
Wake at 11:30 pm for tea and biscuits, headlamp on. Pole pole. Climb 6–7 hours to Stella Point (5,756 m), then about an hour along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) for sunrise over Africa. After photos, 3 hours down to Barafu for lunch, then about 4 more hours to Mweka Camp.
Altitude4,640 → 5,895 → 3,090 mDistance17 kmTime13–15 hrsHabitatArctic to rainforestOvernight: Mweka Camp - DAY6
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: celebration
An easy 4-hour descent through rainforest. Receive your summit certificate at Mweka Gate, then drive to Moshi for a hot shower, hot lunch and a cold Kilimanjaro beer, followed by the tipping ceremony for your crew.
Altitude3,090 → 1,650 mDistance10 kmTime4 hrsHabitatRainforest
6-day Marangu route
The classic hut route with an extra day at Horombo to acclimatize. Join a group departure and summit with new friends, or climb privately.
6-day Umbwe route
Short, steep and direct from day one, with near-total solitude until you join the other routes at Barranco.
7-day Lemosho route via Morum
The beautiful western approach, with a 4×4 drive to 3,400 m so you start on the Shira Plateau, then Lava Tower, the Barranco Wall and the summit.