Kilimanjaro Marangu Route 7 Days

What's Included?

• 7 day adventure, 5 of which include 3 meals a day
• 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi, breakfast included
• Airport Pickup from Kilimanjaro Airport
• All Ground Transfers
• Accommodation while trekking*
• National Park Entry Fees
• Fully-licensed, English-speaking guide
• Porter service on the trek
• First aid kit
• Trip completion certificate
• Farewell Dinner

*Accommodation on the trek is in shared hut facilities

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895m (19,341ft). The Marangu Route is the most popular and also one of the most scenic routes. It is the only route with an established hut system so trekkers have the added luxury of hut accommodation and dining.

Your trip starts when we pick you up from the airport at Kilimanjaro from where we will take you to the hotel in Moshi for the night. You will be introduced to your mountain guide and we will ensure you have all the necessary gear for the climb. The next morning it's about an hour drive to the park gate where you will begin the trek. The first day of trekking is about 4 hours through the beautiful rainforest at the base of Kilimanjaro to the huts at Mandara (2,743 m, 8,999 ft). The rain forest thins out and you get your first views of Kilimanjaro on the second day as you hike to the Horombo Hut (3700 m/12140 ft) which is about a 5 hour hike. The third day of trekking takes you through a barren volcanic landscape to the hut at Kibo and offers great views of the surrounding valleys and Mawenzi Peak an extinct volcanic cone. Arriving at Kibo Hut (4700 m/15420 ft) you will be given the afternoon and evening to rest and refuel. Your guide will wake you at 11pm and by midnight you will have started the ascent to the summit.

It's a steep climb from Kibo to the summit ridge at Gilman's Point (5700 m/18700 ft). Once you make the ridge its easier going but still another hour and half to Uhuru Peak (5895 m/19340 ft) which is the tallest point along the ridge. It’s a fantastic experience as the sun raises across the crater and lights up the surrounding glaciers and the clouds blanket the valleys far below. Going back down you will be given a few hours to rest at Kibo before descending all the way to Horombo Hut. One of the reasons for such a long day of trekking is to avoid problems with acclimatization and get you back down to a lower elevation quickly. The final day will take you back to the gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Arusha. Most trekkers complete the route in 5 days but if required a 6 day can be added for acclimatization which is typically spent at Horombo Hut. If you are interested in adding an extra day or summiting via one of the other approaches please enquire as that can be arranged as per your preference.

Day 1

Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi
Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Moshi town, which is commonly known as the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro. Meet your guide and review your equipment in the evening in preparation for the trek the following day.

Day 2

Altitude: (2700m/8860 ft) Walking Distance: 8kms/5miles (4-5 hours)
After breakfast and a short tour briefing from the guide, we will depart to Marangu gate of Kilimanjaro National Park (it is a 45-minute drive from Moshi to the Marangu Gate). Upon registering with park authorities, our climb will officially commence with a four-hour walk to the Mandara encampment. We will pass through a thick rainforest zone, where there is a high chance of rain in the afternoon. We will spend the night at Mandara Hut (2,750m). Rooms in the huts are on quad sharing and bathrooms are available with running water.

Day 3

Altitude: (3700 m/12140 ft) Walking Distance: 12 km/7.2 miles (5-7 hours)
Today we will continue our ascent through the forest for a short time, before reaching the heather and moorland zone at roughly 3,000m (approximately a six-hour walk). Enjoy stunning views of the mountain peaks at this altitude. We will spend the night at Horombo Hut (3,720m), which lies in a valley surrounded by giant lobelia and groundsel, flora which are characteristic of this semi-alpine zone. Bathrooms are available with running water.

Day 4

Altitude: (4700 m/15420 ft) Walking Distance: 9.5 km/5.7 miles (5-7 hours)
Our trek continues past the final watering point, and ascends onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro, between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. The vegetation thins out as we enter the desert-like alpine zone (approximately 4,000m) and, once we cross the saddle, Kibo peak comes into view. We will reach Kibo hut around 1pm and the rest of the day will be given to rest and refuel before the summit push. Your guide will wake you at 11pm so you can get your gear ready and prepare for the summit push which will start at midnight.

Day 5

Altitude: (5895 m/19340 ft) Walking Distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles ascent + 15 km/9.5 miles descent (10-16 hours)
Shortly after midnight, we will commence our climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro, since it is easier to climb the scree slope to Gillman's Point (5,861m) on the crater rim when it is frozen and an early start for the six-hour hike improves our chances of reaching the summit in time for sunrise. From Gilman's Point, it is a further two-hour round trip along the crater's edge to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. From the summit, it is downhill all the way to Horombo Hut where we will spend our last night on the mountain.

Day 6

Altitude: (3700 m/12140 ft) Walking Distance: 20 kms/12 miles (5-7 hours)
Today's descent continues past the Mandara encampment to the bottom of the mountain, where each hiker will receive a well-earned certificate. From here, you will be transferred to your hotel in Moshi. You will enjoy a farewell dinner with your guides.

Day 7

After breakfast, transfer back to Arusha town or Kilimanjaro airport as per your requirement.

Extra Cost and Exclusions

• For visas please click here.
• All the meals are included on the climb but we only include breakfast while you are in Moshi.
• We suggest a minimum tip for your climbing staff of $200. (Please Review our Tip Guidelines).

Climbing Gear

• We will provide tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
• We will provide a duffel bag that you repack your personal gear into for the porter to carry.
• You are responsible to bring your own personal gear (Check gear list).

Solo Travelers

We don't charge solo travelers any extra fees. Solo travelers can expect their own hotel room in Moshi and a private tent during the climb.

Discontinued Climbs

Some climbers may actually finish the climb ahead of schedule and others may have problems with altitude or decide to come down earlier for other reasons. If you do get back to Moshi early you are responsible to pay the costs for your extra hotel nights ($40 per/night) and meals. Keep in mind, our costs are the same regardless of when you end the climb. So even if you are climbing fewer days than scheduled keep in mind that we have already paid the staff, purchased, food and rented gear for all the days you were supposed to be on the climb.

Cancellation Policies

We understand things happen and plans change and will refund your deposit minus a $150 cancelation fee. Once we have made arrangements for the climb such as renting gear and buying food the deposit is not refundable. If your travel dates change we can generally reschedule you at no extra charge, but please provide at least 7 days advance notice.