Trek up to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 6 days on the Marangu route – popularly known as the “tourist” or “Coca-Cola” route due to its relative ease.
Trekking Distance: ~ 8 km
Trekking Time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Rainforests
After breakfast, depart from your hotel to Marangu gate (1860m)-where your trek will begin. Register with Kilimanjaro National Park and start your first day of trekking – a gradual 5-6 hours trek through the rainforest on the lower slopes of Mt.Kilimanjaro. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route to Mandara Hut(2715 m) – your final destination for the day.
Arrive at Mandara Hut late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight accommodation at Mandara Hut(2715 m).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance: ~ 12 km
Time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Rainforests / Low Alpine
After breakfast at Mandara Hut, start hiking through the rainforest before transitioning into low alpine moorland-where giant lobelias scatter across the landscape. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way to Horombo Hut – your final destination for day two.
Dinner and overnight stay at Horombo Hut.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, you will go on an acclimatization hike towards Kibo Hut and back to the camp.
After lunch, you can choose to walk around the surrounding area, take pictures of Mawenzi Volcano, or just sleep before the upcoming trek to Kibo Hut. To enhance your acclimatization transition, the team will spend this night at the same altitude (Horombo Hut camp).
Distance: ~ 10 km
Time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low Alpine / High Alpine
After breakfast, start your trek towards Kibo Hut (4700m). Trek past the last water point – a point after which there is no clean running water on the mountain. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the area around the last water point. After the last water point, you will enter the saddle – a desert-like terrain that connects Mawenzi and Kibo peaks.
Arrive at Kibo Hut in the afternoon. Enjoy an early dinner and then get some rest because you will wake up around midnight to commence the last ascent towards Uhuru Peak – the summit of Mt.Kilimanjaro.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance: ~ 5.5 km ascent and 15 km descent
Time: 6-8 hours ascent to Uhuru Peak and 5-8 hours descent to Horombo Hut
Zone: Glacial Zone, High Alpine & Low Alpine Zones
Wake up around midnight, enjoy a light snack, and then begin your trek to the summit of Mt.Kilimanjaro – climb to the first checkpoint at Hans Meyer Cave (5200m) and then zig-zag up the scree to Gilman’s Point (5715m) on the crater rim.
The final ascent will take you past spectacular glaciers before reaching Uhuru Peak(5895m)- the highest point in Africa. Take some minutes to savor your accomplishment, and take as many photos as possible before beginning your descent back to Horombo Hut.
Descend to Kibo Hut for a warm meal and some rest before descending to Horombo Hut – your last stop for the day. Arrive at Horombo Hut late in the afternoon for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance: ~ 20 km
Time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Low Alpine & Rainforest
After breakfast, depart your camp and descend through the low alpine zone and rain forests to Mandar Hut; arrive in time for lunch. After lunch, descent to Marangu Gate – meet your driver and depart to Arusha / Moshi for an afternoon of relaxation at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
