Kilimanjaro 9-Day Hike Machame Route

Description

Day 1: Moshi

Welcome to Tanzania! When you land at Kilimanjaro National Airport, we'll be waiting to pick you up and bring you to Moshi, where you can rest after your flight and prepare yourselves for the challenge that lies ahead. A fascinating hiking tour over 9 days through the Machame Route awaits us!

Day 2: Moshi – Machame Camp

At the crack of dawn, we'll have breakfast and leave our hotel in Moshi behind as we head for the main entrance to the Machame Route. Once there, we'll begin our hiking tour along this famous route, one of the most well-known and important routes when attending Mount Kilimanjaro.

Popularly known as the "whisky route," this trail offers an incredible contrast of landscapes. First, we'll walk a section of the tropical jungle. At midday, we'll stop to eat lunch and regain our strength before reaching the Machame Camp, where we'll spend the first night.

Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp

After breakfast, we'll leave the camp behind and walk for around an hour until we reach the highest part of the tropical forest. We'll follow the trekking route by traversing the moorlands of Kilimanjaro, an area that many compare to the Highlands of Scotland. You'll love it!

 After resting and getting something to eat, we'll continue exploring the rocky area that will bring us to the Shira plateau, from which we'll have some of the most privileged views of the Western Brecha Glaciers.

At the end of the day, we'll arrive at the Shira camp, 3840 metres above sea level (12,600 feet).

Day 4: Shira Camp – Barranco Camp

We'll fuel up with breakfast and make our way to the hiking route around the Lava Tower. During this section, we'll see the terrain become somewhat semi-desert-like. We'll hike around the Kibo crater in the foothills of the mountain before reaching the Lava Tower, where we'll take a break to have something to eat. 

We'll continue on the trail and make our way to the Barranco zone, where we'll descend to admire the landscapes of the Brecha Wall. We'll then go up to around 4600 metres (15,000 feet) above sea level, although we'll camp at around 4000 metres (13,123 feet)

We'll reach the Barranco Camp late in the day, where we'll have our dinner and rest.

Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp

On the 5th day, we'll make our way to Karanga Camp, a little over 4000 metres (13,123 feet) in altitude. For this, we'll have to get over the Barranco Wall and perform several ascents and descents along some simple paths. This day will be perfect for adapting yourself to the high altitudes that we'll be encountering.

We'll finish the day by having dinner and resting at Karanga Camp.

Day 6: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp

We'll have breakfast and then continue our ascent to Kilimanjaro. This day will feature some strong gale-force winds that are common in this area. However, we'll continue on our route to the Barafu Camp in the easiest way possible, where we'll arrive just before sunset.

Day 7: Barafu Camp – Mweka Camp

The 7th day will begin at 11 pm, the day before, as we will go on a nighttime hike heading northwest until we reach Stella Point, at 5759 metres (18,894 feet) above sea level. We're just about to reach the Kilimanjaro crater!

Please keep in mind that this will be the hardest point during the hiking route but also the most rewarding, as you'll witness one of the most beautiful sunsets you've ever seen. Finally, we'll reach the highest part of Uhuru Peak, which is covered in snow and displays an incomparable beauty. We'll have finally conquered Kilimanjaro!

After this achievement, we'll begin descending until we reach Barafu, from where we'll head to Mweka Camp to spend the night.

Day 8: Mweka Camp – Moshi

Finally, we'll have come to the end of the journey. Once we get up, we'll have breakfast and make our way along a simple hiking trail around the forested area that will bring us to the town of Mweka. From there, we'll make our way to the hotel in Moshi, where we'll be given a certificate of completion.

Day 9: Moshi

After breakfast, we'll bring you to the airport with enough time to catch your flight. Until the next adventure!

Pickup at the airport

This tour includes pickup and drop-off from the Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport.

Accommodation

• The first and last night will be spent at the following hotel in Moshi: Springlands Hotel (3 stars)
• The rest of the nights will be spent at the aforementioned camps.