Climbers on the Machame Route, Mount Kilimanjaro

9 Days (7 on the mountain)Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 Days

Duration: 9 Days (7 on the mountain)
Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Tour type: Mountain Climbing
Starts: Kilimanjaro International Airport (Day 1)
Ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport (Day 9)

THE JOURNEY

Overview

Known as the Whiskey Route, the Machame Route is one of the most popular and picturesque trails on Kilimanjaro. It offers climbers diverse landscapes—from lush rainforest to alpine desert and the icy summit. The route’s steep sections and longer ascents provide excellent acclimatization, making it ideal for trekkers with some hiking experience. Typically completed in six or seven days, it winds through dramatic ridges and valleys with spectacular views of Mount Meru and the Shira Plateau. Nights are spent at varied camps, each offering unique scenery and atmosphere. While it’s physically demanding, Machame’s beauty and strong success rate make it a favorite for adventurers seeking both challenge and reward. Why choose this route - High Success Rate: Known as the “Whiskey Route,” Machame offers excellent acclimatization and a steady ascent, increasing your summit success chances. - Dramatic Scenery: From lush rainforest to the alpine desert, every day reveals striking contrasts and breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro’s slopes. - Great Acclimatization: The climb-high-sleep-low profile allows your body to adjust gradually to altitude, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable trek.

ROUTE MAP

Your journey at a glance

A day-by-day route drawn directly from this itinerary.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

1
Day 1
Arrive in Tanzania
2
Day 2
Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m)
3
Day 3
Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)
4
Day 4
Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
5
Day 5
Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
6
Day 6
Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
7
Day 7
Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
8
Day 8
Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
9
Day 9
Depart Tanzania

DAY BY DAY

Expedition journey

Day 1

Arrive in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.

Meals: No Meals Included
Accommodation: Park View Inn (or similar), Moshi

Day 2

Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m)

One hour’s drive from Moshi to Machame gate, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. - Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi - Approx. time taken: 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Machame Camp

Day 3

Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)

Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance. - Distance covered: 5.4km / 3.4mi - Approx. time taken: 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Shira Camp

Day 4

Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude. - Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi - Approx. time taken: 8 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Day 5

Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night. - Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi - Approx. time taken: 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Karanga Camp

Day 6

Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit. - Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi - Approx. time taken: 3 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Barafu Camp

Day 7

Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)

We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest. - Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi - Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation: Millennium Camp

Day 8

Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower. - Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi - Approx. time taken: 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
Accommodation: Park View Inn (or similar), Moshi

Day 9

Depart Tanzania

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport. Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.

Meals: Breakfast Included

PLAN YOUR SAFARI

Rates per person

USD · Per person · Prices depend on travel dates and group size

Route	1 person	2-4 people	5-7 people	8-10 people	11+ people
7 Days Machame Route	$2,875	$2,425	$2,350	$2,075	$1,900

Rates are per person and exclude international flights.
Prices include two nights in Moshi, one before and one after the climb.

TRIP DETAILS

Inclusions & exclusions

Included

2 nights at Park View Inn (or similar) in Moshi on a bed-and-breakfast basis (1 night before and 1 night after the trek)
Airport pick-up on arrival and drop-off on departure
Transportation to and from the Kilimanjaro park gate
Kilimanjaro Park entrance fees
Camping or hut accommodation fees
Crater fees (if applicable)
Kilimanjaro rescue team fees
High-quality 4-season tents
Double-thickness (10 cm) foam mattresses
Professional, experienced, and friendly guides, cooks, and porters
Three freshly prepared meals per day during the trek
Filtered and treated drinking water throughout the climb
Hot water for washing
Fair wages for the mountain crew according to KINAPA and KIATO regulations
All government taxes
Portable oxygen cylinders for emergency use
English- or French-speaking certified mountain guide
Oximeter, first aid supplies, and stethoscope
Private portable toilet with a tent (1 toilet for groups of 1–5 climbers, 2 toilets for groups of 6–10 climbers)
Mountain communication radio
Official Kilimanjaro summit certificate

Not Included

Meals and drinks at the hotel (before and after the trek)
Travel insurance
Shower tent (available at an additional cost) -USD 450 for 1 person, USD 300 per person for groups of 2 or more
International and local flights
Laundry services at the hotel
Personal gear, items, and toiletries
Tips for your guides, cooks and porters (suggested: guide USD 20–25, cook USD 15–20, porter USD 10–15 per day)