Known as the “Whiskey route”, Truly Machame route is the most popular route and has a very high success rate of making it to the top. It offers beautiful and natural features of landscape. It starts with a nice day of walking through the rainforest and has a nice steady altitude increase each day. The accommodation on the way up and down is strictly camping (movable tents) only. The Machame Route takes you high to Lava Tower on day 3 then brings you down for an overnight at Barranco Camp. This intermediate ascent and descent is the secret to a successful acclimatization and is the reason that this route has a high success rate. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days/5nights on the mountain.

ARRIVE IN TANZANIA

Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be meet with our representative, picked up there and transfer to hotel in Moshi town. Then 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.

Hotel: Bed & Breakfast

Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

• Distance: 11 km / 7 miles
• Approx. Trekking Time: 5 – 7 hours
• Zone: Rainforest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your adventure begins at Machame Gate, located about an hour’s drive from Moshi. After completing park formalities and meeting your trekking team, you’ll begin your trek. The path takes you through a beautiful rainforest, with the ground often wet and muddy underfoot. The steady climb brings you to Machame Camp at 3,010 meters. The day’s journey introduces you to the natural beauty of Kilimanjaro’s lower slopes, offering lush greenery and a sense of excitement as you start your ascent.

Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

• Distance: 5.4 km / 3.4 miles
• Approx. Trekking Time: 4 – 6 hours
• Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On Day 2, you’ll leave the rainforest and enter the low alpine zone, marked by moorlands and grasslands. The trek becomes steeper as you make your way up to the Shira Plateau, where you’ll be rewarded with your first stunning views of Kibo Peak. After about 4-6 hours of trekking, you’ll reach Shira Camp, located at 3,845 meters. From here, you’ll also have a chance to see Mount Meru in the distance. This is a relatively short day, but the ascent starts to become more challenging, as you leave the dense forest behind.

Day 3: Shira Cave to Barranco Camp

• Distance: 10.8 km / 6.7 miles
• Approx. Trekking Time: 8 hours
• Zone: Low Alpine Zone / High Alpine Zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 is crucial for acclimatization, as you’ll reach Lava Tower, which stands at 4,600 meters. This is a high point of the day before descending to Barranco Camp at 3,960 meters for the night. The landscape transforms into high moorland, and you’ll pass beneath dramatic cliffs and glaciers. Despite ending the day at a similar altitude to Shira Camp, this “climb high, sleep low” strategy is important for your body’s adjustment to the thinning air. This day is one of the most scenic as you cross the southwestern side of Kilimanjaro.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

• Distance: 8.5 km / 5.3 miles
• Approx. Trekking Time: 8 hours
• Zone: High Alpine Zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On Day 4, you will descend into the Great Barranco Valley before ascending the famous Barranco Wall, a rocky, steep climb that tests your endurance and strength. This climb is non-technical but still demanding. After conquering the wall, you’ll pass beneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers and make your way toward Karanga Valley, the final water stop before the summit. If you’re doing the 7-day route, you’ll camp at Karanga Camp for extra acclimatization before heading to Barafu Camp. The terrain becomes more alpine as you climb higher toward the base of Kibo Peak.

Day 5: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak & Down to Mweka Camp

• Distance: 16.4 km / 9.6 miles
• Approx. Trekking Time: 13 – 15 hours
• Zone: Glacial Zone and all preceding zones
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This is the day of the summit! You’ll start your ascent around midnight, trekking through the night toward Stella Point (5,739 meters) on the crater rim. As dawn breaks, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the glaciers and Mawenzi Peak in the distance. After another hour’s climb, you’ll reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 meters. After reaching the summit, you’ll begin your descent, returning to Stella Point before heading back down to Barafu Camp for a brief rest and breakfast. Finally, you’ll continue your descent to Mweka Camp, where you’ll enjoy a well-deserved rest after a long and triumphant day.

Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

• Distance: 9.1 km / 7.5 miles
• Approx. Trekking Time: 3 hours
• Zone: Rainforest
• Meals: Breakfast

On Day 6, you’ll make the final descent from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate. The trail descends through the rainforest zone, and after a few hours of walking, you’ll reach the gate where you’ll officially complete your trek. Here, you’ll be met with a certificate of completion, celebrating your incredible achievement. The descent is easier on the body, but still, the rainforest provides a beautiful, tranquil end to your adventure.

Day 7: Depart Tanzania

• Meals: Breakfast

After the trek, you’ll head back to Moshi, where you can celebrate your success and relax. Depending on your travel plans, you can take a safari, head to the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar, or prepare for your return flight home. If you’ve enjoyed your time in Tanzania, you’ll leave with unforgettable memories of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. A vehicle will take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport or any other destination of your choice.