Kilimanjaro trek

Kilimanjaro Climb: The Machame Route

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Departures: Daily
Group size: Min 2
Code: BNA-A01

Answer the call of the world’s highest free-standing mountain. The Machame Route, known as the ‘Whiskey Route,’ is the most popular path to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro for a reason. It offers a more gradual ascent for better acclimatization and boasts spectacular, ever-changing scenery through five distinct climate zones.

Highlights

Moments you’ll carry home

01Climb the highest standing mountain in Africa, the legendary Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m / 19,341 ft).
02Follow the most scenic and varied route to the summit.
03Benefit from a superior acclimatization profile, increasing your chances of success.
04Trek through lush rainforest, heather moorlands, and a stark alpine desert.

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 1
Arrival & Preparation
Arrive and overnight at AMEG Lodge Kilimanjaro. This day is for relaxing and making final preparations for the climb.
Overnight: AMEG Lodge Kilimanjaro (Dinner)
Day 2
Machame Gate (1,800m) to Machame Camp (3,000m)
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Machame Gate in Kilimanjaro National Park. The first day’s trek is through lush, dense rainforest.
Overnight: Machame Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3
Machame Camp (3,000m) to Shira Camp (3,800m)
The trail ascends along a steep ridge, leaving the rainforest behind and entering the heather and open moorlands, offering fantastic views.
Overnight: Shira Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4
Shira Camp (3,800m) to Barranco Camp (3,900m)
Today the trek heads eastwards through a semi-desert and rocky landscape, reaching an altitude of 4,600m at Lava Tower for acclimatization before descending to Barranco Camp.
Overnight: Barranco Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5
Barranco Camp (3,900m) to Barafu Camp (4,600m)
The day starts with a climb up the Barranco Wall, then crosses the Karanga Valley. The trail turns north to reach the final campsite, Barafu Hut, the launchpad for the summit. Note: An optional extra day to acclimatize can be added at Karanga Valley (3,950m).
Overnight: Barafu Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6
SUMMIT DAY! Barafu (4,600m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) to Mweka (3,000m)
Starting around midnight, the final ascent to the crater rim begins. You’ll reach Stella Point in time for a magnificent sunrise before the final push to Uhuru Peak—the highest point in Africa. After celebrating, you descend back to Barafu and continue down to Mweka Camp.
Overnight: Mweka Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7
Mweka Camp (3,000m) to Mweka Gate (1,640m)
A final, gentle descent through the forest brings you to the Mweka Park Gate. Here you will receive your summit certificates before being transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved celebration.
Overnight: AMEG Lodge Kilimanjaro (Dinner)
Day 8
Departure
The tour concludes with breakfast and your outbound departure.

Good to know

✦Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

You may also love

All journeys

Big-game safariBNA-T01

Tanzania · 9 days

The Great Serengeti Migration

✦Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater.
✦Witness the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera.

9 Days / 8 Nights

LuxuryBNA-T02

Tanzania · 11 days

Tanzania’s Garden of Eden

✦Discover the incredible wildlife of Northern Tanzania.
✦Visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage and Biosphere sites.

11 Days / 10 Nights

Bush & beachBNA-T03

Tanzania · 14 days

Tanzania’s Bush to Beach Safari

✦Experience one of the world’s largest faunal reserves.
✦Encounter the famous tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara.

14 Days / 13 Nights

Preparing your journey

Moments you’ll carry home

01Climb the highest standing mountain in Africa, the legendary Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m / 19,341 ft).

02Follow the most scenic and varied route to the summit.

03Benefit from a superior acclimatization profile, increasing your chances of success.

04Trek through lush rainforest, heather moorlands, and a stark alpine desert.

The itinerary

Day 1

Arrival & Preparation

Arrive and overnight at AMEG Lodge Kilimanjaro. This day is for relaxing and making final preparations for the climb.

Overnight: AMEG Lodge Kilimanjaro (Dinner)

Day 2

Machame Gate (1,800m) to Machame Camp (3,000m)

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Machame Gate in Kilimanjaro National Park. The first day’s trek is through lush, dense rainforest.

Overnight: Machame Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3

Machame Camp (3,000m) to Shira Camp (3,800m)

The trail ascends along a steep ridge, leaving the rainforest behind and entering the heather and open moorlands, offering fantastic views.

Overnight: Shira Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4

Shira Camp (3,800m) to Barranco Camp (3,900m)

Today the trek heads eastwards through a semi-desert and rocky landscape, reaching an altitude of 4,600m at Lava Tower for acclimatization before descending to Barranco Camp.

Overnight: Barranco Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5

Barranco Camp (3,900m) to Barafu Camp (4,600m)

The day starts with a climb up the Barranco Wall, then crosses the Karanga Valley. The trail turns north to reach the final campsite, Barafu Hut, the launchpad for the summit. Note: An optional extra day to acclimatize can be added at Karanga Valley (3,950m).

Overnight: Barafu Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6

SUMMIT DAY! Barafu (4,600m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) to Mweka (3,000m)

Starting around midnight, the final ascent to the crater rim begins. You’ll reach Stella Point in time for a magnificent sunrise before the final push to Uhuru Peak—the highest point in Africa. After celebrating, you descend back to Barafu and continue down to Mweka Camp.

Overnight: Mweka Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7

Mweka Camp (3,000m) to Mweka Gate (1,640m)

A final, gentle descent through the forest brings you to the Mweka Park Gate. Here you will receive your summit certificates before being transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved celebration.

Overnight: AMEG Lodge Kilimanjaro (Dinner)

Day 8

Departure

The tour concludes with breakfast and your outbound departure.