7-day trek to Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up in Moshi and driven to the Marangu Gate. At the gate, porters will organize and pack your belongings for the trek and register you with Tanzania National Park. You will then begin your ascent through the rainforest. During this part of the trek, you should expect rain, mud, and fog. Also, keep an eye out for wildlife, including colobus monkeys! Approximately halfway through, you will stop for lunch and arrive at the Mandara huts in the late afternoon or early evening. The porters and cooks, who move very quickly up the mountain, will arrive at the camp before you and will set up your tents, boil drinking water, and prepare snacks for your arrival. After washing up, a hot dinner will be served, followed by an overnight stay.

After breakfast, hikers will begin their ascent out of the rainforest and into the heathland. They will pass Maundi Crater and can climb to its rim for a spectacular view of Kibo Crater. In the heath, you will see exotic plants, including giant lobelia and groundsel.

After a 6-hour hike, you will reach the Horombo Refuge. The refuge can accommodate 120 hikers and is located on a small plateau. As on the first night, the porters will prepare drinking water and water for washing. You will enjoy snacks in the evening, followed by dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night, as temperatures drop below freezing in this area.

After an early breakfast, you'll continue your ascent into the alpine desert. Hikers have a choice of two trails leading to Kibo Hut. The upper trail is the same one taken the previous day for the day hike to Mawenzi Hut. The lower trail is the more popular option as it is shorter.

The Kibo refuge is located in the "Saddle," the area between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo in an alpine desert. An early dinner will be served so that hikers can rest before attempting the summit that same night. Your guide will explain in detail how to prepare for the night on the summit. Go to bed before 7 p.m.!

Your guide will wake you around 11:30 PM to serve tea and biscuits. You will then begin your ascent to the summit. The trail is rocky until you reach Hans Meyer Cave. You will continue your climb to Gillman Point. Reaching this section is an impressive feat, as the trail is steep, rocky, and at high altitude. Gillman Point is located on the crater rim. From there, you will typically follow a snow-covered trail to the summit, Uhuru Peak. Reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement! You will have some time at the summit to take photos and enjoy tea before beginning the descent to Barafu. The descent to Kibo Hut takes approximately 3 hours.

At Kibo Refuge, you'll rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you'll continue downhill to Horombo Refuge. You'll have dinner, wash up, and get a good night's rest at the refuge after a strenuous day.

After a well-deserved breakfast, your team will host a big party with singing and dancing. Here in the mountains, you'll give your tips to the guide, assistant guides, cook(s), and porters. After the party, you'll descend for six hours to the Marangu Gate. The national park requires all trekkers to sign a register to receive their certificate of completion.

This marks the end of the trek.

Overnight in Moshi and departure for your return to your country the following day.

After breakfast at the hostel, you will check out around 11:00 am. You will then be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight.