Moshi
Your Moshi hotel
Budget, midrange or luxury — your base for the briefing before the climb and a hot shower after it.
Kilimanjaro · Machame Route
6-Day Machame
Route
Kilimanjaro's most popular scenic route, from rainforest to glaciers, using 'climb high, sleep low' acclimatisation.
- 6 days on the mountain
- Challenging
- Scenic camping route
- Private climb
The climb
The scenic
'Whiskey Route'.
Machame, known as the 'Whiskey Route', is one of the most beautiful ways up Kilimanjaro. It climbs from the southern rainforest across the Shira Plateau and past Lava Tower before the summit push from Barafu.
The 'climb high, sleep low' profile helps acclimatisation, but steep sections and a shorter schedule make the six-day plan best for fit, determined trekkers. Add a day for better summit odds.
Route & elevations
From the gate
to the Roof of Africa.
Every climb is led by a professional mountain guide with a full support crew.
- Day 01 Moshi Arrival & briefing
- Day 02 Machame Camp 3,000 m
- Day 03 Shira Camp 3,750 m
- Day 04 Barranco 3,900 m
- Day 05 Barafu Camp 4,673 m
- Day 06 Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
- Day 07 Mweka Gate 1,800 m
Day by day
Your climb, step by step
Times and distances are a guide — your lead guide sets the pace on the mountain.
Day 1: Arrival in Moshi
Welcome to Kilimanjaro
Overnight: Hotel in Moshi (budget, midrange or luxury)
Our team meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drives you to your hotel in Moshi, the gateway town to the mountain.
In the evening your lead guide talks you through the climb, checks your gear and answers your questions. The rest of the day is for resting and drinking plenty of water.
- Stay
- Hotel in Moshi (budget, midrange or luxury)
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2: Machame Gate → Machame Camp
Through the rainforest
Overnight: Machame Camp (tents)
A short drive from Moshi brings you to Machame Gate, where the trail enters dense rainforest.
Look out for monkeys and birds as the path climbs steadily — sometimes muddy — to your first camp above the canopy.
- Stay
- Machame Camp (tents)
- Elevation
- 1,800 m → 3,000 m
- Walking
- 11 km · 5–7 hrs
Day 3: Machame Camp → Shira Camp
Onto the Shira Plateau
Overnight: Shira Camp (tents)
A steep ridge leads out of the forest into heather and moorland.
By midday you reach Shira Camp on a broad plateau, with Kibo ahead and the plains far below.
- Stay
- Shira Camp (tents)
- Elevation
- 3,000 m → 3,750 m
- Walking
- 5 km · 4–6 hrs
Day 4: Shira → Lava Tower → Barranco
Climb high, sleep low
Overnight: Barranco Camp (tents)
Today is a key acclimatisation day: you climb to Lava Tower, at about 4,600 m, for lunch.
You then descend into the Barranco Valley to sleep lower — a proven way to help your body adapt to the altitude.
- Stay
- Barranco Camp (tents)
- Elevation
- 3,750 m → 4,600 m → 3,900 m
- Walking
- 10 km · 6–8 hrs
Day 5: Barranco Camp → Barafu Camp
The Wall to base camp
Overnight: Barafu Camp (tents)
The day begins with a scramble up the Barranco Wall and continues across alpine valleys.
You reach Barafu Camp in the afternoon, eat early and rest before the summit attempt shortly before midnight.
- Stay
- Barafu Camp (tents)
- Elevation
- 3,900 m → 4,673 m
- Walking
- 10 km · 7–9 hrs
Day 6: Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp
Summit day
Overnight: Mweka Camp (tents)
Around midnight you begin the slow climb over loose scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim.
The rim leads to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), Africa's highest point, ideally at sunrise. After celebrating you descend to Barafu for brunch and continue down to Mweka Camp.
- Stay
- Mweka Camp (tents)
- Elevation
- 4,673 m → 5,895 m → 3,068 m
- Walking
- 17 km · 12–16 hrs
Day 7: Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate
Back to Moshi
Overnight: Hotel in Moshi (budget, midrange or luxury)
A final walk down through the rainforest brings you to Mweka Gate.
There you receive your summit certificate and say goodbye to your crew before the drive back to Moshi for a hot shower and a celebration.
- Stay
- Hotel in Moshi (budget, midrange or luxury)
- Elevation
- 3,068 m → 1,800 m
- Walking
- 10 km · 3–4 hrs
Day 8: Departure
Farewell from Tanzania
Depending on your flight time, we drive you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your journey home.
Continuing on safari or to Zanzibar? We arrange the connection so your next adventure begins smoothly.
Prices
Clear rates,
no surprises.
Classic Premium — 1–2 guests: $2,160 per person · 3 or more guests: $2,100 per person
VIP Private — Bespoke luxury and a custom itinerary — quoted on request
Rates are in USD and cover park fees, rescue fees, emergency oxygen and your mountain crew. Subject to availability.
Where you will sleep
Rest well,
climb strong.
On the mountain
Mountain camps
Two-person sleeping tents, a dining tent with table and chairs, hot washing water and three meals a day — all set up by your crew.
Included
Your climb includes
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Return transport to and from the trailhead
- Two nights in a Moshi hotel (before and after the climb)
- Park, conservation and rescue fees, plus VAT
- Professional mountain guide and full crew, wages and allowances included
- First-aid kit and emergency oxygen
- Rescue vehicle on standby
- Sleeping tents and a dining tent with table and chairs
- Three meals a day on the mountain
- Morning wake-up call, hot washing water and ginger tea on summit night
Not included
Not included
- Flights
- Travel and health insurance
- Tips for the mountain crew
- Drinks at the hotel
- Personal items and gear
- Taxis and extra transfers
Good to know
Extras, transfers
& tipping.
Optional extras — private toilet $150 per trip · private tent $5 per day · Kailas X3 alpine tent $10 per day · thicker sleeping mattress $10 · Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad $15.
Private transfers — Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi (or back) $50 · Arusha to Moshi (or back) $100. Pre-booking recommended.
Suggested crew tips per climber — lead guide USD 20–25 · assistant guide USD 15–20 · cook USD 12–15 · porter USD 8–10.
Make more of your trip — add a wildlife safari in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro or Tarangire, a few days on Zanzibar's beaches, or a cultural visit to Maasai and Chagga communities and a coffee tour near Moshi.
Start planning
Tell us when
you want to climb.
Every climb is private and planned around your dates, fitness and pace.
Send us the details below and our team will put together your 6-Day Machame Route proposal.
Good to know: Your enquiry does not commit you to a booking. It simply gives our team what we need to plan your climb.
Request your climb proposal
Ready for the Roof of Africa?
Tell us your dates and group size. We reply within 24 hours with a climb plan and a clear price.