Machame Route – 8 Days / 7 Nights Kilimanjaro Trek
Overview
The Machame Route, often called the "Whiskey Route", is one of the most popular and scenic paths to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. This route is ideal for adventurous hikers seeking a more challenging and rewarding experience. Unlike the easier Marangu Route, the Machame Route features longer hiking days and steeper trails, making it best suited for climbers with some trekking or backpacking experience and a good level of fitness.
TOTAL PRICE FOR SOLO TRAVELLER $ 2692
PRICE PER PERSON SHARING FOR THE 2 PEOPLES $ 2352
PRICE PER PERSON SHARING FOR THE 3 PEOPLES $ 2132
PRICE PER PERSON SHARING FOR THE 4 PEOPLES $ 2082
PRICE PER PERSON SHARING FOR THE 6 PEOPLES $ 1982
Best Time to Visit:
Dec-Mid-March / Mid-June-October
Starts at:
$2,692.00 Per Person
Day 1: Arrival in Kilimanjaro / Transfer to Machame Gate
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly welcomed by your professional Tanzanian safari and Kilimanjaro guide. After a brief orientation and paperwork check, enjoy a scenic drive through lush coffee plantations and banana farms toward the Machame area. You will be briefed on the upcoming adventure, safety protocols, and trekking tips while taking in views of the towering Kilimanjaro summit above the clouds. Your overnight stay will be at a comfortable lodge near Machame Gate, allowing you to rest and acclimatize before the challenging days ahead. Dinner will be a hearty, energy-packed meal prepared with local ingredients, ensuring you’re fully fueled for tomorrow’s trek. The evening offers a chance to stargaze under Africa’s crystal-clear skies, a gentle reminder of the adventure awaiting you.
Day 2: Machame Gate – Machame Camp (Approx. 5–6 hours, 1,790m → 3,000m)
After an early breakfast, your journey begins at Machame Gate, where you’ll meet your support crew and porters, ready to carry your camping gear. The trail winds through dense rainforest, alive with chirping birds, ferns, and towering hardwoods, offering a vibrant introduction to Kilimanjaro’s biodiversity. Stop for short rests to enjoy views of the distant Machame Village and the majestic Shira Plateau. By midday, you’ll reach Machame Camp, where tents are set up and lunch is served amid the serene forest canopy. Spend the afternoon exploring nearby mossy trails, snapping photos, and taking in the crisp mountain air. Your guide will provide a briefing on acclimatization and tomorrow’s climb, followed by a warming dinner and a peaceful night under the stars, lulled by the sounds of the forest.
Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp (Approx. 6–7 hours, 3,000m → 3,840m)
Today’s trek ascends gradually out of the rainforest and into the heath and moorland zone, where giant heather and lobelias dominate the landscape. The trail offers breathtaking views of the western summit ridge and distant glaciers, giving your first glimpse of Kilimanjaro’s icy crown. Pause frequently to hydrate and enjoy the unique high-altitude flora, including delicate wildflowers and rare alpine plants. By afternoon, you will reach Shira Camp, located on the western edge of the Shira Plateau, providing panoramic views of the surrounding plains. Afternoon activities include a short acclimatization walk on the plateau to reduce altitude sickness risks, photography, and tea breaks overlooking dramatic cliffs and ridges. Dinner is served early, and your guide prepares you for the long ascent tomorrow, sharing tips to maximize comfort at higher altitudes.
Day 4: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (Approx. 7–8 hours, 3,840m → 3,950m)
Prepare for an exciting day that combines trekking with gradual altitude gain and acclimatization. The trail ascends to the Lava Tower (4,630m), a striking volcanic formation, giving your first real encounter with the mountain’s arid, rocky environment. After a rest and photos at Lava Tower, you descend slightly to Barranco Camp, allowing your body to adapt to the higher elevation while enjoying magnificent views of the Barranco Wall. Your guide will lead an afternoon trek along the base of the wall, exploring unique rock formations and mountain scenery that feels otherworldly. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about Kilimanjaro’s geology and history from your expert guide. Dinner is served in camp, followed by a briefing for tomorrow’s iconic climb up the Barranco Wall, preparing both body and mind for the challenge.
Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Valley Camp (Approx. 4–5 hours, 3,950m → 4,035m)
Begin the day with a stunning early-morning climb up the Barranco Wall, often called the “Breakfast Wall” for its scenic vistas. The climb is steep but rewarding, offering dramatic panoramas of glaciers, valleys, and surrounding peaks, making for unforgettable photos. After descending the wall, the trail meanders through alpine desert and rocky terrain toward Karanga Valley Camp, a peaceful campsite nestled among ridges. Today’s trek is shorter, allowing for extra acclimatization and rest, essential before the longer summit push. Enjoy tea and snacks while admiring the breathtaking sunset over Kilimanjaro’s southern ice fields, a magical moment that lingers in memory. Your guide reviews the summit plan in detail, ensuring everyone is mentally and physically prepared for the critical climb.
Day 6: Karanga Valley Camp – Barafu Camp (Approx. 3–4 hours, 4,035m → 4,640m)
Today’s hike is a steady ascent to Barafu Camp, the base for your summit attempt. The landscape transforms into rugged, alpine desert, with minimal vegetation and spectacular high-mountain vistas. You will see the interplay of light on rocky ridges and distant glaciers, reinforcing the scale of the mountain ahead. Once at Barafu Camp, rest, hydrate, and prepare for the summit climb that begins late tonight. Dinner will be an early, high-energy meal, after which you sleep for a few hours before the midnight departure, giving your body as much rest as possible. Your guide provides final summit instructions, checks equipment, and ensures that every climber is ready for the challenge of reaching Uhuru Peak.
Day 7: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp (Approx. 9–10 hours, 4,640m → 5,895m → 3,100m)
The ultimate day begins with a midnight start under the stars, trekking by headlamp toward the summit. The ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) is challenging, requiring focus, perseverance, and pacing, but the reward is the sunrise over the African plains, a once-in-a-lifetime view. After reaching the summit, celebrate your achievement, take photos, and descend carefully to Barafu Camp for a short rest. Continue descending to Mweka Camp, where tents, meals, and warm drinks await you. The descent allows your body to recover and reflect on the monumental achievement, surrounded by Kilimanjaro’s dramatic scenery. Dinner and an overnight stay at Mweka Camp provide comfort and relaxation, preparing you for the final day.
Day 8: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Departure
After a leisurely breakfast, complete your descent to Mweka Gate, where your Kilimanjaro certificates are awarded — a proud moment marking your success. You will be transferred back to Arusha or Moshi, depending on your departure plans, enjoying views of lush valleys and local villages along the way. Reflect on the incredible adventure, friendships, and memories forged during this life-changing trek. Upon arrival, you can relax at a lodge or hotel, with optional spa services or celebratory dinner. This marks the conclusion of your Machame Route Kilimanjaro adventure, leaving you with a deep sense of accomplishment and stories to share for a lifetime.
What's Included & Excluded
Inclusions
- • All park entry and conservation fees
- • Professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters
- • 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- • Pre & post-climb accommodation in Moshi
- • Quality mountain tents and sleeping mats
- • Emergency oxygen and first aid kit
- • All ground transfers as per itinerary
- • Clean, purified drinking water
- • All government taxes and levies
- • Summit certificate
Exclusions
- • International flights
- • Travel insurance
- • Tanzania visa
- • Personal trekking gear
- • Tips for guides and porters
- • Items of personal nature
- • Alcoholic and soft drinks
- • Additional accommodation before/after climb
- • Sleeping bag and personal equipment
