Kilimanjaro: Machame Route

Kilimanjaro: Machame Route

8 Days Starting and ending in Moshi

Visiting: Moshi, Machame Camp, Shira Camp, Barranco Camp, Barafu Camp, Uhuru Peak / Millennium Camp or Mweka Camp

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

YKXA

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

High

Age range:

15-99 years

Tour operated in:

English
From: $3765 $3012 Operator discount: -$753 -20%

NB: Prices correct on 24-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on an eight-day trip trekking the challenging Machame Route to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro – Africa's highest point. At high altitude, it's an epic journey through varied terrain of lowland forest and dry mountain desert. With local guides and porters making your hike that much easier, set up camp at night and soak up all the incredible scenery along the way. Then at the very top of Uhuru Peak, rising 5896 m above sea level, feel the exhilaration and sense of achievement as you marvel at the incredible views and consider what you’ve just accomplished. Congratulations – you’ve hit the peak of Kilimanjaro!

Highlights

  • Size up mighty Mt Kilimanjaro from the lush tropical surrounds of Marangu, as you prepare to ascend the incredible mountain with the help of an experienced climber.

  • Travel with experienced guides and porters. You'll be in great hands – with one guide for every two passengers – so all you’ll have to worry about is soaking up the scenery and keeping your footing!

  • Kilimanjaro’s changing scenery – magnificent rainforests and high-alpine deserts to ice fields and vast glaciers – is all on display as you tackle the trails to the top of Africa.

  • Catch a dazzling African sunrise from Stella Point on your way to summit Africa's highest mountain peak – definitely a rewarding experience after an early wake-up call!

  • Feel good knowing that you’re supporting an official partner of IMEC’s Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). This means that all of our climbs have been assessed and scored based on a number of criteria, all of which are designed to ensure the proper treatment of porters.

  • Soak up Kilimanjaro’s changing scenery – magnificent rainforests and high-alpine deserts to ice fields and vast glaciers – this is all on display as you tackle the trails to the top of Africa.

  • Feel good knowing that you’re supporting an official partner of IMEC’s Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). This means that all our climbs have been assessed and scored based on a number of criteria, all of which are designed to ensure the proper treatment of porters.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Moshi

Location: Moshi

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: dinner

Jambo! Welcome to Tanzania. Your hiking adventure begins in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Moshi. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight for a full briefing and kit inspection by an experienced Kilimanjaro climber. If you arrive early, the hotel is just a short walk from the village’s bustling market and some excellent coffee shops, so you can head out and explore at your own pace. After the meeting, fuel up on a hearty dinner with your fellow trekkers and get a good night’s rest, ready to start your climb tomorrow!

Included Activities:
-Mount Kilimanjaro - Trek Briefing
-Mount Kilimanjaro - Complimentary equipment hire (sleeping bag and walking poles) - must be requested at time of booking

Day 2: Machame Camp

Location: Machame Camp

Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Meet your guides and porters after breakfast this morning, then take the opportunity to organise your gear before setting off to the Machame Gate – the south-western entrance to the Mt Kilimanjaro National Park. On the way, stop into one of the clothes lending offices of Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Projects and learn how their program, supported by the Intrepid Foundation, is assisting porters. Begin your hike around lunch time, starting with a stroll through the rainforest, looking out for some of the many brightly coloured birds here. Set up camp at Machame in the mid-afternoon, ready for your first night on Kilimanjaro! The huts fell into disrepair some years ago, so with the help of the porters, you’ll be setting up tents for the night. Tonight, enjoy a meal prepared by the porters and savour the first night of sleeping outdoors.

Included Activities:
-Fully catered trek including National Park entrance fees, climbing fee, tented camps & rescue services
-Mount Kilimanjaro - Porterage of 1 bag (9kg/20lb max)
-Mount Kilimanjaro - Return transfers from hotel to park gate
-Mount Kilimanjaro - Emergency oxygen and comprehensive first aid kits
-Moshi - Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project

Day 3: Shira Camp

Location: Shira Camp

Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Your second day on the mountain takes you out of the rainforest and up a steep ridge into moor land. Watch as the vegetation grows sparser as you ascend along the path to the Shira Plateau – soon, several distinct species, including the giant groundsel and lobelia, will be the only plants dominating the harsh landscape. Spend the night camping on the edge of the plateau and be treated to a golden sunset over the snow-dusted peaks of Kibo.

Day 4: Barranco Camp

Location: Barranco Camp

Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast today, enjoy a fantastic walk as you continue through the rolling landscape and deep river valleys, stopping for a packed lunch along the way. The undulating land here offers a great chance to acclimatise and as you ascend to the more rugged areas of the mountain, there are great views of the Kibo Massif and its scenic surroundings. Tonight, you’ll sleep at Barranco Camp.

Day 5: Barafu Camp

Location: Barafu Camp

Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Have breakfast together at Barranco Camp this morning, then begin today’s hike. From Karanga, head up to the intersection of the South Circuit and the Mweka route where you’ll start climbing up a ridge to Barafu Hut. Barafu is Swahili for ‘ice’ – as the name suggests, it can be very cold here at night! You should arrive at Barafu around lunchtime, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt very early tomorrow morning.

Day 6: Uhuru Peak / Millennium Camp Or Mweka Camp

Location: Uhuru Peak / Millennium Camp or Mweka Camp

Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

At around midnight, you’ll be woken by the guides with some hot tea and biscuits to give you energy before the long, difficult ascent up scree, and sometimes snow, to Stella Point (5780 m). Pass the giant Rebmann Glacier on the way, and hopefully arrive at Stella Point in time for sunrise and superb views of the crater and the glacier glistening in the morning sun. From Stella, it’s a further 1-hour hike along the rim of the crater to Uhuru Peak (5896 m) – the highest point in Africa! From the summit, take in unforgettable views of the crater, the ice fields and the vast East African plains below. After some photos and well deserved pats on the back, you’ll begin your descent. Back at Barafu Camp, enjoy a well-earned lunch and much thicker air. After, continue to Mweka Camp for the night for a well-deserved rest.

Day 7: Moshi

Location: Moshi

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Today, you’ll continue to descend the mountain, traversing alpine meadows and rainforest to the Mweka park gate. When you arrive, have some lunch after checking out of the park and then transport back to the hotel for a relaxing shower – a real treat after the physical exertions of the last few days! Tonight, gather with your trekking companions for dinner, sharing your experiences of the past six days on the mountain.

Day 8: Moshi

Location: Moshi

Meals Included: breaksfast

With no activities or trekking planned for today, you’re free to depart at any time. Transfers to Kilimanjaro Airport or a shuttle to Nairobi can be arranged locally – please speak to your leader at your welcome meeting if you wish to organise this.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Camping (with basic facilities) (5 nights), Hotel (2 nights)

  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Trek Briefing

  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Complimentary equipment hire (sleeping bag and walking poles) - must be requested at time of booking

  • Fully catered trek including National Park entrance fees, climbing fee, tented camps & rescue services (7 days)

  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Porterage of 1 bag (9kg/20lb max)

  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Return transfers from hotel to park gate

  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Emergency oxygen and comprehensive first aid kits

  • Moshi - Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project

  • Meals

    8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners

  • Fully catered trek including National Park entrance fees, climbing fee, tented camps & rescue services

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Transport

  • NAIROBI TO MARANGU SHUTTLE:
  • It's easy to book yourself a transfer from Nairobi to Marangu (or vice versa). Simply ask at your hotel. They will make a booking and collect payment for you (cost is approx US$80). This public shuttle transfer leaves your Nairobi hotel around 08:00 and connects with a 14:00 shuttle in Arusha. The Arusha shuttle transfers to Moshi, Marangu. The transfer company we work with have agreed to take our passengers through to Kibo Hotel. Please ask your booking agent for the shuttle company details.

Accommodation

  • On the mountain you’ll be camping out under the stars with a full-service camping experience. You can bring your own sleeping bag or hire one through us (please advise your booking agent), while mattresses are provided. Our two-person tents are ideal for expedition trips and feature a flysheet made from ripstop nylon, anti-mosquito netting, reflective guy ropes and a 3000mm waterhead, ensuring you stay warm and dry even in difficult conditions.

Included Activities

  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Trek Briefing
  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Complimentary equipment hire (sleeping bag and walking poles) - must be requested at time of booking
  • Fully catered trek including National Park entrance fees, climbing fee, tented camps with toilet tent & rescue services (7 days)
  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Porterage of 1 bag (9kg/20lb max)
  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Return transfers from hotel to park gate
  • Mount Kilimanjaro - Emergency oxygen and comprehensive first aid kits
  • Moshi - Kilimanjaro Porters Assitance Project

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 2. A Self-Assessment Form is required for this trip. Your booking agent will provide you with this form at time of booking to fill out before arrival.
  • 3. Parts of your trip go above 2800 meters / 9200 feet where it is common for travelers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude.
  • 4. Please arrange your flights to arrive at starting point hotel before 4pm on Day 1 in order to attend the very important pre-climb briefing and information session.

Mode of Transport

  • NAIROBI TO MARANGU SHUTTLE:
  • It's easy to book yourself a transfer from Nairobi to Marangu (or vice versa). Simply ask at your hotel. They will make a booking and collect payment for you (cost is approx US$80). This public shuttle transfer leaves your Nairobi hotel around 08:00 and connects with a 14:00 shuttle in Arusha. The Arusha shuttle transfers to Moshi, Marangu. The transfer company we work with have agreed to take our passengers through to Kibo Hotel. Please ask your booking agent for the shuttle company details.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    A good level of fitness is required to join this trip. While the distances covered are not far, the effects of altitude will make it much harder than the usual uphill hike.

    To allow for your body to adjust to the altitude the going will be slow. The speed of the hiking may be much slower than you are use too. However, we have found that this slow speed allows your body’s reserve levels to remain higher plus also allows for your body to adjust to the altitude as you walk.

    Tried and tested all-purpose hiking equipment is required. Night-time temperatures can get very cold above 3500 m so warm clothing and sleeping bag is essential. Hiring of equipment/sleeping bag is also possible.

    Your safety comes first. All our guides and trek leaders have been trained by independent, UK-based medical specialists and are proficient in first aid. They also carry oxygen cylinders on all treks for emergency use.

    Be prepared for dusty and therefore dirty conditions. It can be tough going hiking for continuous days without a shower. A dust mask, wet wipes and face washer may become your best friends.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

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03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

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Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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