You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha Town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.

• Elevation: 1,860m to 2,700m
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
• Habitat: Rainforest

After an early breakfast, you’ll be driven to Marangu Gate (1,860m), where you’ll complete registration before starting your trek. The hike begins through the lush rainforest, where you may spot Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and various exotic birds. The trail is well-defined, offering a gradual and scenic ascent towards Mandara Hut (2,700m). Upon arrival, you can take a short hike to the Maundi Crater, which offers a stunning panoramic view of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. After dinner, enjoy a comfortable night in the wooden huts.

• Elevation: 2,700m to 3,720m
• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
• Habitat: Heath and Moorland

Leaving the rainforest behind, the landscape transitions into heath and moorland, with giant lobelias and senecios dominating the scenery. As you ascend, the air becomes thinner, but the path remains manageable with a moderate incline. If the weather is clear, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of Mawenzi Peak, one of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic cones. After a steady trek, you’ll reach Horombo Hut (3,720m), where you will spend the night. This hut is much larger and often busy with climbers both ascending and descending the mountain

• Elevation: 3,720m (Horombo Hut)
• Optional Hike: 4,200m to Zebra Rocks
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

To improve acclimatization, you will spend an extra night at Horombo Hut. Today includes an optional hike to Zebra Rocks (4,200m), a striking rock formation with black-and-white stripes caused by mineral deposits. This short hike allows your body to adapt to the altitude while enjoying spectacular views of Kibo Peak. After returning to Horombo Hut, you’ll have time to rest and prepare for the higher altitudes ahead.

Today’s stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the “Last Water point” which is followed by the so-called “saddle”. This nearly vegetation less plateau joins the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi. Today’s destination is the Kibo Hut that is usually reached in about 5 – 6 hours. Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short.

• Distance covered: 9.5km / 5.9mi
• Approx. time taken: 7 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681m) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 – 2 hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.

• Distance covered: 22km / 13.7mi
• Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rainforest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.

• Distance covered: 20.8km / 12.9mi
• Approx. time taken: 8 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included