Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 Days
$1821
per personThe Machame Route can be completed in 6 or 7 days. We mostly recommend the 7 day Machame Route over the 6 day Machame Route to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
The Machame Route (also known as “Whiskey Route”) is a very scenic hiking route. It leads hikers through the montain rain-forest up to the Barranco Wall. The altitude profile of Machame Route 7 days is ideal for acclimatization, allowing climbers to hike to higher altitudes during the day than they’ll be sleeping overnight.
The Machame Route can be completed in 6 or 7 days. We mostly recommend the 7-day Machame Route Itinerary over the 6 days Machame Route Itinerary to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
We recommend the 7 day Machame route, if you prefer to experience most of Kilimanjaro’s scenic highlights and don’t mind sharing your climb with many others. While even longer routes might further improve your acclimatization to the high altitude, and thereby your summit success chance, the Machame Route has the best altitude acclimatization profile of all 7 days’ routes.
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DepartureMoshi Town to Machame Gate
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Departure TimePlease be ready by 8:15 AM for a prompt departure at 9:30 AM.
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Return TimeApproximately 10:30 AM in the last day.
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Dress CodeCasual. Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, hat, cold weather jacket, gloves, pants, spare clothing.
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IncludeAll Park FeesHelicopter Rescue Fees18% VAT on Tour Fees & ServicesCamping FacilitiesTransfers to and from the park for Kilimanjaro climbersCrew salariesSleeping tentsProfessional GuideSleeping MatMeals according to the Itinerary
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Not IncludedBicycle HelmetsAll bicycle transfersSnacks and fruits at water points for Cycling toursAccommodation as indicated on the Cycling tour itineraryTREK Mountain Hardtail 4300 & Merida Matts 20-D Hardtail Mountain BikesCycling Tour Support Vehicle(s)Village entry fees (for the day trips)Any services not mentioned aboveSafari Camping Equipment (tents, sleeping mats, chairs, tables etc.)Overnight stays in safari tentsProfessional Safari CookCamping safari according to the itineraryFlightsOther Optional ActivitiesAlcoholic and Soft DrinksAll Mentioned Safari ActivitiesBottled Mineral waterTransportation in 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and photographyClimbing gearsMeals not listedEmergency oxygenVisa FeesPersonal expensesTravel insuranceTips and gratuitiesPersonal trekking equipmentAirport TransfersHotel Accommodations According to the Itinerary
From Our Gallery
The Machame Route can be completed in 6 or 7 days. We mostly recommend the 7 day Machame Route over the 6 day Machame Route to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
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Day 1: Machame Gate (1490m) – Machame Camp (2980m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 18 kilometers
Habitat: Montane forest
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400m) and driven to the Machame Village. In the village, you can buy mineral water and will receive a packed lunch. From the village, depending on the road conditions, you will either continue to drive from the village to the Machame gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.
Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.
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Day 2: Machame Camp (2980m) – Shira Camp (3840m).
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 9 kilometers
Habitat: Moorland
After an early morning breakfast, you will start you ascent leaving the rain forest and entering the heathland moorland vegetation. You will cross many streams and walk over a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau that leads to Shira Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.
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Day 3: Shira (at 3840m) – Lava Tower (at 4630m) – Barranco camp (at 3950m)
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Semi-desert
Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will be come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the Tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower weather permitting. At this point of the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headaches and shortness of breath.
After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water and dinner will be served as hikers view the sun setting.
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Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) – Karanga Camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert
After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. This is an ideal hiking day for acclimatization.
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Day 5: Karanga Camp (3959m) – Barafu Hut (4600m)
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers
Habitat: Alpine desert
Following breakfast, you will leave Karanga Camp (3959m). The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!
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Day 6: Summit Attempt - Barafu camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kilometer ascent and 23 kilometer descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours.
At camp, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After eating, you will continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.
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Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Forest
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). After receiving certificates, you will drive back to your hotel in Moshi.
Our Gallery
The Machame Route can be completed in 6 or 7 days. We mostly recommend the 7 day Machame Route over the 6 day Machame Route to allow more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
| Number of People | Price in USD |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,821 |
| 2 | 1,616 |
| 3 | 1,606 |
| 4 | 1,596 |
| 5 | 1,586 |
| 6 | 1,576 |
| 7 | 1,566 |
| 8 | 1,556 |
| 9 | 1,546 |
| 10 | 1,536 |
Hotels: We offer the following hotel options
| Hotel/Lodge Name | Price Per Night in USD |
|---|---|
| Panama Garden Resort (Single Room) | USD 80 per night |
| Panama Garden Resort(Double Room) | USD 100 per night |
| Panama Garden Resort (Triple Room) | USD 150 per night |
| The Secret Garden | USD 18 per night |
| The Hibiscus Moshi | USD 35 per night |
| Kilimanjaro Cottages (Single Room) | USD 35 per night |
| Kilimanjaro Cottages (Double Room) | USD 56 per night |
| Kilimanjaro Cottages (Triple Room) | USD 84 per night |
| Parkview Inn (Single Room) | USD 71 per night |
| Parkview Inn (Double Room) | USD 81 per night |
| Parkview Inn (Triple Room) | USD 160 per night |
| Kilimanjaro Wonders (Single Room) | USD 130 per night |
| Kilimanjaro Wonders (Double Room) | USD 145 per night |
| Kilimanjaro Wonders (Triple Room) | USD 160 per night |
| Private Toilet | USD 90 |
| Sleeping Bag | USD 40 |
| Duffel Bag | USD 20 |
| Head torch | USD 10 |
| Oxygen Cylinder | USD 76 |
| Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) to Moshi (one way) | USD 30 per vehicle |
| Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) (one way) | USD 30 per vehicle |
| Arusha to Moshi (one way) | USD 50 per vehicle |
| Moshi to Arusha (one way) | USD 50 per vehicle |