Full-moon & event summits 2026–2028 · join a group departure →
Trek Up Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro's glaciated summit rising above a sea of cloud at first light

Tanzania · 5,895 m

Kilimanjaro is a walk. The altitude is the climb.

No ropes and no technical skill. What decides whether you summit is how many nights you spend getting there — and who is watching you while you do.

Find your climb Check your readiness
  • Emergency oxygen on every climb
  • Private toilet on camping routes
  • Park fees included

7 itineraries · one summit

Our Kilimanjaro climbs

Each one priced per person, on a scale that falls as your group grows.

View all climbs
A high view over the moorland, the trail threading through it
  • Recommended
  • Most time to acclimatise

Duration: 8 days · Lemosho route

8 Days Lemosho Route

From US$2,799
Challenging

Join an existing climb

Group climbs 2026–2028

Book a place rather than the whole trip. Each departure is timed around its summit date — a full moon or a date worth marking — and the start is counted back from there.

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Open group climbs by summit date
Climb Summit On the mountain Status Price per person Book
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 11 Dec 2026 International Mountain Day 6 Dec – 12 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 11 Dec 2026 International Mountain Day 5 Dec – 12 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 24 Dec 2026 Full Moon 19 Dec – 25 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 24 Dec 2026 Full Moon 18 Dec – 25 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 25 Dec 2026 Christmas Day 20 Dec – 26 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 25 Dec 2026 Christmas Day 19 Dec – 26 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 1 Jan 2027 New Year’s Day 27 Dec – 2 Jan 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 1 Jan 2027 New Year’s Day 26 Dec – 2 Jan 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 22 Jan 2027 Full Moon 17 Jan – 23 Jan 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 22 Jan 2027 Full Moon 16 Jan – 23 Jan 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 21 Feb 2027 Full Moon 16 Feb – 22 Feb 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 21 Feb 2027 Full Moon 15 Feb – 22 Feb 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 8 Mar 2027 International Women’s Day 3 Mar – 9 Mar 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 8 Mar 2027 International Women’s Day 2 Mar – 9 Mar 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 22 Mar 2027 Full Moon 17 Mar – 23 Mar 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 22 Mar 2027 Full Moon 16 Mar – 23 Mar 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 5 Jun 2027 World Environment Day 31 May – 6 Jun 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 5 Jun 2027 World Environment Day 30 May – 6 Jun 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 19 Jun 2027 Full Moon 14 Jun – 20 Jun 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 19 Jun 2027 Full Moon 13 Jun – 20 Jun 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 18 Jul 2027 Full Moon 13 Jul – 19 Jul 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 18 Jul 2027 Full Moon 12 Jul – 19 Jul 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 17 Aug 2027 Full Moon 12 Aug – 18 Aug 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 17 Aug 2027 Full Moon 11 Aug – 18 Aug 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 16 Sep 2027 Full Moon 11 Sep – 17 Sep 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 16 Sep 2027 Full Moon 10 Sep – 17 Sep 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 27 Sep 2027 World Tourism Day 22 Sep – 28 Sep 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 27 Sep 2027 World Tourism Day 21 Sep – 28 Sep 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 15 Oct 2027 Full Moon 10 Oct – 16 Oct 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 15 Oct 2027 Full Moon 9 Oct – 16 Oct 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 11 Dec 2027 International Mountain Day 6 Dec – 12 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 11 Dec 2027 International Mountain Day 5 Dec – 12 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 13 Dec 2027 Full Moon 8 Dec – 14 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 13 Dec 2027 Full Moon 7 Dec – 14 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 25 Dec 2027 Christmas Day 20 Dec – 26 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 25 Dec 2027 Christmas Day 19 Dec – 26 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 1 Jan 2028 New Year’s Day 27 Dec – 2 Jan 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 1 Jan 2028 New Year’s Day 26 Dec – 2 Jan 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 12 Jan 2028 Full Moon 7 Jan – 13 Jan 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 12 Jan 2028 Full Moon 6 Jan – 13 Jan 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 10 Feb 2028 Full Moon 5 Feb – 11 Feb 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 10 Feb 2028 Full Moon 4 Feb – 11 Feb 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 8 Mar 2028 International Women’s Day 3 Mar – 9 Mar 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 8 Mar 2028 International Women’s Day 2 Mar – 9 Mar 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 11 Mar 2028 Full Moon 6 Mar – 12 Mar 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 11 Mar 2028 Full Moon 5 Mar – 12 Mar 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 5 Jun 2028 World Environment Day 31 May – 6 Jun 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 5 Jun 2028 World Environment Day 30 May – 6 Jun 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 7 Jun 2028 Full Moon 2 Jun – 8 Jun 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 7 Jun 2028 Full Moon 1 Jun – 8 Jun 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 6 Jul 2028 Full Moon 1 Jul – 7 Jul 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 6 Jul 2028 Full Moon 30 Jun – 7 Jul 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 5 Aug 2028 Full Moon 31 Jul – 6 Aug 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 5 Aug 2028 Full Moon 30 Jul – 6 Aug 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 4 Sep 2028 Full Moon 30 Aug – 5 Sep 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 4 Sep 2028 Full Moon 29 Aug – 5 Sep 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 27 Sep 2028 World Tourism Day 22 Sep – 28 Sep 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 27 Sep 2028 World Tourism Day 21 Sep – 28 Sep 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 3 Oct 2028 Full Moon 28 Sep – 4 Oct 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 3 Oct 2028 Full Moon 27 Sep – 4 Oct 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 2 Dec 2028 Full Moon 27 Nov – 3 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 2 Dec 2028 Full Moon 26 Nov – 3 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 11 Dec 2028 International Mountain Day 6 Dec – 12 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 11 Dec 2028 International Mountain Day 5 Dec – 12 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
7 Days Machame Route Machame route 25 Dec 2028 Christmas Day 20 Dec – 26 Dec 7 days Available US$2,625 Join this climb
8 Days Lemosho Route Lemosho route 25 Dec 2028 Christmas Day 19 Dec – 26 Dec 8 days Available US$2,999 Join this climb
  • Tanzania-based team
  • Kilimanjaro specialists
  • Carefully paced itineraries
  • Small groups

Graded on one scale

How hard is each route?

None of them needs ropes or climbing skill. What separates them is gradient, the length of summit night and — above all — how gently they take you up.

Compare all routes How difficult is Kilimanjaro?

On one map

Where each route goes

Pick a route to see where it starts, where you sleep and how you come down.

Lemosho Route

Western approach · 7–8 days · Level 3 of 5

Lemosho begins on the quiet western side, crosses the Shira Plateau over two days and joins the southern circuit near Barranco. Its length is the point — the extra days are what let your body catch up with the altitude.

Comes down via Mweka Gate. Camps and altitudes from our 8 Days Lemosho Route itinerary.

  1. Londorossi Gate 2,100 m
  2. Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp 2,650 m
  3. Shira 1 Camp 3,610 m
  4. Shira 2 Camp 3,850 m
  5. Lava Tower
  6. Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  7. Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  8. Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  9. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
  10. Mweka Camp (descent) 3,100 m
  11. Mweka Gate (descent) 1,640 m
More about Lemosho

Machame Route

Southern approach · 6–7 days · Level 4 of 5

Machame climbs steeply out of the rainforest on the southern side and follows a varied, scenic line around the mountain. Its profile naturally forces climb-high-sleep-low days, which helps; its crowds and its shorter itineraries do not.

Comes down via Mweka Gate. Camps and altitudes from our 7 Days Machame Route itinerary.

  1. Machame Gate 1,800 m
  2. Machame Camp 3,000 m
  3. Shira Camp 3,840 m
  4. Lava Tower
  5. Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  6. Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  7. Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  8. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
  9. Mweka Camp (descent) 3,100 m
  10. Mweka Gate (descent) 1,640 m
More about Machame

Shira Route

Western approach · 7–8 days · Level 3 of 5

Shira approaches from the west across the same plateau as Lemosho, but the road takes you high before you take a step. That saves a day of walking and costs you the gentlest part of the acclimatisation.

Comes down via Mweka Gate. Camps and altitudes from our 7 Days Shira Route itinerary.

  1. Shira Gate 3,400 m
  2. Shira 1 Camp 3,610 m
  3. Shira 2 Camp 3,850 m
  4. Lava Tower
  5. Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  6. Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  7. Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  8. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
  9. Mweka Camp (descent) 3,100 m
  10. Mweka Gate (descent) 1,640 m
More about Shira

Northern Circuit Route

Western approach · 8–9 days · Level 3 of 5

The Northern Circuit starts on Lemosho, then swings around the rarely walked northern slopes before approaching the summit from the east. It is the only route that shows you the mountain from all four sides.

Comes down via Mweka Gate. Camps and altitudes from our 9 Days Northern Circuit Route itinerary.

  1. Londorossi Gate 2,100 m
  2. Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp 2,650 m
  3. Shira 1 Camp 3,610 m
  4. Moir Hut Camp 4,200 m
  5. Buffalo Camp 4,020 m
  6. Third Cave Camp 3,870 m
  7. School Hut 4,750 m
  8. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
  9. Millennium Camp (descent) 3,820 m
  10. Mweka Camp (descent) 3,100 m
  11. Mweka Gate (descent) 1,640 m
More about Northern Circuit

Rongai Route

Northern approach · 6–7 days · Level 3 of 5

Rongai climbs the northern side near the Kenyan border, through terrain that is drier and more open than the southern rainforest, before joining the Marangu descent.

Comes down via Marangu Gate. Camps and altitudes from our 7 Days Rongai Route itinerary.

  1. Nalemuru Gate 1,950 m
  2. Simba Camp 2,625 m
  3. Second Cave Camp 3,450 m
  4. Kikelewa Caves 3,600 m
  5. Mawenzi Tarn Camp 4,330 m
  6. Kibo Hut 4,700 m
  7. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
  8. Horombo Hut (descent) 3,720 m
  9. Marangu Gate (descent) 1,860 m
More about Rongai

Marangu Route

Eastern approach · 5–6 days · Level 3 of 5

Marangu is the oldest route on the mountain and the only one where you sleep in shared dormitory huts rather than tents. It is also the shortest, which is precisely why its reputation is mixed.

Comes down by the same trail. Camps and altitudes from our 6 Days Marangu Route itinerary.

  1. Marangu Gate 1,860 m
  2. Mandara Hut 2,720 m
  3. Horombo Hut 3,720 m
  4. Kibo Hut 4,700 m
  5. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
More about Marangu

Umbwe Route

Southern approach · 6–7 days · Level 5 of 5

Umbwe climbs a narrow forested ridge on the southern side, gaining height fast. It is beautiful and quiet, and it is the least forgiving profile on Kilimanjaro.

Comes down via Mweka Gate. Camps and altitudes from our 6 Days Umbwe Route itinerary.

  1. Umbwe Gate 1,600 m
  2. Umbwe Cave Camp 2,850 m
  3. Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  4. Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  5. Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  6. Uhuru Peak 5,895 m
  7. Mweka Camp (descent) 3,100 m
  8. Mweka Gate (descent) 1,640 m
More about Umbwe
N Mawenzi Londorossi Gate2,100 m Mti Mkubwa2,650 m Shira 1 Camp3,610 m Shira 2 Camp3,850 m Lava Tower Barranco Camp3,900 m Karanga Camp3,995 m Barafu Camp4,673 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m Machame Gate1,800 m Machame Camp3,000 m Shira Camp3,840 m Lava Tower Barranco Camp3,900 m Karanga Camp3,995 m Barafu Camp4,673 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m Shira Gate3,400 m Shira 1 Camp3,610 m Shira 2 Camp3,850 m Lava Tower Barranco Camp3,900 m Karanga Camp3,995 m Barafu Camp4,673 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m Londorossi Gate2,100 m Mti Mkubwa2,650 m Shira 1 Camp3,610 m Moir Hut Camp4,200 m Buffalo Camp4,020 m Third Cave Camp3,870 m School Hut4,750 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Millennium Camp3,820 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m Nalemuru Gate1,950 m Simba Camp2,625 m Second Cave Camp3,450 m Kikelewa Caves3,600 m Mawenzi Tarn Camp4,330 m Kibo Hut4,700 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Horombo Hut3,720 m Marangu Gate1,860 m Marangu Gate1,860 m Mandara Hut2,720 m Horombo Hut3,720 m Kibo Hut4,700 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Umbwe Gate1,600 m Umbwe Cave Camp2,850 m Barranco Camp3,900 m Karanga Camp3,995 m Barafu Camp4,673 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m
Ascent Descent Overnight camp Schematic map, not to scale: positions are approximate and not for navigation. Altitudes are from our itineraries. Terrain: SRTM (NASA), via Terrain Tiles on AWS.

Featured trek

8 Days Lemosho Route

Our recommended Kilimanjaro trek

  • 8 days · 7 nights on the mountain
  • Difficulty: Challenging · Level 3 of 5
  • Accommodation: Mountain camping
  • Starting point: Londorossi Gate
  • Summit: Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
View full itinerary Get a quote

The mountain

Uhuru Peak, the summit
5,895 m
Different ways to the summit
7 routes
From rainforest to the arctic summit
5 climate zones
East Africa
Tanzania

Your safety comes first

Carried, paid for and written into every itinerary we sell.

  • Altitude monitoring Pulse oximeter and daily health checks
  • Emergency oxygen Carried on every climb
  • First-aid kit With mountain emergency equipment
  • 24/7 communication Mountain team to our office, day and night
  • Park rescue fees Included in every price
  • Turnaround authority Your lead guide’s call is final
  • Insurance required Trekking to 6,000 m, with evacuation
Learn more about safety

Helicopter evacuation is not included in our price — your travel insurance must cover it. How rescue works on Kilimanjaro

Before you choose an itinerary

Kilimanjaro summit readiness check

Pick an itinerary and answer three questions. We grade your altitude-illness risk against the CDC’s published criteria — the honest version of a success-rate calculator.

Used for advice and park checks only — it does not change your risk band or the summit estimate.

How is your training going?
In the 14 days before you start, will you spend 2 or more nights above 2,750 m?

Graded against the CDC’s altitude-illness criteria using each itinerary’s real sleeping altitudes. We don’t ask your height, weight, sex or age — here’s why.

The 8 Days Lemosho Route and 9 Days Northern Circuit Route give your body the most time to adapt: a first night at 2,650 m and 6 or more nights on the mountain before summit night. We would rather sell you one of those than a shorter climb.

Before you commit to anything

Everything we know, written down

Ordered the way the decision actually happens — not alphabetically, and not by what we would like to sell you.

The full planning guide

Journal

Notes from the mountain

All articles
What summit night is actually like

Safety

What summit night is actually like

Nobody is adequately prepared for summit night, partly because most descriptions of it are written to sell tri...

16 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

The narrow summit ridge of Mount Meru at dawn, with Kilimanjaro on the horizon

Tanzania · 4,566 m

Before Kilimanjaro, there is Meru

Four days, a knife-edge summit ridge, buffalo on the lower slopes and a park ranger walking with you. It is a serious mountain in its own right — and sleeping at 3,570 m the week before Kilimanjaro is worth more than any amount of gym work.

Climbing Mount Meru Meru as acclimatisation
Flat-topped acacia trees in golden afternoon light on the northern Tanzanian savannah

After the mountain

The summit does not have to be the end of Tanzania.

The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire are all on the same side of the country as Kilimanjaro. After a week of walking, several days in a vehicle with somebody else driving is close to perfect.

  • Serengeti
  • Ngorongoro Crater
  • Tarangire
  • Lake Manyara
Add a safari after your climb