Activities

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN MOSHI / KILIMANJARO

As arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, our dedicated driver will be eagerly anticipating your arrival at the airport holding a sign with your name on it, ready to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome. From there, a seamless and comfortable transfer service will whisk you away to our enchanting Springlands hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be served a delicious meal. Later on, our experienced Mountain coordinators will give you a pre-safari briefing, an exciting opportunity to learn about the wonders that await you on your upcoming expedition. Enjoy the relaxing environment of Springland Hotel with a swimming pool, a beautiful garden with a bar and a restaurant.

Day 2: MOSHI | MACHAME PARK GATE | MACHAME CAMP

Altitude: 1,800 m - 3,010 m

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 6 hours

Your day starts early with breakfast, followed by a briefing, and then a 90-minute drive from Moshi to the Machame Park Gate. Once you have completed the registration at the gate office, your ascent commences as you enter the rainforest. You will receive a lunch pack at the gate, and you can also enjoy bottled water from the supply you purchased at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. Be prepared for the potential of rain in the forest, which may transform the trail into a very damp, muddy, and slippery experience. As evening approaches, the porters will boil water for drinking and washing, while the cook prepares dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. It is important to keep in mind that temperatures at the Machame camp can drop to freezing point during the night.

Day 3: MACHAME CAMP | SHIRA CAMP

Altitude: 3,010 m – 3,840 m

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4–5 hours

You wake up early at Machame camp, and following breakfast, you embark on a climb that takes approximately an hour to reach the forest's peak. From there, you continue for about 2 hours at a more gradual incline through the moorland zone. After a brief lunch and rest, you press on, ascending a rocky ridge that leads to the expansive Shira plateau. As you look eastward, you'll be treated to a magnificent view of the Western Breach adorned with its dazzling glaciers. At this point, you are directly west of Kibo, and after a short hike, you'll arrive at the Shira camp, situated at 3,840m. The porters will boil water for drinking and washing, and then serve dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be even colder than the previous one, with temperatures dropping well below freezing.

Day 4: SHIRA CAMP | LAVA TOWER | BARRANCO CAMP

Altitude: 3,840 m – 3,960 m

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 7–8 hours

Upon rising early at Machame camp, your trekking commences after breakfast as the path now turns eastward, guiding you through a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. After about 5 hours of walking, you will reach an altitude of 4630m. Lunch will be served in a designated area before you begin the ascent on the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Undoubtedly, this is the most challenging day so far. Typically, it's around this point that some climbers may experience breathlessness, irritability, and headaches for the first time. After lunch, you'll descend by nearly 680m to the Barranco camping area. Reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true benefits of acclimatization for this day become evident. The descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours, providing ample opportunities to capture beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is nestled in a valley beneath the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, making it a perfect spot to witness a memorable sunset while you await the preparation of dinner and spend the night at Barranco Camp.

Day 5: BARRANCO CAMP | KARANGA CAMP| BARAFU CAMP
Barranco to Karanga Valley - Barafu camp (4550m), Hiking time: 7 hours

Altitude: 3,960 m – 4,035 m

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 5 hours

Start the day early with a wake-up call and have a nourishing breakfast to prepare for the day's trek. The trek may involve ascending the famous Barranco Wall, a steep but exhilarating section of the route. After conquering the Barranco Wall, you will descend into the beautiful Karanga Valley, a scenic area with lush vegetation and stunning landscapes. Reach the Karanga campsite, upon arrival, our chef will prepare your lunch. After lunch you will set off on the trek towards Barafu campsite. The trail may involve a mix of terrains, including rocky sections and gradual slopes. You will enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes and the stunning beauty of Kilimanjaro's high-altitude terrain. As you ascend towards the Barafu campsite, you'll continue the process of acclimatization to the increasing altitude. Take your time and listen to your body to avoid altitude-related issues. Upon reaching the Barafu campsite, our dedicated porters will take care of all the arrangements, such as pitching tents, while our chef prepares your dinner.  In the evening after dinner, your experienced guide will conduct a summit briefing, providing essential information about the upcoming summit attempt. The guide will discuss the route, challenges, safety measures, and necessary preparations. After dinner, try to get as much rest as possible, as you'll be starting the summit ascent in the late evening.

Day 6: BARAFU CAMP | SUMMIT | MWEKA CAMP

Altitude: 4,640 m – 5, 895 m – 3,090 m

Hiking distance: 17 km

Hiking time: 15+ hours

You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella Point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: MWEKA CAMP | MWEKA PARK GATE | HOTEL

Altitude: 3,090 m – 1,650 m

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

After Breakfast in Mweka camp, you will be descending to Mweka gate, then transported back to Springlands Hotel and you will be served a delicious hot lunch and a long overdue hot shower.   At the end of the trip, it is suggested to express your gratitude through tips, which are greatly valued. Special envelopes are available at Springlands Hotel, provided to clients for placing their tips.

Flight to Fancy Holidays leads treks up the Machame, a beautiful route up Kilimanjaro that allows you to experience the southwest and south sides of the mountain, since you go up one way and down another. All your equipment and supplies are carried by porters and a cook prepares all your meals. Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Machame you sleep in tents (tents are included), and the porters will pitch your tent for you. Meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside. This makes the Machame, which is referred to as the "Whiskey Route," better suited to more adventurous hikers, and it also rewards you with better views than the Machame Route. From late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo's great Barranco Wall, the Machame Route offers the spunky hiker a continuous scenic slide show. The Machame Route is normally completed in 6 days, and this greatly helps your acclimatization. The Machame Route takes you high to Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) on day 3 then brings you down for an overnight at Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft). This intermediate ascent and descent is the secret to a successful acclimatization, and is the reason that this route has a high success rate