6-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route Trek with Uhuru Peak

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Trek the Machame Route, widely regarded as Kilimanjaro's most beautiful trail
• 02 Enjoy superb views of Mount Meru and Kibo along a varied altitude profile
• 03 Walk through beautiful mountain forest with huge jungle trees, ferns, mossy carpets, and lianas
• 04 Reach Uhuru Peak with a route known for good acclimatization and higher summit success
• 05 Experience the morning shadow Kilimanjaro casts over Mount Meru

Sign up for a 6-day trek to Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route from Moshi. This circuit, also known as the whiskey route, is rightly considered the most beautiful of Kilimanjaro, with a remarkably varied landscape and superb views of Mount Meru and Kibo. The varied altitude profile allows good acclimatization, which contributes to a higher summit success rate. Along the way, you will be immersed in beautiful mountain forest with huge jungle trees, ferns, mossy carpets, and lianas.

This circuit, also known as the whiskey route, is rightly considered the most beautiful of Kilimanjaro, with a remarkably varied landscape and superb views of Mount Meru and Kibo.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Machame

Languages English, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Moshi to Machame Camp Through Mountain Forest

• After breakfast and a general briefing for your tour, including an equipment check, the journey first heads to the National Park gate, which takes about an hour. While your guide completes the necessary formalities, you can relax and watch the different mountain teams making their preparations. When everything is ready, start your adventure. You will soon be immersed in the beautiful mountain forest, with its huge jungle trees, ferns, mossy carpets, and lianas. With some luck, you may see black-and-white colobus monkeys in the treetops. After about 5-6 hours, you will reach the day's destination - Machame Camp. This is just above the tree line at about 3,010 meters above sea level. After dinner, spend your first night on Kilimanjaro.
  Meals: lunch and dinner.

2

Day 02

Hike Across the Moorland to New Shira Camp

• After an early start, the day's hike through the moorland begins before the trail gets steeper and the landscape becomes more open. Soon, you will be able to glimpse the upper region of Kilimanjaro. Today's stage is shorter, and you will arrive at New Shira Camp in good time, where the view of Kilimanjaro, with its rocky cliffs and hanging glaciers, is not to be missed, especially at sunset. An early night is needed tonight because the trail will be more strenuous tomorrow.
  Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

3

Day 03

Across Shira Plateau to Barranco Camp

• Today, you will climb about 800 meters, but at night you will sleep only slightly higher than you did at Shira Camp. This allows your body to acclimatize better for the further ascent. The trek begins with a long climb over the Shira Plateau to the Lava Tower. Here, the vegetation becomes sparse and gives way to an alpine desert landscape. The path then crosses the vast Barranco Valley, with its lobelia and giant senecios. After about 6-7 hours, you will reach Camp Barranco, which for many is the most beautiful camp on the mountain.
  Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

4

Day 04

Trek Through Barren Landscapes to Barafu Camp

• After a leisurely breakfast, you head to today's destination, Barafu Camp. The hike takes you through a barren landscape, and after 3-4 hours, you will reach the camp. You can relax for the rest of the day because tomorrow is summit day!
• After dinner, we go to bed very early because tomorrow will be exciting, exhausting, and very long. Try to get some sleep!
  Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

5

Day 05

Midnight Summit Push to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Mweka Camp

• You will be woken up around midnight. First, enjoy a hot coffee or tea and a small snack to strengthen yourself as you begin climbing by the light of your headlamp while the sun gradually rises over the next few hours.
• After about 5-7 hours, you will reach the crater rim at Stella Point in the early morning light.
• After a short rest, continue for about an hour to the highest point, Uhuru Peak. It is finally done, and the reward is a fantastic view in all directions. The morning shadow Kilimanjaro casts over Mount Meru is a special experience. After enjoying the summit and taking memorable photos, it is time to descend. You will rest briefly at Barafu Camp, where your mountain team will welcome you with a hot drink and snacks.
• After that, you will slowly make your way to Mweka Camp, where you will spend the last night on the mountain.
  Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

6

Day 06

Descend Through Rainforest to Mweka Gate

• After breakfast and bolstered by the increasingly oxygen-rich air, you begin a leisurely walk to Mweka Gate. The trail continues through dense rainforest, and after about 2-3 hours, you will reach the gate. At this point, it is time to say goodbye to your team.
• Arriving at the hotel, you can finally enjoy a well-deserved shower and celebrate your success at the top.
  Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Park fees
• All activities (unless labelled as optional)
• All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
• All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
• All taxes/VAT
• Round-trip airport transfer
• All meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinking water on all days

What's Not Included

• International flights (from/to home)
• Balloon tour
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips to guide and cook
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees
• Alcoholic drinks

What to bring

• T-shirts and tank tops
• Long-sleeved shirts (for protection from sunburn)
• Shorts
• Light long pants or convertible long-short pants
• Warm fleece pullover or jacket
• One swimsuit
• Cotton socks and underwear
• Pyjamas
• One pair of comfortable walking shoes
• One pair of sandals or flip-flops
• Wide-brimmed hat
• Bandana (for dust)
• Heavy sweater, gloves, and toque if travelling in the cold season (June - August)

Know before you go

• Visa can be processed at the airport during arrival.
• For a person who has already been vaccinated, there will be no need for a negative RT-PCR certificate.
• The tour price per person decreases as the number of clients increases.
• Wheelchair availability.
• Special filming and photography are available at an extra cost.
• Travellers can quickly arrive and depart by public transport.
• Infants are required to sit on laps (seats are available for private safari).
• This circuit, also known as the whiskey route, is rightly considered the most beautiful of Kilimanjaro. The varied landscape offers superb views of Mount Meru and Kibo. Along with the Marangu route, this is the most popular route up the mountain. The varied altitude profile allows good acclimatization, and the number of summit successes is higher. However, the route is steeper, and an easy climbing passage is required on the Barranco Wall. The route requires good physical condition and is less suitable for inexperienced mountain hikers than the Marangu route. Accommodation is in tents at the campsites. The descent is via the Mweka Route. The 6-day tour is also suitable for experienced and very fit mountain hikers. The fourth day of the shortened tour departs directly from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp, since the intermediate leg via Karanga Camp is omitted.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Moshi, Tanzania

Tour start

Moshi, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.