Machame Route Kilimanjaro — 6, 7 & 8-Day Itineraries

Our flagship itinerary. The 7-day splits Barranco → Karanga and Karanga → Barafu into separate days, giving you an extra acclimatisation night and a shorter, fresher day before the midnight summit push. This structure is why it achieves a higher summit success than the compressed 6-day version.

1. 1

   Machame Gate → Machame Camp

   Montane rainforest
   Start~1,800 m

   Highest~2,835 m

   Sleep~2,835 m

   Distance~11 km

   Time5–7 hrs

   Gain+~1,000 m

   MealsL, D

   StayTent

   After breakfast in Moshi you drive to Machame Gate, where your guide completes park registration and the crew prepares equipment. The trail begins through dense montane rainforest — a gradual, continuous ascent that can be muddy in wet weather. The pace is deliberately slow (pole pole) to begin your adaptation. Your tent and meals are ready when you arrive.

   Guide's tip: Keep your rain jacket accessible and use trekking poles on muddy sections. The goal today is a controlled pace, not speed.
2. 2

   Machame Camp → Shira Camp

   Heath & moorland
   Start~2,835 m

   Highest~3,850 m

   Sleep~3,850 m

   Distance~5 km

   Time4–6 hrs

   Gain+~1,000 m

   MealsB, L, D

   StayTent

   You leave the forest canopy as the vegetation shifts to giant heathers and moorland. The terrain becomes steeper and rockier, temperatures drop, and the Kibo summit cone comes into view for the first time. Breathing may feel different — this is normal; slow walking and steady hydration matter most. You arrive with time to rest before dinner.

   Guide's tip: Drink consistently today and report any headache to your guide early — small symptoms managed early stay small.
3. 3

   Shira Camp → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp

   Key acclimatisation day
   Start~3,850 m

   Highest~4,630 m

   Sleep~3,900 m

   Distance~10 km

   Time6–8 hrs

   Gain/Loss+780 / −730 m

   MealsB, L, D

   StayTent

   The most educational day of the climb. You cross the Shira Plateau to the imposing Lava Tower (~4,630 m) for lunch, then descend into the Barranco Valley to sleep. This "climb high, sleep low" profile is the core of Machame's excellent acclimatisation. The evening at Barranco, beneath towering cliffs, is one of the trip's most atmospheric camps.

   Why it matters: Briefly experiencing 4,630 m while sleeping at 3,900 m stimulates your body's adaptation without over-stressing it.
4. 4

   Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp

   The Barranco Wall
   Start~3,900 m

   Highest~4,200 m

   Sleep~3,995 m

   Distance~5 km

   Time4–5 hrs

   Gain+~100 m

   MealsB, L, D

   StayTent

   You scramble up the famous Barranco Wall — steep but non-technical, using hands and feet with your guide showing placements. The trail then traverses ridges into the Karanga Valley. Keeping this as its own day (rather than combining it, as the 6-day does) is a key reason the 7-day succeeds more often.

   Is the Barranco Wall dangerous?

   It looks intimidating from camp, but the standard route is a trekking scramble, not technical rock climbing. No ropes are required. Your guide controls the pace and the route is well-travelled. It is steep, so take it slowly.

5. 5

   Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp

   Summit base camp
   Start~3,995 m

   Highest~4,673 m

   Sleep~4,673 m

   Distance~4 km

   Time3–4 hrs

   Gain+~680 m

   MealsB, L, D

   StayTent

   A short, steep climb through alpine desert to Barafu — your summit base camp. You arrive early afternoon, eat, check equipment, hydrate, and rest. After an early dinner and a summit briefing, attempt to sleep from ~6 PM. Don't worry if sleep is light; resting your body and staying hydrated is what counts. Wake-up is ~11 PM.

   Guide's tip: Lay out your summit kit (headlamp, gloves, layers, water) before dark so the midnight start is calm and organised.
6. 6

   SUMMIT DAY — Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp

   The climax
   Start~4,673 m

   Summit5,895 m

   Sleep~3,100 m

   Distance~17 km

   Time12–16+ hrs

   DifficultyVery strenuous

   MealsB, L, D

   StayTent

   Depart around midnight on switchback scree slopes under the stars. Reach Stella Point (~5,750 m) on the crater rim at sunrise, then follow the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — the Roof of Africa. After photos, descend back to Barafu for a short rest, then continue down to Mweka Camp (~3,100 m) for a well-earned night's sleep.

   Typical rhythm: ~00:00 depart · ~05:00–07:00 Stella Point / sunrise · ~06:00–08:00 Uhuru Peak · afternoon Mweka Camp. Times vary with pace and weather.
7. 7

   Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi

   Descent & celebration
   Start~3,100 m

   End~1,640 m

   Distance~12 km

   Time4–5 hrs

   Loss−~1,460 m

   MealsB, L

   HabitatRainforest

   CertificateAt gate

   A final descent through lush rainforest — a green reward after days of rock and ice. At Mweka Gate you collect your summit certificate, share a farewell with the crew, and transfer back to Moshi for a shower, rest and celebration dinner.

Our most gradual Machame itinerary. It adds an extra night on the Shira Plateau, breaking the crossing into two gentler days for a slower pace, more recovery, and the highest acclimatisation benefit of the three options. Ideal if you prefer a relaxed rhythm or want the best possible preparation.

1. 1

   Machame Gate → Machame Camp

   ~1,800 → 2,835 m · 5–7 hrs · ~11 km

   Rainforest ascent to your first camp. Controlled pace, early rest.

2. 2

   Machame Camp → Shira 1 Camp

   ~2,835 → 3,500 m · 4–5 hrs

   A gentler first day onto the plateau, stopping at Shira 1 for an easy night.

3. 3

   Shira 1 → Shira 2 Camp

   ~3,500 → 3,850 m · 3–4 hrs

   Short plateau crossing with an optional acclimatisation walk. Slow and steady.

4. 4

   Shira 2 → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp

   ~3,850 → 4,630 → 3,900 m · 6–8 hrs

   Key climb-high-sleep-low day to Lava Tower, then descend to Barranco.

5. 5

   Barranco → Karanga Camp

   ~3,900 → 3,995 m · 4–5 hrs

   Scramble the Barranco Wall, traverse the ridges to Karanga.

6. 6

   Karanga → Barafu Camp

   ~3,995 → 4,673 m · 3–4 hrs

   Short climb to summit base camp. Rest before the midnight push.

7. 7

   SUMMIT DAY — Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp

   4,673 → 5,895 → ~3,100 m · 12–16+ hrs

   Midnight start, sunrise at Stella Point, summit at Uhuru Peak, descend to Mweka Camp.

8. 8

   Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi

   ~3,100 → 1,640 m · 4–5 hrs

   Final rainforest descent, certificates, crew farewell, celebration in Moshi.

The compressed version, combining Barranco → Karanga → Barafu into one long day immediately before the summit push. Recommended only for experienced or well-prepared trekkers who understand the demands of a shorter acclimatisation schedule. Not ideal for first-time high-altitude climbers.

1. 1

   Machame Gate → Machame Camp

   ~1,800 → 2,835 m · 5–7 hrs
2. 2

   Machame Camp → Shira Camp

   ~2,835 → 3,850 m · 4–6 hrs
3. 3

   Shira → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp

   ~3,850 → 4,630 → 3,900 m · 6–8 hrs
4. 4

   Barranco → Karanga → Barafu Camp

   ~3,900 → 4,673 m · 7–9 hrs (long day)

   The demanding combined day — Barranco Wall, ridges, and the climb to base camp in one push.

5. 5

   SUMMIT DAY — Barafu → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp

   4,673 → 5,895 → ~3,100 m · 12–16+ hrs
6. 6

   Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi

   ~3,100 → 1,640 m · 4–5 hrs