Kilimanjaro climbs
Kilimanjaro: 7-day Machame Route
The classic 'Whiskey Route': the most scenic way up Kilimanjaro, with a seventh day that makes a real difference to your summit…
Kilimanjaro climbs
Kilimanjaro: 6-day Marangu Route
The only route with hut accommodation. Sleep in a bunk rather than a tent, with an extra acclimatisation day at Horombo to improve your odds.
- Duration6 days
- DifficultyChallenging
- RouteMarangu
- Max altitude5,895 m
- Best timeJan to Mar, Jun to Oct
- GroupPrivate, 1 to 12 climbers
- Starts / endsMoshi or Arusha
Marangu, sometimes called the ‘Coca-Cola route’, is the oldest trail on Kilimanjaro and the only one where you sleep in huts with mattresses and pillows rather than tents. That makes it popular with climbers who want a little more comfort, and in the rainy season when a dry bunk is worth a lot.
The trade-off is a fast ascent profile, which is why we always add a sixth day at Horombo. The five-day version has one of the lowest summit rates on the mountain and we do not recommend it.
Highlights
- Mountain huts with bunks, mattresses and dining rooms
- Acclimatisation day to Zebra Rocks and Mawenzi Hut
- Cross the Saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi
- Sunrise from Gilman's Point, then Uhuru Peak
- The best choice in the rainy months
Day by day
Register at Marangu Gate and walk up through lush rainforest to Mandara Hut. If there is time, a short walk to Maundi Crater for views over Kenya.
Out of the forest and across open moorland with giant heathers. Kibo and Mawenzi come into view. Horombo is a small village of huts on a ridge.
A day hike up to Zebra Rocks and on towards Mawenzi Hut at around 4,300 m, then back down to sleep at Horombo. This is the day that earns your summit.
Cross the lunar landscape of the Saddle between the two peaks to Kibo Hut, base camp. Early dinner and bed.
Midnight start up the scree to Gilman's Point on the crater rim for sunrise, then around the rim to Uhuru Peak. Descend past Kibo all the way to Horombo.
A long, pleasant descent through moorland and forest to the gate for certificates and your transfer to Moshi.
What's included
Included
- 2 nights hotel in Moshi (before and after the climb), bed and breakfast
- Transfers between Moshi and Marangu Gate
- All park fees, hut fees and rescue fees
- Professional licensed mountain guide, assistant guides, cook and porters
- Hut accommodation on the mountain
- Three hot meals a day on the mountain and boiled drinking water
- Pulse oximeter checks twice daily and a first-aid kit
Not included
- International flights and Tanzanian visa
- Travel insurance (must cover trekking to 6,000 m)
- Personal climbing gear and sleeping bag (available to rent)
- Tips for the mountain crew
- Drinks and personal items
Questions people ask
Are the huts heated?
No. They keep the wind and rain off, and you get a mattress and pillow, but you still need a warm sleeping bag, especially at Kibo Hut.
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