Start: Londorossi Gate (2,200 m)
Finish: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m)
Distance: 6 km
Walking Time: 3 to 4 hours
Climate Zone: montane forest
Highest altitude: 2,780 m

Transfer from your hotel to the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro. After the park formalities are completed at Londorossi Gate, you will start your trek through the forest zone. With a little luck you may even encounter some smaller wildlife or a troop of black-and-white-colobus monkeys. The trail with some steep sections winds up to the shared campsite of Mti Mkubwa – also known as Big Tree. As the name already suggests the campsite is located under a big tree with plenty of birds around.

Start: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m)
Finish: Shira One Camp (3,500 m)
Distance: 8 km
Walking Time: 4 to 6 hours
Climate Zone: heather and moorland
Highest altitude: 3,600 m

Today you follow a steep climb into the heather and moorland zone. The trek will be challenging with many breaks, but before you will realize it, you will be standing on the edge of Shira Ridge at about 3,600 m. Shira was once a peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, but then collapsed, which created the Shira Plateau. Enjoy the great view and proceed your descent onto the Shira Plateau with overnight at Shira One Camp.

Start: Shira One Camp (3,500 m)
Finish: Shira Two Camp (3,900 m)
Distance: 10 km
Walking Time: 3 to 5 hours
Climate Zone: heather and moorland
Highest altitude: 3,900 m

Today you will follow a slow-paced trail across the Shira Plateau which will help with acclimatization. Your guide will happily explain to you the vegetation and the rock formations on the plateau. You can also option to hike via Shira Cathedral on the southern side of the plateau. This is a slightly longer and tougher trek; however, you will be rewarded with superb panoramic views from the top. Proceed to the shared campsite at Shira Two for dinner and overnight.

Start: Shira Two Camp (3,900 m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Distance: 10 to 11 km
Walking Time: 6 to 8 hours
Climate Zone: semi desert
Highest altitude: 4,640 m

After breakfast your trail leads into the semi-desert zone with its rocky landscape. You proceed southwards towards the Lava Tower, which is rising 4,640 m above sea level, with a lunch stop. You will then continue down into the Barranco Valley – just beneath the Great Barranco Wall. Although you start and end the day almost at the same altitude, it was an important day for acclimatization. You might even feel a bit winded as the low air pressure starts to become noticeable at this height.

Start: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Finish: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Distance: 6 km
Walking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Climate Zone: alpine desert
Highest altitude: 4,035 m

Today we will conquer the Barranco Wall. Although the wall looks imposing and very steep, it isn’t actually very difficult to climb. Here and there you will need to scramble and use your hands to steady yourself. Once you have made it over the final ridge you are met with a spectacular view of Kibo. You will then cross a high alpine plateau, while the Heim, Kersten and Decken glaciers reveal themselves above you, before the path drops into the Karanga Valley and you reach the shared campsite of Karanga for dinner and overnight.

Start: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Distance: 3 to 4 km
Walking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Climate Zone: alpine desert
Highest altitude: 4,640 m

Today we will cross the alpine desert through barren scree and a rock-littered landscape. While we make our way up to the shared campsite of Barafu, our path is interlinked with the Mweka descent trail. Barafu Camp is the last camp before summit and the rest of the day is dedicated to resting in preparation for the summit attempt. The peaks of both Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from the camp.

Start: Barafu Camp (4,650 m)
Finish: Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
Distance: 20 km
Walking Time: 14 to 18 hours
Climate Zone: arctic (stone scree and ice-capped summit)
Highest altitude: 5,895 m

We will be up before midnight for our attempt to conquer the “Roof of Africa”. Today is this most challenging day of your Mount Kilimanjaro climb – both mentally and physically. The weather in this altitude is extreme. Our maxim remains “Pole, Pole” – one tiny little step after the other! A rocky zigzags path on volcanic scree leads to Stella Point at 5,730 m. From here it is another 165 m in height to Uhuru Peak.

If you feel strong enough to continue, it is a two-hour round trip along the crater rim to the highest point of Africa. Finally, you reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m. Congratulations – there are no words to describe the feeling of reaching the top of Mount Kiliamanjaro! After a few moments, you will descent via Barafu Campsite down to the shared campsite at Mweka for dinner and overnight.

Start: Mweka Camp (3,080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1,680 m)
Distance: 10 km
Walking Time: 4 to 6 hours
Climate Zone: montane forest

This is your final day of the trek. After breakfast you continue your descent onto Mweka Gate. Your driver/guide will transfer you back to your lodge for a well-earned shower and rest.