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7 Days Machame Route Kilimajaro Climb
Code: KILIMAC7
Description
Our 7-day Machame Route itinerary is the most popular climbing Kilimanjaro tour. The Machame Trail, also known as the Whisky Route, is one of the most scenic and therefore popular trails on the mountain and offers adventurous climbers amazing scenic vistas. With paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to late sunsets at the Shira Plateau to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall.
It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice Fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. Because it can be done over longer periods and the incline is more manageable, it has a much higher success rate of summiting.
If you have more time, consider pairing this climbing Kilimanjaro tour with a lifelong Tanzania safari tour or a relaxing holiday to Zanzibar to add to your Kilimanjaro trek!
Trip Type
Best time to climb Kilimanjaro: Yearly around—but March and April are the rainy months on Kilimanjaro, so we recommend that you avoid this time period.
7-Day Climbing Kilimanjaro Price via Machame
Please inquire for our most up-to-date prices
Optional Climbing Kilimanjaro Activities
- 2-Day Tanzania Camping Safari ($412 per vehicle)
- 3 Days Tanzania Lodge Safari ($780 per person)
7-Day Machame Route Itinerary Includes
Transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport and your accommodation in Moshi.
Mount Kilimanjaro Park entry fees and Camping fees
Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
4-season Mountain tents, High-Quality 4-inch Sleeping Mattress and Pillow
3 Hot meals daily while on the mountain and drinking water throughout the trek
Professional mountain guides, cook and porters
Portable oxygen tanks, an oxymeter, and an emergency first-aid kit
2 Nights of accommodation before and after the trek
All Government taxes
Machame Route 7-Day Itinerary Excludes
International and domestic flights
Tanzania visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (laundry, drinks, souvenirs, etc.)
Tips and gratuities for the guide and lodge staff
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Lunches, dinners, and drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
Tips for guides, porters and cook
Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha – Machame Gate to Machame Camp.
- Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft
- Distance: 11km/7mi
- Climbing Time: 5-6 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to Machame Village, where your guides and porters will prepare and pack your equipment and supplies. After paperwork the journey starts, passing through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
We depart the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame camp.
Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp Hike
- Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft
- Distance: 5km/3mi
- Walking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira camp.
Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
- Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
- Distance: 10km/6mi
- Walking Time: 5-6 hours
- Habitat: Semi-desert
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650 m/15,250 ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction, which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp
- Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
- Distance: 5km/3mi
- Climbing Time: 34 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects with the Mweka Trail.
Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp
- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
- Distance: 4km/2mi
- Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Day 6: Barafu Camp – Summit down to Mweka Camp
- Elevation: 4700 m/15,350 ft to m/19,340 ft
- Down to 3090m/10,150ft
- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
- Climbing Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater’s rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Day 7: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate and then drive to Arusha
- Elevation: 3,090 3090m/10,150ft to 1,680 m/5,500 ft
- Distance: 10km/6mi
- Climbing Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, you will have a short, scenic hike down to the park gate. Hiking trails in the rainforest at lower elevations are often wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts are probably sufficient but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy on your hike. Remember to tip your guides, cook, and porters at the gate as you will be leaving them there. After signing your name at the register, you will receive your summit certificates at Mweka Gate. Climbers who have reached Stella Point are issued green certificates, and those who have reached Uhuru Peak will receive gold certificates. You will be served a delicious lunch at Mweka Village, after which you will be driven back to Arusha for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night.
End of your 7-day Machame route climb
Reviews (1)
1 review for 7 Days Machame Route Kilimajaro Climb
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Max Stain –
My sister and I had the trip of a lifetime climbing the Machame route and doing a 2-day safari with Ernest Magic Tours. The crew was amazing at every step of our trip. Nora was very responsive and answered my many questions during the planning phase. Once in Tanzania, Ernest was very friendly and available to answer any questions we had. All of our transfers were incredibly smooth, and the hotels/lodges Ernest booked were great. We cannot speak highly enough of Frances, Juma, Musa, and our incredible porters for their guidance getting us to the top of Kilimanjaro! They were so friendly and fun while also very professional and making sure we were safe at every phase of the journey while having a great time. On the safari, Jackson seemed to have a special way of finding all the animals and making sure we saw everything we wanted to see. I highly recommend Ernest Magic Tours to anyone looking to climb Kilimanjaro or go on safari, and I thank Ernest Magic Tours for everything!