7 Days KILIMANJARO
MACHAME ROUTE
"Seven days on Machame: Kilimanjaro conquered."
Machame route is also known as the “Whiskey Route”. This route is the most popular route on the mountain and for good reason. It is a well designed route with good altitude acclimatization. Compared with the Marangu Route, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame Route is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended and has a higher success rate.
Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport
Welcome to Tanzania! You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. You will meet the company representative and your mountain guide who give you a thorough climb briefing, answering all your questions. There will also be an equipment check. Any items that you are lacking may be rented locally of good quality at a fair rate. If your arrival is late in the day, the briefing and equipment check may happen early the next morning instead. No meals are included in the itinerary for this day.
Day 1: Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m)
After breakfast at your hotel, we pick you up and drive you to Machame Gate, where we complete park formalities, meet your crew of porters and start the adventure! The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through a magnificent and dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. Arriving at the camp you will find your tent already setup with your gear inside.
Day 2: Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)
Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above the city of Arusha in the distance.
Day 3: Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at altitudes up to 4600m, but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude. The altitude of Barranco Camp at 3960m will feel comfortable.
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten Glaciers, we head towards the Karanga Valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga Valley to our night’s camp at Karanga Camp, set at 3963m, only 3m higher than the previous camp. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.
Day 5: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu Camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation in sight! It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the summit attempt.
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi Peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m)! You have achieved your dream! Of course you will want some photos but we won’t want to stay long lest cold and fatigue set in. There is still a long way to trek this day. We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Day 7: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Yes, your body will probably feel the fatigue of the previous day, but it will still be a victory trek, descending down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Many times the road will be too muddy for our vehicle to safely pick you up at the gate. Instead we may need to trek further to Mweka Village where our vehicle will return you to your hotel.
Departure Day
Our driver will be available to take you to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) at any time you require. If you have a safari planned through Dotcom Safaris, your safari guide will pick you up at the pre-arranged time. If you have planned for time in Zanzibar, we will have gone through the arrangements with you. Your breakfast is included in your itinerary this day as long as your departure is not before the hotel’s scheduled breakfast hours. Hotel checkout is at 10am but if you have a later departure we can try to arrange a late checkout or a day room (extra cost for day room).
For the 6 Day Machame itinerary, on Day 4 the trek goes from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp instead of having an overnight at Karanga Camp.
2025 Prices (per person in USD)
| # of climbers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame 7 Days | $3395 | $2497 | $2111 | $2096 | $2086 | $2076 |
| Machame 6 Days | $3303 | $2188 | $1998 | $1948 | $1908 | $1868 |
• Airport pick up and drop-off per group
• 2 nights at a hotel bed & breakfast plan
• English-speaking professional, certified guides & dedicated crew
• Transfers to and from the mountain
• All Meals as per daily itinerary
• Activities as per the itinerary
• National Park Fees and taxes
• Purified drinking water while on the mountain
• Dry bag to protect your duffel bag
• Oxygen cylinder(s) for emergency
• Portable chemical toilet
• Mountain tents plus standard sleeping mattress
• Official Summit Certificate – for those who qualify
• Personal travel insurance with medical and mountain evacuation (required)
• Tanzania entry visa
• Tips for the support team
• Sleeping bags and other personal gear
• Rental gear – if needed
• Lunch and dinner at the Moshi hotel
• Drinks and snacks
• Additional airport or gate transfers
• Extra nights at the hotels
• Expenses of a personal nature (souvenirs, etc.)