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6 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing – Marangu Route
6 Days / 5 Nights Days
Moshi, Tanzania (hotel pickup) → Moshi, Tanzania (hotel drop-off)
Climbing
Difficult
From
USD $2,282
per person
Why Choose This Safari?
The Marangu route is one of the most popular ways to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and it is the only route with mountain huts. You sleep in shared huts with beds and take your meals in dining halls, so there is no camping. Its steady gradient has earned it the nickname the “Coca-Cola route”, and it is the only route that goes up and down by the same path. This six-day version adds an acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut, which gives your body more time to adjust and improves your chance of reaching the summit. You walk through rainforest to Mandara Hut, cross open moorland to Horombo and the alpine desert to Kibo, and make the summit push to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, before descending to Marangu Gate and returning to Moshi.
Safari Highlights
- A walk through the rainforest to Mandara Hut, with a side trip to Maundi Crater for views across northern Tanzania and Kenya
- A chance to spot towering trees, birdlife and colobus monkeys in the forest
- Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo from the open moorland on Day 2
- An acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut, with an optional hike toward Mawenzi Peak
- A summit push from around midnight to Gilman’s Point on the crater rim, then on to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa
Destinations to Travel
Moshi · Marangu Gate · Mandara Hut · Maundi Crater (side trip) · Horombo Hut · Mawenzi Peak (optional hike) · Kibo Hut · Gilman’s Point · Uhuru Peak (Mount Kilimanjaro)
Itinerary
Day 1 — Moshi to Marangu Gate and Mandara Hut
After breakfast and a briefing at your hotel, you drive for about an hour to Marangu Gate, the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park. After registering, you start the climb through the rainforest to Mandara Hut. A short side trip to Maundi Crater gives you views across northern Tanzania and into Kenya. In the forest, look out for towering forest trees, birdlife and colobus monkeys. You have dinner in the hut dining hall and spend the night at Mandara Hut.
Trek: 1,860 m to 2,700 m · 8 km (5 mi) · 3 to 4 hours · montane forest
Day 2 — Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
You leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path across the open moorland to Horombo Hut. The views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are spectacular, and you will see giant lobelias and groundsels along the way. You may start to feel the effects of altitude today, so walk slowly and drink plenty of water. You spend the night at Horombo Hut.
Trek: 2,700 m to 3,700 m · 12 km (7.5 mi) · 5 to 6 hours · heathland
Day 3 — Acclimatisation Day at Horombo Hut
Today is a rest day at Horombo Hut to help your body adjust to the altitude. You can take an optional hike toward Mawenzi Peak, which follows the “climb high, sleep low” principle and improves acclimatisation, then return to Horombo for the night.
Trek: Rest day at 3,700 m · optional acclimatisation hike toward Mawenzi · heathland
Day 4 — Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
You climb past the last watering point and onto the Saddle of Kilimanjaro, between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. The upper heathland gives way to a bare, lunar landscape of alpine desert. At Kibo Hut you have an early dinner, rest and prepare for the summit climb.
Trek: 3,700 m to 4,700 m · 9 km (5.5 mi) · 5 to 6 hours · alpine desert
Day 5 — Summit to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo Hut
Between midnight and 2:00 am you begin the climb to the summit, on steep scree or snow, to Gilman’s Point (5,681 m) on the crater rim. You continue along the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, with views at every turn, and have your photo taken at the summit. You then descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo Hut, before continuing down to Horombo Hut for dinner and the night.
Trek: Up 4,700 m to 5,895 m · 6 km (4 mi) · 6 to 8 hours · Down to 3,700 m · 15 km (9 mi) · 5 to 6 hours · alpine desert
Day 6 — Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate and Moshi
After breakfast you descend steadily through the moorland to Mandara Hut, then continue along the lush forest path to Marangu Gate, where you collect your summit certificate. At lower altitudes the trail can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles help. Shorts and a T-shirt will probably be enough, but keep rain gear and a warm layer handy. A vehicle is waiting at the gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi, about an hour away.
Trek: 3,700 m to 1,860 m · 20 km (12.5 mi) · 4 to 5 hours · forest
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Transport to and from mountain gates.
- All parks entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- Rescue fees.
- Guide and porters fees.
- Guide and porters salaries.
- All accommodations on the mountain based on three meals a day.
- Cook and all kitchen utensils.
Rate Excludes
- International and domestic flights (we can arrange on request)
- Accommodation on the first night upon your arrival before climb and on the last day after climb (book with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Tips, drinks and all items of personal nature
- Hard and soft drinks and tips
- Sleeping bags but we can provide for hire on request.
- All Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
Best Time to Go
This trek can be taken all year round. In general, the dry seasons from about January to March and June to October are the most popular times to climb Kilimanjaro, with clearer skies and less mud on the lower slopes. The wetter months from about April to May and November to December bring more rain and cloud on the mountain, and the forest path can be wet, though the huts on the Marangu route offer good shelter. Conditions on the day affect the summit push, so our team can advise on the best dates for your trek.
Pricing
From USD $2,282 per person
| Option | Price | Pax |
|---|---|---|
| US$ 2,282 per person sharing | Minimum 2 Pax |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the trek start and end, and how long does it last?
It starts with a drive from your hotel in Moshi to Marangu Gate and ends with a drive back from Marangu Gate to your hotel in Moshi. The trek lasts six days and five nights, all in mountain huts.
Where do we sleep, and are meals included?
You sleep in shared mountain huts: one night at Mandara, three nights at Horombo and one night at Kibo. Meals are taken in the hut dining halls, as listed in the itinerary.
Is there a rest day?
Yes. Day 3 is an acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut, with an optional hike toward Mawenzi Peak.
Why choose six days instead of five?
The extra day at Horombo Hut gives your body more time to adjust to the altitude, which makes the climb more comfortable and improves your chance of reaching Uhuru Peak.
Do we need to be fit for this trek?
You don’t need climbing experience, but good fitness helps. Please ask our team about fitness and altitude preparation before you book. You may begin to feel the effects of altitude on Day 2, and reaching Uhuru Peak depends on your health, acclimatisation and the weather on the day.