Climb Mount Kilimanjaro - 7 day Machame Route

We'll be there to meet you at the airport and whisk you off to your hotel in Moshi, the gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park. In the evening you'll meet your fellow adventurers for a briefing from your guide about Kilimanjaro and your trek. This is a great opportunity to check you've got the kit you need - you can rent any kit needed.

The drive from Moshi to Machame Gate takes around 45 minutes and passes through the village of Machame on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes, where you'll get your first taste of the scenery you'll be hiking through. We kick off our trek by walking through a lush rainforest on a winding trail climbing a ridge up to Machame Camp. It can be a bit muddy and slippery so trekking poles and gaiters will be useful if you have them.

After a hearty camp breakfast, we leave the leafy glades of the rainforest and keep climbing, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge with great views - cameras at the ready! Following our route west, we'll trek through a river gorge to the Shira Campsite

Leaving the Shira Plateau, we climb a ridge, passing the junction that leads towards the peak of Kibo. The path leads up South East towards the spectacular Lava Tower, also known as 'Shark's Tooth' (4,650m). After a photo break, we'll descend to the Barranco Camp. We'll end today at roughly the same elevation as we began, but fret not - today was all about acclimatisation and preparing your body for that all-important summit day. Plus the views, of course!

After we eat breakfast, we'll head out from Barranco and go up a steep ridge, climbing the Barranco Wall. Then we'll make our way to the Karanga Valley and get to the spot where it meets the Mweka Trail.

We'll keep going until we reach Barafu Camp. By then, we'll have finished the South Circuit and seen the summit from all sorts of angles. We'll set up camp there, take it easy, have dinner, and get ready for the big day at the summit.

In the wee hours of the morning (somewhere between midnight and 2 am), we press on towards the summit, sandwiched between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. We head in a northwest direction, trudging through rough scree as we make our way towards Stella Point, which sits on the rim of the crater. This part is no joke – it's mentally and physically demanding! But fear not, because once we reach Stella Point, we take a breather and are treated to the most jaw-dropping sunrise you'll probably ever witness. If you're a speedier hiker, you might even catch the sunrise right from the summit. From Stella Point, it's a snowy adventure all the way as we spend about an hour ascending to Uhuru Peak. And guess what? That's the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa! It's quite an accomplishment. After revelling in our triumph at the summit, we start our descent by heading straight down towards Mweka Camp. Along the way, we stop at Barafu for a well-deserved lunch. The loose gravel can be a bit tricky, so gaiters and trekking poles might come in handy. Finally, we reach Mweka Camp, where we savour our last evening on the magnificent mountain.

Once we're fueled up with breakfast, we start making our way down towards the Mweka Park Gate to collect those well-deserved summit certificates. As we descend to lower elevations, things can get a bit damp and muddy, so it's a good idea to have gaiters and trekking poles to tackle the terrain. You can probably ditch the heavy gear and rock some shorts and t-shirts but don't forget to keep your rain gear and warmer clothing handy, just in case. When we reach the Mweka Gate, a vehicle will be eagerly waiting to whisk you away on a quick 30-minute ride back to your coSy hotel in Moshi. Time to kick back, relax, and reflect on the incredible journey you've just conquered!

Drive back to the airport for departure. Reflect on the achievement of summiting Kilimanjaro. Say goodbye to the team and newfound friends.