The adventure
The Machame route — the 'Whiskey Route' — is the most popular scenic path up Kilimanjaro, climbing through five climate zones with a famous 'climb high, sleep low' acclimatisation profile. Seven days deliver the best balance of scenery and summit success.
Highlights
- The most scenic route on Kilimanjaro
- Climb high, sleep low acclimatisation
- Five climate zones in one trek
- Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall
- Stella Point sunrise, then Uhuru Peak
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Drive to Machame Gate, trek through rainforest to Machame Camp at 2,835m.
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Day 2
To Shira Camp
Climb into the heath zone to Shira Camp at 3,750m on the Shira Plateau.
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Day 3
Lava Tower & Barranco
Climb to Lava Tower at 4,600m for acclimatisation, then descend to Barranco Camp at 3,900m.
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Day 4
Barranco Wall to Karanga
Scramble up the Barranco Wall and trek to Karanga Camp at 3,995m.
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Day 5
To Barafu Camp
Short trek to Barafu Camp at 4,673m — rest before the summit push.
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Day 6
Summit Uhuru & Down to Mweka
Midnight start, Stella Point at dawn, Uhuru Peak, then descend to Mweka Camp.
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Day 7
Descend to Mweka Gate
Final descent through forest to Mweka Gate and transfer to Moshi.
What's included & excluded
Included
- Kilimanjaro park fees & rescue fee
- Lead guide, assistant guides, cook & porters
- All meals on the mountain
- Tents, sleeping mats & communal gear
- Transfer from/to Moshi/Arusha
- Oxygen & pulse oximeter on trek
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Tips for crew
- Personal hiking gear
- Visas
- Hotel in Moshi before/after
Difficulty & fitness level
Challenging
Challenging. You should be comfortable trekking 6–8 hours a day for several days at altitude. Train for 2–3 months beforehand.
Best season
January–March & June–October
Frequently asked questions
Is the Machame route harder than Marangu?
Machame is more physically demanding — steeper and with camping — but its acclimatisation profile gives a higher summit success rate than the shorter Marangu route.
Do I need to scramble on the Barranco Wall?
There is a short non-technical scramble on the Barranco Wall. No ropes are needed and guides assist throughout.
