Summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, using the 7-day Machame Route.
The 7-day Machame route offers one extra day for acclimatization, meaning a better chance of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. If you’ve dreamed of an African adventure, then the 7-day guided hike up the Machame route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro should be on your list.
The Machame route, otherwise known as the "Whiskey" route, is one of the more popular routes to summit Kilimanjaro. This guided trek to the top of Kilimanjaro is famous for its beautiful and magnificent scenery. Despite being more strenuous compared to the Marangu route, the Machame route has one of the highest success rates for summiting.
Highlights of the Mount Kilimanjaro on Machame Route (slower pace)
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Mount Kilimanjaro on Machame Route (slower pace) Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Tanzania
Your guided Kilimanjaro trek starts today! Get picked up from the Kilimanjaro International Airport and return to Moshi town, where you will check-in to your hotel. You will also meet your guide today and be briefed on the Machame route, meet other guests and check your gear to make sure you are ready. Anything that you might be missing, can be rented here on this day.
Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort
Distance: None
Meals: No Meals Included
Day 2 Transfer to Machame Gate (1,790m) and trek to Machame Camp (3,010m)
Start your trek up Kilimanjaro with a 1-hour transfer to the Machame Gate. Here you will complete park formalities and also meet the team of porters that will help to carry everything throughout this guided trek. The first part of this Kilimanjaro trek will take you through an amazing, dense rainforest. Due to the humidity, this trail sometimes gets a bit overgrown in some parts and is often muddy and wet.
Accommodation: Machame Camp
Distance: 10.8km, 1,250m, 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 Machame Camp (3,010m) to Shira Camp (3,845m)
The route up Kilimanjaro continues up through forest until you reach the Shira Plateau, which has very nice views of Kilimanjaro. Looking back you will be able to see the amazing Mount Meru, climbing in the distance high above the town of Arusha.
Accommodation: Shira Camp
Distance: 5.4 km, 850m, 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 Shira Camp (3,845m) to Barranco Camp (3,960m)
The Machame route continues today, starting off on high moorland. The route climbs and traverses the southwest side of Mount Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the famous Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach before you will finally arrive at the Barranco Camp. You will reach a high point of 4,600m on today’s trek, so you will be feeling the altitude. By sleeping at Barranco Camp you are following the rule of “trek high, sleep low”, which will help your body to get used to the altitude.
Accommodation: Barranco Camp
Distance: 10.8km, 720m, 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 Barranco Camp (3,960m) to Karanga Camp (3,963m)
Start today’s walk by descending into a huge ravine, known as the Great Barranco. Whatever goes down must come up, and you will exit the steep Great Barranco Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. This part of the Machame route involves some tiring, but not overly technical terrain. You will hike under the Kersten and Heim glaciers and head towards the Karanga Valley. The Karanga Valley is the last stop for fresh water on Machame Route before the summit. For those feeling strong there will be a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4,200m before descending back to the camp for the night.
Accommodation: Karanga Camp
Distance: 5.5km, 350m, 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 Karanga Camp (3,963m) to Barafu Camp (4,640m)
After a good nights rest and a big breakfast, today you will set off to walk to Barafu camp, which is at 4,640m. You will cross barren scree slopes, and though the days route is short, there is a big gain of over 600m in elevation. At this altitude ascending is very tough, and you’ll find the route challenging. You’ll arrive in camp early, and enjoy a rest and a lot of eating, as tomorrow the main ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro begins.
Accommodation: Barafu Camp
Distance: 3km, 625m, 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 Barafu Camp (4,640m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3,790m)
Today is the main event, a tremendously difficult day that should see you summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. You will start trekking at around midnight and will head steeply up towards the summit glaciers. Expect to climb for 4-5 hours, and gain height quickly. The goal is to arrive at the crater rim at Stella Point (5,739 m) with the first rays of sunlight. The views from within the crater are spectacular. It will take one more hour to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro - Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Return from the summit of Kilimanjaro back past Stella Point all the way to Barafu Camp for a well-earned. Later in the day continue down to Millennium Camp.
Accommodation: Millennium Camp
Distance: 13.4km, 1,250m Up, 2,000m down , 12-15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 Millennium Camp (3,790m) to Mweka Gate (1,630m)
This is the last trekking day on this guided tour to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Today is a gentle day compared to yesterday, as your walk down through a rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you exit the park. Meet the vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you will enjoy a shower and probably a cold beer or two, before a big celebration.
Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort
Distance: 12.1km, 2,100m down, 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 Departure
Today it’s all up to you and what time your flight leaves. If you have time, you can explore the town of Moshi and find some souvenirs to commemorate your summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Consider sparing an hour of your time to help our environmental conservation efforts by planting a tree in the Kilimanjaro region.
Accommodation: None, departure day
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
This hiking tour in Tanzania is run as a private tour for your group only and the price depends on the number of travellers in your group.
The prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room:
- Guided Groups of 2-4: $2,375 USD per person
- Guided Groups of 5+: $2,250 USD per person
Please note that the pricing might change depending on the size of your group.
Book NowAccommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro on Machame Route (slower pace) Tour
This accommodations on this trekking tour of Mount Kilimanjaro on the Machame route are in tents while on Mount Kilimanjaro and in a private room in a lodge while in Moshi. In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room as a solo travelers. In some cases, there may be other solo travelers, and we can match you with participants of the same sex.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Panama Garden Resort ★★★
This beautiful hotel has everything you need to make your stay in Moshi comfortable: the resort has a beautiful garden area with swimming pool, bar, BBQ corner and free WiFi.
Machame Camp
Machame Camp is a well-organized camp just outside the tropical forest area at 3,000m. There are views of the peak. There are splendid sunset views on Mount Meru.
Shira Camp
After cresting the dramatic Shira Ridge, you'll see why people rave about the views from the plateau. This is where you'll find Shira Camp.
Barranco Camp
Barranco Camp is set in a rocky valley. Hopefully the view of the Barranco Wall in the distance will help motivate you for the upcoming journey.
Karanga Camp
Set high just above the beautiful Karanga Valley, this site is a great place to explore or relax at the end of another long day on the trail.
Barafu Camp
Tonight, you’re sleeping at over 4,600m above sea level with the summit in sight.
Millennium Camp ★
Your final campsite on the mountain. At a much more comfortable lower altitude, you'll see the trees are starting to appear again.
Panama Garden Resort ★★★
This beautiful hotel has everything you need to make your stay in Moshi comfortable: the resort has a beautiful garden area with swimming pool, bar, BBQ corner and free WiFi.
What’s included in the Mount Kilimanjaro on Machame Route (slower pace) Tour?
Meals
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 8 nights along the tour are included.
Transportation during the Tour
2-way shared airport transfers between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport are included.
Also Included
- 2-way shared airport transfers to Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Accommodation in tents on the Machame Route
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation in Moshi on Bed & Breakfast Basis
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Gear, such as double layered sleeping mats, basic sleeping bag and 3-season mountain tents
- Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek
- Tree donation in support of our environmental conservation projects
- Supplemental Oxygen and pulse Oximeter
Not included
- Tips – see FAQ for guidelines per group.
- Air Travel to Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Any meals or drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Laundry Services & Items of personal nature.
Optional Tours
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent
- Transfer: Moshi to Arusha
- Transfer: Moshi to Nairobi)
- Materuni + Coffee Tour Day trip
- Rundugai Hot water springs Day Trip
- Cycling day trip
- Cultural Day Trip
- 2-Day Safari – This safari is suitable for trekkers after Kilimanjaro, and the price includes meals, transport, park fees and accommodation. National Parks that are visited are Tarangire National Park & Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Upgrade to a warmer sleeping bag
- Extra porter
Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Kilimanjaro on Machame Route (slower pace)
Ahsante tours is a family-run tour operator based in Moshi. They aim to provide exceptional treks and game drives at fair prices. They’ve been leading guests in Africa for over 20 years.
Ahsante provides each client with family-like service, keeping the values of care, trust, respect, and commitment at the centre of their operations.
They are committed to ensuring each guest has the best adventure possible.
Learn MoreIs this tour for me?
We rate this tour as a 5 / 5 due to the elevation and very long summit day.
Local Guide
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Related Tours
- Q: What is your favourite place to show to visitors?
- A: Kilimanjaro Mountain, which is the roof of Africa.
- Q: What is one local dish that tourists have to try?
- A: Machalari, which is banana mixed up with meat or vegetables.
- Q: What are guests most surprised about when visiting Tanzania?
- A: The nature in the country, and the friendly and respectful people, which is part of our Tanzanian culture.