MOUNT KILIMANJARO TREK

6-Day Machame Route

The Whisky Route

The Machame Route, known as the Whisky Route, is one of the most scenic and popular routes on the mountain, offering adventurous climbers stunning outlooks throughout. Paths wind through magnificent forests, gaining a ridge that leads through the moorland zones to late sunsets at Shira Plateau, and on to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall. The route then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Ice Fields to join the Barafu Route to the summit. Because it can be done over a longer period and the incline is more manageable, it has a much higher summit success rate.

DURATION

6 or 7 Days

DIFFICULTY

Medium

SCENERY

Excellent

TRAFFIC

High

Welcome To Tanzania

Thank you for choosing Chagga Village. Feel at home and enjoy your Africa adventure with us. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll be met by a Chagga Village representative and transferred for overnight accommodation at Chanya Lodge B&B. Your head guide will meet you for a briefing, gear check, and to arrange any equipment you may need to hire.

Trip At A Glance

Day 0
Arrival Kilimanjaro Airport → Overnight at Chanya Lodge
1
Day 1
Machame Gate → Machame Camp
2
Day 2
Machame Camp → Shira Camp
3
Day 3
Shira Camp → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp
4
Day 4
Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp
5
Day 5
Barafu Camp → Summit Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp
6
Day 6
Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi
Day 0
Departure → Kilimanjaro Airport
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

  • DAY 1Machame Gate → Machame Camp

    Departing from Moshi, a 45-minute drive takes you through the village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. We patiently wait while our permits are issued, watching the bustle of crews preparing for the journey ahead. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and winding trails while your guide tells you about the local flora, fauna and wildlife. At these lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery — we highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

    DISTANCE

    10.75km / 6.7mi

    DURATION

    5–6 hrs

    TERRAIN

    Rainforest

    ALTITUDE GAIN

    1,210m



    ELEVATION
    1,811m / 5,942ft → 3,021m / 9,911ft

  • DAY 2Machame Camp → Shira Camp

    After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route then turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop.

    DISTANCE

    5.3km / 3mi

    DURATION

    4–5 hrs

    TERRAIN

    Moorland

    ALTITUDE GAIN

    818m



    ELEVATION
    3,021m / 9,911ft → 3,839m / 12,595ft

  • DAY 3Shira Camp → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp

    Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward Kibo Peak before continuing southeast toward the Lava Tower — nicknamed the “Shark's Tooth” (elev. 4,650m / 15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we reach a second junction leading to the Arrow Glacier, then descend to overnight at Barranco Camp.

    DISTANCE

    10.75km / 6.7mi

    DURATION

    5–6 hrs

    TERRAIN

    Semi Desert

    ALTITUDE GAIN

    147m



    ELEVATION
    3,839m / 12,595ft → 3,986m / 13,077ft

  • DAY 4Barranco Camp → Karanga Camp → Barafu Camp

    After breakfast, we climb a steep ridge up the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to watch the power, agility and strength of your crew as they move over the wall with apparent ease. We continue up toward Barafu Camp — reaching it means you've completed the South Circuit, with breathtaking views of the summit from many angles. An early dinner and rest follow, as we prepare for summit night.

    DISTANCE

    3.3km / 2mi

    DURATION

    5–6 hrs

    TERRAIN

    Alpine Desert

    ELEVATION

    4,034m → 4,662m

  • DAY 5Barafu Camp → Summit Uhuru Peak → Mweka Camp

    Excitement builds as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2am. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. We make our way toward the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, staying warm and focused on the accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction, we ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim, where you'll be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise. From here, the remaining 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak is likely to include snow the whole way.

    Congratulations — one step at a time, you've reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa! After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy, we begin the steep descent to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a brief rest. Gaiters and trekking poles are strongly recommended for the loose gravel and volcanic ash terrain. A well-deserved rest awaits for your last evening on the mountain.

    SUMMIT PUSH

    4.86km / 3mi up

    DESCENT

    13km / 8mi down

    DURATION

    5–7 hrs up · 5–6 hrs down

    TERRAIN

    Glaciers & Snow



    ASCENT
    4,662m / 15,295ft → 5,895m / 19,341ft (gain 1,233m)

    DESCENT TO CAMP
    5,895m / 19,341ft → 3,106m / 10,190ft (loss 2,789m)

  • DAY 6Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi

    After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it's time to say goodbye. We continue the descent to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather warms considerably, the terrain turns wet, muddy and steep — gaiters and trekking poles are highly recommended.

    From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long-overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!

    DISTANCE

    9.1km / 5.7mi

    DURATION

    3–4 hrs

    TERRAIN

    Rainforest

    ALTITUDE LOST

    1,473m



    ELEVATION
    3,106m / 10,190ft → 1,633m / 5,358ft

    ACCOMMODATION
    Overnight stay at Chanya Lodge B&B, Moshi

  • DEPARTUREDeparture

    Today you'll be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home.

What's Included / What's Not Included

What's Included

Crew

  • ✓  Lead Guide(s) and Assistant Guide(s) for groups of 2+ — English-speaking and Wilderness First Responder trained
  • ✓  Cook, porters, and equipment and personal client luggage transport (15kg per client)
  • ✓  A porter-to-client ratio of 3–4 porters per client

Equipment

  • ✓  Sleeping tent, 3-person size for 2 people
  • ✓  Sleeping mat (2-inch foam) and pillow
  • ✓  Walk-in dining tent and table with backed chairs
  • ✓  Wash basins with hot water each morning and evening

Food & Drink

  • ✓  Three meals per day plus an afternoon snack during the trek
  • ✓  Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available on request
  • ✓  Treated drinking water (minimum 3L per day while trekking, with additional water available at camp)
  • ✓  Coffee and tea throughout the trek

Health & Safety

  • ✓  Pulse oximeter and altitude sickness checklists
  • ✓  First aid kit and emergency oxygen

Preparation & Fees

  • ✓  Kilimanjaro National Park fees and VAT
  • ✓  Camping/hut, rescue, conservation and other taxes
  • ✓  Fair and sustainable crew wages
  • ✓  Pre-trek briefing with your guide

Accommodation & Transfers

  • ✓  Round-trip airport transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Moshi
  • ✓  Round-trip transfer between Moshi and the park gate
  • ✓  Hotel stays in Moshi pre- and post-trek (2 nights total) on a bed & breakfast basis

What's Not Included

  • ✗  Gratuities / tips
  • ✗  Personal trekking gear such as a sleeping bag and clothing
  • ✗  Beverages of choice (water, soda and alcohol at hotels)
  • ✗  Additional accommodation or meals resulting from an early descent
  • ✗  Tanzania entry visa
  • ✗  Travel insurance
  • ✗  Domestic or international flights
  • ✗  Expenses of a personal nature
  • ✗  Personal hire gear such as trekking poles or sleeping bags
  • ✗  Personal spending money for souvenirs, etc.
  • ✗  Private portable toilet (available for booking)

Ethical Climbing

At Chagga Village, we believe the tourism industry has an obligation — and a great opportunity — to protect the world's natural habitats, cultural heritage sites and communities. We actively promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

As a Partner for Responsible Travel, we're proud to raise public awareness around the fair treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro, and to help implement procedures that ensure fair and ethical treatment through fair salaries, mountain equipment, food, clothing and sleeping conditions for crew members.

Every climb is audited to ensure crew members receive proper salaries, tips, food, equipment and sleeping conditions. Check out our TripAdvisor profile to see what our clients are saying.

Recommended Tipping Guide

Tipping is customary on Mount Kilimanjaro for all members of your mountain crew. Although they receive a fair wage, they rely on tips as part of fair total compensation. Industry recommendations are $20 a day to the guide, $15 a day to your assistant guide, $12 a day to the cook, and $8 a day to each porter — divided among everyone on the trip.

NOTE
To ensure fair and transparent tipping for each crew member, there will be a tipping ceremony at the Chagga Village office following your descent from the mountain. Envelopes will be provided to divide your tips for each member of the crew.

Know Before You Go

Please note that we are completely flexible and able to customize your trip to suit your time, budget and interests.

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BOOK YOUR 6-DAY MACHAME ROUTE TREK NOW
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