MOUNT KILIMANJARO TREK
6-Day Marangu Route
The Coca-Cola Route
The Marangu Route, commonly known as the Coca-Cola Route, is popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites. Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and passes Gilman's Point en route to Uhuru Peak. It's a shorter route with a steeper incline and less time for acclimatization, so it tends to have a lower summit success rate — and it's the only route where the ascent and descent share the same path, creating more traffic.
DURATION
5 or 6 Days
DIFFICULTY
Medium
SCENERY
Good
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
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 0
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1Marangu Gate → Mandara Huts
Departing from Moshi, a 45-minute drive takes you through the village of Marangu 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.ELEVATION1,905m / 6,250ft → 2,723m / 8,934ft MEALS PROVIDEDBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner ACCOMMODATIONOvernight stay at Mandara HutsDISTANCE
8.3km / 5mi
DURATION
4–5 hrs
TERRAIN
Rainforest
ALTITUDE GAIN
818m
DAY 2Mandara Huts → Horombo Huts
After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path through heathland, keeping an eye out for giant lobelias and groundsels. We continue into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation, stopping halfway for lunch with amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at Horombo Huts in the late afternoon, beneath the spectacular Kibo summit viewpoint, as temperatures begin to drop.ELEVATION2,723m / 8,934ft → 3,721m / 12,208ft MEALS PROVIDEDBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner ACCOMMODATIONOvernight stay at Horombo HutsDISTANCE
12.5km / 7.8mi
DURATION
6–8 hrs
TERRAIN
Moorland
ALTITUDE GAIN
998m
DAY 3Horombo Huts — Acclimatization Day
You'll spend a full day and a second night at Horombo. On this day, you can rest at the huts or take an optional stroll up to Mawenzi base camp before returning to Horombo Huts. This extra day helps your acclimatization and deepens your understanding of the mountain's weather and altitude. After your pause here, you'll continue up to Kibo Huts on Day 4, ahead of your midnight start to the summit. MEALS PROVIDEDBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner ACCOMMODATIONOvernight stay at Horombo HutsDAY 4Horombo Huts → Kibo Huts
After breakfast, we continue through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. As we stop for lunch — and later, as you cross this surprisingly large saddle — you'll be able to examine the summit climb up Kibo that you'll begin in just a few hours.ELEVATION3,721m / 12,208ft → 4,714m / 15,466ft MEALS PROVIDEDBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner ACCOMMODATIONOvernight stay at Kibo HutsDISTANCE
10.5km / 6mi
DURATION
6–8 hrs
TERRAIN
Semi Desert
ALTITUDE GAIN
993m
DAY 5Kibo Huts → Summit Uhuru Peak → Horombo Huts
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 in a switchback formation, staying warm and focused on the accomplishment that lies ahead, ascending through heavy scree — and possibly snow — toward Gilman's Point on the crater rim. You'll be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise during a short rest here. 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 Horombo Huts, stopping at Kibo 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.ASCENT4,714m / 15,466ft → 5,895m / 19,341ft (gain 1,181m) DESCENT TO CAMP5,895m / 19,341ft → 3,721m / 12,208ft (loss 2,174m) MEALS PROVIDEDBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner ACCOMMODATIONOvernight stay at Horombo HutsSUMMIT PUSH
6.25km / 3.9mi up
DESCENT
15.75km / 9mi down
DURATION
5–7 hrs up · 5–6 hrs down
TERRAIN
Glaciers & Snow
DAY 6Horombo Huts → Marangu 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, stopping at Mandara Huts for lunch — remember to tip your guides, cooks and porters here, since you'll be leaving them at this point. You'll return to Marangu 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 to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 45 minutes). Enjoy a long-overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!ELEVATION3,721m / 12,208ft → 1,905m / 6,250ft ACCOMMODATIONOvernight stay at Chanya Lodge B&B, before your onward journey home, on safari, or to a relaxing trip in ZanzibarDISTANCE
20km / 12.5mi
DURATION
6–7 hrs
TERRAIN
Rainforest
ALTITUDE LOST
1,816m
DEPARTUREDeparture
Today you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight back home. MEALS PROVIDEDBreakfast
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 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.
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.
NOTETo 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.
