Climbers scrambling up the rock of the Barranco Wall, porters among them

Machame Route

The most popular route on Kilimanjaro, and deservedly so — but popular means busy, and six days is short for the altitude it covers.

7 days
On the mountain: 62 km
Total distance: 5,895 m
Highest point: Camping
Sleeping

Machame Route altitude profile, in brief
Day	Location	Altitude (m)	Distance (km)	Overnight
1	Machame Gate	1,800	0	No
1	Machame Camp	3,000	11	Yes
2	Shira Camp	3,840	16	Yes
3	Barranco Camp	3,900	26	Yes
4	Karanga Camp	3,995	31	Yes
5	Barafu Camp	4,673	35	Yes
6	Uhuru Peak	5,895	43.5	No
6	Mweka Camp	3,100	52	Yes
7	Mweka Gate	1,640	62	No

Sleeping altitudes, night by night

In short

Machame climbs steeply out of the rainforest on the southern side and follows a varied, scenic line around the mountain. Its profile naturally forces climb-high-sleep-low days, which helps; its crowds and its shorter itineraries do not.

What it does well

Spectacular and varied terrain, including the Barranco Wall.
The natural profile creates climb-high-sleep-low days without needing detours.
Well-established camps and a trail the crews know intimately.
Shorter drive to the trailhead than Lemosho.

What to weigh up

The busiest route on the mountain — expect company at every camp.
Day two is a steep, sustained climb out of the forest.
The six-day version compresses the acclimatisation and we would rarely recommend it for a first climb.

Route facts

7 days
Recommended length: 62 km
Total distance: 5,895 m
Highest point: South
Approach side: Mweka
Descent route: Camping
Sleeping: Challenging
Difficulty: Jan · Feb · Mar · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Best months

The altitude profile

Circles mark sleeping altitudes. Those are what your body adapts to — the high points you walk over during the day matter far less.

Machame Route elevation profile Route Sleeping altitude

Machame Route elevation profile
Day	Location	Altitude (m)	Distance (km)	Overnight
1	Machame Gate	1,800	0	No
1	Machame Camp	3,000	11	Yes
2	Shira Camp	3,840	16	Yes
3	Barranco Camp	3,900	26	Yes
4	Karanga Camp	3,995	31	Yes
5	Barafu Camp	4,673	35	Yes
6	Uhuru Peak	5,895	43.5	No
6	Mweka Camp	3,100	52	Yes
7	Mweka Gate	1,640	62	No

The route, camp by camp

As walked on our 7 Days Machame Route itinerary, with the altitudes it gives.

Ascent Descent Overnight camp Schematic map, not to scale: positions are approximate and not for navigation. Altitudes are from our itineraries. Terrain: SRTM (NASA), via Terrain Tiles on AWS.

Day by day

These are the days of our 7 Days Machame Route.

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

1,800 m → 3,000 m
11 km
5–7 hrs
Rainforest

↑ 1,200 m gained

Enter dense montane forest on a steady ascent. Guides establish the expedition rhythm from the first hour: pole pole, efficient movement and regular hydration.

From: Machame Gate
To: Machame Camp
Sleeping altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft)

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

3,000 m → 3,840 m
5 km
4–6 hrs
Heath and moorland

↑ 840 m gained

Climb onto the Shira Plateau as vegetation becomes lower and views expand toward Kibo and Mount Meru.

From: Machame Camp
To: Shira Camp
Sleeping altitude: 3,840 m (12,598 ft)

Shira via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

3,840 m → 3,900 m
10 km
6–8 hrs
Alpine desert

↑ 60 m gained

Ascend toward Lava Tower at roughly 4,600 m, then descend to Barranco. The altitude exposure is strategically valuable for acclimatization.

From: Shira via Lava Tower
To: Barranco Camp
Sleeping altitude: 3,900 m (12,795 ft)

Barranco to Karanga Camp

3,900 m → 3,995 m
5 km
4–5 hrs
Alpine desert

↑ 95 m gained

Negotiate the famous Barranco Wall under guide supervision, then traverse ridges and valleys to Karanga.

From: Barranco
To: Karanga Camp
Sleeping altitude: 3,995 m (13,107 ft)

Karanga to Barafu Camp

3,995 m → 4,673 m
4 km
3–4 hrs
High alpine desert

↑ 678 m gained

Reach summit base camp early enough to rest, eat and prepare equipment. The guide conducts the final summit and health briefing.

From: Karanga
To: Barafu Camp
Sleeping altitude: 4,673 m (15,331 ft)

Barafu to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

4,673 m → 3,100 m
17 km
12–16 hrs
Arctic summit to rainforest

↑ 1,222 m gained ↓ 2,795 m descended Sleeps 3,100 m

A midnight ascent leads via Stella Point to Uhuru Peak. After photographs and a controlled descent, continue down to Mweka Camp.

From: Barafu
To: Mweka Camp
Sleeping altitude: 3,100 m (10,171 ft)
Highest point: 5,895 m

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

3,100 m → 1,640 m
10 km
3–4 hrs
Rainforest

Descend through the forest, complete park formalities and celebrate with the mountain team before returning to Moshi.

From: Mweka Camp
To: Mweka Gate

Dates, prices and booking Take the itinerary with you (PDF)

What is and is not included

As listed on our 7 Days Machame Route. What the crew does and what we carry is the same on every itinerary we run here. The number of nights is not, and park fees are charged per night, so each climb page carries its own list.

What is included

Transfers

Airport pick-up and drop-off - Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to/from your hotel
Private transfers to/from the mountain gate - Hotel to Kilimanjaro trailhead and exit gate to hotel

Meals & water

Pre & post-climb accommodation - 2 nights in Moshi (1 night before and 1 night after the climb) on Bed & Breakfast basis
Three freshly prepared meals per day on the mountain - breakfast, lunch and dinner
Nutritious snacks during the trek
Clean, purified drinking water throughout the climb
Hot water for washing each morning and evening where practical

Permits & park fees

Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fees
Camping fees
All applicable government taxes & VAT
Kilimanjaro summit certificate for successful climbers

Safety equipment

Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees
Emergency supplemental oxygen
Pulse oximeter for monitoring blood oxygen saturation and pulse during the climb
First-aid kit and mountain emergency equipment
Daily health monitoring by the mountain guide
24/7 emergency communication support between the mountain team and operations office

Guides & crew

Professional, licensed English-speaking Kilimanjaro mountain guide
Assistant mountain guides - according to group size
Professional mountain chef/cook
Porters - to carry group equipment, food and clients permitted duffel luggage
All mountain crew wages and salaries
Cooking tent and complete camp equipment
Private portable flush/chemical toilet with dedicated toilet tent and porter - throughout the trek

Camping equipment

Quality four-season mountain tents
Comfortable sleeping mattresses
Dining/mess tent with tables and chairs

Also included

Pre-climb briefing and equipment check
All logistical and operational support throughout the expedition

What is not included

International and domestic flights
Tanzania entry visa
Travel and medical insurance - clients should have appropriate coverage for high-altitude trekking up to at least 6,000 metres
Helicopter/air evacuation or specialist medical evacuation unless specifically included by the client insurance policy
Personal trekking equipment and clothing, including hiking boots, sleeping bag, down jacket, trekking poles, daypack and other personal gear
Equipment rental, unless specifically included in the quotation
Tips/gratuities for mountain guides, assistant guides, cook and porters
Lunch and dinner at the hotel before or after the climb unless specified
Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and bottled drinks outside those specifically included
Personal snacks and energy bars brought by the client
Laundry services
Telephone calls, SIM cards, internet/data charges and other communication expenses
Additional hotel nights or transfers caused by flight changes, early arrival or late departure
Single-room or single-tent supplement, where applicable
Extra porter required for luggage exceeding the permitted mountain weight
Personal expenses such as souvenirs and shopping
Any activities, accommodation, meals, transfers or services not specifically stated in the itinerary
Costs arising from itinerary changes requested by the client or circumstances outside the company control

What it costs

Our 7 Days Machame Route, per climber. A smaller group pays more each because the crew, the vehicles and the camp cost the same however many of you there are.

Private climb prices by party size
Party size	Per person
1 climber Private Solo Expedition — Maximum privacy.	US$3,115

Scheduled group prices by party size
Party size	Per person
2–4 climbers Small Group Rate — Shared value.	US$2,870
5–7 climbers Group Discount Rate — Preferred group rate.	US$2,625
8+ climbers Best Group Rate — Best value per climber.	US$2,450