The trail climbing through dense rainforest on the lower slopes

Marangu Route

The only route with hut accommodation, and the only one that ascends and descends the same path. Choose it for the huts, not for the acclimatisation.

6 days
On the mountain: 70 km
Total distance: 5,895 m
Highest point: Huts
Sleeping

Marangu Route altitude profile, in brief
Day	Location	Altitude (m)	Distance (km)	Overnight
1	Marangu Gate	1,860	0	No
1	Mandara Hut	2,720	8	Yes
2	Horombo Hut	3,720	20	Yes
3	High point	4,000	20	No
3	Horombo Hut	3,720	20	Yes
4	Kibo Hut	4,700	30	Yes
5	Uhuru Peak	5,895	40	No
5	Horombo Hut	3,720	50	Yes
6	Marangu Gate	1,860	70	No

Sleeping altitudes, night by night

In short

Marangu is the oldest route on the mountain and the only one where you sleep in shared dormitory huts rather than tents. It is also the shortest, which is precisely why its reputation is mixed.

What it does well

Dormitory huts with bunks, mattresses and dining halls.
Shelter from rain, which matters in the shoulder seasons.
The shortest itinerary on the mountain if time is genuinely the constraint.
A gradual, walkable gradient for most of the ascent.

What to weigh up

The weakest acclimatisation profile of the standard routes, particularly over five days.
You descend the same path you climbed, so the return covers no new ground.
Huts are shared and can be full in high season.
We would generally suggest adding the extra acclimatisation day rather than taking the five-day version.

Route facts

6 days
Recommended length: 70 km
Total distance: 5,895 m
Highest point: East
Approach side: Marangu
Descent route: Huts
Sleeping: Challenging for its length
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.

Marangu Route elevation profile Route Sleeping altitude

Marangu Route elevation profile
Day	Location	Altitude (m)	Distance (km)	Overnight
1	Marangu Gate	1,860	0	No
1	Mandara Hut	2,720	8	Yes
2	Horombo Hut	3,720	20	Yes
3	High point	4,000	20	No
3	Horombo Hut	3,720	20	Yes
4	Kibo Hut	4,700	30	Yes
5	Uhuru Peak	5,895	40	No
5	Horombo Hut	3,720	50	Yes
6	Marangu Gate	1,860	70	No

The route, camp by camp

As walked on our 6 Days Marangu Route itinerary, with the altitudes it gives.

Ascent Descent Overnight camp Comes down by the same trail. 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 6 Days Marangu Route.

Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

1,860 m → 2,720 m
8 km
4–5 hrs
Rainforest

↑ 860 m gained

Climb through rich montane forest to Mandara Hut. The team establishes conservative pacing from the outset.

From: Marangu Gate
To: Mandara Hut
Sleeping altitude: 2,720 m (8,924 ft)

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

2,720 m → 3,720 m
12 km
5–7 hrs
Heath / moorland

↑ 1,000 m gained

Leave the forest and enter open moorland with views of Mawenzi and Kibo.

From: Mandara Hut
To: Horombo Hut
Sleeping altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft)

Horombo Acclimatization Day

3,720 m → 3,720 m
3–5 hrs
Moorland

↑ 280 m gained ↓ 280 m descended Sleeps 3,720 m

A purposeful acclimatization hike toward Zebra Rocks or higher terrain, followed by descent to sleep at Horombo.

Based at: Horombo Hut
Sleeping altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft)
Highest point: 4,000 m

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

3,720 m → 4,700 m
10 km
5–7 hrs
Alpine desert

↑ 980 m gained

Cross the Saddle to Kibo Hut. Rest, eat early and prepare for the summit attempt.

From: Horombo Hut
To: Kibo Hut
Sleeping altitude: 4,700 m (15,420 ft)

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

4,700 m → 3,720 m
20 km
12–16 hrs
Arctic summit to moorland

↑ 1,195 m gained ↓ 2,175 m descended Sleeps 3,720 m

Depart around midnight, climb via Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak, then descend to Horombo for a well-earned rest.

From: Kibo Hut
To: Horombo Hut
Sleeping altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft)
Highest point: 5,895 m

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

3,720 m → 1,860 m
20 km
5–7 hrs
Moorland / rainforest

Descend through Mandara to the park gate for certificates and transfer back to Moshi.

From: Horombo Hut
To: Marangu Gate

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

What is and is not included

As listed on our 6 Days Marangu 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
Hut 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

Camping equipment

Comfortable sleeping mattresses

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 6 Days Marangu 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$2,670

Scheduled group prices by party size
Party size	Per person
2–4 climbers Small Group Rate — Shared value.	US$2,460
5–7 climbers Group Discount Rate — Preferred group rate.	US$2,250
8–10 climbers Best Group Rate — Best value per climber.	US$2,100