Full-moon & event summits 2026–2028 · join a group departure →
Trek Up Kilimanjaro
The trail climbing through dense rainforest on the lower slopes

6 Days Marangu Route

The classic hut-to-hut climb

6 days
Duration
5,895 m
Highest point
Challenging for its length
Difficulty
Marangu
Route
Marangu Gate → Marangu Gate
Start / finish

Overview

Marangu is Kilimanjaro’s only standard route using mountain huts rather than tents. Our six-day itinerary includes an essential acclimatization day at Horombo, making it a more responsible choice than the compressed five-day version.

This trip is best for

  • Trekkers who prefer hut accommodation and a historic, direct route, while still allowing a dedicated acclimatization day.

The altitude profile

Circles mark where you sleep. Those are the altitudes that decide how you feel, not the high points you walk over during the day.

6 Days Marangu Route elevation profile Route Sleeping altitude
6 Days Marangu Route elevation profile. Full data is given in the table below. 2,000 m 3,000 m 4,000 m 5,000 m 6,000 m MandaraHut 2,720 HoromboHut 3,720 HoromboHut 3,720 Kibo Hut 4,700 Uhuru Peak 5,895 HoromboHut 3,720
6 Days 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

Day by day

01

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)
02

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)
03

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
04

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)
05

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
06

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

Route map

Where this itinerary goes, night by night. Every camp and altitude on the map is the one in the day-by-day above.

N Mawenzi Marangu Gate1,860 m Mandara Hut2,720 m Horombo Hut3,720 m Kibo Hut4,700 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m
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.

What is and is not included

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

Dates and prices

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

This climb runs on your dates

There is no fixed departure calendar for this itinerary — it runs as a private climb whenever suits you, which for most parties is the better arrangement anyway.

Ask about your dates

If you would rather join an existing group on a fixed date, our scheduled departures run on the Lemosho and Machame routes, each built around a full moon or an event summit.

This itinerary runs on your dates rather than to a calendar. See the dates we have scheduled on other routes, or tell us when you want to climb.

What to bring

You will walk through five climate zones in a week, from humid rainforest to sub-zero arctic. Layering is the whole strategy — no single garment solves it.

The full packing list What you can rent locally
From

US$2,100

Plan this climb