Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Day 1: Arrival in Moshi Welcome to Tanzania
 On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Moshi, the gateway town for Kilimanjaro expeditions. Briefing and Preparation Later in the day, your guide will run through a full trek briefing and gear check, making sure everything is in order before you set off. The rest of the day is free to rest and settle in ahead of tomorrow's start.

Day 2: Marangu Gate (1,860m) to Mandara Hut (2,700m) 
Into the Rainforest After registration formalities at Marangu Gate, the trail leads you into dense montane rainforest, alive with birdsong and, with luck, glimpses of colobus monkeys in the canopy above. Maundi Crater Detour A short side trip to Maundi Crater rewards the effort with sweeping views across the Kenyan and Tanzanian plains, a highlight often missed by trekkers on faster itineraries.

Day 3: Mandara Hut (2,700m) to Horombo Hut (3,700m) 
Rising into the Moorland The forest gradually thins into open moorland as you gain altitude, with giant heather and lobelia lining the trail. Ahead, Mawenzi's jagged peak and Kibo's snow-capped dome come into view for the first time, a genuinely thrilling moment on the climb. Acclimatisation at Horombo Horombo Hut sits at a key acclimatisation point on the route, and the extra height gained today plays an important role in preparing your body for the days ahead.

Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,700m) to Kibo Hut (4,700m) 
Crossing the Saddle Today's trek takes you across the striking alpine desert known as "the saddle," a vast, otherworldly plateau stretched between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Vegetation all but disappears here, replaced by rock, dust and thin mountain air. Final Preparation Before Summit Night Arrival at Kibo Hut marks the last stop before the summit push. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting, eating and preparing kit ahead of an early night, since the climb to Uhuru Peak begins shortly after midnight.

Day 5: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) to Horombo Hut 
Midnight Summit Push Shortly after midnight, you set off by headlamp on the steep, switchbacking climb towards Gilman's Point on the crater rim, the most demanding stretch of the entire expedition, both physically and mentally. Sunrise on the Roof of Africa From Gilman's Point, the trail continues around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, timed to arrive as the sun rises over the African plains below, a moment that makes every step of the climb worthwhile. The Long Descent After time to take in the summit, you descend back to Kibo Hut for a short rest, then continue down to Horombo Hut to spend the night at a lower, more comfortable altitude.

Day 6: Horombo Hut (3,700m) to Marangu Gate (1,860m) 
Descent Through the Rainforest With the summit behind you, today's trek retraces your steps back down through moorland and into the rainforest, considerably faster and easier than the ascent. Return to Moshi On reaching Marangu Gate, certificates are presented before you are driven back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-earned hot shower and rest.

Day 7: Departure 
Final Day in Moshi Spend your last morning relaxing in Moshi town or browsing local markets for souvenirs to mark the achievement. Transfer to Airport At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.