On the Machame route, you’ll begin your journey on the southwestern face of the mountain. Starting in the lush rainforest, you’ll ascend into the moorland zone and onto the Shira Plateau. As you continue, the landscape changes from moorland to scree in your approach to the highest point, Uhuru Peak.
The Machame route is highly regarded for acclimatization, following the mountaineering principle of hiking high and sleeping low. Learn more about this route by reading the detailed itinerary below.
(Still undecided about which Kilimanjaro climbing route is best for you? Explore Pristine Trails’ Kilimanjaro Routes. Any questions? Please get in touch.)
Tour Excludes
Additional Amenities Available
Pricing
Prices are based on group size and may vary year by year. Below is the pricing through 2025.
1 pax: From $3,495
2-3 pax: From $2,905
4-6 pax: From $2,650
7+/Open Group: From $2470
From:
Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport
To:
Moshi
Distance & Time:
1 hour
Altitude Change:
–
From:
Machame Gate (1811 m / 5,942 ft)
To:
Machame Hut (3021 m / 9,911 ft)
Distance & Time:
10.75 km / 6.7 mi
4-6 hours
Altitude Change:
+1210 m / +3,969 ft
From:
Machame Gate (1811 m / 5,942 ft)
To:
Shira Caves (3839 m / 12,595 ft)
Distance & Time:
5 km / 3.1 mi
4-6 hours
Altitude Change:
+818 m / +2,684 ft
From:
Shira Caves (3839 m / 12,595 ft)
To:
Lava Tower (4627 m / 15,180 ft)
Distance & Time:
7 km / 4.3 mi
3-4 hours
Altitude Change:
+788 m / +2,585 ft
From:
Lava Tower (4627 m / 15,180 ft)
To:
Barranco Camp (3986 m / 13,077 ft)
Distance & Time:
3.2 km / 2 mi
3 hours
Altitude Change:
-641 m / -2,103 ft
From:
Barranco Camp (3986 m / 13,235 ft)
To:
Karanga Valley (4034 m / 13,235 ft)
Distance & Time:
5 km / 3.1 mi
4-5 hours
Altitude Change:
+48 m / +158 ft
From:
Karanga Valley (4034 m / 13,235 ft)
To:
Barafu Camp (4662 m / 15,295 ft)
Distance & Time:
3.5 km / 2.2 mi
2-4 hours
Altitude Change:
+628 m / +2,060 ft
From:
Barafu Camp (4662 m / 15,295 ft)
To:
Uhuru Peak (5895 m / 19,341 ft)
Distance & Time:
5 km / 3.1 mi
6-8 hours
Altitude Change:
+1233 m / +4,046 ft
From:
Uhuru Peak (5895 m / 19,341 ft)
To:
Mweka Hut (3106 m / 10,190 ft)
Distance & Time:
11.5 km / 7.1 mi
6-8 hours
Altitude Change:
-2789 m / -9,151 ft
From:
Mweka Hut (3106 m / 10,190 ft)
To:
Mweka Gate (1633m / 5,358 ft)
Distance & Time:
9 km / 5.6 mi
2-4 hours
Altitude Change:
-1473 / -4,832 ft
From:
Moshi
To:
Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport
Distance & Time:
1 hour
Altitude Change:
–
Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Pristine Trails representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a pre-trek briefing with your Kilimanjaro guide either this afternoon/evening or the following morning.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Transfer Time: 1 Hour
Meals: None
A one-hour drive from Moshi lays the gate to the Machame route, where you will complete park formalities, meet your crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and involves real jungle-bashing through magnificent forest. This path is less well-trodden and is often wet and muddy underfoot. Upon reaching the Machame Hut camp, you will settle in for your first night on the mountain and enjoy some hot tea and snacks before dinner.
Trekking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 10.75 km / 6.7 mi
Altitude Change: +1210 m / +3,969 ft
Overnight: Machame Hut
Transfer Time: 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The route continues on up through the forest until reaching the steep ascent on the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt. Meru rising high above Arusha town.
Trekking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi
Altitude Change: +818 m / +2,684 ft
Overnight: Shira Caves
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. You will traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach, finally reaching Barranco Camp. The day has been spent at altitude, but you will have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding your bodies in acclimatization.
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
Distance: 10.2 km / 6.3 mi
Altitude Change: +788 m / +2,585 ft; -641 m / -2,103 ft
Overnight: Barranco Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. Then exit steeply, up what has been termed the Breakfast Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It is a climb over rocks, although not technical. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, head towards the Karanga Valley for overnight.
Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi
Altitude Change: +48 m / +158 ft
Overnight: Karanga Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day is characterized by a short hike on terrain formed by scree. Walk through arid, lunar land towards Barafu Camp where you have the entire afternoon to rest before your assault on the summit begins at midnight.
Trekking Time: 2-4 hours
Distance: 3.5 km / 2.2 mi
Altitude Change: +628 m / +2,060 ft
Overnight: Barafu Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting around midnight, walking steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 5 to 6 hours but you gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. You should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5745 m) as the first rays of the sun emerge. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround you and the views to Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walk takes you to your goal, the summit of Uhuru, the highest point in Africa. You made it!
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi
Altitude Change: +1233 m / +4,046 ft
Overnight: Barafu Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a quick celebration and photos at the top, you will begin the descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope back to Barafu Camp for breakfast and a short rest before finally heading down to Mweka Hut for a well-earned rest. On the descent, you will have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi peak.
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 11.5 km / 7.1 mi
Altitude Change: -2789 m / -9,151 ft
Overnight: Mweka Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where park formalities will be completed and you will be met by our vehicles to return you to the Pristine Trails office. Here you will receive your certificate of ascent courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority, have the tipping ceremony for your mountain crew and collect any luggage you stored. Thereafter, you will be driven back to your hotel where you can treat yourself to a well-earned shower and a good night’s sleep.
Trekking Time: 2-4 hours
Distance: 9 km / 5.6 mi
Altitude Change: -1473 m / -4,832 ft
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Transfer Time: 45 mins
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, you will begin the next leg of your journey either onto your wildlife safari or you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
Trekking Time: 2-4 hours
Distance: 9 km / 5.6 mi
Altitude Change: -1473 m / -4,832 ft
Transfer Time: 1 hour to airport
Meals: Breakfast
Tipping is customary on Mount Kilimanjaro for all members of your mountain crew.
Although they receive a fair wage, they rely on tips for a total fair compensation as set by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project Partners for Responsible Travel.
The standard guide to client ratio on your trek is 1 lead guide and 1 assistant guide for every up to 4 clients, 1 cook, 2-3 special porters and an average of 4-6 porters per client. Therefore, the total recommended tipping amount per client for this trek ranges from $250-400, depending on the trekking package and total number of people in the trekking group.
To ensure fair and transparent tipping for each crew member, there will be a tipping ceremony at the pristine trails office following your descent from the mountain. Envelopes will be provided to divide your tips for each member of the crew.
