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7 Days Machame Route

Climbing Kilimanjaro

Duration: 9 Days

Tour Highlights:

Day 1: Airport Transfer and pre-trek-Briefing
Day 2: Arusha to Machame gate to Machame hut
Day 3: Machame hut to Shira Cave camp
Day 4: Shira Cave via Lava Tower to Barranco Wall Camp
Day 5: Barranco wall camp to Karanga Valley camp
Day 6: Karanga valley camp to Barafu camp
Day 7: Barafu camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Day 8: Mweka camp to Mweka gate to Arusha
Day 9: Airport transfer

Best time for Climb Kilimanjaro: From June to October & From December to March

OVERVIEW

The Machame route, also known as the Whiskey Route, is a classic Kilimanjaro trail. It’s one of the most popular routes to climb Kilimanjaro. We at Altezza Travel organize hundreds of expeditions annually along this trail that starts in a beautiful tropical forest. The Machame route is available in 6- and 7-day variations, with the second offering a significantly better acclimatization profile and summit success rate. Machame 7 is a great route with amazing views suitable even for beginners. You will enjoy hiking through all five climatic zones of Kilimanjaro, scale the picturesque Barranco Wall, and marvel at the alien-looking Dendrosenecio kilimanjari – truly unique plants that are not found anywhere else in the world.

6 Day Machame Route - Kilimanjaro Climbing

7 Days Machame Route - Full Itinerary

DAY 1 : AIRPORT TRANSFER & PRE-TREK BRIEFING

After arrival to the Airport we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha for accommodation.

Pre-trek briefing at your hotel in Arusha. You should be planning to arrive atleast one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend in having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent trekking equipment which is needed.

  • Accommodation : Arusha Planet Lodge
  • Meal  Plan : Breakfast, Lunch & dinner

 

DAY 2 : ARUSHA TO MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME HUT

After breakfast we drive heading to Machame gate takes about 3hours. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3050m/9950ft

Distance: 11km/7mi

Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

  • Accommodation: Machame Hut
  • Meal  Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

 

DAY 3 : MACHAME HUT TO SHIRA CAVE CAMP

After breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.

Elevation: 3050m/9950ft to 3850m/12,600ft

Distance: 5km/3mi

Walking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

  • Accommodation: Shira Cave Camp
  • Meal  Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

 

DAY 4: SHIRA CAVE VIA LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO WALL CAMP

From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier and enjoy Hot Lunch, We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft

Distance: 10km/6mi

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

  • Accommodation: Barranco Wall Camp
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

DAY 5 : BARRANCO WALL CAMP TO KARANGA VALLEY CAMP

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.

Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft

Distance: 5km/3mi

Climbing Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

  • Accommodation: Karanga Valley camp
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

DAY 6 : KARANGA VALLEY CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP

After breakfast we continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft

Distance: 4km/2mi

Climbing Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

  • Accommodation: Barafu Camp
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

DAY 7 : BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA CAMP

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft

Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

  • Accommodation: Barafu Camp
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

DAY 8 : MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE TO HOTEL

After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Our transfer vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi for accommodation.

Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

Distance: 10km/6mi

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest

  • Accommodation: Arusha Planet lodge
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch 

 

DAY 9 : AIRPORT TRANSFER

After one last breakfast, your driver will collect you from the lodge at a time previously arranged time in order to take you to the airport in good time for your return flight or onward travel arrangements.

 

TOUR COST

  • 2Clients = $ 2350 Per Person
  • 3- ︎4Clients = $ 2100 Per Person
  • 5 – 6Clients = 1850 Per Person

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  •  Airport transfer (Roundtrip)
  • All Kilimanjaro transfers
  • Accommodation according to the itinerary
  •  Professional mountain guide
  •  Cook & Porters
  •  Quality four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
  •  Sleeping Mattress
  •  Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
  •  Guides Pulse Oxymeter
  •  First Aid Kit
  •  All meals while on the Mountain
  •  Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
  •  Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  •  Clean & pure drinking water
  •  Park fees
  •  Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
  •  Rescue fees (part of park fees)
  • VAT (18% charged by the Government)
  •  Kilimanjaro summit certificate

 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

  •  Flights
  • Tanzania Visa
  •  Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  •  Additional transfers before and at the end of the tour
  •  Tips
  •  Meals not mationed in the itinerary
  •  Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, Alcoholic & etc.)
  •  Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes available in Arusha at Kilimanjaro equipments rental store.

EXPERT RECOMMENDATION

Be careful when choosing between the 6- and 7-day Machame route itineraries.On this route 7day is more high success for reaching summit of Africa, Because you will have enough days and time for acclimatization and mountain adaption, Through this route we recommended 7day for our clients.te experience for those The 6-day variation has much lower summit success rates and is suitable only for experienced trekkers or travelers with prior acclimatization. This is because the shorter itinerary skips the intermediate stay at the Karanga Camp, making it much more challenging to adapt well to the high altitude and have a good chance at summiting. This option is often promoted by “budget” tour operators, but we don’t recommend it for beginners.  seeking a quieter trekking adventure on Kilimanjaro.

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