Kilimanjaro: Machame Route

Intrepid Travel · 8 days

4.8

10 Reviews

View Map

Duration

8 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Basic

Physical Rating

Challenging

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Embark on an eight-day trip trekking the challenging Machame Route to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro – Africa's highest point.

Highlights

Size up Mt Kilimanjaro on the incredible scenic Machame route, passing through cloud forest and moorland zones to the glaciated precipices of Kibo’s south face.
Travel with experienced guides and porters. You'll be in great hands – with one guide for every two passengers – so all you’ll have to worry about is soaking up the scenery and keeping your footing!
Soak up Kilimanjaro’s changing scenery – magnificent rainforests and high-alpine deserts to ice fields and vast glaciers – this is all on display as you tackle the trails to the top of Africa.
Catch a dazzling African sunrise from Stella Point on your way to summit Africa's highest mountain peak – definitely a rewarding experience after an early wake-up call!
Feel good knowing that you’re supporting an official partner of IMEC’s Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). This means that all our climbs have been assessed and scored based on a number of criteria, all of which are designed to ensure the proper treatment of porters.

Trip Details

Duration

8 days

Transportation

Minibus

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Moshi, Tanzania, United Republic Of

Finishes

Moshi, Tanzania, United Republic Of

Accommodations

Basic

Travel Style

Walking & Trekking

Physical Rating

Challenging

Itinerary

Day 1: Moshi

Jambo! Welcome to Tanzania. Your hiking adventure begins in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Moshi. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight for a full briefing and kit inspection by an experienced Kilimanjaro climber. If you arrive early, the hotel is just a short walk from the village’s bustling market and some excellent coffee shops, so you can head out and explore at your own pace. After the meeting, fuel up on a hearty dinner with your fellow trekkers and get a good night’s rest, ready to start your climb tomorrow!

Included Activities:

Mount Kilimanjaro - Trek Briefing
Mount Kilimanjaro - Complimentary equipment hire (sleeping bag and walking poles) - must be requested at time of booking

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Machame Camp

Meet your guides and porters after breakfast this morning, then take the opportunity to organise your gear before setting off to the Machame Gate – the south-western entrance to the Mt Kilimanjaro National Park. On the way, stop into one of the clothes lending offices of Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Projects and learn how their program, supported by the Intrepid Foundation, is assisting porters. Begin your hike around lunch time, starting with a stroll through the rainforest, looking out for some of the many brightly coloured birds here. Set up camp at Machame in the mid-afternoon, ready for your first night on Kilimanjaro! The huts fell into disrepair some years ago, so with the help of the porters, you’ll be setting up tents for the night. Tonight, enjoy a meal prepared by the porters and savour the first night of sleeping outdoors.

Included Activities:

Fully catered trek including National Park entrance fees, climbing fee, tented camps & rescue services
Mount Kilimanjaro - Porterage of 1 bag (9kg/20lb max)
Mount Kilimanjaro - Return transfers from hotel to park gate
Mount Kilimanjaro - Emergency oxygen and comprehensive first aid kits
Moshi - Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project

Accommodation:

Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Shira Camp

Your second day on the mountain takes you out of the rainforest and up a steep ridge into moor land. Watch as the vegetation grows sparser as you ascend along the path to the Shira Plateau – soon, several distinct species, including the giant groundsel and lobelia, will be the only plants dominating the harsh landscape. Spend the night camping on the edge of the plateau and be treated to a golden sunset over the snow-dusted peaks of Kibo.

Accommodation:

Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Barranco Camp

After breakfast today, enjoy a fantastic walk as you continue through the rolling landscape and deep river valleys, stopping for a packed lunch along the way. The undulating land here offers a great chance to acclimatise and as you ascend to the more rugged areas of the mountain, there are great views of the Kibo Massif and its scenic surroundings. Tonight, you’ll sleep at Barranco Camp.

Accommodation:

Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Barafu Camp

Have breakfast together at Barranco Camp this morning, then begin today’s hike. From Karanga, head up to the intersection of the South Circuit and the Mweka route where you’ll start climbing up a ridge to Barafu Hut. Barafu is Swahili for ‘ice’ – as the name suggests, it can be very cold here at night! You should arrive at Barafu around lunchtime, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt very early tomorrow morning.

Accommodation:

Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Uhuru Peak / Millennium Camp or Mweka Camp

At around midnight, you’ll be woken by the guides with some hot tea and biscuits to give you energy before the long, difficult ascent up scree, and sometimes snow, to Stella Point (5780 m). Pass the giant Rebmann Glacier on the way, and hopefully arrive at Stella Point in time for sunrise and superb views of the crater and the glacier glistening in the morning sun. From Stella, it’s a further 1-hour hike along the rim of the crater to Uhuru Peak (5895m) – the highest point in Africa! From the summit, take in unforgettable views of the crater, the ice fields and the vast East African plains below. After some photos and well deserved pats on the back, you’ll begin your descent. Back at Barafu Camp, enjoy a well-earned lunch and much thicker air. After, continue to Mweka Camp for the night for a well-deserved rest.

Accommodation:

Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Moshi

Today, you’ll continue to descend the mountain, traversing alpine meadows and rainforest to the Mweka park gate. When you arrive, have some lunch after checking out of the park and then transport back to the hotel for a relaxing shower – a real treat after the physical exertions of the last few days! Tonight, gather with your trekking companions for dinner, sharing your experiences of the past six days on the mountain.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Moshi

With no activities or trekking planned for today, you’re free to depart at any time. Transfers to Kilimanjaro Airport or a shuttle to Nairobi can be arranged locally – please speak to your leader at your welcome meeting if you wish to organise this.

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $5,120

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 8 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Challenging

Embark on an eight-day trip trekking the challenging Machame Route to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro – Africa's highest point.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 25 Oct 2025

View Map

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

Megan

Traveled, February 2025

02/23/2025

What a fantastic trip completing the 6 day Machame route to the top of Kilimanjaro! I can’t fault it, we were incredibly well looked after by Joshua and the whole team and I am very grateful for the experience.

4.5

Rebecca

Traveled, February 2025

02/22/2025

This trip is not for the faint-hearted; you’ll like attempt to climb the summit when highly sleep- and food deprived, with a touch of altitude sickness. It’s amazing but research properly before you book!!

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

Book Now