Mt. Kilimanjaro 7-Day Machame Route
We are currently running a $1500 Kilimanjaro Machame Route BACKPACKER SPECIAL!! This includes everything except your hotel and airport transport. Ideal for people who are already in Tanzania or who prefer to find their own lodging. Your trek will depart from Moshi.
Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania. Our Samba Treks representative will greet
you at the airport and drive you to the hotel.
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp (11 km): Enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, and check out of your room. The hotel will securely store the belongings you do not wish to bring on your climb. At approximately 8:00 a.m., our head guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for orientation and gear check. After this, we will drive to Machame Gate (5,400 ft) and the start of our trek. The trail will take your team through the beautiful rain forest, along a winding trail, up a ridge and then to Machame Camp (9,400 ft), where you will be greeted by smiling porters. Your bags will be waiting for you in your tents, and your team can settle into the dining tent for popcorn and hot tea, followed by a delicious dinner. During this time, your head guide will brief your team on the next day’s trek.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (5 km): After packing your gear, washing with a pan of warm water (provided for you), and eating a hearty breakfast, your team will begin the trek to Shira Camp (12,779 ft). Your team will exit the rainforest and continue up the mountain, crossing a small valley and walking along a rocky, heather-covered ridge until the route turns west onto a river gorge and then leads to your camp.
Day 3: Shira Two Camp to Barranco Valley Camp (10 km): Today your team continues to acclimatize as you ascend through the moorland and alpine desert zones to the Lava Tower camp at 15,090 ft. There your team will eat lunch and admire the beautiful scenery before descending to Barranco Camp (13,077 ft) at the base of the great Barranco Wall. At this point, the Lemosho Route merges with the Machame Route.
Day 4: Barranco Valley Camp to Karanga Valley Camp (5 km): Following breakfast, your team will follow a path up the steep Barranco Wall. This will involve minor scrambling, and will take approximately 90 minutes, depending on climbing traffic and the speed of your group. After taking a short break at the top of the wall (13,842 ft), your team will begin its slight descent to the rocky Karanga Valley Camp, at 13,235ft.
Day 5-6: Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp (3 km): While the trek on this day is shorter, it is a steady incline, along a barren, rocky landscape. Barafu Camp (15,295 ft) sits at the top of a steep incline that will challenge its climbers. You may feel humbled as you see porters climbing back down this steep hill to retrieve water from the stream below, so that their climbers will have drinking water. You will eat an early dinner and try to get a few hours of sleep before you are woken up around 11 p.m.
SUMMIT: At approximately 11:30 p.m., your team will gather in the dining tent for tea and cookies and a pre-summit briefing by the head guide. We will begin our summit attempt at midnight. Walking slowly in single file, you will follow the snaking trail of headlamps up the mountain, occasionally scrambling over rocks. The final push to the crater rim and Stella Point will take you up a slope of heavy scree. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of your trek.
At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with a stunning sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will walk beside spectacular glaciers, during the 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro!
From the summit, your team will begin its challenging descent to Barafu Camp, where you will eat and rest for a few hours before continuing down to Mweka Camp. Here, you will enjoy your last dinner with your team and celebrate your success on the mountain.
Day 7: Following breakfast, your team will make its final descent through the forest, to the park. Here, those who made it to Stella Point and/or Uhuru Peak will be awarded certificates. At this time, you can thank your porters and donate any equipment, if desired. Your transportation will be waiting to take your team the hotel for much deserved hot showers.
NOTE: This route can also be completed in 6 days, however the 7-day route is better for acclimatization. Contact us if you would like to do the 6-day Machame route.
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp (11 km): Enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, and check out of your room. The hotel will securely store the belongings you do not wish to bring on your climb. At approximately 8:00 a.m., our head guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for orientation and gear check. After this, we will drive to Machame Gate (5,400 ft) and the start of our trek. The trail will take your team through the beautiful rain forest, along a winding trail, up a ridge and then to Machame Camp (9,400 ft), where you will be greeted by smiling porters. Your bags will be waiting for you in your tents, and your team can settle into the dining tent for popcorn and hot tea, followed by a delicious dinner. During this time, your head guide will brief your team on the next day’s trek.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (5 km): After packing your gear, washing with a pan of warm water (provided for you), and eating a hearty breakfast, your team will begin the trek to Shira Camp (12,779 ft). Your team will exit the rainforest and continue up the mountain, crossing a small valley and walking along a rocky, heather-covered ridge until the route turns west onto a river gorge and then leads to your camp.
Day 3: Shira Two Camp to Barranco Valley Camp (10 km): Today your team continues to acclimatize as you ascend through the moorland and alpine desert zones to the Lava Tower camp at 15,090 ft. There your team will eat lunch and admire the beautiful scenery before descending to Barranco Camp (13,077 ft) at the base of the great Barranco Wall. At this point, the Lemosho Route merges with the Machame Route.
Day 4: Barranco Valley Camp to Karanga Valley Camp (5 km): Following breakfast, your team will follow a path up the steep Barranco Wall. This will involve minor scrambling, and will take approximately 90 minutes, depending on climbing traffic and the speed of your group. After taking a short break at the top of the wall (13,842 ft), your team will begin its slight descent to the rocky Karanga Valley Camp, at 13,235ft.
Day 5-6: Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp (3 km): While the trek on this day is shorter, it is a steady incline, along a barren, rocky landscape. Barafu Camp (15,295 ft) sits at the top of a steep incline that will challenge its climbers. You may feel humbled as you see porters climbing back down this steep hill to retrieve water from the stream below, so that their climbers will have drinking water. You will eat an early dinner and try to get a few hours of sleep before you are woken up around 11 p.m.
SUMMIT: At approximately 11:30 p.m., your team will gather in the dining tent for tea and cookies and a pre-summit briefing by the head guide. We will begin our summit attempt at midnight. Walking slowly in single file, you will follow the snaking trail of headlamps up the mountain, occasionally scrambling over rocks. The final push to the crater rim and Stella Point will take you up a slope of heavy scree. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of your trek.
At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with a stunning sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will walk beside spectacular glaciers, during the 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro!
From the summit, your team will begin its challenging descent to Barafu Camp, where you will eat and rest for a few hours before continuing down to Mweka Camp. Here, you will enjoy your last dinner with your team and celebrate your success on the mountain.
Day 7: Following breakfast, your team will make its final descent through the forest, to the park. Here, those who made it to Stella Point and/or Uhuru Peak will be awarded certificates. At this time, you can thank your porters and donate any equipment, if desired. Your transportation will be waiting to take your team the hotel for much deserved hot showers.
NOTE: This route can also be completed in 6 days, however the 7-day route is better for acclimatization. Contact us if you would like to do the 6-day Machame route.