Climb Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route: 6-Day Ascent (8-day total trip)

Yes! You can join one of our scheduled group departures, whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or with friends. Choose a published date and send us a booking request.

All published group departures are guaranteed to run, with no minimum number of participants. Even if you are the only person booked, the trip will go ahead. This guarantees the departure, although we cannot guarantee that other climbers will join you.

Groups have a maximum of 10 climbers. If more people book, we split the departure into separate groups.

Joining a scheduled departure is particularly good value for solo travellers, couples and groups of three. Private trips are also available, with prices depending on your group size. If you are travelling with four or more people, ask us to compare the group and private options.

You’ll sleep in shared mountain huts throughout the trek, with nights at Mandara, Horombo, and Kibo. Before and after the climb, you’ll stay at a hotel in Moshi.

The huts offer basic mountain accommodation, rather than hotel-style comfort, but you can expect toilets with running water, dinning huts, and solar-dependant electricity.

The six-day itinerary includes an extra night at Horombo Hut and an acclimatization hike to Zebra Rocks, giving you more time to adjust before continuing higher.

You’ll hike from approximately 3,700 m to 4,020 m and return to Horombo to sleep. This additional day supports acclimatization, although it does not eliminate the risk of altitude illness or guarantee a summit.

The summit stage is the longest and most strenuous part of the trip, lasting approximately 12–15 hours. You’ll begin around midnight, climb toward Uhuru Peak, and then descend to Horombo Hut, with a meal and rest stop at Kibo along the way.

Yes, missing equipment can be arranged for rental during your equipment check in Moshi. Please contact us before traveling to confirm available items, sizes, and prices.

We strongly recommend travel insurance covering guided trekking up to at least 6,000 metres. Look for cover for altitude-related illness, emergency medical treatment, search and rescue, evacuation, including helicopter evacuation where available, and repatriation.

Ask your insurer to confirm that your Kilimanjaro itinerary is covered, and carry your policy details and emergency assistance number.

Tipping is customary on Kilimanjaro and is not included in the trip price. We recommend the following daily amounts, per crew member, shared by the entire group:

• Senior guide: USD 20–25.

• Assistant guide: USD 15–20.

• Cook: USD 12–15.

• Waiter: USD 10–12.

• Porter: USD 8–10.

• Summit porter: USD 12–15.

For this six-day Marangu trek, the estimated total tipping budget per climber is:

• Climbing solo: USD 336–420.

• Group of 2: USD 285–360 per person.

• Group of 3: USD 238–300 per person.

• Group of 4: USD 215–270 per person.

• Group of 5: USD 218–276 per person.

These estimates cover the six days on the mountain, rather than the full eight-day trip. Your total depends on the group size and supporting crew. Contact us before travelling to confirm your budget, particularly for larger groups.

At the end of the trek, we recommend pooling the group’s tips and placing each crew member’s allocation in a separate envelope to hand over personally. Alternatively, prepare one envelope for the guides and cooks, handed to the lead guide, and another for the porters, handed to their representative. Make each person’s allocation clear so tips are distributed transparently.

We provide filtered and treated drinking water during the climb, so you do not need purification tablets for the water we supply. Bring reusable bottles or a hydration system and refill before each day’s walk.

If you would like to carry a backup treatment method, you can do it, but it's not mandatory.

Yes. We offer rental equipment, including sleeping bags, duffel bags, daypacks, trekking poles, waterproof clothing, and other trekking items. Send us your requirements and sizes before travelling so we can confirm availability and prices.

Your guide checks your equipment in Moshi before the trek. Bring your own broken-in hiking boots if possible.

We recommend waterproof hiking boots with good grip and ankle support. Break them in beforehand and check that they fit comfortably with warm socks, with enough toe room for long descents.

Some hikers use lighter hiking shoes on the lower sections before switching to boots. This is optional, and you can wear trekking boots throughout.

Bring Crocs, sandals, or lightweight shoes for relaxing at the huts, ideally comfortable with warm socks. Gaiters can help keep rain, dust, and scree out of your boots.

Carry water, snacks, waterproof layers, a warm layer, sun protection, gloves, a hat, personal medication, and a headlamp in your daypack. Keep valuables and essential documents with you.

Your sleeping bag, spare clothing, and overnight equipment go in the duffel carried by our porters between huts. You should not expect access to this bag during the day’s walk.

We recommend a 30–40-litre daypack with a comfortable fit, supportive straps, and room for water, layers, and daily essentials. Use a rain cover and waterproof liner.

For porter-carried equipment, bring a soft duffel of approximately 70 litres, weighing no more than 15 kg when packed. Duffel bags and daypacks are available to rent.

Budget for crew tips, equipment rental, personal snacks, hotel lunches and dinners, drinks, laundry, and personal purchases.

Hotel breakfasts and the mountain meals specified in your itinerary are included. Flights and travel insurance are not included in the trip price.

We arrange the park formalities and take you through registration at Marangu Gate before the trek begins. Park entrance, hut accommodation, and Kilimanjaro rescue fees are included in your trip price.

You do not need technical climbing experience, but you need good hiking fitness and endurance for consecutive days at increasing altitude. You should be comfortable walking on steep, uneven ground and descending for extended periods.

The summit stage is particularly demanding, taking approximately 12–15 hours from Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak and back down to Horombo Hut, including breaks. Prepare with regular hill walks, longer hikes, and back-to-back walking days while carrying your daypack.

Follow your guide’s slow, steady pace, known as pole-pole, eat regularly, stay hydrated without forcing excessive water, and avoid alcohol.

This six-day Marangu itinerary includes an acclimatization day at Horombo Hut. You’ll hike to Zebra Rocks at approximately 4,020 m before returning to sleep at around 3,700 m. The extra day gives you more time to adjust, but altitude illness remains possible.

Diamox (acetazolamide) is widely used to help acclimatization and reduce the risk of altitude illness. Take it only with medical advice and a prescription, and discuss whether it is suitable for you before travelling.

Medication does not replace an appropriate ascent schedule. Tell your guide promptly about headache, nausea, dizziness, or unusual fatigue. Do not ascend to sleep higher while experiencing symptoms of altitude illness, and descend if symptoms worsen despite rest or treatment.

Our cooks prepare breakfasts, lunches, and dinners during the trek, with meals such as porridge, eggs, soup, rice, pasta, vegetables, and meat dishes. Lunch may be packed or served hot, depending on the day’s itinerary.

We can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary requirements with advance notice. Tell us about allergies and restrictions before booking so we can confirm suitable arrangements. You are welcome to bring favourite snacks.

Most days begin with breakfast before setting out at a steady pace, with regular breaks. Our porters transport your main bag between huts, while you carry your daypack.

The itinerary includes a shorter acclimatization hike from Horombo and longer stages as you continue higher. Summit night follows a different schedule: you’ll leave Kibo Hut around midnight, attempt Uhuru Peak, and descend to Horombo after a meal and rest stop at Kibo.

Yes. Marangu follows the same trail for the ascent and descent, passing through Horombo and Mandara on the return to Marangu Gate.

Mobile reception is intermittent, so do not rely on being able to contact home every day. Ask your guide where a signal may be available, and let friends and family know that you may be offline. You can also purchase a pre-paid wifi package to access internet around hut facilities.

Bring a charged power bank and conserve battery power.

The Marangu huts have shared toilet facilities, with running water and flushing toilets at the lower huts and more basic facilities, including pit latrines, higher up at Kibo. Expect simple mountain conditions, and bring your own toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and personal toiletries.

We provide hot water for basic washing during the trek. Plan for basin washes rather than regular showers, and bring a small towel and wet wipes. Please pack used wipes out for proper disposal.

We generally recommend mid-December to early March and June–October for drier conditions and clearer mountain views. Rain is more frequent from mid-March through May and during November, although mountain weather can change at any time of year. Top Climbers Expedition

Marangu is particularly appealing during the rainy season because you sleep in mountain huts throughout the trek, rather than tents. Having a roof overhead and sheltered overnight accommodation makes resting between wet hiking days more comfortable.

However, the huts only provide shelter during your overnight and resting time around the huts. You should still expect rain, muddy or slippery trails, reduced visibility, and possible snow higher up. Bring reliable waterproof clothing and protect the contents of both your daypack and duffel bag with waterproof liners.