The Machame Route, also known as the “Whiskey Route,” is one of Kilimanjaro’s most popular and scenic treks, offering varied landscapes and good acclimatization. Typically completed in 6 to 7 days, it approaches from the south, passing through rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert before summiting via Stella Point. Though steeper and more challenging than some routes, it has a high success rate and is favoured by adventurous trekkers.
Day 1
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport with your flight, meet and greet your driver and begin transfer to your hotel in Arusha (approx. 1hr drives) for your stay.
Night at Gran Melia Hotel, Half board
Day 2
Early breakfast, checkout and depart to Machamegate approx. 2hrs drive with packed lunch. After registration continue in a 4×4 track till the trail head where you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora and fauna.
Move through a short and winding path to the first camp. Night at Machame Camp (3010m or 9875ft).
Half board.
Day 3
After early breakfast, take a short hike and trek through the heather and moorland zone up a steep ridge till the semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. From here you have excellent views of Kibo peak, the tallest cone on the mountain where you goal of Uhuru peak is. Also, you will see the jagged peaks of the Shira plateaus to the west without forgetting the Tanzania’s second highest mountain (Mount Meru 4563m or 14970ft) that may be seen in the distance. Night at Shira Two Camp (3845m or 12615ft. Full board
Day 4
After early breakfast, take a hike towards Kibo cone, steadily climb up and over the edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). From the lava Tower begin your steep descent anti clockwise around Kibo and into the Barranco valley passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro.
Night at Barranco Camp (3960m or 12990ft).
Full board
Day 5
After early breakfast, leave the camp and ascend the Barranco wall with picnic lunch. This is an impressive non-technical scramble and gives a feeling of mountain climbing (without any previous experience or advanced equipment required) and the area is rewarded with superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike will be through the alpine desert slowly winding around the mountain till the Karanga valley which you descend into and again up till your camp for stay.
Night at Karanga Camp (4040m or 13255ft).
Full board
Day 6
After early breakfast, climb through the empty landscape of the alpine desert where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. At this point, Kibo starts to near and you may finally glimpse the Mawenzi Peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) in the east. Spend your time resting at the camp summit while preparing for summit attempt tonight.
Night at Barafu Camp (4640m or 15225ft).
Full board
Day 7
Early morning around 00:00am begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in a zig -zag pattern towards Stella point (5685m or 18650ft) which is your first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short but difficult hike takes you to Uhuru peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. Spend a little time at the peak due to extreme altitude and descend back down to the base Camp for your breakfast/brunch. After a recovery meal continue the descent through the alpine desert, heather and moorland and eventually stopping at the Mweka camp in the rain forest zone for a well-deserved rest.
Night at Mweka Camp (3080m or 10105ft).
Full board
Day 8
Early breakfast, checkout from the camp and descent through the southern rain forest until Mweka gate. At arrival meet your driver with a safari vehicle and begin your transfer back to Arusha approx. 3hrs drives. Arrive in Arusha and drop off to your hotel for stay.
Night at Gran Melia Hotel (Deluxe Mount Meru View).
Half board
Day 9
Breakfast, checkout and depart to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.
END OF TOUR
COST INCLUDES
- All ground transfer as per the package.
- Meals and accommodation mentioned above.
- 1x night before the climb at a pre climb hotel in Arusha on half board basis.
- 1x night after the climb at a post climb hotel in Arusha on half board basis.
- All taxes, VAT and National Park Conservation, Park entry, camping and rescue fees as applicable.
- Trained, certified and experienced English-Speaking Mountain guide/s at KINAPA minimum ratios.
- Personal luggage allowance of 15kg per person carried by 1x luggage porter between campsites.
- Twice daily health checks with guides and a high-grade medical oximeter.
- Private portable camping toilets (I per 5 hikers) including porters to carry.
- 1 Emergency oxygen Cylinder per 5 passengers and first aid kit
- Boiled drinking water on trek (from first camp onwards)
- Certificate from Kilimanjaro National Park (when you reach Stella point, Gilman’s point or Uhuru peak)
COST EXCLUDES
- International & Domestic flights.
- Airport taxes
- Laundry services
- Comprehensive travel insurance.
- Any item of personal nature & Guide gratuities.