6-Day Marangu Route | Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Tour Tanzania

Overview

Ascend to the roof of Africa on this extended version of Kilimanjaro’s most accessible route. Trek through lush montane forests and expanses of scenic moorland on your way to the summit. Enjoy the comforts of home in permanent trekkers’ huts at the end of each day’s hike. Embark on your adventure with the safety, trust, and support of your team from Chalema Tanzania Safaris. The Marangu Route is perhaps the most popular path to the soaring summit of Africa’s tallest freestanding mountain. Sometimes known as the Coca-Cola Route, this trekking itinerary is the only one on Kilimanjaro which features comfortable trekker’s huts at each campsite. This means you can enjoy a good night’s sleep on a real bed each night. Our Six-Day Marangu Route approaches the mountain from the southeast, ascending to the summit known as Kibo over the course of five days before returning by the same route on the sixth. This package is an excellent choice for less experienced trekkers and those who would like to spend a little more time on the mountain. But even seasoned trekkers will find plenty of thrills on the challenging road to the roof of Africa!

Please note: the extra time afforded for acclimatization on our Six-Day Marangu Route reduces the risk of contracting altitude sickness. However, we do also offer a Five-Day Marangu Route for hikers with less time to spare.

Pricing

Solo Traveller: USD. 1,950

Per Person Sharing: From USD. 1,300 – USD. 1,700

tour plans

Day 1 – (Kilimanjaro International Airport-Moshi)

Welcome to Tanzania! Most visitors will arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, where a friendly representative from Chalema Tanzania Safaris will be waiting to meet you. After retrieving your luggage, we’ll strike out for the short trip to Moshi. This town lies right on the doorstep of Mount Kilimanjaro, and we’ll arrive after about two hours on the road. Your accommodations tonight will be at the Parkview Inn, tucked away amongst verdant greenery right in the heart of Moshi. You’ll enjoy your first taste of Tanzanian cuisine sourced from local ingredients at the hotel’s excellent restaurant before getting a good night’s rest. Our adventure begins tomorrow!

Day 2 – (Marangu Gate-Mandara Huts)

8.3KM /5MI | 4-5 HRS | RAINFOREST
Elevation: 1905m/6250ft to 2723m/8934ft
Altitude gained: 818m

We’ll get an early start today to make the short drive to the Marangu Gate. ( 1 800 m ) Our hike begins in the lush montane forests which blanket the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. As we walk beneath tangled canopies of tall trees, keen-eyed trekkers may be lucky enough to spot the bright plumage of a colorful sunbird as swallowtail butterflies drift through the morning air. After about four or five hours on the trail, we’ll reach today’s destination: Mandara Huts. We’ll get our gear unloaded before enjoying a well-deserved meal or taking a short walk to the jaw-dropping lookout of Maundi Crater. On a clear day, we can see the very summit of Kilimanjaro from here—a summit we’ll soon reach on our own feet.

Day 3 – (Mandara Huts-Horombo Huts)

12.5KM/7.8MI | 6-8HRS | MOORELAND
Elevation: 2723m/8934ft to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude gained: 998m

As dawn breaks to the gentle sound of birdsong in the forest, we’ll savor an early breakfast before shouldering our packs and hitting the trail. Our path leads up and out of the woodlands to enter a higher-altitude habitat of moor and heath. Today’s hike should take about six hours in total, and we’ll break up the day by stopping for lunch at a spot where we can see the still far-off peak of Mawenzi. When we reach the little lodges known as the Horombo Huts, we’ll get checked in before enjoying dinner and swapping stories of our adventures with other travelers

Day 4 -(Horombo Huts)

This day is reserved for acclimatization. It’s important to allow your body to adjust to the rarefied air as we ascend to higher altitudes, and the extra time spent at Horombo Huts will be its own reward when it’s time to reach the summit in just two days. We can enjoy a relaxed morning today, sleeping in and eating breakfast at our leisure before spending the afternoon simply taking in the sublime scenery of Kilimanjaro’s heaths. To stay active and to help our bodies adapt to the high altitude, we can also undertake a day hike to Mawenzi Ridge. This excursion will give us a good excuse to check out Zebra Rock, a formation of lava rock named for the distinctive black-and-white striations running down its surface.

Day 5 – (Horombo Huts-Kibo Huts)

10.5KM/6MI | 6-8HRS | SEMI-DESERT
Elevation: 3721m/12,208ft to 4714m/15,466ft
Altitude gained: 993m

Today’s hike will take us away from the open moorlands and introduce us to an alien, rocky landscape known as the Saddle. Nowhere else is the volcanic nature of Kilimanjaro more apparent, and this wide-open terrain reveals fabulous views all the way to the mountain’s summit. But when we talk about the summit of Kilimanjaro, we’re actually talking about three distinct volcanic cones: Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo. We’ve already seen Mawenzi, but Kibo is the tallest of the three, and it represents the ultimate destination of our Six-Day Marangu Route. The pinnacle of our hike is known as Uhuru Peak, and it can be found directly on the rim of Kibo’s crater. After five or six hours on the trail, we’ll stop for the evening at the aptly named Kibo huts, enjoying excellent views of the snow-capped peak we’ll aim to tackle in the morning.

Day 6 – ( Kibo Huts – Uhuru Peak) (Summit):6.25KM /3.9 MI UP | 5-7HRS | – HOROMBO HUTS: 15.75KM /9MI DOWN | 5-6HRS | GLACIERS, SNOW CAPPED SUMMIT

Elevation: 4714m/15,466ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1181m
Descent to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude lost: 2174m

Today is the culmination of your grandest dreams and the ultimate reward for your rigorous preparation. We’ll break camp at the stroke of midnight to make the ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro. We’ll navigate the darkness carefully, taking our time and monitoring ourselves for any symptoms of altitude sickness. The climb is a steep one, but it’s worth our perseverance. When you’re standing at the very roof of Africa, awash with elation at your accomplishments and enjoying the celebratory camaraderie of your fellow hikers, you’ll know that the prize was worth the struggle. After snapping dozens of photos and enjoying the morning panorama to its fullest, we’ll begin the long descent back to Horombo Huts. One thing’s for sure—you’ll sleep well tonight!

Day 7 – (Horombo Huts-Marangu Gate) – Arusha: 20KM/12.5MI |6-7HRS | RAIN FOREST

Elevation: 3721m/12,208 to 1905m/6250ft
Altitude lost: 1816m

As our Six-Day Marangu Route draws to a close, we’ll take our time to make the final trek from the Horombo Huts to the Marangu Gate. Traversing this terrain in reverse presents a new perspective; each twist and turn through the montane forests of Kilimanjaro reveals a fresh scene of surpassing beauty. And with the mighty mountain at your back, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can cover the same ground that took two full days to navigate in the opposite direction. When we reach Marangu Gate, we’ll hang up our hiking boots and make the leisurely drive back to Arusha for a hard-earned meal and a drink to commemorate our achievements on the trail. Our accommodations tonight will be at the elegant and lively Fun Retreat in Arusha.

Mar 23, 20

Day 8 – (Departure)

We’ll enjoy breakfast this morning as the sun rises over the foothills of the mountain we’ve just climbed. After we eat, we’ll depart from our hotel in time for your ongoing travel arrangements. Whether you’re departing Tanzania on an international flight or staying on for an exciting wildlife safari, we hope you’ve enjoyed the Six-Day Marangu Route with Chalema Tanzania Safaris. Guiding you to the top of Africa has been our pleasure, and we trust that you’ll look back on your accomplishments with satisfaction and pride.

Mar 23, 20

Map Located

Tour Includes / Excludes

Included

Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
Professional, English and French speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified Guide
Proper Ration of Mountain crew (Cook & Porters)
Pre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)
Airport Transfers
Meals according to the itinerary
Drinking water and Full Board meals
All National Park & Hut Fees, Crew Permits and VAT
Rescue Fees and Emergency Evacuation Coverage with AMREF
Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages
Gate Transfers
Complimentary Oxygen Cylinder

Excluded

Flights
Visa fees
Travel Insurance (Required)
Gamow Bag
Medication
Tips for porters and mountain crew
Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.
Additional lodge nights if early descent from the mountain

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6-Day Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Climb