Best Seven Days Machame Route

7 days—The Best Seven Days Kilimanjaro Climbing Tour via Machame Route, Machame Route is popular, challenging, and the best way to climb Kilimanjaro.

$1970-2100 USD

pp

Safari summary

Best 7 days Machame Route Kilimanjaro climbing tour.
Discover the best 7 days Machame Route Kilimanjaro climbing tour. Explore a day-to-day itinerary, scenic landscapes, and why this popular route offers the best chance to reach the summit. Experience the uniqueness and rewards of this unforgettable journey.

About 7 days Machame Route Kilimanjaro climbing tour.
The 7 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing is the ultimate adventure for trekking enthusiasts seeking to conquer Africa’s highest peak. Known as the most popular and scenic route, the Machame Route combines remarkable views, diverse landscapes, and a challenging yet rewarding climbing experience. This route offers climbers a well-paced itinerary, allowing proper acclimatization over seven days, increasing the chances of a successful summit.
The 7 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing adventure begins in rainforests, transitions through moorlands, and leads to alpine deserts before reaching the Uhuru Peak. Each day has a well-structured itinerary, designed to balance effort and rest while exploring Kilimanjaro’s distinct ecosystems.

Day-to-Day Highlight:
Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Begin in the rainforest, trekking to Machame Camp at 2,835 meters.
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Trek through heather and moorland to Shira Camp at 3,750 meters.
Day 3: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
Acclimatize by hiking to Lava Tower (4,630 meters) before descending to Barranco Camp (3,950 meters).
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Tackle the Barranco Wall and trek to Karanga Camp at 4,035 meters.
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Ascend to Barafu Camp at 4,640 meters, preparing for the summit.
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and Descend to Mweka Camp
Summit at Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), then descend to Mweka Camp at 3,080 meters.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Final descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate for the completion of your journey.

Why Choose the 7 Days Machame Route?
The 7-day itinerary allows extra time for acclimatization, increasing summit success rates. The route’s diverse landscapes, combined with the "climb high, sleep low" strategy, make it unique and manageable for most climbers.

Unique Aspects of the 7 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing
-Optimal Acclimatization
The 7-day itinerary gives you enough time to adjust to the altitude gradually. By walking higher during the day and descending to sleep at lower elevations, your body has the chance to acclimatize properly, increasing your chances of reaching the summit.

-Diverse Landscapes
The Machame Route offers a variety of landscapes, from dense rainforests to rocky alpine deserts, making each day on the trail feel different and exciting.

-Climb High, Sleep Low
This approach helps prevent altitude sickness by ensuring your body has time to adjust. The route’s design, with careful daily elevation gains, allows for proper acclimatization, which is crucial for reaching the summit.

-Memorable Views and Challenging Trails
Known for its remarkable trails and impressive viewpoints, the route includes landmarks like the Barranco Wall and Lava Tower, which make the climb both physically engaging and visually rewarding.

-Increased Summit Success
With an extra day for acclimatization, the 7-day itinerary gives you more time to rest and adjust, leading to a higher success rate for reaching the top of Kilimanjaro.

FAQs About the 7 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing
1. What is the Machame Route, and why is it popular?
The Machame Route, also known as the "Whiskey Route," is one of the most popular and scenic routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. It offers diverse landscapes, gradual acclimatization, and a high summit success rate, making it an excellent choice for climbers.

2. How difficult is the 7 Days Machame Route?
The Machame Route is considered moderately challenging. It requires good physical fitness, determination, and the ability to adapt to high altitudes. However, the 7-day itinerary provides extra acclimatization time, increasing success rates.

3. What makes the 7 Days Machame Route unique?
This route combines a gradual ascent, diverse ecosystems, and the "climb high, sleep low" approach to improve acclimatization. It also offers beautiful views and a rewarding experience for climbers.


About this tour

Tour type Custom, tailor-made, private
Main focus None
Activity level Strenuous activity
Best months All months
Countries
Parks

Fine details

Safari highlights
  • Bird watching—with professional guide
  • Hiking | trekking
What’s included?
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Park fees
What’s not included?
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Internal flights
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Visas

Itinerary

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 1,800m to 2,835m Distance: 11 km Hiking Time: 5-6 hours Habitat: Montane Forest/Rain Forest The 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route begins at Machame Gate (1,830m), where you’ll begin a gradual ascent through lush rainforest. Enjoy the rich flora and fauna of the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. After a steady climb, you’ll reach Machame Camp at 3,000m. If the weather permits, you’ll get your first close-up view of the glaciated Kibo peak.

Machame Camp

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 2,835m to 3,750m Distance: 5 km Hiking Time: 5-6 hours Habitat: Moorland On day two of your 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route, you’ll have a shorter yet steeper climb to the Picnic Site, followed by a gentler ascent through the alpine moorland, famous for wild alpine flowers. As you near Shira Camp, you’ll be treated to stunning views of Kibo peak.

Shira Camp

Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 3,750m to 3,900m Distance: 10 km Hiking Time: 5-6 hours Habitat: Moorland On the third day of your 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route, you’ll traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing the iconic Lava Tower (4,600m). After a hot lunch at the base of the Lava Tower, descend into the Great Barranco Valley to reach Barranco Camp at 3,950m.

Barranco Camp

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 3,900m to 3,995m Distance: 6 km Hiking Time: 3.5-4 hours Habitat: Moorland This day features a steep climb up the Great Barranco Wall, with awe-inspiring views of Kilimanjaro. After reaching the top, continue through the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley to Karanga Camp.

Karanga Camp

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 3,995m to 4,673m Distance: 4 km Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert On day five of your 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route, the trek takes you across the alpine desert, where you can enjoy sweeping views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. After a hot lunch at Barafu Camp, you’ll rest in preparation for the final ascent.

Barafu Camp

Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 4,673m to 5,895m (Uhuru Peak) Distance: 4.3 km ascent to Stella Point, 5 km from Barafu to Uhuru Peak Hiking Time: 6-7 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent Habitat: Alpine Desert On Day 6, you'll begin your ascent before midnight, reaching Stella Point and then Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Afterward, you'll descend to Barafu Camp for rest, continuing down to Mweka Camp.

Mweka Camp

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Kilimanjaro

Altitude: 3,100m to 1,640m Distance: 10 km Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Montane Forest On the final day of your 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route, you’ll descend through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Once you reach the gate, you’ll receive your summit certificate to commemorate your achievement. Afterward, you’ll be transferred back to Moshi, where your incredible 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing Machame Route adventure concludes.

Moshi

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