Best Mount Kilimanjaro Hike

10 days—Best 10 days mount Kilimanjaro via Northern Circuit Route

$2604-3092 USD

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Safari summary

The 10-day Northern Circuit Route is the best option for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro because it offers the highest summit success rate, excellent acclimatization, and the most scenic and least crowded experience on the mountain. Beginning from the western side of Kilimanjaro, the route gradually ascends across diverse landscapes including rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, and glacial zones, while uniquely circling the remote northern slopes of the mountain. The extended itinerary allows climbers to adapt safely to altitude through steady elevation gains and key acclimatization days before the summit attempt. With fewer climbers, breathtaking panoramic views, and a well-paced approach to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the 10-day Northern Circuit is ideal for those seeking a safer, more comfortable, and highly successful Kilimanjaro climb.

About this tour

	Tour type	Set-date, set-itinerary, group
	Main focus	None
	Activity level	Strenuous activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Tanzania
	Parks	Kilimanjaro

Fine details

Safari highlights

Photography safari—with professional guide
Hiking | trekking
Wildlife sanctuaries

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Internal flights
International flights
Laundry
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

From your Hotel to Mti Mkubwa Camp

From your hotel, you will transfer to Londorossi Gate for registration before starting the trek through dense rainforest. The trail gently ascends under tall trees and rich vegetation, offering chances to see wildlife. After a relaxed hike, you reach Mti Mkubwa Camp, where you settle in for your first night on the mountain.

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Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp

The trek from Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp climbs steadily out of the rainforest into the moorland zone, where trees give way to open landscapes and expansive views. As you gain altitude, the air becomes cooler and the scenery more dramatic, leading to Shira 1 Camp on the Shira Plateau, your first taste of Kilimanjaro’s high-altitude environment.

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Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

The hike from Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp is a gentle trek across the Shira Plateau, with gradual altitude gain and wide panoramic views. This shorter day supports acclimatization as you cross open moorland and volcanic terrain before reaching Shira 2 Camp, set beneath Kibo Peak.

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Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower

The trek from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower is a steady ascent into the alpine desert zone, with increasingly rugged and barren terrain. Reaching Lava Tower provides an important acclimatization point, allowing your body to adjust to higher altitude before descending to a lower camp later in the day.

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Lava Tower to Buffalo Camp

From Lava Tower, the trail descends and then contours around Kilimanjaro’s remote northern slopes, offering dramatic views and excellent acclimatization. The trek ends at Buffalo Camp*, a quiet campsite set in open alpine terrain, far from the busier routes.

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Buffalo Camp to Rongai Third Cave

The trek from Buffalo Camp to Rongai Third Cave follows a gradual ascenorthern slopes of Kilimanjaro, with wide open landscapes and minimal crowds. The steady pace aids acclimatization as you approach Third Cave Camp, set in a stark alpine environment beneath the mountain’s northern face.

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Rongai Third Cave to Tarn Hut

The hike from Rongai Third Cave to Tarn Hut is a steady ascent through the alpine desert zone, with increasingly barren terrain and cooler temperatures. The trail leads to Tarn Hut, situated below Kibo Peak, where you rest and prepare for the upcoming summit attempt.

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Tarn Hut to Kibo Hut

The trek from Tarn Hut to Kibo Hut is a challenging climb through the alpine desert, gaining significant altitude as you approach the base of the summit crater. The trail is rocky and exposed, with dramatic views of the surrounding lunar-like landscape, leading to Kibo Hut, where climbers rest before the night-time summit push.

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Kibo Hut- Uhuru Peak- Millennium

The ascent from Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak begins around midnight, climbing through the crater rim in cold, thin air. This steep, strenuous hike leads to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) at sunrise, offering breathtaking panoramic views. After celebrating the summit, you descend through alpine and moorland zones to Millennium Camp, where you rest and recover from the long climb.

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Millennium to Mweka Gate to Hotel

From Millennium Camp, the trail descends steadily through rainforest, passing lush vegetation and streams. This long but gentle descent leads to Mweka Gate, where you receive your summit certificates and are transferred back to your hotel to rest and celebrate the successful climb.

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