Machame Route (7 Days)
The popular Whiskey Route: scenic, varied, and with strong acclimatisation on the 7-day version.
This is a sample day-by-day breakdown of the 7-day Machame route. Pace, camp choice and start times are adjusted for your group on the mountain, but this is what a typical climb looks like from gate to gate.
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Difficulty
Challenging, no technical skill needed
From
$1,950 per person
Day by day
1
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Register at Machame Gate and begin through lush montane rainforest. Roughly 5–6 hours of walking, gaining altitude steadily through the forest zone.
2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
The forest gives way to moorland as you climb onto the Shira Plateau. Around 5 hours of walking, with your first real views of Kibo’s summit on clear days.
3
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
A classic acclimatisation day: climb to Lava Tower (4,600m) for lunch, then descend to sleep at Barranco Camp (3,960m). “Climb high, sleep low” helps your body adjust. Around 6–7 hours.
4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
A short but steep morning scramble up the Barranco Wall, followed by a more gentle walk to Karanga Camp. Around 4–5 hours, leaving the afternoon free to rest.
5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
A shorter day to Barafu, your base camp for the summit attempt. Early dinner and rest, as you’ll be woken well before midnight to begin the summit push.
6
Summit night: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, then down to Mweka Camp
Depart around midnight for the summit push, reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895m) around sunrise. Descend to Barafu for a rest, then continue down to Mweka Camp. The longest day, typically 12–15 hours in total.
7
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
A final descent through forest back to Mweka Gate, around 3–4 hours, where you’ll receive your summit certificate before transferring back to your Arusha or Moshi hotel.
What’s included
- Park and camping fees
- Licensed mountain guides, porters and cook
- All meals and drinking water on the mountain
- Camping equipment (tents, mess tent)
- Transfers from Arusha or Moshi
Not included
- Tips for the mountain crew ($250–350 typical)
- Personal hiking gear
- Flights, visa and travel insurance
- Sleeping bag rental (available locally)
- Hotel nights before or after the climb
Questions about this route
Why choose 7 days over 6?
The extra day on Machame is spent acclimatising rather than covering new ground, which meaningfully improves your chance of a comfortable, successful summit compared to the faster 6-day version.
Do I need previous trekking experience?
No technical climbing skills are required, just good general fitness, determination, and the willingness to walk slowly. Regular hiking or cardio training beforehand makes a real difference.
What is summit night like?
Cold, dark, and the hardest part of the climb: you set off around midnight in temperatures well below freezing, walking slowly by headlamp for six to eight hours before reaching the crater rim. It’s tough, but our guides pace the group carefully and it’s the part climbers remember most.