Umbwe route

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet an Altezza Travel representative, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.

PLEASE NOTE:Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.

Your guide and climbing support crew will arrive at your hotel in the morning. Introductions and the final brief equipment check will precede your drive to the Umbwe Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. This entrance, situated at 1,800m/5905f above sea level, is where your trek starts. The chief guide will finalize the permits and registration for search and rescue services.

Your first day of trekking is meant to bring you to Umbwe Camp for your first overnight camping. Climbing up to 2,850m/9350f is a long haul with a significant increase in altitude, so find the right pace for the whole group and stick with it. As this part of the Umbwe route goes through the rainforest, there is a high probability of rain showers - do not forget your raincoat! Your support crew will have prepared the camp and dinner by the time you arrive at the camp.

PLEASE NOTE:This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:

• Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine;
• Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently);
• Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip to discuss potential allergies.

At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your breathing pattern at night, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and experience a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

Elevation

1,640 m to 2,930 m

Hiking time

5-7 hours

Distance

11 km

Difficulty

High

Habitat

Rainforest

This day starts with an early wake-up and filling breakfast before your team starts the trek to Barranco Camp. The rainforest will quickly give way to moorland, and if it is not too cloudy you will be able to see Meru Volcano for the first time. This day's trek is moderate in length and around lunchtime it is expected that you will reach Barranco Camp (3,900m/12795f), which is nestled inside a huge volcanic fault. Lunch will be provided here, and then you will have the opportunity to relax for the rest of the day, which significantly facilitates the acclimatization process.

Elevation

2,930 m to 3,960 m

Hiking time

4-5 hours

Distance

6 km

Difficulty

Medium

Habitat

Moorland

This day begins with another early wake-up and a filling breakfast before your group starts to climb Barranco Wall. We recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid other groups and crowds on the way, which can slow you down. Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you will start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you will have to go on an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 200-meter (656-foot) gain in altitude and then descend back down to the camp.

PLEASE NOTE:The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: 

Karanga Camp (3,995m/13107f)

Destination point en route to Barafu Camp (4,270m/14009f)

Hiking distance: 

2.5 km (1.5mi)

Hiking time: 

1–2 hours

Elevation

3,960 m to 4,035 m

Hiking time

4-5 hours

Distance

5 km

Difficulty

Medium

Habitat

Moorland

In the morning after breakfast, you will begin your hike to Barafu Summit Camp (4,673m/15331f), the starting point for the night summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895m19340f). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax as soon as you arrive. After regaining strength, you will need to go on an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,870m/15978f) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before the night summit.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: 

Barafu Camp (4,673m/15331f)

Kosovo Camp (4,870m/15977f)

Hiking distance: 

2 km (1.2 mi)

Hiking time: 

1–2 hours

Elevation

4,035 m to 4,640 m

Hiking time

4-5 hours

Distance

6 km

Difficulty

Medium

Habitat

Alpine desert

The group leaves Barafu Camp at around midnight. This night you will climb to the top of Kilimanjaro, to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19340f). Although the trek itself is not difficult, the high altitude means that even regular physical activity feels strenuous. For the final summit, we pair every two climbers with a personal guide whose responsibility it is to monitor their physical and mental well-being more closely. Upon reaching Uhuru Peak you may choose to walk to one of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers. The group will then return to Barafu Camp for a 2-hour rest before the descent to the Millennium Camp at 3,950m/12959f.

Please note that while descent brings relief from high altitude, it is also where most accidents and injuries (as much as 90%) happen. It is easy to avoid falling and possibly breaking a limb, as well as damaging your toenails if you just watch your step.

Elevation

4,640 m to 5,895 m
5,895 m to 3,820 m

Hiking time

8-12 hours

Distance

15 km

Difficulty

High

Habitat

Arctic

Millennium Camp sits amidst a rainforest. The lower altitude, as well as the realization of having reached your goal, make for a good night's sleep. The group will set out on the last leg of the journey towards Mweka Gate - national park exit (1,640m/5381) upon finishing breakfast. This will be your last opportunity to share memories of the climb with your guides and support team. You will receive your certificates of accomplishment at our offices before being driven back to your hotel.

Elevation

3,820 m to 1,640 m

Hiking time

4-5 hours

Distance

12 km

Difficulty

Low

Habitat

Rainforest

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE:Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.