Eight days in Tanzania, six of which will be spent on the Marangu route—the oldest and most popular route leading to the highest peak in Africa. It’s the perfect recipe for an unforgettable active vacation! But let’s add a little extra spice to make it even better. On the Marangu route—also known as the Coca-Cola Route, because it’s the most comfortable and the only one with huts along the way—you’ll be accompanied by experienced guides who know every corner of Mt. Kilimanjaro, a chef ensuring hot meals three times a day, and porters who will ease the journey. A fantastic team, proper acclimatization, inspiring nature, and the opportunity to stand on the legendary Uhuru Peak guarantee an exciting yet safe adventure. Join us!
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be transferred to the hotel in Moshi. You will meet your guide there, who will brief you on the upcoming trek and conduct an equipment check to ensure everyone has all the necessary gear. Any missing items can be rented on this day.
Accommodation: Hotel
We will wake up early and drive to the Marangu Gate (1,879 m / 6,165 ft) of Kilimanjaro National Park. There, we will meet our porters, complete the required paperwork for park entry, and begin the climb. Today’s day will be marked by the nature of the rainforest. We will spend the night at Mandara Huts camp at an altitude of 2,720 m / 8,924 ft.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 8 km / 4.9 mi
Elevation: +950 m / +3,117 ft
Accommodation: Camping
After leaving the rainforest, we will hike around the base of Maundi Crater. As we ascend, we will pass through the moorland area. The goal for today is to reach Horombo Hut camp (3,720 m / 12,204 ft), where we will spend the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 11 km / 6.8 mi
Elevation: +1,030 m / +3,379 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We will spend a full day at Horombo Hut camp, exploring the surrounding environment. We’ll have time to rest and enjoy guided short hikes to help with our acclimatization.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Camping
We’ll gradually ascend into the desert area, where the terrain becomes steeper. We’ll reach Kibo Hut camp for a restful evening and an early bedtime, gearing up to wake at midnight for the final ascent. Our overnight stay will be at Kibo Hut camp, situated at an altitude of 4,703 m / 15,430 ft.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 9 km / 5.5 mi
Elevation: +920 m / +3,018 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We’ll begin at midnight, heading up a rocky trail toward Gillman’s Point at 5,681 m / 18,368 ft. This section is steep and covered in loose stone scree, making it the most physically demanding part of the climb. Once we reach Gillman’s Point, we’ll push on for another two hours to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, standing at 5,895 m / 19,340 ft. After a brief moment to take in the view, we’ll begin our descent.
We’ll retrace our steps on the descent, passing Kibo Hut camp before continuing down to Horombo Hut camp, where we’ll spend our final night on the mountain. We’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner and get a restful sleep.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 21 km / 13 mi
Elevation: +1,145, -2,175 m / +3,756, -7,136 ft
Accommodation: Camping
We’ll make our way back through the rainforest to Marangu Gate, where we’ll meet the vehicle and receive our summit certificates from the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Following this, we’ll be transferred back to our hotel in Moshi to relax.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Hiking: 19 km / 11.8 mi
Elevation: -950 m / -3,117 ft
Accommodation: Hotel
We’ll spend the day unwinding after the trek before our flight home. Depending on our flight times, we may have the chance to explore Moshi town and pick up some souvenirs before heading to the airport. This will mark the end of our 6-day Marangu route trek.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons:
Not included:
The best thing about hiking along the Marangu route is that it’s considered one of the most comfortable routes on Kilimanjaro, with the best infrastructure. However, it’s important to note that a reasonable level of fitness is required.
You can expect to hike around around 8 hours a day, 6 days in a row, and on summit day, it can stretch up to 14 hours! There are also sections that are quite steep and covered with loose stone scree. While the hike doesn’t require technical skills or specialized mountaineering equipment such as ice axes, crampons, harnesses, or ropes, it does demand a sense of adventure and a passion for the outdoors. If you’re a beginner hiker in excellent physical condition and ready to push your boundaries, this tour could be just the challenge you’ve been looking for!
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Technical clothing:
Headwear:
Handwear:
Footwear:
Accessories:
Equipment:
Extra tips:
Please pack carefully, as porters are limited to carrying a maximum of 33 lbs (15 kgs) of your personal belongings. All items they transport between campsites should be packed into your duffel bag, including your sleeping bag. However, if needed, the sleeping bag can be packed separately. If your total weight exceeds the limit, you will be required to hire an additional porter.
Group sizes and pricing
Hiking on the Marangu route can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your 6-day Marangu route trek is Moshi. To get there, most people fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). At the scheduled time, the guides will pick you and the rest of the group up. If you’re not joining the group at that time, you’ll need to take a taxi, rent a car, or use a shuttle to get to Moshi where your guides will meet you at the arranged accommodation on Day 1.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!