The Lemosho route is the long game: 8 days on the mountain, 5 ecological zones, and a pacing designed to give the body every possible chance to acclimatize before summit night. The guides take care of everything, from airport transfers to park fees to hot meals at altitude, so the only job is to keep moving. A dedicated local team handles equipment, camp setup, and safety monitoring, with a guide-to-trekker ratio of one to two and up to five porters per person to carry the load. Off the mountain, cultural visits to a Chagga village and local hot springs round out what is already one of the world's great bucket-list climbs.
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Kilimanjaro trekking guide will warmly welcome you. An airport transfer to the charming town of Moshi is included. After settling in at your hotel, you’ll go through a gear check to ensure you’re fully prepared for your upcoming adventure. In the evening, you’ll meet your experienced trekking team over a delicious dinner, where your group will discuss the exciting journey ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Early in the morning, you’ll be picked up at your hotel and head to Lemosho Gate for luggage distribution and weighing. At Lemosho Gate, the starting point of your trek, you’ll enjoy a lunch box before venturing into the rainforest. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as Colobus and Blue Monkeys as you hike through this lush, biodiverse ecosystem.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 3-4 hours, 6.5 km (4 miles)
Elevation gain: 396 m (1,300 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Big Tree Camp
Today’s trek leads you through rainforest and into the heath moorland zone. Absorb the breathtaking views as you navigate the ridge of the Shira plateau. Reach Shira 1 Camp, where you’ll be treated to hot lunch and dinner, surrounded by the unique beauty of the heath moorland.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 5-6 hours, 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation gain: 719 m (2,359 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Shira 1 Camp
This easy-going day involves a hike through moorland, where you might spot animals like jackals and antelopes. Weather permitting, a detour to Cathedral Point offers stunning views and an opportunity to acclimatize. Return to Shira 2 Camp for another night in the highlands.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 4-5 hours, 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation gain: 295 m (970 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Shira 2 Camp
Ascend to the alpine desert zone, reaching Lava Tower for lunch and an important acclimatization stage. Descend to Barranco Camp for the night, allowing your body to adapt to the altitude. Don’t worry if you experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness—your guide will ensure your well-being.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 6-7 hours, 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation gain: 700 m (2,300 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Barranco Camp
Navigate rocky terrain and pass the famous “kissing rock” as you journey through the alpine desert. With a relatively short trekking day, you’ll have ample time to enjoy the surroundings. Reach Karanga Valley Camp and rest for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 3-4 hours, 5 km (3.1 miles)
Elevation gain: 340 m (1,110 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Karanga Valley Camp
Today’s hike leads you through the alpine zone, offering scenic views and unique Kilimanjaro flowers. Arrive at Barafu Camp, your base before the final summit push. Enjoy the breathtaking vistas and an early dinner before your restful sleep in preparation for the summit ascent.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 3-4 hours, 5 km (3.1 miles)
Elevation gain: 678 m (2,220 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Barafu Camp
The exhilarating summit day arrives. Begin the hike around midnight, navigating with head torches. After reaching Stella Point, admire the glacier-filled crater before ascending to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Capture the moment with memorable pictures. Descend to either Millenium Camp or Mweka Camp for a well-deserved dinner and rest.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 13-14 hours, 19 km (11.8 miles)
Elevation gain: 1,222 m (4,010 ft)
Descended altitude: 1,945 m (6,380 ft) or 2,795 m (9,170 ft)
Accommodation: Camp at Millenium Camp or Mweka Camp
Descend through the enchanting rainforest to Mweka Gate, your journey’s end. Receive your summit certificate, capture memories with your trekking team, and enjoy a last hot lunch. If desired, visit a nearby souvenir market before getting transferred back to your hotel to relax and celebrate your incredible achievement.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trekking: 5-6 hours, 13 km (8 miles)
Descended altitude: 2,317 m (7,600 ft) or 1,470 m (4,820 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
After breakfast, we say goodbye to the crew and to Tanzania. An airport transfer from Moshi takes care of the journey to Kilimanjaro International Airport. For those looking to extend the adventure, a safari or independent tour is a natural next step.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Not included:
For this guided Kilimanjaro trek via the Lemosho route, a great level of fitness is essential. That said, this is more akin to a hiking expedition than a technical climb. If you can run for 30 minutes two to three times a week and handle an all-day hike on weekends, you’re in the right range. The ascent demands endurance and stamina, qualities best built through consistent cardiovascular training and strength work before the trip.
What sets the Lemosho route apart is its built-in acclimatization profile. The longer timeline gives the body the best possible chance to adjust to altitude, and the dedicated team monitors everyone throughout. Following your guides’ advice is essential; altitude sickness is a real concern, but the summit success rate via Lemosho is above 90% and your safety always comes first. Mental resilience and a positive attitude matter just as much as physical preparation.
During the trek, you’ll sleep in a 2-person tent equipped with a 2-inch foam safari mattress, carried by the porters from camp to camp. There are no showers, running water, or electricity on the mountain, but hot water for a bowl wash is provided every morning and evening. Each camp has a walk-in dining tent with a table and chairs and a portable private toilet tent with toilet paper.
Before and after the trek, you’ll stay at a comfortable mid-budget hotel in Moshi with double rooms: a solid base to unwind, store extra gear, and properly recover from the climb.
Expect a wide range of conditions across the route’s five ecological zones. Temperatures at the base range from 20°C to 32°C (68°F to 90°F), while the Kibo crater averages -7°C (19°F) and can drop to -26°C (-15°F). Layering is essential.
The main climbing seasons are July to September and December to February, which offer dry, clear conditions and the best odds for a clear summit day. June to October is the driest stretch overall, though slightly colder at altitude. The rainy seasons run March to May and October to December, bringing fewer crowds, lush landscapes, and more snow on the peak.
Tipping is customary and meaningful on Kilimanjaro. Trip costs cover park fees, but tipping the local team, including guides, porters, cook, and crew, is a direct way to recognize exceptional work and support the livelihoods of people who make the climb possible. The standard minimum is around 15% of the total trip cost per person, divided among the team.
Tipping typically takes place in US dollars on the final day during a tipping ceremony, with a separate envelope for each crew member. Recommended daily rates:
After the trip, donating quality mountain gear is another well-received gesture; high-performance gear is often unaffordable for local team members.
Meals combine local Tanzanian dishes with more western-style options. Breakfasts typically include porridge, breads, eggs, pancakes, and fruit. Lunches and dinners range from Tanzanian staples like rice, beans, chapati, and ugali (maize porridge), to beef stews, vegetable curries, soups, pastas, fried fish, stir-fries, and salads.
A dedicated chef prepares meals with altitude and energy needs in mind throughout the trek. Bringing a supply of your own favorite snacks is recommended, especially granola or protein bars.
Note for participants with anaphylactic allergies: the team takes careful precautions with dietary requirements, but given the number of other trekkers on the mountain, some risk of cross-contamination exists. If you are comfortable with that, you can be accommodated on the program.
There are no showers on the mountain. The team provides a basin of hot water each morning and evening for washing up. Most trekkers rely on wet wipes for a quick body clean between washes, and dry shampoo is a useful addition to the packing list for hair.
A portable private toilet tent with toilet paper is set up at each camp. Please do not leave toilet paper, wet wipes, or any hygiene waste on the mountain: pack biodegradable disposable bags for this purpose and dispose of them at camp each morning.
You’re allowed one duffel bag or backpack on the trek. No suitcases or wheeled bags; porters carry luggage on their shoulders or heads. The maximum weight is 15 kg (30 lbs). The hotel in Moshi offers storage for anything not coming on the mountain. Note that it is illegal to bring plastic bags into Tanzania.
Bring comfortable moisture-wicking, wool, fleece, or synthetic clothing. Do not bring cotton blends. Please dress respectfully: it is culturally appropriate in Tanzania to cover shoulders and keep skirts or pants past the knees. Full-length tights while hiking are fine.
Clothing:
Toiletries:
Other equipment:
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Group sizes and pricing
A Kilimanjaro trek Lemosho route adventure can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Kilimanjaro trek Lemosho route adventure is Moshi. To get there, most people fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
The guide will be at the airport to welcome you and arrange the transfer to the hotel in Moshi.
Mountaineering insurance is mandatory on this trip. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors 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.