5 Days Marangu Route
Itinerary Summary
The 5-day Marangu Route offers one of the most direct and popular paths to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, featuring hut accommodations instead of tents, making it a preferred choice for many trekkers.
Full Itinerary Overview
The 5-day Marangu Route offers a direct and scenic ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, ideal for those seeking a shorter trek with hut accommodations. Known as the “Coca-Cola Route,” it is the only path on the mountain with dormitory-style sleeping huts and provides a relatively gentle gradient, though summit day remains physically demanding.
DAY 1 : Marangu Gate (1,860m) to Mandara Hut (2,700m)
Your Kilimanjaro adventure begins with a morning transfer from your hotel in Moshi or Arusha to the Marangu Gate, located at 1,860 meters. After registration and a final gear check, you’ll begin your hike through the dense montane rainforest, a lush environment filled with towering trees, ferns, and colorful birdlife. The trail is gentle but steadily ascending, and if you’re lucky, you might spot black-and-white colobus monkeys swinging through the treetops. After about 3–4 hours of trekking (covering 8 km), you’ll arrive at Mandara Hut, a comfortable wooden shelter where you’ll rest for the night. In the afternoon, there is an optional short walk to Maundi Crater for breathtaking views of northern Tanzania and Kenya.
Overnight: Mandara Hut | Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2 : Mandara Hut (2,700m) to Horombo Hut (3,720m)
After breakfast, you leave the rainforest and enter the heath and moorland zone, where vegetation becomes more open and rugged. The path winds through giant senecios and lobelias, and as you ascend, the views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks become more dramatic. The air becomes thinner and cooler as you climb, but the trail remains manageable. After a steady 6–7 hour hike over 12 km, you’ll reach Horombo Hut, set on a scenic plateau with sweeping mountain vistas. You may begin to feel the effects of altitude, so hydration and rest are key at this stage.
Overnight: Horombo Hut | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 : Horombo Hut (3,720m) to Kibo Hut (4,700m)
Today’s trek takes you across the vast and barren alpine desert as you approach the base of the summit. The trail ascends gradually at first, passing the Last Water Point at 4,200 meters, before crossing the wide, open saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. The stark, moonlike terrain and thinning air make this a physically and mentally challenging day. After hiking 17 km in 6–8 hours, you arrive at Kibo Hut, a stone shelter nestled beneath the summit. You’ll rest here for the remainder of the day, have an early dinner, and prepare your gear for the midnight summit attempt.
Overnight: Kibo Hut | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 : Kibo Hut (4,700m) – Summit (Uhuru Peak, 5,895m) – Horombo Hut (3,720m)
This is the most demanding and rewarding day of your climb. You’ll wake around midnight for a hot drink and begin the summit push in the darkness. The trail zigzags steeply up the volcanic scree, with rest stops at Hans Meyer Cave and other key points. After 5–7 hours of slow, steady climbing, you’ll reach Gilman’s Point (5,685m) on the crater rim. From there, it’s another 1–2 hours along the rim to reach Uhuru Peak—the highest point in Africa at 5,895 meters. After taking in the sunrise and celebrating your achievement, you begin your descent back to Kibo Hut for a short rest and meal, then continue down to Horombo Hut for the night. The total trekking time today is 12–14 hours, covering approximately 22 km.
Overnight: Horombo Hut | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 : Horombo Hut (3,720m) to Marangu Gate (1,860m) – Return to Moshi/Arusha
After a restful night, you begin your final descent back through the heathland and rainforest to the Marangu Gate. The 20 km hike takes around 5–6 hours, and the trail can be slippery—especially in the lower sections—so trekking poles and careful footing are important. Once at the gate, you’ll sign out of the park and receive your summit certificate. After a light refreshment, a vehicle will transfer you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha for a well-deserved rest or onward travel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Embark on the classic Marangu Route and summit Mount Kilimanjaro with comfort and confidence. This 5-day adventure offers scenic trails, cozy hut accommodations, and breathtaking views from Uhuru Peak—Africa’s rooftop. Perfect for trekkers seeking a shorter yet rewarding climb.
INCLUDED
- Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) accommodation.
- All game drives viewing in a custom built 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- All park and entrance fees
- Transportation with 4×4 vehicles with viewing roofs
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide or other language as specified during the safari.
- Bottled water in safari vehicles
- Current Government taxes and levies
- 24-Hour support during the safari
NOT INCLUDED
- Internal or International flights
- Transfers to and from the airport
- Balloon excursion (US$600 pp)
- Entry visa to Tanzania.
- Travel and health insurance
- Gratuities to your guide, hotel staff, and porters
- Meals, drinks, and excursions not described in the itinerary
- Any other items of a personal nature, laundry, telephone and postage
- Item of personal Nature
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