Touch down at the Kilimanjaro International Airport where your own personal driver will be waiting to greet you. Let your driver whisk you away to Arusha Planet Lodge in the bright and bustling city of Arusha – gateway to Tanzania. Each room at Arusha Planet Lodge is well appointed, spacious, clean and comfortable to make your stay enjoyable. Conference facilities to suit team building activities, retreats, business meetings and other functions Well trained Chefs to create appetizing local and internation- al cuisine. From nyama choma, rice/ugali with fish, banana stew and many others, you should take time to sample Tanzanian staples as prepared by the respective and diverse tribes.

Arusha is the beating heart of the wild – the last port of civilization before heading out into dense jungles and rich savannah plains. The markets of Arusha burst with color, and throng with locals picking up their weekly wares. The numerous cafes sell dark and deliriously good coffee from the plantations, and close by the infamous National Park lures visitors in to explore her evocative Maasai culture and exotic flora and fauna. In the evening you will enjoy a quick briefing which will be conducted by professional Mountain Guide about your trekking, and to ensure if you are ready for climbing.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge or Similar Accommodation

Your guide and climb support crew arrive at your hotel in the morning. Introductions and a last brief equipment check precede your drive to the Umbwe Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. This entrance, situated at 1,640 m above sea level, is where your trek starts. The head-guide will finalize the permits and registration for search and rescue services. Your first day trekking is meant to bring you to Umbwe Camp for your first mountain overnight. Climbing up to 2,930 m 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 Umbwe route goes through rainforest with its probability of rain showers- do not forget your raincoat. Your support crew will have prepared the camp and dinner by the time you get there.

Nightly discomfort often accompanies acclimatization. However, while such symptoms as headaches and nausea are common, make sure you inform your guide of them immediately.

This being the group’s first night at this elevation, we recommend that you follow the below rules from here on:

Do not consume any alcohol and minimize your caffeine intake
Drinking no less than 4 liters of water per day is a good way to keep yourself hydrated. Take it in small amounts but frequently.
We encourage our clients to use Diamox in the mornings prior to the day’s climb. This reduces altitude sickness symptoms. Consult your doctor on the use of Diamox before leaving home on this trip.

Change in Elevation: Umbwe Gate (1,640 m) — Umbwe Camp (2,930 m)
Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5 – 7 hours
Accommodation: Umbwe Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of trekking to Barranco Camp. The rainforest will quickly give way to brush, and if it is not too cloudy you will be able to see Meru Volcano for the first time. Trekking on Umbwe route for this day will be of a moderate length, and around lunchtime you will reach Barranco Camp (3,960 m), which is nestled inside a huge volcanic fault. Lunch will be provided here, and then you have the opportunity to relax for the rest of the day, which significantly facilitates the acclimatization process.

Change in Elevation: Umbwe Camp (2,930 m) — Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Hiking distance: 6 km
Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
Accommodation: Barranco Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups, After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano. Then you 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 Hot lunch. After a couple of hours you will have to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude, and then descent back down to the camp.

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. Their help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m) — Karanga Camp (4,035 m) and Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Barafu Camp (4,270 m)
Hiking distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Accommodation: Karanga Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

In the morning after breakfast you begin your way to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) 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 night summiting.

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m) and Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)
Hiking distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation: Barafu Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

At the night you will Departure from Barafu Camp (4,640 m) and start summiting Kilimanjaro: Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Simply the climb is relatively simple; though, the most challenging part is the high altitude where each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if you wish. Then you will return to Barafu Camp and after a 2-hour rest continue your descent to Millennium Camp (3,820 m).

Note: Don't forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including all broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Millennium Camp (3,820 m)
Hiking distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 8 – 12 hours
Accommodation: Millennium Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

When you wake up at the camp you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a breakfast, you will start descending to the park’s exit: Mweka gate (1,650 m). Here the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, you will be presented with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you a transfer back to Arusha Planet Lodge.

Change in Elevation: Millennium Camp (3,820 m) — Mweka Gate (1,650 m)
Hiking distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge

After getting some rest and refreshment at the hotel, your driver guide will take you to the airport ready for your flight back home.

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