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

A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold pre trekking briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle (roughly 3-4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park's western entrance: Londorossi Gate (2,200 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking towards the first camp of the route: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m). Raincoats are neces- sary on this day in particular, as you will be walking through rainforest. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and cook lunch for you. After lunch the group will depart on an acclimatization hike towards Shira 1 Camp that features a 300 meter gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Mti Mkubwa Camp, where a hot dinner will be waiting.

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 climbing Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

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

This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended for you to read 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 in case of potential allergies.

Change in Elevation: Londorossi Gate (2,200 m) Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m)
Hiking distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

An early wakeup, breakfast, and a gradual trek upwards until 3,500 meters; at that point for the first time you will be able to see stunning views of Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano. The passage from Mti Mkubwa Camp to the second high-altitude Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This will allow you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is a mainstay of good trekking. When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will cook you lunch and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or walk around the nearby area.

Change in Elevation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780 m) — Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m)
Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 5 – 6 hours
Accommodation: Shira I Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

Departing from Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) and a light trek- king towards the second high altitude camp: Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m). This trek is not difficult and you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of Africa and the unique flora of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding area. Shira 2 Camp is the best place on the trip to see Mount Meru (the fifth summit of Africa), weather permitting. When you arrive to camp you will have lunch, and after a two-hour rest everyone will complete an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp that features a 300 meter gain in altitude.

Change in Elevation: Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m) Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) and Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) - Lava Tower (4,270 m)
Hiking distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 5 – 6 hours
Accommodation: Shira I Camp at Mt. Kilimanjaro

After breakfast you will leave Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be. Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.

Note: If one or more participants feel sick, the group may refrain from passing the Lava Tower and adjust the route, following instead the road for porters. In this case you will not reach an altitude of 4,630 meters, getting up only to a maximum of 4,400 meters.

Change in Elevation: Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) Lava Tower (4,630 m) Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Hiking distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 6 – 8 hour
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: 7.5 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 hour
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.