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The 6 Days Machame Route is one of the most popular ways to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Known as the “Whiskey Route,” it is loved by trekkers because of its scenic beauty and good success rate. This route is challenging but very rewarding, giving climbers amazing views, diverse landscapes, and the chance to stand on the highest peak in Africa.
The Machame Route is famous for its natural beauty. You start your trek through lush rainforest, walk past giant heather and moorland, cross the dramatic Shira Plateau, and climb up rocky ridges with views of glaciers above. Every day offers a different environment, making the trek exciting and inspiring.
This 6-day option is designed for climbers who are fit and ready for a steady pace. The extra acclimatization day found on the 7-day version is not included here, so climbers need to adjust quickly to the altitude. Still, with the right preparation, this route gives you one of the best chances to reach Uhuru Peak.
During your climb, you will camp in tents under the stars, share meals with your climbing crew, and join other climbers on one of the busiest but friendliest trails. The highlight is summit night, when you leave camp at midnight and climb slowly toward Stella Point and Uhuru Peak. Watching the sunrise from the top of Africa is a life-changing moment that makes all the effort worthwhile.
This route is perfect for climbers who want a short but challenging adventure. It suits those who are physically fit, experienced in hiking, and comfortable with camping in mountain conditions. While it is more demanding than some other routes, the reward is incredible scenery and a strong chance of success with proper preparation.
Over six days, you will hike between 5–7 hours daily, with summit day being the toughest as it can last up to 12–14 hours. You will sleep in tents, eat hot meals prepared by the mountain chef, and be supported by experienced guides and porters. The journey covers rainforest trails, alpine desert, and finally the snowy summit zone.
The final climb to Uhuru Peak is the most emotional part of the trek. As you step onto the roof of Africa at 5,895 meters, the view of glaciers, the sunrise, and the endless plains below will stay with you forever. The 6 Days Machame Route is a true adventure for those ready to challenge themselves and live a dream.
You will be welcomed by our team at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Take this day to relax, recover from your journey, and meet your mountain guide for a pre-climb briefing and gear check.
Accommodation: Maridad Hotel / Parkview Inn
Meals: Dinner included
Distance: 11 km | Hiking Time: 5–7 hrs
After breakfast, you will be driven from Moshi to Machame Gate (about 1 hour). Upon arrival, you’ll complete registration formalities with the park authorities. The trek begins through the lush rainforest, where you may spot colobus monkeys and exotic birds. The path is often muddy and slippery, so gaiters and trekking poles are recommended. You’ll reach Machame Camp in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Machame Camp (Full-Service Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 5 km | Hiking Time: 4–6 hrs
Today’s hike is shorter but steeper as you ascend above the rainforest into the moorland zone. The trail becomes rockier and offers stunning views of Mount Meru and the Shira Plateau. As you gain altitude, your body begins the acclimatization process. You’ll arrive at Shira Camp by early afternoon, giving you time to rest and enjoy the views.
Accommodation: Shira Camp (Full-Service Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 10 km | Hiking Time: 6–8 hrs
This is a key acclimatization day. You’ll trek up to Lava Tower at 4,630 meters, where you’ll have lunch and spend some time at altitude before descending to Barranco Camp. This “climb high, sleep low” approach helps your body adapt to the altitude. The landscapes today are dramatic and vary from alpine desert to valley vistas.
Accommodation: Barranco Camp (Full-Service Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 9 km | Hiking Time: 7–8 hrs
Climb the Barranco Wall and then trek through alpine desert terrain to reach Barafu Camp. This long day prepares you for the summit night ahead. Eat an early dinner and rest as much as possible before the final ascent.
Accommodation: Barafu Camp (Full-Service Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 17 km | Hiking Time: 12–15 hrs
You will be woken around midnight to begin your final ascent to the summit. Trek slowly by headlamp in the cold night air, resting as needed. Reach Stella Point at sunrise and continue to Uhuru Peak — the highest point in Africa. Celebrate your achievement and take photos before descending back to Barafu Camp for a short rest. After brunch, continue descending to Mweka Camp.
Accommodation: Mweka Camp (Full-Service Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 10 km | Time: 3–4 hrs
Your final descent takes you back through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. After receiving your summit certificates, you’ll be picked up and transferred back to Moshi. Enjoy a hot shower, rest, and a celebratory meal at your hotel.
Accommodation: Maridad Hotel / Parkview Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Prices (quoted in USD/per person)
| 1 Pax | 2-4 Pax | 5-6 Pax | 7-9 Pax | 10+ Pax |
| $2,050 USD | $1,850 USD | $1,750 USD | $1,690 USD | $1,640 USD |
For a more accurate estimate, it’s best to contact us directly and discuss your specific requirements and budget. We can provide you with a detailed quote based on your itinerary, group size, and preferred level of comfort
The Machame route is considered a moderately difficult route. It involves steep ascents. Hiking days on the 7-Day option are short compared to other routes. The high altitudes make trekking more difficult. While prior hiking experience is beneficial, those with a good level of fitness and determination can complete the route successfully. To train, we recommend running or playing sports at least two to three times a week. It’s also great to do a few practice hikes with a 5kg rucksack before you arrive for your trek.
The best time to climb the Machame route is during the dry seasons, from January to mid-March and from June to October. These months generally offer better weather conditions and higher visibility, increasing the chances of a successful summit.
When you go above altitudes of 2,500m (as is the case on Kilimanjaro), there is less oxygen which poses a risk of altitude sickness. High altitude sickness can happen to anybody, regardless of age or fitness. Symptoms vary between individuals but commonly include headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, and numbness in fingers and toes. These symptoms can come on unexpectedly and get severe quickly. To decrease the chances of experiencing altitude sickness, you need to allow your body time to acclimatise properly. Although impossible to completely prevent, we’ve designed our itineraries to give guests the best chance to adjust to the altitude changes. This 7-day route provides an extra day to acclimatise, which is, in our opinion, preferable to the 6-day Machame option. Bush Lion guides have years of experience in recognizing and helping guests deal with altitude sickness. Note that oxygen is not used on Kilimanjaro to help guests reach the summit or to ‘treat’ altitude sickness. The only cure for altitude sickness is to immediately descend to lower ground. In severe cases, oxygen may be given to provide enough temporary relief to allow the affected guest to descend. In extreme cases, altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro can be fatal. We put your safety first. Our guides have years of experience, and their decision on whether or not to continue is final.
We recommend that you check in with your personal healthcare advisor or travel doctor before your trip to Africa. We have provided a useful link below where you can find information on vaccine requirements.
See inclusions and exclusions above.
The following is a recommended packing list for Kilimanjaro:
DOCUMENTS
GEAR & CLOTHING
(please make sure that you have non-cotton clothing for trekking):
If you don’t want to purchase your own kit or need to travel light, you can hire most of the equipment from our guides in-country. Get in touch for the list and rental prices. Please note that all plastic bags, regardless of their thickness, are prohibited from being brought into Tanzania. This excludes packaging for medical supplies.
It is customary in Tanzania to tip guides and porters. The amount that you tip is completely up to you. As a good rule of thumb, generally, participants will tip around US$250 – US$300 per customer (not per guide). You can give this to the head guide, and they will distribute it amongst the team of guides, porters, and cooks.
Yes, If you are travelling solo and would like your own room and tent for the duration of the trip, you can pay for a single supplement. The single supplement is an optional extra with a cost of $50 per traveller. This is payable in-country. Should you not wish to apply the single supplement, we will pair you with another group member to share accommodation during the trek (twin hotel room and shared tent).
You have chefs with you on the hike who can cater to all dietary requirements. During the trek, you will be provided with three nutritious and filling meals each day to keep energy levels high. Please provide full details of any dietary requirements and allergies on your Trip Form. You will receive a link to fill this out shortly after booking. Note that lunch and Dinner (at the hotel) on your first and final day is not included.
Portable toilets are available as an optional extra to enhance your comfort during the climb. For individual travelers, this service costs $70 per person, payable at our offices in-country. However, for groups, we provide portable toilets free of charge as part of our commitment to making your group adventure as enjoyable and convenient as possible.
Most groups have 3 people, with a maximum of 14.
Accommodation during the trek is in campsites in spacious tents shared between two people. The campsites provide basic facilities, such as toilets and dining tents. In Moshi (before and after the trek), you stay in hotel accommodation.
Every day on the trek we will provide you with filtered water to fill up your bottles. The water is filtered and boiled by a Katadyn filtration system. We recommend you also bring water purification tablets or a filter bottle.
This is a 7-day version of the popular Machame route up Kilimanjaro. There is a shorter option (6-Day Machame Trek). If you have the time, we strongly recommend this longer option. The extra day is extremely beneficial to the acclimatisation process and gives you the best possible chance of reaching the summit.
The start and end point of this tour is Kilimanjaro International Airport. There are three pick-up times (10:00 AM, 5:00 PM or 11:59 PM). On the last date, you can fly at any time. Your guides will arrange transfers that work best for the group. Guests typically fly with BA, Air France, or Qatar. However, we’d recommend comparing a few airlines.
Porters are included as part of your trekking team. The porters will carry all the supplies, camping gear, water and also your main luggage. There is a 15kg limit for personal luggage that the porters will carry. This should be packed into a flexible duffel bag, 90l is a good size. This personal luggage includes your sleeping bag (provided) which must also fit into the duffel bag. Extra luggage and suitcases can be left in the locked storage room of the lodge.
The success rate of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame route is approximately 85% to 90%. Proper acclimatisation, physical fitness, and following the guidance of experienced guides significantly increase the chances of reaching the summit.
Kilimanjaro is very close to the equator, so the temperatures are very similar year-round. They can range from around 20°C(68°F) at the base to -10°C (14°F) on the summit. The dry season is June-September, and during these times, there is typically just a dusting of snow on the summit. These are also the busiest months. The wet season is Nov-May, where snow depth on the summit can regularly be 20-30cm.
Yes, of course! Safari in Tanzania is an amazing experience – simply message the Bush Lion team before/ after booking and we’ll help you arrange a 2-7 day safari.
Climbers must be at least 10 years old to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Any person under the age of 15 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Tell us your travel dates, number of people, and what you’re interested in, and we’ll send you a free quote with the best suggestions.
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