Kilimanjaro routes compared
I guide 6 routes up Kilimanjaro, with 10 itineraries from 5 to 8 days, at $1,500 to $2,300 per person. For first-time climbers I recommend the Machame or Lemosho route: both give your body time to acclimatise, and more climbers reach the summit on them. Whichever route you choose, the more days, the better your chance of reaching the summit.
Key facts
- Routes
- 6 routes, 10 itineraries
- Length
- 5 to 8 days, gate to gate
- Price per person
- $1,500 to $2,300
- Highest point
- Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m
- Joseph's pick for a first climb
- Machame or Lemosho
- Sleeping
- Huts on the Marangu route, tents on the others [Rongai: last night at Horombo, hut or tents? TBC]
How do the routes compare?
Every itinerary I guide, side by side. Each one links to its own page with a day-by-day plan and an altitude profile.
| Itinerary | Days | Distance | Summit via | Sleeping | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame route, 6 days | 6 | 63 km (39 mi) | Stella Point | Tents | $1,750 |
| Machame route, 7 days | 7 | 63 km (39 mi) | Stella Point | Tents | $1,900 |
| Lemosho route, 7 days | 7 | 67 km (42 mi) | Stella Point | Tents | $2,000 |
| Lemosho route, 8 days | 8 | 67 km (42 mi) | Stella Point | Tents | $2,250 |
| Northern Circuit, 8 days | 8 | 80 km (50 mi) | Gilman's Point | Tents | $2,300 |
| Rongai route, 6 days | 6 | 67 km (42 mi) | Gilman's Point | Tents [Last night at Horombo: hut or tents? TBC] | $1,750 |
| Rongai route, 7 days | 7 | 77 km (48 mi) | Gilman's Point | Tents [Last night at Horombo: hut or tents? TBC] | $1,900 |
| Marangu route, 5 days | 5 | 70 km (43 mi) | Gilman's Point | Huts | $1,500 |
| Marangu route, 6 days | 6 | 70 km (43 mi) | Gilman's Point | Huts | $1,650 |
| Umbwe route, 6 days | 6 | 54 km (34 mi) | Stella Point | Tents | $1,700 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Prices are per person. They can change for larger groups, so message me for a final price.
Which route is best for a first climb?
For first-time climbers I recommend the Machame route or the Lemosho route. Both give your body time to acclimatise, and more climbers reach the summit on them.
[NEEDS JOSEPH: how you choose between Machame and Lemosho for a particular climber, e.g. budget, crowds, fitness, scenery. Two or three sentences from experience.]
Which route has the best summit success rate?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: your own summit rates per route and length, even rough ones from the past 2–3 seasons, and how many climbers they are based on. These numbers are what make this page worth citing. They also go on the trip statistics page.]
How many days should I take?
The more days, the better your chance of reaching the summit. In the end it is your choice, but if you are at all concerned, or not a very fit or experienced hiker, I recommend the longer option: 7 days rather than 6 on the Machame and Rongai routes, 8 rather than 7 on Lemosho, and 6 rather than 5 on Marangu. Each route page explains what the extra day changes.
Which route is the quietest?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: which routes are busiest and quietest in your experience, and in which months.]
Which route has the best views?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: the views you rate most on each route, e.g. the Shira Plateau, the Barranco Wall, the northern slopes. Photos from your own climbs belong here.]
Do I sleep in a tent or a hut?
On the Marangu route you sleep in mountain huts. On every other route you sleep in tents, which are included in the price with a sleeping mattress and a dining tent. [TBC: on the Rongai route, is the last night at Horombo in a hut or in tents?]
Which route is the hardest?
The Umbwe route is the fastest climb of the six: from 1,660 m at the gate to Barranco Camp at 4,000 m on day 2. It is for hikers who are already acclimatised.
[NEEDS JOSEPH: how you rate the other routes for difficulty, and who you would steer away from Umbwe.]
Questions people ask
Which Kilimanjaro route is best for beginners?
For first-time climbers I recommend the Machame or Lemosho route. Both give your body time to acclimatise, and more climbers reach the summit on them.
How many days does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?
My itineraries take 5 to 8 days from gate to gate, including the walk down.
Should I take the longer version of a route?
The more days, the better your chance of reaching the summit. In the end it is your choice, but if you are at all concerned, or not a very fit or experienced hiker, I recommend the longer option.
What is the cheapest way to climb Kilimanjaro with Joseph?
The shortest itinerary, the 5-day Marangu route, at $1,500 per person.
Which route has the highest success rate?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: your own summit rate per route, with how many climbers it is based on]
Which route is the least crowded?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: the quietest routes in your experience, and in which months]
Want to talk it through? Message me on WhatsApp.
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