Kilimanjaro Routes
As Tanzania specialists with years of know-how, we’ve discerned that particular paths provide the perfect fusion of excitement, scenic views, and a superior chance of reaching the top.
The 9-day trails allow for the right amount of time needed for proper acclimatization, enhancing your odds of summiting even further. They also steer clear of the overcrowded, over-promoted routes like the Marangu, Rongai, and Machame, providing a calm, leisurely ascent time (“pole pole” in Swahili) and more one-on-one adventure with our knowledgeable guides.
Excited to check out our trekking routes? Keep scrolling.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Compare The Routes
All four of our routes on one map. Tap a route below to trace it on the mountain, drag to spin, scroll to zoom.
Routes drawn from recorded GPS tracks of each climb. Camps, nightly elevations and the full day-by-day for each route are on its own page below.
9-Day Lemosho Western Breach
The most scenic and most secluded route on the mountain, and the one we climb ourselves. Sunrise on the way up, then straight in through the Western Breach and into the crater — close enough to the glaciers to put your hand on the ice. We summit in the middle of the day, with no other companies at the top. It also has the best acclimatization of anything we run: two nights at Lava Tower. This is our favorite route.
9-Day Lemosho Northern Circuit
The Lemosho Northern Circuit route on Kilimanjaro offers a scenic and extended trek, ideal for those seeking a comprehensive and less crowded experience. Beginning in the lush Lemosho Glades, this route traverses diverse ecosystems and provides ample acclimatization time, enhancing summit success rates. As it winds around the northern side of the mountain, climbers enjoy breathtaking views of the Kenyan plains.
9-Day Lemosho Barafu
The classic Lemosho line, and the most popular Lemosho variation there is — the third most popular route on the whole mountain. That is the catch: expect traffic, with people ahead of you and behind you for much of the climb. It is still a great route, and our climb-high-sleep-low profile builds real acclimatization on the way to Stella Point and Uhuru Peak. We simply rate the other two higher, which is why this is our third option.
7-Day Machame
Beginning from the southern side of Kilimanjaro, the Machame Route is famous for its spellbinding panoramic views — and it is the second most popular route on the mountain. Partway up it converges with the Lemosho Barafu line and the two share the same trail to Stella Point, which is why you will meet so much traffic. The views still make it a crowd-pleaser, and at seven days it is the shortest climb we run.
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