9-day trip: climbing Kilimanjaro via the 6-day Umbwe Route

DAY 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your climb

When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport our Tanzania Specialist guide is there waiting for you. He then drops you off at your hotel, where you can relax from your flight.

DAY 2: Umbwe Route (1/6) | Umbwe Gate (1,600 m/5,249 ft) - Umbwe Cave Camp (2,900 m/9,514 ft)

Today, your driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you to the Umbwe Gate to complete the registration formalities. The Kilimanjaro climb begins through dense rainforest, where you can hear and spot various animals. As you approach the Umbwe River, the route becomes steeper, offering views of Kibo Peak in the distance and the deep valleys surrounding you. The climb ends after 5-7 hours at Umbwe Cave Camp.

DAY 3: Umbwe Route (2/6) | Umbwe Cave Camp (2,900 m/9,514 ft) - Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,959 ft)

Leave the rainforest and enter the heather with rocks and valleys around you. The ascent becomes steeper at the Umbwe Route Ridge and flattens out again near the Barranco Valley. After a 4 to 5-hour hike, you have dinner and overnight at the Barranco Camp in the valley below the Barranco wall.

DAY 4: Umbwe Route (3/6) | Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,959 ft) - Barranco Wall (3,977 m/13,047 ft) - Karanga Camp (4,040 m/13,254 ft)

This morning, you hike to the Barranco Wall where you have a spectacular view of the Kibo volcano to the left and Mount Meru to the right. Then a more difficult route to Karanga Camp begins, with many ascents and descents. Once at the camp, you have lunch and a couple of hours to rest. You can then go on a 300-meter acclimatization hike towards Barafu Camp before descending back to Karanga Camp for the night.

DAY 5: Umbwe Route (4/6) | Karanga Camp (4,040 m/13,254 ft) - Barafu Camp (4,645 m/15,239 ft)

On the fourth day on the mountain, you walk to Barafu Camp, the starting point for your summit push to Uhuru Peak. Arrive at the camp around noon, enjoy lunch, and take some time to rest. Later, go on another acclimatization walk to Kosovo Summit Camp (4,870 m) before returning to Barafu Camp. Warm up with a hot dinner and relax for the rest of the day before starting the climb to the top of Kili at midnight.

DAY 6: Umbwe Route (5/6) | Barafu Camp (4,645 m/15,239 ft) - Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) - Millenium Camp (3,820 m/12,532 ft)

Around midnight, you begin your final push to Uhuru Peak. Ascend along good trails while your guide keeps an eye on you to monitor your physical and mental state facing the altitude. Once you reach the top, enjoy a beautiful sunrise from the roof of Africa! After celebrating at the top, descend to the nearby glacier before returning through Barafu Camp and continuing the descent to Millennium Camp after a two-hour break.

DAY 7: Umbwe Route (6/6) | Millenium Camp (3,820 m/12,532 ft) - Mweka Gate (1,640 m/5,380 ft) - Hotel

Millenium Camp is located in a tropical rainforest. Here you feel a sense of relief from the reduced altitude and satisfaction from reaching the summit the day before. After breakfast, you walk to the national park's exit and your driver takes you back to the hotel, where you can recover from the rigors of the climb.

DAY 8-9: Flight home from Kilimanjaro International Airport after the climb

Sadly, this is the end of your holiday and the time to go home has arrived. Enjoy your last hours in Tanzania before our driver comes to pick you up and takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. Still longing for more? It's also possible to add a few days of safari or a beach holiday to your Kilimanjaro adventure!