Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Trekking

Marangu 6 Days

Arrival

Arusha

Departure

Arusha

Duration

6 Days

The 6 days Marangu route itinerary is the better option for climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro using the popular Marangu route. It features an extra day for acclimatization compared to the shorter 5-days variation and is perfect for climbers that do not fancy camping in tents. The Marangu Route is definitely the pioneer of Mount Kilimanjaro climbing; it is one of the oldest routes, if not the oldest on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is known by other names such as the “Coca-Cola Route” or the “Tourist Route because many tourists choose this route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. It is one of the easiest, shortest, and most popular routes as around 40% of all Mount Kilimanjaro climbers use the Marangu Route.

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Trip Highlights

The 6 days Marangu Route is the best option for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as it gives you an 80% success rate for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro because of an extra day for acclimatization.
The 6 Days Marangu Route climb, will take you through a variety of vegetation zones that include misty forests, moorlands, alpine desert areas in the Saddle, and paths with rock outcrops and snow towards the very top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Marangu route trail covers a total distance of 72 kilometers (45 miles).
The route heads to the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by coming from the southeastern side of the mountain

Essential trip information

TRIP Itinerary

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Tour Timeline

1

Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Huts

Distance: 7km

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once signed in at the park and final preparations are complete, we start ascending Marangu route on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. Our first night is at Mandara Hut camp set in a forest clearing. This camp consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts and flush toilets behind the main hut.
2

Day 2 : Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts

Distance: 12km

Hiking Time: 6 hours

Habitat: Moorland

In the morning we leave camp and trek through a short stretch of forest through to moorland, circumventing the base of the Maundi Crater. In the afternoon we will reach the Horombo Hut where will we stay overnight.
3

Day 3 : Acclimatization At Horombo Hut

A day here provides an opportunity for you to acclimatize gradually to the altitude. There are a few walks you can make in the vicinity of the hut – the most popular of which is to the base of Mawenzi Peak, the dramatic eastern summit of Kili. This walk takes four to five hours (round trip), and will get you to an altitude of 4048m before you return to the hut – this will stand you in good stead later on. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
4

Day 4: Horombo Hut To Kibo Hut

Distance: 10km

Hiking Time: 5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

Today we continue our Marangu route ascent into the Alpine desert zone to Kibo Hut. This afternoon we will have an early dinner, prepare your personal gear for the summit and then get some sleep. Our summit trek starts around midnight.
5

Day 5: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut

Distance: 21km

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours

Habitat: Stone screed and ice-capped summit and Moorland

You will be woken around 23:30pm, and after a hot breakfast, we will start our final summit. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to Hans Meyer point (5250m). The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5681m) on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of screen. From Gillman’s Point we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. After taking photos at the summit we start the 3 hours of descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest we pack up all your personal gear and trek down to Horombo Hut (3 hours). Tonight is our last night on the mountain.
6

Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

Distance: 18km

Hiking Time: 6 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

This morning we make our final descent down to Marangu Gate where we started. You will be taken for lunch and here you will receive your summit certificate to commemorate your great achievement. We will then drive you back to your hotel where we will say our farewell.