7 Days Kilimanjaro
Machame Route
Hiking Tour Package
Machame Route Overview
The Machame Route, often referred to as the “Whiskey Route,” begins on the southwestern side of Mount Kilimanjaro and can be completed in 6 to 7 days. Known for its stunning scenery, it is a popular choice among photographers and nature lovers. The route follows a “hike high, sleep low” strategy, enhancing acclimatization and making it a favorable option for climbers. Throughout the journey, climbers transition from lush forests to moorland and glacier areas, showcasing the diverse landscapes of Kilimanjaro. The adventure concludes at the Mweka Gate, marking the end of a memorable trek.
Machame Route Map
Summit Success Rate
- 95% summit success rate
- Highest success rate among all Kilimanjaro routes
- Effective acclimatization through “hike high, sleep low” strategy
Ahsante Tours’ Experience with Machame Route
- The Machame Route is Ahsante Tours’ favorite and highly recommended route
- Holds personal significance as the CEO, Cuthbert, is from Machame Village
- Special connection with the route makes it particularly meaningful to the team
7 Days Machame route Prices
1 Pax |
2 - 4 Pax |
|---|---|
|
From $ 2,400 (£ 1,828 ) |
From |
5 - 9 Pax |
10 + Pax |
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From $ 2,160 ( £ 1,645 ) |
From |
Climbing Cost Includes
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fee
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Accommodation in tents complete with sleeping mats.
- Sleeping Bags (-15oC Limit) *If clients have warmer sleeping bags they are advised to bring their own.
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation in Moshi town on Half Board Basis
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Tree donation in support of our environmental conservation projects
- 2-way airport transfers - 1 on arrival and 1 on departure
- Supplemental Oxygen & Pulse Oximeter
Climbing Cost Excludes
- Visa
- Tips to mountain crew – See Tipping Guidelines for more details
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- Tanzanian mountain doctor
- Single Supplement Request - $100
- Travel Insurance (Recommended – Travel insurance with medical cover of 6,000m and above)
- Spending a night in the crater - $200 per person
- Western breach approach without a night at the crater camp - $100 per person
- Tanzanian mountain doctor - $200 per group per day
- Portable chemical toilet - $150 per toilet (including tent & porter)
7 Days Machame Route Itinerary
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by an Ahsante Tours representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Your guide will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Meals: Dinner Only.
Accommodation: Weruweru River Lodge.
Half an hour drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where you will complete park registrations, then you are off on your 6-day trek. The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Duration: 6 – 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Machame Camp
Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha City in the distance.
Distance: 4.8km / 3mi
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.
Distance: 10km / 6.2mi
Duration: 7 – 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Barranco Camp
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Distance: 8.5km / 5.3mi
Duration: 7 – 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Karanga Camp
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Distance: 3km / 1.9mi
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Barafu Camp
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Distance: 13.4km / 8.3mi
Duration: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Millennium Camp
A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before our big celebration.
Distance: 12.1km / 7.5mi
Duration: 6 – 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Accommodation: Weruweru (or Booked Accommodation)
Why choose Ahsante Tours
Get help
Get help choosing the best route for your team
Award-winning
We’re award-winning Kilimanjaro tour operators.
Luxury
Luxury camping, food tent, toilets and more
Successful summits
Over 20K successful summits in over 20 years
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feel free to get in touch with our knowledgeable experts”
FAQs about Machame Route
The Machame Route, also known as the "Whiskey Route," is one of the most popular and scenic routes to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It offers a more challenging yet rewarding experience for climbers, with diverse landscapes and breathtaking views.
The Machame Route typically takes 6 to 7 days to complete. The additional day is often recommended to aid in acclimatization and improve summit success rates.
The Machame Route has a high summit success rate of around 95%, making it one of the most successful routes for climbers. This is largely due to its "hike high, sleep low" acclimatization strategy.
The Machame Route is a camping route, meaning climbers sleep in tents at designated campsites throughout the journey. Ahsante Tours provides all camping gear, including tents and sleeping arrangements.
The route is known for its diverse and stunning scenery. It begins in lush rainforests, passes through moorland and alpine deserts, and offers spectacular views of glaciers as you approach the summit.
As one of the most popular routes on Kilimanjaro, the Machame Route can be busy during peak climbing seasons. However, its scenic beauty and high success rate still make it a top choice for climbers.
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