Trekkers should arrange their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Upon arrival, a private transfer will take you to your hotel, allowing time to rest and acclimatise to the local environment. That evening or early the next morning, you will meet your local Kandoo representative for a comprehensive pre-climb briefing. During this session, you will go through essential safety information, gear checks, packing tips, and health advice, ensuring you are fully prepared for the days of trekking ahead.

After breakfast, a private transfer takes you to Machame Gate for registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities. With porters handling supplies and luggage, your ascent begins along the lush forest trail, winding upwards through dense vegetation. The forest is alive with birds and occasional monkeys, offering a peaceful introduction to the mountain. After six to seven hours of trekking and an elevation gain of 1,200 metres, you will reach Machame Camp at 3,000 metres, where you will spend the night surrounded by the tranquility of the rainforest.

Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Ascent: 1,200 metres
Maximum altitude: 3,000 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving the rainforest behind, the trail crosses a small valley and climbs a steep rocky ridge covered with heather. The terrain opens up, offering impressive views as you continue west into a river gorge. The path gradually brings you to Shira Cave Camp at 3,850 metres. Nights here are significantly colder, sometimes dropping below freezing, highlighting the shift into the high-altitude alpine zone. The camp provides a perfect base for acclimatisation, while the surrounding landscape showcases Kilimanjaro’s dramatic geological features.

Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Ascent: 850 metres
Maximum altitude: 3,850 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a challenging but rewarding day. The trail climbs steadily to Lava Tower (4,600 m), where trekkers pause for lunch and acclimatisation, following the principle of “walk high, sleep low” to aid altitude adjustment. After this high point, the trail descends nearly 650 metres to Barranco Camp, set in a valley below the Western Breach and the imposing Great Barranco Wall. The descent offers stunning photographic opportunities, and the camp itself is sheltered, providing a comfortable place to rest after a day of significant altitude gain and exertion.

Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Ascent: 750 metres
Descent: 650 metres
Maximum altitude: 4,600 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A shorter but exciting day begins with a scramble up the Great Barranco Wall, a highlight of the Northern Circuit. After conquering the wall, the trail continues over scree to the Karanga Valley (3,930 m), nestled beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers. The trek offers dramatic vistas of the surrounding glaciers and mountain slopes, and the camp provides a scenic and restful spot to recover for the next day’s climb.

Hiking time: 4 hours
Ascent: 260 metres
Descent: 280 metres
Maximum altitude: 4,210 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trail leaves Karanga Camp and ascends toward the junction connecting with the Mweka descent trail. From here, trekkers continue to Barafu Camp (4,675 m), the final base before the summit. The camp offers spectacular views of both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks, and provides an opportunity to rest, hydrate, and prepare mentally for the summit climb. The late afternoon is spent checking gear, enjoying dinner, and ensuring an early night to conserve energy for the challenging ascent ahead.

Hiking time: 4–5 hours
Ascent: 465 metres
Maximum altitude: 4,675 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Summit day begins with a wake-up call at around 11:30 pm, followed by tea and biscuits to fuel the early climb. The trek follows a switchback trail through heavy scree between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers, ascending to Stella Point (5,732 m) on the crater rim. This is the most demanding part of the climb, testing endurance, determination, and focus. From Stella Point, you continue for about an hour to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point on Kilimanjaro and the African continent. After summit celebrations and photos, the descent retraces the route via Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp (3,100 m), where a well-earned dinner and sleep await. Trekking poles are recommended for the loose scree on the descent.

Hiking time: 14–16 hours
Ascent: 1,220 metres
Descent: 2,795 metres
Maximum altitude: 5,895 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The final day begins after breakfast with a gentle descent of 1,300 metres to Mweka Gate, where trekkers receive their summit certificates at the park headquarters. From the gate, a private transfer returns you to your hotel, allowing time to shower, relax, and celebrate the achievement of climbing Kilimanjaro.

Hiking time: 3–4 hours
Descent: 1,300 metres
Maximum altitude: 3,100 metres
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast

After a restful night, transfers are arranged for trekkers continuing to the airport, a safari, or Zanzibar. The journey concludes, leaving lasting memories of the Northern Circuit’s stunning landscapes and the unforgettable summit of Kilimanjaro.

Transport: Private transfer
Meals included: Breakfast