Sleep in huts with beds rather than in tents, with dinner served in a dining hall.
An acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut, with a walk to Zebra Rocks.
A steady, well-graded trail that is the oldest and best-known route on the mountain.
Overview
Marangu is the only Kilimanjaro route with huts, which is why many people choose it. You get a bed, a dining hall and a proper night's rest, although the huts are shared and basic.
This six-day version adds a day at Horombo for acclimatisation, which improves your chances on summit night. You go up and down the same trail, so the scenery repeats, but the light changes and the descent goes fast. See Mount Kilimanjaro for the whole mountain.
Tour facts
Difficulty
Challenging
Group sizes
Private, Small group
Great for
12+
Languages
English, Swahili
Start point
Moshi
Guest rating
4.8 / 5
Best months to travel
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1Marangu Gate to Mandara HutMount Kilimanjaro
We drive from your Moshi hotel to Marangu Gate, register and walk through montane forest to Mandara Hut at about 2,720 metres. Colobus and blue monkeys are common on this stretch. Dinner and overnight in the hut.
Day2Mandara Hut to Horombo HutMount Kilimanjaro
The forest gives way to moorland, and the views open out to Mawenzi and Kibo. You reach Horombo Hut at around 3,720 metres in the afternoon.
Day3Acclimatisation day at HoromboMount Kilimanjaro
A rest day with a short walk to Zebra Rocks at about 4,000 metres, then back to Horombo to let your body adjust. This is one of the best things you can do for your summit chances.
Day4Horombo Hut to Kibo HutMount Kilimanjaro
You cross the alpine desert known as the Saddle and reach Kibo Hut at about 4,700 metres. Dinner is early, and you rest before the summit attempt.
Day5Summit day: Uhuru Peak and back to HoromboMount Kilimanjaro
We start around midnight. The climb is steep and cold, reaching Gilman's Point on the crater rim and continuing to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres for sunrise. We descend to Kibo and then on to Horombo Hut.
Day6Horombo Hut to Marangu GateMount Kilimanjaro
A long, easy descent to Marangu Gate, where you receive your summit certificate. We drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.
Photos from the trip
What’s included
KINAPA park fees, camping or hut fees and rescue fee for the route and nights sold
Chief guide, assistant guides, cook and porters within park crew ratios
Tents or huts as the route requires, mess tent and three meals a day on the mountain
Private transfers from your Moshi or Arusha hotel to the gate and back
Purified drinking water on the mountain
Two nights in a hotel in Moshi or Arusha, bed and breakfast, before and after the climb
Not included
International flights, visa and hotel nights beyond those included
Sleeping bag, down jacket and other personal kit (a hire list is sent with your quote)
Tips for the mountain crew, which we explain before you fly
Travel insurance that covers trekking to 6,000 metres, which is required
Prices by season
Per person in USD, 2026 rates, based on 2 travellers sharing.
High season
1 Jan – 31 Mar
$1,780
High season
1 Jun – 31 Oct
$1,780
Low season
Best value
1 Apr – 31 May
$1,655
Low season
Best value
1 Nov – 31 Dec
$1,655
Travelling in a group? You save
Per-person price for the Low season rate.
1 traveller
$2,516
--52%
2 travellers
$1,655
-0%
3 travellers
$1,605
-3%
4 travellers
$1,572
-5%
5 travellers
$1,539
-7%
6 travellers
$1,506
-9%
7 travellers
$1,490
-10%
8 travellers
$1,473
-11%
Frequently asked questions
Is Marangu really the easiest route?
It is often called that because it has huts and a steady gradient, but the summit night is the same as on other routes. Success rates depend far more on time and pace than on the route name.
How fit do I need to be?
You do not need mountaineering experience, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours a day on consecutive days. Hill walking in the months before helps a lot.
What are the chances of reaching the summit?
They depend mostly on time to acclimatise, your pace and the weather. Longer routes and a slow pace give the best chance, but no operator can guarantee a summit.
