7 days Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Trekking
Duration
Explore Tours
Known as the “Coca-Cola Route,” Marangu is the most affordable and comfortable path to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the only route offering sleeping huts at every campsite, equipped with solar lighting and beds with mattresses and pillows. The communal huts create a warm and social atmosphere, where climbers from around the world share meals in lively dining huts.
Bathrooms and running water are available at the lower camps, while the higher huts offer basic facilities. Typically completed in five days, Marangu can also be extended to six days for better acclimatization, with an optional rest day at Horombo or a short hike to Mawenzi. This route is ideal for trekkers seeking a shorter, comfortable, and social climb.
Included/Exclude
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
- Sleeping Mattress
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Kilimanjaro summit certificate
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- Tanzania Visa
- Transfers (available as an optional addon)
- Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment)
- Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
- Tips and gratuities
- International and domestic flights
- Hotel (available as an optional addon)
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Travel insurance
- Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
Tour Plan
If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend in having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
Elevation: 1860m/6100ft to 2700m/8875ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
You leave the glades of the rain-forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.
Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 12km/7.5mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Heathland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Rest day at Horombo Hut with optional hike by Mawenzi Peak.
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 0km/0mi
Hiking Time: 0 hours
Habitat: Heathland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into “moonscape”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 4700m/15,500ft
Distance: 9km/5.5mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Spend the day at Kibo Hut to rest, recover, and adjust to the altitude before the summit. Take short hikes, stay hydrated, and prepare mentally and physically for the climb ahead.
Elevation: 4700 m/15500 ft
Distance: 9 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hrs
Habitat: alpine desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.
Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A vehicle will be waiting for you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
Distance: 20km/12.5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
