6 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climb 2026–2028

About 6 days Kilimanjaro hiking Machame route from Arusha or Moshi in 2026, 2027, and 2028

There are six main routes to hike Kilimanjaro on different days: the Machame route, Marangu route, Umbwe route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, and Shira route. Kilimanjaro hiking for 6 days on the Machame route from Arusha or Moshi with the best Kilimanjaro hiking operator. Kilimanjaro hikers take the six-day Kilimanjaro trek via the Machame route, which is one of the most beautiful and highly recommended routes up Kilimanjaro.
The 6-day Kilimanjaro Machame route is available privately or in groups and can be done on a budget or in luxury, depending on the interests of the travelers. Our 6-day Machame route Kilimanjaro hiking package has a considerably better success rate of summitting because it can be done over longer periods of time and the slope is easier to manage. The minimum number of days required for the Kilimanjaro hiking Machame route is 6 days and 5 nights.

Highlights of a 6 days, 5 nights trek up Kilimanjaro's Machame route itinerary

Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp;
Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp;
Day 3: Shira Camp to lava tower to Barranco camp;
Day 4: Barranco camp to summit to Mweka camp;
Day 6: Mweka camp to Mweka gate to Moshi or Arusha.

Day 1: From Arusha or Moshi to Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation (ft): (3,000 m): 5-. 6,000 ft / 1,830 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m.
Distance: 11 km.
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.
Habitat: Montane Forest.
Camp: Machame Camp.
On the first day of the six-day Kilimanjaro climbing Machame route, the drive from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate is expected to take about 50 minutes. The Kilimanjaro hiking journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. You will walk a winding trail through a rainforest as soon as you leave the park, which will lead you to a ridge. Kilimanjaro trekking poles and gaiters are excellent choices in this situation.

Day 2: Kilimanjaro hiking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Elevation (ft): 10,200 ft / 3,100 m to 12,600 ft / 3,840 m.
Distance: 9 km.
Walking Time: 4-6 hours.
Habitat: Moorland.
Full Board Shira Cave Camp
After breakfast, we depart the rainforest's glades and proceed uphill, traversing the valley over a precarious rocky ridge. The path now takes a river gorge to the west, where it continues until we reach the Shira campground.

Day 3: Kilimanjaro climbing from Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco camp

Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
12,600 ft / 3,840 m to 12,700 ft / 3,860 m.
Distance: 15 km.
Walking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert.
Full Board Barranco Camp
Today's trek includes a gradual ascent and sweeping vistas on the third day of a 6-day Kilimanjaro hiking itinerary along the Machame Route. After a hearty lunch at the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m), we drop to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley as we travel around the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing beneath the Lava Tower and the last portion of the Western Breach (3,950 m).

Day 4: Kilimanjaro hiking from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp.
4000m/13,000ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 9km
Walking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Full Board at Barafu Camp.
After breakfast, we depart from Barranco and travel over a ridge to the Barranco Wall, via the Karanga Valley, and finally to the intersection where the Mweka Trail intersects. We keep going until we reach Barafu Camp. You have finished the South Circuit, which gives distinct views of the summit. With views of the summit in the distance, this is where we set up camp. This marks the end of day four of the 6-day Kilimanjaro hiking Machame route package.

Day 5: Kilimanjaro hiking from Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp

Elevation (ft): 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,343ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 6km up / 13km down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
On the fifth day of 6 days of Kilimanjaro climbing, we will proceed to the peak between the Rebmann and Reitzel glaciers rather early in the morning (between midnight and 2:00 a.m.). You travel northwest and make your way over steep scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This section is the hardest part of the walk, both physically and mentally. You'll take a little break at Stella Point, where you'll be rewarded with the most breathtaking sunrise you're ever likely to witness. Faster hikers can see the sunrise from the peak. On your hour-long journey to the summit from Stella Point, you might run into snow the entire way. The highest peak on Mount Kilimanjaro and the African continent can be found at Uhuru Peak. After lunch at Barafu, we start our descent from the mountain by going straight down to the Mweka Camp. For the loose gravel coming down, Kilimanjaro hiking gaiters and Kilimanjaro trekking poles can be useful. We reach Mweka Camp and take in our final night on the mountain.

Day 6: Decend from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Arusha or Moshi

Elevation (ft): 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6m
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: half board
This is the sixth and final day of hiking Kilimanjaro via the Machame route. You will continue your descent to the Mweka Park Gate after breakfast to pick up your Kilimanjaro hiking certificates. It could be muddy and damp at lower altitudes. Kilimanjaro hiking: trekking poles and gaiters will be useful. Most likely, shorts and t-shirts will suffice (keep rain gear and warmer clothing on hand). At the Mweka gate, a Best Buy Safaris car will be waiting to transport you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi at the end of 6 days of Kilimanjaro hiking via the Machame route.