Machame Route 6 Days Itinerary, Prices & Hiking Dates
The Machame Route 6 Days Itinerary —also referred to as the “Whisky Route”—is one of the greatest ways to climb Kilimanjaro because it allows climbers to “walk high and sleep low” during acclimatization, which leads to one of the highest summit success rates of any route.
A traditional Kilimanjaro route is the Machame route, sometimes referred to as the Whiskey Route. It is among the most well-traveled paths for climbing Kilimanjaro. Every year, hundreds of treks are planned along this trail, which begins in a stunning tropical forest, by The Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company. There are two versions of the Machame route: the 6-day and the 7-day. The latter has a far higher summit success rate and acclimatization profile. Even for novices, Machame 7 is a fantastic route with breathtaking vistas. Hiking across Kilimanjaro’s five climate zones, climbing the stunning Barranco Wall, and seeing the strange-looking Dendrosenecio kilimanjari—truly unusual plants that are found nowhere else in the world—will all be enjoyable experiences.
Benefits of the Machame Route
High success Rate:
Rest assured – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with our professional guides will be successful.
Superb Acclimatization:
Our climbing itineraries are designed to provide the most seamless transition to acclimatization.
Stunning Sceneries:
You’ll be treated to breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amazing pictures and visual ecstasy are assured.
Bottled Oxygen:
Unlimited bottled oxygen is provided for every expedition to ease the burden of acclimatization.
Kilimanjaro Climb – Full 6 Day Machame Route
The Detailed Machame Route 6 Days Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), A Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company representative will greet you and arrange for your transfer to the hotel at the discounted cost. The hotel will have all you need for a nice stay, including Internet connection, a swimming pool, friendly staff, hot water, and comfortable rooms. Our supervisors will give you a briefing in the evening and ensure that you are prepared to start the ascent.
Your group’s shared airport transportation are included in private tour packages. extra individual transfers will incur extra fees. Coordinate the arrival and departure timings of your group to save additional expenses.
Day 2: Trekking From Machame Gate To Machame Camp
In the morning, a mountain support team and a guide will show up at your hotel to meet you and give you a briefing. After that, you will drive to Machame Gate, the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park. The group will begin walking up to Machame Camp following the brief formalities of obtaining climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue organization. We advise bringing a raincoat and extra clothing because the Machame Route’s first day passes through a rainforest with a high likelihood of tropical rainfall.
PLEASE NOTE: Since this will be your first day at this altitude, it is highly advised that you follow these recommendations going forward:
- Consume more than 4 liters of bottled water per day, gradually but regularly;
- Use a preventive intervention, such as a high-altitude assistance medication, to help reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. To lessen the discomfort of altitude sickness, many mountain climbers take these medications in the morning before starting their journey. Along with your trip schedule, our supervisors will give you more detailed information. To discuss any possible allergies or health issues, we advise speaking with your doctor before the trip.
Because your breathing pattern is reduced at night, your body receives less oxygen than it does during the day, which might cause discomfort related to acclimation to the high altitude. Considering altitude, you might thus begin to feel nauseous and get a headache. Keep an eye on your own health and notify your guide if you experience any altitude sickness symptoms.
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 5 km
Day 3: Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Following breakfast, you will begin your ascent to Shira Camp, the second high-altitude camp. On this day, you will be able to see breathtaking vistas of the Shira Plateau spread out in front of you for the first time after emerging from the rainforest. hiking is not particularly challenging from a technical standpoint, but you may experience altitude changes, so pay attention to your body and keep in mind that picking the right speed is crucial for successful hiking. Following lunch and some downtime upon arrival at the camp, the party will go on an acclimatization hike that will gain 400 meters (1,312 feet) in elevation in the direction of Lava Tower Camp. You will be given a hot meal when you return to Shira Camp.
Acclimatization hike:
Change in ElevationChange in Elevation:
Shira Camp (3,750 m /12,303 f)
Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,120 m /13,517 f)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5 km
Day 4: Trekking From Shira Camp To The Lava Tower and Descent To Barranco Camp
Following breakfast, you will depart Shira Camp and begin your journey to Lava Tower, the route’s main destination (4,600 m/15,088 f). There are numerous climbs and descents on this portion of the route, which culminates in a camp at an elevation of over 4,600 meters (15,088 feet). Although there may be challenging parts of the hike and some discomfort is normal, you must stay here for at least one to two hours in order to properly adjust to the altitude. Because of this, our groups eat lunch on Lava Tower.
You will descend to Barranco Camp following lunch. The well-known Barranco Wall is seen here; it is striking in both its size and its steepness! You will be climbing it the next day, but don’t worry—it has a really easy hiking track that isn’t scary at all.
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 11 km
Day 5: Trekking From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
To prevent crowds on the route up Barranco Wall on this particular day, it is preferable to start early. The actual ascent of the Wall is rather easy and takes just about an hour to finish, despite its intimidating height and steepness. With Kibo Peak in the background, the top of the wall offers a fantastic photo opportunity.
Your guides will choose the ideal speed for each trekker for the following portion of the day, which is full of ups and downs. Following a lunch break in Karanga Camp, there will be an acclimatization climb up Barafu Camp, which has a peak elevation of 3,995 meters (13,104 feet). After that, the group hikes back to spend the night at Karanga Camp.
Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation:
Karanga Camp (3,995 m /13,106 f)
Highest point reached: 4,270 m /14,009 f
Hiking distance: 2.5 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5 km
Day 6: Trekking From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
This morning, your group will start early. Following a hearty breakfast, you will start climbing Barranco Wall. To prevent being slowed down by the masses of other groups, we advise you to leave the camp as soon as possible. It takes about an hour to hike up the gorge wall, and it is not tough. You can relax and snap pictures in front of the Kibo volcano after the ascent.
After that, you begin a more challenging journey to Karanga Camp, which involves many climbs and descents. Don’t worry, though; our guides are skilled at determining the best pace for the group. You will have a hot meal once you arrive at the camp. You will have to climb to Barafu Camp after a few hours, where you will be given a hot meal. Before the night summit, it is preferable to rest and sleep for the rest of the day.
Trekking time: 8-10 hours
Distance: 11 km
Day 6: Ascent to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp
At night, your group will leave Barafu Camp and start the last ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,336 f). The most difficult aspect of the climb is the high altitude, which makes even routine exercise feel taxing. Technically, the climb is very easy. For the duration of the ascent, each climbing duo will be supervised by a personal guide who will keep an eye on their mental and physical health. If you’d like, you can descend to the closest glacier after reaching the summit of Uhuru. After returning to Barafu Camp, you will relax for two hours before descending to Millennium Camp.
PLEASE NOTE: Remember that 90% of all accidents, including the majority of broken arms and legs, happen during the descent. Since there is a significant chance of harming your toenails, please pay close attention to your feet.
Trekking time: 8-12 hours
Distance: 15 km
Day 7: Descent from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
The location of Millennium Camp is amid a tropical rainforest. You will feel relieved when you wake up because of the altitude drop and the accomplishment of reaching the top. Following a hearty breakfast, you will proceed to Mweka Gate, the park’s exit. Following your descent, everyone in the group will congratulate you and give you an opportunity to write your thoughts on the climb in the guestbook. Finally, you will receive a transfer back to your hotel and your commemorative certificates in our office.
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 12 km
Day 8: Departure
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
PLEASE NOTE: Check-out time from the hotel is 11:00 AM. You can extend your hotel stay for an additional cost if you have an evening flight that requires a late check-out.
End of the Machame Route 6 Days Itinerary
Climbing Cost Includes
- All transfers
- Hotel before and after the hike
- Camping equipment
- Meals on the hike
- Portable camping toilet
- Sleeping bags
- Satellite phone
- Professional guides and porters
- Oxygen tanks
- GPS Trackers
- Medical check-ups, fully-loaded medical kits, and in-company doctor
- Fully-loaded medical kits
- All park fees and taxes
- Dedicated support team
- Innovative and user-friendly travel planning portal
- Safe room and storage room
- Leave No Trace adventure
- Impactful change for the local communities
Climbing Cost Excludes
- International flights
- Tips to the climbing crew
- Visa fee
- Personal gear rentals
- Single supplement
- Travel insurance
Machame Route – Summit Success Rate
The percentage of hikers that reach the peak of Kilimanjaro via various routes is an important question for many tourists. Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company has been collecting accurate statistics from hundreds of Kilimanjaro climbs since 2014. Our Machame route expedition success rates are as follows:
You can see that the summit success rate is much greater for the 7 Day Machame route itinerary compared to the 6-day version. According to this measure, Machame 7 is indeed one of the top itineraries. The third day sees its merging with the Umbwe and Lemosho routes, which then proceed together to the peak. Anyone from novices to seasoned hikers will love it.
Although many operators claim to have high success rates, it is difficult to determine the veracity of these claims. We at Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company have a number of important factors for our high summit success rates. We take great pride in staffing our company with the most qualified locals, including top-tier Kilimanjaro guides, porters, and more. We are able to attract and retain great workers because we provide competitive pay and benefits. In addition, we spare no effort in providing our clients with all the resources they need for acclimation. For instance, in comparison to other Kilimanjaro trip operators, we have an abundance of oxygen tanks and extensive medicine kits stocked with a wide range of pharmaceuticals. In addition, our guides are well-versed in the signs of mountain sickness and can assist you in the event that you experience any difficulties. In order to ensure the safety of our trips and provide you with the best possibility of reaching the summit, we conduct two mandatory medical checks on customers and mountain crew members daily.