Route Info: Known as the "Coca-Cola" route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations.
The minimum days required for this route is five, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in that time period is quite low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly recommended when climbing Kilimanjaro using the Marangu route. So we request you to take at list six days. However, despite its immense popularity, we avoid leading climbs on the Marangu route. The route has the least scenic variety of all the routes because the ascent and descent are done on the same path and it is the most crowded route for that reason. Marangu is favored only during the rainy season, where the hut accommodations are preferred over wet ground, or for those who only have five days to climb Kilimanjaro.
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day. Meals: No Meals Included.
Day 1: Marangu Gate (1860m) to Mandara Hut (2700m)
Distance covered: 8.3km / 5.2mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge in Moshi and taken to the Marangu gate. Once the necessary paper work has been completed, your trek can begin and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest. Alongside the impressive vegetation, you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of some primates as you head to the Mandara Hut. After a well-earned rest, your guide can take you to the Maundi Crater where you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Kenyan interior.
Day 2: Mandara Hut (2700m) to Horombo Hut (3700m)
Distance covered: 12.5km / 7.8mi
Approx. time taken: 9 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
The day begins with an early breakfast. Shortly after you have left Mandara Hut, you will reach the timberline and then enter the heath and moor zone. Approximately[[Not allowed]]hours later, the Horombo Hut will come into sight, standing at an altitude of 3700m. From the hut, you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo and the wide plain of the Masai steppe.
Day 3: Horombo Hut (3700m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)
Distance covered: 9.5km / 5.9mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Today stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the Last Water point which is followed by the so-called saddle. This nearly vegetation less plateau joins the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi. Today destination is the Kibo Hut that is usually reached in about 5 to 6 hours. Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short.
Day 4: Kibo Hut (4700m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Horombo Hut (3700m)
Distance covered: 22km / 13.7mi
Approx. time taken: 12 to 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Today is The Big Day to the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillmans Point (5681m) to the crater rim of Kilimanjaro to where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 to 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 to 2 hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.
Day 5: Horombo Hut (3700m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)
Distance covered: 20.8km / 12.9mi
Approx. time taken: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Included
The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rainforest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.
Day 6: Depart Tanzania
After the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you can do a day trip to the waterfall, coffee plantation, hot water spring, we can organize short safari, otherwise our driver will take you to Kilimanjaro airport for your flig
