8 Days 7 Nights Kilimanjaro Trekking

Arrive at your base hotel in Moshi. Pre-climb briefing. Overnight at your base hotel, Chanya Lodge. Meals: Dinner.

Breakfast. Drive from the base hotel to Marangu gate for registration formalities, then proceed to Rongai taking around 4-5 hours in total. The climb starts at the village of Nale Moru (1950m) through fields of maize and potatoes before entering the pine forest; the climb is steady and gentle through forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. Reach the first cave camp at the edge of the moorland zone (2600m) with great views over the Kenyan plains. Trekking time around 3-4 hours. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight: 1st Cave Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Breakfast. Today's climb starts with a steady walk up to the 'Second Cave' (3450m), where Kibo peak and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim should be clearly visible. Leave the main trail and trek across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Picnic lunch en route. The campsite is in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa caves (3600m). Trekking time today around 6-8 hours. Overnight: Kikelewa Caves Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Breakfast. Today you enter the alpine desert zone and progress away from Kibo. Picnic lunch en route. A quiet trail towards the camp at 4330m, where the steep rock spires of Mawenzi should be in full view. The rest of the day is for resting in preparation for the summit attempt, or short walks that aid acclimatisation. Trekking time around 5-7 hours. Overnight: Mawenzi Tarn Hut Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Breakfast. This is the start of your summit attempt (which will be at midnight tonight). Today is a relatively easy hike across the wide saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, with the ascent relatively level until you approach Kibo. Trekking time around 5-7 hours. On arrival at Kibo the chef prepares your 'last meal' around mid-afternoon; it is recommended to sleep after dinner until your guides wake you for the summit attempt around midnight. Overnight: Kibo Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

At midnight (00:00am) you are woken by your guides for the summit attempt, allowing you to reach the summit around sunrise and descend in daylight. You walk in single file, ascending in a zigzag through the scree and entering the arctic zone. Determination takes you to Gilman's Point at 5710m, where you take a short rest; those still feeling strong can continue to Uhuru Peak at 5895m, staying a maximum of 10-15 minutes. Begin the descent to Horombo, following the same path to Kibo campsite for a hot lunch, then continuing to the Rongai/Marangu junction and through heather and moorland to Horombo camp at 3700m. Overnight: Horombo Camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Breakfast. This is your final day on the mountain. You leave Horombo and trek through the mountain forest until Marangu gate. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight at your base hotel, Chanya Lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Depart after breakfast. Meals: Breakfast.