How difficult is the Marangu Route?

The Marangu Route is considered moderate but requires good physical fitness. The final ascent to Uhuru Peak is the most challenging section.

Do I need prior trekking experience?

No prior trekking experience is required, but good physical conditioning is essential for a successful summit attempt.

What is the accommodation like on this trek?

You will stay in A-frame huts with bunk beds, offering more comfort compared to camping routes.

What happens if I get altitude sickness?

Guides monitor trekkers closely and will recommend descent if altitude sickness symptoms become severe.

Kilimanjaro Marangu Route – 7-Day Guided Trek

Join us on an exhilarating 7-day trek along the Marangu Route, also known as the “Coca-Cola Route,” one of Kilimanjaro’s most popular trails. This route features comfortable hut accommodations, offering trekkers a unique blend of adventure and convenience. Starting in the rainforest at Marangu Gate, the journey ascends through diverse ecological zones before reaching the summit at Uhuru Peak. Led by expert guides, this trek ensures a well-paced, scenic, and fulfilling ascent to Africa’s highest point.

Accomodation
Mountain huts & lodges
Arrival City
Arusha
Departure City
Arusha
Best Season
June – October, December – March
Maximum Altitude
5,895m (Uhuru Peak)
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided
Guide
Professional mountain guides & porters
Tour Availability
Year-round departures
Transportation
Airport transfers & mountain transport
Walking Hours
4–13 hours per day, depending on the section

Overview

Itinerary

FAQs

Map

Kilimanjaro Trek Overview

This 7-day Kilimanjaro trek follows the Marangu Route, renowned for its steady ascent and hut accommodations. The journey begins in Arusha before heading to Marangu Gate, where the adventure starts. Each day offers a unique challenge, from the lush rainforest to the rocky alpine desert, culminating in an unforgettable sunrise at Uhuru Peak. With professional guides and carefully planned acclimatization, this trek maximizes your chances of reaching the summit while providing an enriching experience.

Key Highlights of the Trek

Conquer Mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route
Experience diverse landscapes, from rainforests to alpine deserts
Stay in comfortable A-frame huts along the route
Summit Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters for breathtaking panoramic views
Trek with experienced guides and a dedicated support team
Witness iconic landmarks like Maundi Crater and Gillman’s Point

Day 01 :

KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO ARUSHA

Your first night is to be spent at Planet Lodge in Arusha. If you have chosen to be picked-up by us from Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Easy Travel driver will be waiting to meet and welcome you and take you to your lodge in Arusha to relax after your flight..

Accommodation: Planet Lodge
Journey time and Distance: 1 hour, 55 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha

Day 02 :

ARUSHA – MARANGU GATE – MANDARA HUT

After an early breakfast at your lodge (07.00), we depart one hour later and arrive at the Marangu Gate around 11.00, ready for registration and the start of the trek. Excitement builds as the porters load up equipment and you meet the trekking team who will accompany you up the mountain. Starting on the south-east side of Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of 1900 metres and finishing the day at 2720 metres, our total walking time today to Mandara Hut – where we will spend the night – is around 3.5 to 4 hours (excluding breaks), during which we cover just over 8km. We start the walk in late morning, take our picnic lunch at around 14.00, and then continue the walk until we reach the hut at 17.00. Dinner is served at 19.30. Today’s walk, though almost entirely uphill, is a pleasant one, with perhaps the chance to see some blue monkeys or to admire the rainforest vegetation on the ascent. The rainforest is the chief feature of today’s landscape. Look out for the bright red impatiens kilimanjari flower, a symbol of the mountain. At the end of the day, the giant heathers and bearded lichen begin to show themselves for the first time. The Mandara A-frame Huts feature solar-powered lighting. Water is supplied from a stream and there are flush toilets. As you will be sleeping in dormitory-style accommodation with others, bringing some earplugs is advisable

Accommodation: Mandara Hut
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner
Journey time and Altitude: 4 hours, 2720 m from Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

Day 03 :

MANDARA HUT – HOROMBO HUT

Our early 07.00 breakfast prepares us for an 08.30 departure and today our 11km walk will take between 5.5 and 6 hours of actual walking time (excluding breaks) and we will climb a total of 1000 metres to the finishing-point at Horombo (altitude: 3720 metres). On the way we will enjoy our picnic lunch at 13.00, before continuing our climb and arriving at the hut at Horombo around 16.00. Dinner will be served at 18.00. On today’s walk, you will note that the forest landscape is quickly replaced by moorland and heather, as our route takes us past the renowned Maundi Crater. Altogether, the scenery today becomes more barren, but nevertheless some of Kilimanjaro’s iconic plant species can be seen today. Look out for the fascinating giant groundsels, lobelias and proteas. If you are lucky enough to have a clear day, you should get the first chance to see the snow-capped peak of Kibo and also the distinctive Mawenzi peak. Like Mandara, Horombo also consists of A-Frame huts and caters for those on the way up the mountain and those on the way back down. Once again, you will be in dormitory accommodation.

Accommodation: Horombo Hut
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner
Journey time and Altitude: 6 hours, 3720 m from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Day 04 :

HOROMBO HUT – KIBO HUT

Today, we ascend a further 1000 metres, cover around 9km and aim to arrive at the hut at Kibo for our overnight stop by around 15.00. Once again, we start early, with a 07.00 breakfast and a 08.30 departure. Where the path divides today, we choose to take the southern (left-hand) route. On this path we take the opportunity to fill up our water reserves at the Maua River, the last useable water supply at a height of around 4,000 metres. At first today’s stage is rather steep, and there is less vegetation, but we are rewarded with our first sight today of some of the famous ‘cones’ of Kilimanjaro. Picnic lunch is once again scheduled for 13.00. After the Maua River, we climb towards the Mawenzi Ridge and across the barren, dry terrain known as The Saddle and head for the huts, which are at the bottom of the Kibo summit. Dinner tonight is at 17.30 and you are advised to get to bed early, in preparation for the midnight departure for the summit. Kibo Huts are made of stone and quite basic

Accommodation: Kibo Hut
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner
Journey time and Altitude: 4.5 hours, 4000 m from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

Day 05 :

KIBO HUT – SUMMIT – HOROMBO HUT

Our schedule for our ‘Summit Day’ is very different. Rising at 23.00, we take our tea and biscuits (23.30) before a midnight departure. Today, we have around 1175 metres to climb, on what will be our toughest day, with around 13 hours of actual walking time and a distance of 21km. Our expectation is to reach the summit from 07.00 onwards. We begin on a rocky path, and then climb via a series of zig-zags which get ever smaller.

Our reference points on our ascent today are, first, William’s Point (5131 metres), Hans Meyer Cave (5258 metres) and then Gillman’s Point (5719 metres). The focus today is on walking slowly. On reaching the top, we take time to celebrate the successful climb, take photos and congratulate ourselves, then make the descent to return to Kibo hut for about 11.00 and take a very well-deserved, two-hour rest and enjoy a welcome hot lunch. Setting off again at 14.00, we continue our descent until we reach Horombo for about 17.00. Dinner will be served at 19.00

Accommodation: Horombo Hut
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner
Journey time and Altitude: 13 hours, 5719 m from Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut

Day 06 :

HOROMBO HUT – MARANGU GATE – ARUSHA

Accommodation: Horombo Hut
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner
Journey time and Altitude: 13 hours, 5719 m from Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut

Day 07 :

DEPARTURE – KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

After a good night’s rest at your lodge, you will take breakfast ready for the scheduled check-out by 10.00. (If you wish to remain in the hotel during the day, please advise us of this when you book your trip and we will inform you of the cost for day room which ends at 18:00hrs, and then make the booking on your behalf.) If you have booked a transfer to the airport, you will be collected from your hotel and dropped off at the airport. For those travellers who have booked to go on safari, our Easy Travel guide will be meeting you in the evening to provide you with a briefing.

Meal Plan: Breakfast
Journey time and Distance: 5 hours, 245 km from Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport