Tour overview

This 8-day expedition climbs Kilimanjaro by the Rongai Route, the only approach from the north and one of the least crowded. A licensed chief guide leads the group of four to sixteen, with one guide for every two climbers. You stay two nights at a resort in Marangu and five in full-service mountain camps, with all meals on the climb.

After registering at the eastern gate you walk up through forest, then climb steadily to Second Cave and the moorland of Kikelewa, with views over the Kenyan plains. An afternoon acclimatisation walk beneath the jagged peak of Mawenzi prepares you for the high ground.

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You cross the lunar desert of the Saddle to Kibo, at the foot of the summit cone, then set off by torchlight for Gillman's Point at sunrise and Uhuru Peak, before descending past Horombo and Mandara to Marangu.

The physical rating is high. This climb suits fit walkers who prefer a quieter, drier route.

Trip highlights

  • Rongai forest (Day 2)
  • Second Cave and Kikelewa (Day 3)
  • Beneath Mawenzi (Day 4)
  • The lunar Saddle (Day 5)
  • Sunrise at Gillman's Point and Uhuru Peak (Day 6)

Your route

11 stops from Marangu to Marangu

8-day route: Marangu – Rongai – Kikelewa – Mawenzi – Kibo – Uhuru Peak – Horombo – Marangu
  1. Marangu Day 1
  2. Nale Moru Day 2
  3. Rongai Forest Day 2
  4. Second Cave Day 3
  5. Kikelewa Caves Day 3
  6. Mawenzi Tarn Camp Day 4
  7. Kibo Campsite Day 5
  8. Gillman's Point Day 6
  9. Horombo Camp Day 6
  10. Mandara Huts Day 7
  11. Marangu Days 7–8

Why choose this tour

A quieter, drier route. One guide for every two climbers.

Best suited to

  • Fit walkers
  • Travellers who prefer quieter trails
  • Bucket-list climbers
  • Solo travellers
The jagged peak of Mawenzi on Kilimanjaro

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Marangu, Tanzania to Marangu, Tanzania

  1. Day 1 · Marangu Marangu

    Welcome to Tanzania.

    Hotel
    Mountain resort
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Rongai Gate, Rongai Forest Rongai Forest

    Through the forest.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Second Cave, Kikelewa Kikelewa

    Onto the moorland.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Mawenzi Tarn Mawenzi

    Beneath Mawenzi.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · The Saddle, Kibo Kibo

    Across the lunar desert.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Gillman's Point, Uhuru Peak, Horombo Uhuru Peak

    Summit day.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Mandara, Marangu Marangu

    Down to Marangu.

    Hotel
    Mountain resort
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Marangu Marangu

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Kilimanjaro's rocky upper slopes lit at sunrise

Where you stay

  • Marangu (1 night) Mountain resort
  • Kilimanjaro (5 nights) Full-service mountain camp
  • Marangu (1 night) Mountain resort

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 2 resort nights and 5 nights camping
  • Meals 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Kilimanjaro National Park fees
  • Chief guide, assistant guides, cooks and porters
  • Transport to the trailhead
  • Group airport transfers at set times

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 1 dinner
  • Tanzania visa
  • Some meals in Marangu
  • Tips and travel insurance covering trekking to 6,000 m
An ice formation on the summit of Kilimanjaro above the clouds

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You have never trekked before
  • You dislike camping
  • You want extra acclimatisation days
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 2–7 · Dinner: Days 1–6
Snow-capped Kilimanjaro above the plains

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,119 per person, twin share, tour only. 7 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Yes, UK citizens need a visa; apply for an e-visa well before travel.

How hard is the climb?

Very demanding: long days at high altitude and a night-time summit push. Good fitness and training beforehand are essential.

Where do I sleep on the mountain?

In tents at the mountain campsites, with a mess tent for meals and a toilet tent; porters carry the camping kit.

Which meals are included?

All meals on the mountain, plus breakfasts and two dinners in Marangu.

Why choose the Rongai Route?

It is quieter than the southern routes and usually drier, with good views north into Kenya.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £3,119
See dates & prices