Mount Kilimanjaro National Park - Tanzania
6 days
<p> 6 Day Machame Route via Stella Point – Kilimanjaro Climb (2026/2027)<br><br> </p> <p>Looking for the <strong>fastest challenging route up Kilimanjaro</strong> that still offers stunning scenery and excellent value? The <strong>6 Day Machame Route via Stella Point</strong> (also known as the “Whiskey Route”) is one of the most beautiful and demanding short options to reach <strong>Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)</strong> – the Roof of Africa.</p> <p><br>Important: This itinerary is recommended <strong>ONLY for very fit, experienced hikers</strong> with proven high-altitude performance. For most climbers we strongly recommend the <strong>7 Day Machame Route</strong> for better acclimatization and higher summit success rate (85–90% vs ~65–75% on the 6-day version).<br><br></p><p> Why Choose the 6 Day Machame Route via Stella Point?<br><br> </p> <ul> <li> Most scenic 6-day route on Kilimanjaro </li> <li> Crosses the spectacular <strong>Shira Plateau</strong> (one of the most beautiful areas on the mountain) </li> <li> Cheaper and easier to access than the 6 Day Umbwe or 6 Day Rongai routes </li> <li> Traverses 5 climate zones: rainforest → heath → moorland → alpine desert → arctic summit </li> <li> Night summit attempt via <strong>Stella Point</strong> → Uhuru Peak (classic Machame finish) </li> <li> Descent via faster Mweka Route </li> <li> <br> </li> </ul><p> 6 Day Machame Route Itinerary – Day by Day (Via Stella Point) </p> <p>| Day | Route | Altitude Gain | Walking Time | Accommodation Highlights | |-----|---------------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Machame Gate (1,790 m) → Machame Camp (2,835 m) | +1,045 m | 5–7 hrs | Rainforest, monkeys, giant heather|<br> | 2 | Machame Camp → Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m) | +1,015 m| 5–6 hrs | Exit forest, first views of Kibo, Shira Plateau|<br> | 3 | Shira 2 → Lava Tower (4,640 m) → Barranco Camp (3,976 m) | +790 m / –664 m | 6–8 hrs | Acclimatization day, Lava Tower, Barranco Wall|<br> | 4 | Barranco Camp → Barafu Camp (4,673 m) | +697 m| 8–10 hrs (long day!) | Barranco Wall scramble, Karanga Valley (skipped night) |<br> | 5 | Barafu Camp → Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) → Mweka Camp (3,100 m) | +1,222 m / –2,795 m | 11–15 hrs total| Midnight summit via Stella Point, glaciers, sunrise at the Roof of Africa |<br> | 6 | Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate (1,640 m)| –1,460 m| 3–4 hrs | Victory walk through rainforest, certificate|<br><br></p><p> Key Differences: 6 Day vs 7 Day Machame Route<br><br> </p> <p>The only difference is the removal of the night at <strong>Karanga Camp</strong>. → Day 4 becomes a very long day (Barranco → Barafu, ~8–10 hours) → Less rest before the summit push → Significantly lower acclimatization time → Lower summit success rate</p> <p>If you are not 100% confident in your fitness and altitude tolerance, book the <strong>7 Day Machame Route</strong> instead.<br><br></p><p> Highlights of the 6 Day Machame Route<br><br> </p> <ul> <li> Lush afromontane rainforest with colobus monkeys </li> <li> Vast Shira Plateau – one of the most photogenic areas on Kilimanjaro </li> <li> Dramatic Barranco Wall scramble </li> <li> Giant glacial valleys and close-up views of the Southern Ice Fields </li> <li> Summit via <strong>Stella Point (5,756 m)</strong> at sunrise – classic Kilimanjaro experience </li> <li> Possible views inside Kibo crater and the Ash Pit (weather dependent) </li> <li> Standing on the <strong>highest freestanding mountain in the world</strong> </li> </ul><p> <br>Who Is This Route For?<br><br> </p> <p>✓ Very fit hikers with previous high-altitude experience ✓ People who want maximum scenery in minimum days ✓ Climbers on a tighter budget or schedule</p> <p>✗ First-time high-altitude trekkers ✗ Anyone unsure about fitness or altitude adaptation<br><br></p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;color:#222222;">Hike Distance – 39miles / 63 km</span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;color:#222222;">Vertical Gain – 16,628ft / 5068m </span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;color:#222222;">Drop – 17,153ft / 5228m</span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:12pt;color:#222222;">Trekking Time – 45 hours</span> </p> <p> <br> </p>
Price: $1700
Duration: 6 days
Location: Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania
Type: Hiking
Looking for the fastest challenging route up Kilimanjaro that still offers stunning scenery and excellent value? The 6 Day Machame Route via Stella Point (also known as the “Whiskey Route”) is one of the most beautiful and demanding short options to reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – the Roof of Africa.
Important: This itinerary is recommended ONLY for very fit, experienced hikers with proven high-altitude performance. For most climbers we strongly recommend the 7 Day Machame Route for better acclimatization and higher summit success rate (85–90% vs ~65–75% on the 6-day version).
| Day | Route | Altitude Gain | Walking Time | Accommodation Highlights |
|-----|---------------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1 | Machame Gate (1,790 m) → Machame Camp (2,835 m) | +1,045 m | 5–7 hrs | Rainforest, monkeys, giant heather|
| 2 | Machame Camp → Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m) | +1,015 m| 5–6 hrs | Exit forest, first views of Kibo, Shira Plateau|
| 3 | Shira 2 → Lava Tower (4,640 m) → Barranco Camp (3,976 m) | +790 m / –664 m | 6–8 hrs | Acclimatization day, Lava Tower, Barranco Wall|
| 4 | Barranco Camp → Barafu Camp (4,673 m) | +697 m| 8–10 hrs (long day!) | Barranco Wall scramble, Karanga Valley (skipped night) |
| 5 | Barafu Camp → Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) → Mweka Camp (3,100 m) | +1,222 m / –2,795 m | 11–15 hrs total| Midnight summit via Stella Point, glaciers, sunrise at the Roof of Africa |
| 6 | Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate (1,640 m)| –1,460 m| 3–4 hrs | Victory walk through rainforest, certificate|
The only difference is the removal of the night at Karanga Camp. → Day 4 becomes a very long day (Barranco → Barafu, ~8–10 hours) → Less rest before the summit push → Significantly lower acclimatization time → Lower summit success rate
If you are not 100% confident in your fitness and altitude tolerance, book the 7 Day Machame Route instead.
✓ Very fit hikers with previous high-altitude experience ✓ People who want maximum scenery in minimum days ✓ Climbers on a tighter budget or schedule
✗ First-time high-altitude trekkers
✗ Anyone unsure about fitness or altitude adaptation
Hike Distance – 39miles / 63 km
Vertical Gain – 16,628ft / 5068m
Drop – 17,153ft / 5228m
Trekking Time – 45 hours
No images available for this package.
Our driver will pick you on your arrival at the airport whereby you will drive to Arusha town for overnight at the lodge booked for overnight.
· Destination: Kilimanjaro airport/Arusha town
· Accommodation: masai land hotel, Seranero Hotel in Moshi
· Meals: BB
START – 5,906FT / 1800M
END – 9,302FT / 2835M
DISTANCE – 7 MILES / 11KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalize packing and after finishing with formalities you start hiking from Machame Gate. Today's hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is taken on trail during the hike before reaching Machame Camp for the night.
START – 9,302FT / 2835M
END – 12,304FT / 3750M
DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – AFROMONTANE FOREST / HEATH
From Machame Camp you hike to Shira Camp. The first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly but you will still make it to your next camp in time for a hot lunch. The zone you pass into today is known as the heath zone where attractive heliochrysum and lobelia plants become apparent. Various geologic features can be seen today from lava tubes to glacial valleys.
START – 12,304FT / 3750M
END – 12,796FT / 3900M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 6-8 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Today is a “walk high sleep low” day. You ascend into alpine desert to Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m) where lunch is taken before descending to Barranco Camp. This is a long day but note that the next time you head to this altitude is at base camp – a great acclimatization day!
START – 12,796FT / 3900M
END – 15,332FT / 4673M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 9KM
TIME – 6-8 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, HEATH
From Barranco camp, famous for its' giant groundsels (Senecio species), you ascend the Barranco wall and hike glacial valleys to Karanga camp. Lunch is taken at Karanga valley before heading to Barafu in the afternoon. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening. Overnight Barafu Camp. Alt 4,600m, 15,092ft (full board).
START – 15,332FT / 4673M
END – 10,171FT / 3100M
DISTANCE – 11 MILES / 18KM
TIME – 14-16 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, ARCTIC, HEATH
Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m) and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point (Alt: 18,865ft, 5750m) affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down however. The first stage is to get back to our base camp for a quick change of clothes and refuel before the long hike downhill to Mweka Camp. The downhill is hard on the knees and walking poles at this stage are highly recommended. You should reach Mweka Camp before dusk for your final night on the mountain.
START – 10,171FT / 3100M
END – 5,381FT / 1640M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 3-4 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you descend once again through afromontane forest and around midday, after lunch, diplomat’s collection and saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited and representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey. Climb with us for unforgettable Adventure.
In the morning after done with your breakfast our driver will pick you from the hotel and drop you at the airport for your flight back home.
· Destination: Moshi area/Kilimanjaro airport
· Accommodation: Departure
· Meals: B