Incredible Kilimanjaro Summit Route
High Success Rate
A Quiet, Rarely Used Trail
Fitness level: Able to hike 4-5 miles at a time
Trek Begins & Ends in Moshi, Tanzania
Maximum Altitude: 5,895m/19,341 ft
The Awesome Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro Route
The Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route is an unforgettable experience. This relatively new route ascends the more scenic and tranquil western slope of Kilimanjaro and crosses nearly the entire mountain before the summit. This is easily one of the most picturesque paths and peaceful journeys up Africa’s highest point, as there are almost no other groups on the northern face.
Important Details
Price
$3,300 USD
Meeting point
We’ll pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and then transfer you to your hotel in Moshi, Tanzania. You will then stay overnight and in the morning, we’ll drive to the gate where we will start our Kilimanjaro trek. Please note: the hotel and transfers are included in the price.
Availability
January through mid-March
Mid-June through October
December
Duration
9 days, 8 nights + 2 days at hotel
An additional night can be arranged to sleep at the crater rim. This option is best during the drier season from January through March as you spend an unforgettable night under the stars in the shadow of the glacier. The additional time spent at high altitude in cold conditions can be very challenging, so this add-on is only recommended for the most serious of adventure enthusiasts. Simply contact us if you’re interested in the extra night.
Group size
2 min. – 12 max.
Included
- Dedicated Customer Satisfaction Associate
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Hotel lodging the night before and the night after the climb
- Breakfast before and after the climb
- All meals and water on the mountain
- All park fees and taxes
- Transportation to and from the hotel and trailhead
- Tents (3-person mountaineering tent)
- Sleeping mat
- Private toilet tent
- Support team (certified guides, porters, and cooks)
- Kilimanjaro SAR evacuation insurance
Not included
- Airfare to and from Tanzania
- Personal travel insurance
- Visa
- Tips for the support team
- Sleeping bags and other personal gear
- Rental gear
- Lunch and dinner at the hotel
- Drinks and snacks
Gear list
- Top thermal layer
- Bottom thermal layer
- 1-2 pairs of hiking pants
- 1 hardshell jacket
- 1-2 short-sleeved t-shirts
- 1 pair of warm trekking pants
- 1-2 long-sleeved hiking shirts
- 1 softshell insulated winter jacket
- 4-5 pairs of underwear
- 1 cozy fleece jacket
- 1 pair of worn-in sturdy hiking boots
- 3-4 pairs of socks. Merino wool is recommended
- Rain coat
- Rain pants
- Day backpack
- Duffel bag (recommended size 90L)
- Sleeping bag
- Headlamp
- Snacks
Meals
On all of our Kilimanjaro tours, all of our meals are freshly prepared on the mountain by our talented chef, so when we arrive to camp after a long day of hiking, we have a delicious hot meal waiting for us.
Please note: we can accommodate any dietary needs, so please let us know what your meal requirements are and we will be sure to have our chef whip you up something yummy!
About your guide
All of our guides have extensive experience and training, certification, and knowledge of the area and all of the routes. You’ll be in great hands from top to bottom and by the end of the trip, you’ll be sad to say goodbye!
Depending on the number of hikers, there will be generally 1 guide for every 2 people and 3 porters per person.
Highlights
What Sets This Route Apart
The Northern Circuit is the quiet route which crosses the rarely visited northern slopes
We’ll deliberately spend time at 13,000ft (4,000m) as it’s perfect for acclimatization, contributing to the higher summit success rates
Trek through the lush rainforest with monkeys swinging through the trees
The most incredible summit sunrise, across the plains of Africa
Itinerary
9-Day Northern Circuit Itinerary
DAY 1: Hotel to Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa
Elevation: 2,100m/6,890ft to 2,850m/9,350ft
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Hiking time: 3-4 hrs
Habitat: Rain forest
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll make our way to the western side of Kilimanjaro, to the Londorossi Gate, where we will meet up with our team of porters and guides. After we register your climb, our staff will prepare the supplies and gear for our trek. Here we can rest and take pictures while we wait for our baggage to be weighed and for the other necessary trip formalities to be completed.
We’ll then begin the climb. The trail gently ascends through the mountain forest and towards the end of the trek, we’ll enter the first camp that will have been set up and waiting for us. Tonight, we’ll rest under the forest canopy listening to the sounds of birds and velvet monkeys calling gently to each other—a very special experience.
DAY 2: Mti. Mkubwa to Shira I Camp
Elevation: 2,850m/9,350ft to 3,505m/11,500ft
Distance: 8 km/5 miles
Hiking time: 5-6 hrs
Habitat: Moorland/heath
We leave the rainforest, entering the heath and moorland zone. Today, we have amazing panoramic views that reach the rim of the Shira Plateau and enjoy the stunning views from the ridge. This day may challenge your body’s acclimatization but you’ll be in good hands and we’ll be taking short, continuous breaks. We will then camp on the Shira Plateau.
DAY 3: Shira Camp to II Camp
Elevation: 3,500m/11,500ft to 3,840m/12,600ft
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Hiking time: 3-4 hrs
Habitat: Moorland
This is a short day in terms of terrain and elevation. We’ll look to climb about 350m/1,148ft of gentle hiking. We’ll treat this as a resetting and acclimatization day and a chance to explore the Shira Plateau whilst enjoying views of Kibo, the largest of the three volcanic cones on Kilimanjaro.
DAY 4: Shira II Camp to Lava Tower to Moir Hut
Elevation: 3,840m/11,400ft to 4,600m/15,150ft to 4,200m/13,700ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking time: 5 hrs up/3 hrs down
Habitat: Moorland/alpine desert
This is a very important day in your growth and in your progression up the mountain. An imperative day for acclimatization. Once we arrive at the Lava Tower you will be served lunch, rest, and then descend down to Moir Hut, where we divert from the main trail.
DAY 5: Moir Hut Camp to Buffalo Camp
Elevation: 4,200m/13,700ft to 4,000m/13,100ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking time: 5-6 hrs
Habitat: Semi-alpine desert/moorland
We leave Moir by starting with a bit of a steep climb. We’ll then follow the trail that crosses a rock field up and then down. We’ll treat this as a recovery day, as we actually descend to 4,000m/13,100ft to Buffalo Camp where we will be served a delicious hot lunch.
DAY 6: Buffalo Camp to Third Cave Camp
Elevation: 4,000m/13,100ft to 3,800m/12,500ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking time: 3-4 hrs
Habitat: Moorland/heath
Our day begins with a trek around the northern slopes heading towards the eastern side of the mountain. The terrain here is dry with a bit of dust and a few shrubs. The route is quiet and we won’t come across very many other groups. On this day, we’ll begin to catch a sense of the quiet serenity and remoteness during our trek before we reach the Third Cave Camp.
DAY 7: Third Cave Camp to School Hut/Kibo Hut
Elevation: 3,800m/12,500ft to 4,800m/15,750ft
Distance: 7 km/4 miles
Hiking time: 4-5 hrs
Habitat: Moorland/alpine desert
This part is a steady ascent before we reach the School Hut. We’ll see some incredible views of the saddled landscape between Kibo Peak and Mawenzi Peak. You will enjoy lunch at the School Hut and then we’ll rest and finish preparing for the summit attempt.
DAY 8: School Hut to Uhuru Peak to Millennium Camp
Elevation: 4,800m/15,750ft to 5,895m/19,635ft
Distance: 6km/3 miles up and 10km/6 miles down
Hiking time: 10-11 hrs
Habitat: Moorland
We begin our summit push at midnight after being woken up with a hot cup of tea, a biscuit, and a snack for your way up. We’ll start the summit push by zigzagging from Hans Mayer Cave, where we will take a rest for snacks, and continue to Gilman’s Point. This will take roughly 2 hours and is a steep climb with loose terrain underfoot. We’ll be walking at quite a slow pace as it will be cold and possibly windy too. As we approach the crater rim, the sun will begin rising behind you and next to the Mawenzi Peak. Remember, as the sun rises, it brings warmth, and when you feel the heat, it will create an inner fire that will boost your energy and motivate you to keep ploughing forward.
At Gilman’s Point, we’ll enjoy a well-deserved rest and a snack before continuing to Uhuru Peak. You’ll be able to take some pictures at Uhuru Peak and enjoy the incredible views before we descend to Barafu Camp and have lunch. We will then gently walk down to Millennium Camp.
DAY 9: Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi Town
Elevation: 3,900m/12,800ft
Distance: 14 km/8 miles
Hiking time: 5-6 hrs
Habitat: Moorland/rain forest
We’ll finish our magnificent trek through lush forest as we descend to the Mweka Gate. This sustained descent will become easier by having colobus/blue monkeys and melodic birdsong cheering us on. At the gate, we will then sign out of the national park as we collect our summit certificate and on through a coffee farm where we are then transferred back to Moshi.