tripunder
The snow-streaked Kibo summit cone of Mount Kilimanjaro above the clouds

Home › Treks › Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route)

Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania · Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route) trek: grade, cost & permits

We chose Machame over Marangu. Marangu is the only route with huts and is a little cheaper, but you go up and down the same path and gain height fast. Machame takes 7 days, climbs high and sleeps low (Lava Tower at about 4,630 m, then down to Barranco), and crosses rainforest, heath, the Shira plateau and alpine desert before the summit. That extra day for acclimatisation is the single best thing you can buy on this mountain. Solo climbing is not allowed: you pay a licensed operator, and the cheapest quotes often mean underpaid porters, so pick an operator that follows the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) guidelines and budget about 10% of the climb price for crew tips.

Photo: Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0 · source

GradeVery hard
Duration7 days
Highest point5,895 m
SeasonJanuary to mid-March and June to October are the dry seasons. June-October has the steadiest weather but the biggest crowds (September is busiest). March-April and November are the wettest months; avoid them if you can.
Cost from base₹1,95,000per person
BaseMoshi, about 1 hour by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

We chose Machame over Marangu. Marangu is the only route with huts and is a little cheaper, but you go up and down the same path and gain height fast. Machame takes 7 days, climbs high and sleeps low (Lava Tower at about 4,630 m, then down to Barranco), and crosses rainforest, heath, the Shira plateau and alpine desert before the summit. That extra day for acclimatisation is the single best thing you can buy on this mountain. Solo climbing is not allowed: you pay a licensed operator, and the cheapest quotes often mean underpaid porters, so pick an operator that follows the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) guidelines and budget about 10% of the climb price for crew tips.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groups
Live weather

On the trail now and the next 7 days

Loading the forecast…

Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 7Next: Route

The route

Tap a place: the map zooms to it.

On the map

Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route) · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

1800 m3010 m3845 m4630 m3950 m4673 m5895 m Start · 1800 mEnd · 5895 m 5,895 m

How to reach the start

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Your licensed operator picks you up and drives you to Moshi, then to Machame Gate on day one and back from Mweka Gate at the end; these transfers are normally inside the climb price. You descend by the Mweka route, so the climb is one-way.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: Kilimanjaro National Park (TANAPA) fees, paid through your licensed operator, not by you at the gate. TANAPA's latest published tariff (2023/24, the one still linked on its tariff page) charges non-resident adults (16+): conservation fee US$70 per day, public campsite US$50 per night (Machame and other tented routes) or US$60 per night in the Marangu huts, and a rescue fee of US$20 per trip; 18% VAT applies where applicable. On a 7-day Machame climb that is about US$956 per person with VAT. Operators quoting for 2026 use the same rates. Every visitor to Tanzania must also buy the government's inbound travel insurance from 1 October 2026 (NIC for mainland arrivals), and needs an e-visa.
GuideRequired
Travel adviceUK FCDO: wildfires can occur in Kilimanjaro National Park in hot, dry weather; stay away from demonstrations (protests have met violent responses and the internet has been limited). No advise-against for this area; the only advise-against zone is within 20 km of the Mozambique (Cabo Delgado) border, far from Kilimanjaro.

Official permit or booking page ↗

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 7Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 7Next: Cost

What it costs

Your group, from the base₹3,90,000
Couple · from Moshi, about 1 hour by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Per person₹1,95,000

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Moshi is extra.

Step 6 of 7Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route) trek?

Very hard grade. It takes 7 days and climbs to about 5,895 m. We chose Machame over Marangu. Marangu is the only route with huts and is a little cheaper, but you go up and down the same path and gain height fast. Machame takes 7 days, climbs high and sleeps low (Lava Tower at about 4,630 m, then down to Barranco), and crosses rainforest, heath, the Shira plateau and alpine desert before the summit. That extra day for acclimatisation is the single best thing you can buy on this mountain. Solo climbing is not allowed: you pay a licensed operator, and the cheapest quotes often mean underpaid porters, so pick an operator that follows the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) guidelines and budget about 10% of the climb price for crew tips.

Do I need a permit for Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route)?

Kilimanjaro National Park (TANAPA) fees, paid through your licensed operator, not by you at the gate. TANAPA's latest published tariff (2023/24, the one still linked on its tariff page) charges non-resident adults (16+): conservation fee US$70 per day, public campsite US$50 per night (Machame and other tented routes) or US$60 per night in the Marangu huts, and a rescue fee of US$20 per trip; 18% VAT applies where applicable. On a 7-day Machame climb that is about US$956 per person with VAT. Operators quoting for 2026 use the same rates. Every visitor to Tanzania must also buy the government's inbound travel insurance from 1 October 2026 (NIC for mainland arrivals), and needs an e-visa.

How do I reach the Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route) trek?

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Your licensed operator picks you up and drives you to Moshi, then to Machame Gate on day one and back from Mweka Gate at the end; these transfers are normally inside the climb price. You descend by the Mweka route, so the climb is one-way. Base: Moshi, about 1 hour by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

What is the best season for Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route)?

January to mid-March and June to October are the dry seasons. June-October has the steadiest weather but the biggest crowds (September is busiest). March-April and November are the wettest months; avoid them if you can..

How much does the Mount Kilimanjaro (Machame route) trek cost?

From about ₹1,95,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Operator provides tents, food, cook, guides and porters. You bring a four-season sleeping bag (summit night is well below freezing), layered warm clothes, insulated jacket, waterproof shell, good boots, headlamp, gloves and hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen, water bottles, and your own medicines. Many items can be hired in Moshi.

Step 7 of 7Next: Sources

Sources and last check

Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.

  • tanzaniaparks.go.tz OfficialAll climbs must be guided by a licensed operator; solo trekking not permitted; routes and gates (Machame, Marangu, Lemosho, Rongai; Mweka for descent); Marangu huts; acclimatisation advice; fees vary by category, route and days
  • tanzaniaparks.go.tz OfficialOnly tariff linked is 2023/24 (valid to June 2024); fees inclusive of 18% VAT where applicable
  • tanzaniaparks.go.tz OfficialRead in full: Kilimanjaro conservation US$70/day (16+), US$20 (5-15); public campsite US$50/night; Mandara/Horombo/Kibo huts US$60/night; rescue fee US$20 per person per trip (non-East African citizens)
  • gov.uk OfficialWildfires in Kilimanjaro National Park; protests and internet limits; use a reputable company for climbing
  • gov.uk OfficialMandatory government inbound travel insurance (NIC for mainland arrivals for purchases after 1 Oct); e-visa
  • gov.uk OfficialOnly advise-against: within 20 km of the Cabo Delgado border; page updated 9 Oct 2026
  • tanzaniatravelers.comOperator prices per person: Machame 7 days US$2,400 solo, 2,200 (2), 2,040 (4), 1,870 (6); Marangu 5-6 days US$1,760-2,250; includes park fees with VAT, crew, meals, 2 Moshi hotel nights, transfers; 7-day Machame park fees US$955.80; tipping about 10%
  • climbing-kilimanjaro.comOperator 2026 fee page using the same US$70/50/60/20 rates plus 18% VAT
  • mountainiq.comMachame about 62 km, 6 or 7 days, Barafu to Uhuru 4,673 m to 5,895 m; dry seasons Jan-Mar and Jun-Oct
  • kiliporters.orgKilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and its responsible-climbing partner programme

Nearby treks

Mount Meru's summit cone above the clouds, seen from Little Meru, TanzaniaMount MeruHard · 4 days · up to 4,562 mFrom ₹75,000The deep, winding Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia seen from the rimFish River Canyon Hiking TrailVery hard · 4-5 days · up to 900 mFrom ₹19,000Stony Lycian Way path along a scrub-covered clifftop above the sea near KirmeLycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara)Hard · 6 days (Ölüdeniz to Patara); full trail about 35 days · up to 730 mFrom ₹18,000

Places to stay near by

Swakopmund's long wooden jetty running into the AtlanticSwakopmundA foggy German-era seaside town where the Namib's dunes run straight into the Atlantic, with…From ₹4,000/dayRocky sandstone ridges and green valley of Dana Biosphere Reserve under a clear blue skyDana Biosphere ReserveJordan's largest nature reserve, and the two quiet days everyone skips on the way to Petra.From ₹3,200/dayMud-brick ruins of Shali fortress with a rocky hill and palm groves, SiwaSiwa OasisA mud-brick fortress town between two salt lakes, ten hours by bus from Cairo, where the Great…From ₹1,200/day

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Jorge Láscar from Australia · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Stig Nygaard from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: KpokeJlJla · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: BerotBurns · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

From the base · —
Cost