Machame Route on Kilimanjaro: Scenery, Difficulty and How Many Days to Take
Ask people who have climbed Kilimanjaro how they did it, and most will tell you they took the Machame Route. It has earned that popularity. In less than a week, you walk from dripping rainforest to the ice near the summit, scramble up the famous Barranco Wall and come down a different way from the one you went up. It is often called the "Whiskey Route", because it asks more of you than the Marangu "Coca-Cola Route".
That popularity also has a cost, and it is worth knowing before you book. This guide covers what the Machame Route is really like, how hard it is, whether to take 6 or 7 days, and who should choose something else. Our short answer: take 7 days.
Machame Route at a glance
| Days | 6 or 7 |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 62 km (39 mi) |
| Start and finish | Machame Gate (1,800 m / 5,900 ft), Mweka Gate (1,650 m / 5,410 ft) |
| Sleeping | Tents, set up by your crew |
| Summit approach | From Barafu Camp (4,673 m / 15,330 ft), via Stella Point |
| Crowds | Busy in peak months |
| Price | From $1,845 per person |
Why the Machame Route is Kilimanjaro's most popular climb
Three things explain it. First, variety: no other route of this length shows you as many landscapes. Second, acclimatization: the climb to Lava Tower and down to Barranco gives you a built-in "climb high, sleep low" day. Third, access: Machame Gate is only about an hour from Moshi, so you can start walking soon after breakfast.
Compared with Marangu, you get a different path down, more dramatic scenery and generally a better acclimatization profile, in exchange for tents and a harder walk.
The Machame Route trail, section by section
Rainforest to moorland
The first day is a steady climb through wet forest, where you may see colobus monkeys. The second day turns steeper and rockier as you climb through giant heather to Shira Camp at 3,840 meters (12,600 feet), with Kibo in full view.
Lava Tower and the Barranco Valley
Day three is the key day for acclimatization. You climb to Lava Tower at 4,600 meters (15,090 feet), then come down to sleep at Barranco, more than 600 meters (2,000 feet) lower, through a valley of strange giant groundsels.
The Barranco Wall
This is the part people ask about most. It is a 250-meter (820-foot) rock face where you sometimes use your hands. It looks intimidating from below, but it needs no ropes, and most groups take one to two hours. Many climbers end up calling it the most fun part of the trip. If heights really worry you, consider the Rongai Route instead.
Barafu and the summit
From Karanga, a short climb brings you to Barafu, the exposed high camp. You leave around midnight and climb to Stella Point on the crater rim, then along the rim to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet).
Mweka: the way down
You descend through Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, walking through forest again on the last morning. Poles help your knees on this long descent.
Machame Route climbs and prices
Prices are per person for two sharing, and include two hotel nights in Moshi, airport transfers, park fees and your full crew of one guide, five porters and one cook per climber.
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Most popular
How difficult is the Machame Route?
The Machame Route is demanding without being technical. It has steeper sections than Marangu or Rongai, and the Barranco Wall needs some use of your hands. Fit climbers who have trained on long, hilly walks manage this well. What decides most summit attempts is altitude and the 11 to 15 hours of summit day.
If you are a regular hiker, you will find it a satisfying challenge. If you rarely walk on hills, give yourself at least 12 weeks with our training plan.
6 or 7 days on the Machame Route?
The difference is one night. The 6-day climb walks from Barranco to Barafu in one day, then starts for the summit that night. The 7-day climb adds a night at Karanga, so you arrive at high camp rested. It costs $245 more per person, and we think it is worth it for nearly everyone.
| 6-day Machame | 7-day Machame | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1,845 | $2,090 |
| Nights in tents | 5 | 6 |
| Day 4 | Long walk, Barranco to Barafu | Short walk, Barranco to Karanga |
| Best for | Fit climbers with recent altitude experience | Most climbers, including first-timers |
Operators publish very different summit figures and none are independently audited, so treat any single number with caution. Commonly quoted ranges run from about 27 to 42 percent on 5-day climbs, and from about 64 to 92 percent on 7-day climbs, with 8 and 9-day climbs reported higher still. The exact figures matter less than the pattern: more days means better odds.
Who should choose the Machame Route, and who should not
Choose Machame if you want the classic Kilimanjaro experience, you enjoy a physical challenge and you are happy to camp. Do not choose it if you want quiet trails, because it is the busiest route in peak months, especially at Barranco. The Lemosho Route shares its best scenery with far fewer people in the first days. And if you do not want to camp, look at the Marangu Route.
Best time to climb the Machame Route
The driest months are January to mid-March and June to October, and these are also the busiest on Machame, especially July to September. If you want quieter trails in a dry month, try January, early June or late October. The forest section gets very muddy in the long rains, so we do not suggest April or May for first-time climbers. See our month-by-month guide.
Summit night on the Machame Route: what to expect
Summit night on the Machame Route starts from Barafu, and it is the hardest stretch of the climb. You follow a line of headlamps up long zigzags of loose scree for around 6 to 8 hours, and it can be windy and very cold. Stella Point arrives around dawn and gives you the first real feeling of success. From there, the walk around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak takes about an hour, with glaciers on one side and Africa spread out on the other. Wear every layer you have and keep your water in an insulated bottle so it does not freeze.
What a typical day on the Machame Route feels like
Most days start with a hot drink at your tent or bunk around 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast. You set off by about 8 a.m. with your guide, walking slowly with regular stops for water and photos. Your porters pack up behind you, pass you on the trail and have the next stop ready by the time you arrive. Lunch comes either on the trail or at camp, depending on the day.
Afternoons are for resting, reading, washing with a bowl of warm water and getting to know your crew. Dinner is hot and filling, and most climbers are asleep soon after dark. It is a simple rhythm, and many people say it is the part of the Machame Route they miss most.
Getting to the Machame Route from Moshi
Machame Gate is about an hour's drive from Moshi, so this is one of the easier starts. We collect you from your hotel in the morning and handle the registration at the gate while you get your daypack ready. The climb finishes at Mweka Gate, also about an hour from Moshi, and we drive you back. Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour from Moshi, and we meet you there. All these transfers are included in your price.
How to prepare for the Machame Route
Start training at least 12 weeks before you fly, with long hikes on back-to-back days. Our Kilimanjaro training plan shows you how. Our packing list covers what to bring and what you can rent in Moshi. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave, and ask about altitude medication and malaria tablets for the lower areas.
Your crew and safety on the Machame Route
Every climber on our Kilimanjaro climbs has one guide, five porters and one cook. A group of two therefore has two guides, ten porters and two cooks. That ratio is higher than many operators offer, and it means that if one climber needs to slow down or turn back, the other can continue with their own guide.
Our guides have worked on Tanzania tours for 7 years. They are graduates of the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, and the National College of Tourism, and they hold certification from those institutions. We are also a partner of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which works for the fair treatment of mountain crews.
We carry pulse oximeters to track your blood-oxygen levels each day, emergency oxygen cylinders for emergency descents and severe altitude illness, and a Gamow bag, a portable pressure chamber used to treat advanced altitude sickness. Helicopter evacuation is available through providers including Kili MedAir and Proflight Helicopters, with fees starting from $3,500 per person. It is not part of the climb price, so check that your travel insurance covers trekking to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) and evacuation before you buy it.
Machame Route: your questions answered
How difficult is the Machame Route?
It is hard but not technical. It has steeper paths than Marangu or Rongai and one scramble, the Barranco Wall. The altitude is the greater challenge.
Is the Machame Route good for beginners?
Yes, if you take 7 days and train first. Many first-time climbers choose it.
Can you sleep in huts on the Machame Route?
No. The route uses tents throughout. Our crew carries them and sets up camp before you arrive.
Why is it called the Whiskey Route?
The nickname reflects that it is tougher than the Marangu Route, which is known as the Coca-Cola Route.
How long is the Machame Route?
About 62 km (39 miles) from Machame Gate to Mweka Gate.
How the Machame Route compares with other Kilimanjaro routes
Still deciding? Our Kilimanjaro route comparison shows all five side by side.
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Lemosho Route
A quiet western start, fine views and our top pick for first-timers.
From $2,090
View route -
Marangu Route
The only route with a bed in a hut each night, up and down one path.
From $1,600
View route -
Rongai Route
The quiet, drier northern approach, with steady walking and no scrambling.
From $1,845
View route -
Northern Circuit Route
The longest route, with the most time to adapt and very few people.
From $2,580
View route
Should you climb the Machame Route?
If you want the classic Kilimanjaro climb and you can give it seven days, yes. It offers the best variety at this price, and the extra night at Karanga makes a real difference. Send us your dates and we will confirm availability and a written quote.
Ready to climb the Machame Route?
Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send a full quote from our office in Moshi.