5 Days Marangu Route: The "Coca-Cola" Route
The Marangu Route is also known as the "Coca Cola" or "tourist" route. It is the easiest and shortest route to the summit. This is also the only route with the comforts of sleeping huts at every camp site with solar lights and comfortable beds. The huts are communal, and the bunks have a sponge mattress and pillow.
This route is usually done in 5 days but can be done in 6 days for better acclimatization. The extra day can be spent resting at Horombo or climbing the small peak of Mawenzi.
ITINERARY
Arrival
• You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro international airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek
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DAY 1:Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate, Hike to Mandara Hut
-- Elevation: 1860m/6100ft to 2700m/8875ft
-- Distance: 8km/5mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Montane Forest
• After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (45-60 minutes), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
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DAY 2: Hike Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
-- Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
-- Distance: 12km/7.5mi
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Heathland
• You leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.
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DAY 3: Hike Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
-- Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 4700m/15,500ft
-- Distance: 9km/5.5mi
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into "moonscape". Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
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DAY 4: Hike Kibo Hut to Summit, and down to Horombo Hut
-- Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
-- Down to 3700m/12,200ft
-- Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
-- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman's point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment. The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly "pole pole" and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
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DAY 5: Hike Horombo Hut to trail head, drive to Moshi
-- Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
-- Distance: 20km/12.5mi
-- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
-- Habitat: Forest
• After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). A vehicle will meet you at Marangu village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour). Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!
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DAY 6: Hike Horombo Hut to trail head, drive to Moshi
-- Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
-- Distance: 20km/12.5mi
-- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
-- Habitat: Forest
• After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). A vehicle will meet you at Marangu village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour). Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!.
PRICE PER PERSON (US DOLLAR):
| Size | 1 pax | 2 pax | 3 pax | 4 pax | 5 pax | 6 pax | 7 + pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2540 | $2099 | $1925 | $1840 | $1800 | $1750 | $1700 |
Price Include
>>Return transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to accommodation in Moshi;
>>Return transfer from accommodation in Moshi to the entry gate into Kilimanjaro National Park.
Professional guides, licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All our guides are well-equipped to handle medical emergencies as they have undergone various High-Altitude Medical Emergency Training to save the lives of climbers who fall sick on the mountain.
Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.).
One night at 3* hotel before the expedition and one night after; The hotels have everything for your comfortable stay - caring staff, nice rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool).
Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern, comfortable 4-Season tents North Face VE-25
Please Note: All hotel accommodation is based on a sharing basis (i.e. you will be sharing with your travel companion a twin/double room. If you travel solo on a group expedition, we will room you with a same-sex participant. Single occupancy in a hotel is available upon request and extra chargers apply.
Breakfast in the hotel before and after the trek.
All meals on the trek. Our Kilimanjaro diet includes energy-rich and highly nutritious meals prepared by our professional high-altitude cooks. In our menu you will find different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost.
All drinks on the trek (juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water).
All park fees collected by the Kilimanjaro National Park (conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, rescue fees and all other fees collected by the Tanzania National Parks Authority).
>>2-inches thick and comfortable sleeping mattresses.
>> All group equipment (spacious and comfortable dining tent, camping table and chairs, crockery and cutlery).
>> Dry bag (to protect your duffel bag).
>> Portable toilets (one unit can be comfortably shared between up to 3 people).
>>Bottled oxygen and pulse oximeter.
>>GPS-tracking service.
>>Complete medical kits including Diamox.
PRICE EXCLUDED
-Travel Insurance:
- Entry visa for Tanzania:
- $100 per person for USA Citizens and $50 per person for All Other Nationalities.
Tips for the trip crew:
Personal Gear: Though all group camping equipment is included in our Kilimanjaro packages, your personal outfit (mostly clothes for climbing) is not. Thus, you should bring all personal gear for your Kilimanjaro adventure. Our consultants will let you know what you will need for the expedition.If you do not have certain gear, you may hire everything necessary from us. All equipment is new (we renew our stock every six months). However, remember that personal gear hire is not included in your tour price and extra fees apply.
Related Kilimanjaro Climbing Itineraries
Map of Kilimanjaro via Marangu Route
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