Our 10-day Grand Traverse is the ultimate Kili experience.
If Kilimanjaro is one of those once-in-a-lifetime, "I need to do this before kicking the bucket" kind of adventures, do it in style!
This is a more exclusive experience on one of the least-traveled routes, featuring upgraded lodging and the services of a personal porter for ultimate comfort.
Day 1 Depart U.S.
Depart the U.S. in the late afternoon for Amsterdam. Call us for special business class fares.
Day 2 Arrive Arusha
Arrive in Amsterdam this morning and check in for your connecting flight to Kilimanjaro, arriving in the evening. You are met by your guide and transferred to exclusive accommodations located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The eco-friendly permanent tented lodge is a comfortable and elegant oasis with a gorgeous outdoor lounge, stunning views, and wildlife right on the property, thanks to the conservation efforts of the owner.
Overnight:Ndarakwai Ranch
Day 3 West Kilimanjaro Camp
This morning you will have a climb briefing after breakfast to make sure everyone is prepared fully for the next day's adventure. The lodge is set under the spreading branches of Acacia Tortillis, near an extinct volcanic cone, which affords superb views and an excellent spot for sundowner cocktails. Relax today, acclimatizing at camp and enjoying a nature walk on the extensive property.
Overnight:Ndarakwai Ranch
Day 4 Shira 1 Camp
Drive to the Londorossi Gate after breakfast and continue by Land Rover through the dense rainforest under the tangled canopy of moss coated vines, home to the black & white colobus monkey, blue monkey, and a vibrant array of exotic birds.
Enjoy lunch at the Morum Barrier Gate trailhead and commence your trek through the heath and moorland, eventually descending to your first camp. As the sun sets, the view of Kibo from across the Shira Plateau is breath taking.
- Trekking: 1-2 Hours
- Overnight: Shira 1 Camp (12,200 ft.)
Day 5 Moir Camp
You will resume your trek this morning, departing the savannah of heather and grasses and making your way into the moorlands. Pass through misty, cloud-covered terrain of volcanic rocks as you move steadily up the mountain.
- Trekking: 4-5 Hours
- Overnight: Moir Camp (13,700 ft.)
Day 6 Pofu Camp
Continue to wind your way through the moorlands as you approach the alpine desert. Vegetation will begin to thin out and the landscape will be marked by a vast plateau and strange volcanic plugs. Get a look at one of the larger formations, a lava tower called the Shark's Tooth.
- Trekking: 5-7 Hours
- Overnight: Pofu Camp (13,200 ft.)
Day 7 Rongai Caves 2 Camp
Winding through a forest of towering Dendrosenecio kilimanjari, proceed upward over expansive ridgelines in the high alpine desert. Enjoy the extraordinary views as you pass massive volcanic formations scattered throughout the fields of scree. You'll camp above this lunar landscape in a remote location where you may even catch a glimpse of Kenya's vast badlands.
- Trekking: 4-6 Hours
- Overnight: Rongai Caves Camp 2 (11,450 ft.)
Day 8 Kikelewa Camp
Cross the alpine desert, where you will find little more than a few tufts of grass, some everlastings, and bright yellow daisy-like flowers alongside the trail. The air will feel cooler, but the equatorial sun is still intense, so keep applying your sunscreen! You'll explore the volcanic towers, tocky overhangs, and large boulder formations as you acclimatize.
- Trekking: 3-5 Hours
- Overnight: Kikelewa Caves Camp (12,025 ft.)
Day 9 Mawenzi Tarn Camp
After a hearty breakfast, trek upward to reach a placid mountain lake at the foot of the majestic, steep ridges of Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro's second highest volcano. The camp is nestled at the edge of the lake in a protected alcove with spectacular views towards Mawenzi's cathedral-like spires.
- Trekking: 6-8 Hours
- Overnight: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (14,210 ft.)
Day 10 Outward Bound Camp
Trek across the impressive saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, admiring the spectacularly stark landscape. The temperature turns cold as you near the foot of Kibo, reaching Outward Bound Camp after a relatively easy hike.
- Trekking: 5-7 Hours
- Overnight: Outward Bound Camp (14,540 ft.)
Day 11 Summit Mount Kilimanjaro / Crater Camp
Depart after breakfast along a steep slope with switchbacks over loose rock, scree, and boulders as you near Gilman's Point. You will stop at Hans Meyer cave on the way, the famous place described by Kilimanjaro's first western climber in his journals.
Arrive at the summit in the early afternoon hours when there are no other climbers and - typically - the best weather of the day. From the summit take a short descent to reach Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the retreating vertical ice walls of the Furtwangler glacier.
- Trekking: 7-10 Hours to Summit / 1-2 Hours to Crater Camp (Optional Trek to the Ash Pit)
- Overnight: Crater Camp (18,800 ft.)
Day 12 Mweka Camp
Enjoy a morning hike to the Reusch Crater and central ash pit. The gaping mouth of this majestic, dormant volcano reveals a rare glimpse into a seemingly 'other world' — an impressive sight, to say the least. From there, make a steep descent to Barafu Camp in time for lunch. This afternoon, continue the descent into the Heath zone, stopping at Mweka Camp for the night.
- Trekking: 5-8 Hours
- Overnight: Mweka Millenium Camp (12,500 ft.)
Day 13 Descend / Rest
Complete your descent through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where you will be met and transferred back to a comfortable lodge for a much-needed shower and perhaps a celebratory drink!
Trekking: 4-6 Hours
Day 14 Arrive Home
Connect in Amsterdam to your flight back to North America OR Add a Safari, see below.
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