Everything you need to plan a climb, in the order you’ll need it: routes, timing, fitness, kit and costs.
Read the guide
Our own routes, groups of eight at most, and a 97.6% summit success rate, explained with evidence rather than adjectives.
See why
Every climb we run, with prices from, and the scheduled departures you can join.
See the climbs
Seven support series from Superlite to VIP, and what each one includes.
View prices
Up and down in a day or two if you are already acclimatised, or acclimatise first: permits, plans, maps and a price calculator.
Plan a speed climb
Training, health requirements, visas, vaccinations, insurance and flights: what to sort out, and when.
Start preparing
Height, peaks, temperatures, route lengths, wildlife and records, all checked against our own data.
Read the facts
Every route on one map, from our own GPS tracks, with distances, crowding and acclimatisation compared side by side.
See the map
Steep and direct from the south, leaving little time to acclimatise. 46.3 km round trip.
More about Umbwe
The busiest camping route, climbing from the southern rainforest onto the Shira Plateau before traversing beneath the Southern Icefields. 56.7 km round trip.
More about Machame
The quietest start, from the western forest onto the Shira Plateau. The standard route joins Machame beyond Shira 2; TK Lemosho, our own variation, takes the quiet northern circuit and summits from School Hut. 64.7 or 66.4 km round trip.
More about Lemosho
Starts high on the Shira Plateau, reached by vehicle: only for climbers already acclimatised, for example after Mount Meru. Seven or eight days, or joined to TK Lemosho.
More about Shira
The hut route, and the only one that comes down the way it goes up. It has the lowest success rate of the main routes. 66.9 km round trip.
More about Marangu
From the north, near the Kenyan border. The Rongai most companies run crosses the Saddle to Kibo Hut; TK Rongai, our own, climbs over the Mawenzi ridge and summits from School Hut. 68.0 or 72.2 km round trip.
More about Rongai
4,566 m, above Arusha: the best acclimatisation before Kilimanjaro. Three or four days, sleeping in huts.
More about Mount Meru
You want to go fast and light: from the gate to the summit and down again in a day or two. We would be delighted to help, and we have done it ourselves. Here is how the park’s permits work, the routes we recommend, and what it costs.
The park does not sell short permits for the summit. Whatever your fitness, and however well acclimatised you are, a climb to the top is booked for at least five days.
This applies even if you were on Everest the week before and are acclimatised well beyond Kilimanjaro’s summit. The rule protects the park’s revenue rather than anyone’s safety, and the authorities will not consider shorter permits, so we work within it.
Our staff are paid for the full climb. Even if you are acclimatised and the rest of the permit’s days go unused, we are still required to pay our guides and crew for a full climb, as though the normal time were taken, however quickly their work is done. So a two-day climb costs the same as five.
“When I climbed Kilimanjaro up and down in one day in July, I was out of the park before the first day was over, but I still had to buy a five-day permit.”
John Rees-Evans, founder of Team Kilimanjaro, on his ascent from the mountain’s base at 777 mIt depends on whether you arrive acclimatised.
Marangu, up and down the same way, on our Superlite or Lite series: huts all the way, so no tent, and your main bag left at Kibo Hut. Or up Rongai and down to Marangu, a traverse of the mountain. Nothing technical on either.
The one- and two-day plansOn our Lite or Advantage series. Three days up to acclimatise, a day to the summit or high and back down to Rongai Gate, then the speed climb: Rongai Gate to the summit, and down to Marangu Gate, in a day.
The five-day planFrom Umbwe Gate up through Arrow Glacier Camp and the Western Breach to the crater, and down the Mweka route to Mweka Gate. Booked as six days. In one or two days if you are already acclimatised; if not, up to Arrow Glacier Camp to acclimatise, all the way back down to Umbwe Cave Camp, and then the speed climb from near the gate.
Only with the park’s special permission. The Western Breach is closed from time to time, so please do not assume we will get it; every request we have made in 2026 has been granted, and we are hopeful.
The Umbwe plansChoose a plan to see its map, distances and day-by-day itinerary. Marangu and Rongai are booked as five days, Umbwe as six.
From our own GPS tracks.
Up and down the same way in a single day. Booked and priced as a five-day Marangu climb.
The whole Marangu line in one push: through the rainforest past Mandara Hut, across the moorland past Horombo, over the Saddle to Kibo Hut, up to Gilman’s Point on the crater rim and along it to Uhuru Peak, and back down the same way to the gate.
Across the mountain in a single day, north to south. Booked and priced as a five-day Rongai climb.
Up the direct Old Rongai line from the north: Simba Camp, Third Cave, School Hut, Gilman’s Point and Uhuru Peak, about 25 km and 3,895 m of ascent. Then down the other side, by Kibo Hut and Horombo, to Marangu Gate: about 34 km more. A traverse of the mountain in a day.
The steepest line to the summit, and down the other side, in a single day. Booked and priced as a six-day Umbwe climb.
Up through the forest to Umbwe Cave Camp, on to Barranco, past Lava Tower to Arrow Glacier Camp, then up the Western Breach to the crater and across it to Uhuru Peak: about 22 km and 4,255 m of ascent, the steepest line to the summit. Then down the Mweka route to Mweka Gate, about 20 km more.
The Western Breach needs special permission. The park closes it from time to time, so please do not assume we will get it. Every request we have made in 2026 has been granted, and we are hopeful, but we cannot promise it until the permit is issued.
Huts all the way, so you need no tent, and your main bag waits at Kibo Hut while you go for the summit. Booked and priced as a five-day Marangu climb.
Through the rainforest past Mandara Hut and out onto the moorland to Horombo, where you sleep in a hut: a sleeping bag is all you need, and no tent.
Up across the Saddle to Kibo Hut, where you leave your main bag, then light and fast up to Gilman’s Point on the crater rim and along it to Uhuru Peak. Back down to Kibo Hut to collect your bag, and on down past Horombo to the gate the same day.
Up the quiet north side and down the south, with one night at Third Cave. Booked and priced as a five-day Rongai climb.
Through the last of the forest past Simba Camp, and up the direct Old Rongai line onto the moorland to Third Cave. Rongai has no huts, so you camp: on Superlite you carry your own tent, on Lite a small crew carries the camp.
Up past School Hut to Gilman’s Point on the crater rim and along it to Uhuru Peak, then down the other side by Kibo Hut and Horombo to Marangu Gate, the same day.
One night at Arrow Glacier Camp, at the foot of the Breach. Booked and priced as a six-day Umbwe climb.
Up the steep forest ridge past Umbwe Cave Camp, across to Barranco and past Lava Tower to Arrow Glacier Camp, at the foot of the Western Breach. You camp: on Superlite you carry your own tent, on Lite a small crew carries the camp.
Before dawn, up the Western Breach to the crater, across it to Uhuru Peak, and then all the way down the Mweka route to Mweka Gate, the same day.
The Western Breach needs special permission. The park closes it from time to time, so please do not assume we will get it. Every request we have made in 2026 has been granted, and we are hopeful, but we cannot promise it until the permit is issued.
Since you are paying for five days anyway, we make them count: three days up to acclimatise, a day to the summit or high and back down to Rongai Gate, and the last day for the speed climb itself, up the same line and down the other side to Marangu Gate.
A short first day from the north side of the mountain, through the last of the forest to Simba Camp.
The direct Old Rongai line, past Second Cave, up onto the open heath and moorland below Kibo.
A short climb to the quietest high camp on the mountain, arriving in time to rest. In the afternoon, a gentle walk higher to help your body adjust.
If you are strong and would like to, you go to the summit before dawn, Uhuru Peak by sunrise, which is the best acclimatisation there is, and then come all the way back down the same line to Rongai Gate.
Otherwise, a walk above School Hut in the morning, and then all the way down to Rongai Gate. Either way you end the day low, ready for the speed climb.
From Rongai Gate before dawn, the clock starts, and you climb the same direct line again: Simba Camp, Third Cave, School Hut, Gilman’s Point on the crater rim and Uhuru Peak, about 25 km and 3,895 m of ascent. Then down the other side, by Kibo Hut and Horombo, to Marangu Gate: about 34 km more. You are out of the park the same day.
With a sixth day you rest before the speed climb, which moves to day 6. It is the better choice if the summit on day 4 took a lot out of you.
Acclimatisation is a balance. The more of the mountain you have climbed before the speed day, the better your body copes with the height; but every hard day also draws on the reserves you will need to go fast. Your guide will help you judge it on the mountain, day by day, and will tell you plainly if going fast is not yet safe.
Umbwe is booked for six days, so we use them: three days up to Arrow Glacier Camp, a little higher, then all the way down to Umbwe Cave Camp; and the speed climb from near the gate, up the Western Breach and down the Mweka route to Mweka Gate.
Straight up a steep forest ridge: the quickest climb out of the forest on the mountain.
Out of the forest and up the ridge onto the heath, then down into the Barranco valley below the Breach Wall.
Up past Lava Tower to Arrow Glacier Camp, at the foot of the Western Breach, to sleep high.
In the morning, a short walk higher, above Arrow Glacier Camp, for acclimatisation: not a climb of the Western Breach itself, because coming down that face is not permitted. Then back past Lava Tower and Barranco, and down to sleep at Umbwe Cave Camp.
In the middle of the night you go down from Umbwe Cave Camp to close to the gate. There you turn round, the clock starts, and you climb the whole line: Umbwe Cave Camp, Barranco, Lava Tower, Arrow Glacier and the Western Breach to the crater and Uhuru Peak, about 22 km and 4,255 m of ascent. Then down the Mweka route to Mweka Gate, about 20 km more, and out of the park the same day.
With the sixth day, which is booked either way on Umbwe, you rest at Umbwe Cave Camp before the speed climb, which moves to day 6.
Acclimatisation is a balance. The more of the mountain you have climbed before the speed day, the better your body copes with the height; but every hard day also draws on the reserves you will need to go fast. Your guide will help you judge it on the mountain, day by day, and will tell you plainly if going fast is not yet safe.
The Western Breach needs special permission. The park closes it from time to time, so please do not assume we will get it. Every request we have made in 2026 has been granted, and we are hopeful, but we cannot promise it until the permit is issued.
Guides. A licensed guide must go with every climber. If you are going very fast, you will usually need your guide and at least one extra guide, so that they can take turns with you; at record pace, a third, assistant guide as well. Each extra guide is USD 30 a day on top of the climb, for every day booked.
Porters. On our Superlite series you carry your own kit, and on Marangu that can be very little: the huts mean no tent, and your main bag waits at Kibo Hut while you go for the summit. Water is the exception: there is not much of it on the way up, so a Superlite climber usually hires water porters to carry water for drinking and cooking for most of the climb. We suggest two for each climber on Rongai (and on Umbwe), and one on Marangu, where the huts help. Each water porter is USD 20 a day, for every day booked. On Lite a small crew cooks and carries for you; Advantage is fully supported.
A speed climb is priced as a five-day climb on Marangu or Rongai, or a six-day climb on Umbwe, park fees included, plus any extra guides. One climber climbs privately, with their own guide.
Superlite includes no hotel nights and no transfers.
For your nights in Arusha, we suggest you book your own on Booking.com, often with a Genius discount. Choose a hotel to add an estimate beside our price.
Simple, friendly and central, formerly the Arusha Backpackers: about USD 15 a night for a dormitory bed, or USD 24 for a room of your own, with breakfast. Find it on Booking.com
Our usual hotel for the other series, a short walk from the centre of Arusha: about USD 35 a person a night sharing a room, or USD 50 for a room of your own, with breakfast. Find it on Booking.com
Transport between Arusha and the park gate is not included on Superlite either: ask us and we will price it with your climb.
Lite and Advantage include airport transfers, the nights before and after the climb at the Outpost Lodge in Arusha, and transport to and from the mountain.
| Series | One climber | Each of two |
|---|---|---|
| Marangu, five days: already acclimatised | ||
| Superlite | USD 1,542 | USD 1,431 |
| Lite | USD 2,124 | USD 1,863 |
| Advantage | USD 2,451 | USD 2,067 |
| Rongai, five days: acclimatising first | ||
| Superlite | USD 1,692 | USD 1,511 |
| Lite | USD 2,277 | USD 1,945 |
| Advantage | USD 2,612 | USD 2,156 |
| Umbwe via the Western Breach, six days | ||
| Superlite | USD 1,808 | USD 1,693 |
| Lite | USD 2,453 | USD 2,182 |
| Advantage | USD 2,832 | USD 2,429 |
The same price for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days on the mountain (1 to 6 on Umbwe). The permit is the same, our staff are paid the same and everything else is the same, however quickly you climb.
Before extra guides and water porters. Prices for larger groups, and for longer climbs, are on the prices page.
If you are attempting a record, we add official timing and a published GPS track for verification, and plan the support with you. See the Kilimanjaro speed records, from the park-gate times to the complete mountain from its true base, and the categories still open.
Physically, yes, if you are already acclimatised and very fit. But the park issues no short permit for the summit: the shortest is five days, on the Marangu and Rongai routes (six on Umbwe), charged in full however few of them you use. If you are already acclimatised we usually plan two days on Marangu; if not, five on Rongai, acclimatising first and then going from Rongai Gate over the summit and down to Marangu Gate in a day.
It is priced as a five-day climb, because that is the permit the park sells and the time our staff are contracted for. On Marangu, for one climber on our Superlite series with one extra guide, that is USD 1,692 in all. Use the calculator on this page for other routes, series and group sizes.
On our Superlite series you carry your own kit, but there is little water on the way up, so most Superlite speed climbers hire water porters to carry water for drinking and cooking for most of the climb: we suggest two for each climber on Rongai, and one on Marangu, where the huts help. Each is USD 20 a day. On Marangu you sleep in huts, so you need no tent, and you can leave your main bag at Kibo Hut on the way up and collect it on the way down. On Lite a small crew cooks and carries for you, and Advantage is fully supported.
Because the park sells nothing shorter for the summit, and because we pay our guides and crew for a full climb, as though the normal time were taken, however quickly their work is done.
If you are already acclimatised, Marangu: huts all the way, so you travel light, and the most straightforward line to the summit. If you are not, Rongai: its direct line, the Old Rongai, climbs from Rongai Gate past Simba Camp, Third Cave and School Hut to Gilman’s Point and Uhuru Peak, and the days that acclimatise you on it also show you the ground you will cover fast. For the steepest and most direct line, Umbwe via the Western Breach, booked as six days, if the park gives permission.
Yes, from Umbwe Gate up the Western Breach to the crater and Uhuru Peak, and down the Mweka route, if the park gives permission. The Breach is closed from time to time, so please do not assume we will get it, but every request we have made in 2026 has been granted and we are hopeful. It is booked and priced as a six-day Umbwe climb. If you need to acclimatise first, you go no higher than just above Arrow Glacier Camp, because coming down the Breach is not permitted.
A licensed guide must go with every climber. If you are going very fast, you will usually need at least one extra guide to take turns with yours, and at record pace a third, assistant guide. Each extra guide is USD 30 a day on top of the climb.
Tell us your dates, where you have climbed recently and how fast you would like to go, and we will plan it with you.
Plan a speed climb