Quick Summary
8-Day Lemosho to Crater Rim Kilimanjaro Tour is a 8 days tour in Tanzania via the Lemosho route, starting from USD 2000. Below you'll find the latest itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, and how to book.
8 days
Lemosho
USD 2000
Kitano Tours & Safaris
ABOUT 8-Day Lemosho to Crater Rim Kilimanjaro Tour
This 8-Day Lemosho Route Climb to Mount Kilimanjaro - 2025 - 2026 - 2027 is very beautiful and isolated. Access to the trail begins with an extended drive from Moshi or Arusha to Londorossi Gate and may take three to four hours. Londorossi Gate is found within the western base of the mountain. It is our preferred route due to its ideal balance of low crowds, beautiful scenery, and a high summit success rate. The Lemosho route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant way.
- Duration: 8 days
- Route: Lemosho
- Starts at: USD 2000
Highlights for 8-Day Lemosho to Crater Rim Kilimanjaro Tour
Day 1: Londorosi Gate - Mti Mkubwa
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa - Shira One Camp
Day 3: Shira One Camp - Shira Two Camp
Day 4: Shira Two Camp - Barranco Camp
Day 5: Barranco Hut - Karanga Valley
Day 6: Karanga Valley - Barafu Camp
Day 7: Barafu Camp - Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp
Day 8: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Moshi Town or Arusha Town
Itinerary Overview
| Day | Title |
|---|---|
| Day 01 | Londorosi Gate - Mti Mkubwa |
| Day 02 | Mti Mkubwa - Shira One Camp |
| Day 03 | Shira One Camp - Shira Two Camp |
| Day 04 | Shira Two Camp - Barranco Camp |
| Day 05 | Barranco Hut - Karanga Valley |
| Day 06 | Karanga Valley - Barafu Camp |
| Day 07 | Barafu Camp - Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp |
| Day 08 | Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Moshi Town or Arusha Town |
Day 01: Londorosi Gate - Mti Mkubwa
>> Elevation: 7,742 ft to 9,498 ft
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
You'll depart the hotel in Arusha for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then, you'll drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival at the trailhead, you'll begin hiking through undisturbed forest which winds to the first campsite. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Mti Mkubwa.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 02: Mti Mkubwa - Shira One Camp
>> Hike time: 5 – 6 hrs
Elevation change: + 950 M+3116
Estimation distance: 12 km
Final elevation: 3609 m/11,841 ft
A few hour's walk, you will see the end of the forest and the beginning of a climb through the heather forest to the edge of the Shira Caldera. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Shira 1 Camp.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 03: Shira One Camp - Shira Two Camp
>> Hike time: 5 - 6 hrs
Elevation change: + 240 M/+787 ft
Elevation distance: 5 km
Final elevation: 3849 m/12,628 ft.
You'll explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east on moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then you divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 04: Shira Two Camp - Barranco Camp
>> Hike time: 5 hrs
Elevation change: +100 M/+328 ft
Estimated distance: 6 km
Final elevation: 3948 m/12,956 ft.
After breakfast, you will leave Shira 2 Camp (3,900 m) and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,600 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but to successfully acclimate to the altitude, you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be.
Then, you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m). Here, you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Next day, you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 05: Barranco Hut - Karanga Valley
>> Hike time: 3.5 hrs
Elevation change: +100 m/+328 ft
Estimated distance: 4km/2.5 miles
Final elevation: 3,963 m/13,000 ft
You'll have an early wake-up, breakfast, and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.
Then, you'll start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp, you will be offered a warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you will have to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 200-meter gain in altitude and then descend back down to the camp.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 06: Karanga Valley - Barafu Camp
>> Hike time: 3.5 hrs
Elevation change: +600 m+1,968 ft
Estimated distance: 4km2.5 miles
Final elevation: 4,600 m15,091 ft
The trail from Karanga to Barafu reaches the bleak high desert of Kilimanjaro. Barafu Camp is a basic camp geared towards the business of reaching the summit.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 07: Barafu Camp - Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp
>> Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kilometers ascent and 23 kilometers descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa! After photos, celebrations, and maybe a few tears of joy, you'll take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. You'll begin your steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Your overnight stay will be at Mweka Camp.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
- Accommodation: Budget camping
Day 08: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Moshi Town or Arusha Town
>> Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers
Habitat: Forest
After a heavy breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. On the mountain, you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The national park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reach Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates, and hikers who reach Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch. Then, you will drive back to Mosh or Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.
- Time: 8-10hrs
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Non-alcoholic drinks
- Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Inclusions
- Porterage
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Exclusions
- Rescue fee
- Climbing gear
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)