How fit do I need to be to do this trek?

Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.

How long do we walk every day when doing Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.

What is the highest altitude reached in this trek?

The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.

What about battery charging and hot shower facilities?

Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.

Are there ATMs on the way to Annapurna Base Camp?

No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.

What about internet access?

Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.

Is it necessary to hire Guides/trekking agency for Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason. It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.

How much do guides and porters cost?

For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.

Discover the Beauty of the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Mount Kilimanjaro is the easiest and shortest route to Kilimanjaro’s summit and is known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route.

This is the only trail on Kilimanjaro with the comforts of solar-powered sleeping huts and comfortable beds at every camp. The huts are communal, and each bunk has a sponge mattress and pillow.

There are 60 beds at Mandara and Kibo Huts and 120 beds at Horombo Hut.

For many trekkers, the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route is a popular choice.

The Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route is favored not only for its accessibility but also for the rich experiences it offers to climbers.

All climbing groups, often from several countries around the world, share meals in dining huts providing a jovial and energetic atmosphere.

Soft drinks, bottled water, and beer may be for sale at the huts.

This route is usually done in 5 days, but you can do it in 6 days for better acclimatization.

You can spend your extra day resting at Horombo or climbing to a basecamp below Kibo’s sub peak Mawenzi.

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Many trekkers choose the route for its scenic beauty and the opportunity to experience diverse landscapes.

Choosing the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route ensures an unforgettable journey.

This journey is filled with breathtaking sights and cultural encounters.

Choosing the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route ensures an unforgettable journey filled with breathtaking sights and cultural encounters.

Table of Contents

Exploring the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

The Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route is an incredible journey for adventurers.

The route offers stunning views and a chance to encounter unique flora and fauna.

Departure from
Arusha
Maximum Altitude
5,895 metres
Best season
All year round
Transportation
Vehicle, Trekking
Fitness level
Easy to Moderate
Meals
All meals during the trek
Tour type
Eco-Tour, Hiking, Trekking
Language
English, Spanish, French, Italian
Accomodation
Hotel first night and last after the trek, Camping while trekking
Destinations
Tanzania Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Safari Tours
Activities
Trekking safari, Hiking safari, Kilimanjaro
Trip Type
Mountain Climbing
Difficulty
Medium

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Map

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Map

Overview

Highlights

This route is also known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route.
This route is usually done in 5 days, but you can do it in 6 days for better acclimatization.
Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route is the easiest and shortest route to Kilimanjaro’s summit.
This is the only route on Kilimanjaro with the comforts of solar-powered sleeping huts and comfortable beds at every camp.

Day 1 :

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) - Transfer to Arusha

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred to Arusha for overnight. The rest of the day is free, enjoy the accommodations tranquil natural setting as you settle in for your first night in Tanzania. Take a stroll, enjoy the sights and sounds. Get plenty of rest tomorrow will be huge! Dinner and overnight at Maura Apartment.

Day 2 :

Arusha to Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

After breakfast and a briefing from your guide, leave Moshi at 9 AM, drive for 45 minutes to the Marangu Gate on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro, register with the national park, and begin hiking at 10:30 AM. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colubus monkeys. At these lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts should be sufficient, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing handy. Stop halfway for lunch, and reach the Mandara Huts at 2 or 3 PM. Unpack, rest, and have some tea or coffee. A 15 minute side trip to Maundy Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. Dinner is served during the early evening at 7 PM. Bathrooms with running water are available. Arusha to Marangu gate - 2 hr 46 min (119.3 km) Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) to Mandara Hut (2,700 meters) Distance: 8km / 5 miles Trekking time: 4-6 hours Zone: Rainforest Dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut

Day 3 :

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Today your day begins with an early start. You will be served breakfast and should be on your way by latest 08:30. The trek continues through the rainforest, around the base of the Maundi Crater and then transitions rather rapidly into the low alpine moorland zone. If the weather is clear you should definitely take the opportunity to scramble up the Maundi Crater to get your first full view of Kibo. During the trek you will also see giant lobelias which are scattered throughout the landscape at this altitude. Day two takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete and covers a significant distance (11.5km / 7miles). At Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) you will be served dinner and shown to your sleeping quarters for the night. Mandara Hut (2,700 meters) to Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) Distance: 12km / 7 miles Trekking time: 6-8 hours Zone: Rainforest / Low-alpine zone Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.

Day 4 :

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

Wake to breakfast as usual, but if you wake early you can get some great photos of the sunrise. The first part of the day’s hike climbs through the dwindling heath land that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. When you stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours. Be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness. There is no running water at the Kibo Huts. Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) to Kibo Hut (4,700 meters) Distance: 10 km / 6 miles Trekking time: 5-7 hours Zone: Low-alpine zone / High-alpine zone Dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut.

Day 5 :

Summit Day! Kibo Huts

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Leave at 1 AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 AM. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9 AM. This is Africa’s highest point, and you would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. After your summit stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and re cross the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep! You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with 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. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there! Summit Day! Kibo Huts (4,695 m/15,400 ft) Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) 4 km up, 14 km down – 10-15 hours – Alpine Desert Dinner and overnight at Horobo Hut.

Day 6 :

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate proceed to Arusha

Wake as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you back to Arusha where it is definitely time for celebration! Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 18 km, 5-7 hours Dinner and Overnight at Maura Apartment

Day 7 :

Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport

It’s the final day in mainland Tanzania, depending with the time of your flight departure, be sure to grab any last minute souvenirs you may want and say one last goodbye to the the new friends you made in Tanzania before. Our drive will come to the hotel to pick you up for trip to the Airport to catch a flight back home. Or else a trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to recuperate. We can also arrange many reasonably priced safaris before Mount Kilimanjaro trek to help with acclimatization. Kwa heri ya kuonana – (Good bye and see you again).

Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Exploring the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Map

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Cost

The Cost Includes

The Cost Excludes

Map

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Exploring the Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

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