5-Day Budget Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Marangu Route

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

Your adventure begins with a morning drive from Moshi or Arusha to Marangu Gate (1,870m), the official starting point of your Kilimanjaro trek. After registering with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities, you’ll meet your guides, porters, and cook, who will accompany you throughout the journey. The trek starts in the lush rainforest, where towering trees, ferns, and a variety of monkeys and exotic birds create a lively atmosphere.

The gradual uphill trail is well-defined and easy to follow, making for a comfortable first day. As you ascend, keep an eye out for blue monkeys and colobus monkeys swinging in the trees. After 3–4 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at Mandara Hut (2,720m), a wooden dormitory-style shelter, where you’ll rest for the night. In the afternoon, you can take a short walk to the Maundi Crater, which offers spectacular views of Mawenzi Peak and the distant Kenyan plains. Enjoy a warm dinner before getting some rest for the next day’s hike.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Elevation: 2,720m to 3,720m
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
Habitat: Heath and moorland
After an early breakfast, you’ll leave behind the dense rainforest and transition into the heath and moorland zone. The trail gradually ascends, offering stunning views of Mawenzi Peak (5,149m), Kilimanjaro’s second-highest summit. The vegetation shifts to giant heather and unique plants like lobelias and giant groundsels, which thrive in the high-altitude environment.

The hike to Horombo Hut (3,720m) takes about 5–6 hours, covering approximately 11 km (6.8 miles). As you gain altitude, you may begin to feel the effects of the thinner air. Upon arrival at Horombo Hut, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. The hut is larger than Mandara, accommodating more climbers and offering dining and resting areas. After a hearty meal, you can relax and prepare for the next day’s challenging ascent.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

Elevation: 3,720m to 4,703m
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Habitat: Alpine desert
Today’s trek is longer and more demanding as you ascend into the alpine desert zone, where the landscape becomes barren with rocky terrain and little vegetation. You’ll pass the famous “Last Water Point” before heading towards the Saddle, a vast, open stretch of land that connects Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. This area is dry, windy, and exposed to harsh mountain conditions, so proper layering and hydration are essential.

After approximately 6–7 hours of trekking, covering 10 km (6.2 miles), you will reach Kibo Hut (4,703m). This is your final stop before the summit push. The oxygen levels are lower here, and you may experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness. An early dinner is served, and climbers are encouraged to rest as much as possible, as the summit attempt begins shortly after midnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of your trek. Your summit push begins around midnight as you embark on a steep, slow climb in complete darkness, using headlamps to navigate the rocky path. The air is thin and freezing, making each step more difficult. Your guide will encourage a slow but steady pace, following the famous “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) technique to conserve energy.

After 5–6 hours of relentless ascent, you’ll reach Gilman’s Point (5,685m) on the crater rim, where the first light of dawn paints the sky with magnificent hues. From here, another 1–2 hours of trekking leads you to Uhuru Peak (5,895m)

After celebrating and taking photos, you’ll begin your descent back to Kibo Hut for a short rest and lunch before continuing to Horombo Hut (3,720m) for the night. The descent is physically demanding on the knees, but the increased oxygen levels make it more comfortable. Expect to spend 10–14 hours trekking in total today.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

Elevation: 3,720m to 1,870m
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Distance: 20 km / 12.4 miles
Habitat: Heath and rainforest
Your final day on the mountain starts with a long descent through the heath and moorland, eventually leading back into the rainforest. The hike to Marangu Gate (1,870m) takes around 6–7 hours, covering approximately 20 km (12.4 miles). As you descend, the air becomes warmer and richer in oxygen, making breathing easier.

At Marangu Gate, you’ll sign out with the park authorities and receive your summit certificate – a Green Certificate for reaching Gilman’s Point or a Gold Certificate for reaching Uhuru Peak. Your driver will be waiting to transfer you back to Moshi or Arusha, where you can celebrate your incredible achievement with a warm shower, a hearty meal, and well-deserved rest!

Main Destination:

Moshi (Town)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.