How long does it take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

About 25% of beginner climbers fail to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. This is often because they choose a shorter itinerary than they need to acclimatize well. Our company has been organizing Kilimanjaro expeditions since 2014 for both beginners and seasoned athletes, and we know how long the ideal duration of the trip is for various categories of climbers. In this article, you will learn whether you should consider shorter five and six-day treks, or opt for longer trips.

Summary: Climbing Kilimanjaro can take five to nine days, depending on the route. If you opt for expeditions that include crater camping, the journey might extend to ten days. The most recommended routes for beginners span seven days. Shorter variations lasting 5 or 6 days are better suited for experienced hikers who have acclimatized beforehand.

Among the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, Kilimanjaro is one of the least time-consuming. For comparison, climbing Denali and Aconcagua requires at least 18 days. Expeditions to Everest can take about two months. And Puncak Jaya usually needs 10-11 days. In contrast, you can climb Mt Kilimanjaro in only about a week.

Mt Kilimanjaro is one of the most popular travel attractions on the continent. Over 40,000 people visit it every year. The reasons for its popularity are simple. It's an incredibly beautiful trek where a climber doesn't require technical climbing skills. To reach the summit, one needs only a healthy average fitness level. This is why many people begin their Seven Summits journey with Mount Kilimanjaro.

See our recommended Kilimanjaro Trekking Packages

· 10 DAYS KILIMANJARO MARANGU CLIMBING ROUTE & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY

· 10 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO ADVENTURE & ZANZIBAR HOLIDAY

· 12 DAYS CLIMBING KILIMANJARO & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY

· 12 DAYS CLIMBING KILIMANJARO & ZANZIBAR VACATION

· 8 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO CLIMBING ROUTE

· 9 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO NORTHERN CIRCUIT WITH CRATER OVERNIGHT

· 8 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO CLIMBING ROUTE

· 9 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO NORTHERN CIRCUIT WITH CRATER OVERNIGHT

· CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY IN 12 DAYS

· KILIMANJARO CLIMBING ADVENTURE & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY 10 DAYS

· KILIMANJARO MACHAME CLIMBING ROUTE & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY 10 DAYS

· KILIMANJARO MARANGU CLIMBING ROUTE & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY - 8 DAYS

· LEMOSHO CLIMBING ROUTE & OVERNIGHT IN THE CRATER 9 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO

· LEMOSHO CLIMBING ROUTE WITH CRATER OVERNIGHT 8 DAYS MOUNT KILIMANJARO

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 6 DAYS LEMOSHO CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 6 DAYS MARANGU CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 6 DAYS RONGAI CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 6DAYS MACHAME CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 6DAYS UMBWE CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 7 DAYS LEMOSHO CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 7 DAYS RONGAI CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 7 DAYS UMBWE CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO 7DAYS MACHAME CLIMBING ROUTE

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO MARANGU CLIMBING ROUTE 5 DAYS

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO NORTHERN CIRCUIT 8 DAYS CLIMBING

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMBING, SERENGETI PLAIN & NGORONGORO CRATER 12 DAYS

· MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMBING & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY IN 14DAYS LUXURY TOUR

We wrote this guide to help climbers prepare for their once-in-a-lifetime Kilimanjaro adventure. All the recommendations above are the results of our 10+ years of Kilimanjaro experience. Over this time we at Moonlight Tours Expedition have organized Mount Kilimanjaro hiking trips for over 3,000 people.