Who should choose a 5-6 day Kilimanjaro climb?

Shorter 5-6 day treks on Kilimanjaro can be appropriate for experienced trekkers who have been active in other high-altitude environments within six months before attempting to climb Kilimanjaro. Their recent experience in similar conditions means they are already acclimatized to high altitudes. If you've hiked to an altitude of over 5,000 meters (16500 feet) within two weeks prior to your Kilimanjaro trip, your recent acclimatization will significantly benefit and likely suffice for a 6-day Kilimanjaro itinerary.

Shorter programs are more physically demanding. One will need to cover large distances each day. These condensed itineraries typically skip one of the camps along the trail, creating a more demanding schedule, especially for those of average fitness levels.

Take, for example, the six-day Machame route. On this itinerary, a hiker would start in the morning from Barranco Camp and trek directly to Barafu summit camp, covering a challenging distance of approximately 11 kilometers (7 miles). The physical exertion doesn't end there. On the same night, after only 3-4 hours of rest, the hiker embarks on the summit attempt, followed by a descent to Millennium Camp. It means undertaking another 15 kilometres (9 miles). In total, within less than 30 hours, the hiker completes a 27-kilometer (17 miles) journey with minimal sleep, gaining over 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) in elevation.

While feasible for fit and experienced hikers, this compact Kilimanjaro climb schedule can be extremely taxing for those with average fitness.

Upper Barafu (also known as Kosovo Camp) summit camp sits in an arid, deserted environment

See our recommended Kilimanjaro Trekking Packages

· 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 MARANGU CLIMBING ROUTE 5 DAYS

· 10 DAYS KILIMANJARO MARANGU CLIMBING ROUTE & ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAY

· 12 DAYS CLIMBING KILIMANJARO & ZANZIBAR VACATION

· 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

· 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.