Marangu at a glance
Marangu is Kilimanjaro’s shared-hut route, following an established trail from the southeastern forest through Mandara and Horombo to Kibo. Choose between five and six mountain days, with the longer option adding a second Horombo night. It suits travellers who prefer a roof to a tent and understand that hut accommodation does not make the climb easy.
From USD 1,370 per person
For six paying climbers booking the 5-day Marangu itinerary. Private groups · 2027 · subject to availability.
Choose 5 or 6 mountain days with shared huts. Your programme includes two hotel nights with breakfast, airport pickup and drop-off, and mountain transfers. The longer option adds a Horombo acclimatisation day.
Your expedition includes
- Park, hut and rescue fees, with applicable taxes
- Guiding team, cook and porters
- Mountain breakfast, lunch, dinner and daily boiled/treated drinking water
- Shared mountain hut accommodation
- Two hotel nights with breakfast
- Emergency oxygen, pulse oximeter and first-aid kit
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Mountain transfers to and from Marangu Gate
Why choose Marangu?
- Why consider six days?
- The extra Horombo day adds an acclimatisation opportunity before Kibo. Five days follows a faster ascent and leaves less adjustment time.
- A roof at the end of the day
- Sleep in basic shared mountain huts rather than tents. Mandara’s forest setting, Horombo’s open moorland and the saddle towards Kibo give the route distinct stages; bring a suitable sleeping bag for the cold nights.
- Choose for the accommodation and route style
- Marangu offers a clear ascent-and-descent corridor and a familiar hut routine. The trails are shared, and the ascent and descent use the same side of the mountain. Allow for the long summit stage and discuss the six-day option with our team.
Extra time supports acclimatisation; it does not guarantee a summit. Read our altitude and acclimatisation guidance →
- Mountain time
- 5–6 trekking days · 4 or 5 mountain nights
- Approach & finish
- Southeast approach · Marangu Gate finish
- Summit
- Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
- Sleeping
- Shared huts
- Trail atmosphere
- Popular; same ascent and descent
- Physical demand
- Challenging; long summit stage
Huts are basic and shared. The shorter altitude profile deserves careful discussion; this is not an easy alternative to camping routes.
Mountain days run from the first trailhead walk to the exit gate, including acclimatisation days. Arrival, hotel preparation, post-climb rest and departure are additional.
The route on the mountain
Loading your route explorer…
Illustrative route explorer for your selected itinerary. Camp labels follow the written itinerary; the elevation profile is approximate. Follow your mountain guide on the trail.
One route. Two itineraries.
The same huts and summit corridor, with one important difference: the six-day version adds a Horombo acclimatisation day.
Elevations, distances and times are approximate planning figures, not promises. Published camp elevations vary; pace, weather, trail choice and acclimatisation outings change the day. The team confirms camps and stages before booking.
Choose five or six mountain days in the price selector above to view that itinerary.
Five days · the direct schedule
Four mountain nights. Go directly from Horombo to Kibo on day three. This removes the acclimatisation day and compresses the ascent; it does not remove any of the summit effort.
Plan this 5-day option- Mountain day 1
Marangu Gate → Mandara Hut
Complete registration at Marangu Gate, then enter a shaded forest trail. Keep waterproofs in your daypack and take the first day slowly. The evening introduces hut life: basic shared sleeping space, communal facilities and your own warm sleeping bag. This is mountain accommodation rather than a hotel.
- Start
- ≈ 1,860 m
- Finish
- ≈ 2,700 m
- Distance
- ≈ 8 km
- Trekking time
- 4–5 hours
- Habitat
- Montane forest
- Overnight
- Mandara Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 2
Mandara Hut → Horombo Hut
The canopy thins and the mountain’s scale becomes easier to read. Open moorland gives views towards Mawenzi and Kibo when clouds allow. This is a substantial gain in sleeping altitude, so pace, food and honest symptom reporting matter more than arriving quickly. Horombo feels cooler and more exposed than Mandara.
- Start
- ≈ 2,700 m
- Finish
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Distance
- ≈ 11–12 km
- Trekking time
- 6–8 hours
- Habitat
- Forest → heath & moorland
- Overnight
- Horombo Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 3
Horombo Hut → Kibo Hut
Cross the broad, exposed saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The walking is less enclosed and plant life becomes scarce; wind, dust and sun can all be noticeable. Kibo is the last sleeping stop before the summit attempt. Prepare your night layers and drinking system, then use the available hours for food and rest.
- Start
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Finish
- ≈ 4,700 m
- Distance
- ≈ 10 km
- Trekking time
- 6–8 hours
- Habitat
- Moorland → alpine desert
- Overnight
- Kibo Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 4
Kibo → Uhuru Peak → Horombo
A night ascent climbs the steep upper slopes towards Gilman’s Point. The crater-rim traverse to Uhuru adds effort after reaching the rim; conditions and the guide’s assessment determine how far to proceed. Descend back to Kibo for a break, then continue to Horombo. This very long day requires energy for the return as well as the climb.
- Start
- ≈ 4,700 m
- Finish
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Reported high point
- 5,895 m
- Distance
- ≈ 6 km up + 16 km down
- Trekking time
- 7–9 hours up + 4–6 hours down
- Habitat
- Alpine desert → summit zone → moorland
- Overnight
- Horombo Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 5
Horombo Hut → Marangu Gate
Retrace the lower Marangu trail through Mandara and back into forest. The distance is considerable even though most of it is downhill. Walk carefully on damp surfaces and give your knees time. Finish at Marangu Gate, not Mweka, before the separately arranged return transfer and post-climb night.
- Start
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Finish
- ≈ 1,860 m
- Distance
- ≈ 20 km
- Trekking time
- 5–7 hours
- Habitat
- Moorland → montane forest
- Overnight
- Off the mountain; hotel separately arranged
This joins published overnight values. It is not a GPS track, continuous terrain profile or assessment of medical safety.
Six days · an extra Horombo day
Five mountain nights. Day three is a guide-led acclimatisation outing, returning to Horombo for a second night before moving to Kibo.
Plan this 6-day option- Mountain day 1
Marangu Gate → Mandara Hut
Complete registration at Marangu Gate, then enter a shaded forest trail. Keep waterproofs in your daypack and take the first day slowly. The evening introduces hut life: basic shared sleeping space, communal facilities and your own warm sleeping bag. This is mountain accommodation rather than a hotel.
- Start
- ≈ 1,860 m
- Finish
- ≈ 2,700 m
- Distance
- ≈ 8 km
- Trekking time
- 4–5 hours
- Habitat
- Montane forest
- Overnight
- Mandara Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 2
Mandara Hut → Horombo Hut
The canopy thins and the mountain’s scale becomes easier to read. Open moorland gives views towards Mawenzi and Kibo when clouds allow. This is a substantial gain in sleeping altitude, so pace, food and honest symptom reporting matter more than arriving quickly. Horombo feels cooler and more exposed than Mandara.
- Start
- ≈ 2,700 m
- Finish
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Distance
- ≈ 11–12 km
- Trekking time
- 6–8 hours
- Habitat
- Forest → heath & moorland
- Overnight
- Horombo Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 3
Horombo acclimatisation walk → Horombo
The six-day itinerary keeps a second night at Horombo. A guide-led outing towards Mawenzi Ridge can take you higher before returning to the same sleeping altitude; shorter options are possible according to conditions and how you feel. This day adds adaptation time rather than a new hut. The quoted high point applies to the longer ridge outing, not every walk.
- Start
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Finish
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Reported high point
- ≈ 4,390 m
- Distance
- ≈ Up to 10 km, outing-dependent
- Trekking time
- 3–5 hours, outing-dependent
- Habitat
- Heath & moorland
- Overnight
- Horombo Hut · second night
- Mountain day 4
Horombo Hut → Kibo Hut
Cross the broad, exposed saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The walking is less enclosed and plant life becomes scarce; wind, dust and sun can all be noticeable. Kibo is the last sleeping stop before the summit attempt. Prepare your night layers and drinking system, then use the available hours for food and rest.
- Start
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Finish
- ≈ 4,700 m
- Distance
- ≈ 10 km
- Trekking time
- 6–8 hours
- Habitat
- Moorland → alpine desert
- Overnight
- Kibo Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 5
Kibo → Uhuru Peak → Horombo
A night ascent climbs the steep upper slopes towards Gilman’s Point. The crater-rim traverse to Uhuru adds effort after reaching the rim; conditions and the guide’s assessment determine how far to proceed. Descend back to Kibo for a break, then continue to Horombo. This very long day requires energy for the return as well as the climb.
- Start
- ≈ 4,700 m
- Finish
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Reported high point
- 5,895 m
- Distance
- ≈ 6 km up + 16 km down
- Trekking time
- 7–9 hours up + 4–6 hours down
- Habitat
- Alpine desert → summit zone → moorland
- Overnight
- Horombo Hut · shared dormitory
- Mountain day 6
Horombo Hut → Marangu Gate
Retrace the lower Marangu trail through Mandara and back into forest. The distance is considerable even though most of it is downhill. Walk carefully on damp surfaces and give your knees time. Finish at Marangu Gate, not Mweka, before the separately arranged return transfer and post-climb night.
- Start
- ≈ 3,720 m
- Finish
- ≈ 1,860 m
- Distance
- ≈ 20 km
- Trekking time
- 5–7 hours
- Habitat
- Moorland → montane forest
- Overnight
- Off the mountain; hotel separately arranged
This joins published overnight values. It is not a GPS track, continuous terrain profile or assessment of medical safety.
Elevation & acclimatisation
5-day overnight elevations
Mandara → Horombo → Kibo → Horombo → Marangu Gate
Approximate sleeping elevations from the existing route itinerary. Summit stages reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m before descending.
6-day overnight elevations
Mandara → Horombo → Horombo acclimatisation → Kibo → Horombo → Marangu Gate
Approximate sleeping elevations from the existing route itinerary. Summit stages reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m before descending.
The six-day option adds an acclimatisation day at Horombo. Hut accommodation does not remove altitude risk or the demands of summit night.
Camps, huts & mountain nights
Five-day climb: four mountain nights, at Mandara, Horombo, Kibo and Horombo again. Six-day climb: five nights, with an additional Horombo night.
Huts use basic shared dormitory sleeping arrangements. Bring a warm sleeping bag; do not expect private rooms, heated bedrooms or ensuite facilities.
What mountain accommodation is really likeThe landscapes you’ll cross
- 01Shaded montane forest on the lower trail.
- 02Open moorland with views of Mawenzi and Kibo.
- 03The saddle’s exposed alpine desert.
- 04The eastern crater rim and the same trail back through the lower habitats.
What to know before choosing
- Hut accommodation does not make the climb easy or protect against altitude illness.
- Ascent and descent share the Marangu corridor; scenery is repeated on the way down.
- The summit day is especially long, and the final exit is about 20 km.
- A “five-day Marangu” means five days on the mountain, excluding arrival, hotel preparation and departure.
Prepare for this route
Train for long days and sustained downhill walking. Test your sleeping bag for cold conditions even though you have a roof. Pack earplugs for communal sleeping and keep valuables with you. Discuss the five-day ascent schedule carefully with the team.
Your 2027 private Marangu package
| Paying climbers | Per person | Group total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,210 | $2,210 |
| 2 | $1,810 | $3,620 |
| 3 | $1,715 | $5,145 |
| 4 | $1,655 | $6,620 |
| 5 | $1,650 | $8,250 |
| 6 | $1,615 | $9,690 |
Prices follow the selected mountain duration. Private groups booking together; 7+ paying climbers receive an individual quotation. All applicable taxes included.
Included
- 5- or 6-day guided Marangu expedition, with the selected mountain-night schedule
- Applicable park, hut and rescue fees, including applicable taxes
- Lead guide, supporting mountain guides, cook and porters
- Mountain breakfast, lunch, dinner and daily boiled/treated drinking water
- Two hotel nights with breakfast; single room for solo, twin/triple sharing for groups
- Airport pickup and drop-off, plus mountain transfers to and from Marangu Gate
- Emergency oxygen, pulse oximeter and first-aid equipment
- Shared mountain hut accommodation; bring a suitable sleeping bag
Excluded
- International flights, entry documents and appropriate travel insurance
- Tips and personal spending
- Personal trekking equipment, sleeping bag and rentals
- Extra hotel nights, itinerary changes and extensions unless quoted
- PAC / hyperbaric chamber
- Camping equipment and private portable toilet are not part of this hut itinerary
Twin/triple hotel sharing · two nights with breakfast
Your written quotation identifies the hotel and your pickup and transfer schedule.
Get your free quoteBooking & payment.
Your private climb, your requested dates
This is a private expedition on requested dates, not a fixed-date shared departure. Travel throughout 2027 is subject to availability. Send your preferred start date and group size; we confirm availability and final arrangements in writing before requesting your deposit.
Get your free quote- Send your enquiry.
- Receive availability confirmation and your written quotation.
- Pay the USD 200 per-person deposit after confirmation.
- Pay the remaining balance 60 days before arrival. Bookings within 60 days require full payment on confirmation.
Legal booking operator and payment recipient: Eyes of Tanzania Limited. Pay through the official payment instructions on your company invoice. The EOK expedition terms below apply.
Operated and contracted by Eyes of Tanzania Limited. Your written quotation and invoice confirm the final arrangements and official payment instructions.
- Deposit
- USD 200 per person · USD 400 group deposit
- Balance
- USD 1,610 per person · USD 3,220 group balance · due 60 days before arrival
Bookings within 60 days of arrival require full payment on confirmation. If your group size changes, we provide a revised quotation for written acceptance before applying a different price.
Cancellation charges
| Notice | Charge |
|---|---|
| 61+ days | 0% |
| 46–60 days | 25% |
| 30–45 days | 50% |
| 7–29 days | 75% |
| 0–6 days or no-show | 100% |
Eligible payments are refunded less permissible documented bank/refund charges. Refunds are limited to sums paid. Where an accepted cancellation charge exceeds payments received, the difference remains payable under the booking agreement, subject to applicable law.
Postponement & date changes
All date changes are subject to availability and written approval. Eligible payments transfer to the revised climb, subject to agreed rate or arrangement changes.
- 30+ days before arrival: one change without an EOK administration fee.
- 14–29 days: USD 150 per person.
- 8–13 days: USD 200 per person.
- 1–7 days: contact the office; approval is not guaranteed.
For arrival-day requests, later changes or the permitted rescheduling period, contact the office for written confirmation before relying on a change.
Refunds, changes & travel requirements
Refunds due are processed within 14 business days after entitlement and refund details are established. Actual documented costs caused by client payment errors may be deducted where permitted; EOK covers correction charges caused by its own errors.
If EOK cancels for reasons within its control, choose a full refund of payments received or a mutually agreed alternative. Extraordinary events are addressed under the accepted booking terms and applicable law.
Guests are responsible for passports, visas and required inbound insurance. Appropriate personal medical and evacuation insurance covering your planned altitude is required; cancellation and interruption cover is strongly recommended.
Weather, park directives, availability or safety can require itinerary changes. Material changes are communicated. Follow the lead guide’s safety decisions. Identifiable guest photographs are used for promotion only with appropriate consent. Raise problems promptly with the guide or office; unresolved complaints may be submitted in writing.
Private group prices, rooms & payment
The price follows your selected route duration and the number of paying climbers booking together. See the group-rate table in Price & inclusions above. More than six paying climbers requires an individual quotation. These are private-group rates, not join-in departures.
Solo climbers have a single hotel room; groups use twin/triple sharing, including triple sharing for odd-sized groups. Both lodge nights include breakfast.
The deposit is USD 200 per person. The remaining balance is the confirmed price less that deposit, due 60 days before arrival. Travel validity is throughout 2027, subject to availability. EOK booking terms apply to this expedition.
Questions? info@eyesofkilimanjaro.com
info@eyes-of-tanzania.com