Northern Magic 360° Kilimanjaro Experience

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), your Kilimanjaro Experience begins the moment you land. A friendly staff member from Serengeti Landmark Tours will be there to welcome you and ensure a smooth start to your journey. This is the first step of your unforgettable Kilimanjaro Experience and safari adventure in Tanzania.

You will then be transferred to your hotel in Arusha, where you can relax and recover after your journey. In the evening, you will join a safari briefing where our team will explain your itinerary, answer all questions, and prepare you fully for your upcoming adventure. This careful preparation ensures your Kilimanjaro Experience and safari run smoothly from start to finish.

Get a good night’s rest—your unforgettable safari begins tomorrow.

Accommodation

✓  Name: Tulia lodge
✓  Type: Hotel
✓  Level: Mid-range

On this day you will have an early wake-up and a hearty breakfast. Then you will begin a gradual walk up to the altitude of 3,414 m / 11,200 f; at this point, you will be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano for the first time.

On the whole, the passage from Mti Mkubwa to the second high-altitude camp, Shira 1 (3,414 m / 11,200 f), is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This will allow you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is the mainstay of good trekking towards the Kilimanjaro Crater Camp. When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will provide a hot lunch and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or taOn this day of your Kilimanjaro Experience, you will have an early wake-up followed by a hearty breakfast to prepare for the trek ahead. This marks another exciting stage of your Kilimanjaro Experience as you begin a gradual ascent to an altitude of 3,414 m / 11,200 ft, where you will enjoy stunning first views of the Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano.

Overall, the route from Mti Mkubwa to the second high-altitude camp, Shira 1 (3,414 m / 11,200 ft), is considered moderate and takes approximately 5–6 hours. This steady pace is an important part of your Kilimanjaro Experience, allowing your body to begin proper acclimatization—the key to a successful climb toward the Kilimanjaro Crater Camp.

Upon arrival at camp, your expert support team will provide a hot lunch, giving you time to rest in your tent or simply take in the breathtaking mountain scenery, making your Kilimanjaro Experience even more memorable.ke in the incredible scenery.

Trekking time:

5-6 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

On this day of your Kilimanjaro Experience, you will have an early wake-up and a hearty breakfast to fuel your journey. This part of your Kilimanjaro Experience continues with a gradual walk to an altitude of 3,414 m / 11,200 ft, where you will enjoy your first breathtaking views of the Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano.

On the whole, the passage from Mti Mkubwa to the second high-altitude camp, Shira 1 (3,414 m / 11,200 ft), is relatively easy and takes about 5–6 hours. This steady pace is an important part of your Kilimanjaro Experience, allowing your body to begin a gradual and safe acclimatization process, which is essential for a successful trek toward the Kilimanjaro Crater Camp.

Upon arrival at camp, your team of specialists will serve a hot lunch, after which you can rest in your tent or simply take in the incredible mountain scenery, making your Kilimanjaro Experience even more memorable.

Trekking time:

5-6 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

This day of your Kilimanjaro Experience begins with your group departing from Shira 1 Camp (3,414 m / 11,200 ft) for a gentle trek toward the second high-altitude camp, Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m / 12,628 ft). This stage of your Kilimanjaro Experience is not difficult and offers spectacular views of the African landscape along with unique flora that is endemic to Mount Kilimanjaro. Shira 2 Camp is also one of the best viewpoints of your Kilimanjaro Experience to see Mount Meru—the fifth-highest mountain in Africa—weather permitting.

Upon arrival at camp, you will enjoy a warm lunch followed by a two-hour rest. Afterward, the group will continue with an acclimatization hike toward Lava Tower Camp, gaining approximately 300 m / 984 ft in elevation. This part of your Kilimanjaro Experience is essential for proper altitude adjustment and also rewards you with breathtaking panoramic views from the top.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation:

Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m / 12,631 ft)

Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,110 m / 13,484 ft)

Hiking distance:

2 km (1.2 miles)

Hiking time:

1-2 hours

Trekking time:

3-4 hours

Distance:

7 km (4.3 miles)

After breakfast, you will continue your KilimaAfter breakfast, you will continue your Kilimanjaro Experience by leaving Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m / 12,628 ft) and trekking toward Lava Tower (4,600 m / 15,088 ft). This stage of your Kilimanjaro Experience is more challenging than previous days, with noticeable ascents and descents along the route. Although it may feel physically demanding, it plays a vital role in helping your body adapt to high altitude conditions.

Lunch is served at Lava Tower, where you will rest for 1–2 hours after the demanding climb. This pause is an important part of your Kilimanjaro Experience, allowing recovery while your body continues the acclimatization process.

After lunch, you will ascend slightly higher before gradually descending to Moir Hut. This remote camp, located on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, offers a peaceful atmosphere and marks another remarkable highlight of your Kil imanjaro Experience.njaro Experience by leaving Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m / 12,628 ft) and trekking toward Lava Tower (4,600 m / 15,088 ft). This stage of your Kilimanjaro Experience is more challenging than previous days, with noticeable ascents and descents along the route. Although it may feel physically demanding, it plays a vital role in helping your body adapt to high altitude conditions.

Lunch is served at Lava Tower, where you will rest for 1–2 hours after the demanding climb. This pause is an important part of your Kilimanjaro Experience, allowing recovery while your body continues the acclimatization process.

After lunch, you will ascend slightly higher before gradually descending to Moir Hut. This remote camp, located on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, offers a peaceful atmosphere and marks another remarkable highlight of your Kilimanjaro Experience.

Trekking time:

5-7 hours

Distance:

14 km (8.7 miles)

On this day, you will have a long but relatively easy trek. Initially, you will have a steep (although short) climb to depart Moir Valley, and then approach the northern slope of Kilimanjaro. While there will be more ups and downs on this trek, there are no steep altitude gains. This route passes close to the border with Kenya, so you will be treated to amazing views of the Tsavo and Amboseli Valleys.

Trekking time:

5-6 hours

Distance:

12 km (7.4 miles)

You will finish trekking up the northern slope of Kilimanjaro and stop for the night in 3rd Cave Camp, where the route will meet up with the traditional Rongai route. On this day the trekking will be shorter, and by this time your body should already have become completely acclimated to an altitude of 3,800 m / 12,464 f, which will contribute to your increased comfort and overall well-being.

Trekking time:

4-6 hours

Distance:

8 km (4.9 miles)

On this day you will be trekking to the School Hut Summit Camp (4,800 m /15,744 f). The actual trekking is not very hard, so remember to just choose an appropriate pace in order to keep your strength up for the next day. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much water as you can, because tomorrow your group will trek into the crater.

Trekking time:

4-5 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

Around midnight, you will depart from the camp and walk along the edge of the crater rim to reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak, which stands at 5,895 meters. Once you arrive at the top, you will spend about 30-40 minutes taking photos and watching an amazing sunrise with views across Africa. You can explore the nearby glaciers (just a 30-minute walk from the top) or start descending to the crater camp whenever you're ready.

Reaching the crater floor requires much dedication, but it is well worth it! When you arrive, you will be astonished by the ancient glaciers and snow. If you want, you may choose to trek further to the Ash Pit (it takes approximately 90 minutes), or save this endeavor for the next day.

Trekking time:

4-6 hours

Distance:

5 km (3.1 miles)

On this day you can make another summit attempt in the morning, your general condition permitting. If you don’t want to get back to Uhuru, you can proceed with hiking out of the crater to Barafu summit camp and further down the slope to Millenium camp, your next overnight site.

Or, if you feel like it, you can go to the Ash Pit, a still warm ice-free part of the crater with a diameter of 340 m, consisting of lava gravel (in case you didn't explore it yesterday). Its whitish-yellow sulfur slopes drop about 200 m into the depth of the volcano. Together with the Reusch crater that is encircling Ash Pit, Kilimanjaro has one of the most perfect crater shapes on earth. The amount of snow in the crater will determine the possibility of getting to the Ash Pit.

Trekking time:

5-6 hours

Distance:

16 km (9.9 miles)

The camp is situated in a tropical rainforest. When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park's exit: Mweka Gate (1,640 m /5,379 f). After your descent, the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you with a transfer back to the hotel.

Trekking time:

4-5 hours

Distance:

12 km (7.4 miles)

Accommodation

✓  Name: Tulia lodge
✓  Type: Hotel
✓  Level: Mid-range

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE:Hotel check-out is at 10:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.