Compare 7-day Lemosho tours & realize an 85% Kilimanjaro summit guarantee when you hike this Lemosho route itinerary for 7 days. This especially applies if you’re under 30 years of age and have no experience climbing at high altitudes.
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Difficulty:
High
Distance:
71km/43mi
Duration:
7 Days
Success Rate:
85%
The Lemosho route is one of Mount Kilimanjaro’s newest trails, and it avoids crowds on the first ascent. This provides visitors a few days of peaceful trekking to take in the stunning scenery before the track joins the Machame route.
If this is your first-time climbing at high elevations (above 3,000m/9,900ft), you should know that the most effective way to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is to properly acclimatize during your hike. Long and gradual routes like the 7-day Lemosho route are perfect for acclimatization systems to be utilized. See, on Mt Kilimanjaro, there are 2 systems that prevent altitude sickness:
- The first method, Pole Pole (Slow-Slow in English), requires you to be on the mountain long enough for your body to acclimate to various altitudes.
- The second method, Trek-High & Sleep-Low, calls for trails to have gradual inclines in order for you to trek to high elevations and sleep at lower altitudes. This method conditions your body to anticipate elevation gains while helping you adjust during your sleep.
Unless you find yourself between the ages of 12 and 29, you should seriously consider trekking Lemosho’s 8-day variation. This will give you ample time to adjust to elevation changes and will make for an ultimate Kilimanjaro climbing experience. The 8-day variation, unlike the 7-day hike, performs extremely well with hikers that are under 40 years of age.
Highlights From This Long-Distance Trail
Best Time To Hike The Lemosho Route
Dietary Food Menus Served On Mount Kilimanjaro
All of your meals on Mt Kilimanjaro are freshly cooked by excellent chefs and served according to your dietary preference.
Meet Your Tanzanian Tour Guide
Oscar (Cheni)
Cheni is technical and has extensive knowledge of Mount Kilimanjaro. He is one of our best lead guides and is well trained to handle emergencies on the mountain.
Safety Trekking Materials & Hiking Equipment
High-Altitude Kits
Medication & Sanitary Treatments
Wraps, Splints & Wound Coverings
Tools & Supplies
Evacuation Protocols On This Walking Tour
Transportation & Meeting Points
Departure Time
10:00 AM
Kilimanjaro National Park Fees
| Kilimanjaro National Park fees | |
| Conservation Fees | $70/Per Day |
| Camping Fees | $50/Per Night |
| Rescue Fees | $20/Per Hiker |
| Guide and Porter Entrance Fees | $2/Per Supporting Crew |
| Forest Entry Fees | $10/Per Hiker |
| Forest Vehicle Entry Fees | $20/Per Vehicle |
| Forest Support Crew Entry Fees | $1/Per Supporting Crew |
| Tourism Value Added Tax (VAT) | 18% |
| Retail Value Added Tax (VAT) | 18% |
| Total | $1,194.68 |
Compare 7-Day Lemosho Route’s Prices & Tours
Open Group Treks
Save Costs Hiking 7 Days Up Lemosho Route With A Kilimanjaro Tour Group. The Escorted Tour Includes:
$2,764
Private Treks
Get Kilimanjaro Privacy & Flexibility Hiking Lemosho Route’s 7 Days Private Package. The Escorted Tour includes:
$3,050
Package Tours Exclude
How To Book A Package Tour
Payment Process
Paying For A Group Trek
Paying For A Private Trek
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7-Day Trekking Itinerary & Elevation Gains
DAY 1 — ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
All trekkers will have to arrange their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and apply for their own visas through the online immigration portal. Visa guidelines are also available on the official immigration website.
Note, if you’re arriving from a country subject to yellow fever, you will be required to show proof of vaccination. A 72-hour PCR test is required for entry.
A transfer will be arranged to drop off you and your luggage at the hotel to unwind from your travels. Briefing will take place in the evening or early morning.
Airport Pick-Up
Car Transfer
Hotel Drop-Off
DAY 2 — HIKING FROM LONDOROSSI GATE TO FOREST CAMP
After breakfast, a car will transfer you to the Londorossi Park Gate for registration while the porters pack supplies and luggages before ascent. Please pack trekking belongings not exceeding 15-18kg as porters are only allowed to carry weight no more than 20kg.
Elevation: 7,800ft-9,500ft
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 4 mi/6 km
Habitat: East African Montane Forests
DAY 3 — HIKING FROM FOREST CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP
From camp, the Lemosho trek will resume east; across the Shira Plateau with a breathtaking view of the Shira Cathedral. The trail crosses moorland meadow and leads to Shira 1 Camp for an overnight stay at 3,500m. Glaciers of the western breach can be spotted from this point. Expect a temperature to drop compared to the previous night.
ElElevation: 9,498ft-11,500ft
Hiking Time 5-6 hours
Distance: 5 mi/8 km
Habitat: Heath & East African Montane Moorlands
DAY 4 — HIKING FROM SHIRA CAMP TO MOIR HUT
As we move from Shira Camp and leave the forest behind, the trails will become steeper entering moorland zone. Then a gentle walk through the high altitudes of Shira Caldera to Moir Hut will spark remarkable views of Arrow Glacier. Camp will be set at 4,200m.
Elevation: 11,500ft-13,800ft
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 7 mi/11 km
Habitat: Heath & East African Montane Moorlands
DAY 5 — HIKING FROM MOIR HUT TO LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP
On this day, we will hike up 4,600m to the base of Lava Tower for lunch and acclimatization. As this will be the toughest day of the Lemosho trek, you may start sensing the change in altitude.
Elevation: 13,800ft-15,190ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 4 mi/7 km
Habitat: Alpine Tundra
LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP
After lunch, we’ll descend 650m to Barranco Camp. The “trek high & sleep low” technique is commonly used to help trekkers cope with the changes in altitude.
The descent to Barranco Camp will take approximately 2 hours where the camp is situated in a valley just below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall. This grants an enormous vantage point to take photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall.
Elevation: 15,190ft-13,044ft
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Distance: 2 mi/3 km
Habitat: Alpine Tundra
DAY 6 — SCRAMBLING FROM BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
The Lemosho trek to Karranga from Barranco Camp will be short but fun as you cross the Great Barranco Wall to reach the Karanga Valley at 3,930m beneath Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers.
Elevation: 13,044ft-13,106ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 3 mi/5 km
Habitat: Alpine Tundra
KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
A departure from Karanga to Barafu camp will be met with a junction leading towards the Mweka gate. Crossing this junction and arriving at Barafu camp signifies the completion of the Southern Circuit. Here, you’ll be able to spot the summit from an array of angles.
Elevation: 13,106ft-15,331ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 2 mi/4 km
Habitat: Alpine Tundra
DAY 7 — HIKING FROM BARAFU CAMP TO UHURU PEAK (SUMMIT) TO MWEKA CAMP
This is summit day and may also be the most physically and mentally challenging phase of your trek. The hike will resume between the Redman and Ratzel Glacier heading towards the crater rim at Stella Point (5,732m). Uhuru (5,895m) Peak, the highest point of the mountain, is only an hour away from Stella Point.
Elevation: 15,331ft-19,341ft
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Distance: 3 mi/5 km
Habitat: Arctic
UHURU PEAK (SUMMIT) TO MWEKA CAMP
From the summit, you will descend down 3,100m to Mweka Camp for lunch. This point will also be the last point for dinner and an overnight stay.
Elevation: 19,341ft-10,065ft
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 7 mi/12 km
Habitat: East African Montane Forests
DAY 8 — DESCENDING FROM MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE
After breakfast, we will further descend 1,300m to Mweka Gate where you’ll collect your Kilimanjaro certificates by the park headquarters. A transfer from the gate to the hotel will be arranged after receiving your certificates.
Elevation: 10,065ft-5,380ft
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 6 mi/10 km
Habitat: East African Montane Forests
DAY 9 — DEPARTURE TO KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/NEXT TOUR
If you have booked a Wildlife Safari or Zanzibar Beach Holiday package with us, you’ll be transferred to the next chapter of your journey. If you have not booked an additional trip with XPATS International, you’ll be transferred to the airport.
Hotel Pick-Up
Car Transfer
Next Expedition
Lodging
Overnight Stays At The Hotel Before & After Your Hike
Camping Tents At Lemosho’s Campsites
Trekking Map Of The Lemosho Route On Kilimanjaro
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