Kilimanjaro - Machame Route & Zanzibar Adventure
- Tour code
TZAADV02
- Start
Moshi
- End
Zanzibar
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Challenging
- Language
English
The first week belongs to the mountain. From Moshi you'll set out on the Machame Route, walking from rainforest into heather and moorland and then the stark alpine desert below Kibo. Experienced mountain guides set the pace and keep a close eye on how everyone is adjusting to the altitude, and each night you'll sleep at a camp on the slopes.
The route is planned to help you acclimatize: up to the Lava Tower and back down to sleep at Barranco, then over the Barranco Wall and along the southern flank to Barafu. Summit night starts in the dark. You'll climb past Stella Point toward the top, timed so the sky lightens while you're near the crater rim, before a long descent returns you to Moshi and a traditional ceremony to mark the climb.
Then the pace flips. A short flight takes you to Zanzibar, where you'll wander Stone Town, a World Heritage-listed port, visit a spice plantation and spend your final days on the coast. Snorkel, dive, book an optional excursion or simply do nothing at all; your Soca Islands Host can point you in the right direction.
Why This Journey
Standing on the roof of Africa is the kind of goal people carry around for years. This trip gives it the time it deserves, with a six-day route that builds in acclimatization, guides who watch every step, and a small group to share the hard hours of summit night.
Then it gives you somewhere to come down to. Zanzibar's Swahili history, spice farms and white-sand coast are the counterweight to the climb: a few days to rest tired legs and let the achievement sink in. It suits fit, determined travelers, including solo travelers who would rather tackle the mountain with a team around them.
Where You'll Stay
Moshi (2 nights): Weru Weru River Lodge, in quiet riverside grounds between Moshi and Machame. On the mountain (5 nights): tented camps along the Machame Route. Stone Town (1 night): Zanzibar Serena Hotel, on the seafront in the old town. Zanzibar coast (3 nights): Zuri Zanzibar, on the beach at Kendwa. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Hotel rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which serves Moshi, and out of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar; arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Stand on the roof of Africa after five nights climbing Kilimanjaro
Rest trail-weary legs on Zanzibar's white sand, with warm, clear water for snorkeling
Taste Zanzibar's spices, roam Stone Town and mark your climb with a local ceremony
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional excursions, snorkelling and diving in Zanzibar
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where your transfer takes you to Moshi, the busy market town that sits in the mountain's shadow. Arrive whenever suits your flights and settle in.
In the evening you'll meet your Soca Islands Host and the rest of the group for a welcome briefing: a chance to put names to faces and talk through what the week on the mountain will look like.
Trekking starts today. The first stretch of the Machame Route climbs steadily through thick, green montane forest on the mountain's lower flanks, often damp underfoot and loud with birdsong.
By late afternoon you'll reach Machame Camp, where your tent is waiting for your first night on Kilimanjaro.
The trees thin out and give way to giant heather and moorland as you climb toward Shira Camp.
With the forest behind you, the horizon opens up and Kibo, Kilimanjaro's snow-streaked main cone, comes into full view.
A day built for acclimatization. You'll climb to the Lava Tower, a hulking volcanic plug, then drop down to sleep lower at Barranco Camp, following the old rule of climbing high and sleeping low.
On the way, look up at the Western Breach, a steep gash of cliffs and rock walls on the mountain's flank.
Start the morning with the scramble up the Barranco Wall, hands-on in places but steady going at a gentle pace. From the top, the trail traces the mountain's southern flank beneath the Heim Glacier.
You'll arrive at Barafu Camp in time to eat, rest and get an early night, because the summit bid begins in a few hours.
In the middle of the night you'll leave Barafu by headlamp and climb slowly toward Stella Point on the crater rim, then continue on as the sky starts to glow.
Take in the sunrise from Africa's highest point, then turn around for the long walk down to Mweka Camp and a well-earned sleep.
The final descent follows forest trails down off the mountain and on to Moshi, where a hot shower has rarely felt so good.
Later, you'll celebrate with a visit to a local women's cooperative and a traditional ceremony honoring your climb.
Swap boots for sandals: a flight carries you to Zanzibar and a hotel in Stone Town.
Join your guide for an orientation walk through the maze of old lanes, carved wooden doorways and markets, or head off and get happily lost on your own. In the evening, the food stalls of Forodhani Gardens are a short walk along the seafront.
Spend the morning on a guided visit to a spice plantation, smelling, tasting and learning how cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon shaped the island's story.
Afterward you'll head out to the coast, where the next few nights are all about sand and sea.
No schedule today. Stretch out on the sand, snorkel over the reef or book one of the optional excursions around the island. Your Soca Islands Host can share suggestions.
Another open day by the Indian Ocean. Maybe it's the dive you've been thinking about, a long walk along the shore, or one more afternoon doing very little at all.
After breakfast you'll transfer back toward Stone Town, where the trip wraps up, and on to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) for your flight home.
Fly out whenever suits you, with a summit and a suntan to show for it.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Weru Weru River Lodge
A lodge set in gardens beside the Weru Weru River on the outskirts of Moshi, with views of Kilimanjaro on clear days. It is an easy road transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport, a convenient first stop after arrival.
It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant and bar and garden cottages, which suits a relaxed welcome evening before the hike.
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
A seafront hotel in Stone Town made up of two restored historic buildings facing the Indian Ocean. The old town's lanes, carved doorways, Forodhani Gardens and the House of Wonders are all a short walk along the waterfront.
It has 51 rooms and suites, a pool on the water's edge, a rooftop seafood terrace and a spa, which makes it a calm base after the climb.
Rooms are 26 m² (280 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel websiteZuri Zanzibar
A beach resort on the northwest coast of Zanzibar near Kendwa, about 50 km from Stone Town and the international airport. Its 56 bungalows, suites and villas are spread through a large tropical garden a short walk from the beach, and Nungwi's beach bars are a short drive away.
There are three restaurants, four bars, a swimming pool, a spice garden and wellness options including yoga, which suits the open days at the end of the trip.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,534 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Jun 5, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and out of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Proposed accommodation is Weru Weru River Lodge in Moshi (2 nights), Zanzibar Serena Hotel in Stone Town (1 night) and Zuri Zanzibar on the Zanzibar coast (3 nights), or similar hotels, subject to confirmation. The 5 nights on Kilimanjaro are spent at tented mountain camps.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included: from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) at the start and to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) at the end. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners are included. Your Soca Islands Host will confirm which meals fall on which days; meals not included are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Kilimanjaro - Machame Route & Zanzibar Adventure trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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