Welcome to Moshi- the more quaint, laid-back of the small towns sitting at the base of the famed Mount Kilimanjaro! Upon arrival in Kilimanjaro International airport you will be met by our Embark representatives, who will provide transportation to your hotel. No activities are planned for the day. You are free to explore picturesque downtown Moshi.

Group briefing and pre-trip discussion. You will be introduced to your trekking guide and have a comprehensive gear check. You are free to explore some more, take part in informal group tour around town; visit the market or a local coffee shop for lunch. Moshi is a relatively small, comfortable city that has a reputation for being somewhat laid-back compared to its sister city of Arusha, so feel free to wander. There will also be time to do last-minute shopping for the trek if needed.

Depart Moshi for Machame Gate where you will complete entry formalities. With flora and fauna heavier and richer here than on any other route through the thick rainforest, the Machame Route cuts through underbrush that is so untouched it at times grows right across the narrow trail. After 5-7 hours, we'll reach our camp for the night.

Today is an easy paced acclimatization day. You will hike over streams, a river gorge, and moorlands. Camp is located on the Shira Plateau, providing views of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.

Today is an important acclimization day as you travel up to 15,000ft, then descend to the Barranco Camp at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at almost the same elevation as when you started, the day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day mean for acclimatization.

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction, which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Camp. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner and prepare for Summit Day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Very early in the morning (midnight to 1:00 am), we begin our journey to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

Departure for airport for international flight home or add-on safari (if participating in a safari; please make sure to book your international flight home in the evening).