Day 1: MONTRÉAL-KILIMANJARO
Meet-up of participants at Montreal’s Trudeau airport and departure for Kilimanjaro via Europe.
Overnight flight; Meals on board.
Photo credit: CRS ChallengeTMDay 2: ARRIVAL
Arrival at Kilimanjaro’s airport and reception by your local Tanzanian team.Travel to lodge for check-in. Welcome dinner and sleep in lodge.
Lunch (depending on flight schedule) and dinner included
Day 3: ACCLIMATIZATION
Breakfast at the lodge.In the morning, information session for the trek along with an equipment inspection and weighing of bags.The afternoon will be yours to make any last-minute purchases if necessary or to rest before the big climb.Dinner and sleep in lodge.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 4: MACHAME GATE (1 815 m) MACHAME CAMP (3 050 m)
Breakfast around 8am and departure for the Chagga village of Machame, the trek’s starting point. Entry into Kilimanjaro National Park, and meet-up with your guides and porters. Watching the porters is an event unto itself as they try to evaluate which bag is the lightest. From here you’ll hike 6 hours to reach your first camp, Camp Machame (3050m).The trek begins with a large trail in the forest reserve before entering a denser forest. With some luck, you may spot some Colobus monkeys or Turacos.
Overnight camping in a tent
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: + 1185m / Approximate duration : 6h
Photo credit: CRS ChallengeTMDay 5: : MACHAME CAMP-SHIRA CAMP (3 840 m)
With a great view of Kibo, you’ll leave camp in the morning. After a small descent, the path hardens as you enter heather fields where lichen can be found illuminated by the sun.You’ll then enter into a volcanic world, with little vegetation, before ending up on the Shira plateau. During this time, you’ll come across lobelias and senecios. The path here is flat, and it won’t be long before you spot your camp and porters. During the day, Kibo may be shaded, but be reassured that at dusk, it will be illuminated by the lasts rays of the setting sun. In contrast, Mount Meru will slowly disappear behind the pines of Shira.
Overnight camping in Shira Camp, 3840m.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: + 790m / Approximate duration : 6h30
Day 6: SHIRA CAMP-BARRANCO CAMP (4 025 m)
From your camp, you’ll follow a straight track towards Lava Tower (4600). You’ll overlook the entire Shira Plateau as you gradually approach the glaciers. Breakfast at the foot of the immense volcanic tower, along with a rest, befor descending the large Barranco glacier, undoubtedly the most beautiful spot on Kilimanjaro. This enormous canyon is the result of a large landslide over 100,000 years ago. Several small creeks snake from the feet of the glaciers, and your camp there is surrounded by lobelias and senecios. You’ll see the majestic Heim Glacier suspended just above you.
Overnight camping at Camp Barranco, 3 950 m.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: + 760m, - 360m / Approximate duration : 6h30
Day 7: BARRANCO CAMP-KARANGA VALLEY CAMP (4 055 m)
This day serves to help with altitude acclimatization and to reduce the distance from Camp Barranco to Camp Barafu. The day begins with your scaling of the Barranco Wall followed by the traversal of the valleys on the southern face of the mountain. Arrive in Karanga valley after an elevation descent of 500m followed by a difficult climb.
Overnight camping
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: + 200m, - 200m / Approximate duration : 6h
Day 8: KARANGA VALLEY CAMP- BARAFU CAMP (4 630 m)
Departure for Camp Barafu in the midst of an alpine and deserted landscape. A day of relatively easy hiking, but capped-off by a rather abrupt climb.
Lunch during hike; dinner and sleep at camp
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: + 575m / Approximate duration : 5h
Photo credit: CRS ChallengeTMDay 9: BARAFU-STELLA POINT (5 745m)-UHURU PEAK (5 895m)-BARAFU
Begin your climb at 6am so that you take advantage of the sun and the few tourists during your day-climb. After 6 to 7 hours of hiking, you’ll arrive, with plenty of emotion, at the summit; the roof of Africa and symbol of freedom for the Tanzanian people. Descend the same trail back to Camp Barafu and stay another night there. We suggest you get as much rest as you can and drink plenty of water.
Overnight camping
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: + 1265m, -1265m / Approximate duration : 10h
Day 10: BARAFU-MWEKA CAMP (3 100 m) 4h
Your descent continues down to the last camp, Mweka, at 3100m.
Overnight camping
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: -1530m / Approximate duration : 4h
Day 11: MWEKA CAMP-MWEKA GATE (1 830 m) 3h
The trail will take you through a lush forest where it’s not uncommon to spot black-and-white colobi.
Picnic en route or at park entry
Travel to lodge for check-in
Goodbye dinner and distribution of certificates
Overnight in lodge
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Altitude change: -1270m / Approximate duration : 3h
Day 12: KILIMANJARO (TANZANIA)-MONTRÉAL
Breakfast. The day is yours to relax and reflect on your adventure. In the afternoon, based on flight schedule, travel to airport for return flight home.
Breakfast included
Dinner and sleep on plane