Which route, how many days?

Compare the seven Kilimanjaro routes by where you sleep each night — the day-by-day altitude that decides whether you acclimatise — alongside distance, crowds and where each one summits.

Choosing a Kilimanjaro climb starts with two questions: which route, and how many days. This compares the routes by where you would sleep each night — the thing that decides whether your body keeps up — so you can plan a climb you can actually finish.

The days are the climb

The biggest choice you make is the route and how many days you take. Your body needs time to get used to the thin air, so a longer route — with nights that climb gently and the odd night spent lower than the last — gives you a far better chance of reaching the top, and is easier on the crew than a rushed, cheap, short climb. This shows where you would sleep each night on each route, because that is what acclimatises you.

Route	Days	Distance	Sleeps in	Acclimatisation
MachameSummits via Stella Point (~5,756 m)	6–7	~62 km	tents	good
LemoshoSummits via Stella Point (~5,756 m)	7–8	~70 km	tents	good
Northern CircuitSummits via Gilman's Point (~5,685 m)	8–9	~88 km	tents	best
RongaiSummits via Gilman's Point (~5,685 m)	6–7	~80 km	tents	moderate
MaranguSummits via Gilman's Point (~5,685 m)	5–6	~82 km	huts	poor
UmbweSummits via Stella Point (~5,756 m)	6–7	~53 km	tents	poor
ShiraSummits via Stella Point (~5,756 m)	6–7	~56 km	tents	moderate

Which route, how many days?

Which route, how many days?

The routes, side by side

Night by night, route by route

Where you sleep, night by night (7-day itinerary)

Before you book: the altitude is the real test

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