Umbwe Routes Packages 2025

Umbwe route has a well-deserved reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization. Umbwe is considered to be very difficult, taxing route - one that should only be attempted by strong hikers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly to altitude.The route is offered at a minimum of six days, though seven days is recommended when attempting this route. The Umbwe route should only be attempted by those who are very strong hikers and are confident in their ability to acclimatize
Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field ona path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
Day 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Machame gate – Umbwe Gate – Umbwe camp
Day 2: Umbwe camp – Barranco camp
Day 3: Barranco camp – Karanga camp
Day 4: Barranco camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu camp
Day 5: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – back to Barafu camp then to Mweka camp
Day 6: Mweka camp – Mweka gate – Back to Moshi

Umbwe route has a well-deserved reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization. Umbwe is considered to be very difficult, taxing route - one that should only be attempted by strong hikers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly to altitude. The route is offered at a minimum of six days, though seven days is recommended when attempting this route. The Umbwe route should only be attempted by those who are very strong hikers and are confident in their ability to acclimatize
Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field ona path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
Day 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Machame gate – Umbwe Gate – Umbwe camp
Day 2: Umbwe camp – Barranco camp
Day 3: Barranco camp (Full-Day Acclimatization)
Day 4: Barranco camp – Karanga camp
Day 5: Barranco camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu camp
Day 6: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – back to Barafu camp then to Mweka camp
Day 7: Mweka camp – Mweka gate – Back to Moshi

The Umbwe route has a well-deserved reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization.
On the 7-day Umbwe route with overnight at Kosovo camp, on day 5 the we trek from Karanga we pass Barafu camp direct Kosovo Camp for Overnight, allowing for a short day just prior to the summit attempt. Overnighting at Kosovo camp is important because we take a full night’s sleep and get up at our usual time, so climbers are sleep deprived going into the toughest day on the mountain. The 7-day Umbwe route with overnight at Kosovo camp is highly recommended.
Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
Day 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Machame gate – Umbwe Gate – Umbwe camp
Day 2: Umbwe camp – Barranco camp
Day 3: Barranco camp (Full-Day Acclimatization)
Day 4: Barranco camp – Karanga camp
Day 5: Barranco camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu camp – Kosovo Camp
Day 6: Kosovo Camp – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – back to Barafu camp then to Mweka camp
Day 7: Mweka camp – Mweka gate – Back to Moshi

6 days Kilimanjaro hiking up via Umbwe route and hiking down via Marangu route probably has a slight edge on the scenery in large part because the route up and down is different, Regardless, both routes are scenic and traverse the same range of ecosystems from tropical jungle, to mountain heath, alpine and finally apex or arctic. But the challenge comes when client select this option will be required to pay the double fees which might be expensive compared to the normal 6 days Umbwe package, where you descend via Mweka.
The route is offered at a minimum of 6 days, though seven days is recommended when attempting this route. The Umbwe route should only be attempted by those who are very strong hikers and are confident in their ability to acclimatize
Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
Day 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Machame gate – Umbwe Gate – Umbwe camp
Day 2: Umbwe camp – Barranco camp
Day 3: Barranco camp – Karanga camp
Day 4: Barranco camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu camp
Day 5: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – Horombo Hut
Day 6: Horombo Hut – Mandara Hut - Marangu gate – Back to Moshi

7 days Kilimanjaro hiking up via Umbwe route and hiking down via Marangu route probably has a slight edge on the scenery in large part because the route up and down is different, Regardless, both routes are scenic and traverse the same range of ecosystems from tropical jungle, to mountain heath, alpine and finally apex or arctic. But the challenge comes when client select this option will be required to pay the double fees which might be expensive compared to the normal 7 days Umbwe route package, where you descend via Mweka.
The route is offered at a minimum of six days, though seven days is recommended when attempting this route. The Umbwe rout should only be attempted by those who are very strong hikers and are confident in their ability to acclimatize

Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field ona path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu, Descent is made via the Mweka route.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
Day 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Machame gate – Umbwe Gate – Umbwe camp
Day 2: Umbwe camp – Barranco camp
Day 3: Barranco camp (Full-Day Acclimatization
Day 4: Barranco camp – Karanga camp
Day 5: Barranco camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu camp
Day 6: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – Horombo Hut
Day 7: Horombo Hut – Mandara Hut - Marangu gate – Back to Moshi

7 days Kilimanjaro hiking up via Umbwe route and hiking down via Marangu route probably has a slight edge on the scenery in large part because the route up and down is different, Regardless, both routes are scenic and traverse the same range of ecosystems from tropical jungle, to mountain heath, alpine and finally apex or arctic. But the challenge comes when client select this option will be required to pay the double fees which might be expensive compared to the normal 7 days Umbwe Route Package, where you descend via Mweka
On the 7-day Umbwe route with overnight at Kosovo camp, on day 5 the we trek from Karanga we pass Barafu camp direct Kosovo Camp for Overnight, allowing for a short day just prior to the summit attempt. Overnighting at Kosovo camp is important because we take a full night’s sleep and get up at our usual time, so climbers are sleep deprived going into the toughest day on the mountain. The 7-day Umbwe route with overnight at Kosovo camp is highly recommended. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Day 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
Day 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Machame gate – Umbwe Gate – Umbwe camp
Day 2: Umbwe camp – Barranco camp
Day 3: Barranco camp (Full-Day Acclimatization)
Day 4: Barranco camp – Karanga camp
Day 5: Barranco camp – Karanga Camp – Barafu camp – Kosovo Camp
Day 6: Kosovo Camp – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – Horombo Hut
Day 7: Horombo Hut – Mandara Hut – Marangu gate – Back to Moshi/Arusha