5 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route
Climb Kilimanjaro in five days on the classic Marangu Route, sleeping in mountain huts and summiting Uhuru Peak on the most affordable option.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Route
- Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate
- Start / end
- Starts and ends at your hotel in Arusha
- Best time
- The drier months, roughly January to early March and June to October, are generally considered the best times to climb Kilimanjaro; the long rains around April and May make the trails wetter.
- Trip style
- Private, fully supported hut-to-hut climb with professional guides, a cook and porters who carry the heavier gear, food and supplies.
Tour overview
The 5 Days Marangu Route, famously known as the "Coca-Cola" route because you could buy a bottle of Coca-Cola at each hut, is the original route established to climb Kilimanjaro and one of the most popular routes to the summit.
This 5-day climb is popular partly because it is the most affordable option, and it allows climbers to reach the summit in just five days, one day earlier than the Machame Route. The route is about 50 miles (80 km) long and climbers sleep in huts rather than tents.
However, the shorter duration also means a limited acclimatization period, making the climb more challenging. Marangu is often billed as one of the easier walking routes, yet according to KINAPA it has the lowest success rate (42%), as many climbers attempt it in only 5 days and struggle with poor acclimatization.
Highlights
- Hike through misty, moss-covered rainforest alongside a scenic stream to Mandara Hut
- Walk around Maundi Crater and onto the moorlands with views of Kibo and its glaciers
- See giant lobelia and groundsel on the way to Horombo Hut
- Cross the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to Kibo Hut
- Summit night via Hans Meyer Cave and Gillman's Point to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)
- Receive your summit certificate at Marangu Gate
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut (2,700 m)
After breakfast, meet your Kilimanjaro guides and transfer to Marangu Gate, where you complete the registration process. Pack essentials such as a camera, extra clothes and a rain jacket in your daypack, as porters will carry the heavier gear, food and supplies. Begin hiking along a lush, misty, moss-covered rainforest trail beside a scenic stream to Mandara Hut. The camp offers A-frame huts with bunks, solar lighting, spring water and flush toilets, accommodating up to 60 climbers. Hiking time: 5 hours. Distance: about 12 km. Habitat: montane forest. Elevation change: +720 m.
Day 2Mandara Hut (2,700 m) – Horombo Hut (3,720 m)
After breakfast, continue up the Marangu Route toward Horombo Hut, with a picnic lunch along the way. The trail passes through a stretch of forest and around Maundi Crater before opening onto the scenic moorlands, with views of the Kibo crater and glaciers on clear days. Look out for unique plants such as giant lobelia and groundsel. You arrive at Horombo Hut in the afternoon for a warm dinner and overnight stay; nighttime temperatures are near freezing. Hiking time: 6 hours. Distance: about 15 km. Habitat: moorland. Elevation change: +1,020 m.
Day 3Horombo Hut (3,720 m) – Kibo Hut (4,700 m)
The climb becomes more challenging as oxygen decreases at higher altitude. Today you follow the easier lower route to the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, passing the last watering point; refill here, as the next water source is at Horombo Hut on the descent. After a 5–7 hour trek, you reach Kibo Hut for dinner and rest. Prepare your gear and extra thermal layers for the final ascent and aim to sleep by 7:00 pm. Hiking time: about 6 hours. Distance: about 15 km. Habitat: alpine desert. Elevation change: +980 m.
Day 4Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Horombo Hut (3,720 m)
Today is the toughest day of the climb. You are woken just before midnight and begin the steep ascent to Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 m), then continue to Gillman's Point (5,680 m). This section is extremely rocky and steep, so pace yourself. From there, walk through snow for about 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). After celebrating and taking photos, descend for about 3 hours to Kibo Hut, followed by another 3 hours down to Horombo Hut for lunch, rest and an overnight stay. Hiking time: 10 hours. Distance: about 27 km. Habitat: stone scree and ice-capped summit. Elevation change: +1,195 m, –2,175 m.
Day 5Horombo Hut (3,720 m) – Marangu Gate (1,980 m)
After a hearty breakfast, continue your descent past Mandara Hut to Marangu Gate, a journey of about six hours. At the gate you sign the register and receive your summit certificate: green for reaching Gillman's Point, or gold for reaching Uhuru Peak. A road transfer then takes you back to your hotel for a well-deserved hot shower, celebratory drinks and a restful night in a comfortable bed. Hiking time: 6 hours. Distance: about 27 km. Habitat: moorland and rainforest. Elevation change: –1,740 m.
What is included
- Transfers
- Entry fees
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Hiking and safety equipment
- Climbing crew
Not included
- Airline tickets
- Visa fee
- Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the ascent)
- Personal gear rentals
- Tips for the mountain crew (USD 200–250 per person)
- Mountaineering insurance
Good to know
- Recommended tips for the mountain crew are around USD 200–250 per person and are not included in the price.
- Porters carry the heavier gear, food and supplies; carry a daypack with your camera, extra clothes and a rain jacket.
- Refill your water at the last watering point before the Saddle on Day 3, as the next water source is at Horombo Hut on the descent.
- Summit certificates are issued at Marangu Gate: green for reaching Gillman's Point and gold for reaching Uhuru Peak.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Marangu Route called the Coca-Cola route?
It earned the nickname because climbers could buy a bottle of Coca-Cola at each hut. It is the original route established to climb Kilimanjaro and the only one on this trip where you sleep in huts every night.
Is the 5-day Marangu Route easy?
It is often billed as one of the easier walking routes, but the short schedule leaves little time to acclimatize. According to KINAPA it has the lowest success rate (42%), so good fitness and a slow, steady pace are important.
What happens on summit night?
You are woken just before midnight at Kibo Hut and climb via Hans Meyer Cave and Gillman's Point to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). You then descend to Kibo Hut and on to Horombo Hut, about 10 hours of hiking in total.
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