Kilimanjaro tours: four kinds
Tours around Kilimanjaro fall into four groups. Multi-day treks take you up the mountain with a licensed operator. Day hikes stay inside the park and turn back long before the summit. Trips from Moshi visit a waterfall, coffee farms, hot springs or the market. Safaris in other parks can be added to a climb.
Prices below are examples for 2026. Operators set their own prices, and an offer does not show free places on your date. Check the date, the meeting point and what the price covers before you book.
Our picks: Kilimanjaro tours
Our take: the Moshi day trip lets you pick waterfall, hot springs or coffee; the Shira day hike reaches 3,872 m; the Umbwe group trek is the steep route for experienced hikers.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Umbwe route group climb in 6 days
- Fair crew wages
- Meals and tents
- Transfers to the gates
Guides, cook and porters with fair wages, meals, tents and transfers to the gates, with oxygen and an oximeter. Park and rescue fees are extra.
Check availability →
Shira Plateau day hike to Cathedral Point
- Mountain guide
- Private transport
- Forest reserve fees
A mountain guide, private transport from Moshi or Arusha, forest reserve fees and a packed lunch. The park fee of USD 82.60 per person is paid by card at the gate.
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Materuni waterfall, Chemka hot springs or coffee tour
- Local guide
- Transport and entry fees
- Lunch
A local guide, transport, entry fees and lunch; you choose the waterfall, the hot springs, the coffee tour or a mix.
Check availability →Kilimanjaro tours, day hikes and day trips
Treks, the Mandara day hike and trips from Moshi, with live prices and availability.
Tours compared
Per person in 2026, as examples.
| Tour | Length | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-day trek | 5 to 10 days on the mountain | From $1,399 | Park fees, crew and mountain meals in most packages |
| Mandara day hike | 5 to 7 hours of walking, plus 45 to 60 minutes each way from Moshi | $215 group, $275 private | Guide and park fees |
| Materuni half day | Half a day, about 40 minutes' walk to the waterfall | $30 | Entry, guide, coffee programme, stick and water, no lunch |
| Materuni full day | Full day | $35 | The same plus a local lunch |
| Chemka (Kikuletwa) springs | Swimming trip | Entry about $5 to $10 | – |
| Safari add-on | 1 to 7 days | – | Private programme after the climb |
For most visitors who do not plan to reach the summit, a good combination is a day in the park on the Mandara hike and a second day in Moshi, with the waterfall and coffee. The cost page adds park fees, visa and tips for the longer treks.
What each tour involves
Details that decide which one fits.
Multi-day treks
These follow a route such as Machame, Marangu or Lemosho. A trek counts 5 to 10 walking days, and an 8-day programme takes 10 calendar days from arrival to departure. Compare the route, the days and the inclusions, not only the total.
Climbing Kilimanjaro →Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
The hike leads through the forest to Mandara Hut at about 2,700 m. Programmes differ: about 8 km each way with 3 to 4 hours up and 2 to 3 hours down, or 14 km in total and 6 to 9 hours, with the Maundi crater detour only if time and weather allow. It does not reach the summit and does not include a night on the mountain.
Day hike →Other park day tours
Other day tours cover the Marangu forest, the Shira plateau, the Rongai Simba Caves and the Lemosho Big Tree. Not every entrance runs a day tour every day, so ask before you plan around one.
Materuni waterfall and coffee
The village programme combines a walk of about 40 minutes to the waterfall with traditional coffee processing. Ask whether the transfer from Moshi is part of the price. It is a separate trip and not part of the park day hike.
Moshi →Chemka, Moshi town and market
Chemka, also known as Kikuletwa, is a swimming trip. Entry is about $5 to $10 per person and may differ on the day. A town and market tour in Moshi is offered separately. Ask locally for market days and opening hours.
Safari after the climb
Private safaris of 1 to 7 days can be added on top of the climb. There is no joint ticket for Kilimanjaro and the safari parks, and each park has its own fees.
Kilimanjaro and safari →Guided tours and licensed guides
What the guide is for.
Inside the park, every ascent is guided. The guide and a licensed operator lead the group, and a crew of porters carries the kit. Porter welfare guidelines limit loads to 20 kg per porter on top of personal luggage and ask for three proper meals a day. Ask how many crew members come along, and agree the tipping procedure before the trek. If you tip as a group, announce the total and how it is shared in front of the crew.
On a day hike the guide matters for a different reason: the paths are marked, but the park rules ask you to stay on them and follow ranger instructions. Drones need permission in advance. Plan your trip by season and weather, because the mountain changes quickly with height.
Safari parks around Kilimanjaro
Other parks have their own guides.
If you want to add game drives, the Serengeti safari guide and the Ngorongoro tours guide cover those parks in detail. This site stays with the mountain, Moshi and the way the pieces fit together.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Kilimanjaro tours: frequently asked questions
Which Kilimanjaro tour is right for me?
That depends on your time and fitness. A multi-day trek is the only way to the summit. A day hike to Mandara Hut and a Materuni trip suit visitors with a day or two. The table above compares examples.
Can I do a day tour on Kilimanjaro?
Yes, but not to the summit. The day hike from Marangu Gate leads to Mandara Hut and back, and other park day tours exist. See the day hike page.
How much do Kilimanjaro tours cost?
Examples in 2026 range from $30 for a Materuni half day to $215 or $275 for the Mandara day hike and from $1,399 for a multi-day trek. These are single products, and extras can change the final price.
Do I need to book in advance?
Offers do not show free places on your date. Check availability before you plan around a tour, and ask about the meeting point and the cancellation terms.
Can I combine the climb with a safari?
Yes. Private safaris of 1 to 7 days can be added on top of the climb. See Kilimanjaro and safari.
Are these tours run by the national park?
No. This site is an independent travel guide and is not run by the national park, by Tanzania National Parks or by any tour operator.