VIP / 9 DAYS / $6,995

Day 1 / ARRIVAL / LODGE
Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport you are met by your private driver and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. You are given a full safety briefing and equipment check with the lead guide, climbs manager and your photography guide Paul Joynson-Hicks (MBE). Dinner & overnight Lodge (half board).

Day 2 / KILIMANJARO / MURRAM BARRIER / SHIRA 1
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro. At the starting point of the Shira trail, you meet the rest of your crew and set off at a leisurely pace into the break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. Lunch is taken on trail and you arrive in camp mid afternoon. Overnight Shira 1 Camp (full board).

Day 3 / KILIMANJARO / SHIRA 2
Crossing the Shira plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning we hike for around 3-4 hours to the lunch point. After lunch we ascend to Shira 2 camp, arriving in the mid afternoon. For those with the energy a hike in the late afternoon is possible. Dinner & overnight Shira 2 Camp (full board).

Day 4 / KILIMANJARO / MOIR HUT
After a relatively long hike and significant altitude gain, today is a short day and you arrive in Moir Camp in time for lunch. A good day for acclimatisation with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides. Overnight Moir Camp (full board).

Day 5 / KILIMANJARO / POFU
The route today diverges from the traditional western routes and head north and then east around the Kibo Massif. Here, for the time being at least, there are relatively few other groups. You hike through the alpine desert skirting the edge of the heath zone to Pofu camp. Most groups arrive for lunch and then take an afternoon acclimatisation hike. Overnight Pofu camp (full board).

Day 6 / KILIMANJARO / CAVE 3
From Pofu you hike a ridge and continue around the Kibo massif to Cave 3 skirting the edge of the heath zone. Once at Cave 3 there is time to rest and a short acclimatisation walk in the late afternoon. Overnight Cave 3 (full board).

Day 7 / KILIMANJARO / SCHOOL HUT
From Cave 3 you continue around the north and eastern flanks of Kibo and arrive into School Hut in time to check through your gear for the summit bid. After an early dinner you retire for some sleep. Dinner and overnight School Hut (full board).

Day 8 / KILIMANJARO / KIBO CRATER
Unlike other routes with a night time ascent, your hike selection affords you a day time ascent to Kibo crater. The going is slow but with constant encouragement from your climb team the rim of Kibo is reached before descending a little way into the caldera to Crater camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and short walks can be taken with one of your guides. Overnight Kibo Crater Camp (full board).

Day 9 / KILIMANJARO / MWEKA
After a night in the crater you now have the shortest final summit bid of any route. With such a short distance to the summit from the crater (around 1 hour) means that timing arrival with the sunrise is much easier and quite spectacular. The summit of Kilimanjaro is the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world. After your summit bid you then descend for a final night on the mountain at Mweka Camp passing back through the heath zone. Endemic proteas, pollinated by Malachite Sunbirds are plentiful. Overnight Mweka Camp (full board).

Day 10 / KILIMANJARO / OUT - ARUSHA
After breakfast you descend once again through montane forest and around mid day after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transfer back to your hotel for a well deserved shower! Overnight Lodge (full board).

Day 11 / ARUSHA / DEPART
After breakfast you are transferred onto onward connections. Note if you want to spend the day at rest please request a day room (extra charge).