Kilimanjaro Climb

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<strong><strong>DAY-01 Machame Gate (1,490m/4,890ft) to Machame Camp (2,980m/9,780ft).</strong></strong>
<div class=”item_content”><b>Chennai</b>
We will pick you up from your hotel in Moshi. Its time for our short morning briefing. We start approximately an hour’s drive to the Machame Village (1,490 m/4,890 ft) from Moshi. Your guides and porters will be preparing your pack, equipment and supplies upon your arrival. At the village you will receive a lunch pack. After registering at the park office, your ascent begins by hiking through the rain forest first. Heavy rains often transform the trail on this side of the mountain into mud, so good footgear, gaiters, and trekking poles are helpful. After having lunch at the halfway point, you will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Porters will have established our camp, so by the time you arrive everything is all set and ready. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, while the cook prepares a hot dinner for you. Rest and relax with a cup of hot tea. Be prepared as the night temperatures can drop to as low as freezing at the Machame camp area.
Overnight at Machame Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch</div>
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<strong><strong>DAY-05 Machame Camp (2,980m/9,780ft) to Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)</strong></strong>
<div class=”item_content”>After breakfast, you will climb for an hour to the top of the forest and then trek through the spectacular moorland for the next couple of hours. After lunch and some rest, you continue up the rocky ridge to the Shira Plateau. At Shira Plateau, you will be able to see Kilimanjaro’s Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. At times, the Western breach walls are draped with curtains of ice. You are now on the opposite side of the mountain from the Marangu Route and west of Kibo. After a short hike, you arrive at the Shira campsite. The night at this camp will be colder and temperatures will drop below freezing.
Overnight at Shira Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch</div>
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<div class=”interary-item”><strong>DAY-06 Shira Camp (3,840m/12,600ft) to Lava Tower (4,630m/15,190ft)
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<div class=”item_content”>Your hike begins toward the eastward ascent, where the path becomes steep, as we traverse through the highest vegetation on Kilimanjaro. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to the Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft). This remnant of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic past is several hundred feet high. The trail passes right below the Lava Tower, allowing hikers to climb it (if they desire) for excellent views. After lunch near the Lava Tower, you will descend for another couple of hours below the lower cliff of the Western Breach. The trail along the Breach Wall will bring you to Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft). Barranco Camp is in a valley below the breach and Great Barranco Wall. This provides a scenic sunset while waiting for dinner. Today, you may experience signs of high altitude. Keep your guides posted on how you are feeling. Most likely your body will use this time to acclimatize. Overnight at Barranco Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch</div>
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<div class=”interary-item”><strong>DAY-07 Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) – Karanga Camp (3,992m/13,100ft)
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<div class=”item_content”>After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.
Overnight at Karanga Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch</div>
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<div class=”interary-item”><strong>DAY-08 Karanga Camp (3,992m/13,100ft) to Barafu Camp (4,463m/15,300ft)
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<div class=”item_content”>After breakfast, we leave Karanga and reach the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which has offered you views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo give stunning views from this camp.
Overnight at Barafu Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch</div>
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<strong><strong>DAY-08 Karanga Camp (3,992m/13,100ft) to Barafu Camp (4,463m/15,300ft)</strong></strong>
<div class=”item_content”>After breakfast, we leave Karanga and reach the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which has offered you views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo give stunning views from this camp.
Overnight at Barafu Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch</div>
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<strong><strong>DAY-09 Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930ft) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) Summit Day! Barafu Camp – Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)</strong></strong>
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At 11:30 PM, you will wake up to steaming hot tea and biscuits. Now is the time which the mountaineers call the ‘Summit Attack’. Under the star filled sky we take off into the dark night with our headlamps. Your 6-hour climb northwest through heavy scree, between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, to Stella Point is the most challenging part of the route. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) right on the crater rim we shall stop for a short rest and a chance to see a breathtaking sunrise. Here at Stella Point, where all routes end up, you have reached the top of the mountain and one end of its crater rim. Depending on the season and recent storm activity, you may encounter snow on the remaining part of your hike along the Uhuru Peak rim. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment, knowing you are creating a day you will remember the rest of your life. Our three-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp will make this a long day so we will take a short rest back at the Barafu Hut. Another few hours hike down down a rock and scree path will take us through the moorland to the forest of Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the upper forest, where you can expect rain and mist in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared and ready before your arrival.Overnight at Mweka Camp: Dinner, Breakfast &amp; Lunch

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<div class=”interary-item”><strong>Day 8: Aveda Resorts and Spa, Kumarakom
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<div class=”item_content”>The tourist village of Kumarakom lies in the scenic backwater area, on the shore of the pleasant Vembanad lake. Here an old rubber plantation around the lake has been developed into a bird sanctuary. Visit the bird sanctuary. The main attractions are local birds like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian cranes. Parrots, teal, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, and other birds are seen here during their respective migratory seasons.
<b>Included</b>
Bed &amp; Breakfast</div>
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<strong><strong>DAY-10 Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980m/6,500ft)</strong></strong>
<div class=”item_content”>Hiking Time: 3-4 hours After breakfast, you will take a short scenic hike back to the park gate. Once your gear has arrived, you will join your porters for a big celebration. You can now tip your porters and staff as they bid farewell at this point. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where climbers receive summit certificates. It’s time to say goodbye with celebrations.</div>
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<b>Services include: </b>
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<li>Accommodation: Our unique select hotels/guest houses with clean rooms, reliable service and safe for foreign travellers.Meals: Meals as mentioned in the program outline, are included</li>
<li>Meals: As mentioned with the program.</li>
<li>All entrance fees for sites are included in the tour with the exception of those that are mentioned otherwise.</li>
<li>Air-conditioned transport throughout the tour (as per sightseeing program and hotel transfers).</li>
<li>Experienced and professional chauffeurs.</li>
<li>Sightseeing as mentioned with the tour details.</li>
<li>English speaking guide and/or trip leaders.</li>
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<b>Services do not include:</b>
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<li>Entry visas (if applicable).</li>
<li>If you book your flights yourself, you may be required to pay an additional cost for the airport transfers. Please contact our office to confirm.</li>
<li>International Airfare (except mentioned otherwise).</li>
<li>Domestic Airfare (except mentioned otherwise).</li>
<li>Personal expenses such as phone calls, drinks, use of mini-bar at the hotels, laundry or personal medications.</li>
<li>Any expenses that may arise due to unforeseen natural or political situation.</li>
<li>Insurance: We strongly recommend that all clients consider buying Trip Cancellation/Interruption + Medical Travel Insurance. Contact our office for a quote.</li>
<li>Tips and gratuities to porters, guides, drivers and trip leaders.</li>
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<b>NOTE:</b>
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<li>This trip may only operate with a minimum number of participants.</li>
<li>Sudden changes in the foreign currency rates can impact the prices. We can only protect our prices as long as they do not change over 5%.</li>
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