Circle Kilimanjaro's remote northern slopes on an elite 8-day expedition. Enjoy unparalleled acclimatization and exclusive, crowd-free wilderness.
The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Beginning in the west at Londorossi Gate (sharing the initial Lemosho path), it uniquely diverges to traverse the mountain's remote northern slopes. This virtually untouched path offers a complete 360-degree circumnavigation of the peak, providing sweeping, uninterrupted vistas across the Kenyan border.
By extending your time on the mountain to 8 days, this route offers the absolute best acclimatization profile of any Kilimanjaro trek, directly resulting in the highest summit success rates. You will navigate high alpine deserts and glacial zones while being fully supported by our elite mountain crew in premium, highly comfortable tented camps.
A masterfully paced 360-degree expedition that maximizes scenic exposure, solitude, and vital altitude acclimatization.
We depart Moshi for a two-hour drive to Londorossi Gate to complete registration, then continue up to the trailhead. Following lunch, we begin a short, beautiful trek through the rainforest to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp. You may spot large wildlife, such as elephants or buffalo, emerging from the forest canopy.
We spend our first hour hiking through the final section of the rainforest before breaking out into the low alpine moorland zone. The trek is relatively short and gradual as we ascend onto the expansive Shira Plateau, ending our day at Shira Camp 1 for dinner and rest.
Today we cross the Shira Plateau, heading east and passing through the bizarre and beautiful "Garden of the Senecios." We then diverge from the crowded southern routes, turning north into the high alpine desert zone. We follow the Northern Circuit down into Moir Valley, setting up camp at 4,200m.
We begin with a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley, with an optional detour to summit Little Lent Hill (4,375m) for acclimatization. The route then skirts around the remote northern slopes of Kibo, featuring rolling inclines and offering incredible vistas out across the Kenyan border. We arrive at Buffalo Camp by midday for a hot lunch and ample rest.
We start with a climb up Buffalo Ridge before descending into Porfu Camp for lunch. The route continues east along the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave. This shorter trekking day allows your body to fully leverage the altitude acclimatization built up over the previous days, arriving in camp by mid-afternoon.
We embark on a steady incline up and over the Saddle, the barren landscape stretching between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Continuing southwest, we reach our final base camp at School Hut. We serve an early dinner so you can sleep; you will be awoken before midnight to begin the summit push.
Awoken at 11:30 PM with hot tea, we ascend the steep slopes of Kibo under the stars. Passing Hans Meyer Cave, we reach Gilman's Point (5,681m) by dawn. Two more hours of trekking along the crater rim brings us to Uhuru Peak! After taking in the sunrise, we descend heavily screed slopes to Barafu Camp for a break, before continuing down to Millennium Camp.
The final day is a short, celebratory hike down through the dense, vibrant montane rainforest. At Mweka Gate, we sign out with the authorities, you receive your official gold summit certificate, and we load into our private transfer to return to Moshi for a well-earned shower.
Your premium trek includes all core mountain services required for a safe, comfortable, and professionally managed Kilimanjaro experience.
These items are not included in the standard trekking package and should be planned for separately.
Every Kilimanjaro ascent we orchestrate is fully tailored to your specific preferences, ensuring maximum safety, comfort, and success. Connect with our local specialists to secure your dates.
