Day 1
2,986 ft
Arrive · Kilimanjaro Intl.
JRO · · · ·
Airport pickup and transfer to Moshi. Detailed briefing and gear-check for the crater itinerary.
Route Guide · Crater Camp · Private only
NORTHERN CRATER.
A NIGHT INSIDE
THE CRATER.
Ten days on the mountain with a night inside Reusch Crater at 18,800 ft. The rarest itinerary we run.
02 · The honest overview
NORTHERN CRATER.
CRATER CAMP NIGHT.
Northern Circuit with a night inside Reusch Crater at 18,800 ft. The most extraordinary, demanding way to stand on the summit twice.
WHY BOOK THIS ROUTE
- A night in the craterCamp at 18,800 ft beside the Furtwängler Glacier and the ash pit, an experience almost no climber has.
- Summit twiceReach the rim, sleep in the crater, then walk to Uhuru at dawn with no crowds.
- Northern Circuit baseBuilt on our highest-acclimatization route, so the extra altitude is earned slowly.
- The rarest itineraryVery few operators and climbers do crater camp, genuine expedition territory.
HONEST DRAWBACKS
- A night at extreme altitudeSleeping at 18,800 ft is demanding, it suits experienced, well-acclimatized climbers only.
- Private and premiumRun privately, with the highest price of any Peak Planet trip.
- StrenuousThe most physically taxing itinerary we offer, two days spent above 18,000 ft.
03 · Day by day
THE ITINERARY
Day 2
6,890 → 9,121 ft
Londorossi Gate → Mti Mkubwa
Rainforest · 6 km · 3 – 4 hrs
Registration, the Lemosho trailhead, and an easy forest walk to Big Tree Camp.
Day 3
9,121 → 11,500 ft
Mti Mkubwa → Shira 1
Heath / moorland · 8 km · 5 – 6 hrs
Out of the forest and up onto the western edge of the Shira Plateau.
Day 4
11,500 → 12,600 ft
Shira 1 → Shira 2
Alpine desert · 11 km · 5 – 6 hrs
A slow plateau crossing to build red blood cells, with a short acclimatization ridge before camp.
Day 5
12,600 → 15,190 → 13,660 ft
Shira 2 → Lava Tower → Moir Hut
Climb high · sleep low · 10 km · 6 – 7 hrs
Lunch at Lava Tower, then north to the quiet Moir Hut camp.
Day 6
13,660 → 13,800 ft
Moir Hut → Buffalo Camp
Northern slopes · 12 km · 5 – 6 hrs
Onto the remote northern circuit, the quietest ground on the mountain.
Day 7
13,800 → 13,800 ft
Buffalo Camp → Pofu Camp
Alpine desert · 8 km · 4 – 5 hrs
A wide northern traverse under big skies, banking altitude with every step.
Day 8
13,800 → 15,600 ft
Pofu Camp → School Hut
Summit approach · 8 km · 4 – 5 hrs
Round to School Hut on the eastern side of Kibo. A short, restful day before the crater push.
Day 9
15,600 → 18,865 ft
School Hut → Crater Camp
Into the crater · 5 km · 6 – 7 hrs
Climb to the crater rim at Gilman's Point, then drop inside to camp beside the Furtwängler Glacier and the ash pit at 18,865 ft, the rarest night on the mountain.
Day 10
18,865 → 19,341 → 10,171 ft
Crater Camp → Uhuru → Mweka
Summit + descent · 17 km · 10 – 12 hrs
A short dawn walk to Uhuru Peak with the crater to yourself, then the full descent all the way to Mweka Camp.
Day 11
10,171 → 5,381 ft
Mweka → Moshi
Certificates · 10 km · 3 – 4 hrs
Walk out through the rainforest. Certificate ceremony, hot showers, celebration dinner.
Day 12
2,986 ft
Departure or Safari add-on
JRO · · · ·
Late check-out and transfer to the airport, or onwards to the Serengeti.
04 · What you pay for
EVERYTHING
IN THE PRICE.
Included
- Park & gate fees (camping, rescue, summit, conservation)
- Two pre-climb hotel nights, one post-climb
- JRO airport transfers (both directions)
- WFR-certified lead guide on every climb
- 1:2 guide-to-climber ratio · max 12 per group
- Daily pulse-ox + Lake Louise altitude monitoring
- Emergency oxygen on every trek (Gamow bag on Northern Circuit)
- Helicopter evacuation insurance to 5,000 m
- Ferrino four-season tents + sleeping cot
- Three meals daily on the mountain
- Filtered, treated drinking water, unlimited
- KPAP-compliant porter wages, audited
Not included
- International flights to JRO
- Tanzania entry visa (~$100)
- Travel & medical insurance (required)
- Personal climbing gear (rental list provided)
- Lunch & dinner in Moshi
- Tips for guides & porters (~$340 / climber)
On the trail
GALLERY
Photography placeholders — final route images will replace these before launch.
Summit morning on the roof of Africa
High alpine terrain
Summit-night ascent
The final push to the top
High camp before summit night
Big country below the mountain
In their words
CLIMBERS ON
THIS ROUTE.
★★★★★5.0 · 461 reviews on Tripadvisor4.9★ on Google · Read all reviews →
★★★★★
The best outfitter on the mountain
We selected the longer Northern Circuit route to ensure altitude acclimatization. Superb porters, and service that could not have been better — prompt and cheerful. Observing the other trekking companies during our climb, it was obvious that Peak Planet was the best outfitter on the mountain.
Read on Tripadvisor →● Northern Circuit
★★★★★
Private trek on the Northern Circuit
We booked a private trek with Peak Planet along the longest, 55-mile Northern Circuit, which has the highest success rate of all the routes. From booking to arrival and departure, the care on the mountain was exemplary.
Read on Google →● Northern Circuit · Private
Troyvia Tripadvisor★★★★★
Top notch professional organization
Your team was great. Had a wonderful experience. Couldn't have had more professional service. Everything was absolutely excellent. You have great people and I loved each and every one of them. Staff treated us like family — great people.
Read on Tripadvisor →
● Machame · 9 Days
05 · Upcoming departures
PICK A DATE
Private departures on request — connect with our team for the latest manifest for this itinerary.
06 · Our verdict
WOULD WE BOOK THIS ROUTE?
Crater camp is for the climber who wants more than the summit. A night at 18,800 ft beside the glaciers is unforgettable, and demanding. Built on the Northern Circuit, it earns the altitude honestly.
“This is the rarest thing we do. If you are experienced and want the mountain at its most extraordinary, this is it.”
Ben J., Experience Designer
07 · Ready to book?
GET A QUOTE
FOR THIS ROUTE.
Send a quote request and our team will reply within four hours with a full breakdown — no hidden fees, no upsells at the briefing.
From $4,291 per climber