Tour Overview
The Chogoria route is our recommended and arguably the most magnificent ascent route to the summit area. It is the driest route up the mountain, and the walk beside the Gorges Valley is truly spectacular. This trip allows six days to acclimatise and ascend the mountain safely. The 'Round the Peaks' circuit is a magnificent tour offering ever-changing views of the summits, glaciers and tarns with their unique high-altitude vegetation, and the descent by the Sirimon route passes through beautiful forest tracks to complete the traverse of the mountain. Accommodation is a mix of mountain huts and camping - if you prefer, you can camp every night on the mountain. A technical climbing attempt can be added on request.
Trekkers wanting the most scenic routeBetter acclimatisationClimbers considering a technical attempt
Safari Highlights
The Chogoria route and the spectacular Gorges Valley
'Round the Peaks' circuit past glaciers and high-altitude tarns
Point Lenana sunrise summit
Full traverse - up Chogoria, down Sirimon
Day-by-Day Itinerary
D1
Nairobi - Mount Kenya Bandas
Nairobi → Chogoria → Mt Kenya Bandas · 10km trek
Depart Nairobi at 8am, driving through the agricultural countryside to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch we drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest and start trekking through the dense bamboo for about 10km to the Mount Kenya Bandas. Dinner and overnight at the Bandas.
D2
Mt Kenya Bandas - Lake Ellis Campsite
Bandas → Lake Ellis Campsite (3,600m) · 3 hrs, 9km, 700m ascent
After breakfast and sorting porter loads, we set off up the mountain at a nice, easy pace. A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithanguni and the Giant's Billiards Table, while following the river upstream from the road head for about 3km offers particularly beautiful scenery and flora. Lunch on the banks of a stream, then cut up the left-hand hillside to camp at about 3,600m, well away from the busier areas.
D3
Lake Ellis - Minto's Camp
Lake Ellis → Minto's Camp (4,200m) · 4 hrs, 12km, 600m ascent
A similar early start, again well off the beaten track, following a ridge up the mountain for about 3 hours to join the main Chogoria route at around 4,100m. Breathtaking views over the Gorges Valley and back towards Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands. Lunch at a small stream crossing, then about an hour more to Minto's Hut at 4,200m. The afternoon is for relaxing, though a 10-minute walk to the Temple is well worth it - a 150m vertical cliff named for the way visitors seem to pray as they peer over the edge.
D4
Minto's - Austrian Hut (Top Hut)
Minto's → Austrian Hut (4,790m) · 4 hrs, 7km, 500m ascent
Today we ascend along the foot of huge rock walls, with excellent views of Mount Kenya's peaks. After a couple of hours we reach Tooth Col, then traverse to the Austrian Hut for dinner and overnight.
D5
Austrian Hut - Point Lenana - Round the Peaks - Shipton's Camp
Austrian Hut → Point Lenana (4,985m) → Shipton's Camp (4,200m) · approx. 5 hrs
Leave at 5am for the pre-dawn push, climbing for about an hour across bare rock and scree to Point Lenana, the trekkers' summit, in time for the African sunrise. After breakfast we continue clockwise around the peaks, climbing up to Two Tarns and Nanyuki Tarn and passing between Oblong and Hausberg Tarns before descending to Shipton's Camp on the northern side of the peaks (about 4,200m) for dinner and overnight.
D6
Shipton's Camp - Old Moses - Nairobi
Shipton's → Old Moses (3,300m) → Nairobi · 5 hrs, 14km, 900m descent
After breakfast, a gentle 5-hour descent through the Mackinder Valley and moorlands to Old Moses Camp (3,300m) for lunch, then transfer back to Nairobi, arriving late afternoon.
What's Included
- Shared shuttle Nairobi - Chogoria
- Shared shuttle Nanyuki - Nairobi
- Full-board mountain meals
- Accommodation (huts and camping)
- All park entrance fees
- Guide, porters and chef (crew)
- Treated water during the hike
What's Excluded
- Climbing gear
- Items of personal use
- Flights
- Drinks
- Tips
- Shopping
- Any other extras needed
- Technical climbing attempt - USD 450 per person (optional)
Accommodation & Safari Vehicle
Accommodation: Mountain huts and camping (camping every night available on request)
Vehicle: Shared shuttle Nairobi - Chogoria and Nanyuki - Nairobi
Best Time to Visit
The two driest windows are mid-January to end of February and July to October, offering the most stable trekking conditions. The mountain can be climbed outside these windows, but expect wetter trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try a technical climb on this trek?
Yes - a technical climbing attempt can be added for USD 450 per person. Let us know when booking so we can arrange a technical guide and gear checks. For a dedicated technical itinerary, see our 7 day technical climbing trek.
Can we camp every night instead of using huts?
Yes - tell us when booking and we will arrange camping for all nights on the mountain.
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