During your climb, the day begins early, with a warm drink brought to your tent between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. Afterward, you’ll have time to freshen up using warm water provided by our team. Breakfast is served between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, and by 8:30 AM, we start our day’s trek to the next camp.
The pace of the hike is relaxed to help with acclimatization, with regular breaks every hour. This allows you plenty of opportunities to take photos, enjoy the scenery, and chat with your guides. Most hikes last between 4 and 7 hours.
When you arrive at the next campsite, your tent will already be set up, and your bag will be waiting for you, so you can settle in comfortably. Lunch is served at midday, followed by tea and biscuits around 4:00 PM for an afternoon break. In the afternoons, you’ll take short one-hour acclimatization hikes, which help your body adjust to the altitude. We also conduct nightly health checks to ensure everyone is feeling well.
Dinner is served at 7:00 PM, leaving the evening free for you to rest or enjoy the company of fellow climbers. Lights out is usually between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, giving you plenty of time to recharge for the next day.
Summit Day
Summit day follows a different schedule. It begins with tea and biscuits at 11:30 PM, followed by the final ascent at midnight. You’ll be hiking under the stars in cold, often windy conditions, so warm clothing and a headlamp are essential. The trek from Barafu Camp to the Crater Rim takes 6 to 8 hours, with the goal of reaching the rim just in time for sunrise.
Reaching Stella Point is a major milestone, but there’s still another hour to go to reach the summit. Once you arrive at the top between 7:00 and 9:00 AM, you’ll have time for photos and to take in the extraordinary views.
The descent back to Barafu Camp takes around 2 to 3 hours on loose, dusty terrain. After packing up and having lunch at Barafu, you’ll continue descending to High Camp, which is another 2 hours away. Here, you’ll spend the night at a lower altitude to aid recovery.
