Reach Africa's second highest summit on this incredible 5-day hike of Mount Kenya.
The trek follows the spectacular Gorges Valley via the Chogoria trail, the most magnificent ascent route to the summit. The descent uses the Sirimon route which takes trekkers through beautiful forest tracks and completes the traverse of the mountain.
Accommodation on this hike includes 2 nights in mountain huts and 2 nights camping.
Looking for a technical ascent? If you're looking for a technical climb on Mount Kenya then click here.
Summary
DURATION
5 days
LOCATION
Kenya
START & ENDS
Nairobi, Narobi
DIFFICULTY
Easy Moderate Challenge Hard
Highlights
Itinerary
- day 2
- day 3
- Day 4
- DAY 5
NAIROBI TO MT. KENYA BANDAS
FOOD
Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Mountain Huts
ACTIVITY
Drive: 3.5 hours. Hike: 10km
ELEVATION
Nairobi (1,795m) to Mt. Kenya Bandas (2,900m)
Collection from your hotel in Nairobi at 8:00am. We will drive through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch we'll take a 4x4 and drive up to the edge of the forest where we start the trek though dense bamboo to the camp at Mt Kenya Bandas (2,900m). We overnight here.
Dates & Prices
Below are our open group dates for this adventure. The best time to climb Mount Kenya is during the dry seasons: January to March and July to September.
It's best to avoid the two rainy seasons from April until mid-June and from mid-October to early December.
If the dates below don't suit, please get in touch as we can open a new group on any day as long as you have at least 2 people in your party.
What's Included
Included
Not Included
FAQ
When is the best time to complete this adventure?
When should I arrive in Nairobi prior to this adventure?
How fit do I need to be?
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
What immunisations should I get?
Are vegetarian, vegan and other special dietary needs available?
How big are the groups?
Can I do the trek privately?
Is there a minimum age requirement?
How much should I tip the crew?
What are your cancellation terms?
Got a question?
Our expert travel consultants can help you plan the perfect adventure!
Email: [email protected]
Packing List
Clothing
- 2 x hiking shirt + 1 x long-sleeve hiking shirt
- Base layer
- Mid-weight fleece jacket
- Hard shell rain jacket
- Insulating down or synthetic jacket / gilet
- Light gloves and warm insulating gloves
Headwear
- Sun hat + Sunglasses
- Beanie for the nights
- Neck warmer
Bags
- 20-25L daypack
- 50-60L Backpack (carried by porters, needs to be no heavier than 22 lbs)
- Plastic bags to protect sleeping bag and other gear from rain
- Optional: 90L duffel to carry all gear to and from Kenya. This bag can be left at your hotel in Nairobi for collection after the trek.
Footwear
- Mid-weight hiking boots
- 3 x hiking socks
- 1 x warm thermal socks
- Trainers for camp
Sleeping
- 4-season sleeping bags
- Sleeping mat
Other Essentials
- Hiking poles
- Snacks
- Water bottle / hydration bladder
- Water treatment tablets
- Camera
- Sun cream
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. We recommend World Nomads as they provide comprehensive cover for adventurous activities and are very affordable. Get a quote below.
Accommodation
Accommodation options in Nairobi are wide and varied. Here are a few hotels we recommend. For more options check Agoda.com.
- Cheap and cheerful: Cloud Hotel and Suites
- Mid-range: Sarova Stanley Hotel
- Luxury: Nairobi Serena Hotel
Reviews
Best Adventure Yet
Thanks Mountain IQ and Altezza for arranging our climb. It is by far the best adventure holiday I have ever experienced, the toughest too! Our guides and the entire support were truly amazing – I don’t think I would have made it without their support and encouragement! Thanks again!
Tip top trekking experience
Visiting the Annapurna Sanctuary has been one of the highlights of my life. I was very nervous joining this trek as I was a solo female and had never trekked at altitude. The team at Mountain IQ were fantastic at answering all my questions and putting my concerns to rest. Once in Nepal, Upendra and the Himalayan Leisure team were just amazing. Our guide, Dorchi, was an absolute hoot and very caring. The whole experience from beginning to end was awesome. Thanks again!
Simply magnificent!
We joined this trek with short notice. Upendra was very responsive and accommodating to our needs. The tour from pick up to drop off was professional and fun. Would highly recommend joining this tour!
An once in a lifetime experience!
This was by far the most amazing adventure we’ve ever had. We can’t thank the team at Himalayan Leisure and at Mountain IQ enough for arranging such an incredible trek for myself and my girlfriend. From the very get go, the support from Mountain IQ and Upendra was top notch. All our questions were answered quickly and in detail. Once we arrived in Kathmandu we were warmly welcomed. The pre-trek briefing was excellent and we immediately liked our guide Dawa, and felt confident putting our safety in his hands. The trek itself is truly amazing – the views throughout were spectacular. The high pass was a big challenge but the whole group managed it without too much strain. We can’t wait to return to Nepal to complete the EBC trek via Gokyo and will definitely be going with HL again!
Epic experience with Dawa and his team
Just a quick note to say thank you to Himalayan Leisure for an amazing trekking experience to EBC. We felt well looked after throughout and really enjoyed the company of our guide Dawa. I highly recommend booking this adventure!
A superb trekking experience
We had an absolutely amazing experience with Himalayan Leisure on this trek in the Langtang region. The Langtang is a lot quieter than the popular trails to Everest. If you are looking to get off the beaten path then I highly recommend this trek and HL!
Superb Tour!
This tour company is excellent. From the time they met us at Cusco airport, their interaction with us was first class. They were able to accommodate the tour changes we requested. Our guide, Percy, was excellent, very knowledgeable and took the time to explain and answer questions. I highly recommend Inkayni. I would advise anyone who wants to see Cusco and Choquequirao to select this tour company.
A great experience all round!
If you go to Peru and want to visit Machu Picchu I highly recommend this tour. My friends and I went with Jonathan from Inkayni and we loved it! We did a lot of activities and Jonathan was very attentive and available, with insightful explanations about the places we visited and the Peruvian culture. A great experience all round!
Amazing experience!
Touring around Cusco, Salkantay and Machu Picchu with Franco was more like touring around with a friend than someone I had just met! He was extremely personable and knowledgeable. I learned a ton, saw beautiful sights and had great conversation.
Elbrus Normal Route
Absolutely PRO experience! RMH are on top of everything. From organisation before the trip, responses to questions before, during and after, to organisation, security, food, lodging and guiding – they are amazing. Going to Russia to do this is not without insecurity. We felt we were in safe hands throughout the trip. I would highly recommend Vitaly and is team to anyone who desires to climb Elbrus.
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BOOKING TERMS
Mountain IQ is a platform for travellers to book holiday services available from tour operators, accommodation providers and other service providers available around the world. We act as an authorised agent for these Suppliers. Please read our booking and cancellation terms here.
LOCAL TOUR OPERATOR
GO TO MOUNT KENYA
This tour is operated by Go To Mount Kenya, one of the best local trek operations on Mt. Kenya. The company is run by professional mountain guide, Evans Mwangi, who was born in a small village on the slopes of Mt. Kenya and has been climbing the mountain since 1989. Evans and his team offer a very personalised and professional service. With Go To Mount Kenya you're in for a safe, fun and super memorable adventure.