12 Day Northern Circuit Sky & Soul

When you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), our team will be there to welcome you.  You will then be transferred to the accommodation near Moshi.  Arriving at the lodge, the forest air and birdsong invite you to slow down. Todays session focuses on gentle breathing and arrival. Sensing how your breath moves after travel and how the surrounding nature mirrors that rhythm.

After breakfast, we begin with stretching and guided breathing to awaken stability and presence. The practice supports physical grounding and mental focus before the trail begins.  We then visit Moshi town, exploring the vibrant colors of the market and learning more about the Chaga people who live around Mount Kilimanjaro. Mid afternoon for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check. In the evening, a short mindfulness session helps settle the body and carry the calm of the day into sleep.

Our morning breathwork invites openness and expansion, widening the chest and steadying the mind for the first trail section. Breathing with awareness becomes our way of stepping into the mountain experience.  We then drive to the gate to comple the necessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, the drive takes us through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho trailhead. We often have our lunch before starting to hike. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through a beautiful and lush forest. This area has a variety of game, including buffalo. We camp at Lemosho Forest camp (8,600 ft).  After arrival and medical checks, our evening ritual will invite you to connect with your own breath journey of the day and guide you into restful sleep.

We start the day with a full-body breathing practice, awakening flow, and mobility before we continue the ascent. We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the center of the plateau at Shira One (11,600 ft).  As we pass through different ecosystems, it provides a cornerstone for reflection on our personal ecosystems and the role we play in each. In the evening, we reflect on how the day’s wilderness echoes in our body and how breath links movement and stillness.

At sunrise over Kibo, we meet for morning breathwork. It is a moment of quiet awe. Watching Mount Meru rise through the clouds while feeling the balance of inhaling, exhaling, and pausing. The practice invites gratitude and steady energy for the path ahead. Today we explore the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations of the plateau. We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral (12,800 ft), a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially when the afternoon mists roll in. From our camp near Shira Hut (12,600 ft), we take in the unforgettable views of Mt. Meru as she floats among the clouds. The evening ritual of breath growing and thought reflecting will close todays experince in ease.

Today’s morning session focuses on the connection between feet, ground, and breath. Building strength and endurance for the hike.  Today we follow the main trail up to Lava Tower(15,150 ft), and for those feeling strong, there is a possibility to climb up to the ruined hut at Arrow Glacier (15,700 ft). We then continue from Lava Tower to reach our campsite at Moir Hut (13,800 ft). Later at Moir Hut, stretching and calm breathing help the body adapt to the gained altitude and release tension from the climb.

The morning practice helps you notice your body’s condition and the rhythm of your breathing before the medical check and breakfast. As the trail opens wide toward the Kenyan plains, the breath becomes a tool of quiet observation. No judgment, just awareness of what is. Todays hike takes us out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (15,400 ft). After admiring the views we return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. Here the trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as they are walked on. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Buffalo Camp (13,600 ft). By now your subconscious will discover many new thoughts and reflection without effort.

Our morning session invites spaciousness and renewed energy as we move beyond what feels familiar. Breathing supports curiosity and balance for the day’s challenges. From Buffalo Camp, we climb to the top of ‘Buffalo Ridge’ and cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp (12,800 ft). We end with a short evening meditation to let the body recover and the mind rest.

We begin with gentle stretching to keep the breath flowing freely. The hike to the saddle brings steady effort and silence, over the lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here we continue upwards and reach School Hut (15,500 ft) in the early afternoon. After lunch, a short breathing practice under the open sky prepares us for rest and for the summit ahead.

Before midnight, we meet in the dining tent for a focused breathing sequence – recalling grounding from Day 2 and stability from Day 6. Visualization and steady breath prepare mind and body for the demanding climb. At sunrise over Mawenzi, each breath feels individual yet shared, carrying you along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft).

Along the way, you’ll pass close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. After the summit, we will retrace our steps along the crater rim to Stella Point and then descend down to Barafu Camp for a short break. From there we will continue to Millenium Camp (12,500 ft).

As we descend, breathing practices help release tension and integrate the experience of altitude. Gentle awareness supports the body’s recovery and keeps the mind calm during the long way down.

This morning we will reflect on the impact that the people around you have on your life and sucess.  We then continue our journey hiking gradually down the path that takes us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka (5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village, where we are transferred to your lodge in Moshi.

Our final session after breakfast gathers all experiences of the journey. How breath has guided focus, energy, and inner steadiness. A moment to pause, to recognize what has unfolded, before we say farewell to the mountain and to one another. We will transfer you to the airport in time to catch your flight home, or for those interested you can continue on for a safari or some time on the amazing beaches of Zanzibar.