Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Transfer to the first accommodation. Overnight stay there for two nights. (A)

Key’s Hotel

Bus distance 42 km, duration 1 h

The day is dedicated to acclimatisation. After fitting the bikes, we set off from the hotel on a short exploratory ride. The distance and metres in altitude can be varied. (F,A)

Key’s Hotel

Cycle route 20 km, 810 m elevation gain, piste/tarmac

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

Leave Moshi on a steep track and cycle to Marangu. (F,M,A)

Marangu Hotel

Cycling route 67 km, 1375 hm, piste/tarmac

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

The journey continues north, anti-clockwise, around the mountain. The first 10 km on single trails lead through the grassy savannah and you always have the snow-capped Kilimanjaro in front of you. Directly along the Kenyan border, the terrain gradually rises until you arrive in Rongai in the afternoon. One of the many hiking trails on Africa's highest mountain begins right at the accommodation. If you feel like it, you can "have a taste" of it. (B,L,D)

Snowcap Cottages

Cycle route 70 km, 1425 m elevation gain, piste/tarmac

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

After breakfast, you continue uphill on a hilly asphalt road to the highest point of this tour. Then you leave the Chagga area and reach the savannah on the drier north side of Kili via long descents and short climbs. The tires will definitely reach their limits because no one can escape the large acacia thorns! Shortly before your accommodation, which is located in a replica Maasai village with typical round huts, you can see the first wild animals. (B,L,D)

Olpopongi Maasai Village

Cycle route 100 km, 850 m elevation gain, piste/tarmac

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

In the morning you will cycle on a hilly route through the savannah between Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro. With a bit of luck you will spot zebras, antelopes and giraffes. You will spend the night in the beautifully situated Mukuru Training Camp. In the afternoon you will go on a safari in a jeep to Arusha National Park. Here you can see elephants, buffalo, waterbucks, hippos, impala and giraffes. (B,L,D)

Mukuru Training Camp

Cycle route 45 km, 410 m elevation gain, piste

Driving distance 30 km during the safari

You cycle on a rocky track through the bush savannah back to Mt. Kilimanjaro. After 10 km on tarmac, the route leads back to the Chagga settlement area on a rocky and steep path. The farms and rainforest are very scenic. A 12 km downhill takes you to the beautiful Weru Weru River Lodge on the west side of Moshi. This is where your circuit around Africa's highest mountain ends, which you can celebrate in the evening with a cold Kilimanjaro beer. (B,L,D)

Weru Weru River Lodge

Cycle route 90 km, 1100 m elevation gain, piste/tarmac

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

This day is for rest and preparation for the summit climb. Your accommodation is the Weru Weru River Lodge. (B,D)

Weru Weru River Lodge

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

You take the transfer to Kilema Gate (approx. 1 hour), the start of the adventure. The road is paved at the beginning and still easy to drive on. Later it becomes a hiking trail with countless small natural steps. It is warm and a short cycling jersey is perfectly adequate. There is a packed lunch on the way, which is handed over at the start of the tour. On all days, every biker receives a packed lunch in the morning before setting off, freshly prepared by the chef. An excellent dinner awaits you every evening. We also cook vegetarian meals if we have been informed in advance. If you wish, you can cycle longer distances and with more altitude metres. In this case, you would start further down and cycle to Kilema Gate. (F,M,A)

Overnight stay in tent Kilema Camp

Cycle route 12 km, 820 m elevation gain

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

Today's ascent covers 970 metres in absolute altitude over a distance of 6.5 km. It is noticeably cooler than the previous day. A light jacket should be at hand today. The trail runs through alpine moorland. There are giant heather and the first large senecia to be seen. It is a good idea to spend an extra day here to acclimatise better. (F,M,A)

Overnight stay in tent Horombo Hut

Cycle route 7 km, 970 m elevation gain

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

The grassy landscape slowly changes and you enter the high alpine zone, where rock dominates. A landscape that reminds you of Mars. It is possible to descend again at any time with a mountain guide. If you are feeling good, you can cycle 9.5 kilometres to the Kibo Hut at 4700 metres above sea level. The Kibo Hut serves as the actual base camp for the summit attempt. From here, you will start your night ascent at around midnight or 1.00 am, depending on your fitness level. In the afternoon you can rest today or visit the nearby Mawenzi summit by bike or on foot. (F,M,A)

Overnight stay in a tent at Kibo Hut

Cycle route 10.3 km, 985 m elevation gain

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

Now it's time to give it your all! The long ascent to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro is 1145 metres in altitude, the descent to the Horombo Hut 2295 metres. Compared to the efforts of the previous days, this is an enormous increase. On a cloudy night, you will need your headlamps; by moonlight, you can do the route very well without lamps. At midnight there is often freshly fallen snow and the temperatures are around minus 10-15°C. You now have to push or carry the bike up a huge scree slope over countless hairpin bends. You reach the crater rim at an altitude of 5700 metres at dawn or in the morning sun. Africa lies at your feet! The route continues to the actual highest point, Uhuru Peak on the opposite crater rim, which you reach after another hour. Every metre of ascent on the bike is an immense effort. After about an hour or half an hour on the highest peak on the continent, you descend down the ash slope. Here you can ‘ride down’ for the first time. The trail for the descent is the same as for the ascent. The path is later firm and now it's a brisk walk to the Kibo Hut. The porters await you at the hut for lunch around midday. In the afternoon, after an hour's sleep, you descend a further 1000 metres to the Horombo Hut at 3700m. (F,M,A)

Overnight stay in tent Horombo Hut

Cycle route 22 km, of which 6 km uphill, 1145 m elevation gain

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

The path through the grassland and later back through the dense rainforest gives you a wistful farewell to the magnificent natural surroundings into which you set off 4 days ago to storm the summit. After the gate, it's another 500 metres downhill on a track to the tarmac road. The vehicle will take you back to Weru Weru River Lodge. If you wish, you can continue on to the lodge (38 km, 435 metres of ascent). In the evening, you celebrate your unique experience and the great achievement of having conquered the 5895 metres of Mount Kilimanjaro by the swimming pool in the balmy air. The tour guide presents everyone with a summit certificate and says goodbye with "Kwa heri ya kuonana. Safari njema!" (F,A)

Weru Weru River Lodge

Cycle route 19 km, 55 m elevation gain

Distance by bus 0 km, 0 h

You can use the time until the transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for a last shopping spree in Tanzania. Depart by plane or book a safari at Lake Manyara or Ngorongoro Crater or a beach holiday on Zanzibar. (F)

Distance by bus 30 km, duration 0.5 h