Mount Kenya Summit: 6-Day Trekking Adventure

Overview of the Mount Kenya Summit Trek

Embark on the ultimate Mount Kenya Summit adventure with our challenging 6-day trek around the iconic peaks of Nelion and Batian, culminating in a breathtaking summit of Point Lenana at 4,985 meters. This exclusive circuit route crosses glaciers, rugged ridges, and alpine terrain, providing spectacular views and an unforgettable experience on Kenya’s highest mountain. Whether you are an experienced trekker or seeking a demanding high-altitude hike, this Mount Kenya Summit trek promises adventure, stunning landscapes, and cultural insights into Kenya’s sacred mountain.

Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Naro Moru Gate to Met Station (2000m – 3050m)
Distance: 10 km | Duration: 3-4 hours
Meet your guides and porters at Naro Moru. After park registration, trek through bamboo and hardwood forests. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before reaching Met Station camp near the forest edge, where wildlife like buffalo may graze.

Day 2: Trekking to Mackinders Camp on the Mount Kenya Summit Route
Distance: 10 km | Duration: 5 hours
Follow trails through Hygenia forest and open moorland with giant lobelias and groundsels. Stop for lunch at Picnic Rocks and continue along the Teleki Valley edge to reach Mackinders Camp, set on a moraine outcrop.

Day 3: Mackinders Camp to Shipton Camp via Hut Tarn (4200m – 4535m)
Distance: 7 km | Duration: 4-5 hours
Morning rest, then climb to Hut Tarn with stunning views of glaciers and peaks. Traverse past Nanyuki Tarn and Arthur’s Seat to reach Shipton Camp, situated among alpine lakes.

Day 4: Day Hike to Icy Mike and Simba Col Circuit
Distance: 8 km | Duration: 6-7 hours
Explore the MacKinder Valley to the famous elephant skeleton, “Icy Mike.” Option to complete a circuit via Hinde Valley and Simba Col before returning to Shipton Camp.

Day 5: Night Ascent to Point Lenana Summit (4985m) and Descent to Lake Ellis
Distance: 18 km | Duration: 11-13 hours
Start before dawn for the exhilarating summit climb under the stars. Witness sunrise from Point Lenana’s peak, then descend to Hall Tarns for breakfast. Continue down past Austrian Hut to camp at Lake Ellis.

Day 6: Lake Ellis to Chogoria Town
Distance: 8 km trek + 70 km drive | Duration: 3-4 hours trekking + 1.5 hours driving
Descend through the forest on a less-used trail, with optional detour to Nithi Falls. Meet transport at Meru bandas and drive down to Chogoria town to conclude your trek.

Mount Kenya Summit with alpine landscape and wildlife — View of Mount Kenya Summit showcasing the dramatic peaks and local wildlife

What’s Included

Expert local guides and porters
All park entry fees and permits for the Mount Kenya Summit circuit
Camping equipment including tents and sleeping mats
All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Transport from Naro Moru gate to Chogoria town at trek conclusion
Comprehensive safety briefing and trekking support
Pre-trek briefing and detailed kit list for the Mount Kenya Summit trek

What’s Not Included

Flights to and from Kenya
Personal trekking gear and clothing
Tips for guides and porters
Travel and medical insurance
Additional accommodation before or after the trek

Ready for the Challenge?

Join Safe Adventures and Expeditions and take the first step towards conquering the Mount Kenya Summit. Contact us today to book your 6-day trekking adventure or to request more information. Our expert team is here to assist you every step of the way.

Book Now!
Email: connect@thesafeadventure.com
Phone: +254 722 852 857 / +254 733 852 857
Or fill out the inquiry form below and start your journey to the Mount Kenya Summit today

Overview

Itinerary

Overview

The Mount Kenya Summit Circuit is an adventurous six day trek circling the jagged peaks of Nelion (5188m) and Batian (5199m) and then summitting the third trekking peak of Point Lenana (4985m). It is a special route taking in all the cols, ridges and glaciers of the mountain and is more demanding than the other routes with some long days on rocky trails and camping all the way. A quiet route where you are less likely to see many people, it is particularly dramatic in places where the two main summit spires seem to overhang parts of the trail, and they are like giant cathedrals of rock as you look up.

The itinerary is based on starting the journey in Naro Moru and finishing in Chogoria town but we are flexible with any travel needs or extra accommodation. We would also recommend visiting some of the Moving Mountains projects on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya which we have supported for many years.

The entire trek is within the Mount Kenya National Park, and from a distance the volcanic peak dominates the landscape. There is plenty of wildlife to hear and maybe see – elephant, Buffalo, Colobus monkey, Antelope and Giant Forest Hog are in the foothills of the 228 sq. mile park.

From the lower forests of bamboo, the landscape develops to unusual high-altitude equatorial vegetation on the shoulder of the mountain with giant heather, lobelia and groundsels giving the slopes an alpine desert appearance and a striking feel. Higher up there is exposed rock and glaciated terrain, although climate change nowadays has reduced all of the permanent glaciers almost to nothing.

Mount Kenya also has very important cultural importance to the local tribes who traditionally viewed it as the meeting place and throne of their gods. For the country at large, it is the mountain that gave the nation of Kenya its name and it holds a significant place in Kenyan identity.

To successfully summit Mount Kenya you’ll need clothing which keeps you warm, dry, protected from the sun/rain and comfortable in the various environments. There is a detailed list under ‘Mount Kenya trek kit list’. You can also read more about the type of terrain you’ll encounter on a Mount Kenya trek and the level of fitness required in the ‘More Information’ section under ‘Mount Kenya advice’.

Day 1 :

2000-2500-3050m 10km 3-4hrs

Today all the guides and porters will meet us in Naro Moru and we will load up the vehicle(s) for the short 15km drive up to the Naro Moru gate of Mount Kenya National Park. There are often baboons and bushbuck wandering around the area as we sign in and then we head off along the vehicle track through the forests of bamboo and hardwood trees. We will stop for a picnic lunch at a convenient spot before continuing on up to our first camp at Met Station, located close to the edge of the forest where buffalo often come out overnight to graze.

Day 2 :

3050-4200m 10km 5hrs

From Met Station we follow the vehicle track a bit further before turning off on a footpath through the Hygenia forest and then out onto the more open heathland. From here you get a fantastic view back over the treetops and down to the plains beyond. The heath and moorland continues and also sports Giant Cabbage Groundsel and Giant Lobelia Deckenii as we make our way up past the over-dramatically named 'Vertical Bog' to the outcrop known as picnic rocks, for lunch. From lunch we continue on the moorland for a bit longer before joining the edge of the Teleki Valley and winding between Giant Tree Groundsel and Ostrich Plume Lobelia and then onto grasses in the valley floor as we cross a river and follow it on a gentle approach to our next camp at MacKinders Hut, on an outcrop of moraine.

Day 3 :

4200-4535-4200m 7kms 4-5hrs

Morning to relax and after lunch from MacKinders Camp we climb up to Hut Tarn, which sits right on the edge of the upper Teleki Valley and gives a great view across to the main summits and glaciers. Continue past Nanyuki Tarn and towards the Eastern Terminal and on to a slotted pass at Arthur's Seat before dropping down to Oblong and Hausberg Tarns, past the Kami Tarn and down to Shiptons Camp (4,200m).

Day 4 :

4200-4535-4200m 8kms 6-7 hrs

An interesting day walk from Shiptons Camp to find an elephant skeleton called Icy Mike, the elephant that tried to climb Mt Kenya! From Shiptons Camp we start to descend the MacKinder Valley before contouring around and up towards the peak of Sendeyo where we drop into a wide couloir above the Hinde Valley. From Icy Mike we can either return by the same route or complete a circuit by dropping lower into the Hinde Valley, contouring to the south and then south west for the long climb up to Simba Col and back to Shiptons Camp.

Day 5 :

4200-4985-3500m 18kms 11-13hrs

This morning we will be up just after midnight to prepare for our night-time ascent to Point Lenana, it is an exhilarating feeling stepping out into the cold under the starlight and crunching up the frozen scree. We skirt the rocky outcrop above the camp then cross a flat area before joining the scree. We then zig zag our way up and then follow a broad ridge and a steeper slope up over the skyline. Passing the bowl of Harris Tarn we skirt above it and then cross an area of bare rock and a small scramble. If we are ahead of schedule there is a small niche/cave where we can huddle up for a rest. It is then less than half an hour up to the bare summit for sunrise. The sun will rise around 6am and we will drink in its warmth as well as the spectacular view before dropping down by either re-tracing our ascent route or alternatively traversing right over and down the South side past Austrian Hut before turning to the east and down to Hall Tarns for breakfast. After enjoying the amazing views of the cliffs of the Temple and Lake Michaelson we will set off further down the mountain to camp at Lake Ellis.

Day 6 :

3500-1800m 8km(3-4hrs) +70km(1.5hrs)

This morning we set off again downhill. The path can be quite indistinct at first on this less-used trail but we generally follow the line of a watercourse until we hit the 4x4 track that takes us down to the forest boundary. Here we have the option of heading straight down to Meru bandas (cabins) or a diversion around to the beautiful Nithi Falls. Back at the bandas, or just a little after them we'll meet up with our 4x4's for the drive back down through the forest to Chogoria town.