Mount Kenya Trek - Ascend via Naro Moru, Descend via Chogoria Route

5 Days | 4 Nights

From $ 900 / person

Your trip overview

Mount Kenya, with its jagged peaks, glacier-carved valleys, alpine ridges, and glistening tarns, is one of the most breathtaking trekking destinations in Africa. This West to East traverse, ascending via the Naro Moru Route and descending through the Chogoria Route, offers a full immersion into the mountain’s incredible diversity of landscapes and ecosystems.

This 5-day adventure is our most popular Mount Kenya trek and for good reason. The Naro Moru ascent is favored for its shorter, steeper climb, taking you up through dense montane forest and the challenging Vertical Bog, eventually opening up into the alpine meadows of the Teleki Valley.

After summiting Point Lenana (4,985m) at sunrise, the descent via Chogoria reveals a completely different side of the mountain: tranquil alpine lakes, towering cliffs, and wide-open vistas over Gorges Valley.

This route is also known for its rich wildlife encounters, from colobus monkeys and sunbirds to rock hyrax and giant forest hogs. It’s the perfect combination of adventure, scenic beauty, and ecological diversity, all packed into a rewarding, well-paced 5-day expedition.

Whether you’re seeking a less-crowded alternative to Kilimanjaro or aiming to conquer one of East Africa’s most iconic landscapes, this trek delivers a true mountain experience from every angle.

Trip Destinations

where to visit

Met Station

Mount Kenya

Mackinder’s Camp

Mount Kenya

Austrian Hut

Mount Kenya

Chogoria Bandas

Mount Kenya

Planning Your Safari

Organizing a safari in Kenya, especially to the Masai Mara, can be overwhelming due to the many choices available for transport, accommodation, and activities.

Reviews and Rates

Full Itinerary

Day by Day

Day 1: Nairobi - Naro Moru Gate - Met Station (3,050m)

Your Mount Kenya adventure kicks off with a morning pick-up from your hotel in Nairobi, followed by a scenic drive north through the Kenyan highlands to the Naro Moru Gate of Mount Kenya National Park. After registration and lunch at the gate (2,400m), the trek officially begins.

You’ll hike approximately 8 kilometers (about 3 hours) through lush montane forest, towering bamboo groves, and giant heather as you gradually ascend into the high-altitude moorland. The trail offers beautiful scenery and the occasional sighting of wildlife like colobus monkeys and forest birds.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Met Station Camp (3,050m), where you’ll settle into your mountain banda, enjoy a hot dinner, and prepare for the steeper climb ahead. This is your first acclimatization point and a peaceful place to rest under the stars.

Accommodation: Met Station Campsite (Budget Banda)

Elevation (m):
2,400m-3,050

Distance:
10km,

Time:
3-4 hours

Habitat:
Montane Forest.

Where to stay

Met Station Campsite

Day 2: Met Station - Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m)

After an early breakfast at Met Station, your trek continues with a short forest walk before entering the expansive moorland zone. Here, you’ll face the infamous Vertical Bog, a challenging, marshy section of the trail that tests both your endurance and footing.

You’ll stop for a picnic lunch at a rocky outcrop, surrounded by vast alpine scenery and sweeping views of the Teleki Valley. From there, continue your steady ascent, gaining approximately 1,300 meters over the course of about 6 hours.

By mid- to late afternoon, you’ll reach Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m), nestled beneath the dramatic cliffs of Batian and Nelion, Mount Kenya’s highest peaks. Here, you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in a budget tented camp, with the stark beauty of the high-altitude wilderness all around.

This day is vital for acclimatization as you prepare to summit Point Lenana in the early hours of the next day.

Accommodation: Mackinder’s Campsite (Budget Tented Camp)

Elevation (m):
3,050m-4,200m

Distance:
10km,

Time:
5-6 hours

Habitat:
Moorland

Where to stay

Mackinder’s Camp

Day 3: Mackinder’s Camp - Austrian Hut (4,790m)

After a relaxed breakfast at Mackinder’s Camp, you’ll begin a shorter but steeper trek toward Austrian Hut, your base for the summit attempt. Covering a distance of 4 km in about 3 hours, this stage of the climb takes you through rugged alpine terrain, with sweeping views of the surrounding glacial valleys, rock spires, and towering peaks.

As you ascend, the vegetation becomes sparse, replaced by dramatic rock formations and icy landscapes, giving you a true sense of high-altitude adventure. Nearing the Austrian Hut (4,790m), the mountain’s raw beauty fully unfolds, offering panoramic vistas of Point Lenana, the Lewis Glacier, and the Tooth.

Upon arrival, spend the rest of the day acclimatizing, enjoying a hot meal, and preparing for the early morning summit push. Dinner and overnight at this high-altitude mountain hut, where the thin air and surrounding glaciers signal you’re truly at the roof of Kenya.

Accommodation: Austrian Hut Campsite (Budget Mountain Hut)

Elevation (m):
4,300m-4,7900m

Distance:
4 km

Time:
3 hours

Habitat:
Moorland – alpine desert – mountane forest

Where to stay

Austrian Hut Campsite

Day 4: Austrian Hut - Point Lenana (4,985m) - Chogoria Bandas (3,000m)

Today is the most exhilarating and demanding day of your Mount Kenya adventure. You’ll wake early for a pre-dawn summit push to Point Lenana (4,985m), Mount Kenya’s third-highest peak and the ultimate goal for trekkers. Reaching the summit just in time for sunrise, you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable panoramic views across the peaks, glaciers, and, on a clear morning, even Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon.

After celebrating your summit, begin your descent via the Chogoria Route, known for its stunning and varied landscapes. You’ll pass through Mintos Camp for a hearty breakfast, and later stop at Roadhead Camp for lunch.

The trail continues through vast moorlands, dotted with tarns and waterfalls, and eventually transitions into lush rainforest as you descend. By evening, you’ll arrive at the welcoming Chogoria Bandas (3,000m), where a warm dinner and well-earned rest await after a challenging 26 km trek over approximately 12 hours.

This is truly one of the most scenic days of the expedition, an unforgettable journey from the icy summit to the verdant forest.

Accommodation: Chogoria Bandas (Budget Mountain Hut)

Elevation (m):
4,790m-4,985m-3,000m

Distance:
32 km,

Time:
10-12 hours,

Habitat:
Moorland-alpine desert-mountane forest

Where to stay

Chogoria Bandas

Day 5: Chogoria Bandas - Chogoria Town – Nairobi

After breakfast at Chogoria Bandas, you’ll begin the final leg of your Mount Kenya adventure with an optional 5 km walk through the tranquil lower forest zone, where towering trees and birdlife accompany your descent. At the designated pick-up point, your vehicle will be waiting, or alternatively, you may opt to be collected directly from the Bandas.

From there, enjoy a scenic drive to Chogoria Town, where you’ll bid farewell to your mountain crew before continuing your transfer back to Nairobi. You’ll arrive in the capital by late afternoon, bringing your 5-day Mount Kenya trek to a close, having crossed from west to east, summited Point Lenana, and witnessed some of East Africa’s most stunning alpine landscapes.

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of Tour)

Elevation (m):
3,000m-1,800m

Distance:
15 km

Time:
2-3 hours

Habitat:
Farm land

Rates Per Person

Start dates	Single 1 room	2+ people sharing tents
Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025	$1,200	$900

Trekking Route

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

Porterage

Rescue fee

Park fees (For non-residents)

All activities (Unless labeled as optional)

All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)

Camping equipment

A professional driver/guide

All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)

All Taxes/VAT

Roundtrip airport transfer

Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Exclusions

Climbing gear

International flights (From/to home)

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour

Sleeping bag

Bath towels

Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)

Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

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Mount Kenya Trek - Ascend via Naro Moru, Descend via Chogoria Route

5 Days | 4 Nights

Your trip overview

Trip Destinations

where to visit

Met Station

Mackinder’s Camp

Austrian Hut

Chogoria Bandas

Planning Your Safari

Reviews and Rates

Full Itinerary

Day by Day

Where to stay

Where to stay

Where to stay

Where to stay

Rates Per Person

Trekking Route

Inclusions & Exclusions

Enquire this Tour

What our Client Say

Design your own trip

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