5 Days Mt. Kenya Sirimon route out Chogoria Route with Peak Circuit

Sunrise comes early on Mount Kenya. This private five-day trek takes you from Nairobi to Point Lenana, at 4,985 meters, using the scenic Sirimon route on the way up and Chogoria on the descent. I like the smart route choice: you get varied mountain scenery instead of walking up and down the same trail, plus a full peak-circuit day to help your body adjust.

I also like the practical setup. Guides, porters, meals, tents, and mats are included, so you can focus on walking rather than hauling a full camp. The main caution is the altitude and the demanding summit day. The route is not a casual nature walk, and Day 4 combines an early summit attempt with a long descent.

The Details That Matter Most

• Point Lenana at 4,985 meters: Reach Mount Kenya’s highest trekking summit, with sunrise views toward the surrounding peaks when skies are clear.
• Sirimon up, Chogoria down: Two routes give you different scenery, from forest and moorland to high valleys, tarns, bamboo, and wide views.
• Private support team: Your group has its own English-speaking mountain guides, cook, and porters.
• Peak Circuit acclimatization: Day 3 is designed as a slower high-altitude day before the summit attempt.
• Camping and meals included: Four dinners, five breakfasts, and five lunches are provided, along with camping equipment.
• $960 per person: The price is strongest for people who value private transport, support staff, gear, and an organized five-day mountain operation.

Why This Sirimon to Chogoria Route Works

Mount Kenya has several routes, but this plan makes good use of two of the most scenic. Sirimon provides a steady approach from the northwest, while Chogoria gives you a different exit through high valleys, forest, and agricultural country.

That change of scenery matters. A return trek on one route can feel repetitive after several days on foot. Here, each stage has a new visual character. You begin among forest and possible wildlife sightings, move into open moorland, spend time around the stark high peaks, then descend through a more wooded and open eastern side of the mountain.

This is a private experience, so only your own group participates. That gives you more control than a large shared departure, although the pace still has to respect the mountain, the guide’s judgment, and the fixed transport connections.

The package also removes several chores. A cook prepares the included meals, porters carry support equipment, and tents and mats are supplied. You still need your own clothing and personal mountain equipment, but you are not expected to organize the whole camp from Nairobi.

Day 1: Nairobi to Old Moses Camp at 3,300 Meters

The first morning begins at 6:30 am, with private transport from Nairobi. The drive to Nanyuki takes about three and a half hours, arriving around 10:00 am. In Nanyuki, you meet the guide, cook, and porters before continuing to Sirimon Gate.

The road from Nairobi is part of the adventure, but it is also a long start to the day. The stated driving time for Day 1 is about four and a half hours in total, so you should be ready for an early departure and a full schedule.

At Sirimon Gate, at roughly 2,650 meters, the walk begins through the rain forest. The route to Old Moses Camp covers about 9 kilometers and takes around three hours. A picnic lunch is served during the walk, which helps avoid a long stop before reaching camp.

The forest section gives you the first real sense that this is more than a city escape. You might see large animals such as buffalo, elephants, waterbucks, and other wildlife, although sightings are never guaranteed. Keep your attention on the trail and listen to your guide’s instructions.

Old Moses Camp sits at 3,300 meters. After arriving around the afternoon, you may take a short one-hour walk to help your body begin adjusting to the altitude. This is a useful idea, but do not treat it as extra sightseeing that you must complete. If you feel tired or develop a headache, rest and tell the guide.

Dinner and overnight camping are provided inside the national park. The first night is not the most demanding part of the trek, but it introduces the basic rhythm: walk, eat, rest, and prepare for a higher camp the next day.

Day 2: Moorland and Mackinder Valley to Shipton’s Camp

Day 2 is longer, with about 16 kilometers of walking and roughly six hours on the trail. You leave Old Moses after breakfast and enter the open moorland zone.

The route crosses the Ontulili River, then contours through the moorland before crossing the Liki North River. From there, the trail climbs toward Mackinder Valley. The route is described as relatively easy at first, but the distance and increasing altitude make this a serious walking day.

The scenery becomes more open and dramatic as trees give way to high mountain vegetation. You get broad views into the Sirimon and Mackinder valleys, with the mountain peaks becoming a much stronger presence above you.

Shipton’s Camp sits at about 4,200 meters. That altitude is the main point of the day. Even if your legs feel fine, the thinner air can affect sleep, appetite, breathing, and energy. Walk steadily, drink regularly, and avoid racing ahead simply because the trail looks manageable.

The camp’s setting below the rocky peaks is one of the memorable parts of the trek. It feels stark and remote, with little shelter from the mountain environment. That makes the arrival rewarding, but it also means you should bring warm layers and keep personal items organized inside your bag.

Lunch is served on the route, and dinner is included at camp. The support team matters here. A well-timed meal and help with camp chores allow you to preserve energy for the peak-circuit day and the summit morning.

Day 3: The Peak Circuit and a Night at Austrian Hut

Day 3 is an acclimatization day, but the word rest needs some qualification. You still walk at high altitude and cover a complex route from Shipton’s Camp toward Austrian Hut, at about 4,790 meters.

The day begins with breakfast at 8:00 am and a 9:00 am start. From Shipton’s, the trail leads toward Kami Camp below the north face of Batian. It then climbs southwest toward a ridge at about 4,600 meters.

You cross scree and reach Hausberg Col at roughly 4,590 meters before descending into the upper Hausberg Valley. Along the way are the Oblong and Hausberg tarns, followed by a ridge known as Arthur’s Seat.

This circuit is valuable because it gives you more time high on the mountain before the summit attempt. It also lets the guide watch how you respond to altitude while you are still one day away from Point Lenana. The pace should be controlled, and this is a day when you need to communicate clearly about headaches, nausea, unusual tiredness, or shortness of breath.

The route includes rock ledges and high, exposed terrain. You should expect loose ground and uneven walking rather than a smooth path. Trekking poles may be useful, but personal clothing and equipment are not included, so you need to bring whatever support items you prefer.

The overnight point is Austrian Hut, at about 4,790 meters. Sleeping at this height can be difficult, even for fit hikers. This is one reason the peak circuit is more than a scenic detour. It adds time at altitude before the early summit morning.

Day 4: Point Lenana at Sunrise, Then the Long Descent

Day 4 is the trip’s biggest test. The schedule calls for a 4:30 am wake-up, with tea and biscuits before the summit attempt. You then climb to Point Lenana, Mount Kenya’s trekking summit, at 4,985 meters.

The early start is practical. It gives you a chance to reach the summit around sunrise, when the light can be spectacular and the air may be clearer. If conditions cooperate, you may see Mount Kilimanjaro’s Kibo and Mawenzi peaks from the summit.

Do not judge this morning only by distance. At nearly 5,000 meters, every step can feel slower. The cold, darkness, altitude, and uneven ground all add to the effort. Your guide’s support is especially important here, and the private format allows the team to focus closely on your group.

After photos and time at Point Lenana, you descend to Mintos Hut for a full breakfast. That meal comes at a good moment, since the summit climb is only the start of a very long day.

The stated figures are eight hours, 24 kilometers, 195 meters of ascent, and 2,085 meters of descent. The large descent number tells you what to expect: the summit is followed by a sustained drop toward Chogoria Bandas.

The route passes views of Lake Ellis, the Mugi Hills, Vivien Falls, and the Giant Billiards Table. These features give the descent a strong sense of place, but the scenery should not distract you from foot care. Long downhill walking can be hard on knees, ankles, and toes.

A picnic lunch is included during the descent. The day ends at Chogoria Bandas, around 2,800 meters, where you camp for the night. This is not a light final stroll. If you are choosing this tour because it reaches the summit in only five days, understand that the compact schedule makes Day 4 particularly demanding.

Day 5: Bamboo Forest, Chogoria, and Nairobi

After breakfast, you walk about 10 kilometers through bamboo forest. This final walk provides a gentler transition from the high mountain to the lower country, although tired legs may make the distance feel longer than it looks on paper.

Private transport collects you after the walk and takes you to Chogoria. There, you say goodbye to the porters before the drive back to Nairobi. The route passes through agricultural country, and the planned arrival in Nairobi is around 3:00 pm.

A Nairobi hotel is not included for the final night. You can arrange your own accommodation, or the company can arrange it at your own cost. If you have a late flight, leave extra room in your plans rather than assuming every part of the return will run to the minute.

What $960 Includes, and Where You Still Pay

The price is $960 per person. That is not a budget day hike, but it covers more than the walking itself.

Included are private transportation, park fees and taxes, five days of mountain operations, English-speaking guides, porter support, camping equipment, tents, mats, and all listed mountain meals. You receive five breakfasts, five lunches, and four dinners.

For a private group, the value depends on how much support you want. If you had to arrange transport, park access, porters, a cook, camp equipment, food, and route guidance separately, the planning would quickly become complicated. Here, those pieces are handled together.

The main extra costs are tips for guides and porters, your personal clothing and equipment, and accommodation in Nairobi before and after the trek. Ask for the equipment list before paying, especially because the trip reaches nearly 5,000 meters and includes cold, early starts.

The package is also stronger for people who do not want to carry camping gear. Pack light, but do not confuse that with packing casually. Your personal layers, footwear, rain protection, sleeping warmth, and altitude-ready clothing remain your responsibility.

The Support Team Makes a Real Difference

The strongest praise for this experience centers on the staff. David has been singled out as an excellent main guide, while cooks John and George and the porters received specific praise for their help on the mountain.

Richard has also been praised for making safety and reaching the summit his clear goals. Another account highlights a guide who could identify mountain plants, adding a small natural-history lesson to the walking rather than treating the trail as a simple race to the top.

Georg is named as a main guide by another couple who completed the route despite concerns about altitude. That detail is useful if you are comparing operators, because it suggests the team has experience supporting people with different levels of confidence at high elevation.

You should still ask who will lead your particular departure. Staff assignments can change, and the supplied information does not promise a specific guide. What matters most is that you confirm the guide structure, porter support, food plan, and equipment before leaving Nairobi.

Who Should Book This Trek?

I would recommend this route to a fit hiker who wants a serious mountain challenge without organizing every detail alone. It is also a good match for couples, families of adults, or a group of friends who value a private schedule and direct support.

You need a moderate level of physical fitness, according to the tour information, but the distances and altitude deserve respect. A six-hour day at 4,000 meters is not comparable to a six-hour walk at sea level.

The trip may not suit you if you want relaxed sightseeing, hotel rooms, or a flexible daily schedule. Camping is part of the experience, and the summit day begins before dawn. You also need to be comfortable with the possibility that weather can affect the summit or cancel the experience.

The company offers free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refundable, and poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long is the Mount Kenya trek?

The experience lasts five days, including transport from Nairobi, four nights on the mountain, the summit attempt, and the return to Nairobi.

Which routes does the trek use?

You go up via the Sirimon route and descend via the Chogoria route. The plan also includes a peak circuit between Shipton’s Camp and Austrian Hut.

What is the summit height?

The summit is Point Lenana, at 4,985 meters, or about 16,000 feet.

Is transportation from Nairobi included?

Yes. Private transportation is included from Nairobi to Nanyuki and the mountain access points, as well as transport from Chogoria back to Nairobi.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, five lunches, and four dinners during the five-day mountain service.

Is camping equipment provided?

Yes. Tents, mats, and other camping equipment are provided. Personal clothing and equipment are not included, and an equipment list is available on request.

Is the trek private?

Yes. Only your own group participates, with English-speaking mountain guides, a cook, and porter support.

Should You Book It?

Book this trek if you want a well-supported private climb with two scenic routes, and if you are prepared for high altitude, camping, and a demanding summit day. The combination of Sirimon’s forest and moorland, the high peak circuit, sunrise at Point Lenana, and the Chogoria descent gives you a varied five-day mountain experience.

I would be more cautious if you are new to strenuous hiking or have not prepared for nearly 5,000 meters. Ask for the equipment list, confirm the guide team, and plan your Nairobi hotel nights separately.

For the right hiker, the $960 price buys useful support rather than unnecessary extras. The best part is not simply reaching the summit. It is having a team handle the camp, food, transport, and route while you concentrate on putting one steady foot in front of the other.