Kilimanjaro · Prepare

The Week Before You Fly:
Final Preparations

With a week to go, the job is not to build fitness (too late for that) but to save your strength and forget nothing. Heavy training winds down; what starts now is packing, paperwork, and rest.

The final gear and document check

Work through the packing list item by item. By now your boots should be broken in: a new, unbroken-in pair can genuinely cost you the summit.

Documents: passport, visa, and insurance with altitude coverage, meaning trekking to 6,000 m and at least $10,000 in evacuation coverage. The policy is checked at the hotel briefing, so keep a printout or an electronic copy handy.

Carry-on vs. checked luggage
Boots, base layers, and personal medications: carry-on only. If anything happens to your checked bag, we can cover almost everything with rentals on site, but there’s no replacing boots broken in to your feet.

Health and medications
If you have any chronic conditions, or heart or respiratory issues, consult your doctor before the trip. We do not prescribe medication. Bring personal medications in their original packaging, and tell us about chronic conditions in advance.

Rest is preparation too

Sleep well, drink enough water, and don’t experiment with new foods or new workouts. Easy walks, yes; marathons, no. Arrive rested: your first day in Tanzania іs landing and the briefing, and the very next morning you head out on the route.