Climb Kilimanjaro From The US, Europe And UK
To climb Kilimanjaro from the US, Europe, or the UK, fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The most common and convenient option is to fly to a major European hub like Amsterdam and then connect to a flight to JRO, often on KLM. Other options include connecting through Middle Eastern or other African cities, such as Doha, Nairobi, or Dar es Salaam.
To climb Kilimanjaro from the US, Europe, or the UK, you need to arrange a flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), book a guided expedition with a licensed operator, and secure a Tanzanian visa and a US passport. Expect to spend at least a week for the climb, and plan for travel time and acclimatization by arriving a couple of days before the trek begins. Costs typically range from $$2,000 to over \(\$6,000\), depending on the tour operator and package.
Climbers from the US, Europe, and the UK can easily reach Amsterdam from most major airports in their respective regions; from there, they can take a connecting flight to JRO with KLM Airlines.
Climb Kilimanjaro From The US, Europe And UK: Most Direct Routes
Flying directly to Kilimanjaro from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (airport code AMS) on KLM Airlines is likely the greatest and most dependable choice for hikers in the northern hemisphere.
If you’re flying from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, you’ll have plenty of time to travel to your hotel and settle in because the flight leaves at 10 in the morning and arrives at 8.30 in the evening on the same day.
Flying to Tanzania with KLM is a fantastic option; you can discover more about it here. Direct flights to Amsterdam are available from a number of regional airports in the United Kingdom, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester, Birmingham, and London. Amsterdam will soon have direct flights from a plethora of US destinations, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, and countless more.
Because it is with a dependable airline, has one of the fastest travel schedules with the fewest stops, and can be rather inexpensive when reserved in advance, this trip is our top pick for trekkers from the US, Europe, and the UK.
In addition to the fact that Amsterdam is a fantastic city, flying with KLM is a great idea because they are really reliable and professional when it comes to problems with luggage or delays. Keep in mind that KLM’s return trip to Amsterdam takes place in the evening after a brief layover in Dar es Salaam.
Climb Kilimanjaro From The US, Europe And UK
Most Direct Flight Options from the UK to Kilimanjaro
- London Heathrow (LHR) – Amsterdam Schiphol – Kilimanjaro International Airport – approximately 11 hours
- Manchester Airport (MAN) – Amsterdam Schiphol – Kilimanjaro International Airport – approximately 12 hours
- Birmingham Airport (BHX) – Amsterdam Schiphol – Kilimanjaro International Airport – approximately 11.5 hours
Most Direct Flight Options from the US to Kilimanjaro
- New York (JFK) – Amsterdam Schiphol – Kilimanjaro International Airport – approximately 18 hours
- Los Angeles International (LAX) – Amsterdam Schiphol – Kilimanjaro International Airport – approximately 20 hours
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – Amsterdam Schiphol – Kilimanjaro International Airport – approximately 19.5 hours
Alternative flights to Kilimanjaro
British Airways
Using the airport code NBO, British Airways flies directly from London, UK, to Nairobi, Kenya. However, if you’re flying from Manchester or any of the other regional UK international airports other than London to Kilimanjaro, you’ll need to add an additional stop, and the flight might get pricey. After that, you can get a Kenyan visa and then take a 6-hour bus ride to Kilimanjaro.
There are connecting flights that can take you from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro, but they don’t always go straight and will cost you more money.
Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways
Kilimanjaro Airport is served indirectly by Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, similar to British Airways. Both airlines land at major European and American airport hubs before continuing on to Addis Abeba (ADD) in Ethiopia or Nairobi in Kenya, where they link to Kilimanjaro International Airport, typically with a layover. Those on a tight schedule may find the connecting times and the dependability of these airlines to be a living nightmare due to their frequent reports of delays and lost or stolen bags.
Qatar Airways
Kilimanjaro Airport is directly connected to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (airport code: DOH). This is not a bad idea for UK citizens living near Manchester or London as the airline alternatives to Doha are reasonably cheap. Those trekking from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or India will find this an excellent choice, but be prepared for lengthy layovers.
Turkish Airlines
Kilimanjaro may be reached directly from Istanbul International Airport (IST) by a Turkish Airlines aircraft. Typically, the flights are less expensive, but the return flight doesn’t depart until 3 in the morning, and the arrival time into Kilimanjaro Airport is 2 in the morning! So, unless you’re planning to climb Kilimanjaro while groggy from jet lag, you might want to consider staying an extra night in Moshi or Arusha instead of saving money on the flight.
Travelling from Southern Africa
While there isn’t a direct flight to Kilimanjaro from anywhere in Southern Africa, there are plenty of airlines that fly directly to Dar es Salaam (airport code DAR) in Tanzania, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, or Nairobi in Kenya. From there, you can take a connecting flight or two. South African Airways, Emirates, and Kenya Airways are just a few of the options.
Domestic Flights to Kilimanjaro
We have provided a list of some of the local airlines below in case you would like to fly to an East African international airport other than Kilimanjaro Airport. When scheduling your domestic connections to Kilimanjaro separately from your international flights, please allow plenty of time for transfers, connections, and possible delays. We are unable to comment on the reliability of these airlines.
- East African: operating out of Nairobi, Kenya, via Johnson Airport (WIL) and the larger Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Kilimanjaro Airport is an hour away via direct flight.
- Precision Air: Headquartered out of Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (DAR). From Dar es Salaam, the flight to Kilimanjaro takes 1 hour and twenty minutes.
- Air Kenya: Most flights to Kilimanjaro take around an hour, departing from Wilson Airport (WIL) in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Air Tanzania: departing from Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), the flight to Kilimanjaro takes around one hour.
- Regional Air: Arusha Airport (ARK), the Tanzanian affiliate of Air Kenya, offers a 15-minute trip to Kilimanjaro!!!