Route guide
Which Mount Kenya route is right for you?
Six trails lead to Point Lenana (4,985 m). They differ in scenery, duration, difficulty, and rainfall exposure. This guide tells you which one to pick based on your specific situation.
The quick decision guide
Answer these three questions to narrow your options immediately.
How many days do you have?
- 3-4 days: Naro Moru - fastest but highest AMS risk. Only for acclimatised, experienced trekkers.
- 4-5 days: Sirimon - the standard choice with a good safety margin.
- 5-6 days: Chogoria or Burguret/Timau - more scenic or more remote.
- 6-7 days: Chogoria-Sirimon Traverse - the definitive Mount Kenya experience.
What matters most to you?
- Reliability & safety: Sirimon - driest, best-maintained, most gradual acclimatisation.
- Scenery: Chogoria - Lake Michaelson and Gorges Valley are without equal.
- Speed: Naro Moru - but read the AMS risk section before booking.
- Solitude: Burguret or Timau - almost no other groups on either approach.
- The complete experience: Chogoria-Sirimon Traverse - both sides of the mountain in one trip.
Is this your first time above 4,000 m?
- Yes: Choose Sirimon or Chogoria. Both give your body time to acclimatise. Avoid Naro Moru.
- No: All routes are options. Consider Naro Moru only if you have been above 3,500 m in the past few weeks.
Side-by-side comparison
| Route | Days | Difficulty | Distance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SirimonRec. | 4-6 | Moderate | 50 km | First-timers, reliability, drier conditions |
| Chogoria | 5-6 | Moderate | 55 km | Scenery seekers, photographers |
| Naro Moru | 3-4 | Hard | 38 km | Acclimatised trekkers with limited time |
| Chogoria-Sirimon TraverseRec. | 6-7 | Moderate-Hard | 75 km | Anyone wanting the full experience |
| Burguret | 5-6 | Moderate | 56 km | Wilderness, wildlife, solitude |
| Timau | 5-6 | Moderate | 54 km | Laikipia plateau views, low crowds |
Route-by-route breakdown
Sirimon Route
The safe, reliable choice
Sirimon is the most-used route for good reason. The northern approach benefits from a rain shadow, making it significantly drier than Chogoria or Naro Moru. The ascent profile is gradual: day one takes you to 3,300 m at Old Moses Camp, day two to Shipton's Camp at 4,200 m, and the optional acclimatisation day on day three dramatically improves your summit odds. If you want the best chance of reaching Point Lenana without suffering altitude sickness, start here.
Chogoria Route
The most scenic
If Sirimon is the practical choice, Chogoria is the emotional one. The eastern approach passes through Gorges Valley - a glacially carved U-valley with sheer cliffs dropping to Lake Michaelson at 4,200 m. The lake camp at Mintos is one of the finest wild campsites in East Africa. Austrian Hut at 4,790 m gives you the highest starting point for the summit push, making the actual summit morning shorter. The trade-off: the eastern slopes receive more rainfall, so timing matters.
Naro Moru Route
Fastest, but highest risk
Naro Moru gets you to Point Lenana in 3-4 days, making it the fastest option. The cost is a compressed acclimatisation schedule that puts trekkers at significantly higher risk of acute mountain sickness. The infamous "vertical bog" - a waterlogged moorland section between the Met Station and Mackinder's Camp - is demanding in wet conditions. We recommend this route only for trekkers who have been above 3,500 m in the past four weeks. For everyone else, the extra day on Sirimon is a much better investment.
Chogoria-Sirimon Traverse
The definitive experience
Most guides who know the mountain well consider this the best single itinerary available. You ascend the scenic Chogoria side - Lake Michaelson, Gorges Valley, Austrian Hut - summit from the highest starting point on the mountain, then descend the drier Sirimon corridor. Two completely different mountain ecosystems in one trip, with no backtracking because you exit at a different gate. If you have 6-7 days, this is our top recommendation without reservation.
Burguret & Timau
For genuine solitude
Both western and north-western approaches see a fraction of the traffic that Sirimon and Chogoria do. Burguret passes through dense montane forest where elephant and buffalo are common - it's a genuine wilderness approach that requires a skilled guide. Timau enters from the Laikipia plateau side, offering sweeping views north before joining the Sirimon network at Old Moses Camp. Neither route has the infrastructure of Sirimon, but both offer a level of solitude that has become increasingly rare on popular East African peaks.
Still not sure? Talk to us.
We've guided hundreds of trekkers on every route on this mountain. Tell us your dates, fitness level, and what you're hoping for - we'll recommend the right route and build a quote around it.