Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest: Which Should You Climb First?

Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest represent two very different mountain challenges. While both are bucket-list achievements, the comparison between Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest reveals vastly different preparation, skills, and investment. This guide — written by a Tanzania-based climbing company that has guided 2,000+ climbers to Uhuru Peak — helps you understand which mountain is right for your adventure goals and which to climb first.

Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest: At a Glance

Factor	Kilimanjaro	Everest Base Camp	Everest Summit
Height	5,895m (19,341ft)	5,364m (17,598ft)	8,849m (29,032ft)
Duration	5–9 days	12–14 days	60+ days
Technical Skills	None required	Trekking only	Advanced mountaineering
Cost	$2,000–$6,000	$1,500–$4,000	$30,000–$100,000+
Success Rate	65–95% (route-dependent)	~95%	~60%
Deaths per Year	~10	Very rare	~5–10
Training Required	3–6 months fitness	3–6 months fitness	Years of mountaineering
Best Season	Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct	Mar–May, Sep–Nov	May (spring window)
Accommodation	Camping (tents)	Tea houses	Camps + tents
Permits	Included in package	~$50 TIMS + park	$11,000 climbing permit

Height and Altitude Comparison

Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m / 19,341ft)

Africa's highest peak and one of the Seven Summits. Mount Kilimanjaro stands at just under 6,000m — you'll experience significant altitude effects but remain below the extreme elevations where human survival becomes time-limited. Despite being a non-technical climb, the altitude makes it a serious undertaking. Importantly, Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest free-standing mountain, rising approximately 4,900m from its base to summit — more dramatic vertical relief than Everest shows from its base camps.

Mount Everest Base Camp (5,364m / 17,598ft)

Actually lower than Mount Kilimanjaro's summit! The EBC trek is primarily about the journey through Nepal's stunning Khumbu region rather than extreme altitude. Most trekkers who compare Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest are actually comparing Kilimanjaro's summit to Everest Base Camp.

Mount Everest Summit (8,849m / 29,032ft)

The world's highest point enters the "death zone" above 8,000m where the human body deteriorates rapidly regardless of acclimatization. Supplemental oxygen is standard. At the summit, air pressure is roughly one-third of sea level, meaning each breath delivers only a third of the oxygen your body needs.

Which Is Harder: Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Everest?

This is the most common question when comparing these two mountains. The answer depends on what you're attempting:

• Mount Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base CampKilimanjaro is harder. You climb higher (5,895m vs 5,364m) and the summit night push is extremely demanding — 12–15 hours of climbing through the night in freezing temperatures.
• Mount Kilimanjaro vs Everest SummitEverest is incomparably harder. It requires years of mountaineering experience, technical climbing skills, and a $30,000–$100,000 budget. The death rate is significantly higher.

For most adventure travelers comparing Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest, the realistic comparison is Kilimanjaro summit vs Everest Base Camp trek — and in that match-up, Kilimanjaro is the harder but more rewarding achievement.

"I've guided climbers who trekked to Everest Base Camp before attempting Kilimanjaro, and they consistently say summit night on Kilimanjaro was the hardest thing they've done. The altitude is similar, but pushing for the summit through the night at -20°C is a completely different challenge to arriving at a base camp during daylight."

— Joseph Makundi, Lead Mountain Guide, Snow Africa Adventure (18 years, 400+ summits)

Acclimatization: The Crucial Difference

How your body adjusts to altitude is often the deciding factor in summit success, and the acclimatization profiles of these two mountains differ significantly:

Kilimanjaro Acclimatization

Kilimanjaro demands rapid altitude gain — you ascend roughly 3,600m in just 5–9 days. This is one of the fastest altitude-gain rates of any popular trek in the world. The best routes (like the 8-day Lemosho) build in "climb high, sleep low" days where you ascend to ~4,630m at Lava Tower before descending to sleep at ~3,960m. Around 75% of Kilimanjaro climbers experience some degree of mild altitude sickness, making route selection and pacing critical.

Everest Base Camp Acclimatization

The EBC trek is gentler — you gain ~2,500m over 12–14 days, with built-in rest days at Namche Bazaar (3,440m) and Dingboche (4,410m). The slower pace means AMS rates are notably lower. Most trekkers acclimatize well because the trail infrastructure allows gradual progression with comfortable tea house stops.

Everest Summit Acclimatization

Expedition members spend weeks at base camp (5,364m) and make multiple rotations to higher camps before a summit attempt. Despite this, above 8,000m the human body deteriorates regardless of acclimatization — time in the death zone must be minimized.

summit success rates.

Technical Requirements

Kilimanjaro

• Walk-up mountain with established trails across multiple routes
• No ropes, crampons, or ice axes required
• Barranco Wall involves scrambling but no technical climbing
• Professional guides handle all logistics — see our climbing tips for preparation advice

Everest Base Camp

• Well-maintained tea house trail
• No technical sections
• Suspension bridges require head for heights
• Possible snow on trail at times

Everest Summit

• Crampon and ice axe proficiency
• Fixed rope ascending/descending (jumar technique)
• Crevasse rescue knowledge
• Previous high-altitude (7,000m+) experience typically required
• Ladder crossings over crevasses
• Ability to climb in extreme cold and wind

Best Season to Climb: Kilimanjaro vs Everest

The optimal climbing windows differ significantly between the two mountains:

Kilimanjaro Climbing Seasons

Kilimanjaro can be climbed year-round, but the best months fall into two dry seasons:

• Peak season (June–October)Dry, cold nights, clear skies. Busiest period but highest summit success rates.
• Second season (January–March)Warmer days, slightly more rain risk but fewer crowds. Our guides report comparable success rates to peak season on 7+ day routes.
• Shoulder months (November, April–May)Possible but wetter. Lower prices and very quiet trails.

Everest Base Camp Trekking Seasons

• Spring (March–May)Warmer temperatures, rhododendron blooms, clearer views before monsoon.
• Autumn (September–November)Post-monsoon clarity, stable weather, most popular season.

Everest Summit Window

The summit window is extremely narrow — most successful summit attempts happen in a 2–3 week period in May when the jet stream lifts temporarily. A secondary window exists in September–October but is used far less frequently.

Accommodation and Logistics

The day-to-day experience on each mountain is surprisingly different:

Kilimanjaro: Full-Service Camping

On Kilimanjaro, your operator provides everything. A typical group of 4 climbers will have 15–20 support crew including guides, cooks, and porters who carry all equipment. You sleep in tents at designated campsites, eat hot meals prepared by a dedicated cook, and carry only a daypack. The camping experience is well-organized — you arrive at camp to find your tent set up and hot tea waiting.

Everest Base Camp: Tea House Trekking

The EBC trek uses Nepal's famous tea house (lodge) system. You sleep in basic but comfortable lodges along the trail, eat in communal dining rooms, and can buy snacks and supplies at small shops. There's a social, community atmosphere. You carry your own pack or hire a porter.

Everest Summit: Expedition-Style

A full Everest expedition involves weeks at base camp (a small tent city), followed by rotations to progressively higher camps. You'll spend significant time waiting for weather windows. Life at base camp includes a mess tent, cook, and communication equipment.

Scenery and Experience Compared

Both mountains deliver extraordinary experiences, but the character of each journey is distinct:

Kilimanjaro: Five Climate Zones in One Week

Kilimanjaro is unique among the world's great mountains for the diversity of ecosystems you traverse. In 5–9 days you pass through:

1. Cultivation zone – Banana plantations and coffee farms at the base
2. Rainforest – Dense montane forest with colobus monkeys and exotic birds
3. Heath and moorland – Giant heathers and otherworldly lobelia plants
4. Alpine desert – Barren, Mars-like volcanic landscape
5. Arctic summit zone – Glaciers and ice fields at the roof of Africa

This ecological diversity means every day looks completely different — something no other mountain on Earth offers in such compressed vertical distance.

Everest Base Camp: Himalayan Culture and Grandeur

The EBC trek is as much a cultural journey as a physical one. You walk through Sherpa villages, visit Buddhist monasteries (including the famous Tengboche Monastery), cross dramatic suspension bridges, and are surrounded by 8,000m giants — Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Everest itself. The Himalayan scale is staggering and nothing else on Earth matches it.

Route Options: 7 Routes vs 1 Trail

One of Kilimanjaro's biggest advantages is choice. There are seven established routes, each with a different character:

Route	Days	Success Rate	Character
Lemosho	7–8	90–95%	Scenic, low crowds, best acclimatization
Machame	6–7	85–90%	Most popular, dramatic scenery
Marangu	5–6	65–85%	Only hut route, "Coca-Cola route"
Rongai	6–7	85–90%	Northern approach, drier, quieter
Northern Circuit	9	90%+	Full circumnavigation, longest route
Umbwe	5–6	70–80%	Steepest, for experienced trekkers
Shira	7–8	85–90%	High starting point, joins Lemosho

Everest Base Camp, by contrast, has essentially one trail — the classic Lukla-to-EBC route through the Khumbu Valley. There are minor variations (like the Gokyo Lakes detour), but the core path is the same for everyone.

This means Kilimanjaro lets you tailor the experience to your fitness level, budget, and preference for crowds — something the EBC trek doesn't offer.

Permits and Bureaucracy

Kilimanjaro

Straightforward. Park fees ($70/day for adults) are included in your operator's package price. Your climbing company handles all permits, registration, and park formalities. You need a valid passport and a Tanzania visa (available on arrival for most nationalities, ~$50). There's minimal paperwork on your end — one of Kilimanjaro's advantages for first-time international trekkers.

Everest Base Camp

You'll need a TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System) and a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit. These are typically arranged by your trekking agency in Kathmandu. Total permit costs are under $100. You'll also need a Nepal visa.

Everest Summit

This is where bureaucracy becomes expensive. The climbing permit alone is $11,000 per person (issued by Nepal's government). Your expedition operator handles liaison officer requirements, icefall doctor fees, and various deposits. The permit process requires months of advance planning and paperwork.

Time Investment

Kilimanjaro

• Climb duration5–9 days
• Total trip8–12 days including travel
• Training3–6 months of fitness preparation — see our
  12-week training plan

Everest Base Camp

• Trek duration12–14 days
• Total trip16–18 days including travel
• Training3–6 months of hiking preparation

Everest Summit

• Expedition duration60–70 days
• TrainingYears of progressive mountaineering
• Prerequisite climbsMultiple 6,000m+ and typically 7,000m+ peaks

Cost Comparison: Kilimanjaro vs Everest

Mount Kilimanjaro: $2,000–$6,000

• Climb package: $2,000–$4,500 (see full Kilimanjaro price breakdown)
• Flights: $800–$1,500
• Gear: $500–$1,500 (can rent locally)
• Tips: $250–$400

Everest Base Camp: $1,500–$5,000

• Trek package: $1,000–$3,000
• Flights: $1,000–$1,800
• Permits: Included or ~$50
• Gear: $500–$1,000

Everest Summit: $30,000–$100,000+

• Expedition fee: $25,000–$80,000
• Permit: $11,000
• Gear: $5,000–$15,000
• Training expeditions: $10,000–$30,000
• Insurance: $500–$2,000

Risks and Safety

Kilimanjaro

Main risks:

• Altitude sickness (AMS, HACE, HAPE)
• Hypothermia
• Falls (rare)
• Pre-existing conditions exacerbated by altitude

Mitigations: Proper acclimatization, guide monitoring, descent when symptomatic. Reputable operators (including Snow Africa Adventure) carry pulse oximeters and emergency oxygen on every climb and monitor climbers twice daily.

Everest Base Camp

Main risks:

• Altitude sickness
• Trail accidents
• Weather exposure

Everest Summit

Main risks:

• Extreme altitude (death zone)
• Avalanches
• Falls
• Crevasses
• Frostbite
• Exhaustion
• Weather
• Khumbu Icefall collapse

Experience Level Comparison

If You're a Fit Beginner

Both are achievable for motivated beginners with proper preparation. Kilimanjaro offers a summit achievement; EBC offers cultural immersion and Everest views. Check our beginner's guide to Kilimanjaro for honest advice on whether you're ready.

If You Want a Summit

You'll stand on a true summit — the highest point in Africa and one of the Seven Summits. EBC is not a summit, and Everest's summit requires years of preparation.

If You Want Extreme Challenge

But start with Kilimanjaro and other peaks. Build progressive experience on increasingly difficult mountains.

Real Climber Experience: Kilimanjaro Then Everest Base Camp

Sarah Mitchell, a 34-year-old teacher from the UK, climbed Kilimanjaro with Snow Africa Adventure in February 2025 via the Lemosho route, then trekked to Everest Base Camp six months later. Her comparison:

"Kilimanjaro was physically harder — summit night nearly broke me. But the sense of achievement standing on Uhuru Peak at sunrise was unlike anything I'd experienced. EBC was longer and the scenery was spectacular, but you arrive at a rocky campsite, take photos, and turn around. On Kilimanjaro, you reach the actual summit of a continent. If I could only do one, I'd choose Kilimanjaro every time."

Sarah's experience is typical. Our post-climb surveys show that 92% of climbers who've done both Kilimanjaro and EBC rate the Kilimanjaro summit as the more meaningful achievement, while acknowledging the Himalayan scenery on the EBC trek is harder to match.

The Typical Progression

Many aspiring mountaineers follow a progression:

1. Kilimanjaro: First high-altitude experience
2. Other trekking peaksMount Kenya, Aconcagua trek, etc.
3. Technical mountainsLearn ropes, crampons, ice axe
4. 6,000m peaksCotopaxi, Huayna Potosi, etc.
5. 7,000m peaksAconcagua summit, Lenin Peak, etc.
6. 8,000m preparationCho Oyu or other "easier" 8,000ers
7. EverestThe ultimate goal

Our Recommendation: Mount Kilimanjaro First

For most adventure travelers comparing Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest, Kilimanjaro offers the best combination of:

• Achievable challenge — no technical skills required
• True summit achievement — one of the Seven Summits
• Reasonable cost — under $5,000 all-in
• Manageable time commitment — 8–12 days total
• Relatively low risk — with experienced guides and proper acclimatization
• Incredible experience — five climate zones, sunrise from the roof of Africa

Everest Base Camp is a wonderful trek, but you're visiting a location rather than achieving a summit. Mount Everest's summit is a lifetime commitment requiring years of preparation and significant resources. When it comes to Mount Kilimanjaro vs Mount Everest, start with Kilimanjaro — it's the smarter first step toward bigger mountains.

Climate Change: Why Timing Matters

Both mountains are being reshaped by climate change, adding urgency to the "which first" question:

• Kilimanjaro's glaciers have lost approximately 85% of their ice coverage since 1912. The rate of loss has accelerated — from ~1% per year before 1953 to ~2.5% annually since 1989. Current projections suggest the iconic summit glaciers could disappear entirely by 2040–2060. If seeing Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peak matters to you, the window is closing.
• The Khumbu Glacier on Everest has thinned by approximately 50 meters and the Khumbu Icefall is becoming increasingly unstable. Base camp itself may need to be relocated lower in coming decades.

For climbers planning to do both mountains eventually, Kilimanjaro's glaciers are changing faster and more visibly than EBC's landscape — another reason to prioritize it.

When Everest Base Camp Is the Better Choice

We're a Kilimanjaro company, so we'll be transparent about when EBC might suit you better:

• You prefer comfort over achievement. Tea houses on the EBC trek offer warm beds, hot showers (at lower elevations), and freshly cooked meals. Kilimanjaro is camping only.
• You have 2+ weeks. EBC's slower pace is gentler on the body. If you have the time, the gradual acclimatization is easier.
• You want cultural immersion. Walking through Sherpa villages, visiting monasteries, and experiencing Himalayan culture is woven into every day of the EBC trek. Kilimanjaro's cultural experiences are concentrated at the start and end.
• You're nervous about altitude. EBC tops out at 5,364m — lower than Kilimanjaro — with more acclimatization time built in.
• You want Himalayan scale. Being surrounded by multiple 8,000m peaks is an experience no other trek on Earth matches.

That said, if you want a summit — a true peak-bagging achievement — Kilimanjaro is the clear winner. EBC is a destination, not a summit.

Ready to start with Mount Kilimanjaro? View our upcoming departures or contact us to begin planning your adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions