3 daysPrivate tourMid-rangePermits included

3-Day Gorilla Trekking Classic

4.9(124 reviews)·Kigali → Volcanoes·Offered by Thousand Hills Expeditions

This is the itinerary most first-time visitors to Rwanda are looking for, distilled to three well-paced days. You land in Kigali, see the city properly — including the Genocide Memorial, which no visit should skip — and then climb into the volcanoes for the main event: a full morning with a habituated mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park.

Because the drive from Kigali to Kinigi is under three hours on excellent roads, nothing about this trip feels rushed. You sleep two nights at the foot of the Virungas, trek on the middle day when you are fresh, and finish with a gentle cultural morning before an afternoon return to the capital.

One unforgettable hour with a mountain gorilla family
Kigali city tour and the Genocide Memorial with a local guide
Two nights at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes
Ibyʼiwacu cultural village visit with former poachers turned guides
RDB gorilla permit (US$1,500) secured and included

Duration3 days

Tour stylePrivate tour

ComfortMid-range · Lodge

Park permitsIncluded ($1,500 pp)

Minimum age15 years (RDB rule)

Solo travelersWelcome

CustomizableYes — request changes with a quote

RouteKigali → Volcanoes

Day by day

1
Day 1Kigali
Kigali city, memorial & drive to the volcanoes
Your guide meets you at Kigali International Airport (or your hotel) in the morning. The day starts with the Kigali Genocide Memorial — moving, essential context for everything you will see afterwards — followed by lunch at a mille collines viewpoint and a short walk through the city centre. Mid-afternoon you drive north through terraced hills to Kinigi, arriving at your lodge with the volcanoes stacked on the horizon.
Five Volcanoes Boutique HotelBoutique lodge in Kinigi, 10 minutes from the park gateLunch & dinner included
2
Day 2Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Up before dawn for breakfast and the 7am briefing at the Kinigi park headquarters, where rangers assign you a gorilla family suited to your fitness. The trek through bamboo and hagenia forest can take one to four hours each way — and then the forest opens and you are standing metres from a silverback. You have exactly one hour with the family: infants tumbling, mothers grooming, the silverback pretending you are not there. Back at the lodge by mid-afternoon to rest and relive it.
Five Volcanoes Boutique HotelSecond night — no repacking on trek dayAll meals included
3
Day 3Volcanoes National Park
Cultural village & return to Kigali
A slow morning, then a visit to the Ibyʼiwacu cultural village, where former poachers now earn a living demonstrating traditional drumming, archery and banana-beer brewing — conservation working exactly as intended. After lunch you drive back to Kigali, arriving in time for evening flights or one more night in the city (we can arrange it).
No overnight — tour ends or day tripBreakfast & lunch included

Rates per person

Group size	Price per person (USD)
Solo	$3,460
2 people	$2,950
3 people	$2,890
4 people	$2,850
5 people	$2,820
6+ people	$2,775

The US$1,500 RDB gorilla permit is a fixed government cost included in every rate below — group-size savings apply to the rest of the package.
Rates are per person in USD and vary with group size — everyone in the vehicle shares the guide and transport costs.
A 50% deposit confirms your booking; the balance is due 30 days before the trip starts.
Cancellation follows the operator's platform-standard policy shown at checkout.

What's included

Included

Gorilla trekking permit (US$1,500 per person)
Kigali Genocide Memorial & city tour
Ibyʼiwacu cultural village visit
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Bottled water throughout the trip
All taxes and VAT

Excluded

Porter for the trek (US$10–20, recommended)
International flights
Rwanda visa (US$50 on arrival for most nationalities)
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities (guide, trackers, porters)
Drinks and meals not listed in the itinerary
Personal items and souvenirs

Getting there

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL) — it is served by direct flights from Brussels, Amsterdam, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
This tour starts and ends in Kigali. Airport pick-up and drop-off are included — your guide meets you in arrivals.
Most nationalities receive a Rwanda visa on arrival (US$50). The East African Tourist Visa also covers Rwanda if you are combining countries.
Arriving early or leaving late? Extra nights in Kigali before or after the tour can be arranged with your quote.

Traveler reviews

4.9

Based on 124 traveler reviews

Reviews are verified — only travelers who completed this tour can leave one.

“The best hour of our lives”

Everything ran to the minute — permits sorted months ahead, a wonderful guide called Eric, and a gorilla family with two infants. The memorial on day one gave the whole trip depth we didn't expect. Book the porter, trust us.

Hannah & Mark · United Kingdom · Traveled May 2026

“Flawless organisation”

I travelled solo and was slightly nervous about logistics. Needlessly — I was collected on time, the lodge was gorgeous, and the trek (about two hours up) was well matched to my fitness. Worth every dollar.

Priya S. · India · Traveled February 2026

“Superb, go in the dry season”

Trekking in September meant firm trails and clear views of Bisoke. One hour with the gorillas goes fast — take photos for ten minutes, then just watch. Only wish we'd added the golden monkey day.

Tomas L. · Germany · Traveled September 2025

Showing recent reviews. The full review history arrives with verified post-trip reviews (Milestone 4).