4-NIGHT RWANDA GORILLA & VOLCANOES JOURNEY
4‒Night, 5‒Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Package: A Slower Volcanoes National Park Journey
From USD 3,295 per person, all‒inclusive: gorilla trekking and Golden Monkey trekking permits, a private vehicle and driver for five days, four nights Full Board and a full rest day at the lodge.
Five unhurried days from one boutique base, 15 minutes from Volcanoes National Park headquarters. One Rwanda‒based team plans and delivers everything.
✓ Official gorilla trekking permit included for each guest
✓ Golden Monkey trekking permit included for each guest
✓ Private vehicle and driver from Kigali, who waits for you during every trek
✓ Four nights Full Board at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
✓ A full rest and wellness day with pool, sauna and gardens
✓ Complimentary foot massages after your gorilla trek
4 nights · Gorilla + Golden Monkey permits included · Full Board · Private driver · From USD 3,295 per person
No payment is required to inquire. Permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board and confirmed in writing before any payment.
More time changes how the journey feels
Four nights give you a gorilla trek, a full rest day and Golden Monkey trekking, without a single rushed transfer. If you prefer, you can swap Golden Monkey trekking for a second wellness day.
WHY GUESTS CHOOSE THE SLOW JOURNEY
Rushing your gorilla trek is easy to avoid
Many Rwanda itineraries pack the trek into two or three nights, with an early trek day sandwiched between two long transfers. That leaves little room to recover, adjust for weather, or simply enjoy the lodge you are paying for.
The 4-Night Slow Journey gives your gorilla trek room to breathe. One package price covers both permits, your private driver, Full Board accommodation, a rest day and Golden Monkey trekking, so you are not coordinating separate providers or compressing five days of experience into three.
ONE JOURNEY. ONE TEAM.
Everything coordinated by one Rwanda‒based team
From your first enquiry to your departure transfer, Five Volcanoes plans and delivers your journey directly — not through a chain of third‒party agents.
Permit management
Your gorilla and Golden Monkey permits are included. We track availability with the Rwanda Development Board and confirm your dates in writing before you pay for anything.
Our own fleet and drivers
Private vehicles and drivers who work for Five Volcanoes, not a subcontracted transfer company, take you from Kigali to the lodge and to the park headquarters on trek day.
One boutique property
You stay at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel throughout your four nights, so your room, your staff and your daily rhythm stay the same from arrival to departure.
We prepare the person, not just the itinerary
Fitness guidance, packing advice and a clear day‒by‒day plan mean you arrive at the park gate ready for the trek, not guessing what to expect.
Who this slower journey suits
Couples and honeymooners
Time to slow down and enjoy the lodge together before and after the trek, with quiet mornings, an unhurried dinner and no pressure to check out the next day.
Photographers
More flexibility for light and weather, and a second primate experience with Golden Monkey trekking already included in your package.
Travellers aged 50+
A gentler pace with recovery time between active days, so the gorilla trek is not immediately followed by a long transfer or an early departure the next morning.
Guests who prefer fewer hotel changes
Settle into one calm base rather than moving each night, with the same room, the same staff and the same view of the volcanoes for the whole stay.
Your 5-day, 4-night Rwanda gorilla trekking itinerary
DAY 1
Kigali transfer and arrival
Private pickup at Kigali International Airport or your Kigali hotel, a 2.5 to 3-hour drive, check-in, lunch or dinner and personal trek preparation with gaiters and walking sticks.
DAY 2
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and recovery
07:00 briefing at Kinigi park headquarters, about 15 minutes from the lodge. Your driver takes you to the trailhead and waits. Up to one hour with a habituated gorilla family, then lunch, complimentary foot massages and a quiet afternoon.
DAY 3
Rest and wellness at the lodge
A relaxed breakfast, time at the pool, in the sauna or the gardens, optional spa treatments, and lunch and dinner at the lodge. No trek scheduled, so your body gets a real rest day.
DAY 4
Golden Monkey trekking
Early breakfast, private drive to the briefing and trailhead, and Golden Monkey trekking with permits included. Your driver waits, then lunch and a relaxed last afternoon. Prefer another lodge day instead? Your package price goes down.
DAY 5
Return to Kigali or continue your Rwanda journey
Breakfast, check-out and a private return to Kigali or your next confirmed destination in Rwanda or East Africa.
Things to do on your extra days near Volcanoes National Park
Golden Monkey trekking
Included in your package: a lighter, playful forest trek with the endangered golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park (minimum age 12).
Wellness and massage
Your Day 3 rest day is included, with pool, sauna and gardens. Spa treatments can be added. You can also swap Golden Monkey trekking for a second lodge day.
Twin Lakes
A calm boat or canoe experience on the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, with views across the water to the volcanoes.
Dian Fossey / Ellen DeGeneres Campus
Context on gorilla conservation and Rwanda's role in protecting the mountain gorillas, a meaningful complement to your own trek.
Selected cultural experience
A guided community or cultural encounter near Musanze, arranged around your interests and confirmed availability.
Another confirmed park activity
Additional Volcanoes National Park experiences, arranged where confirmed and subject to official availability.
Golden Monkey trekking and the rest day are included. Twin Lakes, the Dian Fossey / Ellen DeGeneres Campus and cultural experiences are quoted separately based on actual entry and guide costs.
SETTLE IN
Your 4 nights at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, 15 minutes from the park
- Your choice of room category: Standard Room, Deluxe Room, Family Suite, Honeymoon Suite or Master Suite
- Full Board throughout your stay, with house wine in your room
- Pool, sauna and gardens for quiet downtime between activities
- A calm boutique atmosphere with personal, attentive service
- A full rest day and complimentary foot massages after your gorilla trek
FLEXIBLE TIMING
Private transfers and a less compressed schedule
Your private vehicle and driver are included for all five days: pickup in Kigali, drives to park headquarters and the trailheads, waiting time during every trek and your return transfer. Fuel included, no mileage charges. Park headquarters is only about 15 minutes from the lodge, so trek mornings start calm.
What is included in the 4-night gorilla trekking package
Included from USD 3,295 per person
- Gorilla trekking permit and Golden Monkey permit for each guest
- Four nights Full Board, water and a soft drink with meals
- A bottle of house wine per guest in your room
- Private vehicle, driver and fuel for five days
- Gaiters, walking sticks and complimentary post-trek foot massages
- Pool, sauna, all hotel taxes and service charges
Not included
- Twin Lakes, Dian Fossey campus and cultural experiences
- Flights, visas and travel insurance
- Porter fees, gratuities and personal expenses
- Additional drinks and spa treatments
- Accommodation in Kigali and credit card (DPO) fees
Price based on two guests sharing a Standard Room in Low Season (1 March to 31 May, 1 October to 15 December). Permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board and are confirmed in writing before any payment.
REAL GUESTS, REAL JOURNEYS
Hear It From Guests Who Made This Journey
Paul — Guide for Life
Bruce — A Journey Worth Every Mile
Doug — His Real Experience
Slow Journey or Signature Journey?
Both include gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking. The 3-Night Signature Journey (from USD 2,815 per person) is the faster version. Choose four nights (from USD 3,295 per person) when you want a full rest day between treks and a slower lodge experience.
OPTIONAL KIGALI EXTENSION
Add a calm Kigali stay at Governor's Residence
Extend your slower journey with a private stay at Governor's Residence in Kigali before departure or after arrival. Governor's Residence is a separate boutique property, offered here only as an optional extension. It is also a natural way to mark a honeymoon or anniversary with a night in the capital, or to bridge into a wider East Africa itinerary if Rwanda is only one stop on your journey.
PERSONAL PLANNING SUPPORT
How we plan your Slow Journey
STEP 1
Tell us your dates and preferences
Share your travel dates, number of guests and preferred room category, from Standard Room to Master Suite.
STEP 2
We review availability
Our Rwanda-based team checks gorilla and Golden Monkey permit availability, your room and your private vehicle together.
STEP 3
Receive your proposal
You receive one written proposal with your full package price, including permits, accommodation and transfers. No payment is required to inquire.
THE FIVE VOLCANOES METHOD
Who plans your gorilla trek? One team, on the ground in Rwanda
From your first question to your last morning at the lodge, the same small team plans and looks after your journey. Nobody in the chain sits overseas: Florian has trekked to the gorillas himself, Odile works with the Rwanda Development Board in Kigali, and Alice looks after you at the lodge.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Plan your journey with Florian
Head of Marketing & Sales · originally from Austria, working on the ground in Rwanda
Florian has trekked to the gorillas himself and photographs and films the treks for Five Volcanoes. He knows how steep the trails get and how long the drive from Kigali really takes. He plans your dates, pace and room with you, runs a short fitness check and sends you our free Gorilla Guide.
PERMITS & LOGISTICS
Your permits, handled in Kigali by Odile
Guest Relations & Reservations Coordinator · based in Kigali
Odile is in daily contact with the Rwanda Development Board, the park guides and our drivers. She requests your gorilla and Golden Monkey permits through the official RDB process and confirms your date in writing before you pay. If plans change, she solves it locally.
AT THE LODGE
Looked after at the lodge by Alice
Guest Experience Manager · at Five Volcanoes
Alice is your host at the lodge. She welcomes you, prepares your trek-day briefing, early breakfast, gaiters and walking sticks, and makes sure you can rest properly when you return from the forest.
HOW WE PREPARE YOUR TREK
Five steps, one team
1. Your free Gorilla Guide. What trek day really looks like, what to pack, how permits work and which itinerary fits you.
2. Personal consultation and fitness check. Florian plans dates, pace and room with you and records how far and how steep you are comfortable walking.
3. Permits secured in Kigali. Odile requests your permits through the official RDB process. You pay only after your permit date is confirmed in writing.
4. Private driver from Kigali. Our own vehicles and drivers collect you in Kigali and take you to park headquarters in Kinigi, about 15 minutes from the lodge. Your driver waits while you trek.
5. On-site care at the lodge. Alice prepares your briefing, early breakfast and equipment, and a foot massage is waiting when you return.
Your fitness profile is shared with the park team at the morning briefing, so the rangers can take it into account when they assign groups. The final group assignment is made by the Rwanda Development Board.
COMPARE BEFORE YOU BOOK
Should you book gorilla trekking with the lodge or an overseas agency?
Booking direct means the people who plan, permit and host your trek all work in Rwanda. Here is how that compares with a typical booking from overseas.
What matters to you
Five Volcanoes, booked direct
Typical overseas booking agency
Who plans your trek
Five Volcanoes: Florian, who has trekked in Volcanoes National Park himself
Overseas agency: A sales consultant in Europe or North America
Who handles your permits
Five Volcanoes: Odile in Kigali, through the official RDB process
Overseas agency: Usually passed on to a local ground handler
Contact with park, guides and drivers
Five Volcanoes: Daily and direct
Overseas agency: Through one or more intermediaries
Who looks after you on trek day
Five Volcanoes: Alice at the lodge and your own Five Volcanoes driver
Overseas agency: Varies, often a subcontracted driver
If plans change
Five Volcanoes: Solved locally by the same team
Overseas agency: Relayed between time zones
Price
Five Volcanoes: The lodge's direct package, gorilla permit included
Overseas agency: Includes agency and ground-handler margins
Direct-booking benefits
Five Volcanoes: Golden Monkey Permit included with the 3-night Signature Journey (USD 100 per person), free upgrade on arrival when available
Overseas agency: Not available
PRICES BY ROOM AND SEASON · 2026/27
How much does a gorilla trekking package at Five Volcanoes cost?
Prices per person, two guests sharing, in US dollars. Every package includes the gorilla permit (USD 1,500 per foreign visitor), Full Board and a private vehicle with driver for every day. The 3-night Signature Journey adds Golden Monkey trekking as a direct-booking benefit; the 4-night journey includes it.
Room and season
2 nights
3 nights · Signature
4 nights
Standard Room · Low Season
2 nights: USD 2,435
3 nights: USD 2,815
4 nights: USD 3,295
Standard Room · High Season
2 nights: USD 2,545
3 nights: USD 2,980
4 nights: USD 3,515
Deluxe Room · Low Season
2 nights: USD 2,655
3 nights: USD 3,145
4 nights: USD 3,735
Deluxe Room · High Season
2 nights: USD 2,925
3 nights: USD 3,550
4 nights: USD 4,275
RWANDAN, EAST AFRICAN OR AFRICAN RESIDENT?
Your gorilla permit costs less, and we deduct the difference
The Rwanda Development Board currently offers promotional gorilla permits: USD 200 for Rwandan and East African Community citizens, and USD 500 for African citizens and foreign residents in Africa. That is USD 1,300 or USD 1,000 less per person than the foreign-visitor permit, and we take it off your package price.
These rates are valid until 31 December 2026 and do not apply from June to October 2026. Proof of citizenship or residency is required. Source: Rwanda Development Board, checked November 2026.
Low Season: 1 March to 31 May and 1 October to 15 December. High Season: all other dates. Family Suite, Honeymoon Suite and Volcano Manor are quoted on request. Prices updated November 2026; your written proposal confirms the exact price for your dates before any payment.
CELEBRATING SOMETHING SPECIAL?
Marking an Anniversary, a Honeymoon, or Another Milestone?
Let us know when you book. Our team can set a private table for two — candlelit and away from the rest of the lodge, in the garden or beside the pool — so the evening feels like it's just for you.
PRIVATE DINNER — GARDEN
PRIVATE DINNER — POOLSIDE
PERSONAL PLANNING SUPPORT
Plan Your Rwanda Gorilla Journey
Tell us your preferred travel dates, number of guests and what matters most for this journey. We will personally review room availability, official permit timing, private transfers and the itinerary around your priorities.
Whether you are planning a milestone birthday, anniversary, honeymoon or a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife journey, this first inquiry helps us understand the pace, comfort and experiences that would make the trip feel right for you.
This is an inquiry only - not a confirmed booking. No payment is required at this stage.
- Your details are handled confidentially.
- We reply personally with suitable room options, logistics and practical next steps.
- Official permits remain subject to Rwanda Development Board availability and confirmation.
Five Volcanoes can assist with practical coordination around accommodation, transfers and requested trekking dates. Official permits are issued through the Rwanda Development Board process and cannot be guaranteed until officially confirmed.
Download Your Complimentary Gorilla Trekking Guide4-night Rwanda gorilla trekking package: frequently asked questions
Who should choose a 4-night gorilla trekking package in Rwanda?
Is the Golden Monkey permit included in the 4-night package?
Can I do gorilla trekking and Golden Monkey trekking on one trip?
Is the gorilla trekking permit included?
What can I do on the extra days near Volcanoes National Park?
Can I choose my room?
How far is Volcanoes National Park from Kigali?
Is Full Board included?
How much does a 4-night gorilla trekking package in Rwanda cost?
Can I add a stay at Governor's Residence in Kigali?
PLAN A SLOWER RWANDA JOURNEY
Give your gorilla journey more time
Share your dates, number of guests and preferred room. We check permits, rooms and your private vehicle together and send one written four-night proposal from USD 3,295 per person, with both permits included and one Rwanda-based team coordinating every part of it.