3-Day Mount Bisoke Hiking in Rwanda & Twin Lakes Tour

This 3 day Mount Bisoke hiking tour is a short, active trip for travellers who would rather climb a volcano than watch animals. You drive from Kigali to Musanze, climb Mount Bisoke (3,711 metres) to its green crater lake, meet artisans and drummers in a cultural village, and finish with a boat ride on the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. The hiking permit, full board, a local guide and all transport are included.

The Bisoke hike is the centre of the trip. You climb through bamboo forest, damp pasture and alpine vegetation to the rim, where the crater lake sits below you, usually with mist drifting across it. You then come down and spend the afternoon with local artisans, learning traditional drumming and hearing stories passed down through families. Our guide to the 10 best hiking trails in Rwanda and the Volcanoes National Park guide put the hike in context.

On day three you move to the water. The Twin Lakes sit at the foot of the volcanoes, and a boat ride takes you past small islands and fishermen at work. See the cultural experiences page and the Rwanda destination page for more of what the region offers.

Challenging. The climb is at high altitude on steep, sometimes muddy trails, and the day is long, usually five to six hours including the descent. It suits adventurous people who are comfortable hiking for several hours and who enjoy the cold air at the top. Everything else on the trip is easy.

The dry months, June to September and December to February, give firmer trails and the best chance of a clear crater view. In the wetter months the trail is muddier and the summit is more often in cloud. Bring warm layers and a rain jacket in any season, and see the gorilla trekking packing list, which also works well for volcano hiking.

This trip suits active travellers who have only a long weekend or who want a hiking-focused add-on. If you also want gorillas, the 4-day gorilla trek and Dian Fossey grave hike includes the Twin Lakes as well, and the 4-day golden monkey tracking tour is a gentler option.

If you want to build a longer trip around hiking, culture and birdwatching, our Signature Journey, the 8-day Rwanda cultural experience and birding tour, also climbs toward the Bisoke crater lake and spends time with a local community.

Planning this trip? Our guides on what to do in Volcanoes National Park, what the Dian Fossey hike costs and things to do in Rwanda besides gorilla trekking cover the main questions to settle before you book.