14-day tour

-       Trek through stunning scenery, remote villages and abundant wildlife in the Simien Mountains National Park.
-       Explore the oldest city in Ethiopia and land of the Queen of Sheba’s ancient kingdom, Axum.
-       Visit the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and ‘Africa’s Camelot’ at Gondar.
-       Enjoy the best service, guiding, equipment and accommodation throughout.

 

Day 1: Addis Ababa

 A warm welcome to the capital of Ethiopia, and then transfer to your guest house.

Day 2: Addis - Bahir Dar

 A short flight takes you to the shores of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, where life revolves around the lake. A full day of exploration and contemplation as you cruise from south to north on Lake Tana and visit a selection of the remote island monasteries such as Ura Kidane Mehret with its beautiful frescoes, and Narga Selassie in its stunning island setting where time has stood still. Once on the northern lake shores, you visit the Church of Debre Sina.                  

Day 3: Bahir Dar - Gondar

Early morning drive to the old capital of Gondar with public transportation as the place is very easily accessible for it. Gondar has a rich history. With its beautiful and strategic mountain setting, the 17th-century capital was once the crossroads of several major caravan routes, and was also occupied by the Italians during World War II. The Art Deco buildings surrounding the Royal Enclosure with its medieval castles and churches are a reminder of this heritage. This afternoon, explore Gondar’s castles and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its iconic ceiling of painted angels.

Day 4: Gondar - Sankaber (3250 m), 3-4 hours

Early morning we drive along a good gravel road from Gondar to the park headquarters in Debark, the 100 km journey will take around three hours. At the headquarters we will arrange our permits to the park and pick up our scout. After that we will drive for another hour before we will start our first day introductory walk. This first hike is an easy one along the northern edge of the escarpment with a nice view points over the foothills and plains of northern Ethiopia. You will encounter gelada baboon along this hike. 

Day 5: Sankaber - Gich (3600 m), 5-6 hours

We follow the northern escarpment eastward, before we descend a little into the Kaba Valley. After that we climb up before we reach Gich Abyss and continue over a narrow ridge to a cliff where we have a spectacular view of the abyss towards the Simien foothills. We also find a large waterfall here, where the Jinbar River plunges 500 m into the abyss. We proceed for about two hours and have lunch at the Jinbar River. After lunch we walk through fields of barley before we arrive at the idyllic village of Gich. Here we can enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony in one of the huts and learn more about local farm life. From Gich village it is a short walk to Gich camp which is a good area to look for lammergeyer and thick billed raven. After a relaxing afternoon, we will take a short hike up to Kedadit to enjoy sunset plus the gorgeous shaded landscapes down to the cliff side towards to the eastern direction and return to the camp.

Day 6: Gich, 4-5 hours

In this day we will have one more night for the sake of two purposes to acclimatize the altitude and for the views surrounding there. So, walk to the three marvelous views namely Imet-Gogo, Seha and Kedadit. In this day the first view point Imet-Gogo (3926m) is the best spectacular and observation points of the Simien Mountains which at least all the visitors should not advice to miss in the Simien Mountains. After spending most time around there walk back to the camp through the second viewpoints Seha (3785m) and have a lunch at the camp. In the late afternoon walk to Kedadit (3765m) for some reasons like the place is the best point to watch sunset and the gorgeous shaded landscapes down to the cliff side towards to the eastern direction and back to the camp for dinner.

Day 7: Gich - Chenek (3600 m), 7-8 hours

From Gich camp we initially start off through the same fields of Giant Lobelia as the day before, but soon we descent in to the huge Jinbahir River valley. In this way we get a very different perspective of Imet-Gogo and the volcanic landscape, where it looks like big chunks of mountains have been blown away. The trail follows the edge of the escarpment, which is completely vertical for several hundred meters. We climb to summit of 4070m where we will have lunch. After lunch we descend to Chennek for about two hrs along a steep trail. From Chennek camp there are spectacular views in all directions. Sitting on a bunch at the escarpment, we will try to spot Walia Ibex in late afternoon or early morning. Some times Walia Ibex visit the edges of the escarpment.

Day 8: Chennek - Sona (3100 m), 6-7 hours

Heading to Sona, the first three hours path leads us up to one of the highest peak in the Simien Mountains called Buwahit (4430m). In addition to the scenic and descent surroundings we will still rewarding with the endemic wild animals in Ethiopia particularly in the Simien Mountains, Walia Ibex (a goat family). Then walk along series rocky downhill until we get 4200m for about 30 minutes and proceed down to camp through the edge side trail for another two hours until  the towering cliffs of Imet-Gogo appear again. From here it is an easy walk to Sona, where it is situated near by school, just on the opposite side of Imet- Gogo and has magnificent widow views.

Day 9: Sona - Mekarebia (2200m), 6-7 hours

Walking to Mekarebia passing through some parts of Sona village with gorgeous slope side views in the southern direction of the path along a steep downhill walk for three and half hours to a river where we can have a nice swimming which is neither very cold nor very warm called Insia. Having finished swimming, we need to  spend some hours so as to share the life of enjoyable environment and if you are interested there is also coffee ceremony prepared by the local people out of their huts, just under the river which is really special, beside to that we can wash some light clothes that became dirt on the trip. After having a pleasant stay under the river, continue walking to the camp in the late after-noon for one and half hours through observing the bushy surroundings that has small valleys and attractive depressions accompanied by an evening shadow and the moderate weather which is totally different from that of the highlands and over night at established camp.

Day 10: Mekarebia - Mulit (1800m), 6-7 hours

Heading to the last camp Mulit, what is special in this day is crossing the same river that we had a swim the day before for about 5-6 times which is really interesting with quite lots of bird-lives and surrounded by a tributary river which has a big natural swimming pool called Derek-Wonz where there is also a possibility to enjoy for a few hours including lunch break. Then keep on going for one and half hours a short uphill walk before reaching a small village called Awasza and from this point to the camping place the path leads to a grassy flat land that lies on the left bottom side of Awasza Mountain having a wide plateau that takes less than an hour. Since it is the last day evening we will have a special ceremony with our crews as farewell by having camping fire that accompanied by shoulder dancing ("ESKISTA") which expresses our Ethiopian typical culture.  

DAY 11: Mulit – Adiarkay – Axum, 2 hours

On this last day we will have a short and easy walk to Adiarkay then drive further north takes you to the oldest city in Ethiopia and land of the Queen of Sheba’s ancient kingdom, Axum. This afternoon explore the city. Visit the small but interesting museum, the impressive Stelae Fields and also the grounds of the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, home of the original Ark of the Covenant.

Day 12:  Axum – Lalibela

Fly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela - the Jerusalem of Ethiopia, and Africa’s own ‘Petra’. In a fitting finale to your Ethiopian adventure, explore the monolithic red-hued churches incredibly carved into the rock. Your guide will lead you through the network of crevices and tunnels linking each of the churches. The churches are still in use today.

Day 13: Lalibela

Today your guide takes you to the eastern group of rock hewn churches: smaller in size, these are no less impressive, with intricate carvings and many dark tunnels to explore! Travel further afield to the Nakutelab rock-hewn church, built into the side of a hill in a natural cave. The afternoon culminates in a visit to a private home to participate in an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

Day 14:  Lalibela-Addis

The end of the visit will be flight back to our capital town Addis.