8-day tour

Day 1: 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 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 2: 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 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.

Day 3: Gich (3600 m), 5-6 hours

This day we will walk to three of the most spectacular view points in the Simien Mountains. From Gich camp we stroll through endless fields of Giant Lobelia before we reach the towering cliffs of Imet-Gogo (3926 m). Here we will spend some time to absorb the superb views over the mountain valleys below and strange shaped domes in the distance, which we will see from up close at the end of the trip. After that we will continue to Seha, another view point amidst deep gorges, before returning to Gich camp where we will have lunch. After a relaxing afternoon, we will take a short hike up to Kedadit to enjoy sunset. We return to Gich camp, where we sleep for the second night for the sake of acclimatization and gorgeous surrounding views.

Day 4: Gich - Chennek (3600m), 7-8 hours

From Gich camp we initially start off through the same fields of Giant Lobelia as yesterday, but soon we descend into the 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 here for several hundred meters. We climb to a summit of 4070 m where we will have lunch. After lunch we descend to Chennek for about two hours along a steep trail. From Chennek camp there are spectacular views in all directions. Sit down on a bench at the escarpment and try to spot Walia Ibex in late afternoon or early morning. Sometimes Walia Ibex visit the edges of the camp site. 

Day 5: Chennek - Ambiko (3240 m), 7-8 hours

After an early morning start we climb through a valley north of Buwahit Peak (4430 m), which overlooks Chennek camp. After crossing Buwahit Pass (4200 m), the vast valley of the Mesheha River opens up and it is possible to view Ras Dashen (4543 m) from here: the highest point in a wall of cliffs and peaks on the other side of the valley. But first we will have a long and steep descend to the village of Chiro-Leba (3300 m). Alternatively, you can descend along the road, which is a longer route, but easier on the knees and with more opportunities to see local farm life. After lunch in Chiro-Leba, we descend even more to cross the Mesheha River (2800 m). The path goes steeply up again through an arid landscape filled with cactuses for a little over one hour before we reach the village of Ambiko.

Day 6: Ambiko - Mentaber (3550m), 9-10 hours

Today’s target is Ras Dashen, the highest mountain in Ethiopia at 4543 m, the fourth highest mountain on the African continent. To do it successfully, we get up at 4.30 am, have breakfast and leave an hour before sunrise. Bring some indispensable objects as gloves, a warm fleece and a torch. Walking sticks are advisable. To get to the top it takes about 4-6 hours. Most of the first 3 hours of the walk is along a gravel road (no traffic, however) which climbs higher and higher through a majestic valley. At the head of the valley, we leave the road to the left, climb around a mountain head, before reaching a semi-circular corrie, surrounded by three major buttresses with steep sides of exposed rock. Don’t be fooled right now which is the highest point. Contrary to what your feeling will tell you, the buttress on the left is Ras Dashen! The hike up this mountain is not difficult, except may be the last part, which includes some scrambling. Where most tour groups return to Ambiko after reaching the top, we continue over the top and descend through a broad valley with countless Giant Lobelia, before reaching another spectacular view point where we will rest a little while. From this spot it is another 3-4 hours before we reach Mentaber camp. If you happen to visit Mentaber on a Saturday, you can visit a local market which is conveniently located at the shoulder of two mountains. Be prepared that people will be very surprised when you show up here! Mentaber camp is next to the local church.

Day 7: Mentaber - Arkwazye (3600m), 6-7 hrs

From Mentaber we walk for a couple of hours through narrow and steep valleys. People here do not see many tourists, but they are very welcoming and many will want to shake hands with you, especially children. Before reaching the broad valley Arkwazye where the camp situated, there is a steep climb through one of the villages, during which you might feel the long walk of the day before.

Day 8: Arkwazye - Chennek, 4 hrs

Heading to Chennek, the first 2:30 hrs path is ascending untill we get Buwahit pass again, after that it is just an easy walk down to the camp and drive back to Gondar for about 5 hrs.