Trekking Tour in the Simien Mountains
Description:
DST 004 - 13 nights and 14 days
 
Join our 14 days trekking tour on the Simien Mountains with its impressive beauty and dramatic views, described as the most marvelous of Abyssinian landscapes. Here you can climb Ras Dashen, the highest peak of Ethiopia (4,543 meter). We combine this exceptional tour with a journey across a land dotted with rock-hewn churches and medieval castles. After visiting the Monasteries over Lake Tana, the Blue Nile Falls and the medieval castles at Gondar, we head into the Simien Mountains for a spectacular trek. The Simien Mountains have been called Africa's "Green Grand Canyon". They offer superb wilderness trekking with stunning scenery, dramatic cliffs and escarpments and the chance to spot endemic wildlife such as a troop of Gelada Baboon, Walia Ibex and Simien fox and Ethiopia's many endemic birds and plant life which is the immense beauty of the mountains. Finally we visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

 

  • Program: TREKKNG THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
  • Tour Code: DST004
  • Duration: 13 nights (14 days)
  • Transport: Surface (4WD) and Air
  • Tour Start: Addis Ababa
  • Tour End: Addis Ababa
  • Escorted by a professional English speaking guide
  • Best season to travel from September to June
  • Temperature: 10-25 degrees
  • Tour Type: Nature and culture
  • Difficulty: Moderate to good physical condition required
  • Highlights:
    • Trek through the sublime Simien mountains, home to magnificent wildlife and un paralleled panoramas of endless Abyssinsan abysses.
    • Immerse yourself in Christianity in its most raw and powerful form in the mind-blowing rock-hewn churches in Lalibela.

 

Day  1: ADDIS ABABA
Upon arrival in Addis Ababa meet our representatives and transfer to the given Hotel. During the day, visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will view the 3.2 million year old remains of "Lucy", whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Holy Trinity Cathedrals? Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3,200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis and "Merkato", the biggest open-air market in Africa.
Overnight at a hotel
Day  2: FLY BAHIR DAR
Fly to Bahir Dar. Morning admire the Blue Nile falls. Lunch back to Bahir Dar. Boat on Lake Tana for monasteries over its islands, as Azwa Mariam and Ura Kidane Mehret.
Overnight at a hotel
Day  3: BAHIR DAR - GONDAR - SANKABER (280 km)
Gondary / AR Morning drive to Gondar and visit the Castle's compound, king Fasiladas bath and the Debre Birhan Selassie church (Light on Trinity) with wonderful murals. In the afternoon, departure for Debark town (100 km from Gondar), where the head quarter of Simien mountains national park is found, continue driving to Sankaber.
Overnight in camping in Senkaber, 3,200 m above sea level
Day  4: SANKABER (3,200 m) - GEECH CAMP (3,600 m), Walking 7-8 hrs / 15 km
Countryside in Amhara region / DF After a breakfast you will set off trekking along the ridge with stunning views over the foothills 800 m below. For the first two hours the trail passes through low bush of Giant Heather, soda apple, Abyssinian rose, St John's Wort and Globe thistle. The highlight of the trek from Sankaber to Geech is Genbar Falls, an incredible 500 m sheer drop. From the viewpoint opposite, you can watch the falcons, augur buzzard and lammergeier bearded vulture soar on the thermals below. Just before you reach Geech camp site, there is a wonderful opportunity to visit one of the traditional village houses for home roasted coffee. Geech Camp itself is set on a grassy plateau with stunning sunset views.
Overnight in camping in Geech, 3,600 m above sea level
Day  5: GEECH (3,600 m) - IMET GOGO (3,926 m) - SIHA GORGE - GEECH (3,600 m), Walking 5-6 hrs / 13 km
Gelada baboon / AR After breakfast you will trek for 2 hours along the grass plateau past countless bizarre outsized Giant Lobelia plants. The destination is Imet Gogo, an incredible rocky promontory that grants 360 degree views over the Simien Range. At an altitude of 3,926 m you can see West back along the ridge towards Sankaber and Geech and South East across a deep gully towards the tomorrow’s ridge walk to Inatye and Cheneck Camp. The views here are arguably the best in the Simien Mountains and the drop is terrifying. From Imet Gogo, you will return to camp via the Siha Gorge for lunch. In the afternoon at leisure before heading out for a short optional sunset trek to KedaDit (3,760 m).
Overnight in camping in Geech, 3600 m above sea level
Day  6: GEECH (3,600 m) - INNATYE (4,070 m) - CHENNEK (3,600 m), Walking 7 hours / 15 km
Today is the longest and arguably most spectacular passing close to the ridge most of its length. We will be walking through the Giant lobelia trees and under these trees African Field Rats are common. After picnic lunch we walk on the edge of Enatye escarpments (4,070 m above sea level), which is another breathtaking viewpoint in the National park. Finally we descend to Chenek which is the best place to see the endemic Waliya Ibex and more Gelada Baboons.
Overnight in camping in Chenek, 3,600 m above sea level
Day  7: CHENNEK (3,600 m) - AMBIKO (3,200 m), Walking 10 hours / 17 km
Torch Lily / AR We walk to Ambiquo climbing Buhit Mountain (4,430 m), the 2nd highest peak next to Ras Dashen in the Simien Mountains, giving excellent views over the whole area.
After refreshment at the summit, you descend towards Chero Laba crossing the Mesheha River. We will reach Ambiquo and rest there for the night, before the big day when we climb Ras Dashen.
Overnight in camping in Ambiko, 3,200 m above sea level
Day  8: AMBIKO (3,200 m) - RAS DASHEN SUMMIT (4,620 m) - AMBIKO (3,200 m), Walking 8 hrs / 10 km
Today is summit day, with a long climb of over 1,200 m and a brutal series of false peaks. After five hours of climbing you finally reach the steeper rocky ground leading up to the summit cairn. There is plenty of time to enjoy the expansive views from the highest mountain in Ethiopia before returning the same way to Ambiko.
Overnight in camping in Ambiko, 3,200 m above sea level
Day  9: AMBIKO (3,200 m) - SONAR (3,500 m), Walking 9 hrs / 17 km
Another long day that takes you back from Ambiko down to the Meseha River at 2,750 m, before ascending again to the small village of Arkwazye. From Arkwazye it is down again to the wonderfully situated campsite at Sonar, which has fantastic views over the first section of the trek.
Overnight in camping in Sonar, 3,500 m above sea level
Day 10: SONAR (3,500 m) - MEKAREBYA (2,150 m), Walking 5-6 hrs / 15 km
Terrace cultivation / DF Setting out from Sonar you soon reach the Incya Valley which you descend for 2-3 hours down to the lowlands. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of the Incya River where there is a lovely spot for a refreshing swim. After lunch, there is a further 2 hour walk along the banks of the river to Mekarebya where you camp in the village.
Overnight in camping in Mekarebya, 2100 m above sea level
Day 11: MERKARBRA (2,150 m) - MULET (2,150 m), Walking 4-5 hrs / 12 km
Thrashing grain / DF The walk today passes along the dry river bed of the Incya River. The bird life is incredible, pin-tailed waders, village indigo, paradise monarchs and tropical bobu are all frequently spotted. Lunch at Derkwenth pool, where you can rest and swim. From the pools there is a 2 hour climb to Awazza Villgae at the foot of the striking Awazza Table Mountain. There will be time for a refreshment stop in the village before a final hours trek up to the last camp at Mulet.
Overnight in camping in Mulet, 2,150 m above sea level
Day 12: MULET - GONDAR
After breakfast it is a 3 hour walk / 2 km to Adi Arkaye, where you will be picked up and transferred back to Gondar (about 6 hour drive).
Overnight at a hotel
Day 13: FLY TO LALIBELA
Lalibela / AR Full day sightseeing tour of Lalibela which is famous for its rock-hewn churches, dating back to 800 years. These brilliant feats of engineering and architecture are often referred to as the "Eighth wonder of the World". The day is spent exploring the atmospheric subterranean complex of passages and the 11 remarkable rock-hewn churches.
Overnight at a hotel
Day 14: FLY ADDIS ABABA - INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
Fly to Addis Ababa. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa and Merkato, the biggest open air market in Africa. In the evening, we have a fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for cultural dinner and folkloristic dances.
Departure
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Price inclusive of:
  • Accommodation on the basis of sharing twin bed room
  • Meal- full board
  • All transfer in and out services
  • All ground transportation
  • Professional guide accompanying throughout
  • All entrance fees
  • Portage fees
  • Boat and mule hire, where applicable
  • Scout fees, where applicable
  • Domestic airfare, where applicable. It is subject to change
  • Government tax

    Price exclusive of:
  • International airfare
  • Lunch and dinner in Addis Ababa
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Tips
  • All other expenses not listed in the inclusive part above

 

 

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