Trekking Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains

Over View

Trek in one of Africa’s most stunning and least visited wildernesses, the Simien Mountains of northern Ethiopia. Discover this isolated region, admiring the spectacular scenery of rocky plateaus, dramatic peaks and deep gorges, keeping an eye out for gelada baboons.
Lalibela – Explore the remarkable rock cut churches
Gondar – Discover the well preserved 17th century castles
Ras Dashen – Climb to Ethiopia’s highest peak at 4,543 metres

Itinerary

Day 1 Join trip in Addis Ababa. PM orientation tour of the city

Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, situated at an elevation of around 2,438m and just over a century old. It has some elegant modern buildings and is quite spacious with wide streets and green areas. It remains the capital of a predominantly rural area and the Mercato is one of the largest open markets in Africa.

If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Jorge Bole International Airport (ADD), which is 15 minutes’ drive from our hotel.
For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 11:30 am for the welcome meeting followed by a guided orientation tour of the city after lunch. We will visit the Ethnographical Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, whose large dome and slender pinnacles make it a landmark in the city, followed by a drive up Entoto Hill to take in a panoramic view of Addis Ababa.

The majority of international flights arrive early in the morning, breakfast will be provided on your arrival at the hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Please note that if you wish to join the city tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 1:30pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport and from the airport to the hotel is around 15 minutes’ drive, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 12pm.

Day 2 Fly to Gondar and visit local sites including castle ruins

Today we take a short, but scenic flight to Gondar, located on the high plateau just north of Lake Tana. The town of Gondar was the imperial capital of Ethiopia for 200 years. Gondar’s most famous monuments are its exceptionally well preserved 17th century castles. The largest and best is that of King Fasilidas. It is a stone-built construction with round turrets and wooden balconies. This whole complex of buildings is unique in Ethiopia and unlike anything found elsewhere in Africa. On arrival, as well as visiting the castle ruins and King Fasilidas baths, we’ll also make a visit to the Debre Berhan Selassie Church famed for its ceiling frescoes of many angel faces.

Day 3 Drive to Simien Mountains National Park via Debark; PM trek to Sankaber

Today, we drive to Debark, the village base for hiking in the Simien Mountains.The range lies north of Gondar and many of the peaks rise above 4,000m with the highest being Mount Ras Dashen at 4,543m. The mountains are criss-crossed with tracks made by the local people travelling from village to village or moving their animals to fresh pastures. The combination of these tracks and the spectacular scenery make for excellent walking. We start our trek with a walk to our first camp Sankaber.

Today’s five-and-a-half kilometre walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours with 100 metres of ascent and 30 metres of descent.

* During the trek we may spend each night in a different place. The circuits walked will vary depending on local conditions and on the group’s ability. Details of the standard circuit we might take are given below – the itinerary for days 6 to 12 is given as an example only.

Day 4 Trek to Geech Camp via Sankaber

We trek today to Geech camp via Sankaber, with the possibility of seeing baboons and red-hot poker plants en route. The gelada baboon is endemic to Ethiopia and has adapted to living on the nearly vertical cliff faces. We may also see the Jinbar river waterfalls today that plummet into Geech Abyss. The Abyss is a vast canyon cut into the main wall of the escarpment.

Today’s 12 kilometre walk is expected to take around six hours with 680 metres of ascent and 330 metres of descent.

Day 5 Optional acclimatisation hike to Imet Gogo from Geech Camp

A flexible day with a morning optional acclimatisation hike to the viewpoint of Imet Gogo (3,926m). From the viewpoint there are spectacular views of the lowlands and across the Simien range with rock spires and mesas prominent . Keep a close look out for the elusive simien fox. It’s misnamed as it is not really a fox but a member of the dog family restricted to Ethiopia.

Today’s optional 10 kilometre circular walk is expected to take around four hours.

Day 6 Trek to Chenek Camp traversing the Jinbar river

We aim to trek to Chenek camp today on a good trail via Inatye (4,070m) and along the escarpment. This exciting walk traverses the Jinbar river and provides us with fantastic views. You may like to take the opportunity to freshen-up in the nearby stream south of camp.

Today’s 13 kilometre walk is expected to take around eight hours with 810 metres of ascent and 770 metres of descent.

Day 7 Trek to Ambikwa

Today we trek to Ambikwa and plan to stop at a spectacular viewpoint (4,200m) north of Bwahit where, on clear days, we can see across the Mesheha river to Ras Dashen peak. We then descend steeply and pass through the village of Chiro Leba to follow a stream bed until we reach the large Mesheha River. We’ll cross the river and follow a path up the east side of the valley to Ambikwa village, (3,200m) where our camp sits in a little meadow next to a small church.

Today’s 17 kilometre walk is expected to take around 10 to 12 hours with 1,000 metres of ascent and 1,400 metres of descent.

Day 8 Ascent of Ras Dashen; returning to Ambikwa

Starting before sunrise we follow the main valley up and climb steeply via Mizma village houses to reach a ridge crest and open grassy slopes (3,700m) on our invigorating ascent of Ethiopia’s highest mountain. Next we traverse around ridges and climb more steeply to a broad col at 4250m. Keep an eye open for giant lobelia, by far the most spectacular plant of this region with flower stalks up to 8m high. Eventually we enter a huge semicircular basin of rocky peaks and buttresses – Ras Dashen. The last section involves some steep scrambling and climbing to a fine viewpoint at 4,543m. We’ll spend the rest of the day hiking back to our camp.

Today’s 21 kilometre walk is expected to take around10 to 12 hours with 1,300 metres of ascent and descent.

Day 9 Recross the Mesheha River en route to Arkwasiye

Today we recross the Mesheha River as we make our way to Arkwasiye and our campsite there (3,700m). Today trek has a different feel to it as we walk through the fields and meet local farmers cultivating their land. We will have the opportunity to visit the local school and meet the children.

Today’s 15 kilometre walk is expected to take around six hours.

Day 10 Walk to roadhead and drive to Gondar

This morning we walk from Arkwasiye to the roadhead where our vehicle will be waiting. From there drive to Gondar passing by Chenek (3,620 m). We have an early start this morning for our trek . We leave with a packed lunch before our drive to Gondar. The drive takes four to five hours and about a third of the road is unmade. On arrival we check into our hotel for the night.

Today’s four kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours.

Day 11 Fly to Lalibela. Visit rock stone churches

This morning we fly to Lalibela for a two-night stay in one of the world’s most remarkable historic sites. Although churches carved in rock are found in other parts of the world, those found in Ethiopia are particularly interesting. Generally, they were excavated on all sides of a rectangle, leaving a large block of granite isolated in the centre. This rock was then shaped and formed both inside and out and the carvings show extremely skilful workmanship. Lalibela, the New Jerusalem, is thought to have been constructed some 800 years ago by King Lalibela as his capital city. These days, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a small village. This afternoon’s tour involves a certain amount of scrambling through a labyrinth of tunnels. The churches stand in two main groups on either side of a stream, known locally as ‘The River Jordan’. There are 11 rock-cut churches, and we will visit several. The most impressive of the churches is Bet Giorgis, which is carved in the form of a Greek cross and approached through a passage in the rock. Between them, these rock-cut churches are one of the great wonders of the world.

Day 12 Mule trek to Ashatan Maryam Church

Located among the mountains that encircle Lalibela are several more isolated churches. Using mules, we journey for some two hours to Ashatan Maryam Church and are rewarded with stunning views over Lalibela and the peaks and mountains of these remote highlands. Reached by steep shale paths, it will be necessary to dismount in places due to the terrain. Good footwear is a must. Vertigo sufferers or people with a low level of fitness may choose not to partake in the mule trek, your tour leader can advise you.
This afternoon we return to Lalibela, allowing more time to explore the rock-cut churches.

Day 13 Fly from Lalibela to Addis Abada where the trip ends

Today we fly from Lalibela to Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines confirm our internal flights timings between Lalibela to Addis Ababa four weeks before departure and internal flights can be subject to last minute changes. Therefore, the official end of the trip is 4pm in Addis Ababa. If you are arranging your own internationals flights, the earliest your flight can depart from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is 7pm, allowing time for the recommended three hour check-in.

For those departing later in the evening from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), we will provide shared dayroom facilities until 7pm before free time for dinner. Transfers will then be arranged to the airport.