8-Day Simien Mountains Trekking/Hiking Simien Mountains

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Gondar – Debark – Sankaber Camp

At around 7:30 am, you will be collected from your accommodation in Gonder for a 2 and a half hour journey to Debark in a 4x4 vehicle. The journey will take you along a bumpy and dusty road, providing a genuine glimpse into the lives of the rural population if you have yet to leave the urban areas of Ethiopia. Upon arrival in Debark, you will register at the park headquarters, meet your guide and scout, and then continue into the mountains by 4x4. Although the road extends right to the first camp at Sankaber, you will be dropped off en route for a leisurely acclimatization hike lasting three hours. As you step out of the vehicle and walk along the ridge, breathtaking views will greet you. There will be an opportunity to have a picnic lunch, and after a brief yet strenuous climb to Sankaber, you will be welcomed daily on this hike with fresh coffee, tea, and snacks.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit September to December (Beautiful scenery)

High Season October to April (Lodges are busy)

Best Weather October to April

Wildlife in Simien Mountains NP

Gelada Monkey Abundant

Walia Ibex Occasional

Ethiopian Wolf Rare

Klipspringer Rare

Bushbuck Rare

Show more

Golden Jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Sankaber – Geech Camp

Where breathtaking vistas of the foothills, situated 800m below, await. Low bushes including Giant Heather, soda apple, Abyssinian rose, St John's Wort, and Globe thistle. The standout feature of the trek from Sankaber to Geech is the magnificent Genbar Falls, which cascades down a sheer 500m drop. You can observe falcons, augur buzzards, and lammergeier vultures gracefully gliding on the warm air currents below. After leaving Genbar Falls, the path leads you through drier, dustier terrain before pausing for lunch at a more tranquil waterfall that is less daunting. You might catch sight of klipspringers and bush bucks along the steep, rocky slopes, while groups of Gelada Baboons wander through the arid fields foraging for roots. Just before arriving at the Geech campsite, there is a delightful opportunity to visit a traditional village house for a taste of home-roasted coffee and injurra. Geech Camp is situated on a lush plateau, offering spectacular views of the sunset.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Geech – Imet Gogo – Siha Gorge – Kedar Dit – Geech

Following breakfast, you will embark on a two-hour hike across the grassy plateau, where you will encounter numerous strikingly large Giant Lobelia plants. Your journey’s endpoint is Imet Gogo, a remarkable rocky outcrop that offers panoramic views of the Simien Range. At a height of 3,926 meters, you will catch sight of the ridge leading back to Sankaber and Geech to the west, as well as the deep gully to the southeast, where tomorrow’s hike to Inatye and Cheneck Camp awaits. The vistas from this point are arguably the most breathtaking in the Simien Mountains, and the sheer drop is quite daunting. After enjoying Imet Gogo, you will make your way back to the camp through the Siha Gorge for lunch. The afternoon will be free for leisure, with an option to take a short trek to KedaDit (3760m) to watch the sunset. You will spend another night at Geech Camp.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Geech – Innatye - Chennek

Today marks the longest and arguably the most breathtaking passage as it closely follows the ridge for the majority of its length. Following breakfast, you will retrace your steps along the trail toward Imet Gogo before veering southeast towards Inatye. The route descends into a Giant Hazel forest and then traverses the ridge across open grassland. The ascent to Inatye (4,070m) offers magnificent vistas as a reward. Inatye can be interpreted as “mamma mia,” and the sheer vertical drop here certainly justifies that name! After enjoying a picnic lunch, the trail predominantly goes downhill through open grasslands and giant lobelia as you head towards Chenek, with several breathtaking viewpoints encountered on the route. The Chenek camp is excellent for wildlife sightings, featuring both Gelada Baboons and Wallia Ibex frequently.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chennek – Sonar

Following breakfast, you will leave the camp for a consistent two-hour ascent to Buahit Pass (4,200m). The views from the pass are breathtaking, particularly those looking towards Ras Dashen. After a brief thirty-minute descent, you will enjoy a pleasant flat walk to Sonar, making a stop for lunch at the market village of Arkawyze. Sonar Camp boasts a remarkable location, providing beautiful sunset vistas. You will spend the night at Sonar Camp. The total walking time will be 7-8 hours.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Sonar – Mekarbra

Departing from Sonar, you quickly arrive at the Incya Valley, which you will descend for approximately 2-3 hours until you reach the lowlands. At a picturesque location by the Incya river, you can savor a picnic lunch and take a delightful swim. Following your meal, you will continue with a 2-hour stroll alongside the river, leading you to Mekarbra, where you will set up camp in the village. This journey involves 5-6 hours of walking.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Merkarbra - Mulet

Today's walk follows the parched riverbed of the Incya River. The variety of bird species is amazing, with frequent sightings of pin-tailed waders, village indigo, paradise monarchs, and tropical bobu. Enjoy lunch at Derkwenth pool, a great spot to relax and take a swim. After the pools, a two-hour ascent awaits you to Awazza Village, situated at the base of the impressive Awazza Table Mountain. You will have time to take a break for refreshments in the village before embarking on the final hour of hiking to reach the last campsite at Mulet.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mulet – Gonder

Following breakfast, there is a three-hour trek to Adi Arkaye, where you will be collected and taken back to Gonder, which is a five-hour drive.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.