14-Day Trekking in Simien Mountains National Park

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

Arrival – Sightseeing Addis Ababa

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to National museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during the WWII. Then proceed to Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to merkato, the biggest market in East Africa. Overnight in Addis.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Jano Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Fly Addis Ababa - Gondar

After an early breakfast, you will fly to Gondar. Be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Later you will begin your journey to Gondar. The Royal Capital of Ethiopia, Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants.
Overnight in Gondar Hotel.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Gondar

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Gondar - Debark 2850m asl

After breakfast, depart Gondar and drive to Debark, the gateway to Simien Mountains National Park. Meet park scouts and rangers, complete registration, then continue driving to Sankaber. Enjoy a short acclimatization walk along the escarpment with breathtaking views of the Simien highlands. Spot endemic wildlife such as Gelada baboons and soaring birds of prey.
Food & Drinks: Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Camping. / Debark.

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)

Debark - Sancaber 3250m 3/4 hrs

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Gonder around 7.30 am for the 2 ½ hr drive to Debark in a 4x4. At Debark you will sign in at the park headquarters, pick up your guide and scout and head up into the mountains (by 4x4). The road continues all the way to the first camp at Sankaber, but you’ll be dropped off on the way for a leisurely three-hour acclimatization hike. The stunning views hit you as soon as you get out of the vehicle as you walk along the ridge. There will be time to stop for a picnic lunch and after a short but demanding climb (at this altitude) to Sankaber you’ll be met as every day on this trek with a tray of fresh coffee, tea, and snacks.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Sankaber - Gich 3600m 5/7 hrs

After breakfast, you’ll set off trekking along the ridge with stunning views over the foothills 800m below. For the first two hours, the trail passes through the 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 500m sheer drop. From the viewpoint opposite, you can watch the falcons, augur buzzard and lammergeier bearded vulture soar on the thermals below. From the Genbar Falls, the trail passes drier dustier land, broken by lunch at a somewhat less intimidating and more peaceful waterfall.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Gich - Imet gogo - Siha 13 km 5/6 hrs

After breakfast, you’ll 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 3,926m, you can see West back along the ridge towards Sankaber and Geech and South East across a deep gully towards 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’ll return to camp via the Siha Gorge for lunch. Afternoon at leisure before heading out for a short optional sunset trek to KedaDit (3760m). Overnight at Geech Camp again.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Gich - Enatiye - Chenneck 15km 7/8 hrs

Today is the longest and arguably most spectacular passing close to the ridge most of its length. After breakfast, you will head back on the path towards Imet Gogo before detouring SE towards Inatye. The path drops into a forest of Giant Hazel before following the ridge on open grassland. The climb to Inatye (4,070m) rewards stunning views. Inatye roughly translates as “mamma mia” and the terrifying vertical drop here justly warrants the name! After a picnic lunch, the path follows mostly downhill through open grassland and giant lobelia towards Chenek with a number of stunning viewpoints along the way. Chenek camp is superb for wildlife with both Gelada Baboons and Wallia Ibex common here.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Chenneck - Ambiko 17km 8/9 hrs

Today is summit day, with a long climb of over 1200m 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.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Ambiko - Ras Dejen (4543m) 8 hrs

Today is summit day, with a long climb of over 1200m 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.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Ambiko - Sona 3500 9hrs

Another long day that takes you back from Ambiko down to the Meseha River at 2,750m, 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.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Sona - Mekarebia 5/6 hrs

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 Mekarbra where you camp in the village.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mekarebia - Mulit 4 hrs

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. Luch at Derkwenth pool, where you can rest and swim. From the pools, there is a 2-hour climb to Awazza Village 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.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mulit - Gondar

After breakfast, you will begin a 3-hour walk to Adi Arkaye, where you will be picked up and transferred back to Gondar (approximately a 4-hour drive). The journey takes you through the dramatic landscapes of the Simien Mountains National Park. Along the way, you will cross the famous zigzag road of Limalimo Escarpment, built during the Italian occupation period.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Gondar - Addis Ababa

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa and connect to your international flight and end the tours.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

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