6-Day Blue Nile Falls & Simien Mountains Trek

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

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Welcome to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Your guide will meet you and help you settle in at your hotel. Today is a relaxed day to rest after your flight and get used to the altitude. You can visit the National Museum, where the famous fossil called Lucy is kept, or simply rest and enjoy the mild highland weather. Your guide will explain the days ahead and check that you have the right clothes and shoes for walking in the mountains later in the trip.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Capital Hotel & Spa

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

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Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Tana Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls

Take a short morning flight to Bahir Dar, on the shore of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. In the afternoon, take a boat trip to visit one or two of the lake's old island monasteries, where monks still live and pray today. See the colorful wall paintings inside, some of which are hundreds of years old. Later, drive to see the Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Issat, or "smoking water". Even from a distance, you can hear and feel the power of the falls. Overnight in Bahir Dar.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar

• Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Gondar Castles & Transfer to Debark

Drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar, once the capital of the Ethiopian empire. Visit the Royal Enclosure, a group of stone castles built in the 1600s, and the Debre Berhan Selassie Church, famous for its ceiling covered in painted angel faces. In the afternoon, continue to the town of Debark, the entrance point for the Simien Mountains National Park. Meet your local scout and mule team here before entering the park tomorrow. Overnight in Debark.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Simien Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Simien Mountains Trek & Gelada Monkeys

Enter Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for deep canyons, sharp cliffs, and views that stretch for many kilometers. Walk along the edge of the escarpment with your guide and armed scout, a rule of the park to protect both visitors and wildlife. You are almost certain to see gelada monkeys, a type of monkey found only in Ethiopia, feeding calmly in large groups close to the path. With luck, you may also spot the rare Walia ibex or a Simien fox. Overnight camping inside the park, under one of the clearest night skies in Ethiopia.

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

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Golden Jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Return to Gondar, Fly to Addis for Farewell Dinner

Enjoy a final walk in the Simien Mountains before driving back to Gondar. Along the way, stop for one last look at the escarpment views that make this park famous. In the afternoon, fly back to Addis Ababa. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by Origin Abyssinia at a local restaurant in the capital. This is a good chance to relax after your trek, enjoy Ethiopian food and coffee, and share stories from the trip with your guide before saying goodbye.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Capital Hotel & Spa

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Free Time in Addis Ababa & Departure

Enjoy a free morning in Addis Ababa after your journey through the north. Depending on your flight time, you may have time for last-minute shopping, a traditional coffee ceremony, or a short visit to a local market or museum. Your guide will take you to Bole International Airport in good time for your departure flight, bringing your journey through northern Ethiopia's waterfalls, castles, and mountains to a close.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (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.