Day 1: Arrival at Addis Ababa, City tour

Welcome to Ethiopia! Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Here you will be greeted by your tour guide or driver from Eco Travel Ethiopia Tours. Then you will be transferred to hotel. If your arrival is early morning, after a leisurely morning rest and relaxation you will spend the afternoon sightseeing in Addis Ababa. Established by Emperor Menelik II 1887 Addis Abeba or ‘New Flower’ in Amharic, is a relatively young city full of contrasts. This city tour includes The National Museum which houses the country’s historic treasures & the famous ‘Lucy”, The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Ethiopian main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor: Drive up to Mount Entoto to have a panoramic view of the city and end the tour with Merkato, one of the largest open-air markets in Africa.

Overnight: Golden Tulip Hotel

Day 2: Fly to Gondar, continue to Simien Mountains National Park

Today in the morning transfer to Addis Ababa Bole Airport for your flight to Gondar. At Gondar airport you will meet your car and drive 1oo kms to the town of Debark Where the headquarters of the Simien Mountains national park is located. Here you pick up your local mountain guide, Park ranger, professional cook and camping materials and continue driving towards the mountain. You will be dropped off on the way for a leisurely 3 hours acclimatization hike. The spectacular views of the mountains catch your eye as soon as you start your walk along the ridges. There will be time for picnic lunch on the way. After a short but demanding hiking your will arrive at the first camp site Sankaber. Here your cook serves you fresh coffee, tea and snacks.

Overnight: Sankaber Campsite.

Day 3: Sankaber To Gech

This day you will start hiking along the ridge with stunning views over the foothills 800m 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 500m sheer drop. From the view point opposite, you can watch the Falcons, Augur Buzzards and with luck Lammergeyer. After the fall Klipspringers and Bush Bucks may be seen in the steep rock and wooded slopes, whilsttroops of Gelada Baboon roam the dust fields for roots. Before you reach Geech camp, there is an opportunity to visit one of the traditional village houses for home roasted coffee and Injera, the traditional Ethiopian bread. Arrive at Geech camp site which is located on a grassy plateau with stunning sunset views.

Overnight: Geech Campsite

Day 4: Hike to Imet Gogo

Today’s hike is around the Geech camp site. This morning first you will trek for 2 hours along the grass plateau past countless giant lobelia plants. The first destination is Imet Gogo, an incredible rocky promontory that grants 360 degree views over the Simen mountains range. Imet Gogo summit is one of the most well-known viewpoints in the park and 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 the next day’s walk to Inatye and Cheneck campsite. The views here are arguably the best in the Simien Mountains and the drop is terrifying. From Imet Gogo you will trek through the Saha Gorge and have lunch here. Return back to Geech and relax. Late in the afternoon a short hike towards Kedadit (3,760m) to view the beautiful sunset.

Overnight: Geech Campsite

Day 5: Trek to Chenek

Today’s hike is arguably the most spectacular pass close to the ridge most of its length. First you will head back on the path towards Imet Gogo before detouring south-east towards Inatye. The path drops into a first of giant hazel before following the ridge on open grassland. The climb to Inatye (4,070m) rewards with spectacular views. Inatye roughly translates as ‘Mamma Mia’ and the terrifying vertical drop here justifies the name. After picnic lunch the path follows mostly downhill through open grassland and giant lobelia towards Check with a number of stunning viewpoints along the way. Cheneck is ideal for wildlife with both Gelada Baboons and Walia Ibex common here.

Overnight: Cheneck Campsite

Day 6: Chennek to Ambiko

This is the longest day of trek on the Simen Mountains with up to 10 hours. In the morning you will climb up to Buwait peak (4,200m). From here there are stunning views towards Ras Dashen the highest peak in Ethiopia (4,620m). From Buwait the path leads down across the Meseha Valley crossing the river at 2,750m before climbing back up to the Ambiko campsite at 3,200m.

Overnight: Ambiko Campsite.

Day 7: Trek to the Highest peak in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen

Trek to Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia and the 4th highest in Africa. Today is a summit day with a long climb of over 1,200m and a brutal series of false peaks. After 5 hours of climbing you will finally reach the steeper rocky ground leading up to the summit cairn. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the expansive views from the highest mountain in Ethiopia. Then you will return to Ambiko Camp.

Overnight: Ambiko Campsite.

Day 8: Ambiko to Sona

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 Arekwazeye. From the village it is down again to the wonderfully situated campsite at Sona which has fantastic views over the first section of the trek.

Overnight: Sona Campsite

Day 9: Sona to Mekarebya

After morning breakfast, Startthe day’s hiking from Sona and first you will reach to the Incya Valley which you descend for 2/3 hours down to the lowlands. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of Incya Riverwhere there is lovely spot for refreshing swim. After lunch trek along the banks of the river to Mekarebya where you camp in the village.

Overnight: Mekareba Campsite

Day 10: Mekarebya Village to Mulit

Today’s walk passes along the dry river of Incya. The bird life is incredible; Pin-Tailed Waders, Village Indigo, Paradisemonarchs and Tropical Bobu are all frequently spotted. You will have picnic lunch at Derk Wenth pool, where you can rest and swim. From the pool climb up to the Awazza Village at the foot of the striking Hwaza or table mountain in Amharic. Refreshment stop at the village then continues up to the last camp at the vibrant village of Mulit.

Overnight: Mulit Campsite.

Day 11: Mulit to Adi Arkay then back to Gondar

The shortest trek of the trip, takes you for 2 hours of a gentle stroll downhill to Adi Arkay(1,665m). The scenery and the valley of the lowland villages are attractive. At Adi Arkay you will meet your car and will be transferred to Gondar.

Overnight: Haile Resort

Day 12: Explore the imperial capital(Gondar), back to Addis and departure

In the morning visit Gondar. Located on the high plateau, Gondar was the imperial capital for 200 years and famed for its medieval castles and churches. Visit the Royal Enclosure home to dramatic 17th-century castles built by different emperors. These whole complexes of buildings are unique in Ethiopia and never found elsewhere in Africa. After the castles stop by the famous church of Debre Berhan Selassie, one of the finest in Ethiopia. The walls and ceilings are covered with stunning ancient murals. End the tour with the visit to the remarkable Bath of Emperor Fasil known as ‘the pavilion of delight’. In the afternoon fly from Gondar back to Addis.Arrive in Addis in the afternoon. Transfer to a hotel to rest and get settled before your night flight or you can do last-minute shopping. In the evening enjoy a final farewell dinner at a well-known local Ethiopian restaurant with cultural danses. Later this evening you will be transferred to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for your return flight back home.