Simien Mountains Trekking and Tours
Historic North circuit & Simien Mountains Trek- 11 Days
tour itinerary
Historic North circuit & Simien Mountains Trek 11 Days
This diverse itinerary we have included our highlights of the Northern Historical Circuit including the Island Monasteries of Lake Tana, Gondar’s Royal Enclosure and the magnificent rock hewn churches of Lalibela, one of the jewels in Ethiopia’s cultural crown. Here you will visit a selection of 12th & 13th Century rock hewn churches, including the Northern Western and Eastern groups. You then hike through the spectacular beauty of the ,simien Mountains national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of almost unimaginable beauty. There are 3 main campsites in the Simiens: sankaber, Geech and Chennek,. We have skipped the Sankaber camp on this itinerary (but you are welcome to add it back in if you want the full 3 night camping experience).
The following sample itinerary is based on using internal flights from Ethiopian Airlines and local guides / services in each location. This keeps the overall cost down and saves on some long and arduous journeys. If preferred we can quote to include an accompanying tour leader for the whole trip and / or overland travel by 4wd instead of internal flights.
Day 1
ARRIVAL & HALF DAY ADDIS ABABA GUIDED TOUR
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your central hotel. After a rest and refresh at the hotel, your guide will take you around the highlights of Addis. Depending on time and how you feel after your flight, you can choose to sample some of the best coffee in the world in the Piazza (old town), explore the National Museum and Archaeological Museum (home to the 3.5 million year old remains of Lucy) or explore the largest open air market in Africa.
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge
Transport (where relevant): Airport transfer and half day city tour
Day 2
FLY ADDIS – BAHIR DAR & VISIT THE BLUE NILE FALLS
After a morning flight and checking into your accommodation, you will have the afternoon to visit the Blue Nile Falls (40 minutes from Bahir Dar). Although the power of the falls has been subdued by the hydro electric plant, they are still an incredible sight. A lovely circular walk takes you over an ancient bridge built by the Portuguese in the 15th century, passing fantastic viewpoints of the falls, over a rope bridge and then up to top of the falls where you will cross by boat to meet your vehicle.
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge
Transport (where relevant): Transfer to Addis Airport and from Bahir Dar Airport to hotel.
Day 3
LAKE TANA ISLAND MONASTERIES. DRIVE TO GONDAR
After breakfast you will go for an early morning boat excursion on Lake Tana, the highest and largest lake in Ethiopia and also the source of the Blue Nile. Dotted on its shores and islands are 20 monasteries, most of which were hidden to the outside world until the 1930’s. You will visit two examples of monasteries before ending your excursion by passing by the mouth of the Blue Nile. After enjoying a relaxing lunch on the shore, transfer to Gondar. Then your guide will take you to explore the fascinating medieval history of Gondar. Your tour will include visiting the Royal Enclosure set in its beautiful gardens, Fasilidas Bath and the fascinating Debre Berhan Selassie Church, renowned for its vivid and striking interior art and arguably one of the finest church interiors in the country.
Over Night: Gondar
Accommodation:Hotel or Lodge
Day 4
GONDAR – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS (SANKABER CAMP 3,200M)
You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Gondar around 7.30am for the drive to Debark. At Debark you will sign in at the park headquarters, pick up your guide and scout and head up into the mountains. 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 acclimatisation 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. 7km 2/3 hours walking
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Accommodation: Camping
Transport (where relevant): Drive Gondar – Simien Mountains (2-3 hrs)
Day 5
SANKABER (3,200M) – GEECH CAMP (3,600M)
After a hearty 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 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 lammergeyer bearded vulture soar on the thermals below. From the Genbar falls, the trail passes arable fields, broken by lunch at a somewhat less intimidating and more peaceful waterfall. Klipspringer and bush buck may be seen in the steep rocky and wooded slopes, whilst troops of Gelada Baboons roam the fields for roots. Just before you reach Geech camp site, there is a wonderful opportunity to visit one of the traditional village houses for home roasted coffee and injurra (ask your guide). Geech Camp itself is set on a grassy plateau with stunning sunset views. Walking 7-8hrs / 15km
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Accommodation: Camping
Transport (where relevant):
Day 6
GEECH (3,600M) – IMET GOGO (3,926M) – SIHA GORGE – KEDAR DIT – GEECH (3,600M)
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 the tomorrow’s ridge walk to Inatye and Chennek 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. Walking 5-6 hrs / 13km
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Accommodation: Camping
Transport (where relevant):
Day 7
GEECH (3600M) – INNATYE (4070M) – CHENNEK (3,600M)
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 with 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. Walking 7 hours / 15km
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Accommodation: Camping
Transport (where relevant):
Day 8
CHENNEK (3600M) – MOUNT BUAHIT (4430M) – CHENNEK (3600M)
After breakfast, you will begin the journey back to Gondar getting back in the early afternoon. Those feeling brave can opt to tackle Buahit before leaving camp. You’ll need to be up early for the 3-4 hour round trip to this spectacular summit at 4430m.
Meals Included: Breakfast, and lunch included
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge
Transport (where relevant): Drive Simien Mountains – Gondar (4 hrs)
Day 9
ROCK HEWN CHURCHES OF LALIBELA
Early morning transfer to Gondar airport. You’ll be picked up at the other end and transferred to your central hotel. Lalibela is world famous for its monolithic rock hewn churches. Carved by hand out of solid rock in the 12th and 13th Centuries, the evocative sound of monks chanting combined with the sense of history make this a deeply spiritual place and quite rightly a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll get to visit most of the Central churches that Lalibela is so famous for including the Northern Group (containing the Lalibela Cross), The Western Group (Bete Giyorgis) and the Eastern Group.
Meals Included: Breakfast only included
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge
Transport (where relevant): Fly Gondar – Lalibela
Day 10
REMOTE CHURCHES OF LALIBELA
Tour remote church clusters in Lalibela, you can choose to walk or ride a rented mule up to Asheton Maryam Church, situated at about 3100 metres. Here you are rewarded with spectacular views of Lalibela town and surrounding valleys.
Meals Included: Breakfast only included
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge
Transport (where relevant): N/A
Day 11
RETURN
You’ll be transferred back to Lalibela airport for your return flight to Addis. Most have a long afternoon in Addis before a late evening flight home, so we will provide a driver and vehicle for the afternoon. Suggested activities for the afternoon include stocking up on souvenirs, visiting one of the museums or just heading to the Sheraton or Hilton for day access to their pools (extra cost applicable).
Accommodation: N/A
Transport (where relevant): Fly Lalibela to Addis. Vehicle provided for day in Addis.
tour
Pricing
Price will depend on your final itinerary, group size, accommodation choices, and time of year.