10 Days Simien Mountains National Park Trekking
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival – Sightseeing Addis (The new Flower)
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.
Day 02: Addis Ababa – Simien Mountains National Park
Fly to Gondar on Ethiopian Airlines. Meet with vehicles and drive to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meet with guides and prepare for trek.
Overnight Camping
Day 03: Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Sankaber – Geech (3,600m elevation) which will take between 5-7 hours. After one and half hours, see the Jinnbar River and falls which you will cross later in the day. After crossing the river, ascend for about 2 hours to Geech. The scenery is wonderful and a herd of Gelada Baboons can be seen on the journey.
Overnight Camping
Day 04: Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Geech – Chenek (3,620m elevation); trek along the 4,000 meter breathtaking Enatye escarpment before descending to Chenek. Walia Ibex and Gelada Baboons are routinely spotted.
Overnight Camping
Day 05: Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Day trekking from Chenek (3,200m.)
Overnight Camping
Day 06: Simien Mountains National Park – Gondar
Continue with morning sightseeing in the Simien Mountains. After lunch, depart for Gondar in time for late afternoon arrival.
Overnight Hotel
Day 07: Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek to Ambiquo campsite (3,200m) approximately 9 hours via Mt. Buhit (4,430m); cross the Mesheha River before reaching Ambiquo.
Overnight Camping
Day 08: Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Ambiquo – Ras Dashen – Ambiquo; early morning departure to the summit of Ras Dashen, at 4,543 meters, Africa’s fourth highest peak. Trek up the Valley from your campsite to the small village of Mizma. From here, a steep climb brings you to an impressive amphitheater made up of three major buttresses of expanded rock. It is then an easy scramble to the summit. To reach the Summit can take up to 6 hrs. Return to Ambiquo.
Overnight Camping
Day 09: Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Ambiquo – Chenek; return to Chenek, bypassing Mt. Buhit on the return.
Overnight Camping
Day 10:: Gondar – Addis – Departure
After breakfast, drive to In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.