Itinerary

1. Arrive Addis Ababa

   • Arrive and transfer to the hotel for a relaxing half-day city tour or chill at your hotel's outdoor cafe. 

   Overnight at the hotel. 

2. Fly to Gonder- Sankaber (3,200m)

   • Meet the driver at Gonder Airport and continue driving to the extraordinary and majestic Semien Mountain National Park. On this drive, you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region. After a steep ascent onto the escarpment, a straightforward drive takes you to the first campsite called Sankaber.

   O/n Camping at Sankaber campsite.

   135 km to the first campsite, 1 hour’s flight to Gonder and 3 hours driving to the national park. Moderate to physical type hiking. 30 minutes – 2 hrs. Walking shoes are needed.

3. Sankaber - Geech (3,550m) 5-6 hhrs

   • Following the edge of the escarpment, which narrows to form a ridge at Sankaber, you now have awesome views on both sides.
   • Descend into the Koba River valley and up the other steep side to Michotis with its view of the large waterfall where the Jin Bahir River cascades into the Geech Abyss.
   • Continue for another half hour before descending to the river in the Abyss and ascending steeply on the other side through Geech Village to Geech camp for an overnight A.M. 

   Overnight Camping at Geech.

   5-7 hours Moderate to physical type hiking. 5-7hrs. Walking shoes are needed

4. Geech - Imetgogo (3,986m) – Geech

   • Make the 5-6 hours excursion to Imetgogo to enjoy one of the best views of in the Simien Mountains National Park with your Ethiopian guide.

   O/N: camping.

5. Geech - Chenek (3,600m)

   • Through giant Lobelia trees, where a lot of wildlife can be seen. After a picnic lunch, walk on the edge of the Enatye escarpment (4000m), which offers another breathtaking view. Finally, descend to Chenek, the best place to see the endemic Walia Ibex and more Gelada Baboons. 

   Overnight camping at Chenek (3600m). 

   Moderate to physical type hiking 6-7hrs. Walking shoes are needed.

6. Chenek – Ambiquo climbing the Buhit (4430m) peak; 7-8 hrs

   • The 2nd highest next to Ras Dashen. After refreshment at the summit, descend towards Chero Laba and cross the Mesheha River.
   • Spend the night in Ambiquo before the big day on Ras Dashen.
   • Camp at Ambiquo (3200m). 

   Moderate to physical type hiking 7-8hrs. Walking shoes are needed.

7. Ambiqo – Ras Dashen – Ambiqo (4,620m )8-10 hrs

   • Start at pre-dawn towards Mount Ras Dashen, the most challenging day of the trek. Head up the valley to the small village of Mizma, from where you climb steeply upwards, eventually reaching an impressive Amphitheatre made up of three major buttresses of expanded rock. One of them is your goal, Ras Dashen. It is then an easy scramble to the summit of Ras Dashen, which is Africa’s fourth-highest peak. After taking in the impressive view, descend back to Ambiquo for camping.

   Walking shoes are needed.

8. Ambiqo – Cheneck

   • Walk back to Chenek passing through the side of the Bohit Mountain.

   Overnight camping at Chenek campsite. (3600m). This day takes about 6 -7 hours walk. Walking shoes are needed.

9. Chenek- Gondar

   • After breakfast, drive back to Gonder. 160 km, 4 hours.
   • After lunch, visit the Complex Palace of Gonder, King Fasilida’s bath, The Debre Birhan Selassie church, which is famous for its age-old mural paintings, and the Fellasha (Ethiopian Jews) village. 

   Overnight hotel.

10. Fly back to Addis Ababa

    • Afternoon, transfer out to the airport and fly to Addis Ababa. Depending on your arrival, you will have a short time shopping in a Grand Market called Merkato.
    • After a farewell dinner party in a traditional restaurant & folklore house, you will be transferred to the airport. End of the tour.