THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS (Trekking)

The Simien Mountains National Park was one of the first sites to be made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1978); however, due to serious population declines of the characteristic native species, in 1996 it was also added to the List of World Heritage Sites in danger.
The Simien Mountains is know as "The Roof Of Africa," located near Gondar, 770km north of Addis Ababa. The Simien Mountains rise to the snow-covered peak of Mount Ras Deshen, at 4620m, the fourth highest peak in Africa.

The lower slopes of the Simien Mountains have been cultivated and animals graze there. The alpine regions are forested, giving way to grasslands on the higher slopes.

Wildlife:
The Simien Mountains are home to the Walia Ibex, Gelada Baboon and the Ethiopian Wolf (the Simien Fox) as well as 63 species of birds (7 endemics to Ethiopia) including thick-billed raven, White-collared Pigeon, Wattled Ibis, White-billed Starling, Spot-breasted Plover, White-backed Black Tit.

Trekking Tours

Simien Mountain view, Ethiopia

We provide mountain guides, tents and camping equipment to take you into the heart of Ethiopia in traditional fashion, using mules and muleteers. There really is no better way to experience Ethiopia and its National Parks, a true Africa Adventure.

Program-Simien Moutains short Trek
Code - OT501
Duration-08nights/09days
Transportation-Air & Land

Day 01 Arrive Addis Ababa and city tour. Visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St. Mary with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city, for the National museum. O/N hotel.
Day 02 Fly to Gondar and visit the Castles and Churches.
Day 03Drive to Debark, afternoon trek to Chilquanit
Day 04 Trek to Geech camp
Day 05 Trek around Imet Gogo to acclimatize, enjoy surrounding views
Day 06Trek to Chenek
Day 07 Climb early morning to Bwait peak then return to Sankerber
Day 08 Collected by car, drive to Gondar
Day 09 Fly to Addis Ababa

Program-Simien- Moutains Long Trek
Code-OT502
Duration-11nights/12days
Transportation: Air & Land
Day 1 Arrive Addis Ababa and city tour. Visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St. Mary with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city, for the National museum. O/N hotel.
Day 2 Fly to Gondar and visit the Castles and Churches.
Day 3 Drive to Debark, trek to Chilquanit
Day 4 Trek via Sankerber to Geech
Day 5 Overnight Geech, climbing Imet Gogo or relaxing in camp
Day 6 Trek to Chenek
Day 7 Trek to Ambiko
Day 8 Climb Mount Ras Dashen, highest peak in Ethiopia, overnight Mentaber
Day 9 Walk to Arkwizai, through Silki Mountains
Day 10 Walking in lowlands
Day 11 Walking in lowlands.Rendezvous with transport. Drive to Gondar.
Day 12 Fly from Gondar to Addis Ababa.
on-Air & Land

Program-Historic Route & Simien Mt. Trekking
Code-OT601
Duration-16days/15nights
Transportation-Air & Land

Day01. Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.
Day02. Fly to Gondar and visit the Castles and Churches.
Day03. Drive to Sank Aber. O/N camp.
Day04. Start Trekking from Sankaber-Geech.
Day05. Geech, mount Imetgogo & Kedadit O/N Geech.
Day06. From Geech to Chenek.
Day07. From Chenek-Hambiquo.
Day08. Climb Ras Dashen (4620 mts) back to Ambico.
Day09. From Ambico -Arko Azeye.
Day10. From ArkoAzeye-Lamo (Mekarebya).
Day11. From Lamo-Hawaza.
Day12. From Hawaza- Arkay meet the vehicles and drive to Axum.
Day13. Tour of Axum.
Day14. Fly to Lalibella .
Day15. Lalibella Church.
Day16. Fly back to Addis & Departure.

Program-Historic Route & Tigray rock churches
Code- OT602
Duration-14nights/15days
Transport-Land

Day01. Arrival at Addis Ababa.
Day02. Drive to Kombolcha & possibly Sembete market.
Day03. Drive to Woldya & possibly Bati market (or Heyk Estifanos monastery).
Day04. Drive Lalibella & visit.
Day05. Lalibella in & out of town churches.
Day06. Drive to Mekele via Sekota or Woldya.
Day07. Visit Tigray churches as Abreha we Atsbeha, Dugum Sellasie, Wikro Cherkos. O/N Mekele.
Day08. Churches as Michael Imba, Michael Debre Selam and Michael Barka. O/N Mekele.
Day09. Drive via Debre Damo monastery & Yeha temple to Axum. O/N Axum.
Day10. Full day in Axum.
Day11. Drive Gondar crossing the scenic Semien Mountains. O/N Gondar.
Day12. Morning visit of Gondar; afternoon drive Bahirdar. O/N BJR. 13. Full day boat on Tana Lake for 2-3 hrs as Urakidane Mehret, Mahal zeghie Gyorgis Azua Mariam and Narga Sellasie O/N BJR.
Day14. Morning Blue Nile falls. Then drive to Debre Markos.
Day15. Blue Nile gorge, Debre Libanos monastery-Addis Ababa.

** Trip can be done on the reverse

Program-Historic Route-Maqdela & Tigray Rock Church
Code- OT603
Duration-17days/16nights
Transportation-Land

Day01. Arrive Addis Ababa and city tour. Visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St. Mary with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city, for the National museum. O/N hotel.
Day02. Drive to Dessie. (Sunday Sembete market).
Day03. Drive to Tenta.
Day04. Trek to Mekdela.
Day05. Drive to Gishen Mariam (where at piece of the True Cross is deposited).
Day06. Drive to Lalibella
Day07. Full day tour at Lalibella
Day08. Drive to Mekele.
Day09. Drive to Wukro Cherkos, Abreha-We-Atsbeha, Degum Sellasie, Debre Tyson.
DAy10. Drive to Axum on the way visit Debre Damo Monastery, Yeha, and Adwa escarpment.
Day11. Full day city tour in Axum.
Day12. Drive to Gondar via the escarpments of the Semien Mountains.
Day13. Full day visit of the castles and the churches in Gondar
Day14. Drive to Bahir Dar p.m. city tour.
Day15. Morning Drive to Blue Nile falls. p.m. boat trip on Lake Tana for the Monasteries.
Day16. Drive to Debre Markos.
Day17. Drive to Addis Ababa passing through the Blue Nile gorge and visit Debre Libanos monastery.