Trekking

Tour Code: DLE 023
Title: Trekking in the magnificent Semien Mountain national park.
Duration: 8 Nights/ 9 Days
Transportation: Flight and Drive
Highlights: Addis Ababa, Gonder, Sankaber, Semien Mountains national park

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa.
On arrival at Bole International Airport Addis Ababa where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. O/N hotel.
Day 2: Fly Addis – Gondar and drive to Sankaber. (3,200m).
Morning airport transfer for flight to Gondar. On arrival drive 136 km north to Sankaber via Debark- the headquarters of the Simien Mountains National Park. Trek to the campsite enjoying the breathtaking scenery and seeing the endemic Gelada Baboon on the way. (1-2 hrs trekking). Overnight camping at Sankaber campsite (B, L,D).
Day 3: Sankaber – Geech. (3,550m).
Trekking time: 5 – 6 hrs. After breakfast trek from Sankaber to Geech through different terrains. Passing troops of Gelada baboon we enjoy outstanding views of the Geech Abyss and surrounding mountains. Lunch near the breathtaking Jinbar falls, which plunge 50 mtrs into the gorge. Continue through afro-alpine vegetation and Giant Lobelia on towards the campsite at Geech, passing some Amharic village on the way. Overnight camping at Geech (3500m) (B, L, D).
Day 4: Geech – Imetgogo. (3,923m) – Chenek. (3,600m).
Trekking time: ~ 7hrs. Today we will see spectacular scenery – perhaps the best in the Simiens. After breakfast, we start trekking to Imet Gogo, with outstanding views. We will have lunch on one of the highest mountains called Inatiye- 4070 M above sea level. Finally we descend to Chenek through the afro –alpine vegetarian. This area is the best place to look for the endemic Waliya Ibex. Overnight camping at Chenek (B, L, D).
Day 5: Chenek – Ambiko.
Trekking time: ~ 6 to 7 hrs. Early start to trek from Chenek to Ambiko, crossing the Bwahat Pass
(4200m). First sighting of Ras Dashen – Ethiopia’s highest point. Continue to Chiro
Leba appreciating the view points en route after lunch at Chiro-Leba, continue on to Ambiko to overnight. Overnight camping at Ambiko (B, L, D).
Day 6: Ambiko – Ras Dashen (4,535m) – Ambiko.
Trekking time: 7 to 9 hrs. Dawn start to ascend Ras Dashen. This challenging day of the trek taking around 5 hours to reach the summit. From the campsite, you will head up the valley to the small village of Mizma (3500m), from where you will climb steeply upwards, eventually reaching an impressive amphitheatre made up of three major buttresses of expanded rock, one of which is your goal, Ras Dashen. An easy scramble brings you to the summit Ras Dashen, the fourth highest peak in Africa (4535m). After taking in the impressive views descend to Ambiko. Overnight camping at Ambiko (B, L, D).
Day 7: Ambiko – Chenek.
Trekking time: 7 – 8 hrs. Trek back to Chenek enjoying the dramatic views, and looking for birds such as the Crowned Scraper Thrush, Siskins, Falcons and Kestrel. There is also a chance to see the rare Abyssinian wolf. Overnight Chenek campsite (B, L, D).
Day 8: Chenek- Gondar.
Driving time: 5 hours. In the morning we drive back to Gondar enjoying the picturesque scenery, passing some Falasha villages en route. Arriving in Gondar, we visit the Royal Compound with many majestic castles, known as ‘Africa’s Camelot’, We visit the ‘Bath of Emperor Fasilades’, and Debre Birhan Sillassie church (‘Trinity at the mount of light’) which is the finest of the Gonderine churches. Overnight: Goha Hotel or similar (B,L,D).
Day 9: Gondar – Addis.
Transfer to the airport for our flight to Addis, and go on a city tour including its museums, monuments, churches and markets. We drive up to Mount Entoto for a panoramic view of the city. In the evening, you will visit one of the best traditional restaurants of Addis to taste genuine Ethiopian cuisine and see some traditional dancing. Departure.