Tour Code: VET025
Transport: surface & Air
Duration: 11 days &10 nights
Day 1: Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to the Hotel, city tour. Ethiopia Tours welcomes you on your arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and transfer to hotel. After refreshment, city tour of Addis Ababa. Over night at chosen Hotel
Day2: Fly to Gondar then drive Sankaber. Over night camp in Sankaber
After breakfast transfer to airport to fly to Gondar, established by king Fasiladas in 1636. The town was capital of Ethiopia17thc. Upon arrival at Gondar Airport, depart for Debark town (100 Kms from Gondar), where the head quarter of Semien Mountains National Park is found. Here we pay the entrance fees and a scout and a local guide will accompany us. Then we continue driving to Sankaber (31 Kms) the first campsite of the National Park. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, the extraordinary scenery, enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the bone breaker giant bird Lammergeyer roaring around. Camp at Sankaber (3200 m ASL)
Day3: Sankaber to Geech Camp Site 5–6hrs.
This day is the day that we arrange all the trekking staff including mules and Muleteers for packing and transport of camping gears and all foodstuffs for the trek. It is this day that we start trekking in the national park. We walk from Sankaber to Geech, which will take between 5 – 6 hours. After about 1 and half hours walk we see the Jinnbar River and falls, we will cross the river later in the day. After crossing the river, we ascend for about two hour to Geech, which is full of Giant Lobelias. The scenery is wonderful, and heard of the endemic Gelada Baboon can be seen on our way. Over night camping at Geech Campsite (3600m ASL)
Day 4: Geech – Imetegogo – Geech:
This day we will be waking to the best viewpoints in the National park. First we walk to Imetgogo, the view here enables one to look 360 to all directions this is one of the best view in the national park. After a short stay here continue walk to Seha, the other terrific viewpoint in the National park. We will have our picnic lunch and we continue to the last viewpoint, Quedadit. After some stay we walk back to Geech camp site. The walk this day is not hard; it takes about 4 – 5 hours. It is the day that we will be walking in the best part of the national park. If we are lucky we might have the chance to see mammals like the Simien wolf, Walia Ibex and Klipspringers. Over night Camping at Geech Campsite (3600 ASL)
Day 5: Chenek. Overnight Camping:
We trek to Chenek, we will be walking through the Giant lobelia trees and under these trees, and African field Rats are common. After picnic lunch we walk on the edge of Elate escarpments (4000m. above sea level), which is another breathtaking view in the national park; finally we descend to Chenek. Chenek is the best place to see the endemic Walia Ibex and more Gelada Baboon. It takes 6-7 hours walk. Over night camping at Chenek.
Day:Chenek- Bwahit Ras- Ambiquo 8 hrs Trek
Today is the longest trekking day so far, taking up to about 10 hours. From Chenek at 3650 metres, the path to Ambiquo campsite crosses over the Bwahit Ras. Leaving Chenek we are faced with a two-hour ascent to the top of the pass at 4200 metres, where we enjoy views that open up to the east over Mesheha Valley to the Dashen mountain range. Looking back we find ourselves under the cover of the impressive rock formations of Imet Gogo. From Bwahit Ras the path leads steeply down and across the Mesheha Valley. Here we notice an increase in temperature as we descend down to the Mesheha River at 2800 metres, before climbing slightly to reach Ambiquo campsite at an altitude of 3100 metres. Overnight camping at Ambiquo.
Day 7: Ambiquo- Ras Dashen Summit – Ambiquo the longest day 8-9hrs trek to ascent.
Today is a summit day involving a trek of 16 kilometers (ten to eleven hours)! So we leave from our campsite around 4: ooAM morning the path winds its way over eight kilometers and ascends up 1400 metres to Ras Dashen. It begins by climbing steeply through barley fields and fallow land before clearing the vegetation zone and reaching mountain steppe, at around 3700 metres. From there it flattens out, as it traverses ridges in the shadow of Ras Dashen. Just below Dashen Pass at around 4250 metres, an impressive moraine can be seen. A moraine consists of material transported by a glacier and before being deposited. This moraine was formed 20,000 to 14,000 years ago in the last Ice Age, when the Simien Mountain tops had small ice caps. The final stretch to the summit involves an exciting climb and scramble up and over large boulders, before reaching the summit. From the top of Ras Dashen at an altitude of 4543 metres, we are sure to be mesmerized by the far ranging views which spans more than 10,000 square kilometers. To the west the steep faces of peaks in the national park are visible, whilst the Tekeze Valley is visible to the north and the east. Returning from the summit we retrace our steps along the same path back to our camp at Ambiquo. Overnight camping at Ambiquo
Day8:Arkwaziye Trek for 7-8 hrs
From Ambiquo the path takes us back down to the Mesheha River (2800 metres). Our destination tonight is Arkwaziye, which is situated at an altitude of 3600 metres and located on the northern reach of the Mesheha (Went) River. A great day to take in more incredible views of the Simien Mountains this campsite is one of the most beautiful located campsites in the national park.Overnight Arkwaziye campsite
Day9:Trek Chenek for 5 hrs
A final trekking day in the sensational Simien Mountains. From Arkwaziye we return back to Chenek camp to overnight. We complete a loop by following the path until we reach its junction with the earlier main path at Bwahit Pass. Here we descend down to Chenek or take a detour and enjoy a summit circuit of Bwahit (4430m). The trekkers who summit Bwahit will be rewarded with spectacular views. The area surrounding Chenek is one of the best to see the Wallia ibex, one of Ethiopia’s endemic species. It is actually a mountain goat that lives on the steep slopes and grassy ledges of the escarpment. It is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Over night camping at Chenek
Day10: Driveto Gondar
this morning we drive along the dirt road that runs from Chenek to Sankaber, leave Simien Mountains National Park continue back to Debark (two to three hours). We stop at Debark local café to say goodbye to our companion and finalize all trekking formalities before continuing 100 kilometers back to Gondar, check into our hotel and enjoy a welcomed shower. The afternoon is at leisure to simply relax in the beautiful gardens of the hotel and absorb the view or head down into town for some optional sightseeing. Over night Goha hotel
Day 11: Fly to Addis
Morning transfer to Gondar airport and fly Addis afternoon at Leisure evening departure