Project Description

17 DAYS TOUR TO SIMIEN MOUNTAIN TREKKING INCLUDING HISTORICAL PLACES

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa at Bole International Air port
Meet and greet Network Travel and Tour Agency representative at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, and transferred to the hotel. Overnight stay in Reliance Hotel Apartment.

Day 2: City tour in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the third highest capital of the world on an altitude of 2300-2500 m. with a pleasant climate and a background of green with eucalyptus trees covered mountains. The city is founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Queen Taitu.
Visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, the National/Ethnographic museum, St George church and the Merkato, biggest open air market in Africa. Overnight stay in Reliance Hotel Apartment.

Day 3: Drive to Debre Markos 325km asphalt road
On this day you start your tour to North Ethiopia. En route you can visit one of Ethiopia’s most holy sites: the Debre Libanos monastery founded in the 13th century by priest Tekla Haimanot, today one of Ethiopia’s most renowned saints.

Continuing on from Debre Libanos to the main route, the road dropping more than 1000m, gradually winds down to the bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge, which is comparable in scale to American’s Grand Canyon cited to be the largest canyon in Africa. Overnight stay in Shebele Hotel.

Day 4: Drive to Bahir dar; to the Shores of Lake Tana 260km asphalt road
You drive through the plain landscape of Gojjam land, well-known for its Teff productivity. Upon arrival having a lunch drive to Tis Isat (smoking of Fire); Since a dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is reduced a little. Also the walk to the waterfall is nice and you can enjoy nature and watch birds. Overnight stay in Homeland Hotel.

Day 5: Visit the Island monasteries of Lake Tana
Make a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the medieval period island monasteries such as; Kibran Gabriel (only for men), Entos and on the Zegien peninsula visit Ura Kidan Mehiret, Azuwa Mariam, Mahal Giorgis. In afternoon make free time. Overnight stay in Homeland Hotel.

Day 6: Drive to Gondar 180km asphalt road
Visit the Royal Enclosure that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the 17th century palaces of King Fassiladas, King Iyasu and Queen Mentewab and different other buildings.

Visit also Fasiladas’ Bath, which is found in a peaceful, shady and beautiful spot, and well worth a visit. The ancient bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year. The ceremony replicates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, and is seen as an important renewal of faith.

Having a lunch in afternoon depending on the time visit the rectangular Debre Brehan Selassie (Trinity at the Mount of Light) has a ceilings decorated with beautiful winged Angels, and its walls with impressive scene depicting biblical events, including; St. May, the Saints, martyrs and the life of Christ. Overnight stay in Mintewabe Lodge.

Day 7: Drive to Debarq, 100km gravel road to visit the Simien Mountains National Park.
Finish formalities at the Head Quarter of the park at Debarq and continue to drive another 20km then make a short walk/trek. O/n stay inside the park at Simen Lodge or drive back to Debarq and overnight stay in Simien park hotel.

Day 8: Trek Geech Camp
Leaving the Sankaber camp you descend into the Michotis Valley and climb the other side where on your left you will see the Jin Bahir River plummeting into the Geech Abyss. O/n stay in Geech Campsite

Day 9: Trek Chenek Camp
Depart from Chenek whilst you will head with day packs to the escarpment edge at Saha and Imetgogo (3,926m) for staggering views over the lowlands characterized by its rocky spires. O/n stay in Chenek campsite

Day 10: Trek Amibikwa camp
Trek to the descent to the Mesheha River valley (2850m) and up the other side to Ambikwa camp at 3,200m. (Approx. 8-9 hour trek including breaks) O/n stay Amibikwa camp

Day 11: Trek to the Summit of Ras Dashen
This is the most challenging day of the trek up to the summit of Ras Dashen. Late in afternoon trek back to Amibikwa camp for overnight stay.

Day 12: Trek back to Chenek
Where the car wait to you to drive back for the next day. Overnight camping at Chenek.

Day 13: Half-day trekking and back to Debarq
After an early morning breakfast make a short visit around Chenek and early in the afternoon drive to Debarq for overnight stay. Overnight stay in Simien Park hotel.

Day 14: Drive to Axum
Today you drive in a very scenic route, first take the zig-zag road of Lima Limu with many hairpins and crossing a rough mountain landscape. Later you descend in to the impressive Takezze River gorge. O/n stay in Axum

Day 15: City tour in Axum
Axum is a town full of impressive monuments that testify of the rich and glorious past of the mighty Kingdom of Axum (1-700 A.D.). And the town also recorded in UNESCO lists as a World Heritage Site.
Upon arrival check in hotel then start to make a visit to the famous Axumi’s stelae, St. Mary of Zion church (which supposed to house the Ark of Covenant) and archeological museum, the ruins palace of Queen Sheba so called Dungur & palace.

Outside Axum you can visit also the tombs of Kings Kaleb & Gebre Meskel dating to 6th century. They are a great example of the sheer sophistication of Axumite architecture and building techniques. O/n stay in the same place.

Day 16: Flight to Lalibela
Lalibela and its rock-hewn church are thought, to date the 12th and 13th century during King Lalibela reign. The churches are remarkable since they are entirely freed from the rock, refined and concentrated in small land.
Start to visit the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are clustered in to three different places separated by River Jordan. Today visit the first and the third groups of churches. O/n stay in Lalibela.

Day 17: Flight back to Addis Ababa and continue to make city tour
Today you have enough time left for shopping in Merkato or in the numerous souvenir shops near Churchill road, to visit art galleries. Late in afternoon have a fare-well dinner then check in for flight back home.