13-DAYS TREKKING IN THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa and City Tour
On arrival Addis Ababa EAET representative will meet you at Bole international Airport and transfer to the Hotel, start visiting the city from National Museum ,where Ethiopia’s oldest resident ,Lucy is housed, Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, continue with Holy trinity church and you will enjoy a panoramic view of the capital with fresh air. Overnight stay on reserved Hotel
Day 2: Addis Ababa – Simien Nation Park
Transfer to the airport of Addis and flight to the medieval town of Gondar; explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia.In the afternoon, we head for the north through the high plateaus. The first mountain landscapes typical of the region are revealed little by little. It is by a beautiful trail that we join at the end of the day our first encampment of Sankaber. Overnight Camping
Day 3: Trek Geech
Sankaber – Gich (3600 m), 5-6 hrs. We follow the northern escarpment eastward, before we descend a little into the Kaba Valley. After that we climb up before we reach Gich Abyss and continue over a narrow ridge to a cliff where we have a spectacular view of the abyss towards the Simien foothills. We also find a large waterfall here, where the Jinbar River plunges 500 m into the abyss. We proceed for about two hours and have lunch at the Jinbar River. After lunch we walk through fields of barley before we arrive at the idyllic village of Gich. Here we can enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony in one of the huts and learn more about local farm life. From Gich village it is a short walk to Gich camp which is a good area to look for lammergeyer and thick billed raven. After a relaxing afternoon, we will take a short hike up to Kedadit to enjoy sunset plus the gorgeous shaded landscapes down to the cliff side towards to the eastern direction and return to the camp for dinner. Overnight Camping
Day 4: Trek Chenek
Gich – Chennek (3600 m),7-8 hrs. From Gich camp we stroll through endless fields of Giant Lobelia before we reach the towering cliffs of Imet-Gogo (3926 m). Here we will spend some time to absorb the superb views over the mountain valleys below and strange shaped domes in the distance, which we will see from up close at the end of the trip. After that we descend into the Jinbahir River Valley. In this way we get a very different perspective of Imet-Gogo and the volcanic landscape, where it looks like big chunks of mountains have been blown away. The trail follows the edge of the escarpment, which is completely vertical here for several hundred meters. We climb to a summit of 4070 m where we will have lunch. After lunch we descend to Chennek for about two hours along a steep trail. From Chennek camp there are spectacular views in all directions. Sit down on a bench at the escarpment and try to spot Walia Ibex in late afternoon or early morning. Sometimes Walia Ibex visit the edges of the camp site.
Day 5: Chenk –Buwahit
Chenek – Buwahit, 5-6 hrs. Climb the second highest peak in the Simien mountains Buwahit (4430m) rewarding with one of the endemic wild animals in Ethiopia particularly in the Simien mountains called Walia Ibex (a goat family), in addition to the scenic views of surroundings including the chance to see the highest mountain peak in Ethiopia Ras-Dejen (4543m) and overnight stay on Simien Lodge.
Day 6: Simien Mountain –Axum
This morning will be our last trek in the Simien massif and Take a scenic drive to Axum, capital of the ancient Axumite Empire, today modest town yet with great history and memory. On the road you would enjoy one of the most beautiful scenes in the country. Frequent stops to appreciate view points of Limalimo , Tekeze river Gorge. Arrive in Axum late in the afternoon .Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 7: Axum
In the morning start visiting the Stele. It is the great 4th Century Obelisks, these blocks of granite is carved in a representation of multi-storied buildings; the tallest at over 33 meters represents a 13 storey building. Also see Queen Sheba’s Bath, the King Kaleb and Gebre Mesquel Tombs, and the Tomb of King Bazen, the Archeological Museum, and the St. Mary Church of Zion (the original Ark of Covenant is believed to be rested in this Church). Overnight stay on Reserved Hotel
Day 8: Axum – Hawzein
Drive from Axum to Hawzein via Adwa and Adigrat. Adwa is a town with tremendous importance to Ethiopians because it is in the hills surrounding that Menelik II defeated the conquering Italian army in March 1896. A visit to Yeha, dated back from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and used to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards visit Debre Damo monastery where the man (no women allowed). Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 9: Gheralta
On this day you will visit two churches with climbing and an hour’s walking to reach the most popular churches are Abune Yemata and Mariam Korkor church, one of the largest and most interesting rock hewn churches in Tigary .in the afternoon Dugum Selassie church, Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 10: Excursion in Tigray Rock hewn church and drive to Mekele
After breakfast drive to Mekele en route visit more of Tigray Rock hewn church and ancient rock-hewn churches: Abraha Atsbeha, dating from the 10th century, the beautiful Wukro Chirkos after that continue to Mekele. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 11: Mekele-Lalibela
Early morning, embark on a full day of driving to Lalibela. Here you will pass through several small villages, with typical sandstone homes of the Tigray people. Proceed through this rural area for the stunning approach to the home of Ethiopia’s most prized destination, Lalibela. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 12: Lalibela
Full day to discover the treasures of Lalibela; Your first visit will be to the eleven Rock-hewn Monolithic (carved from a single rock) Churches of Lalibela, The first group of Lalibela Churches includes: Bete Medhanialem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagl and Bete Golgotha Michal, the second group of Lalibela Churches that includes: Bete Gebral, Bete Merquros, Bete Emanule, Betelehiam, Bete Aba Libanos and the spectacular cross-shaped St. George Church. Overnight stay in reserved Hotel
Day 13: Addis Ababa
In the morning, visit the nearby monastery of Na’akuto La’ab, set on the side of a cliff. After the visit, proceed to the airport for the return flight back to Addis Ababa and visit Mercato, one of Africa’s largest outdoor markets. Evening we will have fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurant for cultural dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for flight back home.
- Note: The above program can be adjusted according to your time, Budget and interest.
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