Duration
7-Day
Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery, spot wildlife, and experience the mystery of the 'rooftop of Africa', one of its biggest mountain ranges. Trek from campsite to campsite, as you make your way towards a summit up the Bwahit Peak where 360-degree views of the Simien Mountains await you. This Ethiopian trekking adventure takes place at high altitude and is not for the faint of heart.
Plan snapshot
Duration
7-Day
Route
Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa (City)
Via Simien Mountains NP, Gondar (City)
Country & park
Ethiopia / Simien Mountains National Park
Style
Shared safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
18 years
Activities
walking safaris (with an armed guide)
Accommodation
Budget camping Inside Simien Mountains NP – All Meals Included - Inside Simien Mountains NP – All Meals Included
Meals
All Meals Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
EUR
Solo travelers
Can join this group tour
Rates
EUR
Before booking
Quote flow
This budget tour includes camping and hotels.
On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 20 people per group.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
The accommodations and destinations of this tour cannot be changed.
Single travelers can join this group tour, but it requires a minimum of 2 people to run.
The minimum age for this tour is 18 years.
Day 1-5
Inside Simien Mountains NP – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 6
Mid-range hotel in Gondar (City) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 7
(No accommodation)
All Meals Included
Tour step
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
In the morning at about 06:30AM, we drop you to Bole International Airport for domestic flight to Gondar. The vehicle picks us up from Airport in Gondar and takes us 100 km north on the Ethiopian highland to Debark, a small town of about 35,000 inhabitants at the border to the famous Simien National Park. After a quick stop for the formalities at the headquarter offices of the national park and for collecting cook and scouts we drive out on a rough road to the Sankaber area at about 3,100 m sea level from where we take a short walk of 2-3 hours to assist the acclimatization process. We get a first impressive view over the dramatic mountain range and see some typical plants of that area such as big Heather Trees (erica arborea), St. John swort (hypericum revulutum) or the Abissinian Wild Rose (rosa abissinica). This is also the area, which the largest number of Gelada Baboons, (theorepticus gelada) can be find. First night in the tents at the Sankaber camp at 3,250m sea level. Inside Simien Mountains NP All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 2
After breakfast, we leave the camp at around 8:30 and we traverse along the Northern escarpment before dropping down to get impressive views, for example of the beautiful Jinbar Waterfall. In the large gorge of the waterfall, there are many huge circling birds, especially vultures such as the Griffon (Gyps fulvus), Lappet-faced or Nubian Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) and Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and other smaller birds as buzzards and ibises. We hoping, we will also encounter the endemic Abissinian Catbird (Parophasma galinieri). Among the mammals, Klipspringers (oreothragus oreothragus) and Meneliks Bushbucks (Tragelaphus scriptus) can be observe between Sankaber and Geech. After a short distance on the rough road, crossing the Jinbar River where we have the lunch break, we ascend through terraced farmland to our camp at 3,600m. In the evening we have the possibility to walk to the mountain Kedadit (3,760m) and to assist to an unforgettable sunset. Inside Simien Mountains NP All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3
After breakfast, we walk for about 2 hours to the summit of Imet Gogo (3,926m), which is one of the most spectacular viewpoints with 360 degrees and from where we can see Ras Dashen, the highest peak of the country. After a photo break, we trek along the whole escarpment, cross a small valley and climb the peak Inatye (4,070m) where we will take our lunch stop and have a rest. From there we will have a nice view more than 1,000m down to the green fields of the mountain villages Dihwara, Tiya, Amiwalka and Truwata. During the whole day, we walk through vast fields of Giant Lobelia and sometimes Heather Trees or Red Hot Poker. After the break, we descend and reach our camp Chennek in the afternoon (3,620m). Chennek, sometimes we called wildlife corridor, is the best place to see the Gelada Baboons (theorepticus gelada), the Walia Ibex and the Ethiopian Wolf. These animals’ best observe around Chennek camp. On campsite, we have the possibility to wash ourselves at the river or pipe water. Inside Simien Mountains NP All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 4
Your day begins at sunrise to give you enough time to explore the surrounding cliffs for good sightings of the Ethiopian endemic Walia ibex. Then begin the tough 3-hour ascent to the top of the Buhait pass (4,200m). This is the second highest point in the park and offers magnificent views of Buhait peak, Berochwuha, Silki and the Lori village below. This route is one of the most popular routes leading to the summit of Ras Dejen. After 3 hours of hiking downhill from the pass, you will be at Chiro Leba, a small rural village where you can mingle with local people and discover their ways of life. Another hour’s descent from the village takes you through mountain slopes and rocky hillsides covered by the endemic aloea plant to the Menesha River where Euphorbium candelabrum, a giant succulent tree, grows. From the river, it takes about 1.5 hours of ascent to reach the Ambiko campsite. We then branch away from the river to ascend to the camp at Ambiko. Inside Simien Mountains NP All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 5
Our climb of more than 1000 m to the peak of Ras Dashen begins with breakfast before dawn. We leave Ambiko by following the valley, passing the village of Misma (3500m) before reaching the crest of a ridge that gives excellent views of the sun rising over a larger valley below. We continue to follow the path eastwards in the direction of Ras Dashen's rocky west face. With the sun’s rays beginning to reach over the peaks ahead of us, we follow a wide ridge to reach a curie surrounded by three imposing summits. Following a gulley to the left, we climb up to the highest of them, Ras Dashen, to enjoy views into the distance in all directions, with the rocky features of the range’s east face highlighted by the morning sun. After allowing plenty of time to rest and appreciate this unique place, we return to Ambiko by the same route. We spend the afternoon recuperating over a large lunch and a well-earned rest. Inside Simien Mountains NP All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 6
We return to Chiro-Leba by re-tracing the path that we followed with the sun at our backs as we walk westwards. This trek provides an excellent opportunity to contrast the peak of Buwahit – ahead of us to the south-west for most of the walk – and the western escarpment of the National Park, with the Ras Dejen range that we walked towards on Day 4 then drive back to Gondar. Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City) All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 7
In the morning, you will visit Gondar, you will have a domestic flight takes you back to Addis Ababa. Based on our arrival time and interest, you will have some artifact shopping. Finally in the evening traditional farewell dinner in cultural restaurant with live traditional music and live stage dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for your departure to your next destination. All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Tour step
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.
Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
Camping equipment
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All flights during the tour
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Sleeping bag
Bath towels
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Offered by
Finot Tour Ethiopia is your option for a responsible and nature friendly tour in Ethiopia. We are always available to serve you the tour experience of your dreams. Our tour programs are flexible; you can feel free to make your own ideal tour package and then contact us for any information. If you are interested in History, Culture, Nature, Bird watching, Trekking, Adventure, Documentary Films, Rafting, Biking, Volcano and sightseeing, you will contact us for further information.
Office In
Ethiopia
Size
20-50 employees (Founded in 2011)
Tour Types
Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
Destinations
Djibouti, Ethiopia
Traveler feedback
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5Our tour preferences were very well combined, we received a very detailed tour description for the 4 weeks in advance, which then also took place as planned, with a fair value of money . The communication was perfect. Flights, hotels, visits to attractions, entrances, and transportation were very well organized and coordinated. Our tour guide Haile was very friendly, absolutely reliable, and trustworthy. On-site, he has a good network, the local guides, and drivers were also always very good. Our safety was Haile's top priority. We can wholeheartedly recommend Finot Tours Ethiopia.
Michaela · Germany
Great experience! My wife and me did a 13-day long tour of Harar, Bale mountain an Omo valley and considering the very high quality of both the guides and the tour itself we felt we got our money's worth. Hailemeskel of Finot Tour Ethiopia has specially for us developed great tour itinerary! We have a good 4WD car and accommodation in nice hotels and lodges. Our main guide and driver Lmuel, was fantastic. He's very knowledgeable and has a very nice attitude towards guests! We discussed various aspects of life and nature in Ethiopia and we began to feel him as a friend. Both gentlemen were very kind and nice and they made our experience so wonderful. So it really feels like we made friends and it made us feel as if we weren't just tourists. All in all this was an amazing experience. We highly recommend Finot Tour Ethiopia. Thank you very much Haile and Lmuel!
Stanislav Moynov · Bulgaria
Traveling with Finot is a great, real adventure. A great guide with good contacts in the places you visit. Thanks to this, we were able to see more interesting things than others. Trip to the tribes of the Omo Valley.
Piotr Banasik · Poland
My six day trip to the Lower Omo Valley was very interesting and well organized. A good guide (Danny), a comfortable car and nice lodges/hotels made the trip most enjoyable. Danny's knowledge about culture and nature was great. He also knew the names of all the birds we saw which I appreciated. Since I was a solo guest we also had a flexible schedule. From time to time we also met friendly Haile who travelled with another group. Since all costs were included I did not have to think about paying local guides etc. But they all appreciate a small tip. I can highly recommend Finot Tour.
Rolf · Sweden
Practical answers
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is offered in Euros (EUR).
This tour is unavailable for children.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
The accommodations and destinations of this tour cannot be changed.
Budget camping Inside Simien Mountains NP – All Meals Included - Inside Simien Mountains NP – All Meals Included. Meals: All Meals Included
This tour starts and ends in Addis Ababa
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Operator policy
This tour is offered by Finot Tour Ethiopia, not SafariBookings.
This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this.
This group tour requires a minimum of 2 people to run.
The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Finot Tour Ethiopia.
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