Arrival-Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa - Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your centrally located hotel. After some rest and refreshment, your guide will take you on a tour of Addis Ababa’s highlights. Enjoy some of the world’s finest coffee in the Piazza (old town), explore the National Museum and Archaeological Museum (home to the 3.5 million-year-old remains of Lucy), and visit the largest open-air market in Africa.

Addis - Gondar

Gondar - You will be picked up early from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight to Gondar. Upon arrival, your guide will introduce you to the captivating medieval history of Gondar. Your tour will include visits to the Royal Enclosure with its beautiful gardens, Fasilidas Bath, and the remarkable Debre Berhan Selassie Church, known for its vivid and striking interior art, considered one of the finest church interiors in the country.

Gondar – Sankaber

Simien Mountains National Park - You will be picked up from your hotel in Gondar around 7:30 am for the drive to Debark. At Debark, you will register at the park headquarters, pick up your guide and scout, and head into the mountains. The road leads to the first camp at Sankaber, but you will be dropped off along the way for a leisurely three-hour acclimatization hike. The breathtaking views greet you as soon as you step out of the vehicle and walk along the ridge. There will be time for a picnic lunch, and after a short but challenging climb (at this altitude) to Sankaber, you will be welcomed each day on this trek with a tray of fresh coffee, tea, and snacks. 7km 2/3 hours walking (3200m)

Sankaber – Gich

Simien Mountains National Park - After a hearty breakfast, you will start the trek to the foothills 800m below. For the first two hours, the trail passes through low bush areas with Giant Heather, soda apple, Abyssinian Rose, St John’s Wort, and Globe Thistle. The highlight of the trek from Sankaber to Geech is Genbar Falls, an incredible 500m sheer drop. From the viewpoint opposite, you can watch falcons, augur buzzards, and lammergeyer bearded vultures soar on the thermals below. From Genbar Falls, the trail passes through arable fields, with a lunch break at a more peaceful waterfall. Klipspringer and bushbuck may be seen on the steep rocky and wooded slopes, while troops of Gelada Baboons roam the fields for roots. Just before reaching the Geech campsite, there is a wonderful opportunity to visit a traditional village house for home-roasted coffee and injera (ask your guide). Geech Camp is set on a grassy plateau with stunning sunset views. Walking 7-8hrs / 15km

Gich – Imet GoGo – Seha – Kedadit – Gich

Simien Mountains National Park - After breakfast, you will trek for 2 hours along the grass plateau past countless bizarre outsized Giant Lobelia plants. The destination is Imet Gogo, an incredible rocky promontory offering 360-degree views over the Simien Range. At an altitude of 3,926m, you can see west back along the ridge towards Sankaber and Geech and southeast across a deep gully towards tomorrow’s ridge walk to Inatye and Chennek Camp. The views here are arguably the best in the Simien Mountains, and the drop is breathtaking. From Imet Gogo, you will return to camp via the Siha Gorge for lunch. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before heading out for a short optional sunset trek to Kedadit (3760m). Overnight at Geech Camp again. Walking 5-6 hrs / 13km

Gich– Innatye- Chennek

Simien Mountains National Park - Today is the longest and arguably most spectacular trek, passing close to the ridge for most of its length. After breakfast, you will head back on the path towards Imet Gogo before detouring southeast towards Inatye. The path descends into a forest of Giant Hazel before following the ridge on open grassland. The climb to Inatye (4,070m) rewards you with stunning views. Inatye roughly translates as “mamma mia,” and the terrifying vertical drop here justifies the name! After a picnic lunch, the path mostly descends through open grassland and giant lobelia towards Chenek, with several stunning viewpoints along the way. Chenek camp is excellent for wildlife, with both Gelada Baboons and Wallia Ibex commonly seen here. Walking 7 hours / 15km

Chennek – Mount Buahit– Gondar

Simien Mountains National Park - After breakfast, you will begin the journey back to Gondar, arriving in the early afternoon. Those feeling adventurous can opt to tackle Buahit before leaving camp. You’ll need to rise early for the 3-4 hour round trip to this spectacular summit at 4430m.

Gondar-Lalibela

Lalibela - Today is an early start for your morning transfer to Gondar Airport. Once you land, you will be picked up at Lalibela Airport and transferred to your central hotel. Lalibela is world-famous for its monolithic rock-hewn churches. Carved by hand out of solid rock in the 12th and 13th centuries and filled with the evocative sound of chanting monks, this is a deeply spiritual place and rightly a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will visit most of the central churches that Lalibela is renowned for, including the Northern Group (containing the Lalibela Cross), The Western Group (Bete Giyorgis), and the Eastern Group.

Lalibela

Lalibela - Today is an opportunity to take it a little slower. You can choose to walk or ride a rented mule (small extra cost for the mule) up to Asheton Maryam Church, situated at about 3100 meters. Here you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Lalibela town and the surrounding valleys.

Addis-Jinka-Turmi

Turmi - Your guide will meet you at Jinka (Baco) Airport and continue a 130 km (2:30 hours) drive to Turmi town via Jinka, Keyafer, Aldubba, and Dimeka towns, where you may see a tribal market in one of the towns on market days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday). The journey takes you through a range of altitudes with stunning topographies. In the late afternoon, you will visit a Hamar tribe village and have a genuine experience with the Hamar people. You may also witness the bull jumping ceremony or other ceremonies by the Banna or Hamar tribe.

Turmi

Turmi - Drive 75km (1 hour) south to Omo Rate town on an asphalt road to visit the Dassanech tribe who live by the Omo River. The Dassanech people are among the Cushitic-speaking tribes of the Omo Valley. They reside at the Kenya border. After a genuine interaction with the Dassanech tribe, return to Turmi for lunch. You may visit the Hamar tribal market on market days (Monday, Thursday, and Saturday). You may also attend the Hamar Bull Jumping Ceremony (optional) or Evangadi Dancing Ceremony (optional).

Turmi-Jinka

Jinka - After breakfast, drive 65 km (1 hour) to Korcho village of the Kara (Karo) tribe, driving 65km west from Turmi. You will meet with the Kara people in their village on the shore of the Omo River. The Kara or Karo is the least populous ethnic group in the Omo Valley region. They are famous for elaborate facial and body paintings. You can have your face painted in Karo style. Return to Turmi for lunch, and you may also attend the Hamar Bull Jumping Ceremony (optional) or Evangadi Dancing Ceremony (optional). Finally, proceed to Jinka town.

Jinka-Addis

Jinka - Depart early on a 50 km (1-hour) drive one way to visit the Mursi tribe, whose women wear a lip plate. The Mursi tribe is a nomadic agro-pastoral community that moves within their territory in search of fresh pasture and farming grounds. You will have a genuine interaction with the Mursi people and head back to Jinka. Continue to Jinka Airport and fly to Addis Ababa.

• Camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, and mattress (recommended to bring your own sleeping bag)
• Mineral water / bottled water
• Lunch
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast
• Government taxes
• Full board meals
• Airport and departure taxes
• Hotel accommodations as per program
• Cook with cooking materials
• All entrance fees as per program

• Gratuities
• Domestic flights
• Drinks

Ethiopia is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, offering some of the finest trekking experiences globally, breathtaking landscapes, and some of Africa’s most intriguing and vibrant tribal communities. This two-week itinerary covers many highlights:

A major attraction for many travelers to Ethiopia is a multi-day trek in the Simien Mountains, where one can walk along a high-altitude plateau amidst troops of Gelada Baboons and the rare Wallia Ibex, enjoying spectacular views of an endless mountain landscape. Before and after the trek, there is the chance to visit the Northern towns of Gondar and Lalibela, which are key parts of the renowned Northern Historical Circuit. These towns feature the remnants of Fasilades’s Castle (once known as the Camelot of Africa) and the remarkable rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

By taking advantage of Ethiopian Airlines’ twice-weekly flights south to Arba Minch, travelers can also experience the diverse and captivating tribes of the Omo Valley and observe the dense crocodile populations on Lake Chamo.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.