• Simien Mountains National Park - Guests will be greeted in the morning at Gondar Airport or their hotel in Gondar. The journey begins with a drive from Gondar to Debark, the headquarters town for the national park. Here, visitors will obtain permission to enter the park and meet the scout. There will be a tea and coffee break, and if time permits, a visit to the local market, which is open daily, with larger markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. From Debark, the drive continues to the park gate, approximately 16km away, followed by a 10km drive to Sankaber camp, the first campsite in the national park. From Sankaber camp, a trek of about 3 hours awaits, offering breathtaking views over the foothills 800m below. Visitors will likely encounter troops of endemic gelada baboons up close. The Jinba waterfalls, with an impressive 500m sheer drop, is the longest fall in Ethiopia. The journey concludes with a return to the main road (Kavamesk) where transportation will be provided back to Gondar.

• Sankaber - A 20-minute walk from the roadside to the lookout across the chasm to Jinbar Waterfall is highly recommended. The views are dizzying and particularly spectacular during the rainy season when water cascades down the sheer cliff on the opposite side of the valley. Sankaber is the first campsite on most Simien treks and offers a wonderful introduction to the park. The drive from Debark, the entrance town to the Simien Mountains, ends at Buit Ras near the Simien Lodge. From there, the trek to Sankaber camp begins. The route from Buit Ras to Sankaber is relatively gentle and serves as a good acclimatization hike, although there are some steeper ascents as the elevation reaches around 3200 meters.

Sankaber is surrounded by Giant Heath trees (Erica Arboreal) and escarpment edges. The camp is located on the escarpment edge and offers stunning views. Gelada Monkeys often play on the grounds, and there are several excellent viewpoints around the camp to explore while acclimatizing.

• Government tax
• Bottled water
• Lunch
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Scout/Park Ranger
• Airport and departure taxes
• Guide
• National Park fee

• Personal interest

Begin your full-day Ethiopian trekking adventure from the old, once-capital city of Gondar. Get picked up from your hotel and drive two hours to Debark, the entrance of Simien Mountains National Park. Upon arrival, get all the formalities and permits figured and meet your guide and the national park scouts who will assist you throughout the day.

Then, drive 13 miles to the first area of the park and the starting point of your hike. Begin trekking on a three-hour trail all the way up to Michibi, where you will see the endemic gelada baboon and many varieties of plants and birds. Enjoy the spectacular view of the Simien Mountains from above. End the wonderful day with drop-off to your hotel in Gondar.

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