View in the Simien Mountains
(photo by Awaze client, Ron Bugaj

Ethiopia's Historic Route and Simien Mountain Trek;
15 Days / 14 Nights

Tour Itinerary TH14a

Arrival Bole International Airport
Awaze Tours will meet all clients arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time. For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel. For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day.

Exhibits at the National Museum in Addis Ababa.

Day 01 Addis Ababa
Visit Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Tour the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Make a short drive to Entoto Hills for a view of the city and visit Maryam Church. En-route, stop at Sheromeda traditional cloth market. Visit the Mercato or the Sholla Market, two of Addis Ababa's main markets.

Overnight Hotel - (B, L, D)

Many Ethiopian farmers still use traditional farming methods.

Day 02 Addis Ababa - Bahar Dar
Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines. Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and tour ancient monasteries on the Zege Peninsula. We will visit two of the following monasteries: Ura Kidane Mehiret, Azwa Maryam, Mehal Zege Giorgis, and Bete Maryam. End the day with a sunset visit to Bezawit Hills overlooking the Nile River.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

Bahar Dar market

Day 03 Bahar Dar - Gondar
Drive through the countryside to Gondar. After lunch, tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian Kings beginning in the early 17th century. Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty African Empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels. Tour the baths of King Fasilides which still serves as a baptismal pool during Timkat (Epiphany celebrated every January in the Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical calendar.)

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Gondar's Royal Enclosure.

Day 04 Gondar - Simien Mountains National Park
Morning departure to Debark (100 kms from Gondar), where the headquarters of Simien Mountains National Park is located. Meet the Scout, Mountain Guide, and others on the trekking team. Continue driving to Sankabar (31 kms from Debark) and the first camp site of the National Park. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, possibly spotting wildlife such as the endemic Gelada Baboons and the “bone breaker” bird Lammergeyer. Camp at Sankabar (3200m.)

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Sankabar campsite

Day 05 Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Sankaber - Geech (3,600m elevation) which will take between 5-7 hours. After one and half hours, see the Jinnbar River and falls which you will cross later in the day. After crossing the river, ascend for about 2 hours to Geech. The scenery is wonderful and a herd of Gelada Baboons can be seen on the journey. Camp at Geech (3600m.)

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Simien Mountains National Park.

Day 06 Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Geech - Imet Gogo- Kedadit - Seha - Geech. Trek to some of the best view points in the National Park. Imet Gogo boasts spectacular views in every direction. Possible wildlife sightings on this 4 -5 hour trek include the Simien Wolf, the Walia Ibex, and Klipspringers.

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Baby Gelada

Day 07 Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Geech - Chenek (3,620m elevation); trek along the 4,000 meter breathtaking Enatye escarpment before descending to Chenek. Walia Ibex and Gelada Baboons are routinely spotted.

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Klipspringer

Day 08 Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek to Ambiquo campsite (3,200m) approximately 9 hours via Mt. Buhit (4,430m); cross the Mesheha River before reaching Ambiquo.

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Simien Mountains Park scout.

Day 09 Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Ambiquo - Ras Dashen - Ambiquo; early morning departure to the summit of Ras Dashen, at 4,543 meters, Africa’s fourth highest peak. Trek up the Valley from your campsite to the small village of Mizma. From here, a steep climb brings you to an impressive amphitheater made up of three major buttresses of expanded rock. It is then an easy scramble to the summit. To reach the Summit can take up to 6 hrs. Return to Ambiquo camp for overnight.

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Simien Mountains National Park

Day 10 Trekking Simien Mountains National Park
Trek Ambiquo - Chenek; return to Chenek, bypassing Mt. Buhit on the return.

Overnight Camping (B, L, D)

Angels on the ceiling of Debre Birhan Selassie.

Day 11 Simien Mountains National Park - Gondar
Meet with vehicles and return to Gondar. Relax and recover from trek.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Lalibela's weekly market.

Day 12 Gondar - Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela on Ethiopian Airlines 700 kilometers north of Addis Ababa. Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic and semi-monolithic structures were carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings. In the late afternoon, enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony and learn the process for baking injera (a staple food for much of Ethiopia.)

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 13 Lalibela
Drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela. The drive to Yemrehanna will also give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the Ethiopian highlands. Continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

"False" door carved into Axum stele.

Day 14 Lalibela - Axum
Fly to Axum on Ethiopian Airlines. Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years. Visit the new and impressive Archeological Museum. See St. Mary Tsion Church, which houses the Ark of the Covenant according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (no one is allowed to see the Ark.) Visit other tombs and archeological sites as time permits.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 15 Axum - Addis Ababa
Fly to Addis Ababa. Visit the National Museum, home of the 3 million year old skeleton “Lucy.” Optional souvenir shopping. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure if needed.
(B, L, D)

End of Tour
(Awaze Tours will arrange additional hotel nights in Addis Ababa upon request.)

Inclusions

Entrance fees for all sites and parks mentioned in the itinerary
All excursions listed on the itinerary
Experienced, multilingual tour guides and guides' expenses
Ground transportation via tour vehicle (including driver and fuel)
All domestic flights listed on itinerary (actual flight number/schedule may change)
All meals mentioned on itinerary
Lodging for each night on tour
All hotel/airport transfers during the tour

Exclusions