Ethiopian Historic and Trekking Holiday 15 Days & 14 Nights

Daily itinerary

Day 1. Arrival and Addis Ababa city tour.

Be welcomed at the airport and transfer to your hotel where you will stay for the first two nights. Addis Ababa is the third largest city in Africa with an estimated population of five million and the third highest capital in the world. Addis is a colorful and vibrant city regarded by many as ‘The African diplomatic capital’. The city tour of Addis includes among others, museums – the national and the ethnographic; market – Merkato (the largest open air market). Churches – St George Cathedral also housing various religious artifacts.

Day 2. Fly to Bahirdar, Tana islands & Nile. (1hr flight)

Bahirdar is as pleasant as you’ll find for relaxing and viewing the lake, and the weather is probably the best in Ethiopia. You will have a boat trip on Lake Tana to the island monasteries where you can experience a great calmness. You will visit Azwa, Ura or Mehal Zege; Kibran Gabriel and get an impression of just how far back Christianity goes in this region. Among others Ura-Kidane Mihret is most impressive monastery on the peninsula, situated near one of the prettiest and most secluded inlets in the area. Enjoy excursion to Blue Nile falls where at times a good deal of water is released, it becomes spectacular.  

Day 3. Drive to Gonder.  (3hrs drive)

Visit Ethiopian medieval capital Gonder that contained large royal enclosure containing castles, palaces, houses and outbuildings among them Fasiladas’s palace is the oldest and perhaps most impressive. Visit the various ruined buildings including the remains of a bathing pool, a chancellery and a library of Fasiladas’s son and Debre Birhan Selassie church.  

Day 4. Drive to Simien Mountains.

Drive 110km north of Gonder to Debark a small town situated at an altitude of 3250 meters above sea level on an impressive view point. Meet your crew at Debark then continue driving inside the park towards the first camp site, Sankaber, 3300mts asl. Before you arrive at the camping site, you have about 3hrs walk. On the western escarpments you will encounter troops of the endemic Gelada baboons (found only in Ethiopia). They are often referred to as the bleeding heart baboon or the lion monkey. Their coat is shaggy resembling a lion whilst their chest has a marked red heart, the gelada baboon can be found in good numbers are easy to approach. You will enjoy about 4hours light trekking today.

Day 5. Trek Sankaber to Gich.

From Sankaber camp the path to Gich camp stretches for approximately ten kilometers (5-6hrs). The initial stage of this path leads through extensive areas of highland grasslands and heather forests. This path offers some of the most impressive views of the escarpment. One of the best views is of the Jinbar, a waterfall which plummets down the Gich Abyss.

After descending down to the Jinbar Wenz River a short ascent remains to Gich village. You will notice extensive soil erosion in this area as a result of the combination of such factors as slope steepness, cultivation, overgrazing, erosive rainfall and limited land resources. Take a break at Gich village, visit local houses for a coffee ceremony. Just above Gich village is the campsite which has great views of the mountains and is characterized by giant Lobelia plants.  

Day 6. Gich – Chenek

Walk from Gich to Immetgogo, Saha and Kedatit. These three places are perhaps the most spectacular places in the Simien Mountains. The trek from Gich to Chenek covers approximately twelve Kilometers (6 – 7 hours) following a path along the escarpment edge. Just before arriving into Chenek you will stop at Kurbet Metaya viewpoint at 4070 meters – this viewpoint is actually a gap in the precipitous cliff – which reveals impressive views of the steep mountain faces to the west and the lowlands areas to the left. 

Chenek campsite is spectacularly located in a beautiful valley at the foot of the Bwahit Peak. Strategically placed benches allow for the opportunity to take in the expansive views back toward Imet Gogo, especially beautiful in both the dawn and dusk light.

Day 7. Chenek – Bwahit peak – Simien Lodge.

From Chenek camp, 3650 meters, you will have a total of 5 hrs hike to and from Bawhit Peak 4430mt (the second highest peak in the park). There is a magnificent view at the peak that gives you an expansive view of the area further to the lowland Sona and towards Dashen. Then drive back to Buit Ras where you will stay the last night at the lodge. 

Day 8. Simien Mountains then drive back to Gonder.

Enjoy watching the Gelada baboons surrounding your lodge then the afternoon drive back to Gonder to catch the next day flight to Axum. 

Day 9. Fly to Axum, visit steles & royal tombs.

Visit the ancient civilization that once existed on earth 2000 years ago. The Aksumite kingdom numbered among the greatest civilizations of the ancient world Aksum’s astonishing Stelae are striking for their huge size. You will visit Tombs of kings dating from the 3rd century, St Mary of Zion church said to contain the infamous Ark of the Covenant, and the Park of Stelae.

Day 10. Fly to Lalibela.

Visit Lalibela where you will get an impression of landing in a kingdom at least seven centuries behind your own. Alvares, the early 16th century Portuguese writer, described them as ‘edifices, the like of which and so many can’t be found anywhere else in the world.’

In Lalibela you will be immensely impressed by the remarkable rock churches built at least seven centuries ago. Today you will visit the northern clusters known as the earthly Jerusalem; Bete Medhani Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, Bete Golgotha /Michael.

Day 11. Yimreha Kirstos

In the morning have an excursion to Yemrehanna Krestos, an ancient church found at 42 km from Lalibela town where you will feel the atmosphere deep within yourself as its name implies “let Christ guides us the way”. After you back to the town, you can visit the remaining churches if you missed yesterday; that are also known the heavenly Jerusalem; Bete Gebriel and Rufael, Bete Mercurious, Bete Amanuel and Bete Aba Libanos, and Bete Giorgis.

Day 12. Fly back to Addis.

Fly back to Addis for an afternoon arrival. In the afternoon you will visit some parts of Addis that you missed on your first day.

Day 13 & 14. Fly to Diredawa then drive to Harer.

A morning flight to Diredawa then an hour drive to Harer, one of UNESCO registered world heritage sites, special for its old town within the sturdy wall built between the 13th and 16th centuries. You will visit an interesting market, house of Arthur Rimbaud (a French poet and arms dealer), and the ancient mosque of AbuBeker. An interesting thing to watch at night is the place where hyenas are hand fed that you can even try it.

Day 15. Fly back to Adds then late evening departure flight.

At Addis a farewell dinner awaits you at a cultural restaurant where you will enjoy delicious cuisine accompanied by traditional music and dances.