• Personally Planned by Nigisti
  • Small Group Sizes
Custom-Built Itinerary

About Tour Package

The Simien Mountains are, for me, the single most dramatic landscape in all of Ethiopia — jagged escarpments that fall away for a thousand meters, giant lobelia forests standing like something out of another era, and Gelada baboon troops that will graze calmly a few meters from your trail. This 7-day trek is built for travelers who want to properly experience that landscape on foot, not just glimpse it from a viewpoint.

We fly from Addis Ababa into Gondar, then drive up to Debark, the park headquarters, before heading into the highlands proper. From there it's six days of trekking and camping through some of the most spectacular scenery on the continent — Sankabar, Geech, Imet Gogo, Chenek, and Ambiquo — with a full crew of scouts, a cook, and mules to carry the camping gear, so you can focus on the walking and the views.

The centerpiece of the trip is the ascent of Ras Dashen, at 4,620 meters the highest peak in Ethiopia and one of the highest in Africa. It's a long day, but the acclimatization built into this itinerary makes it very achievable for a reasonably fit trekker — no technical climbing skills required.

Along the way, keep your eyes open for the endemic Walia ibex on the cliffs near Chenek, and don't be surprised if a troop of a few hundred Gelada baboons wanders past your campsite at Sankabar or Geech. After the trek, you'll spend your last night in a proper hotel bed in Gondar before flying back to Addis Ababa — with a bit of free time to explore Gondar's medieval castles or just rest before heading home.

  • Accommodation Camping & One Gondar Hotel Night
  • Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Transportation Domestic Flight & Private Vehicle
  • Group Size 2–12 People
  • Language English, Amharic, Tigrinya
  • Heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Age Range 16+ Years, Good Fitness
  • Season Year-Round (Best: Oct–May)
  • Category History & Religious Heritage

Explore Locations

Sankabar escarpment view in Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Sankabar
(1 Day)
Gelada baboon troop near Geech campsite in the Simien Mountains
Geech
(1 Day)
Imet Gogo viewpoint canyon panorama at 3,926 meters, Simien Mountains
Imet Gogo Viewpoint
(Half Day)
Chenek viewpoint with Walia ibex habitat, Simien Mountains National Park
Chenek & the Walia Ibex
(2 Days)
Trekkers on the trail to Ras Dashen summit, the highest peak in Ethiopia
Ras Dashen Summit (4,620m)
(1 Day)
Fasil Ghebbi royal castle complex in Gondar, Ethiopia
Gondar & Fasil Ghebbi
(1 Day)

Highlights of the Tour

  • Summit Ras Dashen (4,620 m) – Ethiopia's highest peak and one of the highest mountains in all of Africa.
  • Imet Gogo viewpoint at 3,926 meters – one of the highest and most spectacular viewpoints in the entire park.
  • Large troops of Gelada baboons at Sankabar and Geech, grazing right beside the trail.
  • The endemic Walia ibex on the cliffs near Chenek, found nowhere else on earth.
  • Forests of giant lobelias, one of the strangest and most memorable plants you'll ever walk through.
  • A full support crew of scouts, cook, and mules, plus a night at a Gondar hotel to recover before you fly home.

Tour Itinerary

Expand All +
  • Simien Mountains, Ethiopia ( Departure: 6:00 am - 7:00am )
    Day-01 Addis Ababa – Gondar – Debark – Sankabar
    Fly to Gondar and then drive to Debark (106 km), the headquarters of the Simien Mountains National Park. From Debark, continue to Sankabar. You can spend the rest of the day spotting Gelada baboons around the campsite.
    • Transport:
      Domestic Flight, Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Drive to Debark & Sankabar, Gelada baboon spotting.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Overnight Camping at Sankabar
    Hike to Geech, with several stops along the way to admire the spectacular scenery. While crossing the Jinbar River, you will have the opportunity to spot large troops of Gelada baboons.
    • Transport:
      On Foot (Trekking)
    • Activities:
      Trek to Geech (5 hrs, 15 km), Jinbar River crossing, Gelada baboon spotting.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Overnight Camping at Geech Campsite (3,580 m)
    Hike to Chenek, passing through beautiful landscapes and forests of giant lobelias. The route via Inatye is considered one of the most scenic routes to Chenek. You will reach Imet Gogo at an altitude of 3,926 meters above sea level, one of the highest viewpoints in the Simien Mountains. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way before continuing to Chenek Campsite (3,620 m), where you will spend the night. You may also have the opportunity to spot the endemic Walia ibex.
    • Transport:
      On Foot (Trekking)
    • Activities:
      Imet Gogo viewpoint (3,926 m), giant lobelia forests, Walia ibex spotting.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Overnight Camping at Chenek (3,620 m)
    Today, hike to Ambiquo, passing through the valleys of Serekawa and Mesheba, as well as Bwahit Summit (4,430 m). From a distance, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and peaks, you can spot Ras Dashen.
    • Transport:
      On Foot (Trekking)
    • Activities:
      Serekawa & Mesheba valleys, Bwahit Summit (4,430 m), first views of Ras Dashen.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Overnight Camping at Ambiquo Campsite (3,200 m) – 2 Nights
    Start very early in the morning to ascend Ras Dashen (4,620 m), the highest peak in Ethiopia and one of the highest mountains in Africa. The acclimatization is generally good, and the ascent is not technically difficult. However, it is a long day of hiking to the roof of Ethiopia, offering breathtaking views along the way. After reaching the summit, descend back to Ambiquo for an overnight stay.
    • Transport:
      On Foot (Trekking)
    • Activities:
      Ras Dashen summit ascent (4,620 m), Ethiopia's highest peak.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Overnight Camping at Ambiquo
    Trek back to Chenek along the same route you hiked previously, crossing the Mesheba River. From Chenek, drive to Gondar for an overnight stay.
    • Transport:
      Trekking, then Private Vehicle to Gondar
    • Activities:
      Mesheba River crossing, drive to Gondar.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Gondar
    Explore the historic city of Gondar in the morning — including the Fasil Ghebbi royal castle complex — before being transferred to the airport for your afternoon flight to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, you will have free time for shopping, resting, and relaxing before being transferred to the airport for your final departure home.
    • Transport:
      Private Vehicle, Domestic Flight
    • Activities:
      Gondar historic city & Fasil Ghebbi castles tour, free time in Addis Ababa.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch
    • Accommodation:
      Trip Ends / Departure

Your Route on the Map

Package Features List

Include Features
  • Domestic Flights, Addis Ababa ↔ Gondar (Round Trip)
  • Private Vehicle Transfers, Gondar ↔ Debark ↔ Simien Mountains
  • Professional English-Speaking Trekking Guide, Scouts & Cook
  • Full Camping Equipment & Mules for All Camping Nights
  • All Listed Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) During the Trek
  • One Hotel Night in Gondar
Exclude Features
  • International Flights.
  • Visa Fees & Processing.
  • Personal Expenses (Shopping, Souvenirs, Tips, etc.)
  • Alcoholic Drinks & Bottled Beverages.
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Personal Trekking Gear (Boots, Sleeping Bag, Trekking Poles, etc.).

Additional Info

  • Flexible Planning – Let us know as early as possible if your dates change; we'll always work with you to find a solution.
  • Health & Safety – We'll advise you on vaccinations, altitude, and anything else worth knowing before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

It's not technically difficult — there's no climbing gear or rope work involved — but it is a long day, roughly 9 to 10 hours round trip from Ambiquo. The real challenge is the altitude and the distance, not the terrain itself, so a reasonable level of fitness matters more than any special skill.
You'll be camping between 3,200 and 3,620 meters for most of the trek, with the Ras Dashen summit itself at 4,620 meters. The itinerary is built to give you a gradual climb over several days so your body has time to acclimatize before the summit push — but do let us know in advance if you have any concerns, and drink plenty of water throughout.
Prior multi-day trekking experience helps, but it isn't required. What matters most is being in good general physical condition, since you'll be walking 5 to 10 hours a day for six days in a row at altitude. If you can comfortably hike a full day at home, you'll be fine here.
Absolutely. This trek pairs naturally with Gondar's castles, Axum, Lalibela, or Bahir Dar and Lake Tana. Let us know what else you'd like to see and we'll build it into your itinerary.
Warm layers for freezing camp nights, sturdy broken-in trekking boots, a good sleeping bag, sun protection, and a rain jacket outside the dry season. See our full travel preparation guide for the complete checklist.

Customer Review & Rating

New Route

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Starting From
$1,750/per person
  • Personally Planned by Nigisti.
  • Your Safety is Our Top Priority.
Ask About Extending to Gondar's Castles, Axum, Lalibela, or Bahir Dar & Lake Tana

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