Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Ethiopia Simien Mountains Private Hiking
Day 1 Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Arrive in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and meet your MT Sobek representative outside the terminal building of Bole International Airport, for transfers to the hotel. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant and enjoy a captivating folklore dance performance.
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa
(D)
Day 2 Explore Addis Ababa
Cultural touring
Today embark on an Addis Ababa city tour, taking in the highlights. Admire the nation's art and archeological treasures at the National Museum, including the famous "Lucy" skeleton, partial fossilized remains of an early hominid. See the Trinity Cathedral Church, built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation, and the Ethnological Museum, one of Africa's finest museums set within the former palace of Haile Selassie (the last Emperor of Ethiopia), surrounded by beautiful gardens. Wander through Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa, with its colorful stalls laden with coffee.The September departure also includes the annual Meskel Festival.
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Fly to Gondar & Drive to the Simien Mountains
2-hour 10-minute flight transfer and 3-hour private van transfer
Short acclimatizing hike
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Gondar and then continue overland into the Simien Mountains National Park. Ethiopia's most popular place for trekking, this spectacular landscape has jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and a dramatic escarpment with views over the rugged lowlands. Check in at the Simien Lodge, and head out for a short hike in search of the endemic gelada baboons. Return to the lodge for dinner and drinks.
Accommodation: Simien Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Spot Wildlife on a Scenic Escarpment Trek
3-7 hours/9-10 miles hiking with 1,200’ elevation gain and loss
After breakfast, head back out to Simien Mountains National Park for a scenic trek along the escarpment. These mountains are a nature lover's dream, fantastically rich in wildlife, including the iconic red-chested gelada baboon that only exists in Ethiopia. Hiking with these cliff-dwelling monkeys that hang out in large groups is an absolute treat for wildlife lovers. Along the way, explore more of the park's unique flora, fauna and geology. Return to the cozy comforts of Simien Lodge for an evening atop the escarpment.
Accommodation: Simien Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Lodge-to-Lodge Trek in Simien Mountains National Park
7-8 hours/9-10 miles hiking with 1,200' elevation gain and loss
Today explore the Simien Mountains on an extraordinary lodge-to-lodge trek. With its altitude, varied terrain and weather, the full-day hiking adventure is challenging but the rewards make it worthwhile. Hike above plummeting gorges and in the shadows of towering pinnacles, following routes as old as time. Look out for lammergeier vultures, tawny eagles and thick-billed ravens; the park features over 180 species of bird. Arrive back at the Limalimo Lodge to enjoy dinner by a roaring fire.
Accommodation: Limalimo Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Blend Hiking & Yoga in an Acacia Forest
2-3 hours/2-3 miles hiking with 500’ elevation gain and loss
Kick off the day with yoga and a hearty breakfast, then set out to explore more of the Simiens with its myriad ecosystems. Dropping off from the escarpment, witness these ecosystems changing from high mountain desert into acacia forest. Enjoy a 2-hour hike through the forest, a prime habitat for birding. In the afternoon, opt for a 30-minute hike to the local community, to learn traditional beer brewing, cooking and coffee making. Or unwind at the lodge, with more yoga, a massage, or simply soaking in the views.
Accommodation: Limalimo Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Explore the Castles & Churches of Historic Gondar
3-hour private van transfer
Cultural touring
After breakfast at the lodge, drive back from the Simien Mountains to Gondar, the former royal capital of the Ethiopian Empire. Have lunch at the traditional Four Seasons Restaurant and set out on a tour of this historic city first founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilides. Take in the Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure), with its magnificent castles, and Fasilides Bath, where on January 19 during Timket (Epiphany) hundreds bath to get christened. Visit the 18th-century Debre Birhan Selassie Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its gorgeous sacral art.
Accommodation: Gondar Hills Resort
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Fly to Lalibela & Visit the Magnificent Yemrehanna Kristos Church
1-hour flight transfer and 30-minute private van transfer
Cultural touring
Today after breakfast, fly from Gondar to the town of Lalibela. Check in to your hotel, enjoy lunch and head out to the rarely visited Yemrehanna Kristos, one of Ethiopia's best-preserved late Axumite churches. Set inside a large cave on a juniper tree-dotted ridge 42km outside Lalibela, this spectacular church predates the nearby rock-hewn churches of Lalibela by nearly a century.
Accommodation: Mezena Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Discover the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
Cultural touring
Spend today marveling at the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the crown jewel among Ethiopia's sights. Ringed by courtyards and trenches and connected via a tangled maze of passages, this series of 11 monolithic churches - a World Heritage Site by UNESCO - was built during the 12th and 13th century. Take in this mind-blowing treasure, including the most famous Church of St George, also known as Bete Giyorgis, carved out of solid volcanic tuff. Enjoy a farewell dinner and coffee ceremony at Ben Abeba Restaurant, known for its Scottish-Ethiopian cuisine and marvelous views.
Accommodation: Mezena Lodge
(B, D)
Day 10 Fly Back to Addis Ababa & Depart from Ethiopia
This morning after breakfast, fly back to Addis Ababa and check in to the day room at a hotel near the airport. Interested in more opportunities to experience Ethiopia's stunning rock-hewn churches? Call us for a three-day extension options to Gheralta.
(B)
