Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Bahir Dar, Gondar and Simien Mountains Trekking
Northern Ethiopia boasts a wealth of both natural and historical treasures. This tour starts with a trip to Bahir Dar, where you’ll visit the Blue Nile Falls and take a cruise on Lake Tana. From Bahir Dar, the tour continues Gondar, where you can explore the Royal Enclosure, and the ruined fairy-tale castles which have earned it the name ‘African Camelot’. Heading north-east, you’ll then visit the Simien Mountains National Park, famous for far-reaching views and rare wildlife species. The Simien Mountains National Park, designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, contains many summits over 4000m and is known for its stunning scenery. Erosion of basalt lavas has created the dramatic escarpments and freestanding pinnacles that are characteristic of the Simien Mountains range and which are comparable in terms of spectacle to the Grand Canyon. Five and a half days of trekking will take you through a scenic land of natural wonders and rare wildlife, including the Ethiopian wolf, the strikingly-maned Gelada baboon and the majestic lammergeier or bearded vulture. Trekking through several villages, notable for their carefully tended farmland and friendly people, the walk reaches its climax at the summit of Ras Deshen (4543m), where the views extend northwards to Eritrea.