Duration: 14 days/13 nights
Tour Code: AT011
Transportation: by car and air
Tour Description: climb Ras Dejen: the highest peak in Ethiopia, the 4th highest peak in Africa, and to visit the majesty Castles of Gondar as well as the spectacular scenery of the Semien Mountain National Park and endemic mammals.
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to hotel after check in to hotel, brief about the tour. Overnight Hotel
Day 2: Fly to Gondar 1:20 hours
Fly to Gondar which takes 1:20 hours after check in to the hotel then visit the medieval castles and churches. Overnight Hotel
Day 3: Drive to Sankaber (3250 m asl)
After breakfast, drive 100km to debark, where you will register before entering to the Semien Mountain National Park and have lunch in Debark. In the afternoon drive almost 30km to Michibi then you will start your hiking for almost 2 hours until the first camping site of Sankaber. Overnight Camp
Day 4: Trek from Sankaber to Gich (3600 m asl) 6:00 – 7:00 hours
You will follow the track eastward along a narrow ridge, with the escarpment to the north and Koba river valley to the south. After two hours trekking you reach Jinbar waterfalls, where a Jinbar river plunges over 80m high rock face in to Gich abyss. About 1:30 hours from the waterfalls, the path divide, keep left and drop into the valley, across Jinbar River, then steeply up through Gich village to reach Gich camp. Overnight Camp
Day 5: Trek from Gich - Imet Gogo – Saha -Kedadit and back to Gich 5:00 – 6:00 hours
On this day you will trek a loop on the breathtaking landscape of the national park. From Gich camp it’s one to two hours to the summit of Imet Gogo (3925masl) then an hour trek to Saha (3785m asl) after an hour and half trek you reach Kedadit then trek back to Gich. Overnight at Camp site at Gich
Day 6: Trek from Gich to Chennek (3620m asl) 7:00 – 8:00 hours
Follow the track east words steeply down and up, you pass other major peaks on the way such as Sheyno sefer (3962m asl) and Inatye (4070m asl). It’s also a good area to see Lammergar and the rear Ethiopian wolf. Overnight Camp
Day 7: Trek from Chennek to Ambico (3200m asl) 8:00 -9:00 hours
After two hours, while trekking from Chennek you reach Bawit Pass (4200m asl), it is a view point to see the vast valley of the Mesheha river and its tributaries and you get your first sighting of Ras Dejen then the path drops steeply down passing through the village of Chero Leba to reach Mesheha River, across the river the path steeply up through Ambico village to reach Ambico camp. Overnight Camp
Day 8: Trek from Ambico to Ras Dashen summit (4533m asl) 8:00 – 9:00 hours
From Ambico continue up the valley to reach the small village of Mizma (3500m asl) then follow the path to east words and head towards Ras Dejen rock west face, visible at the head of the valley, about 4 hours trek from Ambico, you pass through a gap in an old stone wall, then swing left up a broad ridge to enter a wide semicircular corrie for almost an hour and half till the base of the summit then 15minuts scrambling to the peak. And return the same path to Ambico. Overnight Camp
Day 9: Trek from Ambico to Sona 6:00 – 7:00 hours
Trek back to Meshea River then the path divide; keep right and you will pass on the way different small Amhara villages. Overnight Camp
Day 10: Trek from Sona to Mekarebiya 5:00 – 6:00 hours
The Zigzags track steeply down almost 1000m till Ansiya River, it is possible to take bath in the river, across Ansiya River you will trek three to four hours crossing several streams to reach Mekarebiya camp. It’s also good area to see different flowers. Overnight Camp
Day 11: Trek Mekarebiya to Mulit 7:00 – 8:00 hours
You will follow the track westward along a narrow ridge. After two hours trek you will reah at Derek Winze, across Derek Winze the path steeply up through Hawaza village to reach Mulit camp, it is possibly one of the most spectacular place in the simian national park. Overnight Camp
Day 12: Short trekking from Mulit to Adiarkaye 2:00 – 3:00 hours
Heading west from Mulit, you leave the national park and the path slowly down to Adiarkaye; and meet the vehicles then drive back to Gondar en route visit Felasha or Black Jew village. Overnight Hotel
Day 13: Fly back to Addis Ababa
In the evening enjoy a traditional farewell dinner with Ethiopian cultural music and dancing presentations. Overnight Hotel or Departure
