Today morning we fly to Gondar and upon arrival transfer to our hotel overlooking Gondar town. After check in we embark on a city tour and visit the 17th century royal palaces and the old standing mural painting church of Debre Birhan Selassie. The city's unique imperial precinct contains a dozen castles and fortress-like battlements built by various Emperors during the 236-year period of the Gondarian Empire. By European standards, the Gondar castles may not be elaborate, but their very presence in Africa makes them a rare and imposing sight. We can have a lunch at the city square and continue our tour at the beautifully painted Debre Birhan Selassie church. The Debre Birhan Selassie Church in Gondar town is famous for its "winged angel faces "that decorate the entire ceiling.  Dinner and Overnight will be at the Goha Hotel.

Accommodation: Goha Hotel 

Meal Plan: B B

Today we drive to the Simien Mountain Lodge via the Park headquarters in Debark.  After a 2 to 3 hours’ drive we put on our hiking boots, put some snacks and drinks in our rucksacks and hike, meet with our trek leader, and hike for about 7km to Sankaber camp ( 3200m) .  There are spectacular views over the jagged peaks and Gelada Baboons may surround us. Dinner and overnight will be in a fly camp at the Sankaber camp site.

Length of hike: 2-3 hours, 7km

Accommodation: Sankaber Fly Camp

Meal Plan: B L D

The first day of hiking starts with a nourishing breakfast before we head out to the trail along the ridge. We pass a wonderful vantage point which offers some incredible views over the foothills some 800 metres below. The mountains are known worldwide for their biodiversity and our guide points out flora and fauna along the route.  Gelada Baboons, Klipspringer and Walia Ibex make regular appearances and birds soar on the thermals below. A highlight today is the Genbar Falls, a waterfall over a sobering 500m sheer drop.  After a break for lunch, we carry on towards Geech, a remote traditional village with thatched roofs. Dinner and Overnight will be at the Geech Campsite in tents

Length of hike: 5-6 hours/15km

Accommodation: Geech Campsite 

Meal Plan: B L D

Today we ascend Imet Gogo, a headland at the edge of a ridge that stands close to 4000 metres with unbelievable 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. We can see west, back towards Sankaber and Geech, and south-east along a large gorge towards tomorrow’s destination. The trail continues through Giant Erica woodlands before emerging on the moorland at Inatye, the second highest peak in the western part of the park. We descend to 3620 m to spend the night at Chenek camp which is often the best spot to see both Ethiopian Wolves and Walia Ibex. 

Length of hike:  7-8 hours/18km

Accommodation: Chenek Camp

Meal Plan: B L

Mount Buahit is Ethiopia’s third highest peak, standing at an impressive 4430 meters. Your route to Mount Buahit follows footpaths off the road alongside a stream that trickles down the hill. This is quite a steep walk, but we can take regular breaks at great view points en route. This is also our best chance to see Walia Ibex.  At the summit, we are rewarded with phenomenal views across the entire Simiens range.  We descend to the main road where 4x4 cars take us to Ambiko camp at 2700m for dinner and overnight in tent.

Accommodation: Ambiko Campsite

Meal Plan: B L D

The day begins before sunrise to give us ample time for trekking. The first 2-3 hours we follow a rocky trail. The trail then starts to ascend more steeply and continues for another hour. From here to the summit it will take about 2 hours trekking through Afro alpine meadows. The trail winds its way into the moorland where everlasting flowers and helichrysum become dominant. The trail to the summit is obvious and easy until you make that final scramble and find yourself on the roof of Africa. Eventually, you’ll descend 4-5 hours to the Mentaber campsite. O/N tents

Length of hike: 11 hours/23km

Accommodation: Mentaber Campsite

Meal Plan: B L D

From Mentaber we walk through narrow and steep valleys for a couple of hours. Although the people here do not see many tourists, they are very welcoming and many of them would want to shake hands with us, especially children. Before reaching the broad valley of Arkwazye where the camp situated, we take a steep climb through one of the villages, during which we might feel the strain of the previous day’s long walk. Dinner and overnight will once again be at the fly camp at Arkwasiye at 3700m.

Accommodation: Arkwasiye Campsite

Meal Plan: B L D

Today our Simien Adventure comes to an end.  After breakfast an hour hike take us to the main road just below the Bwahit pass at about 4000m.  Here we are picked up by our cars and take us to the Lima Limo Lodge for dinner and overnight. We enjoy the comfort of the lodge and the hot shower after many days of hiking. 

The bar, restaurant and terrace provide breathtaking views along the Simien escarpment and give you plenty of space to relax in:  we can laze on the terrace, stay warm around the fire pit in the evening, enjoy a delicious meal from our kitchen or curl up in front of the log fire.

Accommodation: Lima Limo Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

Right after breakfast, an early morning drive will take us to Axum (240 Km from Debark) through the Simien Mountains & magnificent topography & scenery. We arrive in Axum for lunch and check into a hotel and take a break.  In the afternoon we visit Stelae of Axum, the Inscription of Ezana, Queen Sheba’s Palace, the famous St. Mary of Zion Church, ruins of ancient palaces (built until 4th century A.D.), dinner will be at the hotel. 

Accommodation: Axum Hotel

Meal Plan: B L D

Today we drive to the Danakil Depression. It is one of the most in-hospitable regions of the world, but is nonetheless spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the sulphur springs. The desert has several points lying more than 100 meters (328 ft) below sea level. we pass through a small town of Berhale where the camel caravans stop before they proceed to the northern highlands. En route you see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. (3-4 hrs drive) Camp at Hamed Ela.

Accommodation: Hamed Ela Camp

Meal Plan: B L D

We start early, shortly after a 06:30 breakfast, and drive to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food, sleeping materials, mattresses and water, to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on the top of the mountain.

Accommodation: Crater Rim Fly Camp

Meal Plan: B L D

We descend in the morning from Erteale and return to Hamedela for lunch. In the afternoon we drive to Dallol and Lake Asal where we observe the breaking of the salt from the ground and the colorful formations in forms in one of the lowest areas in the world ( -116m). In the evening we return to Hamed Ela for another overnight under the sky. 

Accommodation: Hamed Ela Camp

Meal Plan: B L D

As the sun rises we watch salt caravans passing and after breakfast return to Mekele for lunch and an afternoon flight to Addis and a final night at the Friendship Hotel.

Accommodation: Friendship Hotel

Meal Plan: B B

After breakfast we are transferred to Bole airport for a morning departure.