Simien Mountains:
Short Trekking Trip
| Our
extensive knowledge of trekking routes in
the Simiens guarantees a wonderfully
exciting but safe trek. We can arrange a
trek to suit any ability, age or fitness,
from 10 days up to and beyond 21 days.
Please contact us for further information
about our itineraries, including more
details about distances, altitude and
terrain. |
Day 1
Addis Ababa
Day 2 Fly to Gondar
Day 3 Drive to Debark,
afternoon trek to Chilquanit
Day 4 Trek to Geech camp
Day 5 Trek around Imet
Gogo to acclimatize, enjoy surrounding
views
Day 6 Trek to Chenek
Day 7 Climb early
morning to Bwait peak then return to
Sankerber
Day 8 Collected by car,
drive to Gondar
Day 9 Fly to Addis Ababa
Day 10 Fly home |
Walk to Imetgogo
through Giant Lobelia
Meeting local
people
|
Simien Mountains:
Long Trek
Day 1
Addis Ababa
Day 2 Fly to Gondar
Day 3 Drive to Debark,
trek to Chilquanit
Day 4 Trek via Sankerber
to Geech
Day 5 Overnight Geech,
climbing Imet Gogo or relaxing in camp
Day 6 Trek to Chenek
Day 7 Trek to Ambiko
Day 8 Climb Mount Ras
Dashen, highest peak in Ethiopia,
overnight Mentaber
Day 9 Walk to Arkwizai,
through Silki Mountains |
A heavy load
|
Day 10
Walking in lowlands
Day 11 Walking in
lowlands.
Day 12 Walking in
lowlands. Rendezvous with transport.
Drive to Gondar.
Day 13 Fly from Gondar
to Addis Ababa.
Day 14 Fly Home |
Campsite
|
 |
N.B.
Extensions/alternative routes can easily
be arranged to the historical sites at
Axum and Lalibela. Six days would be
appropriate time for this. |
 |
A 17-day trek
can be arranged from the Simien National
Park across to Lalibela. Allowing for
time at Lalibela to explore the Rock Hewn
Churches, 21 days would be appropriate. |
Magdala trek
| Magdala trek following a challenging
route taken by General Napier in 1868. This
trek may be done entirely on foot or with
the aid of riding mules.
|
Day 1
Home departure.
Day 2 Arrive Addis
Ababa. City Tour. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 3 Fly to Mekele,
overnight in Hotel.
Day 4 Drive to Lake
Hashengie.Camping overnight.
Day 5 Arrange porters
and mules. Overnight camping at
Hashengie.
Day 6 Trek to Lat.
Overnight Camping.Long day.
Day 7 Lat to Marrawah.
Overnight Marrawah.
Day 8 Marrawah to
Dildey. Bathe in Tsuray river en route to
camp. |
A typical hut
|
Day 9
Dildey to Muga via Wondateh; long ascent.
Camp outside town.
Day 10 Rest Day at Muga.
Change mules and porters.
Day 11 Trek to Santerra
Plain, overnight near Turk Village. Long
ascent.
Day 12 Continue to village of
Talet Mariam. Easy walking across plain.
Day 13 Trek to Betehor,
also known as Con. Overnight camping.
Day 14 Rest day at
Betehor, change mules and porters.
Day 15 Steep walk up to
Delanta Plain.
Day 16 Cross the Beshlo
Gorge, a challenging day.
Day 17 Arrive at
Magdala. Stunning campsite. Send porters
home.
Day 18 Overnight camping
at Magdala to explore the area.
Day 19 Trek to Tenta to
rendezvous with transport.
Drive to Dessie. Overnight Hotel.
Day 20 Drive to Addis
Ababa, lunch at Debre Sinar en route.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 21 Fly Home. |
Weaving in the
open air
General view
|
Gheralta Churches
| Gheralta
Churches of the 13th,14th and 15th
century. |
| These are one
of the best kept secrets of Tigray. Not
as imposing architecturally as the Rock
hewn Churches of Lalibela. Their
positions, often hugging the tops of
mountainous outcrops, towering nearly
2500metres above the plains more than
make up for this. In the main, the more
remote examples are little visited by
comparison with those at Lalibela and
have an aura of their own, a wonderful
solitude where one can easily forget the
frantic pace of life. For those
wishing to visit the Gheralta area of
Tigray.
Mekele is the best centre from which
to visit the rock hewn churches of
Tigray. Any fairly active traveller will
be able to visit the more remote
churches, but still may stay in hotels in
Wukro, Adigrat or Mekele. However those
able to camp and walk further afield will
be amply rewarded by the choice of
churches open to them to visit.
The more time available, the more of the
Gheralta you may cover. Below is an
itinerary as a suggestion. You may extend
or shorten this as you wish.
|
Ceiling
of a church in Gheralta
View across to the Gheralta
|
| Please
e-mail us on sol2rs@yahoo.com
for further detailed itineraries to suit
your particular needs. |
A 9 Day Visit to
the Gheralta
| Trekking
up to different churches from different
camp sites. |
Day 1 Arrive
Addis Ababa o/n Hotel
Day 2 Fly Mekele explore
the town including a visit to the museum
to see the wonderful Triptyches. o/n
Hotel
Day 3 Drive to Dugem .En
route, visit Dugem Selassie church and
Abreha we Atsbeha The latter famous for
its architectural features o/n Camping in
Dugem
Day 4 Trek to Abuna
Abraham in the morning. Lunch in Dugem.
Afternoon walk to Yohannes Maequdi. o/n
Dugem
Day 5 Trek 2 hours or
drive to the Megab area about 10k away.
Morning visit to Maryam Korkhor and the
nearby smaller church of Daniel Korkor. A
picnic lunch after a steep climb up. Time
to enjoy the wonderful view across the
Gheralta Plains. In the afternoon a
gentle return to camp. Visit local
village,a local grinding mill or maybe
join in coffee ceremony. o/n Camping
Day 6 Trek to Abune
Yemata perhaps one of the most difficult
churches to access. A real climb (see
right!), at times across a sheer rock
face not for the fainthearted but worth
it for the view even if you do not make
it to the very top. Relaxing picnic lunch
before descending back to camp.
Day 7 Drive to Sinkata
on the Wukro Adigrat road. Visit a
selection of churches from a choice of
several, including Arbuta Insesa in Adi
Chewa, Medhane Alem Adi Kasho, Petros and
Paulos and Mikael Melehayzenghi. O/n
camping or local hotel
Day 8 Return to Mekele.
Fly Addis Ababa.
Day 9 Fly HomeThose
not wishing to trek far may choose to
drive as near as possible and will still
manage to see a nice selection of
churches.
If no camping is desired it is
possible to overnight in Wukro and
Adigrat or Mekele.
|
Climbing up to
Yebune Amata
Columns in interior of rock hewn church
Priest
|
|
Costs vary
according to the number of people in the
group and the time of year and options
chosen. |
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