Essential information
Private groups: The adventures featured in our itinerary are just a starting point for many of our private group travellers. Working closely with our Groups Department we can organize custom designed itineraries for groups of friends, clubs, charity’s, schools or even work colleagues. Our team will assist you with all aspects of your private group adventure from itinerary design to group flights. For group traveller pledge considerable discount.
Customized tours: On request, this tour can be customized for small groups.
Proceeding / additional days: It’s no problem to add days before or after the expedition and we’ll book these for you. If you bring more time, you could do day trips from Addis or take an extension tour
Group booking discount: If at least 5 people together book this trip, 6% discount is given.
When is best — All year round
The Ethiopian Tourist Board proudly promotes their slogan “13 months of sunshine” to anyone who will listen, but they are not far off the mark. The rainy season in the North is in July and August, but whilst that might stop you attempting a multi-day trek in the Simien Mountains, it won’t really affect you if you are planning on touring the Northern Historical route. The best time to visit the North is in autumn, after the rains when the mountains are full of lush green and the views are unimpeded by haze.
Experience required :- Challenging Adventure
Is it for me? :-Travelling in Ethiopia is always an adventure and it is incredibly important you come with the right mind-set.
Trekking in the Simien Mountains is classified as moderate. You will need to have a good level of fitness and able to cope with basic amenities. Although walking lengths each day are reasonably long (7-8 hrs a day), it is mostly flat going with several options available to shorten the trekking day if necessary. Altitude can be an issue with nights spent at 3,200m — 3,600m, but being a plateau walk, there is little altitude gain to contend with.
All treks and tailor-made itineraries are organised on demand for groups of two or more people. For single travelers or those who prefer travelling in a group, we offer several scheduled small group tours.
Accommodation: Currently, Ethiopia is known for its fine hotels. Reliable hot showers are generally speaking still a luxury and places with genuine charm are avalable. All accommodation throughout this tour is 3-4 star (comfortable hotels with en-suite facilities) All accommodation is based on twin sharing.
10 nights hotels en suite and 5 nights Camping .
Eating out is very good value in Ethiopia and there are excellent restaurants to explore. On a tour like this we usually feel it is preferable to be given the choice to make your own decisions over meals.
Accommodation: –on trek you’ll be camping in the official park camp sites at Sankaber, Geech and Chenek e.t.c . The sites are in beautiful spots and have been built sympathetically with seated drop toilets set well away from the camping area. The facilities are cleaned and tidied every day, but in the peak summer months and around the festivals, the sites can be a little over-run by trekkers. Out of peak though they make for fantastic camp-sites. There is no alternative, as wild camping is not permitted. You will be sleeping in 2 men tents (you can share or have a tent to yourself) and the crew will erect and take down your tent each day (as well as carrying your gear to the next camp-site). Overnight temperatures are cold at altitudes over 3,000m.
Food-wise you will have a private cook for your trek who will provide breakfast, packed lunch, tea and dinner each day. The food is great, and given most Westerners aversion to the Ethiopian staple Injurra, mostly of the Western variety. Expect bread and pancakes / eggs for breakfast, filling sandwiches for lunch, herbal teas, fantastic coffee and popcorn at the end of a long days trekking and then a massive meal to end the day with soup starter and a hearty main with plenty of veg to finish.You’ll be accompanied by an English-speaking guide, chef and scout.
Clothing: Daytime temperatures are mainly warm and comfortable but evenings in the highlands can be cold. We recommend a thick jumper or warm fleece and lightweight wind/waterproof clothing. Take a sun hat.
Footwear: Comfortable, good walking shoes with ankle support are strongly recommended as well as comfortable sandals.
- Daypack
- Light jacket or fleece
- Good walking footwear/boots
- Walking if you normally use them
- Insect spray
- Sunhat
- Sun cream
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Wet wipes
- Anti bacterial hand gel
- Torch and spare batteries
Luggage: On Tour One main piece of baggage and a daypack. Please note that there is a weight restriction of 7kg for hand luggage/daypack for international and internal flights.
Luggage allowance on tour: 20kg
Getting there
Ethiopia’s national airline, Ethiopian Airlines is arguably one of the best in Africa. International services are reliable with good seat pitch, whilst domestic flights are serviced by a brand new fleet of twin props. Ethiopian flies direct from London, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome in Europe. The flight takes around 8 hours. Return flights from London are usually around £500 per person.
Direct outbound flights from London to Addis Ababa: Every Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Direct return flights from Addis Ababa to London: Every Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun
Return flights from Addis Ababa to London via Rome: Every Mon and Thu
Price includes
All guides and transfers and accommodation as detailed in the itinerary
Entrance fees to museums and national parks and attractions
Meals where stated (e.g. on trek)
International flights, visas, tips and incidental expenses are not included”
All treks and tailor-made itineraries are organised on demand for groups of two or more people. For single travelers or those who prefer travelling in a group, we offer several scheduled small group tours.
