Addis Ababa

Day 1 starts with a half-day city tour of Addis Ababa, including its museums, churches and the Mercato, reputedly the largest market in Africa.

National Museum of Ethiopia

The oldest museum in Ethiopia, its most famous exhibit is "Lucy", the 3.5 million year old skeleton whose discovery in 1974 demonstrated that bipedal hominids evolved much earlier than previously thought. The museum also holds many other palaeontological and archaeological artefacts, as well as ethnographic and modern art displays.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Built to commemorate Ethiopia's emancipation from the Italian occupation, the cathedral is an important focal point for the Ethiopian Orthodox church. As a place of worship, it is considered second only to the Church of Our Lady Zion in Axum (where the original Ark of the Covenant is believed to be held).

Mercato Market

Reputedly the largest market in Africa, the Mercato is the commercial hub of Addis Ababa. A close-knit grid of streets crammed with stalls, kiosks and shops, you can buy virtually anything here, but be prepared to negotiate!

Bahir Dar

The journey to Bahir Dar will take most of the day, but it's a good chance to view the changing landscapes of the highlands and to see day-to-day life in rural Ethiopia.

In the morning, you'll take a boat cruise on Lake Tana, stopping to explore some of the island churches and monasteries containing relics and frescos dating from the 16th century.

Blue Nile Falls

In the afternoon, you'll take a trip to the Blue Nile Falls at Tisisat, meaning "smoking water" in Amharic. The spectacular falls are 100m wide and plunge 45m, sending spray high in the air. A short walk and a trip across a 17th century bridge gives a great close-up view of the falls.

Gonder

From Bahir Dar, it's about a 3 hour drive to Gondar, after which you'll take a sightseeing tour of the city. Gondar is a historic settlement with an atmosphere of mystery and there are views from the city which extend across the surrounding farmland back to Lake Tana. Founded by Emperor Fasilidas around 1635, Gondar has become one of Ethiopia's largest and most impressive cities.

Fasil Ghebbi

Gondar is famed for its walled Royal Enclosure which contains several well-preserved and very medieval-looking castles, dating from as early as 1650. The castles are unusual for the Horn Of Africa, deriving their architectural style from the Moors and the Portuguese.

Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Gondar has dozens of churches but the most important is Debre Berhan Selassie (Trinity Church of the Mountain of Light), which has an impressive hilltop location. The priest there will explain the story of the many paintings and carvings inside the church.

Debark

In the morning, you will take the scenic 2 to 3-hour drive from Gondar to Debark, where you’ll stop for lunch. Debark is a small market town at an altitude of 2700m, close to the boundary of the Simien Mountains National Park.

Simien Mountains National Park

Before entering the park, you’ll have to be registered at the park headquarters just outside town. Here you’ll be joined by a park guide and armed scout – one of the park regulations. You’ll then complete the drive into the National Park, passing through the foothills of the Simien Mountains. The trek starts gently with a 2-3 hour walk in the afternoon. There are superb views across the foothills of the range and you may also be lucky enough to spot your first lammergeiers and gelada baboons of the trip.

Your walk will end at Sankaber, where you’ll camp for the night.

Simien Mountains National Park

Your first full day of trekking. You’ll meet the muleteers and the trek equipment will be loaded onto their mules. Starting out, you’ll descend in to the Michwahtis Valley and begin the climb up the other side, making a short diversion to see the impressive sight of the Jinbar River plummeting into the Geech Abyss. There is a good trail and after a couple of kilometres, you’ll cross the Jinbar River and then ascend to reach Geech Village (3600m), a cluster of traditional thatched-roofed huts. There may be time to stop off at one of the village houses to enjoy the traditional Ethiopian serving of coffee, known as the 'Coffee Ceremony'. The camping place is just above the village. In the evening, the viewpoint at Kadadit (hole in the rock), 20 minutes away to the north, is an excellent place from which to watch the sunset. Walk distance approx 11km, 900m ascent, 550m descent, 7-8 hours walking.

Simien Mountains National Park

Today, our route will take you along the edge of the escarpment. At all times, the cliff edge is close on the left-hand side and there are ever-changing views and glimpses of the valley below, often through narrow clefts between spurs. The high point of the walk is at Inatye (4070m) and you’ll continue across tussocky moorland to the camping place at Chenek, which is bounded by a semicircular ring of cliffs. The Chenek campsite offers superb views across to the opposite escarpment. Walk distance approx 13km, 750m ascent, 700m descent, 6-7 hours walking.

Simien Mountains National Park

To reach the village of Ambiquo at the foot of Ras Dashen, you must initially climb up above the camp towards Amba Bwahit (4477m), the second highest mountain in the range. After 1½ hours, you’ll reach a rocky ridge and a viewpoint which looks across the vast valley of the Meshawa River. You may be lucky enough to spot the Walia Ibex here. You’ll also get your first sighting of Ras Dashen, the highest point in a wall of cliffs and peaks on the skyline at the far side of the valley. You then take a well-trodden path down into the farmland of the valley. After passing through the village of Chiro Leba and crossing the Meshawa River, you’ll ascend steeply to the village of Ambiquo (3200m) where you’ll camp for the night. With over 1000 metres of descent, followed by another 500 metres of ascent to Ambiquo, today will be a long day. Walk distance approx 16km, 1100m ascent, 1600m descent, 8 hours walking

Ras Dashen

Today's ascent to the highest point in Ethiopia, the summit of Ras Dashen, requires a dawn start. You’ll climb slowly and steadily through giant lobelia forests, passing the tiny, perched village of Mizma and gaining an area of open pasture where there are herds of cattle and goats with their attendant herdsmen. The triple-summited bulk of Ras Deshen looms above and it is far from obvious which of these is the highest. Finally, after 7 to 8 hours of ascent, you’ll reach steeper, rocky ground and make the short and easy scramble to the cairned summit. You’ll then take a rest on top to enjoy the views which, in clear weather, extend to Eritrea. A 3 hour descent takes you back to the campsite in Ambiquo. Walk distance approx 23km, 1600m ascent, 1600m descent, 10-11 hours walking

Simien Mountains National Park

Today's ascent to the highest point in Ethiopia, the summit of Ras Dashen, requires a dawn start. You’ll climb slowly and steadily through giant lobelia forests, passing the tiny, perched village of Mizma and gaining an area of open pasture where there are herds of cattle and goats with their attendant herdsmen. The triple-summited bulk of Ras Deshen looms above and it is far from obvious which of these is the highest. Finally, after 7 to 8 hours of ascent, you’ll reach steeper, rocky ground and make the short and easy scramble to the cairned summit. You’ll then take a rest on top to enjoy the views which, in clear weather, extend to Eritrea. A 3 hour descent takes you back to the campsite in Ambiquo. Walk distance approx 23km, 1600m ascent, 1600m descent, 10-11 hours walking

Simien Mountains National Park

Today you’ll return to Chenek, back through the village of Chiro Leba. The camp site at Chenek is at the end of the Gondar-Sanakaber road and here you’ll say goodbye to the muleteers and most of the trek crew. This is another tough day with a considerable amount of ascent and descent (over 1500m). You will overnight at the campsite at Chenek, where you have one last chance to see lammergeier, gelada baboon and walia ibex. Walk distance approx 16.5km, 1600m ascent, 1000m descent, 8 hours walking

Simien Mountains National Park

From Chenek it is a scenic drive out of the Simien Mountains back to Bahir Dar, via Gondar.

Bahir Dar

From Chenek it is a scenic drive out of the Simien Mountains back to Bahir Dar, via Gondar.

Addis Ababa

The final day completes the journey back to Addis Ababa.

The tour ends with dinner at a cultural restaurant in Addis Ababa, where you can sample local dishes and watch energetic traditional dances from across the country.