Sustainable Guide Across Ethiopia

After your arrival and immigration at Bole International Airport, you will meet your guide from Simien Eco Tours and be transferred to your hotel/lodge for some refreshments. Depending on your arrival time, your guide will go on a city tour through Ethiopia’s vibrant and lively capital. Explore the National Museum to discover the cradle of mankind where the skeleton of “Lucy” is kept.

See Entoto Mountain with its Eucalyptus Forest and see Mariyam Church and Menelik and new Entoto Park for some family fun by ziplining. Go carting, get comfortable at the spa, walk and enjoy refreshments and food. Others can take a stroll to Merkato (the biggest open-air market in Africa) and buy spices, jewelry, coffee or anything of interest. Stop at the ethnographic museum to see Ethiopia's old history and Haiel Selassie's uniform on display, the fossil of Lucy hominid bone, and Ardi fossil that goes back millions of years ago. You should also see the Friends might enjoy one of the city’s weekly markets. Alternatively, the newly established parks in the city are open and you can rearrange your itinerary with your guide.

You will fly out from Bole International Airport to the ancient capital of Gondar. See the 17th-century castles that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Royal enclosure with its five palaces and the Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Church of the Holy Trinity) whose interior is beautifully decorated with 17th-century religious paintings. Truly one of Ethiopia’s most beautiful churches. In the evening you will have a good traditional dinner in one of the local restaurants. Get a chance to show off you moves in dancing at one of the bars around town where the Ethiopian shoulder dance (‘eskista’) is famous.

Alternatively, you can take a road trip south towards the Gondar-Addis Zemen-Bahir Dar Road to visit the 14th-century Guzara Castle. It once stood as a home to Gebre Iyasu, a disciple of Ewostatewos. This was a founded monastery and housed emperor Gelawdewos, who alongside the Portuguese under Cristovão da Gama defeated the invading Adal army under Ibrahim Ahmad Gragn. He was eventually defeated in 1543 in the battle of Wayna Daga.

Biking: 1-2h, 15–20km (difficulty: moderate, altitude difference: ↑50m, ↓1.500m)

In the morning, you will bike through the Ethiopian highlands to the headquarters of the Simien Mountains National Park in the small town of Debark, where you will find your mountain bikes for your first ride.

You will follow the gravel road towards the Lima Limo Escarpment with amazing mountain and forest views and down to the Simien lowlands with an unforgettable downhill experience with a drop of more than 1,200 m. Down at the bottom you will meet your car again that brings you back again to Simien Lodge where you will spend the night before starting the next day.

You will bike past the iconic wildlife, such as the endemic Walia Ibex (the endemic mammals to this National Park), Ethiopian Wolf, Gelada Baboons and several bird species. The roof of Africa is also home to the highest peak in Ethiopia, such as Mt. Ras Dashen, at 4,550 meters. You will see the changing and overwhelming landscapes, endless views and rugged cliffs at striking vantage points such as Imet and Gidir Gogogt. As well as the afro-alpine flora with juniper trees, St. John's wort and heather, Kniepofia, tree heather species and the Kosso tree.

The hike from Sankaber (3,250m) to Jinbar Waterfall is the biggest in the country, with impressive views over the dramatic mountain range. From Sankaber the trail leads you through an area with vegetation such as bushes and giant heather trees while looking down on a gigantic Jinbar waterfall while seeing various birds hovering in the gorge. From the Jinbar waterfall, you can cycle back to the lodge

After your breakfast, a car brings you to Bwahit Pass at 4.100m. From there, a ride down to Mesheha river before you cycle up and down southwards along the plateau next to the river gorge with beautiful views. In the afternoon, you will meet at the car and will be transferred back to the lodge.

It is the last day in the Simien Mountains, but this day will be short. The second part of your cycling will open views to the western lowlands going towards Qwara Woreda, near the border of Sudan. This morning, you will slowly make your way back towards Gondar and follow the road to Debark and then to Kossoye. The ride is asphalted, but only a few vehicles are on the road, making the cycling experience a pleasure. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at Kossoye in the lodge. Some trails around the lodge are wonderful to go on a late stroll to spot some Gelada baboons rushing down the walls to their overnight resting places.