Simien Park, Gondar & Lalibela: 10 days
The Simien Mountains National Park is the home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The gelada baboon and the caracal, a cat, also occur within the Simien Mountains. The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the Buahit Pass, where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan, 10 kilometers beyond the park boundary.
Gondar previously served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city has been referred to as the "Camelot of Africa" due to the presence of several royal castles.
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. The lake has a number of islands, remains of ancient Ethiopian emperors and treasures of the Ethiopian Church are kept in the isolated island monasteries.
Day 1 Addis Ababa – Finote Selam:
North 378km via Gulele, Chancho & detour to visit Debre Libanos Monastery & Waterfalls, lunch at Ethio-German Park Hotel & via Jimma Valley Gorge, Dejen, Debre Markos in to Finote Selam.
O/n Finote Selam
Day 2 Finote Selam – Bahir Dar:
Northwest 173km via Injibara, Dangla, Meshenti in to Bahir Dar for Boat Excursion visiting Island Monasteries such as Bete Selassie & Tekla Haimanot, Dega Estefanos, Debre Maryam, Tana Cherkos, Kebran Gabriel, Ura Kidane Meret, Bete Maryam, Narga Selassie, Azuwa Maryam, Entos Eyesu & Zeghie Satekela Museum.
O\n Bahir Dar
Day 3 Bahir Dar – Debark:
277km north via Wereta, Azeze, Gondar in to Debark, purchase entrance tickets in Debark Bale Mt. Park Office & visit Simien National Park.
O\n Debark
Day 4 Debark – Simien National Park:
Simien National Park Trekking.
O/n Simien Park, Camping
Day 5 Simien National Park:
Simien National Park Trekking.
O/n Simien Park, Camping
Day 6 Simien National Park – Gondar:
South 104km in to Gondar & visit Fasiladas’ Palace, Palace of Iyasu I, other Southern Buildings, Northern Buildings & Atatami Mikael Church.
O\n Gondar
Day 7 Gondar - Lalibela:
361km southeast via Koga, Debre Tabor, Nefas Meewcha in to Lalibela “Rock-Hewn Churces”.
O\n Lalibela
Day 8 Lalibela:
Walking visit Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Gedamit Maryam, Monastery of Yemrehanna Kirstos & Sarsana Mikael.
O/n Lalibela
Day 9 Lalibela – Kombolcha:
290km south via Gashena, Weldiya, Mersa, Hayk in to Dessie “Wolo Province”.
O/n Kombolcha
Day 10 Kombolcha – Addis Ababa:
386km south via Kemise, Debre Birhan in to Addis Ababa.
O/n Addis Ababa
