Last updated: 2010-06-17
Itinerary
Day before gathering day
Departure from Arlanda, Stockholm, in the evening. It is recommended to check-in a minimum of two hours before time of departure.
Day 1 and 2
You will arrive at the International Airport in Addis Ababa early morning and Israel, your Tour Leader will meet you at the airport. You will go to the hotel together and after some rest you will have sightseeing tour around the city (the tour is included).Addis Ababa is the third largest city in Africa. It became the capital of Ethiopia at the end of the 19th Century, during Emperor Menelik II. At first the Capital was situated at a big hill, Entoto, near the present city. But the Empress insisted that the town should be moved down the hill, where the climate was more pleasant and where hot springs existed. In order to get fuel wood for the city Menelik planted eucalyptus trees on the hills near the city. Still today, lots of women collect wood in these forests and carry it on their backs to the city.
Since 1958 Addis Ababa host the head quarter for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and also, since 1963, the secretariat of the African Union (AU). The city has about 100 embassies! All the 53 African states have embassies in Addis Ababa.
Day 3
With local bus to Arba Minch, a small town situated in the Great Rift Valley, which has created a fantastic landscape. It will only be a short stay over night before continuing in the morning up the mountainsides.Day 4 to 6
The journey continues to Chencha with the local bus. From this village you will walk another two hours to Solla and this is the traditional home of your Tour Leader. Israel and his relatives belong to the Gamo people who live in the Arba Minch mountain region. His relatives are still living in Solla and they will take care of you.While spending time with the villagers you will get the opportunity to know more of their daily life and they will do their best to teach you how to weave traditionally (as is their speciality). You will hopefully also get the chance of visiting the Chencha Market. In Solla you will be far of the beaten track and this area only receives foreigners through Läs & Res. In the afternoon on day six (6) you will go back to Arba Minch.
Day 7 and 8
This time you will stay for two days in Arba Minch and you will have time to discover the surroundings. You will visit the Nech Sar (‘The White Grass National Park’) and go on a boat trip on Lake Chamo. During the lake trip you will be able to see hippos and crocodiles at the ‘Crocodile Market’. Swimming is of course not recommended. During one of the evenings you will be invited to a local family in Arba Minch as guests.Day 9 and 10
On day nine (9) you will start traveling back to Addis Ababa, but before coming to pulsating city you will have two days of rest at Lake Langano. This lake is part of the Great Rift Valley and this place will be perfect for swimming and relaxing. There will be no crocodiles, no hippos and no parasites in this lake. Enjoy the calm and take time to reflect.Day 11
You will travel the rest of the road back to Addis Ababa.Day 12 to 13
At around lunchtime you will go by plane to the ancient city of Gondar, on the high plateau of Ethiopia. In 1636 Emperor Fasiladas founded Gonder as the new capital of Ethiopia and it flourished for 200 years. It is well known for a series of well preserved castles and churches. Most of these lies within a walled area, the Royal Enclosure, where Emperor Fasilades and his successors built different castles.One of the most famous churches in Ethiopia, the Gonder Debre Berhan Selassie, lies a bit outside the Royal Enclosure. In this church you will be able to see the famous roof with the angels. At the Hotel you should leave the luggage you don’t need during the next few days.
Day 14 to 20
A three hour drive to Debark, a small town near the mountain area, situated on an altitude of 2700 meters above sea level. The town is centre for the Simien Mountain National Park office. UNESCO lists the national park as a World Heritage. Debark also has a large market. The big market day is on Saturdays, hundreds or thousands of people come from the villages to sell or buy things. The market is open also other days, however smaller in scale.During the coming days you will be trekking in the Simien Mountains. The Simien is the highest area in the country with an average altitude of more than 3000 meters and it is very scenic. You will most likely see the highest peak in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen (4543 m) at a distance.
The mountainous landscape is as mentioned very beautiful indeed. Some people say this is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in all of Africa. The area is also unique with several varieties of plants, mammals and birds that are endemic to the Simiens. Among these are the Walia ibex, the Gelada baboons and the Giant Lobelia plant (which adds to the special atmosphere within the landscape). However, there are not only animals living in the Simien Mountains, but also some thousand people in small spread out villages. People are mainly pastoralists, living from breeding animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses. There are fewer villages in the highlands than in the lowlands and the government wants to remove the people living inside the national park in order to protect the wildlife. The local people are of course protesting against this.
During the trek there will be a team of people taking care of you; local guides, park scouts, a cook and mule men. You will sleep in tents for two persons and the mules will carry your luggage. However, you will have to carry your own day pack with camera, water etc. In case you get very tired it might be possible to hire a mule or a horse for riding. In the highlands the nights will be cold, perhaps even below zero, so you will need to bring a warm sleeping bag and warm clothes, do not forget to bring a hat and warm gloves. Tent and mattresses will be provided by Study and Travel.
Prior to the trek you will split into smaller groups according to interest and speed of walking. An interpreter will accompany each group. The trek will be divided into two parts; one part trekking in the highlands inside the national park, and one part trekking in the lowlands outside of the park. You will start and end the trek by going by jeep for about one hour. In the highlands, you will walk between special campsites. In the lowlands you will walk between villages and make your own camp close by.
The landscape is of course hilly (this is the mountain area), however, some parts of the trek are steep and other parts are quite flat. At two of the camps, Chennek (3400 m) and Geech (3600 m) you will stay two nights. At Chennek there will be a voluntary ‘expedition’ for those who would like to climb Mount Bwahit (4430 m), just a 100 meters below the highest peak in Ethiopia. From Geech you will make a day trip to the summit of Imet Gogo (3900 m). From this summit you will have an impressing view of the landscape below the escarpments; there are vertical drops of up to 800 meters and this is perhaps the most spectacular view of the Simien Mountains.
Day 21 to 23
In the morning the flight leaves to Lalibela at around 08.30-09.00. After the decline of Axum in the beginning of the 12th century, Lalibela (2630 m above the sea level) became the capital of Ethiopia. It is said, that King Lalibela built the world-famous rock hewn churches in Lalibela during the 12th century. The vision was to create a new Jerusalem and you will definitely get the vibe that this is so. You will meet pilgrims, priests, monks and hermits living in caves when visiting the churches (the entrance fee is included).Lalibela is, despite its fame, a very small place. The base is not more than a big village; however you’ll see new enterprises adding to the periphery. Surprisingly few tourists visit this isolated place, most seem to be modern pilgrims. During the great religious festivals Lalibela will be full of pilgrims, but if you get up really early in the morning and place your self with a good view of the church of St George, you will see a river of white clad church attendees. It is a beautiful sight.
On Saturday the weekly market takes place. You can walk/ride up to an old monastery with a church cut in the cliff high above the village (not included). Some traditional paintings of high quality are for sale in the few shops near your hotel. Do also try to get an opportunity to visit one of the round shaped, two-story houses which are traditional for this region. On Friday afternoon you will fly back to Addis Ababa and you will have some more time to spend in Addis Ababa.
Day 24 to 25
This is the end of the tour, the two last days will be spent to see some more of Addis Abeba, and most of you will go back to Sweden. As mentioned the flight leaves late night. You will be able to leave the luggage at the Natanim Guest House during the last day. In the evening you will go to the International Airport in order to leave Ethiopia early next day (00.40). You will arrive to Arlanda, Stockholm, in the morning (day 26).Day 26 +
In December 2010 the tour is prolonged with one more day because of more advantageous flight bookings. You get another day in Addis Ababa for your own disposal. You will arrive to Arlanda, Stockholm, in the morning (day 27).