Explore Venezuela’s highest tepui and the world’s tallest waterfall

Trek into an extraordinary landscape of sheer-sided tepuis (tabletop mountains) towering 6,000-feet above pristine rainforests—rock formations carved by wind and water hiding valleys scattered with precious crystals. Plus visit the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls, which plummets 2,648 feet to the jungle below. We'll combine hiking with village tours—and even regional culinary specialties (ants and termites!)—to fully experience the stark, pure beauty of this wild and unspoiled region.

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Activities

Trekking

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience the impressive tepui country of Venzuela, including famed Roraima
• Feel the mist of Angel Falls as it plunges nearly 3,000 feet from the tepui edge
• Visit local villages and learn about the culture and cuisine

Duration: 12 days Start Location: Caracas End Location: Caracas

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Caracas

  Arrive in Caracas, Venezuela. A Mountain Travel Sobek representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Youir leader Sergio Fitch will welcome you at the hotel.  Evening briefing

• 

  Day 2 : Flight to Puerto Ordaz & 4WD sightseeing

  Early in the morning, we return to the airport to take a commercial flight to Puerto Ordaz and board a charter flight for Luepa in the Gran Sabana. Our local guide will be waiting for us with 4WD vehicles and we'll spend the day leisurely sightseeing in the area. We will see Indian settlements, have the opportunity to swim in some nice waterfalls, and visit Chinak Meru, a 108-foot-high waterfall. We'll end our day in Kamoiran.

• 

  Day 3 : Hike from Paray-tepui

  Today we will start our trek to the tepuy, we prepare our bags, one for the trek and one which will go directly to our hotel at the end of the trek.Breakfast is at 7:30 AM and we'll boardA 4WD vehicle whichtakes us to the small Pemon Indian community of Paray- tepui (4,592 feet), where we will have a quick lunch before hitting the trail. After an easy three-hour walk across rolling savanna we'll cross the rivers Tek and Kukenan at an altitude of 2900 ft. Our crossing of the Kukenan—at 130 feet wide the larger of the two rivers—will depend on the water level. We'll stop here for the night.

• 

  Day 4 : Hike to base of Roraima

  This morning we will enjoy our first sunrise view of Tepui Roraima, contemplating its Indian name—"Great, Ever Fruitful, Mother of Streams"—which seems appropriate because its waters feed into three vital river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo.  After breakfast, we will head for the Roraima base camp at the foot of the tepui. First,if we didn't cross them yesterday, we will ford the River Tek and further along the River Kukenan. This is a bigger river, 130 feet wide, and the level of water affects the crossing. Following the long incline that leads to the base of Roraima’s vertical 2000-foot cliffs, the terrain is a series of long ridges radiating out from the tepui. Grassland dominates the terrain, except in the deep ravines where rainforest patches have escaped the Indian’s fires.

  About halfway to our "base camp" we enter a broad sloping area of black, lichen covered boulders where we might spot trodipurus lizards and Chestnut-collared Sparrows. Early in the afternoon, we will arrive to the Military Camp (no worries, it is deserted), which is a great spot to enjoy our lunch. A few hours later, we reach our campsite not far from the base of Roraima. The camp sits at 5,900 feet and temperatures drop to about 15 degrees Celsius in the evening. After a hearty dinner, we can relax to the mingling of mists and sunlight above the mountain’s zenith until the sun fades away.

• 

  Day 5 : Trek to summit of Roraima

  Trek through a splendid cloud forest to the base of Roraima, where we ascend via a 50- to 100-ft wide ramp that allows the only easy access to Roraima’s summit. Once we arrive at the summit, we will set up camp on the tepui’s top at 9,184 feet, below a rock ledge that prevents the strong winds and cold temperatures (5 degrees Celsius) from reaching us during the evening.

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  Day 6 : Matawi Tepui & Valley of the Crystals

  A full day to explore the fantasyland atop Roraima, including a hike to the Kukenan Window, a visit to Triple Point, where the frontiers of Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana intersect, and a chance to explore the Valley of the Crystals.

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  Day 7 : Tek River

  After a good night rest, it is time to head back down to the savannah. We will take lunch at the base of Roraima in the company of huge boulders that form a talus slope. We will cross the Kukenan and Tek Rivers and then set up base camp. A refreshing swim in the Tek River will be a supreme reward after the day's long trek.

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  Day 8 : Parai-Tepuy to Santa Elena

  After our last breakfast on the trail, we will head for Parai-tepuy, about four hours away. While waiting for our driver, we will take a leisurely lunch. The we'll drive on to Santa Elena, arriving around 4:00 p.m.

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  Day 9 : Fly to Canaima and boat to campsite, passing by and through waterfalls

  Fly from Santa Elena to Canaima and transfer to Canaima Camp. Afternoon boat trip on Canaima Lagoon, navigating through the waterfalls of Hacha, Golondrinas, Ucaima, and Guadaima before arriving at the opposite end of the lagoon.

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  Day 10 : Angel Falls river tour

  Early morning departure for boat/hiking trip to Mouse Island, where we will enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of Angel Falls (the worlds tallest waterfall).

• Day 11 : Fly to Caracas via Puerto Ordaz

  Affer picking up your luggage at the camp and transferring to the airport, you will have time to stroll the streets of Canaima and visit the local shops that sell handicrafts before our 10:00 a.m. flight to Caracas.

• Day 12 : Fly home

  Private transfer to the airport to meet your homeward-bound flight.

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  Hotel Eurobuilding Express

  A comfortable European style hotel with ideal location near the airport. The generous, clean rooms in a newly-constructed building provides a fine welcome to arriving travelers.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

photo credits: ©AGE Fotostock