Ethiopia Simien Mountains Custom Hiking Tour

Arrive in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and meet your MT Sobek representative outside the terminal building of Bole International Airport, for transfer to the hotel. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant and enjoy a captivating folklore dance performance.

Today embark on an Addis Ababa city tour, taking in the highlights. Admire the nation's art and archeological treasures at the National Museum, including the famous "Lucy" skeleton, partial fossilized remains of an early hominid. See the Trinity Cathedral Church, built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation, and the Ethnological Museum, one of Africa's finest museums set within the former palace of Haile Selassie (the last Emperor of Ethiopia), surrounded by beautiful gardens. Wander through Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa, with its colorful stalls laden with coffee.

The September departure also includes the annual Meskel Festival.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Gondar and then continue overland into the Simien Mountains National Park. Ethiopia's most popular place for trekking, this spectacular landscape has jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and a dramatic escarpment with views over the rugged lowlands. Check in at the Simien Lodge, and head out for a short hike in search of the endemic gelada baboons. Return to the lodge for dinner and drinks.

Hike to the dramatic Jinbar Waterfall, where a thundering drop cascades into the Simien highlands, rewarding you with sweeping views and rugged mountain beauty along the way. Continue to Chennek, a wildlife haven where rare Walia ibex cling to sheer cliffs and gelada monkeys roam the mist-shrouded escarpment. End the day at your lodge, savoring a warm meal and the serene atmosphere of the mountains.

Set out from your lodge on a refreshing morning walk, where crisp mountain air and sweeping vistas awaken the senses. Continue into the acacia forest, navigating shaded thickets and rocky trails that open onto breathtaking views of plunging valleys and jagged Simien peaks. Along the way, discover the forest’s hidden life—from hardy plants to flitting bird species—before pressing on to a remote village. Here, meet welcoming locals and gain insight into mountain traditions that have endured for generations and try your hand at beer brewing, cooking, or coffee making. Return to your lodge to enjoy dinner by a roaring fire.

After breakfast at the lodge, drive back from the Simien Mountains to Gondar, the former royal capital of the Ethiopian Empire. Have lunch at the traditional Four Sisters Restaurant and set out on a journey through the heart of Ethiopia's royal past, blending history, culture, and spirituality. Delve into this historic city first founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilides. Take in the Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure), with its magnificent castles, and Fasilides Bath, where each year on January 19 hundreds celebrate the baptism of Jesus by bathing in the sacred pool during Timket (Epiphany). Visit the 18th-century Debre Birhan Selassie Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its gorgeous sacral art.

Today after breakfast, fly from Gondar to the town of Lalibela (estimated times 9:55 am departure and 10:25 am arrival). Check in to your hotel, enjoy lunch, and head out to explore some of Lalibela's architectural wonders. Lalibela is the jewel in the crown of Ethiopia with its legendary rock-hewn churches, the scene of a multitude of major religious ceremonies. The churches are carved from the rock below ground level and ringed by trenches and courtyards, an awe-inspiring sight. They became Ethiopia's first listed UNESCO site in 1978 and are connected to each other by a tangled maze of tunnels and passages. Today wander east to west between these marvels—the churches, and sanctuaries of Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Abba Libanos, the Chapel of Bet Lehem, and Bet Gabriel-Rufa'el—following the curve of the river Jordan.

Journey to Nakuto Le'abe Monastery, a dramatic cave sanctuary where King Nakuto renounced his throne in 1270 AD to live as a hermit. Steeped in history and spirituality, the site offers a moving glimpse into Ethiopia's royal and religious traditions. Later, return to the sensational rock-hewn churches of Lalibela—masterpieces of medieval craftsmanship carved from solid volcanic rock. Magnificent Bete Giyorgis stuns with its cross-shaped design and enduring role as a place of worship. In the evening, connect with the Lalibela community over a traditional meal and coffee ceremony. Learn to prepare local favorites like injera and shiro and share in the warmth of Ethiopian hospitality during this unforgettable cultural exchange.

Spend a leisurely morning in Lalibela before returning to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. You will be met and transferred to your hotel for afternoon check-in. Later in the evening, enjoy a sumptuous traditional Ethiopian dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by a folkloric dance performance, immersing you in the traditional customs, tales, and flavors of Ethiopia.

Step into Ethiopia's proud history at the Adwa Victory Museum, where powerful exhibits of art, culture, and human resilience honor the heroes who shaped Ethiopia's independence. Then wander the lively lanes of the Shola Market—brimming with fragrant spices, green coffee beans, handwoven baskets, pottery, and bright local fabrics, the market is an immersion into Ethiopian daily life. Finally, visit Makush Art Gallery, a celebrated hub in Addis Ababa's Bole district, blending contemporary works from rising Ethiopian artists alongside a beloved restaurant. After lunch, enjoy a day room at a nearby hotel to refresh and relax before your international flight. Your guide will arrange your transfer to Bole International Airport, where your Ethiopian adventure concludes. We suggest departing after 8:00pm.