Which hike in the Simien Mountains is for you?

Veröffentlicht: 15. Juli 2022, 17:19 Uhr

Aktualisiert: 09. Juni 2025, 22:52 Uhr

Von: wom87

A hike in the Simien Mountains should be an essential part of every visit to Ethiopia. We summarize the best routes to help you choose the most suitable hike

With a series of trekking options, from day trips to multi-day mammoth passages, choosing a Simien Mountains trekking can be a confusing process. As with most things in Ethiopia, there is a lack of information available online. Against this background, we have summarized the most popular trekking routes in the Simien-Mountains National Park to provide a solid overview of any option.

No matter whether you join an established trekking company or organize your hike independently, the following routes and travel routes are a great starting point. We recommend Simiencotours, by far the most professional provider that we met in Ethiopia.

Buyit ras - chenek

distance: 50-55km duration: 4 days / 3 nights

proposed travel routing 1: Buyit Ras - Sankaber (10 km) Day 2: Sankaber - Gich (13 km) Day 3: Gich - Chenek (15 km) About Imet Gogo (20 km) Day 4: Chenek - Bwahit (4,430 m) - Chenek (12 km)

This is the classic Simien Mountains hike and covers a fantastic cross-section of the park. After organizing the formalities in Debark, the Trekker are discontinued eight kilometers behind the park entrance near Buyit Ras with the off -road vehicle. Soon they will see a wealth of gelada monkeys and take an immediate look at the upcoming miracles.

The first day is a cozy afternoon walk along the cliffs via Michibi to the Sankaber Camp. Sankaber according to Gich is another relatively quiet day hike about the Jinbar waterfall and its dizzying cliffs.

The third day after Gich via the fueling Imet Gogo to 3,926 m (12,880 ft) is far more demanding, not least because of the height. With the height, however, the most spectacular views of the Simien Mountains come. The 360-degree view of Imet Gogo is almost breathtaking-in the truest sense of the word.

The last day is an early morning ascent to the summit of Mt. Bwahit at 4,430 m (14,534 ft). It is this area that offers the best chance of seeing an Ethiopian wolf, the rarest canids in the world and Africa the most threatened carnivores. Less than 500 remain in the wild.

alt = "Interesting facts about wolves in Ethiopia"> Atlas & Boots Less than 500 Ethiopian wolves still live in the wild

fixed runs drive twice a week, every Wednesday and Saturday morning, from Gondar. Book via Simiencotours.

Simien Mountains National Park: Trekking in the Grand Canyon Africa

Debark - Chenek - Debark

distance: 104-109kmur: 7 days / 6 nights

proposed travel routing 1: Debark - Buyit Ras (10 km) Day 2: Buyit Ras - Sankaber (10 km) Day 3: Sankaber - Gich (13 km) Day 4: Gich - Chenek (15 km) via Imet Gogo (20 km) Bwahit (4,430 m) - Chenek (12 km) Day 6: Chenek - Sankaber - Sankaber: Debark (20 km)

alt = “Hike along the cliffs of the Simien Mountains”> Atlas & Boots One of the breathtaking viewpoints on the way to Chenek

This Simien Mountains hike is largely the same as the above-although it begins and ends in Debark and includes a complete return without using an off-road vehicle.

The first part of the hike leads through a populated region of the park, but the camp and the community hut in Buyit Ras offer an excellent view and plenty of interactions with the local gela-monkey. Book an individual hike at SimieneCotours.

Sankaber - Adi Arkay

distance: 81-86km duration: 6 days / 5 nights

proposed travel day 1: Sankaber - Gich (13 km) Day 2: Gich - Chenek (15 km) About Imet Gogo (20 km) Day 3: Chenek - Sona (18 km) Day 4: Sona - Mekarebya (10 km) Day 5: Mekarebya - Mulit (17km) Day 6: Mulit - Adi Arkay)

Alt = “The Jinbar river in the Simien Mountains National Park offered the perfect place for lunch”> Atlas & Boots Quiet view along a valley

This hike through the Simien Mountains begins in Sankaber and bypasses the more populated parts of the path. The hike then follows the same route to Chenek before it branches north to Sona.

From here, the path follows a rather cultural route through the warmer and less visited lowland of the Simien-Mountains national park. The path leads through local Amhara villages, where Trekker can expect more social experience with local farmers and villagers.

In the lower layers, hiking in the second half of the hike is less strenuous, but the view of the valleys is just as impressive as on the valley sole. The hike ends in Adi Arkay, 75 km north of Debark and 175 km from Aksum. Book this hike at SimieneCotours.

sankaber - sankaber about ras dashen

distance: 122-127km duration: 7 days / 6 nights

proposed travel out1. Day: Sankaber - Gich (13 km) 2nd day: Gich - Imet Gogo - Gich (10 km) 3rd day: Gich - Chenek (15 km) via Imet Gogo (20 km) 4th day: Chenek - Ambikwa (20 km); Ascent of Mt. Bwahit (4,430 m) Day 5: Ambikwa - Ambikwa (21 km); Ascent to Ras Dashen (4,550 m) Day 6: Ambikwa - Chenek (19 km) Day 7: Chenek - Sankaber (24 km)

Alt = "Simien Mountains Trek Gich Campingplatz"> Atlas & Boots Sunset from the campsite at Gich

This hike in the Simien Mountains offers plenty of space for adjustments, depending on how much time you have and how well you feel. It can either be started by Debark or Buyit Ras and add additional days at the beginning or end of your hike.

This travel route assumes that you use an all -wheel drive vehicle and maximize the time in the mountains. There is even the possibility to drive to Gich or Chenek, but some of the most beautiful landscapes in the park are missed on the way. In addition, the climbing of Mt. Bwahit is optional but highly recommended.

ras dashen is at 4,550 m (14,927 ft) Ethiopia's highest mountain and the summit striker will almost want to refuse him. However, the mountains do not offer much more than Mt. Bwahit or even Imet Gogo and, thanks to a strange perspective trick, the surrounding peaks actually look higher. Book an individual hike at SimieneCotours.

Buyit Ras - Adi Arkay (over Ras dashen)

distance: 155km duration: 11 days / 10 nights (+ rest days)

proposed travel routing 1: Debark - Buyit Ras (10 km) Day 2: Buyit Ras - Sankaber (10 km) Day 3: Sankaber - Gich (13 km) Day 4: Gich - Imet Gogo - Gich (10 km)) Day 6: Chenek - Ambikwa (20 km); Ascent of Mt. Bwahit (4,430 m) Day 7: Ambikwa - Ambikwa (21 km); Ascent of the Ras dashen (4,550 m)

alt = "original world sites Simien Mountains"> Atlas & Boots The best prospects are not necessarily from the highest mountain

The big one! The above passion hike from Debark to Adi Arkay includes the best parts of the Simien Mountains, including the summit of Imet Gogo, Mt. Bwahit and Ras Dashen, as well as the more cultural section through the lowlands near Sona, Mekarebya and Mulit.

It would almost certainly have to install a rest on the route, in particular before (and maybe after) the climbs by Mt. Bwahit and Ras dashen, which is the best part of a fourteenth day of trekking experience. If you have the time, money and legs for the above -mentioned passage hike, this would be an epic Ethiopian hiking experience through one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Africa. Book an individual hike at SimieneCotours.

day hikes

Chenek is only two hours of car from Debark, so there are many options for day hikes. Some of the following options are good starting points.

alt = “Imet Gogo offers one of the best viewpoints in the Simien Mountains National Park”> Atlas & Boots The 360-degree view of Imet Gogo is perhaps the most beautiful in the park

Option 1: Sankaber-Jinbar waterfall-Sankaber (10 km) option 2: Sankaber-Jinbar waterfall-Gich (13 km) option 3: Gich-Imet Gogo-Gich (11 km) option 4: Gich-Imet Gogo-Chenek (20 km) Option 5: Ambaras-Imet Gogo-Ambaras

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LONELY PLANET ETHIOPIA is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads. Independent trips are not easy in Ethiopia given the major distances. If you prefer to travel on a tour, we recommend G Adventures and their Ethiopia tours in small groups.