Simien Mountains charity trek, Ethiopia
| country: | Ethiopia |
| departures: | 2008: 12 Nov |
| price: | From £475 deposit + £2850 fundraised (55% to charity) (15 days) including flights from the UK. Self funders pay £475 deposit + £1383 including flights from the UK & £100 donation to chosen charity. This trip can also be booked without flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Trek the beautiful Simien Mountains in Ethiopia
The Simien Mountains are one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to their highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (4,620m), the fourth highest peak in the African continent.
Your trekking route is far from the regular tourist trails. It will take you to beautiful lowland valleys and high escarpments, where Amhara villages can be found.
The summit is tough but rewarding, and is followed by a challenging ridge route, topping several 4,000m peaks en route.
The trek from Arkwasyie will offer one of the toughest days on the challenge as you leave the higher plateau, cross several substantial ridges and valleys and climb down the near vertical Devil’s Staircase with a 900m descent to reach Lamo, one of the most beautiful locations in the Simiens.
With time in Addis Ababa, the capital, and also in historic Gondar, you will see a little of the sensational ancient culture of this unique and fascinating African country.
You are also able to extend your expedition and take part in the Christian Aid Historic Route and Project Visit extension, taking in the infamous Lalibela rock churches and experiencing first hand the hard work the Christian Aid do in Ethiopia.
Please note: Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details. 13 Nov - IDE-UK only.
The Simien Mountains are one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to their highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (4,620m), the fourth highest peak in the African continent.
Your trekking route is far from the regular tourist trails. It will take you to beautiful lowland valleys and high escarpments, where Amhara villages can be found.
The summit is tough but rewarding, and is followed by a challenging ridge route, topping several 4,000m peaks en route.
The trek from Arkwasyie will offer one of the toughest days on the challenge as you leave the higher plateau, cross several substantial ridges and valleys and climb down the near vertical Devil’s Staircase with a 900m descent to reach Lamo, one of the most beautiful locations in the Simiens.
With time in Addis Ababa, the capital, and also in historic Gondar, you will see a little of the sensational ancient culture of this unique and fascinating African country.
You are also able to extend your expedition and take part in the Christian Aid Historic Route and Project Visit extension, taking in the infamous Lalibela rock churches and experiencing first hand the hard work the Christian Aid do in Ethiopia.
Please note: Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details. 13 Nov - IDE-UK only.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | International departure |
| Day 2: | Addis Ababa to Gondar |
| Day 3: | Debark to Sankaber |
| Day 4: | Sankaber to Chenek - 6/7hr trek |
| Day 5: | Chenek to Mizma -7/8hr trek |
| Day 6: | Mizma to Ras Deshen and Metelal - 8hr trek |
| Day 7: | Metelal to Arkwasiye - 8hr trek |
| Day 8: | Arkwasiye to Lamo - 10hr trek |
| Day 9: | Lamo to Awaza - 8hr trek |
| Day 10: | Awaza to Gondar - 3hr trek |
| Day 11: | Gondar to Addis Ababa |
| Day 12: | Project visit |
| Day 13: | Marathon |
| Day 14: | International departure |
| Day 15: | Arrive UK |
Highly Commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
 Our responsible tourism commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff, and use locally owned accommodation. We donate approximately US $400 per trek to the Arkwasyie Project (through Community Projects Africa), which provides important medical support in the remote Simien Mountains. The Amhar people of the remote Simiens are friendly, humorous, and extremely tough. They love their impoverished and savagely beautiful mountain terrain. Our Simien Mountains trek travels through the village of Arkwasyie. By trekking with them and the long cavalcade of mules you will have an experience never to be forgotten. Frequently you enter villages and huts; and see close at hand the need for medical supplies and personnel. There is an obvious need of assistance from the outside world both to deal with immediate medical needs - wound dressing, treatment of infections, a simple programme of immunisations etc. But also to develop sustainable methods of health care. The village elders at Arkawasyie village protest that the aid agencies never reach their village, which is a good few days from the nearest hospital. In this remote area are found children and adults, suffering with infected wounds, broken bones causing terrible pain, and a variety of chest and gut problems. Hence we are helping Community Projects Africa to put together a programe to deliver sustainable aid. Ethiopian Health Officers are startingg their work in the region in November 2006, thanks to the support of our trekkers. Looking to the future, we are planning to support the establishment of permanent Health Posts in the Simiens. Once they are set up the Ethiopian government will take over and fund the Health Officers and medical supplies |
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