Classic Northern Circuit & Simien Mountains

Combine an in-depth tour of the Historical Northern Circuit with a leg stretching 4 day trek amidst the mountain panoramas and wildlife of the Simien Mountains National Park.

Ethiopia’s Northern Circuit offers a remarkable density of historical and religious attractions coupled with a striking landscape of endless mountains. This tour combines the best of both worlds, giving an in-depth take on the Northern Circuit along-side a four day trek in the Simien Mountains. Lalibella is justifiably the star in the collection with its fascinating churches carved out of the bare rock all concentrated within walking distance of the town. Gondar with its well preserved royal compound was once the Camelot of Africa, whilst the island monasteries and relaxed lake-side charm of Bahir Dar offer a refreshing change of pace.

If you like to walk, then it would be criminal to visit Ethiopia and not to trek in the Simien Mountains. Over four days you traverse a highland plateau with striking views over the mountain chain thousands of metres below. The park plays host to rich endemic wildlife, with packs of Gelada Baboons and the graceful Wallia Ibex competing for your attention.

The circuit can be done by vehicle or by internal flights. If you have time then going by road will give you the chance to see much more of the country. However if you are short on time then the internal flights offered by Ethiopian Airlines can be good value and very efficient.

If you are considering Ethiopia in the first place, you are probably aware that the standard of hotels, road and general comfort is not going to match what you might expect at home. Travelling in Ethiopia is always an adventure and it is incredibly important you come with the right mind-set. The challenges are the lack of luxuries (a hot shower in Ethiopia is a rare thing, even in upmarket hotels), the unique cuisine and hassle from hawkers. Having said that it also happens to host one of the most unique cultures in the world with a rich cultural heritage and some of the best trekking in the world. You can’t have everything.

This trip offers a nice balance of an depth tour of the historical and cultural highlights of the North along with a 4 day trek in the Simien Mountain. It is perfect if you are active and enjoy trekking. If you are short of time, we do offer a Simien Mountains, Lalibella and Gondar compressed itinerary using internal flights. Alternatively if you don’t want to trek and want to get up to the far North (including Axum and Mekele then try our Northern Historical Circuit tour.