| Duration: | 6 Day(s) - 5 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Eco Tours |
Day 01: Fly to Lalibela
Early morning, we will transfer you to Addis Ababa airport. You’ll be picked up at the other end and transferred to Lalibela. After breakfast drive to Gente Mariam A 45-minute drive or a 17km hike brings you to the rock-hewn church in Gent-Mariam. The trek starts at the Genet Mariam community guest house. Geneta Mariam is 17km off the main road between Lalibela airport and town. You can also get dropped at the junction and walk the 17km along a small dirt road.
Geneta Mariam is home to one of the most famous rock-hewn churches outside Lalibela. It’s a bit similar in style to Lalibela Medane Alem but has some interesting frescoes, including frescoes of elephants that were said to have been used in the church's construction.
The trail up the mountain from Geneta Mariam starts quite steeply with a zig-zag trail up the side of the ridge. But when the trail emerges onto the top the views are lovely, and the surprise of finding farms on the top makes the climb more than worth it.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Luxury Coach Bus
Accommodation: Community Guest house
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will cover approximately 35km
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 02: Trek to Tadios Amba
A little bit further along the ridge is a wonderful built-up cave church called Mekina Medhane Alem, which is somewhat similar to its more famous neighbor Yemrehana Christos in style, yet is simpler. The church is constructed inside a cave, and it feels like you have stumbled across a lost wonder- which to some extent is true. Some 500 m past here is the lunch spot — the views!
From here it is a ridge walk, as the trail follows the spur of the mountain on both the north and south side of the spur. Sometimes the path is a little narrow, with steep slopes running down, so this is not a great path for those with a fear of heights. The path leads to the remote community guest house at Tadios Amba. This guest house is set at 3,600m and has great views back west along the ridge.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Luxury Coach Bus
Accommodation: Community Guest house
CONSULTANT NOTE
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 03: Trek to Agew Beret
From Tadios Amba the trail carries on up the spur, ever higher. There are still some villages around on the first few hour's walk, but then the trail enters the Afro-Alpine moorland at about 3,900m. Keep an eye out for Wolves, Lammergers, and other birds of prey. There are also meadows of Giant Lobelia (like a massive cabbage on a stem).
The path takes you onto the main body of the mountain, Rim Gedel is up to the north, and there is a drop-off on the eastern side of the massif. It’s where many Gelada Baboons can be seen. The views are completely different to the east with the land dropping down steeply towards the rift valley.
The guesthouse at Agaw Beret is around the corner from here. Take it easy here, the altitude is 4,000m. Have a rest at Agaw Beret, before going on to the peak or to look for the Wolves later in the day. You can enjoy the site of the meadow below the guest house, often with numerous sheep and cattle grazing, with shepherds from the villages below keeping an eye on them.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Luxury Coach Bus
Accommodation: Community Guest house
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will cover approximately 375km
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 04: Trek to Ad Medhane Alem
This morning, if you did not already climb Rim Gedel, it should now be in clear skies. It’s a gradual rise toward the peak then the last 100 meters is a steep climb. It’s a scramble using tufts of grass and boulders to pull yourself up. The magnificent views in all directions really make the climb worth the effort.
On the way down you can have time to explore more of the mountain, climbing the smaller of the sharp Zigit peaks on the northwest side of the massif (4,030m/13,220ft). Between the two Zigit peaks is an extraordinary outcrop of basalt rock, broken up into pentagonal-sided pillars. The whole of the side of the massif along here is a good location to see large troops of Gelada baboon, some troops with more than 200 individuals: young ones with their mothers and big puffed-up males taunting each other.
From the Zigit area, it is a 3-4 hour walk down to the guest house run by the Ad Medhane Alem community. This site is perched on the escarpment edge at just over 3,500m (11,500ft) overlooking the ridge that links Abuna Yoseph and the Ashetan Mariam peak that rises from Lalibela town. There are lots of Rock Hyrax on the cliffs, plenty of birds of prey soaring around too, and even a leopard (although your chances of a sighting are quite remote). Sitting on the cliff edge with a beer in hand you can look down towards Lalibela, and watch the sun go down over the ancient landscape.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Luxury Coach Bus
Accommodation: Community Guest house
CONSULTANT NOTE
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 05: Return to Lalibela
The trail is the main route down to Lalibela and is lovely itself. You drop off the escarpment on a trail that follows the spur of the mountain to Lalibela. On one side of the spur is Erica Woodland (Giant Heather or Erica Arborea). These heather bushes can grow into 5-meter-high trees and form a highland woodland that is becoming rare as land is cleared and firewood gathered.
This woodland is protected. In here live ‘Netch Zinjaro’ — which translates as White Baboon. These white baboons are in fact Hamadrus Baboons living at an unusually high altitude of around 3,000 meters. Not 50 meters away lives a troop of Gelada baboons on the southern slopes, and when the two baboon species meet they fight very fiercely.
From the Erica woodland, the path drops down and goes through agricultural land and some woodland. For some parts, you are on boulder-strewn fields but later it’s a good trail and you can make good time. You drop down into Lalibela with good views of the town.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Luxury Coach Bus
Accommodation: Community Guest house
CONSULTANT NOTE
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 06: Fly to Addis Ababa
Early morning visits 5 churches. Return from Lalibela to Addis on the morning flight. Check back in at the Hotel for day use and spend the afternoon exploring the city of Addis’ best markets and shops for purchasing last-minute gifts and souvenirs. We’ll meet for a final farewell dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate and toast our time in Southern Ethiopia.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Luxury Coach Bus
Accommodation: -
CONSULTANT NOTE
Game drive varies the time of arrival
