Ras Dashen Trek: 10 Days Through the Simien Mountains to Ethiopia’s Highest Mountain

Day 1 — Gondar → Debark → Sankaber

Entering the Simien Mountains. Your adventure begins in Gondar.

We leave the historic city and travel north toward Debark, the main gateway to the Simien Mountains.
As the road climbs, the scenery begins to change.
The city disappears behind us.
Fields, villages and highland landscapes gradually replace the urban environment.
At Debark, we complete the necessary park arrangements before continuing toward Sankaber.
This is where the Simien begins to feel real.
In the afternoon, we take a first walk around Sankaber and along the escarpment.
The first views can be unforgettable: enormous valleys dropping away below you, jagged mountain formations stretching toward the horizon and the feeling that the landscape suddenly has no end.
As evening arrives, we settle into camp.
The first night is simple. Mountain air. A warm meal. A dark sky. And ten days ahead of you.

Driving: Approximately 3–4 hours
Trekking: Approximately 2–3 hours
Overnight: Camping at Sankaber.

Day 2 — Sankaber → Gich

Along the Edge of the Escarpment
Walking: Approximately 5–6 hours
Overnight: Gich
After breakfast, we begin our first full day on foot.
The trail follows the dramatic Simien escarpment through highland grasslands and farming areas. And somewhere along the trail, you may meet your first Geladas. You might see a few. Or you might suddenly find yourself surrounded by dozens—or even hundreds—of them. They feed on the grass, groom one another, call across the slopes and watch us pass.
We do not rush these encounters. One of the pleasures of walking in the Simien is that wildlife can become part of the trail itself.
We continue toward Gich, passing viewpoints and valleys along the way.
By afternoon, we reach camp. As the temperature drops, the mountains become quiet. Dinner is prepared by the trekking team, and the evening is spent beneath the Simien sky.
Overnight: Camping at Gich.

Day 3 — Gich → Imet Gogo → Saha → Gich

Where the Mountains Open

Walking: Approximately 5–7 hours
Overnight: Gich

Today is about views. We leave Gich and climb toward Imet Gogo, one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Simien Mountains.
The trail passes through high-altitude vegetation before suddenly opening onto enormous panoramas.
Deep valleys. Vertical cliffs. Distant peaks. Tiny villages far below. And silence.
This is one of those places where photographs rarely feel large enough.
We take our time here. 
There is no reason to hurry through one of the most beautiful landscapes in Ethiopia. After exploring the area, we return toward Gich. The afternoon gives us another chance to observe wildlife and enjoy the highland environment.
Overnight: Camping at Gich.

Day 4 — Gich → Inateye → Chenek

Deeper Into the High Simien
Walking: Approximately 6–7 hours
Overnight: Chenek
Today the landscape becomes increasingly rugged. We leave Gich and continue toward Inateye, moving through some of the highest sections of the Simien plateau.
The trail rises and falls across dramatic terrain. At viewpoints, the valleys seem almost impossibly deep. This is also excellent wildlife country. Keep your eyes open for Walia ibex among the rocky slopes.
Unlike Geladas, Walia ibex can be much more difficult to spot. Your guide will know where to look and, just as importantly, how to observe them without disturbing them.

Eventually we reach Chenek. For many travellers, Chenek becomes one of the defining moments of the trek. The scenery is enormous. The wildlife is close. And you are now deep inside the high mountains.
Overnight: Camping at Chenek.

Day 5 — Chenek → Bwahit Pass → Ambiko

Crossing the High Mountains
Walking: Approximately 7–9 hours

Overnight: Ambiko
Today is a serious mountain day.
We leave Chenek and climb toward the high Bwahit section, reaching elevations around 4,200 metres.
The air becomes thinner. The pace becomes slower.
And the mountain begins to demand more from you. This is where good preparation matters. We walk steadily rather than rushing, drink regularly and allow the body time to respond to the altitude.
The reward is the landscape. From the higher sections, the Simien unfolds around you in enormous layers of peaks, valleys and escarpments. Eventually the trail begins descending toward Ambiko.
Ambiko is important. This is where we prepare for the summit attempt.
After dinner, the guide will discuss the following day’s route, weather and departure time.
Tomorrow is the day we have been walking toward.
Overnight: Camping at Ambiko.

Day 6 — Ambiko → Ras Dashen Summit → Ambiko

Summit Day
Walking: Approximately 8–12+ hours round trip
Summit: Approximately 4,550 m
Overnight: Ambiko
We wake early. Very early. The camp is quiet as breakfast is prepared. Headlamps appear in the darkness. Then we begin.
The ascent from Ambiko is not a race. At this altitude, patience matters. We climb steadily, stopping when necessary and allowing everyone to find their rhythm. As daylight arrives, the mountains begin to appear around us.
The higher we climb, the more exposed the landscape becomes. And eventually, after hours on the trail, the summit comes into view.
Ras Dashen / Ras Dejen – The highest point in Ethiopia.
At approximately 4,550 metres, reaching the summit is a moment that belongs to you.
Maybe you celebrate. Maybe you take photographs. Maybe you simply stand quietly and look across the mountains. There is no correct reaction. You have spent days walking toward this place. You have crossed valleys. Climbed ridges. Slept in mountain camps. Walked through communities. And now you are standing at the highest point in Ethiopia.

After spending time at the summit, we begin the long descent back toward Ambiko. It can be a tiring return, but the feeling is different now. The objective has been achieved.
Overnight: Camping at Ambiko.

Day 7 — Ambiko → Sona

Beyond the Summit
Walking: Approximately 5–7 hours

Overnight: Sona
Today we leave Ambiko. The summit is behind us, but the expedition is not finished. We continue eastward through remote sections of the Simien. The pace is more relaxed after the summit day. The landscape gradually changes as we descend.
You begin to notice differences in vegetation, temperature and settlement. And you begin to see another side of the Simien.
These mountains are not an empty wilderness. People live here. Families farm here. Children walk these trails. Livestock moves through the valleys. For generations, communities have adapted their lives to this demanding landscape.
That human story is part of the Simien too.
Overnight: Camping at Sona.

Day 8 — Sona → Mekarebya

The Remote Side of the Simien
Walking: Approximately 5–7 hours
Overnight: Mekarebya

We continue through the eastern Simien. The trails become quieter. The scenery remains dramatic, but the feeling changes. There are fewer travellers. More local life. More open countryside. This is one of the reasons we prefer a longer Ras Dashen itinerary.
You are not simply travelling to a summit and immediately leaving. You have time to experience the mountain landscape as a complete journey. Along the trail, we may meet local farmers and villagers going about their daily lives. These are not performances for tourists. This is simply life in the highlands.
We continue to Mekarebya and settle into camp.
Overnight: Camping at Mekarebya.

Day 9 — Mekarebya → Mulet

From High Mountains Toward the Lowlands
Walking: Approximately 5–6 hours
Overnight: Mulet

The journey continues. The landscape gradually begins to feel warmer and lower. After so many days among high peaks, the change is noticeable. This is also a day to slow down. Look back. Think about the summit. Think about the people you met.
Think about the first morning in Gondar and how far you have travelled since then.
By afternoon, we arrive at Mulet. Our final night in the mountains is a chance to enjoy one last evening with the trekking team.
Overnight: Camping at Mulet.

Day 10 — Mulet → Adi Arkay → Gondar

Leaving the Mountains
Trekking: Approximately 2–4 hours, depending on the final route
Driving: Approximately 4–6 hours, depending on road conditions
After breakfast, we complete the final section of trekking. Our vehicle meets us according to the agreed route. The journey back toward Gondar becomes a gradual transition from wilderness to civilization. The mountains slowly move behind us. Villages become larger. Roads become busier. And eventually we arrive back in Gondar. The trek is over.
But hopefully, the Simien is not something you simply leave behind. It stays in the photographs. In the cold mornings. In the Geladas beside the trail. In the people you met. In the silence of the high escarpments.
And in that moment when you stood on Ras Dashen.