Trekking Holiday: The Simien Mountains Trek in Ethiopia

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 19 reviews.

JAMES LEDGER

ETHIOPIA: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written December 2012
A fantastic trip to a vastly under-rated country - recommended for those who enjoy beautiful scenerey but dont mind the tough walking - plenty of culture and wildlife to enjoy too.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scenery people and wildlife
What did you think of your group leader?
Exceelent
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel in November to avoid the searing heat of January and February
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip shouldnt be underestimated - you need to be fit and active to enjoy it.
Peter Bissell

ETHIOPIA: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written December 2012
A fantastic and extremely memorable trek. The days are long and the walking is tough; however the scenery and the many local people that you meet make it all worthwhile. The scenery is amazing and surprisingly varied. A real bonus was that at the end of November the terrain was remarkably lush green.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The main thing was the people. They appear remarkably content with their life - despite the obvious poverty - mud huts, no electricity, no running water (except rivers), no sanitation and little food. It was amazing to walk along paths in the middle of nowhere and see children running, often bare footed, from half a mile away to greet you on the path. Their smiling faces, and their sense of fun when they saw digital images of themselves was a joy. It was also great to go into a school room - again a mud hut - and see how the children were being taught - complete with Exodus benches! For me, the one thing that wasn't inspirational was summiting Ras Dashen - and not just because I didn't quite make it. The reality is that this trip isn't about summitting, it is about the journey and what you see along the way. You go well above 4,000m on a number of occasions, and so there is nothing particularly special about the summit, and the scenery from some of the other slightly lesser summits is better. Finally, the campsites - out of the 7 sites that we stayed on, we were on our own (other than for curious locals looking on) on 5 of them. They are generally in beautiful, remote locations and to wake up and see the sunrises was fantsatic.
What did you think of your group leader?
The trek had two leaders - Meles, a local Ethiopian leader, and Suzie from the UK. Both were superb. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to organise a trek through such difficult terrain, and with such a lack of local infrastructure. However, everything on the trek worked like clockwork - apart from my muscles sometimes! It was particularly good having the two leaders with Meles being able to sort out all of the local and language issues; and Suzie handling the broader issues. They both have incredible experience and worked perfectly together. Well done.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Believe what it says in the trip notes about this being at the top end of C (probably more like C/D) - this is quite a tough trip, particularly the 3 days of back to back 10/12 hour climbing and descent. There are plenty of steep drops and the trips notes are right to warn that anyone who suffers from vertigo should think carefully about going on this. That said, I never felt in any danger, and it was possible to stay away from the edge if you needed to. Also, the drops added significantly to the drama of the scenery. The local people and children in particular are great. We took plenty of small gifts to give out, but we were rapidly, and rightly, advised not to give them to the locals because to do so tends to encourage a begging mentality. Instead we gave the gifts to the Ethiopian leader (Meles), who in turn gave them to a school - which worked out well. The country, and its people, are clearly extremely poor and if you do have any space/weight limit available please do take some old clothes. They don't even need to be walking gear - it was surprising how many people we saw wearing old suits - and so anything that you can spare will be very much appreciated. The country's roads are being developed quickly by the Chinese. I can't imagine that it will be as busy as Nepal for many years, but if you are thinking of going on this trek, the sooner the better. Enjoy the peace and the solitude - we didn't see another trekker, or 'Westerner', for a week.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think that I have already said it all. This was at the top end of my capabilities - or just beyond; but as the good things stay in the memory, and the not so good bits start to fade; I am certain that the memories from the trek will stay with me forever. The people on the trek were also fantastic and amazingly supportive of anyone who was struggling. Thank you.
Helen Bissell

ETHIOPIA: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written December 2012
Incredible trek. Loved being so remote and having such a contrast to life back home. A real eye opener into the Ethiopian lifestyle too. The scenery was truly breath taking - too much to take in and capture on a photo!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking through a stunning tiny village and letting the village children listen to my ipod headphones.... the children were amazed.
What did you think of your group leader?
Fantastic - we were lucky to have both a local guide and a UK guide and they complemented each other tremedously well. Meles (the local guide) was superb at explaining local culture and the background of Ethiopia - he was very protective of the culture and sought to ensure tourism benefitted and not destroyed their heritage - great to see. Suzie (the UK guide) was a true professional at building the group caramaderie and ensuring we were all getting what we wanted out of the trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Some tough, long days but absolutely worth every minute of it for the scenery and culture we were able to experience as a result of being so remote. Not for a first time trekker.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Well done Exodus (again) for such a well organised, interesting and remote trip where the locals truly welcomed our prescence.
Neil Frankum

ETHIOPIA: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written November 2012
Stunning scenery. Walking definitely at the upper end of the challenging grade.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking along the paths at the top of the escarpment, looking at the great views out over the lowlands 1-2000m below you.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both international and local leaders were good.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Read the small print (i.e. the what to take section of the dossier, including the optional items). On other trips I've done this has been a 'nice to have' list, but for this trip when it says essential it means essential.
Temperatures varied from sub-zero at night to mid 30s in the daytime sunshine. Water purification tablets and toilet paper are essential, and a big pack of wet wipes proved a welcome addition to my pack on numerous occasions. When it rains, its a tropical downpour - decent waterproofs are a godsend if the heavens open.
Remember a $20 bill to pay for your visa on arrival. The embassy website said bring 2 passport photos, but we didn't need these as they took digital pictures as part of the process.
Practice your dancing and singing for the last night social with the trek team. There's got to be something better than the hokey cokey......
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Really enjoyable trip, though physically demanding, with three very long days in the middle with lots of up and down.
Sona is the best located camp - right on the edge!
I would definitely recommend this trip.
michael christou

THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written January 2012
A good holiday reasonably hard but well worth it . When you get up there it is like being on top of the world.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me getting to the top of Ras Dashen it is the highest i have been. Up close and personel with the local wildlife
and most importanly the people especially the children who all want to shake your hand.
What did you think of your group leader?
He was fine got back with the same number of people he left with which is always a good sign and the local guide was knowledgable and had a love for his country and people.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It depends when you go i went in January it was dry and hot which was easily managable as it is not humid but did get down to freezing at night at altitude so take warm clothing. The children often ask for a pen so splash out at the pound shop on a couple of packs of cheap pens and hand them out.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If undecided please go share the wealth buy a few souviners i am sure the money will go a long way and have a great time the scenery really is breath taking.
Aurelija Selvestraviciute

THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written January 2012
Absolutely amazing trek! Superb scenery!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The trip was a perfect combination of scenery, wildlife and culture, not forgeting the trekking of course, which was quite challenging but also very enjoyable.
What did you think of your group leader?
Alex and Melese were very knowledgeable, supportive and fun. They made a superb trek into unforgetable experience.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are travelling in January or February please bring a scarf to protect your face from dust. Plenty of wet wipes, hand gel and water purification tablets are essential.
Charles Hyatt

THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS TREK

Written November 2011
Brilliant trip, perfect weather, nicely structured itinerary, lovely group
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Breakfast at Sona in our stunning camp site overlooking the whole section of escarpment we had been walking on for the previous few days.
What did you think of your group leader?
Local guide Meles and European guide Alex both did a good job, and complemented each others skills well. They helped create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere whilst working hard to ensure everything went smoothly behind the scenes.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip notes were extremely accurate in all respects, a very good summary of what to expect. The only area which I think could have been worth highlighting a bit more is that it is quite a tricky steep scramble at the top of Ras Dejen which caused one of our group to miss the summit - the descent in particular of that top section needed to be taken very carefully.