As seen on
Ethiopia's Gheralta Mountains & Danakil Depression
Ethiopia
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Intermediate
Type:
Activity
Transfers
Duration:
8 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Highlights
- Explore 13th Century rock-hewn churches
- Walk through local villages to meet local people
- Camp in beautiful African surroundings, hiking direct from camp
- Experience traditional food, music & dancing
Add on Adventures
This itinerary has options for you to extend & customise your experience before &/or after your holiday. See Itinerary for details.
On this stunning adventure we will explore beautiful ancient rock-hewn churches carved high up into the mountainsides of the mind-blowing formations of Gheralta Mountains. We will camp in beautifully situated campsites such as under a giant sycamore tree and in a huge natural cave; meeting local villages along the way and learning about their culture as our unique route takes us through many villages and farmsteads, very rarely visited by foreigners.
We will regularly meet with local villagers and learn how they perform activities such as the famous coffee ceremony and the making of their staple food; injera. Our stay in a beautiful mountain lodge overlooking the ‘Spaghetti-Western’-like silhouettes of the Gheralta Mountains at sunset precedes our completely unique five-day trek, taking us through these remote mountains and friendly local villages.
The adventure includes a tour around Addis Ababa, and also the historic town of Lalibela, where a local guide will take us around the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s ancient 13th Century rock-hewn churches, commonly referred to as ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’.
Please note
The UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advise against travel to some parts of Ethiopia, although this itinerary falls in their 'green zone' and is safe to travel to. This is why some places like Lalibela which are outside of the recommended areas for travel have not been included. You can find more information on this HERE.
Adventure Optional Addons
Add on Adventures
This itinerary has options for you to extend & customise your experience before &/or after your holiday. See below for details.
Day 1: Arrival into Addis Ababa
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
Your adventure begins in this liveliest of cities. You will be transferred to your hotel for a rest before beginning our city tour in the afternoon.
For those that would like to, we have an optional visit today (or on the penultimate day of your adventure) to the serene and thought provoking Hamlin Fistula Hospital. Here you can learn more about the fantastic work they do to support women and girls from remote villages such as the ones we will see later in our adventure.
In the evening we will watch traditional musicians and dancers performing different tribal dances in a culture house where we will also enjoy traditional Ethiopian food for dinner.
Day 2: Addis Ababa to Axum
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Fly from Addis to Axum airport and drive to hotel and exploring axum obelisks, archeological sits ,4th century tombs ,St marry zaion church etc...
Overnight Yared zema hotel.
Day 3: Axum to Gheralta
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
In the morning visit Axum market and after that start driving towards to Gheralta mountain and on the way visit the oldest temple in Africa called Yeha Temple and drive to Hawzen.
Overnight in the stunningly situated Gheralta Lodge.
Day 4: Walking up to Abune Abrham 13th century rock church
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
In the morning we will drive towards to gheralta mountain to get close to start the hiking up to church called Debretsion abune abrham from the 13th century one of the best church in the area and after trek down from Debretsion trek down from the camp and keep trek via dugum village and mountain this day we will meet people and joining them for coffee in thire house so it will be with cultural activities.
Overnight in Gheralta Lodge.
Day 5: Mariam Korkor church
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Lodge
After break fast start hiking to the well know church of mariam korkor and Daniel korkor overnight Gheralta Lodge.
Day 6: Abune Yemata church & Sycamore Tree Camp
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Early morning start trek to unique church of abune yemata guh this church is the best church with the best location and pantings and we have to climb with rope and after visit Guh village
After eating we have just an hours walk before we reach our camp, under the biggest sycamore tree in the region! It is a wonderful spot where many of the local exotic birds flock to nest in its branches. Once here you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon chatting and resting, and enjoying the ambiance of Africa!
Overnight camping at sycamore tree
Day 7: Mekelle
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Start driving to Mekelle and on the way visit the easy and accessible church Abrha We Atsbeha from 4th century and visit mekelle, overnight in Mekelle
Day 8: Return to Addis Ababa OR continue on to Danakil Depression
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Fly to Addis (or stay on for Danakil Depression adventure)
Overnight in Addis (or see below Add-on Adventure for Danakil Depression itinerary)
Day 9: Departure from Addis
Transfer
Breakfast
Transfer to flight home
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Single tents are available during the camping sections of this adventure. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is not available to book for part of the trip where it would have been possible.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International flights & airport taxes
- National Flights - Return from Addis Ababa to Lalibela, Lalibela to Axum & Mekele to Addis (approx cost £175)
- Domestic flights x3
- Visas (approx £40) & Insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tipping (allow approx $100)
Adventure Optional Addons
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.
We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra road travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, and in modern buildings and or in towns. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting. This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, hot showers, or continuous power) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
This trip involves both hotel and camping accommodation. The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Addis Adaba (Day 1, 2 & 9): Monarch Hotel (www.monarchaddis.com), Cameroon Street near Edna Mall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Phone: +251 116672480 (Wifi & Pool)
Lalibela (Day 3 & 4): Mountain View Hotel or Jerusalem Hotel, depending on availability.
Gheralta Mountains (Day 5): Wukro Eco Lodge (http://wukrolodge.com) Phone: +251 344 431247 (Wifi & Pool)
Camping (Day 6 - 8): Camp staff will set up camp and move your belongings on with donkeys. We have our own chef and drink bottled water. There is a camp shower suspended from a tree in a tent using filtered well/river water. There are basic toilet facilities (tent with a hole in the ground) and you need to carry your own toilet paper, burning it after use.
Facilities
With the exception of some of the higher class hotels in Addis Ababa, hotels generally do not have heat or air conditioning. As nights can be chilly, please bring appropriate sleepwear if needed.
In areas where malaria is a problem, hotel rooms come with mosquito nets.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be an experienced member of the YellowWood Guiding team. They will be joined by Gebre, our local hiking guide, for the duration of the trek as well as Tesafaye in Addis & Fikru in Lalibela.
This ensures you the perfect balance of information and support on your trip, with your Ethiopian guides offering insight into local life and customs, as well as routes during hiking, whilst your Yellow Wood guide ensures the smooth running of your adventure.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
You are visiting the mountainous areas of Ethiopia and this is one of our more challenging itineraries involving hiking/trekking over rough terrain (see Itinerary for details). To get the most of out of this adventure, you need to be a strong, regular walker and in good physical condition. You do not need to be experienced in trekking, however. The hiking is at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops. Walking is in the heat and over rough terrain.
You will be carrying just a day pack and your water bottle. We highly recommend a filtration water bottle such as Aquapure Traveller (offer available - see section on Water)
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
Clients are advised to get in as much regular walking/ short runs before the trip as convenient.
NB: If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip itself.
Travel
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport in Addis Ababa. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool when searching for flights, such as skyscanner. Or www.momondo.co.uk. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Airport & Arrival Information
Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa) has reassuringly tight security measures and for this reason they do not allow any non-passengers into the airport.
Fortunately, the Monarch Hotel has a small booth inside the airport so all you need to do is head to the booth and tell them you are a hotel guest with YellowWood, and they will organise your shuttle transfer straight to the hotel (transfer of 20 mins).
Before you head to the Monarch desk however, you have a couple of jobs to do!
- Purchase your Visa on arrival, if you haven’t already got an e-visa: the visa desk is clearly signposted (see later section for details).
- Exchange Currency: The easiest way is probably to use the ATM in the arrivals lounge, however there is also a bank to change money near immigration and baggage claim (see later section on Currency Exchange). For convenience, we would recommend changing currency at the airport rather than doing this in Addis Ababa.
Toilets can be found in the arrivals lounge.
Hotel Arrival
On arrival at the Monarch hotel, you should head to reception. You will be greeted by your guide at the hotel, and will be welcome to settle into your room.
You will be heading to a local restaurant for lunch and a trip briefing, once everyone has arrived.
Domestic Flights
All domestic flights are operated by Ethiopian Airlines, unless prior arrangement has been made for special charter flights. Please note that Ethiopian Airlines offer a 50% discount on national flights if you have travelled with them for your international flight. We will provide you with further information on your Flight Information Sheet.
This trip involves Internal flights as follows (not included):
- Addis Ababa to Lalibela (Day 2)
- Lalibela to Axum (Day 4)
- Mekele to Addis Ababa (Day 8)
Domestic flight baggage allowance is as follows:
- Checked baggage must not exceed 20kg, whether in one bag or combined for 2 bags;
- Excess weight will be charged at the rate of 40ETB/kg.
- Carry-on baggage must not exceed 7kg, excluding personal handbags or purses, laptop, reading material or other special carry-on items.
- Special arrangements can be made for photographic equipment. Liquids may be taken in carry-on luggage and are not required to be in a zippered plastic bag.
For Domestic arrivals, again, we are not permitted inside the terminal so our rep will be outside in the parking lot.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking /trekking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
General information on Ethiopia
For information on Ethiopia, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specificinformation.
Reviews
Advait Kapadia, London
The Gheralta Mountains trip is a truly incredible experience, which accumulates in climbing Abuna Yemata Guh – a genuine wonder. YellowWood have planned the itinerary to keep every day adventure filled and blended the experience of an extremely remote location with the hustle and bustle of Addis seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this trip and YellowWood!.
Ruth Leather
From guiding us through the crowded alleys of Lalibela at Genna to clambering up the dizzy heights of Abuna Yemata this was a trip that surpassed all expectations! Yellowwood hits the right balance of organised small group travel with adventurous, 'off the beaten track' experiences all the while making you feel as if you've travelling with a small group of your friends. Ethiopia is truly a beautiful country with wonderful friendly and generous people throughout. I highly recommend this trip and am already planning for my next Yellowwood adventure!
Genna Festival (seasonal variation of Lalibela & Gheralta Mountain Adventure), 2020
Phoebe Armstrong
Sam, you clearly have a real passion for the country & people of Ethiopia. This is something that I now share with you! I will be returning at some point, hopefully soon, as there is so much more of this amazing country to explore.
Lalibela & Gheralta Mountain Adventure, 2019
Helen Tindale
I returned fizzing with a blast of serotonin and fresh spiritual, culinary, cultural fitness awareness and new sense of personal achievement. YellowWood's seamless organisation allowed minds & spirits to wander through monolithic churches, mountain passes to the fire lit beat of drums. Unquestionaably up there with the best trips ever. The first with YellowWood best definitely not the last.
Genna Festival (seasonal variant of Lalibela & Gheralta Mountains), 2020
Shyam Radia
Fantastic trip in the Gheralta Mountains, much enjoyed every aspect of it. Great fun. Hope YellowWood keeps going from strength to strength.
Lalibela & Gheralta Mountains, 2018
Hamel Shah, Dubai
Stunning campsites with beautiful backdrop will make this a trip to remember. Our guide Gebre made it really special, always with a smile and encouraging us along the way. Impromptu fireside parties, local popstars and being feed injera whilst sipping tallah in a traditional family home were highlights.
Lalibela & Gheralta Mountains, 2018
Lauren Douglas, Dubai, 2018
The Gheralta Mountains trip is a truly incredible experience, which accumulates in climbing Abuna Yemata Guh – a genuine wonder. YellowWood have planned the itinerary to keep every day adventure filled and blended the experience of an extremely remote location with the hustle and bustle of Addis seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this trip and YellowWood!.
Katherine Andrews, London
A once in a lifetime adventure witnessing Ethiopian cultural heritage at its best as well as sublime, albeit challenging treks deep into the Gheralta Mountains. Both locals and guides were utterly charming.
Compulsory
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Passport & insurance documents
- Debit / credit card (limited access to ATMs)
- Prescription medication
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Insect repellent
- Hand sanitiser (70% alcohol) & min of 2 reusable & 10 disposable face coverings
- Flannel & Towel (ideally quick drying travel towel)
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Toilet kit: toilet roll, wet wipes & ziplock bags for carrying paper out. Biodegradable wet wipe brands: Cannymum, Close Pop & Travel Buddy
- Fully charged power pack
Items for Camping & Hiking
- Winter sleeping bag (comfort rating 0ºC)
- 20-30L rucksack with waist (& ideally chest) strap
- Rucksack or duffel bag for main luggage (no hard suitcases) so it can be strapped to horses for transportation during camp/hike.
- Reusable filtration water bottle (approx 2 litres) eg Aqua Pure Traveller water bottle
- Waterproof walking boots with ankle support - already broken in...
- Torch with spare batteries
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners to keep kit dry. Esp. important for sleeping bags & spare clothes
- Sunglasses & high factor sun cream
- Sun hat or baseball cap
Clothing
- General socks / underwear for city sections & for trekking
- Suitable clothes/pjs for sleeping in (consider need to nip out of tent for wee in the night!). Thermal base layers are ideal when camping & also useful if you get cold weather.
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops. NB technical fabrics dry quickly in hot or wet weather when hiking.
- Waterproof jacket (GoreTex or similar quality)
- Walking trousers for trekking / camping (to avoid scrub scratches etc). Soft shell fabric is ideal.
- Warm jacket & fleece - even in the summer temperatures can be sub zero at night. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended.
- Shorts for warmer days
- Sandals or trainers for around camp
- Lightweight waterproof trousers
- Buff or neck gaiter for cold weather / sun protection. Light scarf useful for church visits
- Warm hat and gloves
- Waterproof stuff sacks for small items
Optional
- Sleeping mat: mattresses are provided but there may be cleanliness issues and potential for fleas as they are transported on horses. So consider brining your own, ideally lightweight inflatable insulated mat which offers most comfort & warmth over multiple nights. Or use the mattresses on the trip with a sleeping sheet/liner.
- Telescopic walking poles: great for alleviating knee pain / preventing ITB issues etc. They can be as cheap as £15 & your guide can help you learn how to use them.
- Inflatable pillow, or pillowcase you can stuff with spare clothes - adds comfort to camping.
- Silk or thermal sleeping bag liner if you feel the cold, or are renting / borrowing a sleeping bag or using the available mattresses.
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Phone & charging cables / plug
- 2 prong adaptor Type C or E
- Purification tablets as alternative to Aquapure Traveller Water Purification Bottle
- Money belt
- Universal sink plug (eg lifeventure, solotrek or muzitao brands)
- Eucalyptus oil - we have it on good authority that this can deter fleas which are common in Ethiopia
- Ear plugs (in case of snorers)
- Spare ziplock bags for dirty clothes, waterproofing phones, rubbish & general organising
- Swimming Costume (small pool at Monarch Hotel may have water in!)
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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