7 Days Ethiopia: Blue Nile Falls & Simien Mountains

The 7 Days Ethiopia: Blue Nile Falls & Simien Mountains is a 7-day sample itinerary: a tailor-made waterfall safari covering Blue Nile Falls in Ethiopia. Fly north to Lake Tana for the Blue Nile Falls and island monasteries, then on to Gondar and the dramatic escarpments of the Simien Mountains.

Highlights

• Blue Nile Falls (Tis Abay)
• Lake Tana island monasteries
• Gondar's royal enclosure
• Gelada baboons in the Simien Mountains

Suggested places to stay on this route include Kuriftu Resort, Lake Tana.

Who this safari suits

• Travellers interested in history and culture as well as landscapes
• Hikers, for the Simien Mountains
• Travellers visiting after the rains, September to November

Route and travel times

Addis Ababa → fly to Bahir Dar (about 1 hour) · Blue Nile Falls (about 1 hour by road) → Gondar (about 3 hours) → Simien Mountains (about 3 to 4 hours) → back to Gondar and fly to Addis Ababa.

Times are typical and vary with road conditions, border queues and weather.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1

   Arrive in Addis Ababa

   You are met at Addis Ababa Bole Airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, home to the fossil skeleton known as Lucy.

   Overnight Addis AbabaMeals Dinner

2. Day2

   Fly to Bahir Dar

   Take a morning flight of about an hour to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana. In the afternoon, travel by boat to the island monasteries of the lake, known for their painted churches.

   Overnight Kuriftu Resort, Lake TanaMeals Breakfast, dinner

3. Day3

   Blue Nile Falls

   Drive about an hour to the village of Tis Abay and walk to the Blue Nile Falls, crossing the river on an old stone bridge and returning across a suspension bridge over the gorge.

   Overnight Kuriftu Resort, Lake TanaMeals Breakfast, dinner

4. Day4

   To Gondar

   Drive about three hours north to Gondar and explore the castles of the royal enclosure, built from the 17th century, and the painted church of Debre Berhan Selassie.

   Overnight GondarMeals Breakfast, dinner

5. Day5

   Simien Mountains

   Drive into the Simien Mountains National Park, about three to four hours, and walk along the escarpment among troops of gelada baboons.

   Overnight Simien MountainsMeals All meals

6. Day6

   Simien Mountains

   A full day of hiking with a local guide and park scout, with views over deep gorges and the chance to see walia ibex, found only in these mountains.

   Overnight Simien MountainsMeals All meals

7. Day7

   Return to Addis

   Drive back to Gondar and fly to Addis Ababa for your departure.

   Meals Breakfast

When to go

Best time for this route: September–November. At Blue Nile Falls: August–November, after the main rains. See the month-by-month water levels.

Making this trip your own

This is a sample route, not a fixed departure. You can add nights where you want more time, swap the lodges named for others at a different budget, drop activities that do not interest you, or join this itinerary to another one. Tell us your dates, the number of travellers and what matters most to you, and we will send back a tailored version with a price.

Lodges named are examples; ask about alternatives at other budgets. Activities depend on water levels and park rules.