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Bus, Airlines
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Lodges or campsites in Dinsho or Goba.
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Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains is ~400 km (7-8 hours drive).
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Addis Ababa
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Feb, Mar, Apr & May
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Adventure & Nature Tour, Cultural & Scenic Tour
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All meals during the trek
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English, Spanish,Afaan Oromo ,Amharic
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Easy to Moderate
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2-15
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18
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65
Overview
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Wildlife: Ethiopian wolves, mountain nyala, and birds.
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Landscapes: Sanetti Plateau, Harenna Forest, and Tullu Deemtu.
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Culture: Sof Omar Caves and local communities.
Itinerary
- Morning:
- Depart from Addis Ababa early in the morning (around 6:00 AM).
- Drive southeast towards the Bale Mountains National Park, approximately 400 km (7-8 hours drive).
- Enjoy scenic views of the Ethiopian countryside, including the Great Rift Valley, lush forests, and small towns.
- Afternoon:
- Arrive in Dinsho, the headquarters of Bale Mountains National Park.
- Check into your lodge or campsite.
- After lunch, take a short acclimatization hike around the park headquarters to spot wildlife like mountain nyala, warthogs, and various bird species.
- Evening:
- Relax at your accommodation.
- Enjoy a traditional Ethiopian dinner.
- Overnight stay in Dinsho.
- Morning:
- After breakfast, drive to the Sanetti Plateau, one of the highest points in Africa.
- Marvel at the unique Afro-alpine landscape and spot the endemic Ethiopian wolf.
- Visit Tullu Deemtu, the second-highest peak in Ethiopia, for breathtaking views.
- Afternoon:
- Descend into the Harenna Forest, a lush, cloud-covered jungle with diverse flora and fauna.
- Take a guided walk through the forest to see monkeys, birds, and possibly the elusive Bale monkey.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest.
- Evening:
- Return to your lodge or campsite.
- Relax and enjoy dinner.
- Overnight stay in Dinsho or Goba.
Day 3: Visit Sof Omar Caves
- Morning:
- After breakfast, drive to Sof Omar Caves, one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world (approximately 2-3 hours drive).
- Explore the caves with a local guide, learning about their geological and cultural significance.
- Walk through the caves, following the Web River, and admire the stunning rock formations.
- Afternoon:
- Have lunch near the caves.
- Return to your accommodation in the Bale Mountains area.
- Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or taking a short hike.
- Evening:
- Enjoy your final evening in the Bale Mountains with a traditional dinner.
- Overnight stay in Dinsho or Goba.
Day 4: Bale Mountains to Addis Ababa
- Morning:
- After breakfast, begin your journey back to Addis Ababa.
- Stop for lunch in one of the small towns along the way.
- Afternoon:
- Continue driving, enjoying the scenic landscapes.
- Arrive in Addis Ababa in the late afternoon.
- Depending on your schedule, you may have time for some last-minute shopping or visiting a local attraction.
- Evening:
- Transfer to the airport for your departure or check into a hotel if you’re staying longer in Addis Ababa.
Tips for the Trip:
- Packing: Bring warm clothing for the cold nights in the Bale Mountains, sturdy hiking boots, rain gear, and a good camera.
- Health: Be prepared for altitude sickness; take it easy on the first day to acclimatize.
- Guides: Hiring a local guide is recommended for hiking and wildlife spotting.
- Permits: Ensure you have the necessary permits for visiting Bale Mountains National Park and Sof Omar Caves.
Enjoy your adventure in the stunning Bale Mountains!
overview sortly
4-Day Trip Overview: Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains
Day 1: Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains
- Early departure from Addis Ababa.
- Drive to Bale Mountains National Park (7-8 hours).
- Arrive in Dinsho, check-in, and take a short hike.
- Overnight in Dinsho.
Day 2: Sanetti Plateau & Harenna Forest
- Explore the Sanetti Plateau and spot Ethiopian wolves.
- Visit Tullu Deemtu for panoramic views.
- Descend into Harenna Forest for a guided walk.
- Overnight in Dinsho or Goba.
Day 3: Sof Omar Caves
- Drive to Sof Omar Caves (2-3 hours).
- Explore the caves with a local guide.
- Return to Bale Mountains area.
- Overnight in Dinsho or Goba.
Day 4: Bale Mountains to Addis Ababa
- Drive back to Addis Ababa.
- Arrive in the late afternoon.
- Optional last-minute activities in Addis Ababa.
Tips:
- Pack warm clothing, hiking boots, and rain gear.
- Acclimatize to the altitude.
- Hire local guides for hiking and wildlife spotting.
- Obtain necessary permits.
Enjoy your adventure in the Bale Mountains!
Overview
4-Day Trip Overview: Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains
Day 1: Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains
- Drive to Bale Mountains National Park (7-8 hours).
- Arrive in Dinsho, check-in, and take a short hike for wildlife spotting.
- Overnight in Dinsho.
Day 2: Sanetti Plateau & Harenna Forest
- Explore the Sanetti Plateau, home to Ethiopian wolves and stunning landscapes.
- Visit Tullu Deemtu for panoramic views.
- Descend into Harenna Forest for a guided nature walk.
- Overnight in Dinsho or Goba.
Day 3: Sof Omar Caves
- Drive to Sof Omar Caves (2-3 hours).
- Explore the caves with a local guide.
- Return to Bale Mountains area.
- Overnight in Dinsho or Goba.
Day 4: Bale Mountains to Addis Ababa
- Drive back to Addis Ababa.
- Arrive in the late afternoon.
Highlights:
- Wildlife: Ethiopian wolves, mountain nyala, and birds.
- Landscapes: Sanetti Plateau, Harenna Forest, and Tullu Deemtu.
- Culture: Sof Omar Caves and local communities.
Tips:
- Pack warm clothing, hiking boots, and rain gear.
- Acclimatize to the altitude.
- Hire local guides for hiking and wildlife spotting.
- Obtain necessary permits.
Enjoy your adventure in the stunning Bale Mountains! 🌄
New chat
- Morning:
- After breakfast, drive to Sof Omar Caves, one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world (approximately 2-3 hours drive).
- Explore the caves with a local guide, learning about their geological and cultural significance.
- Walk through the caves, following the Web River, and admire the stunning rock formations.
- Afternoon:
- Have lunch near the caves.
- Return to your accommodation in the Bale Mountains area.
- Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or taking a short hike.
- Evening:
- Enjoy your final evening in the Bale Mountains with a traditional dinner.
- Overnight stay in Dinsho or Goba
- Morning:
- After breakfast, begin your journey back to Addis Ababa.
- Stop for lunch in one of the small towns along the way.
- Afternoon:
- Continue driving, enjoying the scenic landscapes.
- Arrive in Addis Ababa in the late afternoon.
- Depending on your schedule, you may have time for some last-minute shopping or visiting a local attraction.
- Evening:
- Transfer to the airport for your departure or check into a hotel if you’re staying longer in Addis Ababa.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
- Transportation to and from!!
- Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels with family environment
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- First Aid Medical Kit(Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
- All the required permits and paperwork
The Cost Excludes
- Hotel Expenses(In Bale, some packages do include hotel expenses)
- Your travel and medical insurance
- Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
- Food and accommodations in Bale
- Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
- Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
