Simien Mountains National Park hosts trek on 21 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 00:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Trek Ethiopia: Simien Mountains begins on 21 October 2026, with trekking starting from Debark in Ethiopia.
- The fundraising route includes Simien Mountains National Park, highland trails and a summit attempt on Ras Dashen.
- UNESCO inscribed the park on its World Heritage List in 1978 and removed it from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2017.
Simien Mountains National Park and Trek Ethiopia: Simien Mountains are linked by a fundraising trek beginning on 21 October 2026. The route reaches the park from Debark, Ethiopia, after the wider journey begins in Addis Ababa and passes through Gondar.
The event is presented for people joining a supported mountain challenge, with trekking through the park forming its central travel element. Its programme combines outdoor activity with fundraising for the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.
Trek Ethiopia: Simien Mountains starts from Debark on 21 October
The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability lists the trek for 21 October 2026 and invites participants to join the fundraising challenge. The organiser describes a journey that travels north from Addis Ababa towards Gondar and then onwards to the Simien Mountains.
Trekking starts in earnest from Debark, according to the organiser. The route crosses escarpments and river valleys, continues through giant lobelia forests and high-altitude passes, and heads towards Ras Dashen before the group returns for a final celebration in Addis Ababa.
The programme includes camping on trekking nights and a summit attempt on Ras Dashen. It also names gelada baboons, Walia ibex and lammergeyers among the wildlife associated with the landscape, while ancient royal castles and traditional life in remote villages form part of the wider itinerary. The RHN trek programme sets out these elements alongside the 21 October date.
World Heritage status frames the trek through Simien
The park is a World Heritage landscape with dramatic escarpments, deep valleys and sharp precipices. UNESCO says the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978 after its mountain scenery and rare wildlife received international recognition.
The same site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996 because of pressures including a road crossing the property, excessive cattle grazing, agricultural encroachment and declining populations of some large mammals. UNESCO later announced its removal from that danger list in 2017, citing improvements in management, reduced overgrazing and measures intended to reduce visitor impact. The UNESCO heritage record describes the conservation context.
That history gives the October trek a specific setting: participants follow trails through a protected property whose status reflects both exceptional scenery and long-running management challenges. The event's route from Debark towards the high passes therefore connects the practical starting point with the landscape recognised by UNESCO.
Visiting Simien Mountains National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The fundraising trek begins on 21 October 2026, with trekking starting from Debark and continuing into the Simien Mountains.
- The organiser presents the event as a supported fundraising challenge, with camping, mountain trails and a summit attempt included in the programme.
- Debark is the stated gateway for the trekking section, while the wider itinerary begins in Addis Ababa and passes through Gondar before reaching the park.
- The terrain includes escarpments, river valleys, high-altitude passes and giant lobelia forests, so the programme involves sustained mountain walking.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Simien Mountains National Park on social platforms
These links open searches for Simien Mountains National Park on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Simien Mountains National Park
When does Trek Ethiopia: Simien Mountains take place?
The trek begins on 21 October 2026. Trekking starts from Debark before continuing through the park's mountain landscape.
Where is Simien Mountains National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in northern Ethiopia, with Debark serving as the starting point for the trekking section. The wider programme travels from Addis Ababa through Gondar before reaching the mountains.
What is Simien Mountains National Park?
It is a protected Ethiopian mountain landscape inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978. UNESCO removed it from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2017.
