ethiopia - action challenge · there is also a high chance of seeing some gelada baboons. meals:...

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actionchallenge in Ethiopia

trip highlights● Reach the summit of Ras Dashen (4,533m)● Addis Ababa● Spot the rare Walia ibex● See afro-alpine plants● Cross the Bwahit Pass (4,200m)● Experience an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony● Explore the town of Gondar

● Activity: Trekking● Location: Simien Mountains, Ethiopia● Duration: 10 Days / 5 days trekking● Difficulty: Moderate● Distance: 80 km● When: Sep 2014 / Oct 2015● Group size: 15 -25

at a glance

Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups,charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world’s most exhilarating locations,often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetimeadventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life.

This incredible trek takes us into the Simien Mountains, from the market town of Debark to the barren summit of RasDashen at 4,533m. It is a fantastic, unforgettable ten day challenge across stunning mountain scenery.

Together with our guides and muleteers, we set off on our journey following a typical, rollercoaster path which leads usdown into the Michotis Valley, up the other side, down to the Jin Bahir river crossing and back up to Geech where wecamp for the night.

As we continue our hike, far up into the Ethiopian Highlands, we see many impressive afro-alpine plants and are treatedto stunning views across the Lowlands, characterised by their rocky spires and mesas. The area is rich in wildlife andwill hopefully deliver us a glimpse of the rare Walia ibex, Simien fox or the Gelada baboons as they scamper about inthe surrounding vegetation. We make our way over the high Bwahit pass (4,200m), enjoy lunch at Chiro Liba villageschool and descend into Mesheha River valley (2,850m). Each night we sleep under canvas at our camps where wetuck into hearty meals to keep our energy levels up for our spectacular trekking days.

Our goal is the summit of Ras Dashen (4,533m). It’s a long day of trekking as we contour a number of steep gullies untilwe reach a high rocky plateau dominated by three peaks. From here it’s an easy scramble up to the top of Africa’s fourthhighest mountain. Together we stand, high above Ethiopia and look out over the barren rocky mountain below us. Wefeel an incredible sense of achievement that will stay with us forever.

Our last day is spent in Gondar where we explore its Italian piazza and historic Royal Enclosure before having a specialmeal together to celebrate our fantastic achievement.

trekEthiopia

Ethiopia has an average day temperatureof 27 °C all year round. The nights arealso warm, only dropping to 25 °C. Heavyrains affect the area during June andOctober so these months should beavoided but all other months are ideal fora visit.

Ethiopia

This fully-inclusive adventure to Ethiopia will begin as soon as you register! You willreceive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all theessentials you may need. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out all theformalities so you can concentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offerpre-challenge briefings and training weekends in the UK, where you can meet our trekleaders, members of your group and others taking part in challenges around the world.On the day of departure you will meet your group and Action Challenge leader at theairport in London. Whether you’re joining the challenge on your own or with others, youwill instantly be made to feel welcome. . As a team we will board our flight to Ethiopia,ready to take on the hike of a lifetime!

introduction

brief itinerary

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5

Depart UKArrive Addis AbabaGondar-Geech CampChenek CampAmbikwa Camp

what’s included

Sep 2014 / Oct 2015

Please visit our website for more details

All inclusive trip cost from £1,879Initial £399 deposit to sign up

Three payment options available

Please visit our website for more details

· International flights· Action Challenge trek leader· Full support team, including local guides· UK medic· All accommodation· All meals, except in free time· Airline taxes· Treated drinking water· All transfers in local vehicles· National Park entrance fees· Celebration dinner· Invitation to a challenge briefing in London· Discounted training weekends in the Peak District and Wales· Fitness and training guide· Discounts from UK retailers· Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health

+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.act ionchal lenge.com events@actionchal lenge.com

This has been classed as a moderatechallenge with five days of trekking andperiods of prolonged climbs. Each day oftrekking will last between 5 and 12 hoursdependant on the distance walked so agood level of aerobic fitness will beneeded.

Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9Day 10

Summit of Rash DashenChenekGondarDepart Addis AbabaArrive UK

trek

• Two nights in 2/3* hotels • 5 nights camping

All accommodation is on a twin/triple-share, single-sex basis and we will pairyou with someone of a similar age, wherepossible.

If you wish to share a room with someoneyou are travelling with, please specify this

itinerary

Breakfasts each morning will be at ouraccommodation, whilst lunches will be enroute. Evening meals will be freshlyprepared for us either in camp or at ourhotel/lodge in time for our arrival with avariety of rice, pasta, vegetables and aselection of fresh meat and fresh fish.

We can cater for all dietary requirementsif informed in advance.

DAY 1 - Depart London

We depart in the evening for an overnight flight from London to Addis Ababa.

Meals: Dependent on flight schedule

DAY 2 - Addis Ababa

We arrive at Addis Ababa airport in the early afternoon and transfer to our hotel to relax.If time allows there will be free time to visit Addis Ababa’s historic sites including theNational Museum, where we can see the 3.2 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whoseskeletal remains where discovered in 1974. This evening we have a briefing by ourguides, followed by a welcome dinner.

Meals: L,D Accom: Hotel

DAY 3 - Gondar-Geech Camp

This morning we take an internal flight over stunning scenery to the city of Gondar(2,175m) in the North Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia. On arrival we transfer 5 hoursthrough increasingly mountainous environment, to the market town of Debark where westop for lunch. This afternoon we meet our local guides and muleteers and start ourchallenge with a descent into the Michotis Valley. After climbing up out of the valley wehave great views of the Jin Bahir River plummeting into the Geech Abyss. We laterdescend to cross the Jin Bahir and, after a steep climb, we reach Geech camp (3,600m)where we stay overnight.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Time trekking: 5 hours

If you decide that you would like to haveyour own room on the challenge, we canaccommodate this in the majority ofplaces.

Please email us for more information

• Insurance - approximately £60 • Visa - £14 • Vaccinations - Yellow Fever and up-to-date on boosters. Malaria tablets will berequired. Please seek advice from yourGP. • Tips for local staff - recommendedamount $30 • Airline fuel surcharge / supplement asapplied by airlines. Please note that thisis capped at a maximum of £150.

DAY 4 - Cheneck Camp

After an early camp breakfast we head to the escarpment edge at Saha andImetgogo (3,926m) where there are stunning views over the lowlands,characterised by rocky spires and mesas. Clinging to the escarpment edge wetrek over undulating terrain towards our camp at Chenek. On the way we seemany impressive Giant Lobelia which dominate the Afro alpine landscape.There is also a high chance of seeing some Gelada baboons.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Time trekking: 6 - 8 hours

DAY 5 - Ambikwa Camp

Today we start our trek to the Bwahit Pass (4,200m) which runs below the SimienMountains’ second highest peak. Our hard work is rewarded with incredible views and,after a rest, we descend steeply towards the village of Chiro Liba, where we enjoy lunchat the local school. This afternoon we continue our descent to the Mesheha River valley(2850m) before climbing again to reach Ambikwa camp at (3,200m), where we stay forthe night and enjoy an excellent evening meal.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Time trekking: 7 - 9 hours


Ethiopiatrek

A kit list will be sent to you on receipt ofregistration. Many everyday items can beused on this challenge, and we offer a kithire service to keep costs down.

If you are planning on travelling toEthiopia before the challenge or wish toorganise your own flights, we do offer aland only option, with a significantdiscount off the trip price. You will berequired to meet your group at the hotelon day two of the itinerary.

Please email us for more information

• Alcoholic drinks • Drinks and food outside of meals, otherthan water • Personal kit / equipment • Airline fuel surcharge / supplement asapplied by airlines. Please note that thisis capped at a maximum of £150.

DAY 7 - Chenek

Today we retrace our steps to the small village of Chenek. From there we transfer toour camp for our last night under canvas in the remote environment of the SimienMountains.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Time trekking: 8 - 9 Hours

DAY 8 - Gondar

This morning we transfer to our hotel in Gondar where we have a free afternoon to relaxor explore the town and visit the famous Fasil Ghebbi fortress. Tonight we celebrate ourincredible achievements over the past few days with a celebration dinner.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel

This is the most challenging day of the trek as we tackle the summit of Ras Dashen(4,533m). After a early hearty breakfast we trek up to the head of the valley and thevillage of Mizma where we get our first view of our imposing goal. To reach it, wecontour round a number of steep gullies ascending all the time, until we find ourselveson a rocky plateau dominated by three peaks. We then have a relatively easy scrambleto the top of Africa’s fourth highest mountain where we take in the view. After a brief restand lunch on the summit we descend by the same route back to Ambikwa camp, wherewe enjoy a well-deserved rest for the night.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Time trekking: 10-12 Hours

DAY 6 - Summit of Ras Dashen


training weekends / briefings

We run a number of training weekendsthroughout the year in the Peak District,Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia. Theseare fully-inclusive - 2 night’saccommodation and all meals. We alsoorganise training days in London and theNorth and South downs. On both, you willget the chance to meet our mountainleaders and test out your kit and fitness!

You will also receive an invite to achallenge briefing in central London.

DAY 9 - Return to Addis - Depart

In the morning we transfer to the airport for our internal flight to Addis Ababa where wecatch our connecting flight back to the UK.

Meals: B,L,D

Ethiopiatrek

DAY 10 - Arrive UK

payment optionsATOL is a scheme that protects you fromlosing money or being stranded abroad ifyour travel company collapses. ActionChallenge is 100% ATOL bonded, whichprovides you with full financial protection.On receipt of your registration fee, you willreceive an ATOL certificate explainingyour protection.

A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of £399 (for 2014) is required to secure your place. Weoffer 2 deposit payment options:

OPTION 1: Deposit paid in full, by card at the time of registration.

OPTION 2: Deposit paid in two 50/50 split payments. The first 50% is paid when youregister and the second is charged to your payment card at the end of the followingmonth. For this option, a £10 supplement will be charged with the first instalment.

Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost.Full details are on our website.

1) SELF FUNDED

For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It’s then completely up toyou whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice.

The total all inclusive cost of this trip is £1,879 (for 2014), which, after you pay the £399Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of £1,480. This final balance is due for payment10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline.

2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED

This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising asignificant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least£3,000 (for 2014) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues,and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total.

Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraisinggoes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £3,000 (for 2014), yourcharity will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paidby your charity, is £1,480 (the same as if you were you were ‘Self Funded’) - the charitywill retain at least £1,520 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuelsurcharges 10 weeks prior to departure.

3) MIXED FUNDED

A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and alsofundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal foranyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT ishappy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with yourregistration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights &accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship inrespect to the ‘challenge’ component of their trip.

Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraisinggoes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £2,250 (for 2014), yourcharity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by yourcharity, is £880. At the same time, you will be required to pay the remaining balanceyourself, which will be a figure of £600 (These two amounts add up to the same as the‘Self Funded’ final balance) - the charity will retain at least £1,370 to help fund theirwork. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure.

@actionchallenge

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Action Challenge UK LtdUnited HouseNorth RoadLondonN7 9DPUnited Kingdom

how to book

To book on to this challenge, please visitour website; www.actionchallenge.comfor a full list of prices and all availabledates.


If you are a charity, business, school orprivate group with a minimum of 10people and fancy your own bespoke trip,please call us on +44(0 )207609 6695or you can send us an email toevents@actionchal lenge.comfor more information.

private groups

Ethiopiatrek

ethiopia - action challenge · there is also a high chance of seeing some gelada baboons. meals:...

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