SimienEcoTours
Enjoy Ethiopian Diversity
SimienEcoTours is a licensed Ethiopian tour operator that has been running trips since 2014, with a main office in Gondar and further offices in Addis Ababa and Europe. The company was built on a stated commitment to social and ecological responsibility, and describes its team as a well-balanced mix of local and international tourism professionals with strong personal ties to Ethiopia. It positions itself as an "eco-tour" operator, aiming to combine responsible, low-impact travel with clear communication and efficient trip planning for both individuals and groups.
Cycling is one of the company's core activities alongside trekking, cultural tours, community tourism and charity project visits. Its mountain biking programme covers routes through the Simien and Bale Mountains, the southern highlands, the Wenchi and Dendi crater lakes, and day rides around Addis Ababa, riding on what it calls "less frequented roads and trails" through mountains, gorges and villages. Trips run from single-day outings to multi-day expeditions of up to 14 days, and can be ridden on the company's own fleet of 15+ mountain bikes and 10 e-bikes, or on riders' own equipment.
SimienEcoTours presents itself as a value-for-money operator, offering both group departures and tailor-made itineraries, and it backs its cycling trips with local logistics, transport and guiding support.
Cycling Tour from Addis Ababa to the South
Tour Operator: SimienEcoTours
Ethiopia
8 days (Bike: 6 days)
325 km (~54km per day)
For groups
Active
Hilly, On-road
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
€ 2160
Overview
Tour Operator SimienEcoTours
An 8-day guided MTB and e-bike tour from Addis Ababa through Wenchi and the Gurage highlands to the Great Rift Valley.
This 8-day guided tour, suited to riders on their own bike or a rental hardtail/e-bike, explores the green region southwest of Addis Ababa. The route takes in the volcanic Wenchi Crater rim, the Gurage highlands (with visits to local village homes), and a fast descent from 3,350m to 2,050m into the Great Rift Valley.
Riders then continue past lakeside resorts at Ziway/Batu, before a final ride around Bishoftu's crater lakes. Two-night stays at two destinations keep transfers to a minimum, and hotels/resorts allow e-bikes and other electronics to be recharged nightly.
The tour is pitched as a good option for beginner mountain bikers, with a support vehicle running throughout.
Highlights:
- Ride the Wenchi Crater rim on volcanic ash trails
- Explore the green Gurage highlands and visit local village homes
- Descend from Gurage's highest ridge (3,350m) into the Great Rift Valley
- Ride past Bishoftu's crater lakes on the final day
- Relax at lakeside resorts in Ziway/Batu and Bishoftu
- Choice of own bike, hardtail or full-suspension e-bike hire
Surface and terrain:
Mostly sealed asphalt roads with some volcanic ash trail sections (Wenchi crater rim). Hilly, with significant climbs and descents, including a drop from 3,350m to 2,050m. No sustained off-road/singletrack. Support vehicle available throughout.
Likely weather:
Riders descend from highland altitude into the warmer Rift Valley, so temperatures rise noticeably over the tour.
Suitable for:
A "perfect beginners mountain bike tour." Suits riders comfortable with hilly terrain and daily distances of 43-79km, on own bike or rental hardtail/e-bike.
Cycling in Ethiopia's Southern Mountains
Tour Operator: SimienEcoTours
Ethiopia
12 days (Bike: 10 days)
392 km (~39km per day)
Active
Mixed on/off-road, Hilly
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
€ 2280
Overview
Tour Operator SimienEcoTours
A 12-day guided MTB and e-bike group tour through Southern Ethiopia's highlands, Rift Valley and Bale Mountains.
This 12-day guided MTB and e-bike tour explores Southern Ethiopia, starting in Addis Ababa and heading west into the volcanic Wenchi Crater and the green Gurage highlands, where riders visit local village homes. A fast descent from 3,350m to 2,050m drops the group into the Great Rift Valley.
The route continues through Sidama's coffee-growing enset plantations to the Bale Mountains National Park, crossing the Sanetti Plateau above 4,000m in search of the Ethiopian wolf and other wildlife, with the option to climb Tullu Dimtu (4,377m).
The tour finishes with time to relax on the lakes at Hawassa and Langano before returning to Addis Ababa. A support vehicle runs throughout, so riders can shorten or skip sections as needed.
Highlights:
- Ride the volcanic Wenchi Crater rim, with optional visit to nearby hot springs
- Explore the green Gurage highlands and visit local village homes
- Descend from the highlands into the Great Rift Valley
- Cross the Sanetti Plateau in Bale Mountains National Park (4,000m+), home to the Ethiopian wolf
- Ride through Sidama's coffee-growing enset plantations
- Relax by the lakes at Hawassa and Langano
Surface and terrain:
Mix of sealed roads, dirt roads and singletrack across highland and Rift Valley terrain. Significant daily climbing/descending, including a 2,000m+ descent from Sanetti Plateau. Difficulty varies by day (easy to difficult). Support vehicle available throughout.
Likely weather:
Altitude ranges from Rift Valley lowlands to over 4,000m on the Sanetti Plateau, so conditions will vary from cool highland mornings to warmer valley days.
Suitable for:
Riders comfortable with high-altitude cycling and mixed terrain (sealed, dirt, singletrack), with daily climbs/descents up to 1,000m+. Support vehicle adds flexibility for less experienced riders; e-bike hire available.