The gateway town is Debark, reached from Gondar by a three-hour drive on a paved road. Gondar has an airport with frequent flights from Addis Ababa, making Gondar–Debark–Simien a logical base. Public minibuses run between Gondar and Debark daily; the journey takes about three hours. Most organised trekkers arrange private transport from Gondar for convenience and to carry gear to the trailhead.
From the Debark park office, a 4WD can sometimes drive the first stretch to Buyit Ras or Sankaber, cutting walking time. However, conditions on the park track vary and the drive itself is not always possible. All trekkers must pay park entrance fees, guide fees, and scout fees at the park headquarters in Debark before setting out. The total daily costs for a trekker (park fee, guide, scout, mule) are modest by international standards — budget travellers can do the Simien on a limited daily budget.