Lodge Du Chateau

Location: Fasil Castle Street, Gonder, et

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Policies

Check-in: 12:30 PM - 06:00 PM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Amenities & Facilities

• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Non-smoking rooms
• Room service
• Terrace
• Luggage storage
• Tour desk
• Ironing service
• Car hire
• Massage services
• Currency exchange
• Non-smoking throughout
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Concierge service
• Outdoor furniture
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Invoice provided
• Key access
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Access to health care professionals
• 24-hour security
• Cooking class
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
• Housekeeping on request
• Japanese garden
• Bicycle-friendly property
• Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Double Room

  This double room has a desk, a patio, garden views and a private bathroom.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Adapter

• Twin Room

  This twin room has a desk, a patio, garden views and a private bathroom. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Adapter

Guest Reviews

• Fabiano (10/5): - Posto perfetto a Gondar, giusto di fianco al Castello. Proprietario incredibile, oltre ad essere gentilissimo, mi ha portato in giro per Gondar a vedere posti nascosti (il forno italiano) e a fare addirittura l’aperitivo 😂
• Stefano (10/5): -
• Odajima (10/5): マネージャーの心配りに尽きる。 - ロケーションが良く、マネージャーの細かい心配りが嬉しかった。スタッフの姿勢も素晴らしく、特にガードマンの対応が心地良かった。 洗濯も女性スタッフが、丁寧にやつてくれた。 エントランスががちょっとびっくりしたが、中に入ると中庭があり、ゆったりくつろげる空間があった。
• Damian (10/5): Very memorable stay thanks to the staff - Central location next to the most important landmarks. Professional guiding and deep knowledge about the region. Clean rooms and tasty breakfast, especially local honey.
• Jeroen (10/5): Excellent host, great location, interesting city - - Location: 10/10, just next to Fasil Ghebbi/castle complex. - Accommodation: nice courtyard, good rooms, cute restaurant with a view - Host: Simon was extremely forthcoming and easy to communicate with. He arranged airport transport and a tour in Gondar. Despite our short stay, we managed to see most of the highlights (Fasil Ghebbi, Debre Birhan Selassi, Fasilides’ Bath) and did a city walk. Transport between sites was arranged with bajajs/tuktuks. - Extra: we were welcomed with fresh juice and snacks. A good breakfast was also included! Big recommendation! -
• Synthesis Group LCC (10/5): Amazing experience. - Amazing experience, Simon the owner was incredibly friendly and helpful and prepared us the best breakfast. Strongly recommended.
• YOLANDA (10/5): No te lo pierdas por favor!!! - Simon, el dueño. Es lo máximo en atención, en organizar tours a las montañas, en atender tus necesidades sean del tipo que sean. Una experiencia que te recomiendo. Además te vas a reír mucho con el, porque es un personaje total!!! No hay nada que no me gustara. Bueno, es un poco chapas si le das cuartelillo. Pero al mismo tiempo te deshaces de el rápidamente.
• Adrián (10/5): Excelente. - O Simon foi um ótimo host, super prestável e sempre disponível a ajudar, tratou dos transportes de e para o aeroporto e deu-nos dicas incríveis do que fazer durante a nossa estadia. A localização é excelente, muito perto do castelo e no centro. Os quartos são super cómodos com tudo o que é necessário. O pequeno almoço é maravilhoso, com tudo fresco e feito na hora. Recomendo vivamente.
• David (10/5): Just perfect - Simon est certainement l homme le plus gentil du pays. Il a absolument tout fait pour rendre mon séjour mémorable . Très bruyant la nuit en période de Pâques .
• BG (10/5): Great place with warm hospitality - Top location near the Palace. Amazing welcome drink and breakfast. The owner is very systematic and took care for all details. Excellent expirience from the beginning to the end.
• Mirko (6/5): -
• Tomasz (10/5): - wspaniałe śniadanie, przemiła obsługa odgłosy z zewnątrz, niezależne od hotelu..
• Romain (10/5): -
• Romain (10/5): -
• aleksandar (10/5): perfect+ - best breakfast ever, Tesema was super friendly and helpful...master tea maker
• Yuliono (9/5): Cozy Lodge - - Simon and other staffs were very kind and polite. - The terrace was nice with good view. - The breakfast was very well prepared and heartful and abundant. - Location is just next to Gondar Castle, walkable to city center. - Good Wifi. - Simon offered us to use the terrace even when we didn't stay there. - Simon can arrange airport transfer with a fee. - Water pressure of the shower was week. - Simon gave a medicine to a friend who got really sick, he only informed that we needed to pay after my friend drank the medicine, and the medicine was cost very expensive (USD 40).
• Fantayeneh Asres (10/5): Perfect - Friendly, clean, great location and nice terrace Nothing
• Safik (9/5): - Boa localização. Espaço muito agradável. Pequeno almoço farto. Tassama é incansável, fez tudo para nós agradar e dar uma ótima estadia. Foi tudo bom
• Arkadiusz (8/5): Very helpful staff, helped to arranged hiking in Siamen - Location, staff hot water in the shower was not immediately
• Antonia (8/5): Lovely stay in Gondar during Timket - A minha estadia foi durante o festival Timket, época alta e talvez o preço estivesse um pouco inflacionado por isso, mas acho que valeu cada dolar pela experiência excepcional que me proporcionaram. Adorei a minha estadia e agradeço muito ao Simon e ao Tesema assim como aos outros funcionários por terem sido muito amáveis e muito disponível durante a minha estadia. O pequeno almoço era uma delícia e a localização não podia ser melhor. Tive uma tour guiada durante as procissões do festival Timket, o jovem talentoso e inteligente Tesema cuidou de tudo, foi uma experiência única, assim como tour de 1 dia ao majestoso Simien Moutains com uma equipa fantástica organizada pelo Simon. Eu deixo a Etiópia com um até breve. Não consegui descansar na primeira noite por causa dos canticos religiosos
• moty (2/5): Much under expectations - The location is very central, next door to the castle. Welcome drink is nice. Breakfast is good. The price is 5 stars 170$ per night for very simple and badic acommodation, but the quality is half a star. Everyday is the same adventure to get hot water for shower by very weak water pressure. After dozens of travelling i got first time an answer "no shampoo". Everything is maintened poorly. The rooms must be renovated in all aspects.
• Alexander (8/5): Lovely stay in a homey atmosphere with great staff. - Cozy vibes with a great staff that went above and beyond to make sure we had a lovely stay. The bathroom at times had a sewage smell. Noise from constructions and church megaphones as a lot at times.
• Arthur (10/5): Magical stay in Gondar - Not many hotels in the world exceeded my expectations but Lodge du Chateau is one of them ! The staff is amazing, Simon is very caring and attentive to his guests' needs. He turns the hotel into a piece of heaven, definitely a gem of Ethiopia.
• Gabriele (10/5): -
• MARIA ARANZAZU (10/5): Como en casa. Just like home - El desayuno era delicioso en la terraza de la pensión. La atención fue excelente en todos los sentidos y nos dieron muy buenos consejos de cara a nuestras actividades Todo bien
• Kemuel Ben (10/5): -
• Kemuel Ben (10/5): Best hotel and best host in Gondar - Simon and his staff are very kind, honest and genuinely caring. Rooms are nice and breakfast is awesome with the view of the terrace.
• Chiyoel (10/5): - Manager, Simon and his staffs are making stay great.
• joanna (10/5): - Dej is perfect. Simon is a lovely man... His staff as well... Don' t hesitate... THE place to be in Gondar...
• Christian Antonio (9/5): - Außergewöhnliches Service von Simon & Team. Hervorragendes Preis - Leistung Verhältnis
• Menasse (9/5): Ein besonderer Ort - Die Lage ist ausgezeichnet, die Frühstücksterrasse zauberhaft und das Frühstück hervorragend. Simon, der Gastgeber gibt sehr gute Tipps.
• Mayuna (10/5): - 夫婦で2泊しました。 丁寧に整備された庭やベランダがとても心地よく、快適に過ごせました。朝ごはんの新鮮なフルーツが美味しい！ スタッフの方々はとても親切で、特にオーナーのSimonがバジャジやツアーでのチップ代の相場など細かいことまで丁寧に教えてもらえたのが特に助かりました。 ゴンダールも案内してもらい、彼のホスピタリティに大感謝です！ シミエン2泊3日のツアーも手配してもらい、終始安心して参加することができました。 何度か停電しましたが、そんなものかと思います
• Lital (7/5): סה"כ נוח ונקי, אך אין תמורה ריאלית למחיר הגבוה שמבקשים. - ארוחת הבוקר מצוינת - פירות, שייק מנגו, קפה/תה, לחם, דבש וביצים/פנקייקים לבחירה. הצוות אדיב ורמת השירות גבוהה. מיטה גדולה ונוחה. משאירים בקבוק מים ובננות בחדר. הטרסה בה אוכלים מקסימה ומשקיפה על ההרים עם נוף מדהים לשקיעה ולזריחה. המחיר מאוד יקר ביחס לרמת המקום. לחץ המים נמוך ואם ביקשתם שלא ינקו לכם את החדר בין לילה ללילה, הדליקו את הדוד בעצמכם אחרת לא יהיו לכם מים חמים. הבידוד האקוסטי לא קיים ואם אתם ישנים שינה קלה לא מומלץ כי הלילות לא שקטים, שומעים את הכנסייה, את השכנים ואת הרחוב ממש חזק. כמו כן, בעת ההגעה למקום תחויבו לשלם ביורו או דולר בלבד ובמזומן. הצוות לא שמר על הפרטיות שלי ואפשר למוכרת מחנות במרכז העיר להיכנס למתחם ולנסות למכור לי פריטי מזכרות.
• Aimee (10/5): Simon and his staff went beyond what was expected, ensuring our stay in Gondar was wonderful. - Excellent breakfast in the deck overlooking Gondar. Simon went out of his way to take care of us as did the rest of his staff. The location is the best in Gondar and the rooms are simple but clean and comfortable. Definitely the best place in town to stay! We did laundry after our Simien mountain trek and it seemed very expensive. However, our clothes came back very clean!
• Lital (7/5): - טסמה אדיב ביותר, גם סימון. דואגים לכל הצרכים ויודעים לפתור בלת"מים. עזרו לי עם התיק שלא הגיע על הטיסה. רמת השירות גבוהה וארוחת הבוקר מצוינת. סימון הבעלים לקח אותנו לסיור בעיר והזמין אותנו לקפה. מנסה לדאוג לכל צרכי השוהים. הטרסה כיפית ומהווה מקום מקסים לשוחח בו ולצפות בזריחה ובשקיעה. מזרן מצוין. יש ספריית החלפת ספרים חמודה והרבה תיירים מתקבצים במקום אז מקום נחמד להכיר אנשים חדשים. אין זרם מים חזק במקלחת. שהיתי שני לילות ברצף לפני העזיבה וביקשתי שלא ינקו את החדר שלי. מסתבר שצריך להפעיל את הדוד ברמה יומיומית ובדרך כלל זה נעשה על ידי הצוות. בגלל שלא נכנסו לחדר לא ידעתי ולא היו לי מים חמים. לא נורא אבל שווה לדעת ולהזכיר. רמת הבידוד מאוד נמוכה, שומעים את הבתים הסמוכים/ הרחוב ומאוד קשה לישון אם אתם ישנים קל ומתעוררים מכל דבר. לדעתי המחיר יקר בהשוואה לרמת החדרים ומה שמקבלים.
• Olivier (10/5): - Accueil exceptionnel. Le propriétaire Simon fait tout pour satisfaire nos envies et projets. Petit déjeuner exceptionnel avec des produits locaux. Localisation à proximité des châteaux. Lodge dans le style ethiopien avec beaucoup d'attentions. Une belle expérience à vivre !
• Anzelika (10/5): - Very nice service and breakfast. Comfy bed and clean
• Maksym (9/5): -
• Diego (10/5): - La habitación es amplia y el desayuno es espectacular. El dueño del hotel esta atento a recomendaciones locales y de etiopia. También organiza tours. Fue una gran estadía! -
• Hannah (10/5): Beautiful serene property with an incredible manager. - Simon the manager was amazing - he was extremely welcoming and gave us a lot of great information about the area. He also gave us a tour around the town and took us to a religious complex which was very special. He arranged a 1 day excursion to the Simean mountains for us, which was amazing, by far the best value for money of any tour we have done in Ethiopia, he said it was special but it was an understatement it was truly mind blowing. The accommodation was very peaceful, with a beautiful terrace where the sun rises as you have breakfast (also very delicious). All the staff are lovely, it feels very safe and clean.
• Parvaz (10/5): -
• Frank (10/5): - Warm welcome, comfortable beds, hot shower, a terrace with a great view. where there is a healthy breakfast served. Simon is such a nice humble guy that knows a lot about Gondar and where to go. I would always come back.
• Tânia (10/5): Absolutely wonderful - I travel solo and had an absolutely wonderful experience at Lodge du Chateau — I couldn’t be happier with my stay. Simon is an exceptional host: attentive, available, and genuinely interested in his guests’ happiness and needs. My plans to visit the Simien Mountains and the Castle didn’t work out at first, but he offered great alternatives. I am very grateful for his dedication, transparency, and sincere passion for ensuring a great guest experience! A special mention to Tesema, always ready to help and welcoming everyone with a warm smile! Facilities: the room was spacious and comfortable, everything worked perfectly, and the lodge has a lovely garden and a very pleasant balcony. Breakfast was excellent, and having coffee and tea available throughout the day made the stay feel even more pleasant! I liked everything in the Lodge, it exceeded my expectations!
• Michelle (7/5): - The best breakfast in the entire country Very loud church close by, active often in the night, even if ear plugs are given at the lodges , it was impossible for my to sleep as the sermon started at midnight and onwards to 7am
• Shroug (10/5): Perfect! Perfect! You will be safe in Simon's Hands. - the co owner Simon, is so nett und reundlich und hilfberet , er hat auc mein Trip nach Bahir dar organisiert The co-owner Simon is so nice and friendly and helpful; he also organized my trip to Bahir Dar. The breakfast with fresh papaya, avocado, and guava was very enjoyable for me. Orange juice without added water or sugar was the best. I would love to come again. Nothing
• Thourayba (10/5): Wonderful Stay - A very nice guesthouse Many thanks to Simon for his hospitality and generosity ! I Highly recommend
• Brian (8/5): Simon was very nice and helpful. Place is an oasis in Gondar - Simon was great when I finally met him. Try multiple number because what’s app commutation was spotty. Great guy, just think he has a lot of diff numbers and the one I was given was unused. Gondar is hard to love. Only a couple spots to relax. Used it a jump off a point to sim mts. Ignore the noise and go.
• Lorenzo (10/5): - Everything was perfect! Simon and his stuff provide a very high level service to the customers. Breakfast good and fresh; location strategic and they assist their customers for whatever need and info. Absolutely recommended
• Philipp (10/5): - Lodge du Chateau is an amazing place to stay for some days in Gonder. Amazing apartments, kind and helpful staff and the breakfast is amazing. Highly recommend this place!!
• Backus (10/5): - Simon was such a generous host. So attentive, kind and genuine. He organised a trip for me to the Simien Mountains and as a solo female travel, I felt totally safe. He also guided me around some of the main highlights in Gondar and shared plenty of interesting information. A great stay!
• Krzysztof (8/5): -
• Andrea (10/5): - Außerordentlich gastfreundlich, das beste Frühstück auf unserer ganzen Reise
• Sonia (10/5): - Tessema made our stay wonderful. He answered all our questions, was easy to talk to, and was so accommodating. Breakfast also exceeded our expectations, not to mention a great rooftop view to eat from.
• Fatimata (10/5): Un veritable havre de paix à Gondar - Absolument tout. J’ai passé un moment inoubliable à Gondar! Simon est un hôte exceptionnel. Il a pris son temps pour me faire visiter Gondar et à été d’une très grande gentille er disponibilité. Je n’oublierai jamais mon passage dans la ville. Gondar est une très belle ville, calme. Le lodge est très bien placé, la literie est très confortable, le jardin est magnifique et le petit déjeuner très bon. Je recommande le lodge du château les yeux fermés! Merci mille fois à Simon!
• vasileios (10/5): We were treated as friends, not clients. - Great service and quality of food. All stuff very polite. Excellent tours and guidance.
• Elisa (9/5): - La colazione abbondante e la centralità dell'ubicazione della struttura. Il quartiere dove si trova la struttura di notte è totalmente buio e scoraggia l'uscita notturna.
• Rebecca (10/5): Extraordinary stay at a wonderful place - Simon is the perfect host - attentive, warm and funny. You can feel his passion to make your stay perfect. Simon also arranged our trip to Simeon Mountains (where we felt safe at all times), where we could hike in breathtaking landscape.
• Rebecca (10/5): The perfect stay - We have never felt so well looked after. Simon is the perfect host and made sure we had a fabulous time in Gondar. Whether it was the superb breakfast on the roof terrace with his special ginger tea, our walk together in the city or our trip to the national park that he arranged - Simon took wonderful care of us. We felt safe at all times in Gondar and also in the Simeon Mountains, even though we saw military personnel on the way to the national park.
• Roxanne (10/5): - The lodge was very comfortable and within walking distance to the main attractions. Simon (the host) was really welcoming, and provided great hospitality
• MrWieszu (10/5): -
• Mathias (10/5): Sehr zu empfehlen! Wir hoffen, eines Tages wiederzukommen. - Alles bestens. Super nettes und hilfsbereites Personal, besonders Simon und Tessi. Sie organisieren auch Ausflüge und Stadtführungen. Für zeitweilige Stromausfälle kann niemand was. Alles andere war super: Frühstück, Lage, Sauberkeit. Sehr heimelig. Danke danke! —-
• Maya (10/5): -
• Matthias (10/5): - Simon and the Team are doing a fantastic job. Most probably the best breakfast you get in Ethiopia. I can also highly recommend to join the local cooking class next door for a real Ethiopian experience and to meet a very warm and welcoming family.
• Ambiale (8/5): - המנהל סימון היה אדיב ומקסים, נותן יחס בכל רגע גם הצוות מדהים, במיוחד טסמה המיקום נמצא בקרבת כנסיות ויש קצת רעש מהכניסייה
• MrWieszu (10/5): - Breakfast and a wonderful family atmosphere. This hotel was like an oasis in the desert for me. It's a shame we only stayed three nights. We would have loved to stay longer, but it was time to move on.
• Popovici (10/5): -
• Ugo (9/5): Le lodge de Simon - Le toujours souriant Simon a été exceptionnel. Il est vraiment passionné et a tout mis en œuvre pour que je passe un séjour mémorable. Des petites attentions comme le thé de bienvenue, le déjeuner copieux de la terrasse avec vue sur les montagnes, marcher avec moi pour me montrer la ville, visiter le marché, me proposer un itinéraire pour maximiser mon expérience. Il est reconnu et apprécié dans la communauté, prenait même le temps d'expliquer calmement aux enfants pourquoi ils ne devaient pas me crier "money, money". Moi qui suis pourtant un voyageur indépendant, je me suis laissé porté par ses suggestions et j'ai la conviction que mon séjour à Gondar a été beaucoup plus riche culturellement et humainement grâce à lui qu'une simple visite de sites patrimoniaux. La chambre est simple mais confortable, idéalement située à deux pas des châteaux. Simon m'a inspiré confiance et je me suis senti en sécurité lors de mon séjour, en profitant même pour partir une demi-journée dans les montagnes. Pour moi, le fait de rester au Lodge et de rencontrer Simon ont fait de mon séjour à Gondar l'un des points marquants de mon voyage. Notez que les châteaux sont en rénovation, mais les échafaudages ont été retirés et ils sont magnifiques. Bien sûr être au centre-ville entouré d'églises signifie que vous entendrez les prières au haut-parleur, mais si j'avais voulu une chambre beige anonyme sans dépaysement culturel, je serais allé aux chutes du Niagara plutôt qu'en Éthiopie.
• Alexandre (9/5): -
• Carvalho (10/5): -
• Cheong (10/5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional Hospitality in Gonder – A Truly Memorable Stay! - Our stay at Lodge Du Chateau was absolutely fantastic, thanks to the incredible team who went above and beyond to make our trip special. 1. Above-and-Beyond Assistance:When our luggage was lost by the airline, Simon and Tesema helped us communicate with the airline and tracked it down. They even arranged for our luggage to be delivered to the hotel the next day—such a relief! 2. Delicious Breakfast with a View: The breakfast was amazing, with so many choices, and enjoying it on the beautiful rooftop terrace with views of Gonder was the perfect way to start each day. 3. Local Experiences & Great Company: Tesema took us on a guided walk to the local market, which was so much fun! We even had a wonderful dinner together—it felt like being with family. 4. Helpful Travel Tips: Tesema gave us great advice about exploring Gonder and Ethiopia, making our travels much smoother and more enjoyable. 5. A Comfortable & Welcoming Stay: The entire team made us feel at home. Their kindness and attentiveness truly made our stay unforgettable. 6. Safe & Wonderful Destination: Gonder is a safe and fascinating city to visit, and we can’t wait to return—especially to stay at Lodge Du Chateau again! Highly recommend this hotel for anyone visiting Gonder. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.
• Rydah (10/5): Exceptional - My seven-year-old child and I stayed for 2 weeks; we both loved the delicious breakfast, fantastic location, attentive service and the comfortable room. Both Simon and Tesema looked after us for the duration of our stay. Gonder is going through some change, but is well worth a visit and is safe to see the sights. We particularly loved the terrace for awesome views around Gondar. See you next time, Simon and Tesema! 
• Mayur (10/5): Exceptional - Absolutely wonderful owner, Simon. Had a great time. Simon treated us as his own family. Simon can take care of tours meals etc. Amazing breakfast on rooftop. Highly recommended.
• Carlos (10/5): Exceptional -
• Johannes (10/5): Perfect stay in Gondar - I stayed before and after my hike in the Simien mountains in the lodge du chateau. Simon is an amazing host! He is so helpful and friendly, i can only recommend him. Also the overall staff was great. The breakfast was also amazing with a lot of different choices and the view from the Terrasse is beautiful!
• Mark (10/5): The location, the staff, and the food were all excellent! - The property is very nice, yet it was the hospitality of the staff, especially the manager Tesema, that made my stay in Gondar exceptional.
• Stefan (10/5): Exceptional - Manager so warm and friendly, with an authentic engagement in creating a memorable stay. Both in a locally anchored infrastructure for tourism and an insight in historical perspectives.
• Steve (10/5): Arguably THE BEST host I've ever had in my decades of travels - A wonderful place to stay. The owner Simon is a one in a million host who makes you feel very welcomed & special. Excellent location with well appointed rooms. The breakfast I had was superb. Steve from New Zealand ( not Czech ) Absolutely faultless
• Francesca (10/5): Awesome place! - Actually I give a 10 which I never do, not only for the charm of the place (nice garden, rooftop, old town situation) but specifically for the attention given. Simon really takes care of his guests like family, arranges all the tours you wish, shows you for free the local life. And that unbelievable breakfast! The best you could imagine, healthy and gourmand. I tell you, no hesitation and thanks again dear Simon 🙏
• Muchowicz (10/5): Exceptional -
• Philippe (9/5): Superb - Beautiful garden with exotic birds. Gorgeous breakfast. Very warm welcome.
• Damian (10/5): The Best hotel in Gonder - The Best hotel and place and owner Simon in Gonder Cheers Damian from Poland :)
• Mandy (10/5): Exceptional - I enjoyed my stay big time. Super tasty breakfast, clean shoes and Simon.and his staff. Amesegenalehu!!
• Daniel (10/5): Peaceful and comfortable lodge with welcoming and kind hosts - Very comfortable lodge with a beautiful garden and terrace. Best of all was the very kind staff in particular the host Simon. He did so much for us despite our short stay, including arranging well priced transport around the city to see the main sights, to the airport, personally taking us around the town and arranging for us to be walked back from dinner after dark. On multiple occasions he was very accommodating giving us lots of food and an amazing breakfast, the staff even cleaning our bags and walking boots as we returned from the Simien mountains! Everyone must visit Gonder and the mountains, and stay at Simon’s lodge!
• Gerardo (10/5): Relax at the lodge and enjoy Gondar - The place and the staff were amazing. Very kind and servicing. The manager Simon was really helpful and happy to show me around some local places that would have passed overlooked to my eyes. The facilities were excellent with everything that one's need and a terrace to relax and contemplate the urban landscape with scattered vegetation which attracts many birds. In addition to that, it's just a few meters away from Fasil Ghebbi and a walking distance to Derbe Bethan Selassie church. Fasil Bath were also a resting place with a wonderful woodland around the pool. I also recommend Kuskuam complex on a hilltop, the architecture of the castle's ruins is loaded of symbolism. Gondar really deserves a visit! nothing really.
• Lms (10/5): Wonderful Gonder - We had a wonderful stay, location very central, nice garden and great views of the mountains. A very healthy breakfast and Simon took very good care of us. We felt at home the moment we arrived. Thank you to all the staff. Gonder is a wonderful place, rich with history and friendly people. Come and visit Gonder. God Bless Ethiopia! Regret for not staying longer!
• Iwona (10/5): Excellent and unique experience - It was the excellent experience. Located just in the middle of the town, cery close to the castle, on a beautifull surrounding. And the owner was special, he helped us in everything. The breakfasts are not to forget. I still remember the taste of the fruits. A bit problem with water in the toilet.
• Rofe (9/5): Superb - Simon: He ensures that his guests are comfortable and have a great time. He is helpful while not being pushy. I enjoyed my walk through town with him and also the conversations we had on various topics Location: centre of town Breakfast: healthy with many variety of fruits
• Mark (10/5): Fabulous place outstanding - The atmosphere of the place, wonderful gardens. Very chillexing place great views from the breakfastarea, Simon and his staff will do anything for you and organise adventures into the mountains a must, the breakfast absolutely fabulous the best in Ethiopia so far, the room very comfortable and hot water. Simon went out of his way to show me around. Take him up on his offer, and you will be impressed, you must stay here in the perfect location. Nothing was all great
• Agata (4/5): Dissapointment - The staff of the hotel was nice and welcoming. The cleaning ladies, men at the gates and Tesema, made their best to make our stay great and took care of us. The garden inside and outside the place was pretty, the view from the terrace was nice, the breakfast was fine too. It is in front of the castle and not far from the center of the town. I'm person who is really easy-going and even rough and simple conditions are fine for me, especially in Ethiopia. But this time I really felt that somebody had ripped me off. We had chosen the place because of the rating and opinions in the booking were really great. But when we got there we were really disappointed it is not so superb, excellent as the other people suggested. The place completely didn't meet our expectations. The price (65 USD per night) was way too much! Especially in Ethiopia. It was the most expensive place we stayed in that country and in the same time it had the worst facilities from the places we visited. To compare: in other places we paid 25-30% of that price and we felt like royals in the palaces (10/10). The bathroom of our room in the Lodge du Chateau- was old, dark, small, smelling badly, and needed renovation. When we used the sink - the pipes were leaking, the toilet also didn't work properly - we had to repair the flushing system ourselves so we could use it in the night. The bed was old and hard, blankets were super old and heavy, sheets were really old too. The room we stayed was not quiet (we got the one next to the street, even if the other rooms were available), when there were prayers in the church in the night, we couldn't sleep as the walls were thin. Even if the people - staff we met there, were so nice to us and carrying,(we didn't meet the owner, we just wrote few messages with him), we had a feeling that something is wrong. That place was sort of "island for white tourists" in the town. We also kind of regret that we trusted the opinions on booking and we chose that place to stay instead for finding one which is closer to the local community, and is hosting not only "white rich tourists" but also local people. I am writing this honest opinion so others would not feel disappointed as we were and feel ripped-off.
• Craig (10/5): Best place to stay in Gondar! - We really loved it here! I travelled with my wife and 6 year old son. The property is a beautiful little oasis in the middle of the bustling city, right behind the castle complex. Huge thanks to Simon and his team for taking such good care of us, from the moment we arrived to the second we left, nothing was too much trouble. We even got stuck in Gondar for an extra night due to a cancelled flight and Simon assisted with everything from contacting his special contact at the airline to extending our stay and arranging extra activities for us. Every morning we were treated to a delicious freshly prepared breakfast on the terrace with an amazing mountain view. We really could not recommend this place highly enough! Thanks for everything Simon!
• Chun (10/5): Lodge just nearby the castle. Good location, clean, very friendly staffs. Has a view at the pavilion. No restaurant but - Very friendly staffs and owner Nothing
• Johanna (10/5): We could not have done better, the best place to stay. - Very homey, warm atmosphere. Beautiful views. Friendly and very helpful staff. Also well situated, literally across the road from the Palaces. We loved all.
• Joachim (10/5): Wholehearted recommendation due to owner's (Simons) outstanding hospitality, great location & view! - SIMON, the owner is exceptional! As former tour-guide he is well-versed in all sights not only in and around Gondar, but in Ethiopia as a whole. He is willing to offer his valuable advise and beyond that support with organizing things. Simon is authentically friendly and hospitable, always available and helpful but never intrusive or pushy. You can feel that he must treat his staff very well as they all share the same style. I can wholeheartedly recommend his house as base for a stay in this area. And: The lodge is strategically located right at the fence of the caste-complex and has - from the terrasse - a great view. It did rain a lot during the days I spent there, but for this, Simon can not be made responsible ;-) Also not for the power-outage during an especially heavy shower.
• Piotr (10/5): The only reason I give 10/10 is cause i cant give more :) Great place, nice people who are really great ambasadors o -
• Shreyas (9/5): It was a nice stay close to the ruins and castles in Gondar! - The guide experience to see the castles and ruins was overall great!
• Constantin (9/5): Superb -
• Gabriel (9/5): Superb -
• Alexei (10/5): Exceptional -
• Anh-chi (10/5): Exceptional Service and Comfort await you at Lodge du Chateau! - Lodge du Chateau was my favorite place to stay among the 5 cities i visited in Ethiopia. Simon and his staff treated me like a cherished guest. Located just across the street from Gondar Castle and steps from the main square, a little piece of heaven awaits. Pristine rooms with outside seating border a flowering garden with stairs up a covered terrace. Breakfast is abundant with fresh fruit, breads, a menu to choose from, and coffee and tea. Beds are large and comfortable and a guard keeps watch over us all. As for Simon and his staff, their attention to detail is unparalled. Ask any question and receive a thoughtful response. If you need help with transportation, tours, food recommendations, or life in general, have a chat with Simon whose wisdom and goodness is well-known in the community. As for service, I came back from a Simien Mountain hike with dirty muddy boots. I woke to find the same boots cleaned and sparkling. When I was coughing, Simon immediately prepared some fresh ginger tea. I was not feeling well and he offered to pick up something at the pharmacy as well as cook a simple meal when my stomach was in uproar. I have traveled all over the world but have yet to find this level of service. I feel i have found friends in Gondar at Lodge du Chateau and their presence has me eager to return. I want to add that tourism has dropped significantly in Gondar and all of Ethiopia since Covid and the civil war in the Tigray region. As a solo female traveler, i never once felt unsafe or experienced any local friction or upheaval. The people of Ethiopia are gentle and friendly and need our patronage. Please remember to bring enough USD and Euro to cover your expenses while only exchanging minimally your money to birr as birr is not valued as much as USD and Euro. I didn’t like the fact that my stomach was too small to eat all the delicious food offered at breakfast!
• Steven (9/5): Wonderful, relaxing stay - Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive owner Simon was a highlight. The lodge has a high terrace with great views. Unfortunately stayed during Lent so priest wailings from the churches went all night Thank God for earplugs!

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