Sahara 100km Walk of Remembrance 2024
Join fellow supporters of both Combat Stress and Walking With The Wounded on this epic 100km Walk of Remembrance. Trek through desert mountains and across stony plateaus, pass oases full of date palms and beautifully sculpted dry Wadis. Camping under huge African skies at night, trekking with camels by day, this trip will allow you to experience 100km of varied desert terrain.
This challenge is run by Tribal Tracks and is offered in partnership with Walking with the Wounded.
Challenge Highlights
- Trek 100km through the varied terrain of the Sahara Desert, accompanied by camels
- Wild camp in spectacular locations, under vast, starry African skies
- Toast your achievement in Ait Ben Haddou, the setting for 'Gladiator', where you will stay in a unique hotel and enjoy a celebration meal
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Event information
When: 16 - 22 February 2025
Where: Morocco
Distance: 100km
Registration fee: £500
Additional travel costs: £1,395
Fundraising target: £1,000
The Itinerary
Day 1 - Marrakech to Ouarzazate
On arrival at Marrakech, you'll meet the local guides and transfer via Tichka Pass, the highest and most beautiful road pass in Morocco, to the south of Morrocca, past Ait Ben Haddoue and onto Ouarzazate where you'll spend the night. After dinner there'll be a pre-trek briefing, ready for the next day and the start of the trek.
Before dinner there will be a team briefing with your Tribal Tracks leader, including a comprehensive safety briefing, information on etiquette and camp organisation, through to foot care and hydration and everything in between.
Overnight: twin / double share rooms in Ouarzazate, lunch, dinner
Day 2 - Ouarzazate to Faija, then on to Amda Noumssafi
After an early start, there will be a transfer to the start of the trek at Faija, where there will be an early lunch and you'll meet the support crew, camels and cameleers.
Lunch is in a truly spectacular setting, looking up towards the tizi. The trek begins, and with numerous switchbacks you'll tackle the only real elevation on the trek, but are rewarded with fantastic views across the valley towards Zagoura. You'll trek through Jebel Bani, Col Umm Laachar, past the oasis of Amda Noumssafi and then find the first camp, where you can take a break and enjoy a fantastic, freshly prepared dinner, while looking up at the starry night sky.
Approx. 5-6 hours' trekking, 15km
Overnight wild camping in twin tents, full board
Day 3 - Amda Noumssafi to Chegaga
Passing by Lmhasser, you'll set out along a dry riverbed taking you out towards the desert sands.
You'll pass by a nomad camp, and if the family are there, can stop and visit and find out a little about their way of life. You'll take lunch in the shade of a small copse of squat desert trees. After lunch, you'll trek over the rocky plateau, and just after El Abbes, will head to the dues of Chegaga where you'll find the camp for the night. You can climb the dune behind the camp for sunset, and revel in the amazing views of the dunes rolling away towards the Algerian boarder and towards the heart of Africa.
This is the longest day and you will need to dig deep, but seeing the red dunes of Chegaga for the first time is a truly unforgettable experience.
Approx. 9-10 hours' trekking, 32-34km
Overnight: wild camping in twin tents, full board
Day 4 - Chegaga to Bougarn
A spectacular day. Rising before dawn, the trekking will begin under the clear desert skies, watching the colours of the dunes change as the sun comes up. You'll have fun in the dunes before trekking out of them, in the direction of M'Hamid and Oued Draa.
Lunch will be under the trees at Tamarist and then you'll head on to the dunes of Bougam. Today will be tough on the feet as you trek over hard, tocky terrain and hot sand in the afternoon.
Approx. 7-8 hours' trekking, 24km
Overnight: wild camping in twin tents, full board
Day 5 - Bougarn to Wadi Naam
Another early start so that you can appreciate a spectacular desert morning and make the most of the cooler temperatures.
The low shrubs, small duens, Tamarist trees and desert acacia create a wonderful atmosphere as the sun rises in the east. You'll then head out across the dunes and the stony desert plain to camp at Oued Naam for the evening. This will be the last wild camp and the setting does not disappoint. There may be some dancing and bread making this evening!
Approx, 7-8 hours' trekking, 22km
Overnight: wild camping in twin tents, full board
Day 6 - Oued Naam to M'Hamid, to Ait Ben Haddou
On the final day of the challenge, you'll head towards M'Hamid, traversing some mini dunes before ending the trek in a beautiful setting, back in the 'big dunes', for a celebration lunch.
You'll take a well-earned rest before saying a sad goodbye to the amazing crew, before being transferred to Ait Ben Haddou, after a jeep ride out of the desert. Tonight you can celebrate your achievements by letting your dair down after a celebration meal.
Approx. 3-5 hours' trekking, 14km, 3.5 hour transfer to Ait Ben Haddou
Overnight: 4 star hotel in Ait Ben Haddou, full board
Day 7 - Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech
After breakfast, you'll begin the transfer back to Marrakech, enjoying the varied scenery over the High Atlas passes.
When you reach Marrakech there'll be lunch on a roof top restaurant, followed by time to do a bit of shopping in the souk.
Included: Breakfast, lunch
Included
- Qualified trek leader
- All accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Supporting in-country guides
- Logistical support crew
- All transfers by private minibus or bus, as per itinerary
- All meals from arrival until departure, soft drinks, tea, coffee and drinking water
- Virtual pre-departure briefing
- Dedicated pre-departure support from a named Tribal Tracks director
Excluded
- International flights from the UK (these can be arranged at an additional cost, ATOL protected)
- Personal travel insurance, which should be valid and cover all activities in the itinerary
- UK international departure tax
- Immunisation costs
- Personal equipment and clothing on the kit list
- Tipping for local guides and drivers
- Single supplement (for sole occupancy of accommodation, where available)
- Expenses incurred due to unforeseen circumstances, such as flight cancellation or delays
- Alcoholic drinks
Desert Camping
- Shared tents (unless single supplement requested)
- Mattresses provided
- Central dining tent - comfortable, communal, tented area with cushions and lamps
- Open fire to sit around wherever possible
- Water provided to wash with in the morning - no shower facilities
- Drinks - water, tea and coffee
- Toilet tents
Insurance
It is a requirement of Tribal Tracks' booking terms and conditions, that each supporter must hold their own travel insurance which covers the trip and the activities included. We advise you to put insurance in place as soon as possible. Your insurance must be valid and in date, covering the entire period that you are travelling for, including the return journey home. It should cover medical and personal accident risks, and should include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services, where appropriate.
Preparations
Fitness
It is important to understand that this challenge requires a good degree of physical fitness. Although it is not technical, the distances and conditions will require stamina and strength, which you should recognise and train for. It will be a much better experience if your are fit and prepared.
Preparing for your Trek
The best way to build endurance fitness is to start with some gentle walks and gradually build up both the distance and duration over the next few months. In the last 2 months we would recommend going out for long days of walking to build up the strength in your legs. About a week before the trek, limit any training to short walks - you want to have fresh legs at the start!
For the trek you should be comfortable trekking between 6-8 hours a day, but remember you'll have all day to achieve the distances and will not be going at racing snake pace. It may sound obvious, but make sure that you are walking properly, hitting the ground with your heel first, then rolling onto your toe, which pushes you onto the next step (this will help reduce the risk of shin splints and tendon pulls). Walk with your head up, eyes forward and shoulders level.
It's a good idea to develop a level of cardiovasuclar fitness (exercising and strengthening your heart and lungs). This comes from running, cycling or swimming for between 20 minutes and an hour, and will really help develop your endurance fitness. Three sessions a week is normally advised, increasing time and distance over time.
Replicate conditions in training i.e. use all the kit you will be using and try your walking poles if you want to use them.
Personal Equipment
A full kit list is available to download from the resources section of this page.
