FAQs

Definitely! This trip is a fantastic challenge for anyone wanting to do something amazing for a great cause! There will be lots of like-minded people on the trip all looking for the challenge of a lifetime. Some people come with friends or family but most people come on their own. There will be opportunities to meet your fellow trekkers before the event at training rides and social events, as well as Facebook/WhatsApp groups. The feeling of complete unity comes very early on the first day - one team working together. 

The terrain is a mixture of hard, flat sun-dried plains, dried-up ancient riverbeds, wide sandy dune fields and hard rocky outcrops. Temperatures pose a specific challenge, with temperatures historically reaching 35°C. You must be of a good fitness level before departure to ensure a fast recovery each day.
We advise starting training as soon as you sign up. We will provide training support in the lead up to the event. 

You must be 18+ to participate on this trek unaccompanied. It may be possible to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit. The ideal candidate would be fit, healthy and determined, open to adventure and adaptable to unexpected changes.

You will be accompanied by professional English-speaking Berber guides who have an excellent knowledge of culture and hiking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be accompanied by a team of support staff including cooks and camel handlers and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.

It’s not just sand! The terrain is a mixture of hard, flat sun-dried plains, dried up ancient river beds, wide sandy dune fields and hard rocky outcrops.

Temperatures tend to range from 25°C to 35°C during the day, and drop to around 0°C at night however you must be prepared for climate variations, which are out of our control. The climate will be dry and there may be some strong winds. Rain,although very rare, is not impossible.

Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate for this time of year but climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately safety of the group as a whole.

You will stay in a hotel with en-suite facilities while in Marrakech (and Ouarzazate if flight arrival times permit us to start the journey to the desert upon arrival), and you will camp during the trek. You will stay in hotel rooms on a twin or triple-share basis, and there will be two people per tent while camping. A single-occupancy hotel room may be possible, subject to availability and payment of a single supplement.
During the trek, weather permitting, there may be the opportunity to sleep outside under the stars; this is strongly recommended. Tents and sleeping mats are provided, but you must bring a sleeping bag and a sleeping bag liner.
A dining tent, cutlery and crockery are provided.

Meals are cooked by your trek chef who will prepare hearty, delicious Moroccan meals that will keep your energy levels high for each day’s trek. Breakfast and lunch will be taken alfresco, and evening meals will be taken in a mess tent at camp. Plates, mugs, cutlery and other equipment are provided for you.

Toilet facilities consist of a small toilet ‘tent’ covering a hole in the ground. There are no showers or bathing facilities so you must ensure you bring a pack of baby wipes (ideally biodegradable).

The Different Travel Company organise unique adventure travel experiences, tailored trips and exclusive group tours worldwide. They have be going for 20 years and have run many Sahara Treks for various charities in that time. 
Different Travel are organising the logistics of the adventure itself, leaving us at St Christopher's to support you in your fundraising efforts.
You will need to book your place with Different Travel in order to participate in the trek. Just follow our sign up link at the bottom of this page. 

As soon as possible! Places are extremely limited and get snapped up quickly so to avoid disappointment sign up today and don’t miss out!
Early sign up will also give you more time to train and fundraise. 

Registration fee: A non-refundable registration fee of £395 is payable at the time of booking.

and then either…

Sponsorship: £1,990

or

Flexi-Funding: Pay £995 trip costs* and fundraise a minimum of £995 for St Christopher’s.

SPONSORSHIP

This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation to St Christopher’s. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.

• A non-refundable registration fee of £395 is payable at the time of booking.
• A total of 80% of the minimum sponsorship (£1,592) must be paid to the charity by 27 August 2026.
• The remainder should be paid to the charity by the date of departure.
• The amount the charity receives is at least 50% of the minimum sponsorship total.

FLEXI FUNDING

This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves. You are also asked to fundraise £995 for St Christopher’s.

• A non-refundable registration fee of £395 is payable at the time of booking.
• You are then asked to pay £995 trip costs* to St Christopher’s by 27 August 2026.
• You are asked to fundraise a minimum of £995 for St Christopher’s.
• Any fundraising undertaken cannot be used for your trip costs.

*NB the final trip costs are based on the overall group size and are subject to change. This is the most you will be required to pay.

• Return flights from the UK
• Airport taxes and charges
• Local transfers and transport in Morocco
• Accommodation in 3 star hotels, tents and sleeping mats on trek
• English-speaking local guides
• Support staff, camels and camel handlers on trek
• All meals as specified
• Different Travel UK tour manager

• Any necessary vaccinations
• Drinks, laundry and personal expenses
• Spending money (tips and gratuities, souvenirs)
• Transport to/from UK airports
• Personal trek kit
• Travel insurance

There is a detailed list within our information pack here: Trip Dossier and Kit List - Trek the Sahara for St Christopher's 2026.pdf

Also see the suggested Kit List from Different Travel here: 
Morocco Kit List

This trip is different to a standard holiday so you will need the following four luggage items: 
1. A small daypack
You are responsible for carrying your daypack containing essentials for each day. We recommend you bring a 25-litre rucksack which must have a hip belt and a chest strap. High-quality brands to consider when looking for a suitable pack include Osprey, Berghaus and Lowe Alpine (amongst others) and you are strongly advised to visit a reputable store like Cotswold to have your backpack fitted, as they come in a variety of sizes, and some brands offer male and female specific fits. You can expect to carry your first aid kit, sun cream, three litres of water, snacks, toilet paper, wet wipes and a camera. It could weigh 6-8kg when packed, so you should make your backpack selection carefully 
and ensure it fits correctly and is comfortable. You will not have access to your main pack while trekking. 

2. A kit bag/holdall
You will need a soft-sided kit bag to hold your trek-specific items such as your sleeping bag, change of clothes, toiletries and so on. This kitbag will be carried by the camels and must weigh no more than 8kg. This can be a holdall, duffle bag or large rucksack and it doesn’t matter what size it is as long as all your kit fits inside. A suitcase or holdall with wheels is not suitable. If you wish you can use this bag to hold your checked luggage for the flights; just ensure you bring a small separate bag you 
can store items in not required for the trek at the hotel while you’re trekking.

3. A suitcase (optional) 
For the flights, you may be more comfortable packing all your items (including your empty trek kit bag) into a suitcase. This is entirely your choice. If you bring a suitcase, it will be stored at the hotel along with anything not required for the trek (e.g. toiletries, travel clothes, books etc.). 

4. You should bring some combination padlocks to secure your luggage.

Yes! Once you have started you will find that raising the minimum sponsorship is easy and, most importantly, fun! We have suggested a few simple fundraising ideas here and we will of course be available every day to help you with more ideas!

We ask that you raise a minimum sponsorship amount to take part in the trip to ensure that costs are covered as well as raising funds for the hospice. There are hundreds of ways you can raise money – you may already be thinking of things that you could do, which is great. Whatever you choose, remember to have fun with it. If you need any advice or help with ideas, please get in touch.