Sahara Trek 2026

REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

The challenge:

Spend three days trekking in the Sahara, from the 12th – 17th March 2026, on this Moroccan adventure. Scale vast sand dunes, and cross ancient river beds, traverse wide plains and be awed by breath-taking sunsets.

Each night you will sleep in traditional campsites and fall asleep under a blanket of stars.

During your trek your Berber guides will offer insights into the way the nomadic people survive in the inhospitable desert environment and your support team will cook superb local cuisine.

The cost:

A £350 registration fee is payable at the time of booking, then you are asked to fundraise £1,850 for Blythe House Hospice.

A total of £1,480 (80%) is due to be fundraised by 19 December 2025. The remaining £370 is due by the date of departure.

Throughout your fundraising journey you will be supported by Rachael Gee, Events Fundraiser, who will give you all the support you need to get you to your target!

What you will get:

A member of the fundraising team will support you every step of the way
A Blythe House Hospice t-shirt, walking top and buff to wear during training and on the trek itself
Pre-event meet up’s and supportive group chat with your fellow trekkers
A fundraising pack with ideas and tips, and materials like balloons, collection buckets and banners for use at your fundraising events
Return flights from the UK
Transfers and transport in Morocco
2 nights hotel accomodation
Tents and sleeping mats on Trek (3 nights)
Meals whilst in Morocco (except lunch on day 1)
Different Travel UK Tour Manager
Local guides
Your participation will fund the hospice care provided by Blythe House Hospice across North Derbyshire.

Key details:

Who accompanies us?

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.

How tough is it?

The trek is rated moderately challenging for someone of a good fitness level. The terrain is a mixture of hard, flat sundried 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 fast recovery each day.

What is the climate like?

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

Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate but climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. The guides will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.

How do we get to the desert?

To get to and from the desert requires long drives (approx. 9 hours including breaks) along winding mountain roads which offer stunning views of the snow-capped peaks and lush valleys.

If you suffer from motion sickness you are advised to bring your usual anti-nausea medication with you. Regular stops are taken.

What is the camping like?

During the trek you will sleep in tents (two to a tent), or if the weather is good you can sleep outside under the stars; highly recommended! Foam sleeping mats are provided but you will need to bring a sleeping bag. Toilet facilities consist of a small toilet ‘tent’ covering a hole in the ground.

There are no showers or bathing facilities in the desert so you must bring a pack of baby wipes

What is the food like?

During the trek meals are cooked by a chef who will prepare Moroccan dishes. Breakfast and lunch will be eaten alfresco, and evening meals will be in a mess tent at camp. Plates, mugs, cutlery and other equipment are provided. While staying in Marrakech (and Ouarzazate if applicable) meals will be at the hotel, the project or at local restaurants.

Read the event brochure here!

To ask any questions at all about the Sahara Trek, please contact Rachael Gee on events@blythehouse.co.uk or 01298 384105.

Hear it from previous participants:

‘When I saw that Blythe House Hospice, a local charity was offering this fabulous opportunity of a lifetime, I jumped at the chance. I attended their presentation evening to find out more and was so excited I signed up the next day!

The team at Blythe House were really reassuring with great ideas on how to fundraise, I got a feel for the group and the representative from Different Travel (the travel company we go with) was really knowledgeable and approachable.

The fundraising did make me nervous in the beginning, but as I started telling my family, friends, colleagues, people in my local pub, village hall, etc. what I was planning to do and so many people were amazed, they called my brave, and a little bit mad, and then they sponsored me!!! At first I didn’t even ask they just offered, feeling braver I posted my challenge and link to my JustGiving page to all my contacts in my phone, Facebook, messenger and WhatsApp. I made most of my fundraising within a few days of these messages.

Throughout the summer everywhere I went people asked me how I was getting on, they are genuinely interested in what I’m doing. At the beginning of this month I posted a second message thanking everyone for their support and, again with a link to my JustGiving page, a gentle reminder that the sponsorship deadline was approaching. I met the rest of my target (£600) in 2 days.

The Trek WhatsApp group has also been incredibly supportive, sharing ideas, cheering each other on. Different Travel make me feel safe and the fundraising team at Blythe House have been great.