TREK SERIES 6 - THE SAHARA

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1 TREK SERIES 6 - THE SAHARA 1ST - 9TH OCTOBER 2016 NEXT OCTOBER, WE LL BE HEADING OUT ON OUR 6TH ANNUAL TREK AND WE D LOVE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US, IN DOING SO YOU LL BE HELPING US RAISE VITAL FUNDS FOR YOUNG ADULTS LIVING WITH CANCER. THE TREK This year s trek was one to remember, so we ve decided to return to the Sahara in 2016 for another epic 150km challenge along the ancient Berber route and climbing the highest dune in Africa. This is a perfect opportunity to escape your digital dependencies, refresh your mind and raise vital funds for Trekstock. LEVEL The trek involves prolonged walking over varied terrain in warm temperatures. There is nothing technical about any of the walking on the trip, but you do need to train hard to be ready for this challenge. More info on training to follow after registration. Average trekking hours each day: 7 DETAILS Sign up today by ing roohi@trekstock.com for your registration form. You ll need to pay the 350 registration fee to secure you place and raise a minimum of 2,995 for this event. You ll only need 5 days off work to complete the trek.

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3 TREK FAQ s WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO TAKE PART? Sign up today by ing roohi@trekstock.com for your registration form. You ll need to pay a 350 registration fee to secure you place, raise a minimum of 2,995 for this event and transfer at least 1,095 of this to Trekstock four months prior to the trek. You must also transfer any outstanding funds to us within one month of the event taking place. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TREKSTOCK? Trekstock will transfer your registration fee of 350 plus your initial 1095 sponsorship raised to our trek operator 360 Expeditions, for the costs of your participation. HOW DOES TREKSTOCK BENEFIT? At least 60% of the 2995 minimum sponsorship will be treated as a donation to Trekstock, and if you raise over 2995 then 100% of the surplus will benefit the charity. Trekstock are proud to have one of the best cost to income ratios in the charity sector, meaning more of the money you raise is spent on our vital services and not on trip costs. WHAT IF I CAN T RAISE THE MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP? We ll provide you with a fundraising pack full of ideas on how to reach your target. You ll also have the dedicated support of Trekstock s fundraising team to bounce ideas off and answer any queries you may have, we re here to help! If you don t manage to raise the 1095 four months prior to departure, you ll either have to forfeit your place on the trek, make up the shortfall yourself or transfer your application to a later date to give yourself more time to raise enough funds. WHO ORGANISES THE TRIP? The trip is conceived and operated by 360 Expeditions Company no who s booking conditions apply. WHAT S INCLUDED? International flights Scheduled hotel nights, based on twin occupancy All food while in the desert Group trekking and cooking gear Airport transfers to and from hotel Local guides and a 360 guide WHAT S NOT INCLUDED? Personal equipment and excess baggage Staff/guide gratuities Items of a personal nature: phone calls, laundry, room service, etc. Alcoholic beverages Visas HOW DO I CONVINCE PEOPLE THEY AREN T SPONSORING ME TO GO ON HOLIDAY? We re sure you ll have an incredible time on our Sahara Trek, but Trekstock events could never be described as a holiday. You ll need to spend months training and fundraising, before undertaking a demanding physical challenge. The days on the trek will be long, facilities will be basic and conditions tough. All of this takes time, effort, dedication and commitment. In short, it s pretty far from being a holiday. You can also pay for the costs of this challenge to ensure 100% of your sponsorship goes to Trekstock, and we d be happy to discuss this option further with you.

4 THE ITINERARY - DAY BY DAY DAY 1, SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER - DEPART UK, FLY TO OUARZAZATE: Fly from London to Ouarzazate via Casablanca and transfer to our overnight hotel. DAY 2, SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER - OUARZAZATE TO CAMP 1: The bus picks us up after breakfast and takes us south east towards the Algerian border until the road finally runs out on the edge of the dunes. We meet our local team, load up the camels and start walking towards our first camp. We spend our first night out in the desert, sleeping either in our Berber tents or just under the stars. DAY 3, MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER - CAMP 1 TO SIDI NAJI: After breakfast we boot up and head out across the vast plateau, interspersed with dunes, snaking across dried river beds. After a stop for lunch we reach our night stop at the ancient Maribout (or tomb) of Sidi Naji, sitting poignantly alone in the vast expanse of desert. DAY 4, TUESDAY 4TH OCTOBER - SIDI NAJI TO ERG EZZAHAR: We leave Sidi Naji in the morning and have a slightly easier day walking through the sand to the great 80m high Erg Ezzahar, or The Screaming Dune. We reach it in time for lunch, then that afternoon we climb to the top to watch the sun set over the golden sands. DAY 5, WEDNESDAY 5TH OCTOBER - TREK TO ERG SEDRATE: We start by climbing the dunes to reach a plateau which overlooks the Drâa Valley, walking amid the tamarisk and acacia trees before we reach our lunch spot at the ancient nomadic settlement of Essemar. After lunch we continue to Erg Sedrate where we will find our camp prepared for us amongst the dunes. DAY 6, THURSDAY 6TH OCTOBER - ERG CHEGAGA: We continue through the sand, through undulating dunes and over wind-carved ridges. We stop for lunch on one of these ridges before proceeding to Erg Chegaga. It is the highest dune in the southern desert and our ultimate goal on this expedition. The climb through the sand in the heat will be hard but worth every step. We finally reach its summit in time to marvel at another hypnotic sunset. DAY 7, FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER - ERG CHEGAGA TO NOMADIC VILLAGE After breakfast we descend Erg Chegaga and find the Chegaga River. From a distance it bears the hallmarks of a verdant river valley but on arrival, we find a riverbed devoid of water. The walk along the bed amid the tamarisk and acacia trees provides welcome shade and a wonderful change of scene. We reach our final nightspot on the edge of a small nomadic village where we enjoy our last fantastic dinner in the desert. DAY 8, SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER - NOMADIC VILLAGE TO FOUM ZEGUIDE (TRANSFER TO MARRAKECH) Our final day, we make our way out of the sand on foot and meet our lorry which takes us across the Iriki plateau to Foum Zeguide, where our air-conditioned bus picks us up for the long transfer to our hotel in Marrakech. We ll be taken to our hotel before heading out for dinner to celebrate our magnificent achievement of crossing deserts and climbing the biggest dunes in Africa. DAY 9, SUNDAY 9TH OCTOBER - FLY TO LONDON: Transfer to the airport after breakfast.

5 There are more than 100,000 young adults living with cancer in the UK today. We want to make sure that no young adult has to face cancer alone. With your help, those affected will be supported through a journey that doesn t stop after treatment. At a time in life when you ve set out on your path, but you re not yet fully established, Trekstock offers support, guidance and information in a way that is accessible and appropriate; something that has seemed otherwise impossible for me to find. Ruth - Chair of Trekstock s Young Person s Panel & THRIVE author, 30 years old THANK YOU FOR JOINING OUR JOURNEY If you have any questions about the trek or fundraising, please get in touch with roohi@trekstock.com or call on Get In hello@trekstock.com Registered Charity No