Our charity trek in Patagonia is not about living in the gym. Loads of people who sign up for our non-competitive charity challenges have low levels of fitness when they register. The point is to train, do your best, and reach your fitness goal while making a big difference for the charity that means the most to you.

That said, we strongly recommend you train for the trekking challenge. We'll face long days on our feet, encounter steep climbs in the mountains and tackle a lot of uneven terrains. Please invest in a pair of quality hiking boots with ankle support to wear during your training and on your trek in Patagonia, as these are essential for walking on uneven terrain. We also recommend incorporating hills in your training treks.

Our supportive challenge guides and community spirit will help you conquer the trek of a lifetime. You're also likely to improve your mental health and well-being.

Once you register for Trek Patagonia, we'll send you a realistic training plan. This builds up gradually over time so you'll be ready and raring to go by the time we depart for Patagonia. You can also check out our top trekking tips here and our indoor training ideas for the days you don't feel like facing the weather!

Everyone who is at least 18 years old by the departure date is more than welcome to join our trekking challenge in Patagonia. We'll have adults of all ages taking part to achieve something awesome for charity — one of the many things that make our challenges so special!

If you would like someone under the age of 18 to join you on our trek, please contact us to discuss (01590 646410 or bookings@dream-challenges.com, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own. Our challenges around the world are renowned for the amazing camaraderie and lifelong friendships made, as our groups take on these incredible feats together.

Once you've signed up, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Trek Patagonia 2024. Please use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow trekkers on your training and fundraising.

You may also want to reach out to the other participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your trekking challenge for charity and we will support you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the challenge itself.

Once you have registered, we will send you a Welcome Pack with everything you need to know about your challenge, including the itinerary, an example insurance policy, details about our challenge destination in Patagonia and the weather we can expect on our trek, the structure of an average trekking day, a full kit list, and a realistic training plan to help you get fit for the challenge. The training programme builds up gradually as the trek gets closer.

We'll also send you regular updates in the lead-up to the adventure, with more important details and seasonal fundraising ideas. During the trek, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times, along with a team of outdoor remote first-aid trained challenge guides.

Your non-refundable registration fee of £399 per person is used to administer the challenge.

Your challenge costs of £2,850 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the Sponsorship option) cover:

• Your flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, capped at £475).
• Meals throughout the challenge in Patagonia.
• Accommodation.
• All transfers and luggage transportation in Patagonia.
• A team of awesome, outdoor remote first aid trained guides and Dream Challenges staff.
• Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead-up to and during your challenge.
• Medical and mechanical support, including a UK doctor with expedition medicine training, who will accompany us throughout the challenge.
• Your Trek Patagonia medal.

In addition to paying your registration fee (£399) and either self-funding your challenge costs (£2,850) or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target (£5,500), you'll need to budget for your:

• Tourist visa for Patagonia (approx. 20USD).
• Airport taxes and fuel surcharge (capped at £475)
• Travel to and from the airport in the UK.
• Personal travel insurance.
• Gratuities.
• Personal expenses.

Yes of course! If you would like to extend your stay in Patagonia, please let us know at least 17 weeks before our departure date and we can arrange this for you.

The easiest way to get in touch is by emailing us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or calling us on 01590 646410 (9am - 5pm Monday - Friday)

Travel Insurance
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. Please arrange your insurance as soon as you can after you sign up to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the challenge.

In your Welcome Pack, you will receive information about an insurance provider that specialises in our type of overseas challenges and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19.

You can, however, take out your own insurance, providing it covers you for a charity trek in Patagonia. Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate coverage for your challenge.

Visa
You will need to arrange your tourist visa for Patagonia (approx. 20USD). We will send you details on how to apply as our overseas challenge gets closer.

As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.

We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.

NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home