Challenge level: 4 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
23 March - 30 March 2024 | On Sale | |
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19 October - 26 October 2024 | On Sale | |
Duration | 8 days |
Escape to the Jordan Desert on this life-changing challenge for people affected by mental health problems.
Trekking from the Dead Sea to the hidden city of Petra, we'll tackle a myriad of terrains, discover the secrets of this ancient land and see more shooting stars than you thought was possible.
By day, our Bedouin guides will lead us along ancient trails through towering valleys, past waterfalls, across vast, barren expanses and even to the top of the Black Mountains. We’ll immerse ourselves in the local culture and legends of this unspoiled landscape, a world apart from everyday life.
By night, we’ll rest in Bedouin camps and choose to sleep in tents or under a sky unspoiled by light pollution.
Hiking from one iconic World Heritage Site to another, we'll end our adventure with a day exploring Petra, the famous ancient city carved into the desert mountains.
The challenge may be tough, but the incredible panoramas are more than worth the workout, not to mention the cause!
Walk With Me
Walk With Me aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to raise vital funds for the amazing mental health charities and services across the UK that are here for us whenever we need support.
Walk With Me also aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health to ensure that no one ever feels afraid to talk about their well-being and to seek support if they need it; whether that's to speak to friends or family or to make the most of the fantastic charities and services available.
Can't wait until 2024?
There's still time to join us in 2023! Find out more and secure your place here.
Pay your registration fee (£349) and airport taxes/fuel surcharge (approx. £300), and fundraise £3,500 or more for your chosen charity.
£3,500
Minimum sponsorship target
Pay the registration fee (£349) and challenge costs (£1,750) + airport taxes/fuel surcharge (approx. £300).
£1,750
Pay the balance
Our charity challenges are not designed for expert athletes – they're designed for people looking for an amazing goal to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part in our Jordan Desert Trek in 2024 will have a low level of fitness level when they sign up. The challenge is the perfect motivation to get fit, improve your own mental and physical health and well-being whilst supporting the mental health charity of your choice.
We strongly recommend you train for the trek as we'll be tackling some steep terrain in the desert, especially as we venture up through the Black Mountains and the fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it.
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.
Once you register for Walk With Me Jordan Desert Trek 2024, 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 Jordan. 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!
Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the amazing camaraderie and lifelong friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.
Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Walk With Me to Petra 2024.
Please feel free to 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.
Your registration fee of £349 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
Your challenge costs of £1,750 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the sponsorship option) cover:
*Accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis. If you would rather pay for a single supplement and have a room/tent to yourself, we can arrange this for you for an additional price.
Please give us a call on 01590 646410 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or send us an email at bookings@dream-challenges.com if you would like to do this at least 17 weeks before the trekking challenge starts.
*Please note that the optional excursion to Wadi Rum on Day 7 is not included in your challenge costs.
In addition to paying your registration fee (£349) and either self-funding your challenge costs (£1,750) or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target (£3,500) you will need to budget for your:
One of the amazing things about the challenge is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special for charity. Everyone who is 18 years old or over by the challenge start date is more than welcome to join this awesome challenge.
16 and 17-year-olds may participate if given permission by Dream Challenges. Please get in touch with us to discuss this on 01590 646410 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or by emailing bookings@dream-challenges.com.
You will need a pair of quality walking boots with ankle support — these are essential for trekking on uneven terrain. Please also bring a 2-litre water bottle and your own sleeping bag (medium weight).
We will supply you with a comprehensive list of everything you will need to take on the challenge well before your departure date.
On the trekking days, we'll be spending the nights camping in the desert. You can choose to sleep in the tents we provide or most of our challengers choose to sleep under the stars.
On our first, sixth and seventh nights, we'll be staying in hotels on a twin-sharing basis. The hotel near the Dead Sea is luxurious, the one in Petra more modest but certainly adequate. It will feel like a 5-star hotel after 5 nights under the stars!
We organise our accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, which is included in the challenge cost. However, if you would rather pay for a single supplement and have a room/tent to yourself, please get in touch and we can arrange this for you.
Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay, please let us know at least 17 weeks before the challenge starts in Jordan and we can arrange this for you.
The best way to get in touch is to email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com, or you can call us on 01590 646410 during office hours (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 Walk With Me Jordan Desert Trek 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 Jordan. 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 be required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into Jordan and we will send you all the relevant information and forms to do this before the challenge.
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 Jordan 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.
There will be around 40 participants in our group for this trek. You'll no doubt make loads of new friends!
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
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