Trekkup Dubai ✔

One of the most active volcanic regions in the world is Central America, home to the ancient civilizations of the Mayans and Aztecs. Volcanoes do not only bring eruptions, hot lava, and smoke but also provide fertile volcanic soil, rich natural resources, and natural barriers for defense. Despite eruptions that have sometimes led to the destruction of entire cities or agricultural lands, people have chosen to rebuild and reorganize their communities rather than relocate elsewhere. Latin America is not the only region where volcanoes and humans have coexisted in a unique symbiosis; a similar pattern can also be observed in Italy, Indonesia, or Japan.
Within two weeks on our cross-country off-beaten paths we will discover FOUR amazing countries together, present and past life in the shadow of volcanoes!

We will climb 2 active volcanos: Acatenango to enjoy the spectacle of lava fountains, and Santa Ana for outstanding panoramas over the landscape and the 4th largest city in Guatemala - Quetzaltenango. We will sneak peak on Pompei alike Joya de Cerén - Mayan village, blasted once by pyroclastic eruption, that will give us exact overview on everyday Mayan life. Tikal – Mayan Lost City – will await us for a perfect mix of nature and archaeology. We will end up in Belize with famous Jaguar Paw Cave tubing through Mayan underground rivers and caves.

Let's go!

Brief summary:

Day 1: Welcome to Guatemala – Guatemala City
Day 2: Cerro de la Cruz Lookout & Pacaya volcano
Day 3: Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure
Day 4: Acatenango Volcano Descent – Lake Atitlán
Day 5: Lake Atitlán, Kayaking, culture and hike Kaqasiwaan
Day 6: Ruta de las Flores – El Salvador
Day 7: Santa Ana Volcano Adventure
Day 8: Joya de Cerén – Santa Ana – Copán, Honduras
Day 9: Copán Archaeological Site
Day 10: Copan – short boat tour – Flores Island
Day 11: Tikal National Park
Day 12: Flores – Jaguar Paw cave tubing – Zipline – San Ignacio
Day 13: Actun Tunichil Muknal
Day 14: Belize City tour - Departure

Details available to confirmed RSVPs.

Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (Acatenango hike)
Activities: Trekking, boating, canoeing, tubing, ziplining, sightseeing, cultural immersion
Accommodation & meals: 4 star boutique hotels - double sharing, meals excluded.

Cost: 13,900 AED until MARCH 12. On this date we will close the list.

Specifically Excluded: flights, visas, meals.
Flights: Emirates + American via Miami, approx. 8500 AED.

Trip starts with recommended flights: DXB-MIA-GUA MAR 22 at 02:15
Trip ends with recommended flights: BZE-MIA-DXB APR 04 at 16:30

Visas: Most of passports receive exemptions for holders of visas issued by Canada, USA or a Schengen Member State, valid for at least 6 months from date of arrival.

Its sole responsibility of traveler to secure admission to countries of trip destinations.
See yah in Central America x

Through ancient lands, over mountain peaks, and along endless coastlines, Southeastern Africa is a fascinating corner of this vast continent, with hidden gems at every turn.

Located on the shores of the Indian Ocean, Mozambique’s thousands of miles of coastline has made the country a popular destination for its warm, turquoise waters, stunning marine life, and white-sand beaches. Meanwhile, The Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho are two of Africa’s only three present-day kingdoms.

Beautiful Eswatini may be a small country, but it packs a punch, offering an opportunity for an unforgettable road trip via rolling hills, lush forests, and thundering waterfalls. It’s home to national parks and nature reserves which offer the chance to spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and more, and features a proud and ancient history as well as the rich cultural traditions of its indigenous people, the Swazi.

Lesotho, a high-altitude nation known as “the Kingdom in the Sky, is packed with imposing mountain ranges. With one of the world’s smallest networks of roads, due to the extreme terrain, this is a truly off-the-beaten-path destination where you’ll feel on top of the world.
Get ready to island-hop in the tropics, encounter bucket-list wildlife, meet with local tribes, and traverse dramatic mountain passes as you trek in some of Africa’s most remote areas.

Let’s go!

Day 1 // MOZAMBIQUE
Arrival at Maputo International Airport, immigration clearance, transfer to hotel for overnight. Free time at leisure.

Day 2 // MOZAMBIQUE
Time to discover Mozambique’s stunning coastal areas! Our first stop is Santa Maria, where we will spend the morning snorkeling and swimming. Later we’ll take a short boat ride to Inhaca Island, where we’ll enjoy a seafood lunch and visit the local market, and our last stop of the day will be the pristine beaches of Portuguese Island.

Day 3 // ESWATINI
Today we cross the border into the Kingdom of Eswatini. Our destination is Hlane National Park, where we’ll hop into safari vehicles for a drive around the park in search of lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, zebras and an array of birdlife. After lunch we’ll rest and then set out for a sunset drive.

Day 4 // ESWATINI
Today we drive towards the centre of the country, visiting Mantenga Reserve & Cultural Village, a place where Swazi history, culture and tradition are brought alive, against the stunning backdrop of the Mantenga Falls and Nyonyane mountain. Later we’ll make stops at a Swazi candle factory and a Swazi art market.

Day 5 // ESWATINI
Today we’ll hit the trails for a visit to the famed Sibebe rock, a geological wonder that is some 3 billion years old, more than three times as old as Australia’s famed Uluru (Ayers) rock. The surrounding trails, which provide magnificent vistas all the way to the Lubombo mountains in the east.

Day 6 // LESOTHO
Early start and hit the road for 7-8hrs to Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. We’ll visit Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village, and then head to Kome Caves, home to a group of early 19th century mud dwellings created as a hide out during times of conflict – and still inhabited by the descendants of the people who built them. Later we’ll hit the road to our lodge at Tsehlanyane National Park.

Day 7 // LESOTHO
Today, prepare to be amazed by the country’s dramatic terrain on a scenic road trip passing by iconic Lesotho landmarks such as the famed Qiloane Mountain and Nipple Mountain, shaped like a woman’s breast. We’ll arrive at the village of Semonkong and enjoy a delicious dinner accompanied by local Famo music, and be treated to a traditional Basotho blanket presentation.

Day 8 // LESOTHO
Today we’ll embark on an unforgettable experience: a pony trek through some of Lesotho’s most spectacular landscapes, making our way from the lowlands to the highlands towards our destination, the remote village of Ketane. There we will see first-hand the self-sustaining lifestyle of the Basotho people’s most isolated settlements, and sleep in traditional Basotho huts.

Day 9 // LESOTHO
Pony trek back to Semonkong, and then we’ll set out on the road to Malea-lea. This scenic route gives us one last chance to capture pictures of the dramatic mountainous landscapes. We’ll end the day and wind up our trip with dinner by the fire at our lodge, with entertainment by local musicians.

Day 10 // Departure
After breakfast we’ll make the 1.5-hour drive journey to Moshoeshoe I International airport, where we’ll say goodbye to The Mountain Kingdom.

Level of Difficulty: Easy, available for everyone.
Duration: 10 days.
Activities: Trekking, boating, swimming, snorkeling, sightseeing, wildlife and indigenous tribes encounter.
Rooms: African upmarket standards, hotels and lodges – shared rooms, single at extra cost subject of availability.
Meals: Restaurant meals excluded.

COST: 9,000 AED excl. flights until MARCH 12.

Requirements: Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate, malaria prophylactics.

Visas:

The birthplace of voodoo and pivotal centres of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana have rich and complex histories and fascinating cultural traditions that continue today.

We’ll discover this little known corner of West Africa on an 11-day journey deep into these countries’ northern reaches and along the Gulf of Guinea coast, to the heart of the regions where voodoo is still widely practiced today.

We will wander the fetish markets for relics, sail through stilt villages, and discover the mysteries of ancient practices.

Nigeria’s former capital of Lagos is a sprawling mega-metropolis of an estimated 21 million people, and not only the largest city in Nigeria, but the most populous urban area on the African continent. Spreading inland from the Gulf of Guinea across Lagos Lagoon, the city has it all, from historical sites and beautiful beaches to vibrant culture and nightlife. We’ll discover a thriving art scene and explore the infamous Makoko floating village, an unplanned, impoverished community of stilt homes with the nickname of the 'Venice of Africa'.

In Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, we will get to know the roots of Voodoo beliefs and practices. The country is also famous for its wonderful local craftsmanship and numerous bustling bazaars. We’ll look through the often-surprising assortment of offerings at a fetish market, visit the Python temple, and explore the Slave Route in Ouidah, a place where enslaved peoples were sold and forced to bid farewell to their homeland forever.

With a population of around 20,000, Ganvie is the largest lake village in Africa, standing on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoue. 500 years later after its founding, the people of Ganvie have developed their own distinctive culture and lifestyle on the lake. Shaky houses, churches, mosques and other structures are built using red ebony wood, which is resistant to rotting and hence ideal for the watery conditions.

Neighboring Togo is a narrow strip of land located to the west of Benin. Another stronghold of Voodoo and animist practices, and a key region of the so-called "Slave Coast" in centuries past, it features picturesque hilltop villages and palm-lined beaches. Togo has suffered under the colonisation of three different nations, resulting in a melting pot of influences that linger to this day.

Here we will have the opportunity to learn about the customs of local communities, from mudbrick castle architecture of the Somba people and traditional ceremonies like the Fire Dance to animist beliefs reflected at shrines and fetish markets. We’ll make our through verdant landscapes and have close encounters with wildlife, visiting the Valley of the Bats and spotting rare butterflies in the green hills.

Ghana, the economic powerhouse of Western Africa, is a place where modernization intertwines with ancient rituals. Home to several very unique traditions, such their elaborately decorated coffins, Ghanians are open and welcoming people, and there will be excellent opportunities here to see the true face of Africa.

From encounters with Voodoo priests and slithering reptiles to immersion in colorful markets and lush jungles, this trip is a deep dive into the culture and landscapes of Benin, Togo and Ghana. Our journey through this little-known region will surely reveal plenty of surprises, leaving you will memories of a lifetime and a few stories to tell!

Dates: 28 MAR - 08 APR

Level of difficulty: High altitude ahead. N/A for beginners.

Accommodation & meals: lodges and teahouses, 4*hotel in KTM. Based on double occupancy, meals on the trek included.

Cost: 7,980 AED until MAR 07. Past this date cost may change.

Cost excludes international flights (flydubai at 1800 AED).

Cost specifically includes:

• helicopter descent,
• domestic flights,
• portering up to 10kg.
• Helicopter load is limited, team will be divided according to participants weight. If total weight exceeds the load, your luggage might be carried down by porters. If additional helicopter flight is required, it will be subject of extra charges.
• Make sure to have a good travel and medical insurance - compulsory on this trip.
• We will provide briefings and shopping assistance to reassure your correct preparations.

Specifically excluded:

• any extras not mentioned, visa on arrival 25 USD, optional tours, tips, insurance.

Galleries from previous trips: