Trekkup Dubai ✔

The Sahel is a land of transition between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannahs, that lead to the dense jungles of central Africa to the south. For centuries, it has served as a crucial ecological and cultural interface across the African continent. Imagine a vast, horizontal ribbon weaving through the heart of Africa, stretching for over 6,000 kilometers from coast to coast. With no clearly defined borders, it flows seamlessly as a dynamic borderland that connects together the identities of its 400 million people, cultures, and histories.

Forgotten by time, the Sahel is fascinating place. It is a home to a living museum of ancient civilizations, cities of mud, nomads, music, traditions and ceremonies. Bustling markets overflow with vibrant colors, showcasing crafts and the bounty of the land.

Burkina Faso was a French colony that gained independence in 1960 as “Upper Volta”. It adopted its current name in 1984, which means "land of upright people" in the native Mossi and Diula languages. One of the country's greatest attractions is its diverse landscape – from the Sahelian desert in the north to the savannah of the central plateau and lush rainforests in the southwest. The country’s expanse is mostly flat, with some light hills in the west where the Guinea Highlands extend.

The limestone formations of Domes de Fabedougou, a craggy chain of cones shaped over millennia by water and erosion, make for a geological fantasyland for trekkers and explorers.

One of the most fascinating and at the same time most inaccessible and least visited countries of Africa, Niger is a landlocked country neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Known for its landscapes spanning dry sub-Saharan areas in the north to the fertile Niger River basin in the south, life unfolds here in a hot, semi-arid climate. The capital city, Niamey, serves as the political, economic, and cultural heart of the nation. Established along the banks of the Niger River, Niamey provides a vital hub for trade and transportation. With a population of over a million residents, it is the largest city in Niger, characterized by its vibrant markets reflecting the rich heritage of the Tuareg and Hausa people.

At the heart of the country is the beautiful Niger River. There is something magical in its lazy current, moving through a wide channel, among numerous islands and riverside marshes. The river is a source of livelihood for many. Near the bridges, it is common to encounter young children wading at the shore with buckets almost as big as they are. Others fish with a line, while elders set out in boats for a night catch.

Let's go!

Day 1 // Arrival in Ouagadougou
Arrival to Ouagadougou, immigration formalities, transfer to hotel, introductory city tour.

Day 2 // Tiebele
Early breakfast before we hit the road to Tiebele to see the community’s many painted houses and the royal courts of the Kassena people. When we’ve had our fill of hand-painted mud, we’ll head back to the city with few curiosities along the way. Dinner and rest in hotel.

Day 3 // Mosque of Mud
After breakfast we’ll start our trip to Sabou. Along the way we’ll stop to visit the sacred crocodiles and fishes, before reaching the grand mosque of mud. We’ll look around the old town before dinner and check into the hotel.

Day 4 // Domes & Waterfalls

Day 5 // Hippos of Teguerela

Day 6 // Ouagadougou - Niamey
We’ll spend the morning exploring the artisan villages and craft markets of the city before heading to the airport for the flight to Niger. Upon arrival in Niamey, transfer to the hotel, and a city tour if time allows.

Day 7 // Niamey + Gerewol
After breakfast, we will set off for a city tour taking in the main attractions of the capital, including the Cathedral, the main mosque, the handicraft center, the cattle market and Katako market, the city’s oldest market selling a range of hand-made items. In the afternoon we’ll spend time with local people and learn more about the Nigerien lifestyle. Later, we’ll experience the Fulani’s ceremony of Gerewol, well-known to Trekkupers who visited Chad, with plenty of time for photo opps and fun. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8 // Dosso - Kanazi
Early breakfast before heading to Dosso to visit the Sultan's house (Zarmakoy), making stops to visit some Zarma, Fulani, Touareg, and Hausa villages. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a cruise on the Niger River, the third-longest in Africa, spotting hippos and birds. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 9 // Departure

Grade: Easy - available for everyone.
Activities: Trekking, boating, sightseeing, participating in Gerewol festival.
Accommodation & meals: hotels, double sharing. Meals excluded.

Cost: 1950 EUR excl flights + 6000 AED flights. Cost valid until AUG 24.
On this date we will close the list.

Excluded: Visas, meals, insurance.

Visas:
BF – VOA or evisa 190 USD.
Niger – pre-arranged visa at 180 EUR.

YELLOW FEVER Vaccination Certificate is mandatory for crossing inter-african borders.

See yah in Sahel x

Along the banks of the Holy River Ganga breathes the mystical city of Varanasi, one of the holiest sites of Hinduism, where the Buddha preached his first sermon, and pilgrims from across India and the world seek enlightenment, redemption, and absolution.

Ghosts of Babylon, resurrected Nebuchadnezzars, kings declaring themselves gods atop ziggurats, it’s the Cradle of Civilization in the City of a Thousand and One Tales on the Tigris and Euphrates, with ruined empires from the ancient to the modern. It’s Baghdad to Babylon to Basra with a little Ur on top!

The seat of the ancient Babylonian Empire of Mesopotamia, with foundations thousands of years old, estimated to have been the largest city in the world and the first city to ever reach a population of 200,000, the ancient remains of Babylon have many tales to tell, some of which can be found in the Bible itself!

Known for constructing dozens of palaces across Iraq and hiding his whereabouts among them, Saddam had a taste for the gilded and extravagant, carrying on the legacy of the ancient kings and crowning himself the next Nebuchadnezzar.

One of the most distinctive architectural inventions, the ziggurat is like a pyramid of four sides and rises up to the realm of the gods, most often used as a site of religious rituals, with a high-priest residing at the apex. This temple complex was begun as a shrine to the moon god Nanna, the patron deity of Ur, and completed by King Shulgi who promptly declared himself a god.

Comprised of many different ancient tribes and a culture which evolved and centred around the natural resources of the marshes, the Marsh Arabs have struggled and survived on the raising of water buffalo and cultivated crops, living in arched reed houses, and being as comfortable on the water as the Bedouins are in the dunes of Arabia.

From One Thousand and One Nights to pyramidal ziggurats to modern-day Nebuchadnezzars, the wonders of Babylon, Baghdad, and Basra await!

Let’s go!!

Day 1 : Baghdad
After arrival and immigration adventure. We will start with Fardos Square, where the iconic scene of the Saddam Hussain statue has fallen by the hands of Iraqi people. Next we’ll head to Liberation Square and Al-Mutanabi Street, take a few selfies at Al-Muwaffaqia.
In the evening, we will visit the modern parts of Baghdad to observe the daily life of the people. On our way back, we will stop at the Abu Nowas river walk, before we check-in at the hotel for well-deserved rest.

Day 2 : Samara
Today we set compass to north of Baghdad and start with Great Mosque of Samarra, known for its iconic spiral minaret. This mosque is considered an archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was the largest mosque in the world during its time. Next, visit the Virgin Palace with its large pool in the center, then explore the Medieval Times prison. Afterwards, head to the Abo Dalaf spiral mosque to climb to the top before returning to Baghdad to visit one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture.

Day 3 : Babylon + Karbala
After breakfast and check-out, we’ll start our journey to Babylon! Along the way, stop at the Martyr Monument for some selfies on the half-shell before we reach the ancient ruins in the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization. Reputed to be the site of the Hanging Gardens it was truly one of the Seven Wonders of the Hellenic World, although its exact location remains a mystery! After wandering the mazes and mudbricks, we’ll head up to Saddam’s palace overlooking Babylon, subject of governmental approval. After a picnic lunch on the floor we’ll hop back in the bus and continue journey to Nasiriyah with a stop at the tomb of Al-Abbas Imam Ali.

Day 4 : Ziggurat of Ur & Marshes
One of the most distinctive architectural inventions, the ziggurat is like a pyramid of four sides and rises up to the realm of the gods, and rather than used as a tomb, it was the site of many religious rituals. With few remaining today, the Ziggurat of Ur is considered the best preserved in the world! After our elevated explorations, we’ll go deep into the marshes, the largest wetlands in the Middle East, a habitat for fish and birds, and home to thousands of Marsh Arabs, a people with mysterious ancient origins, some theories consider them descendants of the Nabateans!

Day 5 : Basra
We will start our day by exploring the old city of Basra, nicknamed "Venice of the Middle East." Along the way, we will visit a couple of Christian churches, we will take a walk on the Cornish, a river walk along the Shat Al-Arab River, created by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Lunch next to the river before heading to the airport for our flight back.

Grade: Easy, available to everyone.
Activity: Sightseeing, cultural immersion.

COST: 7,700 AED all incl. flights until SEP 30th.

Room & Meals: Hotel, guesthouse – double sharing, meals excluded.
Specifically excluded: Meals, visa, insurance.

Visa: Western and Gulf passports get visa on arrival. Other passports - visa support available.

It is participant sole responsibility to assure admission to country of destination.

See yah at Saddams x

The most mysterious and least explored of the Central Asian “stans”, Turkmenistan has long been one of the hardest countries to approach. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. For centuries, Turkmenistan stood at the crossroads of civilizations. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important Silk Road stop, a vital link in the trade route between China and the West until the mid 15th century.

Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later played a prominent role in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, it became the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the USSR, and gained independence in 1991.

The country became famous for the dictatorship of Saparmyrat Niyazov, who ruled as ‘Turkmenbashi’ (‘leader of the Turkmen’) and governed until his death in 2006. His era left a surreal legacy: golden statues of himself and grand monuments celebrating the so-called “golden age” of Turkmenistan.

Yet the essence of Turkmenistan lies beyond its politics — in the warmth and generosity of its people, whose legendary hospitality makes visitors feel instantly welcome.

Ashgabat, the capital, is a billion dollar display of national pride, with endless white marble buildings stretching across a long, dry valley. At sunrise or sunset, the city glows with a strange beauty, resembling more a scene from a sci-fi movie than an earthly settlement.

A visit to the Köw Ata Underground Lake offers a unique experience. Descend into a cave at the base of a mountain, walking down a staircase 65 meters underground, into a world of warm, sulphurous air. At the bottom, a crystal-clear lake, naturally heated to around 36°C, invites you for a surreal swim deep beneath the earth’s surface.

Turkmenistan doors to hell…

And then there is Turkmenistan’s most famous spectacle: the “Doors to Hell”. In the desert village of Darvaza, home to around 350 tribal residents, life had been unchanged for centuries. Nothing could interrupt the peaceful and quiet lifestyle of the nomadic tribe, aside from sitting on a valuable cache of natural resources.

Initial estimations of the site’s reserves were extremely low. In the early 1970s, Soviet scientists attempted to burn off escaping gas after a drilling mishap. When they lit the gas, it erupted and never stopped burning. Over forty years later locals call it the Doors to Hell.