13 UAE residents - locals and expats - are now on the journey of a lifetime, having ventured out into the desert on Sunday to kick-start a highly anticipated annual event.
Using only camels for transportation and traditional means of navigation, they hope to complete the third edition of the Camel Trek -an adventure organized by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center.
The group's journey starts from Nakhra and should end at Global Village by January 28th.
The voyagers have to follow old tracks, and find campsites before sunset for safety, the leader of the Camel Trek, Khalifa bin Sabeen told What's on Dubai.
He also stressed that they have to work as a team to get through the trek. There will be roles for everyone, such as caring for the camels, tents and cooking food.
“The aim of the ‘Camel Trek’ is to create a similar atmosphere to the one in the past when Bedouins used to navigate and travel in the desert. It is not only about sustaining an iconic symbol of the desert environment. The younger generation are encouraged to undertake this trek to experience riding a camel and be prompted to preserve it. This in turn increases self-confidence and team work in addition to learning how to navigate in the desert without using modern technology,”- Mohammed Ali Obaid Bin Huraiz, Manager of CEO’s Office at HHC.
The group of 13 is composed of 9 men and 4 women, from Egypt, France, Oman, UK, USA and UAE.
2 of the women are British expats who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last year, Rhian Adams and Hina Webb.
Adams is a personal trainer, and she's been posting photos and videos of the trip on her Instagram account.
Mandatory selfie with the camel
Trekking in the desert doesn't mean you get to slack off...
Going native
Both Adams and Webb are excited about the trip, because of how it differs from regular hiking.
Adams, who loves camels and has one of her own, told Emirates 24/7 that she's learning a lot about the desert-bound animal, such as guiding them, setting the saddle, and basic care.
Webb shared that she knows it will be difficult, but she's ready for the adventure of a lifetime.