Tribal Tracks Talk – Sahara 100k

In February, we are looking at taking Cheltenham Running and Walking Club members to Morocco for a 100km supported desert expedition with Tribal Tracks. There will be separate itineraries for runners and walkers, each designed around the same overall goal: crossing 100km of Sahara terrain as a team.

For some, this will be a running challenge. For others, it will be a walking adventure. For many, it may sit somewhere in between — a chance to travel, train, explore, and share something remarkable with people from the club.

This is not Marathon des Sables. You will not be carrying all your own kit across the desert. It is a fully supported expedition with guides, camels, jeeps, camps set up for you, cooked meals, and a structured itinerary.

But it is still a proper challenge.

And that is exactly what makes it exciting.

Why this trip is different

At CRWC, we have seen the impact that shared challenges can have.

Run to Paris showed us how powerful it can be when a group of members train towards something bigger than a normal weekend event. The Sahara trip has the potential to create that same sense of purpose and shared adventure, but in a way that can include a much wider range of members.

The running itinerary will suit members who want to take on the challenge of covering 100km at a running pace across four desert stages.

The walking itinerary will suit members who want a demanding but achievable long-distance adventure, covering the same 100km over five days.

Importantly, if you usually run with the club but would prefer to walk this kind of holiday, that is absolutely fine. This is not about proving yourself as a runner. It is about choosing the version of the challenge that gives you the best experience.

If the idea appeals to you, jump into the WhatsApp group and join the discussion. The more people we have talking about it early, the easier it becomes to build groups of members who are likely to move at a similar pace.

What the Sahara adventure involves

The trip is built around a 100km route through the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

There are two separate itineraries:

• Runners: a six-day trip, with the 100km completed over four running days
• Walkers: a seven-day trip, with the 100km completed over five walking days

Both versions are challenging in their own way.

For runners, the distances are expected to be approximately:

• Day 1: 15km
• Day 2: 35km
• Day 3: 35km
• Day 4: 15km

For walkers, the distances are expected to be approximately:

• Day 1: 15km
• Day 2: 32–34km
• Day 3: 24km
• Day 4: 22km
• Day 5: 15km

The route starts near Faija, south of Zagora, and moves through rocky desert, dry riverbeds, canyons, open plains and dune country, including the impressive dunes around Chegaga and Bougarn.

The Sahara is not just endless soft sand. Much of the terrain is rocky and varied, with tracks, dry riverbeds and firmer ground. There will be dunes, but this is not a case of spending every day fighting through deep sand.

That said, the terrain will require care. Runners should expect to adjust pace, walk rougher sections when needed, and focus on staying safe rather than chasing speed. Walkers will also need to be prepared for long days on uneven ground.

This is not a race.

It is a team adventure.

What it might feel like to be there

Picture starting the day early, with the desert still cool and quiet.

You wake up in camp, step outside your tent, and watch the sun rise over a landscape that feels completely different from anywhere we normally run or walk. Your main bag is packed and taken ahead by the support team. Breakfast is shared with the group. Then you set off together.

Some days will feel energising. Some will feel hard. There will be sections where the terrain asks you to concentrate. There may be moments where the distance ahead looks vast and you need to settle into the rhythm of the group.

But that is also the point.

The best parts of these trips often come from the combination of challenge and simplicity. Moving forward. Looking after each other. Sharing food. Laughing around camp. Watching the light change across the dunes. Climbing up behind camp to see a Sahara sunset.

The support team will be there, but the experience still belongs to the group.

You will not be on your own.

You will be travelling across the desert with other CRWC members, guides, camels, local crew, and a team around you.

For many people, that is what changes the whole experience. It is not just “I completed 100km”. It is “we did this together”.

The route and overnight stops

The journey begins with flights to Marrakech before transferring to Ouarzazate, where the group spends the first night in a riad. There will be dinner and a briefing before heading towards the start of the trek the following day.

From there, the expedition begins near Faija, south of Zagora.

The first day is a chance to settle in. For runners, it acts as a warm-up run of around 15km. For walkers, it is a steady first stage of around three and a half hours. This gives everyone time to adjust to the climate, terrain and kit.

The route then moves through dry riverbeds, rocky desert, red canyons and dune country. Camps are set up along the way, including oasis-style locations and camps near the dunes.

Later in the route, the landscape opens into wide, vast desert. This is where the challenge becomes as much mental as physical. You may be able to see for miles, and the progress can feel slower because the scale of the landscape is so huge.

The final day of the trek is marked properly, with a finish area, lunch and time to recognise what the group has achieved before transferring to Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most striking fortified villages. After the desert section, the group then returns towards Marrakech, with time to explore the souks before the flight home.

Camping, food and daily routine

This is a desert camping expedition, but it is supported throughout.

You will not be expected to put up your own tent each night. The camp crew set everything up before you arrive. Your main luggage is transported ahead, and you carry only your day pack during the day.

At camp, there will be:

• Tents provided and set up for you
• Mattresses, tables and chairs
• A dining tent
• A cook tent
• Toilet tents set away from camp for privacy
• Water for washing, although there are no showers in the desert

The food is a big part of the experience. Meals are cooked by the local team, with dishes such as salads, hummus, tagines, potatoes, pasta and other fresh meals. Dietary requirements are shared in advance through the booking process.

A typical day is likely to involve:

• Waking early, often in time for sunrise
• Packing your main bag ready for transport
• Breakfast in camp
• Starting the day’s run or walk
• Water top-ups and support during the day
• Arriving into camp
• Time to rest, stretch, recover and enjoy the surroundings
• Dinner together
• Campfire time in the evening
• An early night, often around 9pm

Runners are likely to reach camp earlier in the day, often by lunchtime, with a larger meal once they arrive. Walkers will usually be out for longer and may arrive mid to late afternoon.

Support, logistics and safety

Although this is a remote desert challenge, the expedition is carefully supported.

Tribal Tracks was founded by Charlie, who spent nine years in the Army’s Logistic Corps before moving into expedition leadership and setting up the company in 2017. Their team runs treks around the world and brings a strong expedition-planning approach to the trip.

The Sahara route is supported by:

• A Tribal Tracks expedition leader
• Local Moroccan guides and crew
• Camels travelling with the group
• Camels transporting main luggage
• Jeep support from the second day where access allows
• A cook and camp team
• First aid support
• Pre-trip planning and kit guidance

The Tribal Tracks leaders are Mountain Leader Summer qualified and first aid trained. They are there to support the group from the airport, help manage the route, deal with issues such as blisters or hot spots, and keep the team moving safely.

Camels are available as part of the support system, although riding them is not encouraged unless there is a medical need. Jeeps provide additional backup where the route allows.

Everyone taking part will need appropriate travel insurance, including 24-hour evacuation and repatriation cover. Pre-existing medical conditions and dietary requirements must be shared in confidence during the booking process so the team can plan properly.

Safety is a major part of the structure of the trip. The aim is not to push people recklessly through the desert. The aim is to help a prepared group complete a memorable challenge in a well-managed way.

How fit do you need to be?

This is a 100km desert expedition, so preparation matters.

If you are running the trip, you need to be run-fit and comfortable with longer distances. This does not mean racing the route. It means having the strength, endurance and resilience to cover back-to-back desert stages while managing heat, uneven terrain and recovery.

If you are walking the trip, you should be building towards comfortably walking four to five hours before you go, with some longer training days included.

Training plans will be provided, and CRWC can help members prepare through club sessions, long runs, walks, adventure runs and structured progression.

The key is to start early and build consistently.

This kind of trip gives your training a clear purpose. It is not just about getting fitter in a vague way. It gives you a reason to build endurance, practise fuelling, test shoes, spend more time on your feet, and learn how your body responds to longer efforts.

Kit and preparation

A full kit list will be provided closer to the trip.

Footwear will be especially important.

Runners will need shoes with enough grip for varied desert terrain. Trail shoes or approach-style shoes with decent lugs are likely to be more suitable than standard road shoes.

Walkers may prefer boots with ankle support, although sturdy approach shoes may also be suitable depending on the individual. The main point is that footwear should be tested well in advance. This is not the trip for brand-new shoes.

You will also need a sleeping bag, personal kit, suitable clothing for warm days and cooler evenings, and snacks that you know work for you. Water is provided during the trip, with top-ups available through the day.

Three to four months before departure, there will be more detailed guidance on kit, timings, airport arrangements and final preparation.

Cost, booking and what is included

The price is £2,095.

This includes flights and the core trip logistics from leaving the UK to returning home.

Included:

• Flights
• Transfers
• Accommodation before and after the desert section
• Desert camping support
• Food during the trip
• Local guides and crew
• Camel and jeep logistics
• Expedition leadership

Not included:

• Alcoholic drinks
• Travel insurance
• Tips for the Moroccan support team
• Some personal spending money

Although the running itinerary is shorter than the walking itinerary, the price is the same because the running version requires additional logistics.

Numbers are expected to be limited to 18 people per team, with places offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is currently expected to be 1 July, and the final balance is due 56 days before departure.

Why it is worth considering now

A trip like this is not something most people decide on casually.

It requires thought, planning, training and a genuine sense that you want to do something memorable.

But that is also why it is worth talking about now.

The best-case scenario is not just that you book a place on a Sahara trip.

The best-case scenario is that enough CRWC members decide to go that you have people around you who run or walk at your pace. You train with them through the year. You talk about kit, shoes, snacks and long training days. You turn up in Morocco already feeling part of a team. Then, when the challenge begins, you are not trying to take it on alone.

You are moving through the desert with people you know.

People who understand your pace.

People who have trained alongside you.

People who will share the hard moments, the funny moments, the sunsets, the campfires, and the finish.

That is what makes this opportunity so special.

If you are interested, join the WhatsApp group discussion, ask questions, and start thinking honestly about which version of the trip would suit you best.

You might be a runner who wants the running challenge.

You might be a runner who would prefer to walk it.

You might be a walker who wants a big goal to train towards.

Any of those routes can lead to the same thing: a 100km Sahara adventure, shared with members of your club, in one of the most remarkable landscapes in the world.