(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Two days before the 54th Eid Al Etihad, a caravan of 33 Emiratis and expatriates will embark on a 21-day, 1,000km Camel Trek that will take them deep into the desert, navigating sand dunes on the back of the 'ship of the desert', encountering new challenges and experiences akin to the old ways of the Bedouins.

They will begin their journey at the break of dawn on Sunday (November 30) from As-Sila in the Al Dhafra region, 350km west of Abu Dhabi and 450km away from Dubai. The caravan will follow a prepared route and the camel trekkers will rest at camping stations prepared by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC), that has been organising the annual desert voyage since 2014.

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This year will be the longest in the history of Camel Trek as participants will cover 1,000km of desert before they conclude their journey on December 20 at Dubai's Global Village.

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“The annual Camel Trek is an extraordinary journey, a test of endurance and a showcase of individual courage as well as collective effort,” according to HHC, noting:“It made its debut in 2014 with a number of Emiratis who challenged the desert dunes, following in the footsteps of their forefathers.

“The success of the first edition paved the way for more demand from residents who took up the challenge to relive the old ways of life in the UAE and became a highly-anticipated annual event with many men and women of various ages and different nationalities joining the caravan,” HHC added.

This year, a total of 33 participants - between 16 and 60 years old – are participating, coming from 14 countries and territories, including China, Colombia, Spain, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, Russian Federation, Pakistan, New Zealand, Canada, Austria, Ireland, Italy, and the UAE.

They were carefully selected from a pool of applicants who participated in the HHC training programme held at a camel farm in Dubai. Some are newbies and some are old-timers who are expected to provide support to the beginners. They have been trained not only to ride a camel, but were also familiarised with life in the desert.

The oldest participant is Marjan Van Brenk, 60, from The Netherlands; while the youngest is 16-year-old Sarah Shanjan from India.

The camel caravan is led by HHC CEO Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, who expressed satisfaction with the high number and diversity of participants. He underscored:“Camel Rrek promotes the UAE's cultural heritage and embodies the spirit of tolerance, endurance and camaraderie.”

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