Sinai water relief project and festival, Sinai Desert
| country: | Egypt |
| location: | Sinai Desert |
| departures: | 2009: 26 Nov 2010: 11 Mar |
| price: | From £750 (8 days) excluding flights. Price includes accommodation, meals, transport and guides |
| more info: | Over 60% of the cost of the trip directly contributes towards sustaining the Bedouin Community in various ways, including paying for the many services they provide and supporting the charitable work of the organisation. Any work you undertake whilst on your journey also contributes directly to the wellbeing of the Bedouin. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
We invite you to join one of our working groups, lend a hand and learn more about a fascinating area. The journeys are suitable for people with a keen interest in the environment, a sense of adventure and a reasonable level of fitness. No special knowledge or technical skills are required.
During the day we work on the dam, both in spectacular locations, and at night we camp in one of the Bedouin gardens sleeping under the apricot and almond trees.
This small dam will be built in the valleys above the mountain gardens owned by the Bedouin. Their livelihoods depend on their gardens and as many as 80 families will benefit from the dam.
The water situation in Sinai is critical. There has been no rain in the mountains for two years and the ancient gardens are dying. When the long drought finally breaks, we hope this winter, we will need this important dam in place to hold up the water so it can penetrate to the water table and re-fill the garden wells.
We encourage our participants to get involved in fundraising and already 60% of your cost directly contributes towards sustaining the Bedouin community and the work of the Trust. However if you would like to get more involved in helping the trust by fundraising then please contact us.
During the day we work on the dam, both in spectacular locations, and at night we camp in one of the Bedouin gardens sleeping under the apricot and almond trees.
This small dam will be built in the valleys above the mountain gardens owned by the Bedouin. Their livelihoods depend on their gardens and as many as 80 families will benefit from the dam.
The water situation in Sinai is critical. There has been no rain in the mountains for two years and the ancient gardens are dying. When the long drought finally breaks, we hope this winter, we will need this important dam in place to hold up the water so it can penetrate to the water table and re-fill the garden wells.
We encourage our participants to get involved in fundraising and already 60% of your cost directly contributes towards sustaining the Bedouin community and the work of the Trust. However if you would like to get more involved in helping the trust by fundraising then please contact us.
best time to go
In spring or autumn, when the mountains are not too hot during the day, and not too cold at night. The trips are timed to coincide with the full moon, so that the most is made of the natural light – whether by day or by nightday-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | After arriving at Sharm el-Sheikh we drive to the Sinai Mountains to walk to a mountain garden near St Katherine’s monastery for a light supper and camping under the stars. |
| Day 2: | After breakfast we walk a mountain garden to camp overnight. |
| Day 3: | Work includes helping the Bedouin to collect stones to make the dam, mixing cement, etc. People work at their own pace, with plenty of time to rest, and with breaks for coffee, tea and a long lunch. We camp in the nearby gardens. |
| Day 4-6: | Working on the small dam, as above. |
| Day 7: | After breakfast we walk down to a women’s craft centre for lunch. Then drive by jeep to the Muzeina community in Nawamis and join in a wonderful celebration of their tradition and culture: an evening of feasting, storytelling, music and drumming in the ancient Bedouin tradition. Sleep in a traditional Bedouin tent or under the stars. |
| Day 8: | Orientation walk of our desert location and the Nawamis Burial Tombs. We then travel by road back to Sharm el-Sheikh for the return flight. |
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
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In helping build this dam in Wadi Zuwetein you will be directly supporting many families of the Jebeliya tribe of Bedouin who have lived in the Sinai mountains for centuries. Without water, the tribe cannot use their gardens, and grow the produce they need to survive in this harsh environment. You will be helping the Bedouin care for their environment, their cultural heritage and traditional way of life, and will meet some of the families who will benefit from your work.
We are a non-profit making organisation, and apart from our overheads, your money goes towards supporting these projects. We source all food, local guides and transport for this trip from the Jebeliya Bedouin, so providing important employment and income. We do not use tour operators, but work directly with the Bedouin themselves. Payment is generous by local standards, and our suppliers are regarded as equal partners in our endeavours. It is our policy to practice fair trade at all times. We include the local women in our projects to support their economic and social development. On this trip you will meet one of these women, Fansina, who will prepare lunch for you at her craft centre. We make sure visitors know about local history and culture, and encourage visitors to engage with local people and share in camp site duties. Our group sizes are a maximum of 16 people (usually less). Our own guides are experienced in desert and mountain leadership, and we are also accompanied by expert Bedouin guides. On this trip our environmental impact is kept to a minimum. We camp outside, and use camels instead of vehicles wherever possible. Where vehicles are used they are restricted to well-used tracks to limit damage to the delicate flora and fauna. We provide advice on water usage in the mountains and desert, recommend biodegradable soaps and use compostable toilets. In our office we print our brochures on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks, and where possible we send information to customers by email. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |