Trekking – Equipment

A desert trip is a stay in an extreme climate, which means that in the desert spring in March/April, for example, it can get over 30 degrees for a few days, while in May or September there can be cooler days and even rain is possible. The “cooler days” correspond to German spring or summer weather. We therefore recommend the trekker to wear adapted clothing (twilight look) as described below, but no jeans, shorts or miniskirts. In the very dry air you hardly sweat.
As we are partly walking in the Jebel Bani Mountains, we also recommend walking shoes for your safety. We walk on narrow, uneven paths of the shepherds, cross-country over small scree and sometimes climb over boulders.

The following equipment list is based on our many years of trekking experience, serves as a recommendation and does not claim to be complete. You will receive a detailed description after your booking.

Clothing

- Light and comfortable trousers made of cotton, linen or cotton/linen blend 
- Light trekking jacket, thin rain jacket (also for sandstorms) 
- for evenings: fleece jacket, wool jacket and/or waistcoat 
- shirts, long-sleeved blouses, breathable sports shirts or polo shirts
- Underwear 
- Pyjamas or ski underwear for the night
- Cap, headscarf or chech (covers head and neck perfectly)
- gauntlets or cut-off socks help against sunburn on the hands
- Hat, scarf, gloves for trekking from November to March

Shoes and socks:

- Socks: almost no sand gets into thin, close-meshed socks.
- Trekking sandals 
- light, high, dense hiking shoes, dense trainers, chucks or desert boots. No sports shoes with mesh! the sand penetrates everywhere and quickly causes difficulties when walking

Toiletries:

- Disposable flannels, disposable towels or sponge plus 0.5 l water container and synthetic towel.
- Moist wipes in case there is no possibility to wash and for in-between use
- soap
- Toothbrush accessories
- Travel towel
- Sun cream with sun protection factor 30-50
- Lip cream with a high sun protection factor
- Personal hygiene items plus small waste bags/parchment bags. 
- Medication such as: Eye drops, painkillers, diarrhoea medication, blister plasters and/or blister gel from Compeed, deer tallow cream, horse ointment......
- Bandages and plasters
- Nasal spray and/or ointment for dry nasal cavities

Trekking lugage:

- Backpack or soft travel bag; the main luggage should not exceed 15 kg per person, as it will be loaded onto the camels. 
- Daypack for approx. 20 l, for water bottle, camera, sunscreen, personal items 
- Sleeping bag (light), for trekking from Dec. - Feb. warm sleeping bag
- possibly a sheet and travel pillow
- Headlamp with spare batteries 
- Water bottles - e.g. 1 or 1.5 l sturdy PET bottles 
- Matches or lighter (for burning toilet paper and waste) - can be bought in Zagora
- waste bags
- To improve the taste of the water, concentrated lemon juice (yellow bottle) and/or
- Effervescent tablets
- Plastic bag to protect your camera from sand
- Walking sticks (useful in the dunes)
- Camping mat

Info about sleeping mats: Akabar – Sahara Treks provides foam mattresses with a thickness of about six cm. Those who need an additional sleeping mat can bring their own. During the meals the participants sit on it. If you have your own sleeping mat, you can go to bed earlier without interrupting the cosy round.
Info on sleeping bag:
In the desert there are also weather fluctuations and the temperatures can deviate by 10 degrees, especially during the night.
The comfort range of the sleeping bag should depend on the time booked, i.e. in the months of November to March approx. + 5 degrees Celsius. Women should ensure a comfort range of approx. 0 degrees C, as they usually freeze faster than men. It also works very well with a light silk inlet/sleeping bag. Akabar – Sahara Treks provides blankets.