Working journey

At the moment our working journeys take place in the Sinai Desert, though we have plans to open up working journeys in other areas where there are nomadic people who would benefit from our help.

Though relatively small (about twice the size of Belgium) the Sinai peninsula is unique because of its remarkable landscape and rich history. It is home to several nomadic tribes of Bedouin who have roamed freely in this region for centuries. The landscape is spectacular: desert and mountain, rocks sculpted by the wind, an immense solitude that encourages introspection and inner peace. Legends have been born in this landscape: it is the home of prophets of three major world religions.

We offer a variety of different journeys, carefully designed to accommodate different tastes and ages. A typical 8-day journey consists of a few days trekking with the Bedouin in the lower desert areas, some time working with a Jebeliya family in the high wadis (a wadi is a valley, usually a dried river bed), a short trek in the mountains towards Mount Sinai and finally a day resting by the Red Sea. During the journeys in the desert and mountains visitors will sleep outside under the stars, a profound experience.

Work for each group will vary according to the nature of the group and will also depend on which projects the Makhad Trust is currently organising. It may involve garden restoration, helping to build a small stone dam or water storage tank, helping to construct a small building such as a school, or, in the desert, building a wall around a well to prevent the well from flooding during heavy rains.

We think of our journeys as project work rather than holidays, but they are suitable for all physical abilities and ages. With our deep knowledge of the area and the considerable experience of the expedition leader, journeys can be tailored to particular needs: we can accommodate the needs of corporate organisations, schools, colleges, or simply groups of friends.

We travel in small groups of 8 - 12 people, so that we can be sure of providing personal attention and to enable individual travellers to make a connection with the Bedouin and to explore and appreciate fully the natural beauty of the landscape. You are warmly invited to help with the work of the Makhad Trust by joining us on one of our journeys in the Sinai.

For an up-to-date list of forthcoming journeys, current information about the Makhad Trust, the latest newsletter and a booking form for journeys, please visit www.makhad.info. If you would like more information, please let us know and we will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Journeys in the Sinai are initiated and organised by Nomadic Journeys Ltd, a specialist company that has been working with the Bedouin in Sinai and with nomadic communities elsewhere since 1997 and is now the sole operating arm of the Makhad Trust.

watch a short film of a Makhad working journey

a group working on Amran dam