Trekkup Dubai ✔

Located in the Horn of Africa, Somalia is one the least developed and stable countries in the world. For a long time now, it struggles with an unfriendly climate and civil war but recently, due to global warming, the waves of droughts and floods are even bigger than before.
Among the most Godforsaken places on this planet, Mogadishu is way up there. Known as the capital city of the “failed state” of Somalia, it has been plagued by pirates, civil war and sectarian violence for years. So, it’s no wonder that it is the least annually visited tourist destination, worldwide. And if it wasn’t for the brave journalists who venture into these parts, the world wouldn’t actually know the extent of the volatility taking place.

The constant presence of rickshaws on the rough roads creates a somewhat perfect blend of Sudan and Bangladesh.
So yes, although not exactly a coveted holiday destination, visits are possible – and worth it – for the most daring of travelers. Most of the buildings that line the streets of Mogadishu, some would say, look like swiss cheese because of the sheer amount of bullet holes in them. While shop signage is literally spray painted on, graffiti style. And the multi-coloured, cardboard-shaped facades almost symbolically emphasize the fragility of the reconstruction of Somalia, as the seeds of commercialisation make an appearance on a shot-up canvas.
Somaliland’s status may be unofficial, but its hidden gems are officially amazing! Having declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but not yet recognized, it’s a country that’s not technically a country. For over three decades, Somaliland has now established many embassies worldwide, but remains unrecognized by the UN.

Hargeisa, the capital of a non-existent state, still makes an impression. It doesn't have spectacular monuments, but it has its own ambience. The buildings are mostly white, looking like they have been scorched by the sun, as the temperature here reaches up to forty degrees in the summer.
With curiosities around every corner, there are many tales to tell here: from friendly bustling camel markets to money exchanges with towers of bills, it’s surely one of Africa’s most unique destinations.
The cave paintings of Laas Geel (meaning “Well Camel”) spread over 10 alcoves are some of the most vivid rock arts in all of Africa. With depictions of horned cattle in ceremonial robes accompanied by their human herders with animals as varied as giraffes and even a domesticated dog. It’s estimated that these paintings originate nearly 20,000 years ago!

From the jaw-dropping wonders of Las Geel, to fish-heavy Mogadishu, horn of Africa holds many surprises, waiting for your curiosity to be unveiled!

Let’s go!!!

Day 1 // Somaliland :: Hargeisa
Meeting at DXB T2 at 2am for a direct flight to Hargeisa. After arrival and immigration, transfer to hotel for a quick rest before heading into town for a walking tour of central market, war memorial, and a stop at livestock exchange for those who want to purchase a goat or a camel. Afterwards we’ll head to dinner at restaurant run by Yemeni refugees. We’ll have a chai with the locals before heading back to hotel.

Day 2 // Somaliland :: Laas Geel + Berbera
After breakfast drive to the caves and rock arts of Las Geel. We’ll explore the colourful paintings estimated to be nearly 20,000 years old and the second oldest in all of Africa! Continue to Berbera and Batalale beach. Return to Hargeisa.

Day 3 // Somalia :: Mogadishu
Short flight to Mogadishu, immigration clearance and check in to the hotel in Green Zone. After lunch we ll head to the roof of Sahafi hotel for a view of metropolis. From here we ll head for Makka Almukarama Road, one of the busiest street followed by city highlihgts: Daljirka Dahsoon and city monumnets. Short break for coffee and head to Lido beach for a boat trip and interaction with local or two. Back to Green Zone for overnight.

Day 4 // Somalia :: Mogadishu
Today we start with fish market for some day catch of sharks, tune and perhaps a turtle. Follow to Mogadishu lighthouse and old port with Ottoman buildings, where fisherman unload the tuna on their backs. Followed by Shanghai old city, we will make a stop at Bakara market, Black Hawk Down site for a selfie with remaining tank. Quick look at camel market, as Somalia is a home to 20% of worldwide population of 35m.

Day 5 // Departure
In the morning return to airport for a flight back home. Bye, bye Horn of Africa!

Activity: sightseeing, short hiking, boating, cultural immersion.
Accommodation and meals: 4* hotels, single rooms. Meals excluded.

Cost: 9,800 AED all incl. flights and visas, until OCT 10th.
Past this date cost will change.

Specifically excluded: visa on arrival fees in Somaliland ~60 USD, evisa Somalia ~64 USD, restaurant meals, insurance, photography fees if any.

Yellow Fever Certificate is mandatory for this trip.

See yah in Horn of Africa x
Trekkup Crew

Home to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world, colorful cities and thriving markets, Pakistan is opening to the world, charming us with untouched nature at the confluence of 3 mountain ranges. Hunza is a part of Karakoram, known for the striking beauty of the snow peak mountains, glacier lakes and valleys.

Hunza is situated at an elevation of 2,438 meters in the northernmost Pakistan, bordering with the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and the Xinjiang region of China.

The birthplace of voodoo and pivotal centres of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin, Togo and Ghana have rich and complex histories and fascinating cultural traditions that continue today.

We’ll discover this little known corner of West Africa on an 11-day journey deep into these countries’ northern reaches and along the Gulf of Guinea coast, to the heart of the regions where voodoo is still widely practiced today.

We will wander the fetish markets for relics, sail through stilt villages, and discover the mysteries of ancient practices.

In Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, we will get to know the roots of Voodoo beliefs and practices. The country is also famous for its wonderful local craftsmanship and numerous bustling bazaars. We’ll look through the often-surprising assortment of offerings at a fetish market, visit the Python temple, and explore the Slave Route in Ouidah, a place where enslaved peoples were sold and forced to bid farewell to their homeland forever.

With a population of around 20,000, Ganvie is the largest lake village in Africa, standing on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoue. 500 years later after its founding, the people of Ganvie have developed their own distinctive culture and lifestyle on the lake. Shaky houses, churches, mosques and other structures are built using red ebony wood, which is resistant to rotting and hence ideal for the watery conditions.

Neighboring Togo is a narrow strip of land located to the west of Benin. Another stronghold of Voodoo and animist practices, and a key region of the so-called "Slave Coast" in centuries past, it features picturesque hilltop villages and palm-lined beaches. Togo has suffered under the colonisation of three different nations, resulting in a melting pot of influences that linger to this day.

Here we will have the opportunity to learn about the customs of local communities, from mudbrick castle architecture of the Somba people and traditional ceremonies like the Fire Dance to animist beliefs reflected at shrines and fetish markets. We’ll make our through verdant landscapes and have close encounters with wildlife, visiting the Valley of the Bats and spotting rare butterflies in the green hills.

Ghana, the economic powerhouse of Western Africa, is a place where modernization intertwines with ancient rituals. Home to several very unique traditions, such their elaborately decorated coffins, Ghanians are open and welcoming people, and there will be excellent opportunities here to see the true face of Africa.

Côte d’Ivoire is the undisputed cocoa superpower: about 40% of the world’s chocolate begins its journey here. Add coffee, palm oil, and rubber plantations stretching to the horizon, and you get a country that essentially fuels your morning routine and your dessert cravings. Along the coast, palm-fringed beaches and historic trading towns tell stories of centuries of commerce and cultural exchange, while inland communities preserve ancient traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs that continue to shape everyday life.

From encounters with Voodoo priests and slithering reptiles to immersion in colorful markets and lush jungles, this trip is a deep dive into the culture and landscapes of West Africa. Our journey through this little-known region will surely reveal plenty of surprises, leaving you will memories of a lifetime and a few stories to tell!

Each October, millions gather for one of the most vibrant, moving and oddly joyful celebrations on the planet: Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Forget gloomy funerals – in Mexico, death is not the end, but a new beginning.

The holiday is built around the belief that over two magical nights each year, the souls of the deceased return to visit their loved ones, allowing for emotional reunions and joyful remembrance. All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) is the time to honor deceased children, while All Souls’ Day (Nov 2) is The Day of the Faithful Departed, a time to pray for souls who haven’t quite reached paradise (purgatory wait times can be brutal).

Mexican families build beautiful ofrendas (altars) to welcome spirits back, with photos, candles, incense, pan de muerto (a sweet bread), sugar skulls, marigolds, and sometimes even their loved ones’ favorite food and drinks. Cemeteries are decorated with flowers and offerings, and city streets are filled with celebratory processions featuring dancers, musicians, giant puppets, floats and elaborate costumes.

Death never smelled so sweet
Fun fact: Marigolds, especially the orange cempasúchil, play a central role during Día de los Muertos, their bright hue and citrusy, floral scent guiding spirits back to the world of the living. The “flower of the dead” decorates altars to honor and attract deceased loved ones, and paths of orange petals create trails that leads spirits to their families. Cemeteries are a riot of color as gravesites are hung with garlands, and flower arches are used in homes, public displays and parades.

Meet La Catrina & Friends
The fancy skeleton lady you’ll see everywhere? That’s La Catrina, or Lady Death, created in the early 1900s by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. She’s a satire on rich society, showing that even the wealthy can’t escape death’s bony embrace.

And those vibrant, fantastical animal creatures featuring in many of today’s processions? Those are alebrijes, papier-mâché creations which became popular in the 20th century after being dreamt up by another artist, Pedro Linares. They’re not traditional to Día de los Muertos, but they’ve joined in the fun and it looks like they’re here to stay.

A tradition that goes back... way back
While today the holiday is often associated with the skull-painted faces of revelers and street processions led by the elegant figure of La Catrina, the roots of this celebration go way deeper than flowers and face paint.

Long before the Spanish conquistadors invaded Mesoamerica, indigenous cultures like the Aztecs, Mayans, Purepechas, Nahuas, and Totonacas had already been partying with the dead for around 3,000 years. They saw death not as a finality, but as part of life’s great cycle. Watched over by Mictecacihuatl, their version of Lady Death, these ancient festivals took place in August and lasted an entire month.
When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, they weren’t exactly fans of these pagan rituals. So they decided to merge the indigenous festival with Catholic traditions, moving the dates to line up with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Classic colonial strategy: If you can’t beat it, rebrand it.

But despite the Catholic makeover, the spirit of the original rituals lived on. And over time, this cultural fusion evolved into the Day of the Dead as we know it: both sacred and a little irreverent. Cemeteries glow with candles, music fills the air and death gets a front-row seat.

Dance macabre... and so much more
Our trip will dive headfirst into this incredible tradition, as we both honor the dead and celebrate life. We’ll walk among glowing altars, eat our weight in pan de muerto and maybe even learn a few moves for the danse macabre with La Catrina herself.
But this trip is so much more than these two days! Mexico offers travellers a feast for the senses, and in just over a week we’ll pack in experiences that you’ll never forget. From the sounds of bustling urban life in Mexico City to the incredible sights of Aztec ruins and the flavours of delicious food and drink, we’ll reveal the soul of this fascinating and vibrant country.

Our journey starts in Mexico’s famed capital, one of the most populous cities on earth and brimming with postcolonial architecture, archaeological ruins, buzzing neighborhoods – and, unfortunately, lots of traffic. From there we hit the road to discover Mexico’s colourful past and present, from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Teotihuacan to charming pueblos and the thermal waters of Tolantongo.

Pátzcuaro: The O.G. Día de los Muertos
The sleepy colonial town of Pátzcuaro usually flies under the radar – but during the Day of the Dead it attracts the eyes of the world. Located in the ancestral lands of the indigenous Purépecha people, it’s one of the few places in Mexico where pre-Hispanic Día de los Muertos rituals are still practiced in their original form.

These powerful ceremonies unfold on the islands of Lake Pátzcuaro, a place whose name evokes the boundary between this world and the next. Each of the lake’s six islands pulses with spiritual energy, but come Día de los Muertos, things get turned up to full volume.

More than 100,000 visitors flock here to witness rituals that are part haunting, part hypnotic and wholly unforgettable. Each island offers a distinct experience, with Janitzio, in particular, drawing crowds for its dramatic candlelit procession of flower-covered canoes.

Teotihuacan: Where the gods were born
A highlight of our trip is sure to be Teotihuacan, one of the most iconic sacred sites of ancient Mesoamerica. A vast city built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., its origins are still a mystery. Long before the Aztecs arrived in central Mexico, Teotihuacan was already abandoned – yet its monumental scale left such an impression that ancient peoples believed it was the very birthplace of the gods.

Rituals here were powerful, often brutal, and definitely not for the squeamish. Human sacrifices were made to appease Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, and to keep the good times (and crops) rolling. Walking the Avenue of the Dead, we’ll trace the steps of those who once lived and died here, before climbing the Pyramid of the Sun for a panoramic view…that thankfully doesn’t require a sacrifice.

A walk on the wild side
We can’t neglect Mexico’s incredible nature, as this country has some dramatic surprises up its sleeve.

Imagine waking up to find a volcano erupting in your backyard. Well, in 1943, that’s exactly what happened to a farmer near the village of Parícutin. A crack in his cornfield suddenly began to smoke, and within 24 hours, a brand-new volcano had burst from the earth. It quickly became a scientific sensation, the first time in history that geologists were able to witness and document the full life cycle of a volcano from birth. Today, Parícutin is considered one of the modern Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and we’ll get an up-close view as we explore the volcanic landscape on horseback.

Nestled in a canyon, Tolantongo Hot Springs is a natural paradise where warm, clear waters flow through caves and terraced pools. It’s basically nature’s hot tub! We’ll make a stop here to soak in the soothing thermal springs while taking in the dramatic scenery.

This trekkup unveils a magical side of Mexico that, much like Día de los Muertos, fits between the sacred and the surreal.
So, pack your marigolds, bring your appetite and join us as we conquer volcanoes and laugh in the face of death. Because in Mexico, death doesn’t end the party, it joins it.

Let’s go!

DAY 1 / OCT 31 / SAT / ARRIVAL IN MEXICO CITY

Meeting at airport at 02:00AM for Emirates flight to Mexico 03:45AM.
Arrival at 16:00, immigration clearance and check-in to hotel.

Overnight in Mexico City, quick look at nightlife for those who are not tired.

DAY 2 / NOV 01 / DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS IN PÁTZCUARO

After breakfast we’ll check out and hit the road to Morelia, our base for the next few days. First, we’ll make our way to Pátzcuaro, where we’ll take a quick tour of this charming colonial town, strolling its beautiful squares and making visits to the fascinating regional museum and local bazaars. Then, it’s time for the main event, as we head to the island of Janitzio to join the Day of the Dead celebrations. With the shimmering lake as a backdrop to the mass of humanity gathering to greet their departed loved ones, this will be an otherworldly experience to remember. Afterwards, back to Morelia for overnight.

DAY 3 / NOV 02 / DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS IN MORELIA

Today we explore beautiful Morelia, the capital of Michoacán region, and experience a more modern form of Day of the Dead celebrations. We’ll take a walking tour of this picturesque colonial city known for its pink stone architecture, baroque churches, calm plazas and a historic center that’s been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers a more elegant, old-world atmosphere than many other cities in Mexico, and we’ll take in the laid-back, cultured vibes. In the afternoon, it’s time to get down with the dead as Morelia comes alive with altars, art installations, concerts and candlelit processions. We’ll witness locals welcoming back the spirits of their loved ones and feel the unique mix of solemnity and celebration against a backdrop of flickering lights, music, and the scent of incense and pan de muerto.

DAY 4 / NOV 03 / DAY TRIP TO PARÍCUTIN VOLCANO

We’ll set off early this morning for the village of San Juan Parangaricutiro...or rather, what's left of it. Known as the Mexican Pompeii, in 1943 the nearby Parícutin volcano suddenly erupted and buried the entire town in lava and ash, except for the top of its church, which to this day rises eerily from the hardened flow. We’ll make our way across the surrounding lava-flooded landscape to explore the ruins of the church, in which the altar and belfry have been miraculously preserved. With the volcano looming in the distance, this is part history lesson, part surreal photo op. Return to Morelia for overnight.

DAY 5 / NOV 04 / TZINTZUNTZAN PYRAMIDS & QUERÉTARO

This morning we say goodbye to Morelia and make the short scenic drive to Tzintzuntzan, the former capital of the Purépecha empire. We’ll explore the impressive yácatas: the distinctive rounded, stepped pyramids built on a terrace overlooking Lake Pátzcuaro. We’ll climb to the top for panoramic views and a true sense of pre-Hispanic grandeur. Part history lesson, part hike, this is a perfect Michoacán counterpart to the later Teotihuacan experience. Afterwards we continue east to Querétaro, our new home base for the next couple of nights. Overnight in Querétaro.

DAY 6 / NOV 05 / DAY TRIP TO BERNAL & CAÑADA DE LA VIRGEN

Early start as we head to the magical town of Bernal, known for its towering Peña de Bernal monolith (one of the world’s largest). We’ll wander its charming cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and shops selling wool textiles, candies, and crafts. Those who wish can hike or climb partway up the Peña for energy and views (or relax with a margarita below).
In the morning or early afternoon, we continue toward San Miguel de Allende for a visit to the Cañada de la Virgen archaeological site. Perched on a mesa overlooking canyons, this ancient Otomí pilgrimage center features climbable pyramid complexes and ceremonial structures. We’ll explore with a knowledgeable local guide, learning about its astronomical alignments and pre-Hispanic history while enjoying the dramatic landscape.
Return to Querétaro in the late evening for overnight.

DAY 7 / NOV 06 / TOLANTONGO & BACK TO MEXICO CITY

This morning we leave Queretaro for the drive back to Mexico City, making a much-needed stop along the way. After days of climbing pyramids, strolling city streets, and trying every kind of taco imaginable, we’ve earned a break – and Tolantongo Hot Springs is the perfect reward. We’ll sink into the warm, turquoise waters and hit the reset button before continuing on our journey. Overnight Mexico City.

DAY 8 / NOV 07 / TEOTIHUACAN & THE BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Today we will discover two of Mexico’s most iconic spiritual and cultural landmarks. We’ll begin at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the world’s most important shrine dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, and a site of devotion for millions of Catholics. The basilica can hold up to 10,000 worshippers, and its impressive architecture invites nearly as many selfies! We’ll learn about the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego, an Indigenous man whose divine encounter in 1531 put this site on a map.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to Teotihuacan, the ancient "City of the Gods", once a powerful center of Mesoamerican civilization whose influence stretched as far as present-day Guatemala. After exploring the Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Moon, the Bird-Butterfly Palace, and climbing the massive Pyramid of the Sun, we’ll have lunch and enjoy a taste of Mexican tradition and hospitality with live folk dance and music performances. Return to Mexico City for overnight.

DAY 9 / NOV 08 / DEPARTURE
Free time at leisure, before its time to say “¡Adiós!” to unforgettable Mexico, as we transfer to the airport for our return flight 19:40.

Level of difficulty: Easy - available for everyone.
Activities: Trekking, boating, sightseeing, cultural immersion,
optional horse riding.

Accommodation & meals: 3- and 4-star hotels, double sharing.
Single room available upon request for an extra cost. Meals excluded.

Cost: 7,990 AED excl. flights until SEP 28.
Past this date cost will change.

Día de los Muertos is one of the busiest times of the year in Mexico. We can only accept bookings made well in advance.