With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic being felt by businesses and agents all across the travel industry, there’s never been a more pressing need for the support provided by ABTA Lifeline. The pandemic is also causing ripples across vulnerable communities around the world, many who rely on tourism for income. So G Adventures, ABTA Lifeline and Kuoni have teamed up to launch the second G Trek For Good initiative, designed to raise much needed funds for local communities and agents in need both at home and further afield.
The trek will run prior to the 2021 ABTA Convention in Marrakech and will see a group of travel colleagues climb Mt Toubkal, supported by G Adventures, to raise funds to provide support to local communities and UK travel professionals.
Trip Details (subject to change)
Trek location: Morocco
Trek: Mt Toubkal
Operator: G Adventures
Dates of trek: September 2021
Number of fundraisers: 20
Proposed itinerary:
Day One:
Group to fly from London to Marrakech, arriving at midday. Group to be collected and transferred 1.45h to Imlil town. Short hike to Aremd (40 mins). Dinner at the auberge.
Day Two:
Full day trekking to Toubkal basecamp
Day Three:
Early morning summit trek followed by trek down and drive to Marrakech.
Arriving back into Marrakech and evening dinner, organised by G Adventures with the whole team.
Day Four:
Option for travellers to fly back in the morning to London or a day of activities in Marrakech organised by G Adventures with an overnight in Marrakech.
** Planeterra looking into the option for the group to visit a community tourism project/ tree planting
Day five:
Flight back to London
Fundraising
G Adventures will provide the climb at cost for all participants. Each trekker will be responsible for their own costs and fundraising. More details to follow.
ABTA LifeLine supports travel colleagues when they need it most. We know that as furlough unwinds, companies restructure and some sadly fail, there will be more demand for help. LifeLine will do what it can to help those suffering real financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.
The travel industry has the biggest potential for wealth distribution and, when done right, has the power to create lasting positive impact on local communities. Community tourism has been central to the G Adventures ethos over the past 30 years and G Trek For Good was launched to offer travel leaders across the UK industry the opportunity to raise money and give back to communities in destinations visited by travellers. The first G Trek For Good took place in November 2019, and raised over $70,000 CAD for at risk communities.