About Us - Who Are We?

If you have ever slept in the desert and woken to see a shooting star like a firework in the sky, then you’ll begin to know what Wind Sand and Stars is all about.

For over 16 years, we have been taking people to the desert, from businessmen to the homeless, from doctors to geologists, from schoolchildren to pensioners, from church groups to those seeking the holiday of a lifetime. We now operate around 50 unique trips a year, working with many organisations, taking visitors on guided exploratory journeys to show them true desert life. The trips combine camel safaris, pilgrimages to historical religious sites, mountain treks, charity projects, school journeys and much more.

We are a little bit different, which makes it hard to put us into words. We have successfully managed to open up the mysteries of the area to visitors whilst at the same time minimising the negative impact of mass tourism by exercising our belief in sustainable tourism. We offer adventure within a safe framework and offer an insight into a unique world. We are as sensitive to the needs of our clients as we are to the needs of the Bedouin with whom we work. We respect both equally, and act as a bridge between two cultures. We have built strong working relationships with the Bedouin tribes, who take us into their desert lands, offering us their warm hospitality and an insight into their traditional ways of life.

SCHOOLS, GAP YEAR, UNIVERSITY
We work with schools, supporting what they do in both educating and inspiring the young. It is touching to see the tangible benefits that communication between the Bedouin children and those from our schools bring to them. We also organise expeditions for young people at Colleges and Universities or on their Gap Year. These include environmental projects that benefit the local community and we also encourage your own research.

(see also 16-23/Gap)

CHARITIES
We work with many different charities, including the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Cancer Research. We offer 100km charity treks, unique charity projects and desert marathons.

(see also Charities)

PILGRIMAGES AND RETREATS
For church groups we organise pilgrimages, not only to the monasteries and known sites like Mount Sinai, but also to special places: quiet places for private contemplation. We also offer work-based retreats within the local Bedouin community.

(see also Church)

CORPORATE/MEDIA
Many corporate clients turn to us to organise for them a range of training modules, challenges, team-building exercises and assessment of group or individual performances.

We take oil companies on geological training exercises and film companies on location. We have the contacts to provide both the facilities and the permissions you will need.

(see also Corporate/Media)

DISADVANTAGED GROUPS
We take all kinds of people with special needs into the desert. The Bedouin have a special affinity with the deaf and hearing impaired, as 8% of Bedouin are deaf or hearing impaired and signing is a way of life for many Bedouin. We also have long standing projects with disadvantaged inner city young people and the Big Issue vendors.

(see also Disadvantaged Groups)

SPECIAL PROJECTS
We continue to run a number of ongoing projects in the Sinai, and those in the past have included medical projects to assess the growth rate and development of the Bedouin children, and plans to set up a medical clinic for the Bedouin. We run an annual dentistry project. We run environmental projects in conjunction with the St Catherine’s National Park and have worked on building loos on Mt Sinai and helping the Bedouin look after their gardens. We have worked on many irrigation projects (building dams, digging pools) to trap precious flood water, and we have provided books and painted schools making a brighter and more colourful educational environment for the Bedouin children.

(see also Special Projects)

INDIVIDUAL
We cater for all ages, interests and levels of fitness. For individuals we can take you hiking, camel-trekking, camping, nature-watching. You can go on soul-searching journeys or soul-destroying mountain hikes!

Journey with Wind Sand Stars for a unique and memorable adventure.