WADI SHAWKA

OVERVIEW

Many big mountain summit pushes begin while the rest of the world is still sleeping.

You prepare your equipment, switch on your headlamp and begin moving through the darkness. Your world becomes the few metres of trail illuminated in front of you. You find your rhythm, manage your energy and keep moving toward a summit you cannot yet see.

The MounTurtle Mini Summit Simulation brings a small taste of that experience to the UAE.

Over approximately three hours, we’ll hike through the mountain terrain of Wadi Shawka after dark, learning how to move confidently with a headlamp, manage our pace and energy, and experience how different the mountains feel at night.

But you don’t need to be preparing for a major mountain to join us.

If you’ve never hiked at night and simply want to try something new, this experience is for you too.

New to night hiking? Come experience it.
Dreaming of a bigger summit? Come simulate it.

THE EXPERIENCE

HIKE AFTER DARK

As daylight disappears, the mountain changes.

Our field of vision becomes smaller. We become more aware of where we place our feet, how we breathe, the sounds around us and the rhythm of our movement.

With our headlamps on, we’ll move together through Wadi Shawka and experience the trail in a completely different way.

With the moon approaching full, we’ll also have the opportunity to experience the mountains beneath the light of the October moon.

MINI SUMMIT SIMULATION

Night movement is an important part of many major mountain climbs.

On mountains such as Kilimanjaro and Elbrus, and on many objectives in the Alps, summit pushes often begin during the night or very early in the morning.

The MounTurtle Mini Summit Simulation introduces you to some of the habits and challenges involved in these summit pushes, including:

• Moving confidently with a headlamp
• Finding a steady and sustainable hiking rhythm
• Managing your energy over time
• Hydrating and eating while on the move
• Becoming familiar with your equipment in darkness
• Staying focused when visibility is limited
• Continuing step by step when you cannot yet see your destination

This is not technical mountaineering training, and it is not a race.

It is an introduction to the physical and mental experience of moving through the mountains at night.

WHO IS IT FOR?

This experience is designed for newcomers, hikers and future mountaineers.

You might be joining because this is your first night hike and you’d like to experience it in a guided environment.

You might already hike regularly and want to experience the mountains differently.

Or you might be thinking about Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, the Alps or another bigger mountain objective and want to start preparing for what a summit night can feel like.

You don’t need previous night-hiking or mountaineering experience.

Minimum age: 16 years.

You should be comfortable hiking for approximately three hours over uneven mountain terrain.

YOUR MOUNTAIN LEADER

Dr. Joyce Azzam

Everest & Seven Summits Mountaineer | Founder of MounTurtle Academy

Dr. Joyce Azzam became the first Lebanese woman to summit Mount Everest and complete the Seven Summits, climbing the highest mountain on every continent.

Her journey has included countless hours moving through darkness during summit pushes on some of the world’s biggest mountains, including Everest, Denali and Mount Vinson in Antarctica.

Through MounTurtle Academy, Joyce brings that experience into accessible mountain preparation, helping people build the fitness, knowledge, confidence and mindset they need to take on bigger adventures.

DATE & DETAILS

Saturday, 24 October 2026

Location: Wadi Shawka, Ras Al Khaimah
Meet: 7:00 PM
Hiking time: Approximately 3 hours
Expected return to Dubai: Around 11:00 PM

Please arrive on time so we can meet as a group, check our equipment and have a short mountain briefing before starting.

The exact meeting point, weather conditions and final trail information will be shared with registered participants before the hike.

HIKING LEVEL

Moderate | No Night-Hiking Experience Required

You don’t need to be a mountaineer to join.

Participants should be comfortable hiking for approximately three hours, including rocky and uneven mountain terrain.

We will move together at a steady and manageable pace, with breaks where needed.

At MounTurtle, this isn’t about being the fastest person on the trail.

Part of becoming mountain ready is learning to find a pace you can sustain and keep moving.

WHAT TO BRING

A headlamp is mandatory for this experience, even with the moonlight.

Please bring:

• Headlamp with sufficient battery
• Spare batteries or backup light where applicable
• 2–3 litres of water
• Small hiking backpack
• Hiking or trail shoes with good grip
• Comfortable hiking or sports clothing
• Light layer for later in the evening
• Your favourite hiking snack or energy food
• Emirates ID
• Any personal medication you may need

Registered participants will receive a final weather and equipment update before the hike.

DATE & COST

Saturday, 24 October 2026

AED 290 per person

Minimum age: 16 years
Limited spots
Prior registration required

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Not sure whether this is the right experience for you?

TALK TO JOYCE – BOOK A 15-MINUTE CALL

WHY HIKE WITH MOUNTURTLE?

At MounTurtle Academy, we believe you don’t need to wait until you’ve booked a major expedition to start becoming mountain ready.

Preparation begins with small experiences.

Learning how your body responds to an uphill trail. Discovering your pace. Testing your equipment. Hiking in darkness. Learning when to eat and drink. Understanding how your mind reacts when something feels unfamiliar.

Then doing it again.

Each experience builds confidence for the next one.

For some, the Wadi Shawka Full Moon Night Hike will simply be a memorable night in the mountains.

For others, it may be the first step toward a much bigger summit.

Slowly is Surely. 🐢