Our Expeditions
First and foremost, no two PPE expeditions are the same. Each trip is organized around a goal or objective. This can be based on historical research or by reading previous travel accounts to identify areas or regions that few have ever explored.
As expeditions take shape, crewmembers are assigned responsibilities such as QM (responsible for stores), navigation, signals, fitters (mechanics), messing (organizing group meals and bulk food stores), videography and other important functions.
Crews
PPE crews are made up of a vehicle owner/driver and a co-driver. We discourage solo drivers as the long hours in transit from Europe can be difficult and once in the desert, an extra set of hands when stuck in the sand helps significantly. Also, crews are assigned group duties like cooking meals, running resupply trips and other support functions that can be a challenge for solo travellers. Drivers can choose their own co-drivers or ask for recommendations from our list of previous co-drivers.
Costs
As part of the planning process, we develop a per-vehicle budget for each expedition that includes ferries, fuel, hotels, insurance and other typical costs. Each crew is also required to make a contribution to bulk (shared) food and for our local support team that handles storage of gear and assistance when we have breakdowns or other admin issue in-country. We try to identify ferries, hotels and other bookings at an early stage to allow everyone to get a good deal with their bookings.
More information
For more information or to sign up for an expedition, send us an email at contact@popskis-private-expeditions.com
Upcoming Expeditions
Morocco Desert Exploration
November 2024
The PPE plans to take a break from Tunisia and will head to Morocco in 2024. A good chance to give our crews experience with a different type of desert terrain. Eastern and Southern Morocco feature high desert plains, rocky steep gorges, twisting canyons and some wild sand dunes. No WWII history this time, but still lots of history to be discovered from old French Foreign Legion outposts to ancient rock art.
Photo by Steph Zito, 2018 Expedition
Exploration
Crews will explore in high desert of the Rekkam Plateau before descending into the Draa River Valley and making their way westwards towards the Atlantic. Terrain and conditions will change daily and it will test crews and vehicles.
Conduct
The expedition will involve mostly desert camping with the occasional rest day at established camps offering a chance to maintain vehicles and get ourselves refreshed before pushing on. We will be conducting expedition challenges along the way to help prepare crews for future expeditions in remoter areas of the Sahara.
Duration
The expedition will last approximately 25 days from departing UK to return, including two weeks in the desert.
Costs:
Costs for expeditions are borne by the vehicle crews. As we plan each expedition we develop a per-vehicle budget including ferries, hotels/camp grounds during transit to and from UK, fuel, support costs, warehouse storage and miscellaneous costs. On average, the cost per vehicle works out to £3500-£4000 per trip. Note, co-divers are expected to contribute and extra £500 to the prep and post-trip maintenance costs for the vehicle the ride in.
Crews/Vehicles
The Morocco Expedition will include both PPE Class 1 and Class 2 vehicle. Class 1 being our typical stripped-down desert rigs and Class 2 being well equipped rigs that do not meet these criteria. Crew choices are the responsibility of the vehicle owners but we maintain a list of available co-drivers for those looking to fill and empty seat.
For more information, email us.
Contact Us: contact@popskis-private-expeditions.com
Previous Expeditions
The Left Flank Expedition
Left Flank Expedition
In 2023 PPE went in search of more information and artifacts from the NZ Divison’s left flank of the German defences on the Mareth Line towards the end of the desert war. Crossing the northern edge of the Grand Erg sand sea we pushed west towards the coastal mountain range and the famous Wilder’s Gap, discovered by Captain Nick Wilder’s T2 LRDG patrol. Things didn’t go exactly as planned but a great expedition nonetheless. We tried out navigating with reproduction Bagnold Sun Compasses, pushed deeper into the massive dunes of the sand sea than previously and discovered tank tracks still lying undisturbed in the desert after 80 years.
Lost Patrol Searches
In 2019 and 2022 PPE conducted two expeditions into southern Tunisia searching for the location of the ‘lost’ LRDG and PPA WWII patrol ambush site. The expeditions were a success and the location identified, artifacts catalogued and placed in a cairn on site.
Southern Morocco
Exploration of small tracks across the Atlas mountains and down into the southern deserts of the Rekkam and the Draa Valley.
Videos of Previous Expeditions
Search for the Lost Patrol
In 2019, after a significant amount of research, set off in search of a lost patrol of WWII special forces vehicles in the dunes of one of the great Saharan sand seas. Follow this three part adventure.
2018 PPE Short
A short highlights video of a 2018 trip to the remote Rekkam Plateau in South Eastern Morocco.