Reach new heights

Summits & climbs

We are Action Challenge

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Since 1999 we’ve organised inspirational challenge events & adventures in the UK and Worldwide. We run the successful Ultra Challenge Series here in the UK, and take over 1,000 people around the world on longer challenges every year. Our Group Challenges offer a fun, social and safe way to take on a new adventure.  Join on your own, or with some friends, and take on a challenge with a group of like-minded adventurers. You’ll have full support from our UK group leaders and local crew, plus a handy challenge app with all the info you need.

The peak of adventure

Experienced trekkers and first timers alike can push themselves further on one of our Summit Challenges. From Kilimanjaro to Cotopaxi, we have a range of mountain summit climbs that will allow you to push yourself further (and higher!). It’s a fun, social and safe way to take on a big challenge.

 We include full support on all summit challenges, from experienced UK mountain leaders, medics, and energetic local crew & guides on hand to support you every step of the way. 

Our packages include all flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, and permits. We also offer discounted kit hire for any technical gear needed to complete the climb – and we provide full details on exactly what you need!

Check out our range of summit challenges below.

The Group Experience

We’ve been delivering mountain challenges for over 20 years, from established favourites such as Kilimanjaro, to newer itineraries such as Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes! It’s the best way to take on a big peak – supported by our expert crew. The camaraderie, support & hospitality make it an unforgettable adventure.

Join a Group on your own, or with a few friends, and then head out with a bunch of up to 30 like-minded adventurers to explore some amazing scenery and culture up close. Our Groups cater for all paces, ages & experience levels – so as long as you’re up for a challenge – join us!

Find your next adventure...

KILIMANJARO CHALLENGE

A Kilimanjaro climb is a trip of a lifetime – so make sure you go with the best! We offer a range of different routes and formats, from the “short & sharp” 10 day Machame, to the 12-day Deluxe Northern Circuit. With a better than 95% success rate, why climb with anyone else?

ECUADOR VOLCANOES

Take on Ecuador’s “avenue of the volcanoes”, a breathtaking valley, home to some of the world’s tallest active volcanoes. You will summit 5 volcanic peaks, including 2 active ones, on this varied and exciting itinerary. Cold weather, steep glacial ascents and the thin air of high altitude all add to the challenge!

We fly to Quito, Ecuador and enjoy a meal in our favourite restaurant that evening before we settle in for a good sleep. On day 2 we take things easy to acclimatise to the rarefied atmosphere and to recover from the long journey. We explore Quito’s famous Colonial Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with churches, lively plazas and museums. In the afternoon, we’ll head to Mitad del Mundo where the equatorial line passes, dividing the Earth in 2 hemispheres, before visiting the famous Inti-nan museum.

Meals: D on Day 1, BLD on Day 2  Accom: Hotel both days

We head to our trailhead in the foothills of Mt. Pasochoa, a trek that offers us our best chance to see the Andean Condor. One of the best treks acclimatisation getting us all prepared for a Cotopaxi summit. From the top there are some of the most beautiful vistas in the Central Andes and on a clear day we can see Cotopaxi.

Meals: BLD Accom: Hacienda

Ruminahui is a long-extinct volcano in the Cotopaxi National Park. It has 3 separate peaks, although they are not considered separate mountains, unlike the Illinizas. This climb is perfect for breath-taking views of the peaks of Elz Corazon, Illinizas and of course the ever present Cotopaxi.

Meals: BLD Accom: Hacienda

Today we stick at lower elevations, with a challenging but fun circuit around the volcanic crater of the Quilotoa Lagoon. We have the option to climb to highest point of the crater at 3900m, or descend to the water for a day of kayaking.

Meals: BLD Accom: Hacienda

Our height gain today starts getting serious with the ascent to Illinizas North, an essential preparation for our later summit. It’s a steep climb with some minor scrambling, though breath-taking scenery reaching the summit at over 5,000m!

Meals: BLD Accom: Hacienda

We transfer to Cotopaxi and make the 1 hour walk to the Jose Rivas Hut at 4,900m. From here, we take our technical kit to the lower slopes of the glacier, for a day of skills training. We will learn how to traverse the glacier on crampons, move as part of a rope team, and how to “self-arrest” using an ice axe. This is a fun day, that is essential preparation!

Meals: BLD Accom: Hacienda

After a final kit check, we set off for the mountain hut on Cayambe. After arriving, we will relax before meeting our summit guides. There will be a briefing over an early dinner, before we head to bed to get some sleep before starting our summit night climb.

Meals: BLD Accom: Hut

We start with a short scramble to reach the edge of the Laguna Verde at 4,700m, before reaching the glacier edge. Here we don crampons & rope up with our team mates for the summit. In the dark, we can see the lights of Cayambe town below us, and a sea of stars above. It’s a steep climb from here to the summit, so we will put everything we learned yesterday to the test. As we approach the summit, the sun will rise, offering up breathtaking views of the rolling white slopes below and summit above. After a final push to the summit, we savour the moment, before a 2 hour descent to the hut, where vehicles await to transfer us back to Quito & our celebration dinner!

BLD Accom: Hotel

We will transfer to the airport for our flight home to the UK.

MERA PEAK CLIMB

This classic Himalayan ascent through remote valleys, over high passes, to the breathtaking summit of Mera Peak at 6461m. Over 15 days of trekking you will see the mighty peaks of the Himalayas, experience the incredible Sherpa culture, and finish with a traditional Nepali celebration in Kathmandu.

Depart on our flight to Kathmandu Airport. Once arrived in Kathmandu airport on day 2 we transfer by coach to our comfortable Hotel. On arrival we have a briefing from our guides and a last check over our kit.

Early morning of Day 3 we head again to the airport, this time to take our short and scenic flight into Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu Valley. This is the start of the 15 days trekking towards our ultimate goal- the summit of Mera Peak. We trek past small communities and villages, crossing high wire bridges over the raging river, surrounded by towering peaks. By day 5 we arrive in Najing Dingma, in the Hinku valley. Already, far in the distance, Mera will be visible if conditions are clear.

Meals: All meals starting from dinner on day 2

Accom: Hotels and Teahouses

Depart on our flight to Kathmandu Airport. Once arrived in Kathmandu airport on day 2 we transfer by coach to our comfortable Hotel. On arrival we have a briefing from our guides and a last check over our kit.

Early morning of Day 3 we head again to the airport, this time to take our short and scenic flight into Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu Valley. This is the start of the 15 days trekking towards our ultimate goal- the summit of Mera Peak. We trek past small communities and villages, crossing high wire bridges over the raging river, surrounded by towering peaks. By day 5 we arrive in Najing Dingma, in the Hinku valley. Already, far in the distance, Mera will be visible if conditions are clear.

Meals: All meals starting from dinner on day 2

Accom: Hotels and Teahouses

Leaving Najing Dingma we head further up the Hinku Valley towards Khare, the small settlement beneath the slopes of Mera Peak. The winding trails are very quiet, passing through small hamlets, alongside raging rivers with high peaks towering above and even past holy shrines and lakes of spiritual significance. Each night we’ll stay in a local teahouse, and experience the famous Sherpa Hospitality.

Meals: BLD  Accom: Teahouses

Days 12 and 13 are spent heading towards Base Camp and onwards to High Camp. It’s on these days that we learn and fine tune our crampon and ice axe skills in preparation for the summit push. Upon arriving at the Mera La and High Camp the views really open up; with Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and Chamlang to the East, Kantega and Cho Oyu to the West and Everest rising up to the north.

On day 14 we start the extremely long summit attempt with a hot cup of tea at around 2am, before heading out with our ice axes and crampons ready. The Mera Peak glacier is like an ice cap and proves an exhilarating summit day. The going is slow with the altitude as you traverse the wide, open glacier. We then reach a snow ridge before the slope steepens just before dawn and the peak comes into view. At the base of the summit, we may attach to a fixed rope depending on conditions. The summit is only a few metres away, we make the final ascent and take in an unforgettable moment. We have a panorama across the Himalayan peaks, which can only be seen from this peak with 5 of the 6 highest peaks visible. We spend a short time taking it all in, before descending down to our base camp at Khare around late afternoon where we celebrate and all sleep well at lower altitude.

Meals: BLD  Accom: Tents

Three long trekking days take us back down towards Lukla. It’s tough going, but the breath taking views and cultural sights take your mind off the challenge. The thicker air of lower altitudes is very welcome, but the Zatrwa La Pass give us one more spectacular challenge before arrival to the comforts (and bakeries) of Lukla! 

Meals: BLD  Accom: Teahouses

The adventure isn’t over yet, as we again take the short flight back to Kathmandu, where we stay in our comfortable hotel. Any down time can be spent exploring this incredible bustling city, full of history, culture, great shopping and incredible foods. The evening of day 18 is set aside for out traditional Nepali celebration meal in the Thamel district of the old city. Day 19 may, in the event of bad weather earlier in the trip, be absorbed as a contingency day, otherwise you’re free to explore the city further with a number of great things to do and see. We depart on our flight back to the UK on Day 20.

Meals: BLD day 18, B only day 19 & 20 Accom: Hotel/flight

CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL

An action packed group challenge to the summit of North Africa’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal at 4,167m. Take in the magnificent panoramic views and breathe the rarefied mountain air. With some tough trekking, Berber hospitality, camaraderie, expert guides, and a Marrakech celebration – it’s an unforgettable Moroccan adventure!

We meet the group and Action Challenge guides at our hotel in central Marrakech. This evening we meet with our local guides who give us a detailed briefing on the challenge ahead.  

Meals: L & D           Accom: Hotel

We wake early for breakfast and transfer (1.5 hours) across the Haouz Plain to the Atlas Mountains where we start our trek from the village of Imlil. Here we start our ascent towards the mighty Mount Toubkal. Leaving the river below, we climb gradually until reaching the tiny settlement of Chamharouch at (2,310 m) where we stop for lunch. We continue to climb during the afternoon until we reach the base of Mount Toubkal where the surrounding environment is barren and rocky. We arrive at the Neltner refuge to a welcoming cup of mint tea and excellent Berber hospitality.

Meals: B,L,D   Accom: Camping

A long but exhilarating day of trekking through majestic scenery awaits. After an early start we begin to climb. Our guides will lead us through the hidden valleys and up to the rarified atmosphere on the higher reaches of Mount Toubkal. We reach the summit before midday and are rewarded with truly magnificent views over the surrounding Atlas Mountains. We eat a well-deserved lunch before spending the afternoon descending back down to our camp at the Neltner refuge. Tonight we sleep well after an exhausting day.

Meals: B,L,D   Accom: Camping

Today, after breakfast we start our final descent out of the Atlas Mountains and back to the village of Imlil where we meet our transfer vehicles that will take us back to Marrakech. We have free time to explore this fascinating city, to visit the souks and try your hand at haggling for leather bags and enjoy the bustling Djemaa el-Fna square, alive with food stalls, musicians and snake charmers. Alternatively, a visit to the famous historical site of Medersa Ben Youssef or the Koutoubia Minaret will give you a glimpse of the stunning Islamic architecture found in Morocco. In the evening we have a special congratulatory meal at a restaurant where the celebrations will go on well into the night!

Meals: B,L,D   Accom: Hotel

We have our final breakfast in Marrakech.

Our Feedback

Don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some our past summit challengers have to say:

"Action Challenge have a comprehensive, well organised & slick operation & I wouldn’t hesitate recommending them to anyone who was considering taking on Mt Kilimanjaro." - Robert, Kilimanjaro 2023
"Fantastic. Great local team with excellent knowledge and experience. Amazing UK leader and medic. One of the most amazing experiences of my life" - Lindsay, Ecuador 2023
"The camaraderie among strangers was heart warming & the scenery was stunning. A committed and well organised team." - Bhavik, Mera Peak 2022
"Beautiful country, happy, friendly people and stunning scenery. A well organised challenge. It pushes boundaries with the highest of safety standards. " - Andy, Ecuador 2023
"This was an amazing experience and one which has certainly left a lasting impression for all the right reasons. Amazing leadership from start to finish. Definitely recommend!" - Thomas, Kilimanjaro 2023
"The Champagne moment was the summit of Mount Toubkal, reached after a demanding one-and-a-half day trek. The views from the top are immense & a real sense of achievement." - Angus, Mount Toubkal 2023

Get in Touch

Reach out if you’ve a question – or if your company or charity might like to work with us – and a member of our team will get back to you.

Tel: 0207 609 6695

Mon – Fri 09:00 – 17:00

Sat – Sun Closed