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CHOOSE TO FUNDRAISE FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND EARN UP TO A £2500 REFUND ON YOUR ENTRY FEE. FIND OUT MORE.

OUR ROUTE IS FOCUSSED ON THE STUNNING WAITIUKUBULI NATIONAL TRAIL WHICH SNAKES ITS WAY UP AND DOWN THE ISLAND.

Dominica is known as the Caribbean’s nature island: Packing stunning coastline, lush vegetation, sparkling-clear streams and waterfalls, hot springs and a rugged interior full of jungle mountains, this really is a volcanic island paradise rising dramatically out of the warm Caribbean Sea.

$573.70

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*price per month, depending on departure date, click here for more info on pricing

26 JUNE - 5 JULY / 2025

EVENT DATES:

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DISTANCE: 

80 MILES (125 KM) ON FOOT
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SLEEP STYLE: 

HOTEL AND CAMPING
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LOCATION: 

DOMINICA, CARIBBEAN
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DURATION: 

10 DAYS /
9 NIGHTS

DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?

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You should be a confident hiker with some experience of hilly, technical terrain.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

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ACCOMMODATION

9 nights accommodation / hotel and  camping.

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TRANSFERS

Airport transfers included.

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SAFETY

Professional local and UK safety  staff, medics, drivers, route safety staff and Rat Race experts on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.

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ALL MEALS

All meals included as standard, at hotels and in camp, cooked up by our expert catering crew

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EXTRAS

High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants.

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GUIDES AND SUPPORT

Professional support vehicles, jungle guides, safety staff, medical and welfare.

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TRANSFER POLICY

Flexible transfer policy up to 12 weeks before your departure date.

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YOUR TRIP LEADER:
Abbi

Your leader for this trip is Abbi
 she's our highly experienced Expeditions Manager with more than 10 years of exploring under her belt. 

RAISE £5000 AND GET UP TO £2500 REFUNDED

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MORE INFORMATION:

Dominica is known as the Caribbean’s nature island: Packing stunning coastline, lush vegetation, sparkling-clear streams and waterfalls, hot springs and a rugged interior full of jungle mountains, this really is a volcanic island paradise rising dramatically out of the warm Caribbean Sea.

The event will use the WNT extensively and will provide a stunning route for those looking to stretch their legs either as walkers or runners in this amazing new tropical adventure. Do not be fooled by what looks like relatively short distances to some, the humidity and elevation may catch your legs off-guard if you don’t pace yourselves. The jungle is renowned for being some of the toughest terrain for hiking; it’s both muddy and steep. Multiple sections of the route have ropes to hold – these are there to assist you up and down the trail. In addition to the WNT the route will encompass some short road sections, additional bespoke routings and off the beaten track sections to create a route that embodies the island culture. One other unique thing about Dominica: There are no poisonous animals. So you can enjoy the wonders of the tropical rainforest, with no nasties..! As Dominica is a Nature island it is famous for wildlife and creatures in the jungle, even though they are not nasty we are still on their home turf.

After collections and transfers from Melville Hall International airport, plus a Registration and pre-challenge preparation day, our journey will commence at the dramatic southern tip of Dominica at Scott’s Head. The route then makes its way through jungle, over mountains, through tropical farmland and into coastal regions once populated by runaway slaves. It is a truly swashbuckling route – rough underfoot, with plenty of elevation but all the time with classic Rat Race support at hand to allow you to get the job done. We will use a variety of local accommodation, including superb hotels, a cosy lodge and B and Bs, plus a night camping in the Kalinago cultural village. At journey’s end we will congregate at a wonderful waterside spot in Portsmouth for a final celebration dinner and one last night together on this magical island.

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DAY FOUR

Estimated time on your feet: 4-6 hours

Another bright and early start, fresh Caribbean breakfast and then onto the trail for another 13km, giving you a gradual ascent to get you right into the rugged heart of the island. Starting the day at Bellevue Choplin we will meander towards Wotten Waven and Trafalgar Falls. Today you will have the opportunity for some river crossings within the jungle interspersed with friendly villages and stunning views.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel - twin shared basis
MEALS: Breakfast, pit stops and dinner provided.

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DAY FIVE

Estimated time on your feet: 4-6 hours

You will start the day with a steep ascent of a ridgeline. This ridge provides one of the most stunning views of the whole event as you witness the grandeur of Trafalgar Falls. You will then enjoy the gradual descent towards our end point at the Pont Casse The last few hundred metres testing our nerve with some further rope sections. Rest assured we will be there to support you every step of the way. You will cover 20.2km in total. We will be camping at Barana Aute tonight, this is the cultural village of the Kalinago tribe on the east side of the island. A real treat awaits with home-cooked food in this most exotic of locations, you will be able to relax in the plunge pools of the local waterfall whilst looking out towards the ocean as the sunsets.

ACCOMMODATION: Camping – shared basis. The lodge is available as a communal and social area throughout the evening stay.
MEALS: Breakfast, Pit Stops and dinner provided.

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DAY SIX

Estimated time on your feet: 6-8 hours

After a restful night sleeping with the cacophony of jungle sounds and the distant rumbling of the waves. You will be greeted with fresh coffee and a hearty breakfast. Today see a fast a flowing day compared to yesterday with 21.6km to cover. We will run down the Layou valley using mainly minor roads and path today, given us some well earnt down hill before hitting the final up of the day to finish on a high, views of the west coast and the town of Salisbury.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.
MEALS: Breakfast, pit stops and dinner provided.

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DAY SEVEN

Estimated time on your feet: 7-9 hours

 

Another adventurous day of 17.1km! Today snakes through the jungle linking together farmer settlements and off the beaten track roads to eventually spit you back out onto the WNT heading towards Syndicate Trail Centre to finish.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.**
MEALS: Breakfast, pit stops and dinner provided.

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DAY EIGHT

Estimated time on your feet: 7-9 hours

 

Today covers 18.7km and starts at the Syndicate Trail Centre, turning North back into the jungle terrain. Even though back in the dense jungle the first 8km of this route is quick, this will be a good chance to shake out the legs before heading into a more remote and steep section of the jungle and through ancient estate lands. We will start heading towards the lower slopes of the west coast and the area around Portsmouth. At the end of the stage you will be whisked away to another lovely hotel setting to wash away the sand from the previous night’s beach-camp.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.**
MEALS: Breakfast, pit stops and dinner provided.

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DAY NINE

Estimated time on your feet: 3-5 hours

 

Your final day on the trail will bring you to Capuchin (Cape Melville) at the very northern tip of the island, covering 14.5km. After high fives all round, a good Caribbean welcome and a beer you will be transported back to our cosy hotel in Portsmouth for a celebration dinner and drinks.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.**
MEALS: Breakfast, pit stops and dinner provided.

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DAY TEN

 

After a final breakfast together, we will transfer you back to Melville Hall International airport, or you may choose to say your goodbyes to the group and spend some more time on this wonderful island paradise.

ACCOMMODATION: NA
MEALS: Breakfast provided.

** Not all hotels will have the capacity for a single supplement.

DAY ONE: ARRIVE 

Arrive at Melville Hall International Airport. Transfers will be arranged from the airport to our first accommodation.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.**.
MEALS: Dinner provided. 

DAY TWO: REGISTRATION DAY

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.**
MEALS: Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.

DAY THREE: TIP TO TOE BEGINS

Estimated time on your feet: 7-9 hours

 

We will make our way the short distance to Scott’s Head at the very bottom of the island. You will cover 18.9km of stunning jungle today as your first taste of the amazing WNT trail, finishing the day at Bellevue Choplin. Today you’ll take in some of the best scenery the jungle has to officer including enormous river beds, hot springs and remote villages. Today is the first taste of the adventure; the first section of the day is steep and will give you an introduction to the jungle ropes that assist you under the canopy. Once you have finished the stage, you will be transported back the hotel in which you have been staying for one final night here before our camping adventure tomorrow night as our journey continues north the following day.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel – twin shared basis. Doubles are available on request (no surcharge). Single supplements are available with surcharge applied.**
MEALS: Breakfast, pit stops and dinner provided.

ACCOMMODATION

 

Our accommodation will be a real highlight of the event. We will use a base hotel at the start of our journey, spending 3 nights at the same location before moving on as our route moves further North. We are then into the tropical interior of the island, up high in the hills and benefitting from lush views and cool air. We camp at the wonderful Barana Aute an our exciting ‘night in the cultural village’ will see you surrendering yourself to sleep with the sounds of the jungle and ocean waves on our night of camping, before we will head back to good quality facilities at our hotel in Salisbury for two nights and then the final hotel in Portsmouth, at which we will spend another 2 nights.

Where we use hotels, accommodation is typically always offered on a twin room basis, or doubles on request and subject to availability. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with another participant of the same sex in a twin room. Please note that due to the limited accommodation on the island on very rare occasions there maybe triple or family rooms used. Single supplements may be available for a surcharge on the hotel nights. Please enquire.

Where we are using other accommodation, rooming will be shared and it will vary depending on exact group and venue configuration.

On the camping nights, you will all use your own sleeping equipment and enjoy an exciting night of fresh air, big skies and jungle sights and sounds. You may get the odd insect bite but remember, there’s no nasties here!

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MEALS

BREAKFAST

This will typically be served in your accommodation and will consist of typical local choices in line with he hotel’s offerings. Expect an abundance of local tropical fruit and other fresh goodies.

We will always endeavour to provide vegetarian, GF and Vegan choices at meal-times.

DINNER

We will normally eat at the hotel or accommodation that we are using. We will use some local restaurants, too. Where we provide meals, these will be hearty and of good quality. This may be a set menu, buffet or a al carte depending on the setting. In all cases you will pay for your own drinks – although the first round is most definitely on us on the final night to toast a job well done!

PIT STOPS

During the challenge you will have access to our famously well-stocked Pit Stops multiple times throughout the journey. On all stages, these will typically be set-up from our snowmobile team at set spots on the route. You will carry your own supplies, including a flask of hot drink, in a day bag also. This ensures you are always self-sufficient with food and fluids.

Pit stops will typically have a minimum of the following available:

Water – Ensure you leave with water bottles and bladders filled so you have enough to get you to the next Pit Stop.
Sports Food Bars – flapjack or similar oat-type bars.
Salty snacks – such as crisps and peanuts.
Savoury treats – We will feature sandwiches, savoury pastries and other goodies at selected pit stops, around lunchtime.
A fruit option – Either oranges or bananas and always looking to feature some fresh local tropical fruit too.
Sweets – such as Haribo and Skittles.
A variety of sandwiches, pastries or cakes.

We will always endeavour to have good quality and filling local options lined up, so you can savour the flavour of Dominica as you make your way through her lush interior.

Our Pit Stops are there to help supplement any personal sports nutrition plan you may have. If you have any special dietary requirements then please plan for this and pack your kit accordingly. Rat Race aim to offer Pit Stop snacks that are tasty and functional for as broad a mix of needs as possible. We have options available that are suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets and availability of this will depend on demand. If peanuts are served these will be in individual portioned bags to reduce the chance of contamination but Rat Race cannot guarantee that the food does not contain contamination from allergens such as nuts or gluten in its preparation or serving.

Please make sure you sanitise your hands prior to eating any food. Please, please, please take care with your trash and help us in our aim of leaving these incredible islands tidier than we find them. This is even more critical in this environment, with any lost trash instantly becoming a choking hazard for the marine life we are here to admire. 

The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the uncertain becomes certain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of a number of reasons, we cannot do so and we ned to wheel put Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But it is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons and we must always reserve the right to do so. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you in good time (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end!

Click ‘Buy Event Voucher’ and go through the sign-up process, you’ll then be issued with an event voucher which will automatically reserve you a place in the event you have chosen.

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure. If you wish to participate as a family group or with a responsible adult and you are 16+, we will consider applications on an individual basis. Please contact us if this is the case.

Getting to the start line is important and we are there to help you as best we can. However, if you feel on reflection that it is just not your time yet, we do have a transfer system that you can use to transfer out, receive Rat Race credit and come back again next year or do something else. Credit is typically valid for 12 months and there is a fee to be paid for transferring out in this way. We want to be really clear that this option is there for you if you need it, but it does have a deadline. View our full terms and conditions here.

The latest kit list will be sent to you before the event within the Essential Event Information Document.

Of course. If you run for Children with Cancer UK and raise the target amount for this event per person, we will refund your entry fee up to the amount of £2500. You are of course more than welcome to fundraise for any cause close to your heart. 

Yes, you can. We welcome support on almost all of our events and if you do decide you want to come and work with us, we will make sure we look after you. Click here to find out more about volunteering for Rat Race.

We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

Yes. You need a decent travel policy covering you for general travel and which covers participation in outdoor sports. You will also need what is called an Evacuation Insurance Policy, which is for if we need to send you back to the closest city for urgent medical attention via a helicopter or similar. We also recommend you have this in place as soon as you enter this event and that if you book flights, we highly recommend booking a flexible option for any last-minute changes you might need to make or to ensure you have maximum flexibility if you cannot attend for any reason.

Travel insurance is compulsory for our events, so please make sure your insurance policy covers the activities you will be participating in. There are a number of specialist providers available including Mann Broadbent.

Once you’ve signed up, you will receive a confirmation email. After that, you will be kept in the loop closer to the event when we will send out our Essential Event Information approximately 12 weeks ahead of the event, detailing the full itinerary, what you need to bring and other important information relating to the specific event you have signed up for. We will also host webinars which you will be invited to (again, closer to the event), where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and go through your kit. There will be a final email one month ahead of the event, just to check you’ve completed all the important forms and are ready for the event ahead. If you have chosen to pay in instalments, we will also get in touch with you if any of your payments have been missed.

Rat Race have been audited and accredited to the prestigious BS8848 expedition safety standard. We have firm emergency protocols and response systems in place whilst out on our adventures. Our main priority above all else is to keep you and our staff safe. Before we leave for each trip a comprehensive in-country risk and threat assessment has been conducted by the Head of Expeditions. All protocols are put in place relating to those assessments. We make sure that the staff involved have the highest level of first aid training; a higher level of medical cover is also put in place if needed; all instructors have qualifications and/ or competencies to match the adventure we will undertake. In the event of an emergency, Rat Race staff and appointed contractors have comprehensive knowledge of procedures which will rapidly be put in place. If needed, our staff will provide first aid and then further medical assistance and evacuation if needed in line with a published Medical Procedures Plan. We have medical back-up and Clinical Directorship provided by a specialist events medical company and we have further emergency response support services provided by competent contracted partner. All our cover is available 24/7 while operations are underway. We use our knowledge and emergency procedures to provide the best possible care in our often remote and austere environments. Before leaving on a trip, we will advise on the insurance cover you are required to have in place for the trip; we will ask for a copy of these insurance details before the departure date.

Race entry includes a glorious finishers medal and bespoke event Rat Race tee. We will request your tshirt size and this will be the size you will be given at Registration.

The short answer is no. The price for this event is for everything outlined on the website and it is very difficult for us to split this out. Our accommodation is based on group rates and is on a shared basis. All of our event logistics, support and organisation has been designed to have all the participants in the same locations to allow transfers, briefings etc to run smoothly and to let you bond with your fellow #ratracers! You are welcome to arrange your own accommodation if you wish but this will not result in a reduction in the event fee from us, you will also then be responsible for ensuring you are at our meeting points at the arranged time and we will not be able to transport you to and from your own accommodation, you will need to be able to do this independently.

No problem. Where we use hotels, rooms are offered on a twin / shared basis. If you wish to share with a fellow participant, you will be asked to add this information to your event participation from which we will issue you with approximately 12 weeks ahead of the event.

Unfortunately for this style of event, we cannot accommodate any supporters.

100% yes. We have designed this challenge so that you may travel at your own pace on the foot stages. See below for our notes on route-finding and guidance. There will also be some cut-offs (as we have to have some back-stops to the days for your own welfare and for the welfare of our crew). But in the true Rat Race tradition these will be very generous and we will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out. Of course, we will always look to give you early starts to allow the very best possible window for route completion (and to benefit from the cool of the early day). But, if you need us and if you need to abandon the route for whatever reason, we are there for you. The absolute key is that you enjoy this amazing journey across the length of Dominica; and that you do so within your own limits.

We want you to concentrate on the views and the hard work of putting one foot in front of the other. So we don’t want you to be staring at maps or navigational aids any more than you have to. The WNT trail is well defined in many places (and not so well-defined in a small number of specific locations). There are also existing marker posts. We will look to augment those markers with our own signage at some trail junctions where we feel they may benefit from this, plus there will be some assistance from our staff and static marshals who will be deployed in the trickier sections.

We will also be asking you to download a route file that you will be able to download onto your smartphone and/ or GPS watch pre-challenge. You will be able to follow this ‘line’ when on the route and this will be your main go-to resource for the duration of the challenge. If you do not have a GPS watch, you may rent one from us. Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – support is never far away.

We will use a mixture of guides, stewards, pit stops and support vehicles to support you at intervals by our mobile ‘pit stop’ team. Across the challenge, we will have multiple vehicles at our disposal, plus multiple staff members, snacks and drinks to distribute. So, if it does all get too much, if you overheat, get too cold (unlikely!), need sustenance, motivational support or otherwise, we should be able to assist. You are in the very best possible hands.

It is varied but predominantly it is off-road and pretty rough underfoot. The WNT trail is well-maintained in some sections and not so fresh in others, leading to a variety of the quality of the path you will be using. In many locations, you will be ascending and descending steep sections, too. With all of the water generated by the climate here, this does make for some slippery sections, too. You will need to constantly concentrate on the terrain to ensure you read it well and prepare for what is coming up in front of you. There are some tarmac and firmer ‘vehicle track’ sections interspersed, too.

This kit list is from our 2022 event - you will be notified of any changes to this list ahead of the event you have signed up for.

General advice on heat

This event unfolds in the Tropics and this means hot and humid is the order of the day! That heat can be fierce and problems associated with heat can creep up on you. So a wide-brimmed sunhat, sun-cream and lightweight and breathable fabrics (ideally with SPF protection) should be used. Given the sweating you will experience, waterproof sun-cream and hat selection is very important. As the sun comes up, sunglasses with at least Cat 3 protection are required. There is a large degree of shade in the rainforest itself, but we will frequently be popping out of the jungle and descending to the coast, so decent sunglasses are essential.

The beauty of the support afforded by the vehicles is that we can interact with you many times on the route. So whilst we require you to take a lot of water with you at all times (and always leave a pit stop with full supplies), we can also re-supply you often. There are some exceptions to this, which you will be made aware of whilst on the route of course.

Do not underestimate how much the heat and humidity will take out of you. Even if you think you are going well earlier on, as soon as that sun comes up and you spend a few hours sweating through some thick vegetation, it’ll start sapping energy. You really do want to ensure you have max sun protection and keep taking on fluids and salts.

For your feet, we would advise trail running footwear or mid-top ankle lightweight boots. On some stages you will be self-contained all day long, so what you take at the beginning of the day will remain with you throughout. On other stages you will be able to access Pit Stop bags and be able to change clothes, socks or even footwear during a stage. This level of detail will be communicated to you when you arrive at the event. For now, you should know that some stages will be self-sufficient (i.e. no access to personal items that are not on your person, all day) and some stages will permit you to access Pit Stop bags.

THE KIT LIST


Here’s a rundown. We may revise this nearer the time but this should give you a good idea at this stage.

Note: All items are mandatory, unless it says recommended, where they are, well, recommended!

Running or trekking

  • Trail running footwear (We would advise bringing a spare pair also). Mid-ankle or standard shoes. Footwear with mid-ankle support is definitely recommended given the uneven nature of the terrain.

  •  Full body cover bottoms – lightweight tights, loose fitting trekking trousers that you are comfortable running in at times. NOTE: You do NEED full-body cover on your legs (and not shorts) on account of spikey and sharp vegetation which will constantly cut and aggravate your skin if you wear shorts.

  •  Undershorts/comfortable underwear to stop chaffing!

  •  One set of running shorts and t-shirt for the coastal traverse day

  •  T-shirt, long and short sleeved: Pack BOTH so you can use long-sleeved for stages with thicker vegetation for upper arm and body protection

  •  Ultra vest or small daypack (see bags required breakdown below for capacities required on daypack and ‘wild-camp night’ bag)

  •  CAT 3 sunglasses

  •  Bladder or bottles/ soft flasks (aim to be able to carry a MINIMUM of 2l at all times, preferably over a combination of containers i.e. bladder and soft flask/s)

  •  Gloves – suitable for the rope sections. These could be cycling gloves or gardening gloves

  •  Hat – cap with ‘desert-style’ backflap or wide brimmed hat are fine

  •  Socks – with plenty of spares

  •  Buff or similar neck gaiter

  •  Ultralight rain shell jacket

  •  Blister care kit – see our advice on this below.

  •  First Aid kit – see our advice on this below. Also include any personal medication

  •  Scooby snacks of choice: Whilst the Pit Stop vehicles will be stocked up with yummy things, including drinks and sweet/ savoury snacks, sports nutrition can be a very personal thing so we would advise that, regardless of our Pit Stop service, you pack items that you know work for you out on the trail. If you have a high protein diet please bring supplementary protein bars/powder for drinks.

  •  Electrolytes and salt tablets – lots, expect to use a tube/pack per day.

  •  Either a GPS handheld device or Smartphone capable of following a GPX file (phone with Viewranger App is recommended – see section on ‘route finding’ below) OR a GPS watch for following the route. See more info and rental option below.

  •  In all cases, participants must carry a Smartphone (so if you are using a watch for following the route, you must also have a Smartphone in your kit for comms purposes)

  •  Power pack and cable for recharging phone, in waterproof bag (ziplock or dry bag)

  •  Headtorch, waterproof to IPX7 standard, minimum 150 lumens + spare batteries or second headtorch

  •  Salt tablets and dissolvable electrolytes for water. Please bring salt tablets and some electrolyte mix for drinks. You will 100% need these on this trip and they are MANDATORY

  •  Trekking poles – MANDATORY. We may decide not to use them but we require you to bring a pair with you

  •  Dry bag or liner for main valuables and electronics: in the rainforest, everything gets wet. You must plan to protect all electronics (like phone) and other valuables/ foodstuffs

  •  Small zip lock bags: Very useful for general gear storage/ organisation/ protection in warm climates

  •  Whilst not mandatory we would recommend a small water filter for personal use – it just helps to have one in the more remote parts of the Jungle. They are small and cheap and mean that you have access to clean water whenever you need it. See below for full info on what bags you need; and for what purpose.

 

Medical kit

  • Pad and bandage style dressing (large)

  • Adhesive dressing – 1x medium and 1 x large

  • 1 x conforming bandage

  • Dioralyte sachets x 5

  • Basic pain relief (Paracetomol)

  • Any personal medications

  • Over the counter antihistamine tablets

  • Savlon tube

  • Hand sanitiser

  • Insect repellent

  • After-bite cream

  • Recommended: Triangular bandage

  • Recommended: Plasters

  • Recommended: Sudocrem/Vaseline for chaffing

Blister kit

  • Zinc Oxide tape (Recommended brands: Rock tape or Tiger Tan tape)

  • 4 x sterile needles

  • 4 x scalpel blades

  • Small pair of scissors

  • Gauze swabs (2 x packs of 5 swabs – used for drying/cleaning before applying tape)

  • Recommended: Compeed

  • Recommended: Haplaband tape (if you are prone to getting blisters in-between toes this is recommended)

  • Recommended: Disinfectant solution

  • Recommended: Foot lube (water based)

  • Recommended: Rubbing alcohol (used for drying feet and help prevent fungal infections)

 

All medical kit should be stored in a dry bag.

Overnight

  •  Personal toiletries and medication

  •  Towels will be provided in the a/c but we would recommend bringing one as it will always come in useful to have your own towel

General

  • Casual clothing for use in evenings at hotels and transit stages

  •  General ‘overnight’ bag (holdall, duffel) for spare kit – pls don’t bring a hard suitcase – ensure all bags are soft (much easier for managing in vehicles)

  •  Towel – travel micro towel or full-size

  •  Power bank for mobile phone and/ or GPS unit

  •  International plug adaptor suitable for use in Dominica

  •  Swimwear (recommended)

Camping

  • Thin sleeping bag

  • Roll mat

  • Mosquito net (self standing)

 

IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THE EVENT THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THE PRE-EVENT DOCUMENTATION

Carrying this kit is a requirement of the Event and forms part of our planning in ensuring reasonable measures are put in place to keep you safe should anything go wrong during this adventurous endeavour. We ask you not to take short cuts or ‘second guess’ our advice. For instance, the carrying of waterproofs is required even though this is a tropical environment, as these items can prevent cooling down too fast if you get injured in a location that is very exposed to wind or when it is raining heavily leading to more rapid cooling. Remember you may be very tired and sweaty, and weather can whip up pretty quickly in the Tropics. So we need you to respect the kit list at all times.

The emergency kit is important for several reasons:

1.            It helps you to help yourself should you have a problem.

2.            We are in this together and you may need to assist others if they have a problem.

3.            In the case of an incident our Event Control and safety teams will make decisions based on the knowledge that you all have this equipment.

4.            Carrying the kit is a requirement for everyone and hence provides an equal and fair challenge.

5.            It is part of our risk assessment process that is shared with insurers. Your insurance may be invalid if you do not follow our advice.

6.            If your lack of kit preparation contributes to making an incident more serious, then you may be avoidably drawing resources from our medical team and the emergency services at the expense of others.

7.            Without the kit you will be unable to complete registration. If during the race you are not carrying the mandatory kit then you will be disqualified and deemed to have not completed the challenge.

GPS

We require you to have a device that can be used to follow a GPS line, which is a very simple and reliable way of you being able to follow our route on the ground, should you require any guidance on this whilst on the route (e.g. if the path is not clear underfoot or if you get to a junction and you just cannot work out the correct direction of travel). GPS technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and as such there are several devices on the market.

The device you use can be a ‘handheld’ device suitable for use in the outdoors (not your phone). Or a GPS watch. Our own recommendation is that you have the route on your phone as a back-up as well but as a ‘live’ navigational aid, using a GPS watch such as the Garmin Fenix 5 is a great option. The reason we do not permit you to use your phone as your primary GPS device is that whilst very capable and wasy to follow GPS lines with many Apps available that do this, a phone can overheat or get wet quite easily in the Tropics. If this happens, most modern smart phones will shut down. GPS watches (and handhelds) are rugged and designed for life in the outdoors in extremes of temperature and weather. A GPS watch specifically will sit on your wrist in all environments and these are typically therefore very robust and waterproof.

There are plenty on the market to purchase. Handheld units tend to be cheaper. Watches are more expensive. As with all technology, you tend to get what you pay for and the really good GPS watches are a.) expensive (!) and b.) extremely good pieces of kit. We have a selection of Garmin Fenix 5’s for rental, which are our favourites: They are user-friendly and they have great battery life – which is essential if you are out on the trail as long as you’re going to be! Check out the model we use here: https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/552982

These will provide you with ultimate peace of mind as we will already have pre-loaded the route onto the watch, preventing you having to log into online portals, download files and upload to your watch.

So to re-cap, you need:

  • GPS handheld device designed for outdoor use OR GPS watch

  • Phone

Or rent our GPS watch. In all cases, we require you to have your own phone for communications purposes.

Bags

Pit Stop bag access: There may be some occasions on some stages where we permit you to access your “Pit Stop bag’ – so you can stash away spare socks and fresh clothes, favourite snacks, medication and even a second set of footwear if you wish. You will be told where and when these occur when you get onto the event. At this stage, we want to explain how that relates to the bags that you will need.

There are 3 bags to be considered for this journey.

1.) Daypack or running vest – this is the bag you will carry with you for the run and trek stages. It should contain the mandatory kit, spare clothes, food and water. You will use the same daypack throughout and it can be any size, provided you can fit in the mandatory gear and sufficient food and water.

2.) General ‘overnight’ bag (Recommended: Holdall or duffel and no suitcases) – for spare and general kit. Please go for a MAXIMUM size of around 80 litres and no more than approx 23kg pls. This bag will be transported to the event accommodation with you and we will transport it each day to the finish of the daily stage (Or it will remain in your room if we are using the same hotel). (Weights tend to be limited by airline policies anyway, hence we have gone for a standard economy class single bag allowance of 23kg here). Anything you are not using on your person when on the trail, you just stash in this bag and we carry it around for you for the duration of the trip. We will tell you where and when you need to pack this and hand it to us – don’t worry!

3.) Pit Stop bag – doubling as larger ‘wild-camp bag.’ This is the bag that you will access at certain Pit Stops. It will sometimes therefore be handed to us at the beginning of a stage and we will take it to the relevant Pit Stop location (and back again at stage end to the accommodation). Sometimes you will not need it at all and you can pack it into your main general overnight bag. Or keep it separate and just hand it to us as an extra bag. IMPORTANT: When you go on the stage that requires you to wild-camp in hammocks, you will need to take a bit more kit with you into the jungle – notably a hammock and sleeping items, some more food and also a share of the communal cooking gear (possibly a pot, pan, stove or fuel bottle). Your daypack racevest is probably not quite going to be big enough. So we advise that your Pit Stop bag – this bag – can double up as your wild-camp night bag. As such, this should be a backpack capable of carrying up to 30l. It can then be used as wild-camp bag AND Pit Stop bag.

TRAINING

 

The key to multi-day events like this is time on your feet, learning how to fuel and practicing moving with weight on your back. You need to train on hill, both up and down. The Trail in Dominica can be steep and technical at times. Also train with poles – I cannot stress how useful these are on long uphill sections of jungle when carrying weight.

We’ve said it once but I will mention it again. Dominica is very hot and very wet – you don’t notice how much fluid you are losing a lot of the time, so making sure that you are hydrated is key. You should also be using salt tabs on a daily basis to help stave off heatstroke or dehydration. Practice running with a bladder or similar – the more water you can carry the less you will have to stop to fill up or filter more.

Training wise, you need to get some back to back running or hiking done. This involves going out for longish runs /hikes  back to back days to get used to pace and recovery. Make sure you train carrying a backpack with weight in. This not a race – it’s about endurance. The longer you can stay on your feet, the further you will go in the long term. Running fast can have so many adverse effects in this environment. You’re more, likely to dehydrate without knowing, your more likely to injure yourself and you overnight recovery won’t be as good as if you maintain a steady pace.

Training runs/hikes should be long and slow, preferably with some hills involved so you can trial using poles. Time spent training should also be used to train yourself how to eat little and often on the trail. The ascent and environment mean that you burn way more calories than you would trotting around a forest in the UK. High energy foods that are easy to transport are best – nuts, protein bars (not chocolate – it melts!) salty crisps – anything you can easily put into a zip lock bag and carry with you at all times. Be aware everything gets wet in the jungle, so think about this when choosing snacks! Top tip… Babybels don’t work in the jungle but a plastic tub of Nutella does.

It’s obviously pretty difficult to train for the heat and humidity when you live somewhere like the UK. There are heat chambers available at a cost to train in, but I have found that putting a few extra layers on on a hot day also helps. You have time to adjust to the temperature and environment when you arrive, and as I said before – it’s about taking it easy and keeping hydrated.

We are always here and on hand to answer your questions – just drop us a line at expeditions@ratrace.com.

GPS WATCH RENTAL

Coros watch with pre-loaded route. A simple GPS watch that's easy to use and has an extremely good battery life.

CLICK HERE TO RENT WATCH FOR 2023

CLICK HERE TO RENT WATCH FOR 2025

Pricing
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$573.70

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PAY IN FULL

$4500

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All prices are in US Dollars. An admin fee of 2.99% will be added to all payments.

PAY MONTHLY INTEREST FREE!
ENTER NOW AND SPREAD THE COST INTEREST FREE WITH OUR INSTALMENT PLAN

We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free*. The payments will be split equally allowing you to budget and plan for this stunning journey. All payments to be made before March, 3 months prior to the event.

*When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.

Please see here for full terms and conditions and our cancellation policy.

PROTECT YOUR NON-REFUNDABLE BOOKING WITH REFUND PROTECT

 

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

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WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

At Rat Race, we create extraordinary adventures for everyone people. We know we’re a premium brand and that those adventures are premium experiences. In our 20th year, we have decided that our commitment to investment in our standards, safety and quality of experience should be matched in our commitment to the transparency in showing how we spend your hard-earned cash in bringing these adventures to life.


So here it is. A pie chart of how we spend your money in bringing our events and trips to life.

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"It was brilliant - easily the best thing I've done this year. And really tough, in a good way. The toughness made it a real challenge and very worthwhile."

Rachel 

Test Pilot 2021

This is a fantastic trip for anyone who loves tropical wildlife, or anyone looking for a more trekking-based sport over running or cycling. Saying that, it is really tough. The heat, the terrain and the getting-up-every-morning to do it all over again. But that just made it all the more satisfying getting to the end. I would recommend this adventure to anyone.

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Jason

July 2022