More than 30 Muslims from across the world have reached the base camp of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, completing a demanding expedition that raised £50,000 for charity while challenging long-standing barriers around Muslim representation in the outdoors.
The expedition was organised by Muslim Hikers, a Coventry-based outdoor activities group founded by Haroon Mota, who has spent over two decades exploring mountains and wilderness spaces, The BBC reported.
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Reflecting on his early experiences, Mota said he had seen “so few people of colour, so few Muslims in the outdoors,” a reality that would later shape the mission behind Muslim Hikers.
The group’s latest Everest challenge brought together 33 participants, some travelling from the UK, the United States, Australia and the Middle East.
Despite temperatures plunging to -20C and the severe oxygen deprivation associated with high altitude, all participants safely reached base camp.
The expedition raised funds for Charity Right, an organisation committed to “ending child hunger by providing regular school meals.”
The physical challenge was matched by a deep sense of spiritual purpose, as participants prayed together and shared halal food throughout the journey.
For Mota, the expedition carried personal significance and extraordinary difficulty. He undertook the climb while suffering from long Covid, a condition that severely affected his breathing and stamina at altitude.
“It was very, very challenging nevertheless,” he said.
“So there’s less oxygen in the air already, but to go out there on long Covid, it just made it awfully horrible for me from a physical perspective, despite being the fittest I’ve been in my entire life.”
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During the expedition, Mota also battled a chest infection and fever, bringing him close to medical evacuation on two occasions.
“Then I caught a chest infection, caught a fever [and] I was close to being evacuated in a helicopter twice,” he said.
Despite these setbacks, he described the journey as a “special experience,” highlighting its spiritual dimension. Sometimes, he explained, “you need that sort of mindful sort of reset to connect with nature, connect with God.”
Mota’s relationship with high-altitude climbing began in 2008, an expedition he described as “the most breathtaking experience ever,” adding that it was what made him “fall in love with mountains and the great outdoors.” He returned again in 2018, and after founding Muslim Hikers during the pandemic, said he has “constantly tried to push boundaries.”
“All 33 made it to base camp [this time], which is quite extraordinary I think, especially considering the conditions,” he said.
Muslim Hikers has grown steadily since its founding, hosting 32 hiking events last year alone for more than 4,000 people, primarily in the UK. The organisation describes itself as being “committed to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in outdoor fitness and adventure.”
At the heart of the initiative is a desire to change perceptions and inspire future generations.
“Setting up Muslim Hikers had the objective of tackling under representation, creating new role models, promoting positive representation,” Mota said.
With another Everest expedition already planned for November—and fully booked with a waiting list—the group’s journey continues, combining physical endurance, charitable action and a renewed vision of what Muslim presence in global outdoor spaces can look like.