A GROUP of 17 Arab adventurers set off to the Himalayas yesterday as part of an initiative to promote the GCC.

They will leave Kathmandu, Nepal, today and hike for two days before heading for Mount Everest and climb a height of 4,800 metres.

The initiative was started when Bahraini Saleh Yafee posted an open invitation for people to join the trip on his Twitter account. A crew from Bahrain TV has accompanied the group and will air the expedition during Ramadan.

The group consist of Mr Yafee, Bahrainis Salem Al Musaifer, Yasser Musameh, Mohammed Juma, Mohammed Janahi, Adel Khalil, Hamza Taleb and Ammar Sharif; Emiratis Ahmed Alibdwaoa, Marwan Al Naimi and Nasser Al Zaabi; Kuwaiti Abdulla Fulaij; Qataris Mohammed Al Shaibani, Mohammed Malik and Abdulla Al Hassan; and Omani Adel Shanfari.

"I think this is very interesting because we are getting to know a new culture, so we want to share with everyone what we are doing and facing on this trip," said Mr Al Musaifer.

"I am excited yet overwhelmed at the same time because this is the first time I am taking part in such an adventure.

"We are all optimistic that this trip will help us introduce our GCC to the world and to prove that we can achieve our target."

A Twitter account (@Gccy_himalaya) and a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GccyHimalaya) have been created to document the adventures of the group, who will return on Saturday.

bushra@gdn.com.bh