Programme reinforces Years of Culture legacy through people-to-people engagement
A group of Qatari trekkers has completed a historic high-altitude crossing of the Andes, traveling from Argentina into Chile and concluding on the Pacific coast as part of CultuHike, a flagship people-to-people initiative delivered through Years of Culture.
The expedition forms part of the legacy of the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture and reflects Qatar’s commitment to international engagement under Qatar National Vision 2030.
CultuHike is designed to foster cultural understanding through shared experience, bringing participants together on long-distance treks that encourage dialogue, reflection, and meaningful exchange. Alongside its sister initiative, CultuRide, the programme represents Years of Culture’s experiential approach to cultural engagement, supporting human, social, and cultural development.
HE Mohammed Al Kuwari, Years of Culture Advisor on Latin American Affairs and Qatar’s former Ambassador to Mexico, said, “CultuHike reflects the long-term vision of the initiative, which is to create lasting relationships between communities through collaboration and exploration. The legacy of each partnership is not measured only in events delivered, but in the connections that continue well beyond the programme year.”
Following a trans-Andean route historically used by traders and local communities, participants navigated rugged terrain, remote valleys, and high mountain passes over several days. The physical demands of the journey fostered cooperation and trust, allowing relationships to develop organically.
Ali bin Towar Al-Kuwari, Years of Culture Sports Lead and CultuHike and CultuRide Creator, said: “Programmes like CultuHike are designed to bring people together in environments where connection happens naturally. Shared physical challenges create space for open dialogue, mutual curiosity and genuine understanding. By stepping beyond familiar settings and engaging through collective effort, participants build relationships that go beyond the trail itself. This is how cultural exchange becomes meaningful and lasting.”
During the early stages of the trek, participants and local Argentine and Chilean guides exchanged knowledge on environmental practices, traditions, and social customs. Topics included Qatar’s desert ecosystems and wildlife, South American medicinal plant traditions, family structures, and the role of women in community life, revealing shared values across cultures connected through lived experience.
Linguistic connections also emerged along the trail, with everyday words such as “sugar”, “gato”, “rice” and “olive” sparking conversations around similarities across Spanish, English, and Arabic, highlighting centuries of cultural interaction and exchange.
Evenings concluded with communal reflection around campfires, allowing participants to share insights on resilience, personal growth, and collective identity—moments that became a defining feature of the expedition.
The CultuHike expedition forms part of the Years of Culture initiative, chaired by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, which builds long-term cultural partnerships between Qatar and countries around the world. The initiative promotes mutual respect and understanding through programmes spanning cultural heritage, creative industries, and social development, enriching Qatar’s international ties beyond the designated partnership year.