What is the Hitch?
How do I sign up?
Why Morocco and Croatia?
Who do I hitch with?
How long does it take?
How can we possibly get all that way so quickly?!
Is the Hitch safe?
Do I need a Visa?
What about vaccinations?
How much will the trip cost?
And how much do I have to raise?
Why does Link insist I raise a minimum amount?
How does Link benefit from your sponsorship?


What is the Hitch?
The Hitch is an annual sponsored hitch-hiking event organised by, and to raise money for, Link Community Development. It's the largest and most established hitch-hiking event in the UK and has been running for 20 years. It's also one of the cheapest overseas challenges around.

Since 1992,over 7,500 people have taken part in the Hitch, raising over £3,500,000 for Link and travelling a combined total of almost 9,000,000 miles – that’s 360 times around the world!

How do I sign up?
Online registration is quick and easy - just click here to sign up and you'll be done in ten minutes!

There is a registration fee of just £23 if you sign up by 31 December, and £28 after that. This helps to cover all the support and materials you will receive from Link before, during and after the event. Once you've registered, we will send you your Hitch Pack and green Hitch T-shirt, as well as loads of fundraising advice to help you get started.

Why Morocco and Croatia?
Morocco is the original Hitch destination and is an intense, exciting and deeply rewarding cultural experience. Although only an hour from Spain, the intoxicating blend of Arabic, African and European influences make it seem instantly a long way from Europe. With the charm of the imperial cities of Marrakech and Fes, the mystique of the Sahara Desert and the beauty of the Atlas Mountains, it really is a holiday to remember!

Croatia is new for 2012 and one of the most popular and emerging tourist destinations in Europe. Known as the "Land of 1,000 Islands", Croatia is a haven of idyllic beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters - perfect for university stress release! And if it's excitement you're looking for, Croatia is fast becoming the modern party capital of Europe - visit Hvar alongside the rich and famous to witness an entire island brought to life by the throng of nightlife.

Who do I hitch with?
For safety reasons, you must travel in a group of two or three people, with at least one male in your group. If you don't have somebody to go with yet, or you're two girls looking for a male, there are plenty of ways to find your perfect partner! We can put you in touch with other Hitchers, and your Hitch Reps will be organising regular social events to help you meet other Hitchers in your area. Please get in touch with us for more advice.

You can hitch with absolutely anybody - they don't have to be a fellow student at your university or even a student at all! So make sure you ask your friends, classmates, even family members...this really is an adventure for everyone!

The ideal Hitch combination is a male-female pair. Be prepared for your journey to take longer if you are in a three, as you are much less likely to be able to find lifts in lorries or commercial vehicles. We strongly recommend that groups of three males are inadvisable - this is the hardest possible combination and can make progress very slow.

How long does it take?
It's impossible to predict exactly because no two Hitch journeys are the same, but the answer is...probably quicker than you would ever imagine!

The average journey time to Morocco is 7 or 8 days, and we estimate that the average journey to Croatia will be 5 or 6 days. However, groups have taken as little as 48 hours or as much as two weeks in the past, depending on their approach. Remember, the event isn't a race and most groups don't rush things - the places you visit along the way are as much a part of the trip as the end destination.

How can we possibly get all that way so quickly?!
The generosity of the people you meet along the way will really surprise you - once you explain that you're doing this for charity, a lot of people will go our of their way to help you complete the challenge! And it's not just about getting lifts...each year many Hitch groups will be offered free meals, given places to stay the night for free and introduced to the family and friends of drivers who will prove equally generous and hospitable.

The key is to be confident - approach everyone to ask for a lift and explain clearly what you're doing and why. Head straight for the ferry port and don't be put off if drivers in the UK laugh when you tell them your end destination! Make the most of your time on the ferry and try to secure your first lift by talking to everybody on board. It will get much easier as your Hitch goes on...

Once you sign up, we'll give you loads of tips on how to hitch-hike safely and effectively all the way to your end destination!

Is the Hitch safe?
We have been running the event for 20 years and in that time there have been no serious incidents associated with hitch-hiking. Clearly an event of this nature can never be 100% risk-free, but we have a meticulous safety framework in place and we insist that every Hitch follows the procedures at all times. Click here to find out more about this safety framework.

We also insist that all Hitchers have adequate insurance cover before they set off - again, click here to find out more.

Do I need a Visa?
If you have a full British passport then you won't need a Visa for either Morocco or Croatia. If you don't have a full British passport, a Visa may be necessary. You must contact your own embassy as soon as possible to discuss your requirements - we can't advise you on this, although we can provide proof of your participation in the event to help you get a Visa. The application process can be long and require a lot of patience, so you should start as early as possible to avoid disappointment later.

What about vaccinations?
You must check with your doctor for up-to-date recommendations about vaccination requirements. Again, we can't give advice of this nature – vaccination requirements can change regularly and will vary depending on your own personal vaccination history.

How much will the trip cost?
One of the main attractions of hitch-hiking is that it is an extremely cheap way of travelling. Of course, you will still have to pay for a number of things along the way including food, accommodation and ferries. But we do everything possible to suggest ways of keeping the costs down and help you out with competitions and special promotions throughout the year - another reason to sign up nice an early!

Last year, Hitchers going to Morocco spent an average of £469 in total. We estimate that Hitchers going to Croatia will spend an average of £379 in total. This includes everything - your journey there, your ferry crossing(s), your flight home and everything you spend at your destination - including food, accommodation and souvenirs! Once you sign up, we'll give you a lot more tips on how to save money. If you have any questions in the meantime we'd be very happy to help.

And how much do I have to raise?
As well as covering the costs of your trip, you need to raise a minimum of £375 for Link in order to take part. However, if you start early, follow our advice and put in a bit of effort, this is a very achievable target and shouldn't cost you anything personally.

The first steps to your fundraising are to set up an online fundraising page on Virgin Money Giving and to ask all your friends and family to sponsor you. Publicise your online page as widely as possible and use Facebook and Twitter to grab attention. Also use sponsorship forms to request donations face-to-face, especially with those people who wouldn't feel comfortable donating online. We also encourage you to organise your own events to raise money, and to take part in the regional events organised regularly by your Hitch Reps.

You'll receive loads more fundraising advice once you've signed up and you can ask us questions at any point. There's also some more detailed advice available here.

Why does Link insist I raise a minimum amount?
The Hitch is Link’s biggest fundraising event and it takes a lot of work to organise, so we ask all Hitchers to raise a minimum amount of £375 in order to ensure the event is as successful in raising money for Link as possible. In the interests of fairness, we insist that all Hitchers have to raise the same minimum amount in order to take part, so this is a requirement for all Hitchers. Those who haven’t raised £375 by 15 February must send us a Pledge of Sponsorship Form agreeing to raise the full amount by the fundraising deadline on 15 June.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the Hitch is still a lot cheaper than for most other overseas events, where the target is often £1,000 or more.

How does Link benefit from your sponsorship?
We believe that quality education in sub-Saharan Africa is achievable, but there are still too many obstacles that prevent children from the standard of education that they deserve. So we are working in Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda at all levels of the education system – including with governments, Headteachers, parents and local communities – to help ensure that children going to school are receiving a quality education - one which gives them the skills needed to succeed in life.

Although we receive funding from a number of other sources, the contribution that the Hitch makes to our work is incredible. Last year alone, Hitchers raised more than £400,000 to support our work. The sponsorship money you raise gives Link essential funds that are not restricted to specific projects, allowing us to be innovative and to ensure that all existing projects reach their full potential.