Great Wall of China Charity Trek

The Great Wall of China was originally constructed to keep out nomadic tribes who raided China's northern frontier.

Your trekking challenge starts in Jinshanling with a vigorous trek that loops along the mountains either side of the Gubeikou Gateway.

Each day you will trek approximately 12kms along the stony path, twisting and winding its way along the mountains, interspersed with crumbling watchtowers.

It is demanding but also very rewarding, particularly on a clear day when you can look at the vast and beautiful mountain ranges. Your imagination will take you back several centuries to when the wall was the frontline defence of Imperial China.

On completion of your challenge you will return to Beijing to explore some of the many attractions of China's capital city: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Lama Temple.

Price

From: GBP345 per person (10 Days)

Price Includes

• International flights from London to Beijing (return)
• Overland transfers
• All accommodation
• All meals during the itinerary (any additional food and drink at your own expense)
• Drinking water whilst trekking
• Support team (guides, drivers)
• Back up facilities
• Provision of first aid supplies
• Airport departure tax
• US$20 to the local community project

Price Excludes

• Vaccinations, tips for the support team & tour leader, personal spending money, additional activities and travel to and from UK Airport of departure are not included.

Departure Dates

Saturday 12 September 2009 - Sunday 20 September 2009

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1649 £345 + £1304 £345 + £2675 £64

Saturday 03 October 2009 - Sunday 11 October 2009

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1649 £345 + £1304 £345 + £2675 £64

Saturday 27 March 2010 - Sunday 04 April 2010 / 9 days

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1688 £375 + £1313 £375 + £2695 £67

Saturday 03 April 2010 - Sunday 11 April 2010

self funder minimum sponsorship
expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1688 £375 + £1313 £375 + £2695 £67

Saturday 17 April 2010 - Sunday 25 April 2010

expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1688 £375 + £1313 £375 + £2695 £67

Saturday 08 May 2010 - Sunday 16 May 2010

expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1688 £375 + £1313 £375 + £2695 £67

Saturday 26 June 2010 - Sunday 04 July 2010

expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1688 £375 + £1313 £375 + £2695 £67

Saturday 11 September 2010 - Sunday 19 September 2010

expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1869 £475 + £1394 £475 + £2875 £67

Saturday 02 October 2010 - Sunday 10 October 2010

expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1869 £475 + £1394 £475 + £2875 £67

Saturday 16 October 2010 - Sunday 24 October 2010

expedition cost = deposit + balance deposit+minimum sponsorship travel insurance
£1869 £475 + £1394 £475 + £2875 £67

Day 1: International Departure
Meet at the Airport for your flight to Beijing, China. Our Charity Challenge representative will be there to assist you with the check-in and any last minute questions. You will be passing over the Great Wall before landing at Beijing airport.

Day 2: Beijing to Start of Trek
Upon arrival in Beijing you will be met at the airport by a Charity Challenge local agent who will transfer you to your hotel (approx 2 hrs). After check in, you will have the rest of the afternoon to relax or go for a walk in the surrounding area. In the evening after dinner, you will be given you challenge briefing and have the opportunity to ask any questions of your expedition leader. Overnight in lodge.

Day 3: Black Dragon Pools - approx 10kms trek
After a short drive (15mins), you will begin today’s trek in the lush environment of Black Dragon Pools National Park located next to the Great Wall. You will follow a meandering path up a narrow gully by the side of a stream to the top of a watershed. The views here are spectacular and the plant life provides a welcome respite from the heat of the Wall. From here you will descend steeply to what was the most famous waterfall in Beijing county. Passing the Heavenly Gateway, a huge natural arch appears high in the cliffs above you, the remins what was once a waterfall but has now dried out due to climate change. Overnight in lodge.
Approx trekking time – 5hrs.

Day 4: Gubeikou Gateway – 12kms
The day starts with a short drive to a village where your trek begins. There used to be three passageways between Northeast China, the Mongolian Highlands, Beijing and the central plains. These were Shanhai Pass, Juyong Pass and Gubeikou Gateway, the latter lying between the two passes and being located in today's Miyun County, northeast of the city of Beijing. This is the location for the start of your Great Wall challenge. Gubeikou was the site of incessant warfare and was heavily guarded by the armies of various dynasties from 7th-13th century. In particular, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644AD) added many defence installations and increased the strength of the garrison. Nowadays, the main castle no longer exists and much of the Wall has collapsed. Only the Jinshanling section and Simatai section 6km to the east remain in fairly good shape. The great variety of defence structures here are good examples for studying the architecture of the Great Wall. Overnight in lodge.
Approx trekking time – 5hrs.

Day 5: Simatai to Gangfang Village back to Simatai – 20kms
This morning you will continue the trek along the Great Wall from Simatai to its stunning east section. You will then move off of the Wall and trek to Gangfang Village in Hebei Province, where you will have the opportunity to meet and mix with the local villagers and experience Chinese rural life, which is a world away from life in Beijing. From here, you will trek a further 3hrs back to Simatai. Overnight in lodge.
Approx trekking time 6hrs.

Day 6: Jinshanling to Simatai – 11kms
After an early breakfast, you will transfer by road to Jinshanling. The walk from Jinshanling to Simatai is a spectacular one that is partly on original unreconstructed Wall and partly on renovated sections, with many steep, crumbling staircases and ruined watchtowers along the way. It is quite a demanding day but also a very rewarding one, particularly on a clear day when you look out over the best part of eighty miles of mountains, with Mongolia on one side and China on the other. There are very few visitors here and so the sense of solitude is unrivalled. It does not take much for your imagination to take you back several centuries to when the wall was the frontline defence of Imperial China. Today's trek will involve climbing and descending many steps! You will transfer approx. 2hrs to the next lodge located en route back to the city of Beijing. Overnight in lodge.
Approx trekking time 6hrs.

Day 7: Mutianyu Section – 10kms
The reconstructed section of the Mutianyu Great Wall is where visiting heads of state are usually brought. Today will commence with a steep but paved walk up through lush woodland to join the Wall. From here the trek will follow this spectacular section where the original battlements and drainage systems have been carefully restored. The highlight of the day is the steep ascent up the Heavenly Stairway to a high viewing platform; this is perhaps the hardest ascent you will complete all week. On a clear day the Wall is visible on the mountains all around, a fitting end to your trekking challenge. Overnight hotel, Beijing.
Approx trekking time - 4hrs.

Day 8: Full Day City Tour of Beijing
As a reward for all your hard work, a day of leisure follows with a guided tour of the many attractions of China's capital city, including the Old Imperial Palace known as the Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square followed by a walk in Jingshan Park previously known as ‘coal hill’ behind the Forbidden City. Coal Hill used to be the highest point in the imperial city of Beijing, from where you can get great views of the Forbidden City. After lunch you will visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperors worshipped god and prayed for good harvests. Later you will be dropped off at the market to shop for souvenirs. Your celebratory dinner will be the Peking Duck Banquet. Overnight hotel, Beijing.

Day 9: Arrive Home
After breakfast, you will have a few hours to explore, before being transferred to Beijing airport for the return to London Heathrow.