Asia independent age great wall trek trip highligh ts Walking through rural villages in the Hebei Province Sleep in a comfortable guest house and traditional inn close to the Great Wall Rare insight into rural Chinese life Exploring original sections of the Great Wall Visiting Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City Spending time with your fellow Independent Age supporters Trip Duration 9 days Trip Code: SOG5116 Grade Introductory to Moderate Activities Trekking, Adventure Touring Summary 9 day trip, 5 day trek, 3 nights hotel, 4 nights comfortable guest house welcome to why travel with World Expeditions? We have built a reputation in the charity travel industry as a trusted World Expeditions company and many charities large and small return to us again and Thank you for your interest in our Independent Age Great Wall Trek again to organise their challenges. We have many years of experience trip. At World Expeditions we are passionate about our off the beaten working with charities of all sizes to offer the best experiences for track experiences as they provide our travellers with the thrill of the very best value for money with safety as the number one priority. coming face to face with untouched cultures as well as wilderness We are a small team here in London and therefore your trip will be regions of great natural beauty. We are committed to ensuring that organised by the same person, to keep things simple, and to maintain our unique itineraries are well researched, affordable and tailored for customer service as one of our priorities. We have also worked with a the enjoyment of small groups or individuals ‑ philosophies that have number of prominent charities such as Save The Children and Marie been at our core since 1975 when we began operating adventure Curie so we also know what all groups require in terms of health and holidays. Our itineraries will give you the very best travel experience, safety and customer service. On the ground in China, our guides are designed by people with incredible local knowledge who share our the best available and to ensure the smooth operation of all trips, our vision of authentic exchange and real exploration with a responsible partners in China continually work with us to improve our itineraries to tourism approach. Whether you like your adventures to include ensure we are taking the ‘paths less traveled’. The rapidly developing trekking, touring, cycling, mountaineering, kayaking or cruising World and ever‑changing face of China makes this an ongoing challenge. Our Expeditions can make it happen for you. We hope you will join us for visits to rural villages close to remote sections of the Great Wall make a life changing experience!! this one of our most innovative trips. 1 – © 2018 World Expeditions Travel Group ‑ Gordon Steer 1/31/2018 1:50:26 AM independent age Mongolia great wall trek Beijing Hike a classic section of the Great Wall in Hebei Province and explore the iconic sights of Beijing China World Expeditions does not require single travellers to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will the trip arrange for you to share accommodation with This innovative itinerary takes in a remote section of the Great Wall outside Beijing in Hebei another traveller of the same gender and if we can Province. Here explore the Great Wall over seven days, trekking between villages. The not match you up we will provide a single room at scenery is vast and diverse as we trek our way through tall swaying corn cropped field to no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single distant green river valleys with one of the great wonders of the world as our backdrop. In supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above. Beijing we visit the capital’s major historic sites such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. We also indulge in the culinary delight that Chinese cuisine is so famous for. The Beijing food experiences will no doubt compete with the trek itself as one of the highlights of this entirely unique adventure. at a glance DAY 1 LEAVE THE UK FOR THE OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO BEIJING (AIRLINE AND TIMES ‑ TBC) DAY 2 ARRIVE IN BEIJING DAY 3 BEIJING/HIKE ON WILD GREAT WALL AT GUBEIKOU – TREK APPROX 3–4 HOURS DAY 4 TREK AND EXPLORE THE 1200 YEAR OLD GREAT WALL – TREK APPROX 5 HOURS DAY 5 TREK FROM GUBEIKOU TO JINSHANLING – TREK APPROX 6 – 7 HOURS DAY 6 TREK FROM JINSHANLING ON THE GREAT WALL TOWARDS SIMATAI – TREK APPROX 7 HOURS DAY 7 HIKE TO BEIJING TOWER, RETURN TO BEIJING – TREK APPROX. 3 HOURS DAY 8 IN BEIJING DAY 9 TRIP CONCLUDES IN BEIJING‑ FLY BACK TO LONDON (AIRLINE AND TIMES ‑ TBC) what’s included 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners Comfortable hotels on twinshare basis Comfortable basic guest house and inn Private air conditioned vehicles Back up vehicle while trekking Sightseeing and entry fees as listed in itinerary Expert bilingual local guide Medical kit International flights (airline carrier and times ‑ TBC) detailed itinerary DAY 1 Leave the UK for the overnight flight to Beijing (airline and times - TBC) After all the waiting, packing, fundraising and training! the time has finally arrived and we are heading off to China. meals: NIL DAY 2 Arrive in Beijing On arrival in Beijing you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free time for sightseeing in the central city district. Perhaps barter for a bargain in the colourful silk markets or do as the locals do and hire a bike for a spin through the bustling back roads of this vibrant city. This evening we will meet in the hotel lobby for a group meeting before we head out to enjoy our first meal together meals: D 2 – © 2018 World Expeditions Travel Group ‑ Gordon Steer 1/31/2018 1:50:26 AM independent age great wall trek Hike a classic section of the Great Wall in Hebei Province and explore the iconic sights of Beijing trip dates DAY 3 Beijing/Hike on Wild Great Wall at Gubeikou – trek approx 3–4 hours After breakfast we will transfer by private bus to the Great Wall at Gubeikou. The Great Wall is one of man kind’s most extensive structures. In the early afternoon we will commence hiking on the Great important notes Wall. Today’s wall is entirely wild wall. Though most of it is crumbling, one can still feel its grandeur. Due to lack of protection in 1950s, the local farmers took bricks of the great wall back home and built their houses. In the last 10 years, the government has started to offer to buy theses bricks fast facts back from farmers for 30.00 Yuan each, but the response has been slow. We will cover around Countries Visited: 9km today, with a total ascent of 515 meters. We will be hiking for about 3-4 hours at a leisurely pace, and there will be plenty of opportunities to rest and take photos. Our basic but comfortable China accommodation at Yeshufang, a local inn in the East River Village. Visas: meals: B,L,D Yes* Vaccinations: DAY 4 Trek and explore the 1200 year old Great Wall – trek approx 5 hours Please consult a travel vaccination From our guest house there is a short transfer to the wall, where we will ascend and explore a specialist for up to date information spectacular section of the wall above the Gubeikou Valley. This is a little-visited section and offers views of a wild landscape. We will walk around the inner circle of the Great Wall. This is the 2nd Leader: defence in case the main wall was breached. We climb to the junction of the Ming Dynasty wall Expert local leader where we explore the terrain before descending on a local trail and returning to our inn. Today we Brochure Reference: will walk for about 5 hours and cover approximately 10 km. Asia meals: B,L,D *Ask our staff for more information. DAY 5 Trek from Gubeikou to Jinshanling – trek approx 6 – 7 hours Today we set off early to trek through cornfields and farm land for a true taste of rural China, before exploring this classic section of the wall. Here we are well off the beaten track, experiencing every day village life as we pass along the way. With broad sweeping views, it is easy to see how the wall resembles a dragon’s back weaving its way across this beautiful golden land. Tonight we overnight at our comfortable guest house in Jinshanling village. Today we will be walking for about 6-7 hours and will be covering approximately 15km. meals: B,L,D DAY 6 Trek from Jinshanling on the Great Wall towards Simatai – trek approx 7 hours Today we climb on to the Great wall and begin a morning’s walk towards Simatai, passing along a restored section. This section of the wall was built in the 15th century. There is time on the walk, as elsewhere, to explore and photograph this section of the original wall. We will note the wall’s intriguing design features that gave the defenders a military advantage against the nomads. We descend on a winding trail into Miyun county before returning to the same guesthouse in Jinshaling. Today we should cover about 12 km of the wall and will be walking for about 7 hours. meals: B,L,D DAY 7 Hike to Beijing Tower, return to Beijing – trek approx.