China
| country: | China |
| location: | Great Wall |
| trip type: | Guided, challenging cycling holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 14 May |
| price: | From £375 (10 days) deposit + £2675 fundraised (55% to charity) inc UK flights. Self funders - £375 deposit + £1304 (inc £100 to charity) |
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introduction to China
Cycle alongside the Great Wall of China and raise money for your favourite charity at the same time as taking part in an amazing adventure! Highlights include:
The Great Wall of China was originally constructed to keep out nomadic tribes who raided China’s northern frontier. As you ride alongside the Great Wall, your imagination will take you back several centuries to when the wall was the frontline defence of Imperial China.
Your cycling challenge starts in the village of Yanqing, north of Beijing city. Each day you will cycle approximately 50kms - 90kms in the shadows of the Great Wall, visiting ancient Ming Tombs and Black Dragon Pools National Park along the way. This incredibly scenic challenge covers a route along one of the world’s best
known UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is a demanding yet rewarding expedition, as you enjoy the vast and beautiful mountain ranges all around and witness the rural life of northern China from your saddle.
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.
whats this trip includes
International flights from London to Beijing (return), overland transfers, all accommodation, bikes, all meals during the itinerary (any additional food and drink at your own expense), drinking water whilst cycling, support team (guides, drivers), back up facilities, provision of first aid supplies, airport departure tax, a T-Shirt, US$20 to the local community project, and discount from Nomad Travellers Stores for personal equipment. We also make a contribution through Climate Care to offset the equivalent CO2 emissions of your international flight. Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | International Departure. Meet at the Airport for your flight to Beijing, China. Our 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 Cycle. Upon arrival in Beijing you will be met at the airport by our local agent who will transfer you (2hrs) to your hotel in Yanqing, north of Beijing. After check in, you will have the rest of the afternoon to relax and have a bike fitting. In the evening after dinner, you will be given a challenge briefing and have the opportunity to ask any questions of your expedition leader. Overnight in hotel in Yanqing. |
| Day 3: | Yanqing to Changping via Ming Tombs - approx 50kms cycle. Today is a good warm up day beginning with a flat road followed by a winding, hilly road undulating for 20kms. You head towards the valley of Mount Heavenly Longevity, where 13 tombs containing the remains of emperors, empresses and concubines were buried between 1409-1644. From there, 50kms northwest of Beijing you will reach the Ming Tombs, the name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. After your visit you will continue along the road for 10kms to Changping where you will have dinner and overnight. |
| Day 4: | Changping to Huairou County, front side of the Great Wall of Mutianyu – 70kms. This morning you will cycle back to the Ming Tombs, and then head up hill until you see the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng. You will continue along winding hilly roads through stunning scenery with the Great Wall stretching along the top of the hills creating a spectacular backdrop for your journey. Your ride will take you through the town of Huairou, location of the NGO World Women’s Conference in 1995. The route continues uphill slightly to your lodge on the front side of the Great Wall Mutianyu. |
| Day 5: | Huairou to Miyun Reservior – 85kms. Your challenge today heads along a quiet hilly road until you get to the northern end of Yunmengshan Mountain. From the highest point at 860m you will see a river flowing through the valley. Your ride today circles the canyon until you return to the Black Dragon Pools National Park, from where you start descending to your overnight lodge by the Mountain of Five Towers and Miyun Reservoir. |
| Day 6: | Great Wall of Simatai – 70kms. Your cycle today begins with a hilly road followed by a quiet country road through local villages. You will witness rural life typical of northern China. As you complete your day you arrive into the Simatai area. |
| Day 7: | Great Wall of Simatai to Great Wall of Huangyaguan – 98kms. Today you cycle along a mountain road, up and down three hills to meet the Great Wall again. This section of the Wall runs on the ridge of mountains to the north of Ji County; Tianjin. The ancient Great Wall of this section had a length of 42kms, but it suffered extensive damage throughout its long history. In 1987, it was repaired and was opened to tourists. The Huangyaguan Great Wall has two sections: Huangyaguan and Taipingzhai. Overnight at a lodge by the Wall. |
| Day 8: | Huangyaguan to Pinggu County - 40kms. This morning you will cycle along the road until it meets with Jinhai Lake. From there you ride a further 9kms along a relatively flat road (a welcome relief after yesterday’s long ride) to the centre of Pinggu where you will have completed your cycling challenge! You will then transfer (1.5hrs) back to your hotel in Beijing. |
| Day 9: | 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 as well as 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 10: | Arrive Home. After breakfast, you will have a few hours to explore, before being transferred to Beijing airport for the return to London Heathrow. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. Highly Commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
As a company we have also drastically reduced the carbon footprint of our UK operations, and are making a huge effort to do so in their destination countries too. We are also investing to offset the emissions from the international flights required to take part in our challenges. We also provide travellers with a responsible tourism policy detailing ways in which you can be an ethical traveller. From packing conscientiously to advice on local customs & environmental awareness overseas to maintaining contact with your new international friends upon your return – our policy is a comprehensive document providing all the info you need to trek, climb of cycle responsibly. Community Our responsible commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff, and use locally owned accommodation. We donate approximately USD$500 per trek to Plan International. Ten miles away from the Great Wall of China lies Yulin, one of the poorest areas of China. Suffering from a dry, temperate climate rainfall is scarce but the last four years has seen a severe shortage of rain - and great loss of income and food. Much of the soil has become too dry for the traditional planting methods and families, particularly the women who farm the land, lack the agricultural knowledge and technical equipment to produce sufficient crop yields from their land. There are few trees, little grass and deep ravines, which cut across the land making transportation very difficult. Although the Chinese government is now encouraging the planting of trees to improve the situation, families need to diversify their farming. International children's charity, Plan International, is working in 60 villages in the Yulin district, with poor families who are dependent on agriculture for a living. With our support, Plan International will be working with the communities to introduce new crops such as Mung beans and increase livestock such as breeding goats, which will help the community well into the future. Training is given to improve agricultural techniques to better suit the current condition of the land and with your support children and their families will soon start to see better produce and income. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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