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The long-awaited journey begins at the airport where the group will meet with a Charity Challenge representative for the first time. Any last minute nerves or anxieties will fade away as you fly off for your exciting adventure along China’s Great Wall.
Touching down in Beijing, the group will be greeted by a local Charity Challenge guide who will oversee the long transfer to the hotel in the mountainous area surrounding Beijing. Do your best to battle jetlag as today is a great opportunity to explore your new surroundings. The group will get together for a first team meal, as well as a briefing about the challenge ahead. Don’t forget to ask any last minute questions.
And we’re off! After a short drive, we will catch our first glimpse of the magnificent Great Wall before starting off on our first climb on the iconic pathway. Today’s route includes parts of the original wall with steep, crumbling staircases and watchtowers. As the wall snakes along the horizon, we will be treated to panoramic views of up to 80 miles of mountains. With Mongolia on one side and China on the other, be sure to take time to soak up your surroundings. The endless steps will have taken their toll, so we’ll head to our new lodge for a well deserved rest.
After a successful first day it’s a short transfer to begin what will be our longest trekking day, beginning from a nearby village. On slightly less than fresh legs, you’ll need to dig deep to overcome the long and demanding Gubeikou section. Hopefully the buoyant team morale and impressive views will help you rise to the challenge. We descend off the wall through rugged farmland, before going back up for the renovated Jinshaling section and ending the trek where we began yesterday. Expect to end the day feeling worn out but overwhelmingly proud of your achievement. Transfer to a new lodge for another rest.
Emotions are bound to be mixed as we set off for our biggest battle yet: the Mutianyu section. Take a transfer to the village of Xizhazi, where the day’s trek begins. From here it’s onwards and upwards towards the tower of Zhenbeilou, which is quite literally the pinnacle of the challenge. Prepare for a tough final stretch upwards to the tower, after which comes the reward of the incredible vistas. From here it’s a two-hour trek to Mutianyu, a much visited section of the wall but certainly worthy of a few pics. What goes up must come down, so be ready for hundreds of steps down to the waiting coach.
After the efforts of the previous three days, it’s an hour’s transfer to the village of Xishuiyu, where we begin trekking the Huanghuacheng section of the wall. Often described as the most exciting part of the itinerary by former participants, the main obstacle of the day is the overgrown and uneven path that involves some elements of scrambling. The morning is spent battling steep descents and narrow paths, before eventually reaching a paved part of the wall after lunch. Spirits will be high as we enjoy the magnificent views over the Xishuiyu reservoir below. It’s not time to relax just yet, however, as there’s a steep descent down to the final watchtower. The group will be transferred to a lodge for the night.
What a week! After a short drive, you will catch your final glimpse of the magnificent Great Wall from the vehicle before starting off on a steep and challenging climb along a rough and uneven path. This section of the wall has been recently renovated and so you will face a mixture of thin, uneven steps and sloped concrete sections. The final descent is short but very steep, with a slope rather than steps, and will test tired limbs. Your hard work will be rewarded with spectacular views and a well deserved lunch. Once down at the vehicle and en route, the bus may stop at either a silk or jade factory as it heads back to Beijing. Overnight in a hotel.
After all that hard work, the group can now enjoy a day exploring China’s capital city. The guided tour will highlight the contrast of old and new, including the Old Imperial Palace known as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, as well as the Temple of Heaven, where you can see the locals practicing their morning sports. Then it’s time to shop for some last minute souvenirs before a final dinner with your new friends and trekking pals.
After a final breakfast together, the group will head for the airport for the flight back to Heathrow. Armed with a sense of achievement, you can feel proud as you touch down and share your fantastic journey with your family and friends.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 6546. Many of the flight-inclusive challenges on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. This ATOL protection only covers challenges that include flights booked by Charity Challenge and that originate in the UK. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate
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