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2024
2025

No departures found for 2018

Mon 08 Oct - Tue 16 Oct 2018

In aid of The Albion Foundation

The Albion Foundation

OVERVIEW

What to expect

ITINERARY

What you will do

COSTS

Ways to pay

ESSENTIAL INFO

All you need to know

Your challenge day by day

Day 1, Mon 08 Oct 2018

International departure from Birmingham

The excitement and anticipation begins to build in earnest today, as you head to the airport for an early afternoon flight (approximately 2pm) to begin this incredible adventure. A Charity Challenge representative will be on hand to answer any last minute questions, and quell any last minute nerves, before you join the rest of the group for this trek of a lifetime.

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Day 2, Tue 09 Oct 2018

Arrival Beijing and transfer to the Wall area

Arriving in Beijing, your local Charity Challenge guide will be on hand at the airport to welcome you to China and oversee the road transfer to your first night's accommodation. Today provides your first chance to savour the challenge ahead, as you head into the mountainous regions that surround the Chinese capital. So sit back, relax and enjoy the moment. Gathering later for a trek briefing and an inaugural team dinner, all the elements are finally in place and the stage is set for an unforgettable adventure.

 

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Day 3, Wed 10 Oct 2018

Jinshanling Loop (approximately 5-6 hours)

And so it begins! This is what all the months of training have been building up to. It is just a short drive to the start of the trek and nothing can quite prepare you for your first sight of this iconic monument in all its magnificent glory. Before you, snaking its way across seemingly endless miles of mountainous valleys, stands the Great Wall itself. Today's route takes in part of the original wall, its steep, crumbling staircases and watchtowers providing a fitting introduction to the enormity of the challenge ahead. The views are stunning though, with China lying to the south and Mongolia to the north, so enjoy the panoramas...they will help take your mind off the endless steps!

 

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Day 4, Thu 11 Oct 2018

Gubeikou Gateway (approximately 7-8 hours)

Shaking off the aches and pains of yesterday's endeavours, today sees you tackling the longest day of the challenge, as you take on the demanding Gubeikou section of the wall. So, digging deep, and hopefully encouraged by your first day's achievements, you'll begin with a steady climb up past a number of time-worn watchtowers. The expansive views are no less impressive today as you head down through rugged farmland, before climbing up again to hike along the renovated Jinshanling section of the wall, ending the trek where we began yesterday, tired, but ultimately satisfied with the day's efforts.

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Day 5, Fri 12 Oct 2018

Mutianyu section (approximately 5 hours)

Today sees us turning our attentions to the Mutianyu section of the Wall, and the challenging trek down the appropriately named "Heavenly Staircase". Driving out to the village of Xihazi, the day begins with a stiff climb up towards the tower of Zhenbeilou, quite literally the pinnacle of our challenge. Basking in the glory of some truly breathtaking scenery, you'll then begin the hike down towards Mutianyu, tackling the steep staircase that leads onto the more popular renovated section of the wall as you head down a seemingly endless series of steps that will test even the fittest of legs.

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Day 6, Sat 13 Oct 2018

Huanghuacheng (approximately 5 hours)

Today provides us with an opportunity to trek one of the most exciting sections of our journey, as we tackle the Wall at Huanghuacheng. From the small village of Xishuiyu, the trail meanders up through thick forest to the tree-line and the start of our scramble along one of the most challenging parts of the old wall. Against the spectacular backdrop of the Xishuiyu Reservoir and the surrounding mountains, we'll battle our way along a series of overgrown and steep ascents and descents, before the final section of the day tests nerves and legs to the limit as you make your way down a steeply paved gradient to our waiting bus.

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Day 7, Sun 14 Oct 2018

Badaling Great Wall (approximately 4-5 hours)

The final day of trekking begins with a challenging ascent up onto the old part of the wall at Badaling. Recently renovated, the morning ascent involves a steep climb up a combination of steps and paved walkways that will push those tired limbs to their maximum. The views from the top though will be just the reward you need to push on through to the last, very steep section and the end of the challenge. Stopping off for a well deserved lunch en route, the journey back to Beijing may also include time for a visit to either a silk or jade factory before you reach your hotel.

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Day 8, Mon 15 Oct 2018

Full day city tour of Beijing

The hard work done, today provides a chance to relax and enjoy some of the cultural highlights of China's historic capital. A rich contrast of the old and the new, today's city tour of Beijing includes a visit to Tiantin Park and the Temple of Heaven, where you can join the locals as they enjoy a morning of Tai Chi, Mah Jong and their own unique version of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’! An opportunity for some shopping at the local market is then followed by a tour around Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City, before a final group dinner this evening of traditional Peking Duck or a vegetarian alternative.

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Day 9, Tue 16 Oct 2018

Beijing to Birmingham

With a fond farewell to Beijing, you'll make your way to the airport for an early morning flight home (approximately 7:30am). Filled with a profound sense of pride and a wish that the adventure could continue, you return home armed with stories and memories that will last a lifetime...or at least until the next challenge.

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Important information

This itinerary may change depending on accommodation availability. We occasionally run our Great Wall challenge in reverse, which means that you will complete all of the days of trekking given here but in a different order. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say. Should you suffer from vertigo, it is worth considering that on most mountain treks there will be occasional exposure to sheer drops. Therefore you should discuss the particular itinerary of your choice with a member of our team.

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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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