Great Wall of China

The food in Beijing before and after the trek is generally made up of traditional Chinese food, usually presented in a buffet style. You will be able to help yourself to as much as you like and you are encouraged to try as many different things as possible. The meals are very varied with lots of different meat and fresh vegetarian dishes available, steamed rice, noodles and soup.

If you are ever unsure about what is on offer, there are always hotel staff, as well as your expedition leader and local crew, available to answer your questions.

Breakfast will usually consist of fried eggs, bread, pancakes, porridge and fruit and will be served along with tea and coffee. Due to the remoteness of the trek, each morning you will prepare a packed lunch which you will carry on the trek with you. Your packed lunch will typically include a sandwich, fruit and a piece of cake.

Evening meals are enjoyed in the traditional Chinese style of communal dishes shared around a circular table. There will be 8-10 different hot dishes (meat and vegetarian), steamed rice and soup. At the end of the meal there will usually be some form of pudding or fruit to finish things off. With such a wide variety of dishes prepared, there is always something for everyone and often more than a table full of people can manage.

Absolutely, please inform the office of any allergies or intolerance’s and we will ensure that these are taken into account on the trek.

Bottled water is provided each morning for you to fill your hydration systems or drink bottles before you set off on the trek. Your expedition leader will advise you on how much water to carry and when you will be able to refill. Safe drinking water will always be available at the accommodation each evening and throughout the trek.

The accommodation in Beijing will be in twin rooms, all with en-suites in a modern, 4-star hotel. You can expect all of the usual mod-cons of 4 star accommodation you would find in Europe.

3-4 star accommodation in China is very similar to that of Europe. Naturally there are big differences in culture so you’ll notice differences in the amenities available but in terms of comfort and cleanliness, there is little difference.

On the trek, the accommodation will vary from basic 2/3 star hotels to a home stay in a local farmhouse. Where possible in the hotels, rooms will be based on two sharing with en-suite facilities. Rooms are clean and comfortable but by no means luxurious. They are the perfect place to get a good night’s rest after a long day of trekking. Your night in the local farmhouse is much more rustic and you will get to see and appreciate life in this rural part of China. Rooms will sleep 4-6 people with shared bathroom facilities.

All of the accommodation will provide adequate bedding so there is no need for a sleeping bag. However, you may prefer to have your own sleeping bag liner for extra comfort or if you particularly feel the cold.

The trekking on this trip takes us off of the beaten track and there are no public toilets so it will be necessary to find somewhere appropriate off the trail. In most of the hotels you will find western style toilets but you will also come across squat toilets in many places which are very typical to this part of the world.

There are flushing toilets and hot water available at the accommodation each evening.

360 Expeditions have conducted detailed risk assessments and put the necessary plans in place to cope with any accidents or illness whilst out on the trek. Our expedition leaders are highly qualified and experienced mountain leaders who hold expedition first aid qualifications and are used to working in remote environments. Their training, coupled with the experience and knowledge of our local Chinese crew, allow them to deal with any situation quickly and safely. Should someone find themselves requiring further medical attention, the leader will organise for that individual to be taken from the trail and transferred to the nearest hospital. The leader and the 360 office team will also be on hand to offer guidance and support for insurance claims and contacting next-of-kin.

There is no risk of altitude sickness on this trek.

We would insist that you have had a tetanus injection within the last 10 years and our general advice is to be vaccinated against hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. You should always consult your GP for the most up-to-date travel health information.

You will only need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are coming from an infected area.

Each morning, your kit bag will be loaded onto a vehicle and transported to the next accommodation. All you will need to carry is a small day sack with your essential items for the day.

Your main luggage should be packed into either a rucksack or a soft expedition style holdall and the total weight should be no more than 20kg.

Your day sack should contain only the essential items you will need for a day of trekking and your aim should be to keep it as light as possible. The items you should be carrying include; a warm layer, waterproof jacket and trousers, your packed lunch and snacks, water, camera, sun cream, personal medication and first aid kit. It is important that this bag has an adjustable waist belt to transfer the weight of your daily load onto your hips and from here onto your legs (your strongest muscles) to do most of the carrying.

As we will be returning to the same hotel in Beijing after the trek is complete, you are welcome to leave a bag there with items you will not need whilst trekking. This bag will be locked securely in the hotel and you can collect it upon your return.

A down jacket is not essential but a good thick fleece or jumper will be needed for the evenings.

The extension trip to visit the Terracotta Warriors is a fantastic opportunity to really maximise your experience in China and make the most of the long haul journey you have already made.

Seeing the Terracotta Warriors is an awe-inspiring experience that gives a real insight into the sheer size and power of the ancient Chinese dynasties. You will learn even more about ancient Chinese cultures and traditions and get a better understanding of how these magnificent dynasties developed.

In addition to the Terracotta Warriors, you’ll get to take an overnight train through beautiful countryside to the amazing ancient city of Xian where you’ll have time to explore the city walls, markets and traditional restaurants.

The best time to trek on the Great Wall of China is September to October and April to May.

The trek takes us into the beautiful mountains north of Beijing and like any mountainous environments, weather and temperature can vary greatly. We can expect daytime temperatures of between 15-20C on a clear day with evening temperatures dropping to around 5C.

The train to Xian is a very comfortable and enjoyable experience. You will travel in a spacious 4-berth cabin which is clean and comfortable and you are also welcome to walk throughout the train to stretch your legs. Most Chinese people choose to travel by train and the cabins are the highest class available.

The overnight train is a very nice way to see some more of the beautiful Chinese countryside, immerse yourself further into Chinese life and to unwind after a tough trek.

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the expedition. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip. To include medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form, however this can be arranged at a later date. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure.

A visa is essential for travelling to China and must be obtained prior to travel. This can be done through the Chinese embassy and currently costs approximately £35.

We recommend that you have at least 6 months remaining on your passport prior to travel to avoid any issues at international borders.

It is possible to obtain Chinese Yuan in the UK but it may be necessary to give plenty of notice to your bank so they can order them for you.

It is possible to change money at the airport in Beijing and also at the hotel. Generally it is easier to exchange dollars than sterling and small denominations are preferable.
Note that US Dollars should only be taken to exchange – you WILL NOT be able to use it as general currency to pay for things.

There are some shops and markets along the trail that sell souvenirs and small gifts. You will also be able to buy soft and alcoholic drinks in the evenings. We would suggest that you bring £150-£200 spending money to cover tips, some small souvenirs and drinks.

There are some fantastic shopping opportunities in Beijing so if you are likely to indulge in some retail therapy, more money may be required!

Yuan is better than dollars when it comes to tipping although both can be used.

For an average sized group we would generally recommend $35-50 per person which will be split between all of the local Chinese team; guide, assistant guide, drivers and support.

The hotel in Beijing will have internet access and many restaurants and bars in the city will also offer WIFI access. Out on the trail we are less likely to find WIFI although there are regular developments being made to these rural communities and the services at the accommodation are constantly improving.

There is generally a good mobile phone signal throughout this trek however 3G and 4G connections might not always be possible.

There are sockets available at the accommodation each night that you can use to charge your electronic equipment. At the farmhouse there are fewer electrical outlets available so you will need to share with your fellow trekkers.

China generally uses the “I” type (3 prong – also used in Australia & NZ) but most hotel outlets will also accommodate the “A” type from North America (2 prongs, no earth wire).

Your local guide will be a native Chinese speaker with a very good command of the English language. He/she will be more than happy to teach you some basic Chinese words and phrases to help you communicate and to get more from your experience in China. Your guide will also be available to translate for you if there is something you need help with.

We would also recommend buying a Chinese phrase book and doing some reading prior to arriving in China.

Key words:
Hello – Ni Hao
Thank you – Xie Xie
How much – Duo Shao Qian
Where is – Zai Na