Great Wall of China

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Trip Details

Full details & information about what you can expect in the lead up & during the challenge.

Costs & Fundraising

The balance for your trip cost, will be due to us 10 weeks before your departure. You will be sent a reminder & an invoice 12 weeks before, giving you 2 weeks to make the payment. 

80% of your fundraising target is due to be with your charity 12 weeks before the challenge, meaning that it either needs to be banked with them, or sat against a Just Giving page. We will then invoice your charity for the remaining cost of your place on the challenge, it is important you make that 80% target otherwise your charity will not pay for your place, and your trip could be cancelled.

The remaining 20% of your balance will be due to be with your charity 4 weeks after your trip ends. 

Our base cost is on a twin share room basis, if you are signing up as a couple of two friends – you can tell us when you register onto the challenge, so we ensure that you will be sharing a room.

If you are signing up to the challenge as an individual, we will match you with someone of the same gender and roughly the same age. 

You can choose to pay an additional supplement to have your own room (and/or tent) on the challenge. 

All of our groups are an average size of approximately 20 participants. We welcome individuals, couples and groups of friends on to our challenges, and many who join us literally have a mountain to climb in terms of the scale of the challenge they are taking on. We advocate camaraderie and team bonding, and really believe that this enhances your experience.

Yes as long as we know in advance of the trip, we can cater for all dietary requirements & requests. 

Signing Up to the Challenge

Once you pay your deposit & have signed up to the challenge, you will recieve a confirmation email welcoming you onto the challenge. 

You will also recieve instructions of how to download our challenge app which has in it all the information you need to start preparing for your challenge – from kit lists to training guides. 

We will keep you updated with regular emails & newsletters in the lead up to the challenge, as well as information on training days & weekends.

If you need to cancel your challenge, your deposit is non-refundable – therefore we recommend you speak to our team to see what alternative options you may have.

Yes, if for whatever reason you need to push your departure back to a later one, or change your trip all together you can do so for a date change fee of £175, and subject to availability.

Country entry requirements can change as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, and it’s something our team constantly keep their eyes on. If we have to cancel the trip – you will be offered a transfer across to a future date/ departure or a full refund. However if you need to cancel your trip – e.g. you test positive, then you will need to seek reimbursement from your travel insurance. 

Currently we do not have the accounting facility to take instalments, we can only take your payment in full at least 12 weeks before your departure.

Preparation

Yes – in our challenge app, which you can download once you are fully registered onto the challenge we’ve a host of training materials, guides & advice for you to use. We also have training weekends, and days which you can sign up to meet others & test out not just your fitness, but your mental readiness for the challenge and your all important kit! 

Closer to the challenge we will set up a Facebook group, so that you can meet online others whom are going to be on your trip. We also have a lively & dynamic Facebook group you can join at any time to meet other fellow challengers – past & present to share and swap training tips, advice & stories. 

You will need a specific travel insurance, which covers the duration of your trip, along with full cover for any activities you will be doing (i.e. trekking, cycling) and also to cover you up to any altitude you may be trekking to. Once you are signed up to the challenge, we will send you full details of our recommended providers of appropriate cover.

Life on the Challenge

  • International flights
  • Action Challenge trek leader
  • Full support team, including local guides
  • UK medic
  • All accommodation
  • All Meals, except in free time
  • Airport / Air travel taxes
  • All transfers in local vehicles
  • Celebration dinner
  • Discounted training weekends in Snowdonia
  • Fitness and training guide
  • Discounts from UK retailers
  • Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health
  • Insurance
  • Vaccinations – up-to-date on boosters.
  • Tips for local staff
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Personal kit / equipment
  • Airline fuel surcharge
  • We recommend bringing £300 worth of Chinese Yuan for tipping, souvenirs and extra activities on Day 8.

If you are booking a land-only package, we recommend flying in to Beijing and planning to arrive around the same time as the main team. This way you can join the team transfer to the hotel. If we plan to be in Beijing before the group arrive, we will let you know their arrival time so you can meet them at the airport.

Trekking the Great Wall is a reasonably tough challenge, but one that is very achievable with the correct training. It requires a good level of strength, stamina and determination. Your training should incorporate aerobic (endurance building) and anaerobic (strength building) exercises. Most importantly, you should get in some good hill walking, in the boots you are going to be wearing on the challenge. We also recommend taking the stairs instead of the lift, or going to step classes at gym!

An average trekking day is 10km with plenty of steps!

Each day will start with breakfast at our accommodation, and on some days we will pack up a lunch to carry with us for the day and eat on the trail. We will then board the transfer to the starting point of the day’s hike. While trekking there will be regular breaks to take on water and rest in the shade at watchtowers, with a longer break for lunch. On return to our accommodation, there will be time to relax before dinner – with more downtime in the evening for conversation and socialising.

Yes! We offer three different extension packages that you can book onto post challenge.

    • 3 Day Package to see the Terracotta Warriors.
    • 5 Day Package to see the Terracotta Warriors and the Giant Pandas.
    • 3 Day Package to the exciting bustling city of Shangai.

If you are interested in one of our packages, or just extending your stay out in China, a request will be made to the airline once we have your specific dates.

The Great Wall covers mountainous terrain, so expect steep climbs up the stairs to each watchtower, and then a descent down on the other side. Often, the stairs have been built with uneven spacing (to make it difficult for invading riders on horseback to traverse!) so you need to remain aware of each step as you climb and descend. While climbing the stairs, you can be exposed to the sun, so make sure you have sunscreen, while in the watchtowers, we are able to enjoy some shade.

There will be three varied and nutritious meals a day and a minimum of three litres of bottled water. A typical breakfast consists of a choice of Chinese and Western style food including fruit, toast, cereal and ‘congee’, a traditional Chinese rice porridge. Lunch and dinners usually comprise rice, stir fried and steamed vegetables, dumplings and a selection of meat. Chinese cuisine varies throughout the country and you may find it quite different to Chinese restaurants at home and courses may be served simultaneously. Local beer and wine can be purchased at reasonable prices although Chinese wines tend to be of a distinct flavour and strength. Imported alcohol tends to be expensive.

Luggage will either be left at our accommodation each day while trekking, and on days where we change accommodation it will be transported by vehicle and waiting for you when you arrive. You will only need to carry your day pack containing water, waterproofs, suncream and other personal effects.

We will be trekking an average of 10 km each day, over steep trails. This means we will need to keep an average walking pace of 3 – 4km per hour. Each trail will have a cut off time, meaning that if members of the group are unable to reach certain points by the cut off times, we will need to exit the wall for collection by our support vehicle. Our UK Challenge Leader will set the pace at the front of the group, while the medic will walk at the rear.

Your challenge will be led by an experienced Action Challenge leader. Our leaders are selected for their experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, sensitivity and sense of humour, and will ensure that your trip runs smoothly.

You will also be accompanied by an Action Challenge doctor, who will be carrying a fully stocked medical kit in case of any emergency. They will carry out daily health checks, and the re-assurance of their presence should allow you to focus on, and enjoy your challenge!

There will also be a local support crew consisting of a guide, assistant guide (for bigger groups) and a support vehicle.We have a full support team in country with daily contact between the Action Challenge Head Quarters in London and local staff. If for any reason you need to leave the group early local staff will assist you and will arrange transfers, accommodation and medical care if necessary.

The weather in Northern China is characterised by long hot Summers and very cold Winters, so the best times to visit are during the Spring and Autumn. The springtime is fresh and mild, with snow on the mountains and blossom on the cherry trees, whilst autumn around the Beijing area means big clear blue skies, and pleasant temperatures. The temperatures in the countryside can decrease quite dramatically at night, especially when staying in the rustic lodges, so warm long sleeved items are essential. While trekking on the wall the weather is always unpredictable and can change quickly. To ensure that you embrace this as part of the experience, make sure that you are ready for hot sun at midday, brisk winds, and the occasional rain shower.

Our Brochure

The Challenge brochure details the full itinerary, inclusions, and more – download for a full run down of the challenge details. 

Dates & Prices

GET IN TOUCH

Enquire with us below or if you want to speak to one of the team call on +44 (0)207 6695

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