We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
Local Costs
| |
UK |
China |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
£1.00 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
£1.30 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
£1.30 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
£2.20 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
£7.50 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
£14.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
|
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Registering with the Chinese authorities:
You are required to register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival in China: Chinese authorities are now actively enforcing this requirement. If you are staying in a hotel, registration is done on your behalf as part of the check-in process, and you will be registered for the duration of your tour. Please note that if you intend to arrive more than 24 hours before your tour starts or to stay in China after your tour has finished and you are not staying in a hotel, you will need to register with the local Public Security Bureau.
Passengers wishing to extend their stay in China should be aware that current visa regulations only allow foreigners to stay in the country for up to 30 days. Please bare this in mind when planning your trip.
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Chinese Visa: Entry visas are required by all nationalities and can be obtained through Explore’s recommended visa service, Visa Swift, or for overseas clients by their Explore agent.
A SINGLE entry visa is required for this tour and must be obtained before departure.
Please note that if your flights are via any other city in China you must not proceed through customs. Instead you must remain in the transit area and directly proceed to your connecting flight.
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Additional documents needed: in order to finalise the purchase of train tickets the Chinese rail companies require a photocopy of the details page in your passport. In order for our local agent to book the train tickets for your tour please forward us a copy of your passport as soon as possible.
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Vaccinations & Protection
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against malaria, infectious hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Travellers may wish to take immunisation against Japanese Encephalitis.
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Altitude: On Trek
Gradient Chart
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Climate
China has primarily a temperate climate, with a wide spectrum of extremes due to its huge area. Summer months are hot – average temperatures around 30 ºC - and rainy though in the south the climate is tropical and we can experience rain at any time of the year, often falling in sharp tropical rain-storms which are heavy but short lived. Winter is colder and drier, temperatures in Beijing can be as low as -12c.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
One main piece of lockable baggage and a shoulder bag. If you wish to leave some of your belongings/shopping in Beijing after the China Highlights section of your tour, please bring an extra bag with you (or you can buy an inexpensive one locally). Total allowance: 44lbs/20kgs. Remember, you are expected to carry your own baggage – so don’t overload yourself.
It is essential that your baggage is lockable; the airport authorities insist on this. Please be aware, before boarding a flight in China that the Chinese authorities will only allow bottles onto aircraft if they have been checked in as main luggage. Any bottles in the hand luggage may be confiscated.
Whilst walking on the Great Wall your main luggage will be left on the vehicle or in the hotel. You should carry a daypack containing water, sunscreen and a hat at the very least.
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Trek Kit Bag
Need help on clothing or equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/ explore for further information.
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Clothing
Lightweight raingear year round. If you are travelling on the winter departures pack warm sweaters, gloves, scarf, hat, warm coat, thermal underwear.
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Footwear
Comfortable shoes with good grip for the Great Wall and sandals. Light walking boots are recommended for the walk, comfortable shoes or trainers and sandals for other sightseeing.
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Equipment
A small torch. A Mandarin phrase book may be helpful. You may wish to bring a trekking pole with a rubber tip and a torch. You may also find re-hydration salts useful in the summer months.
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General Information
Toll Free USA - 1 800 715 1746 
Toll Free Canada – 1 888 216 3401
This is the North American website
