Let’s Go: The Great Wall of China Hiking Tour | April 27 – May 5, 2019

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Let’s explore the Great Wall of China – one of the wonders of the world – in a way few do. It’s a hiking tour full of engaging experiences along the way, with participative environmental protection activities and luxury being a part of it. One of the highlights would be the Great Wall Resort & Spa with its private Great Wall access and fully escorted Wall and City tours.

The trip is curated jointly by Offbeat Travel and Club Kunzum.

OVERVIEW – 9 Days/8 Nights: April 27 – May 5, 2019
A wonder, luxury stays, adventurous hikes and spontaneous contribution to protecting the environment, come together in this tour which we endeavour to make more responsible, more comfortable and more enjoyable.

HIGHLIGHTS
* Hikes up the world-famous historical architectural wonder, Great Wall of China, at several locations.
* As a Responsible Tourist, an opportunity to be awarded the Great Wall Guard Certificate.
* Tours through the historically rich capital, Beijing.
* A local cuisine with a local family.

** SCROLL BELOW FOR DETAILED ITINERARY **

PRICING
EARLY BIRD (TILL MARCH 15, 2019)
Club Kunzum Members: Rs. 84,000 + Air Tickets
Non Members: Rs. 86,000 + Air Tickets

REGULAR PRICE (AFTER MARCH 15, 2019)
Club Kunzum Members: Rs. 92,000 + Air Tickets
Non Members: Rs. 94,000 + Air Tickets

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
All costs above are per person on a twin sharing basis. Single supplement is Rs. 25,000 per head.

GST EXTRA @5% will be applicable on all rates.

NO DISCOUNTS PLEASE!!
Please don’t embarrass us by asking for discounts on the above pricing. We cannot curate a memorable experience by cutting on prices. What we promise is that you will discover a new way to travel with Kunzum – and would want to do so again and again.

INCLUSIONS
* Private English-speaking local guide.
* Private air-conditioned coach with experienced driver.
* Entrance fees mentioned in the program.
* 7 Nights: Accommodation with breakfast.
* 3 Nights at Gubei Water Town (3 star)
* 1 Night at Mutianyu Great Wall (3 star)
* 3 Nights at Beijing: Feitian Hotel (or similar; 4 star)
* 6 Dinners
* 1 Duck Dinner
* 1 Lunch with Local Family on Day 7

EXCLUSIONS
* Air tickets
* Visas
* Canals in the Water Town at Simatai Great Wall
* Hot Spring at Gubei Water Town
* Cable cars on the Great Wall
* Toboggan downhill on Mutianyu Great Wall
* Other lunches and meals not mentioned.
* Drinks including alcoholic and soft beverages and water.
* Laundry, shopping and personal expenses.
* Travel Insurance (Recommended).

CONTACT
Kunzum Travel Café
T-49, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016

Kunzum Travel Café
A40, Kibithu Villas Complex, Sector 47
Opposite Good Earth City Centre / Hilton Garden Inn Baani Square
Gurgaon 122018, Haryana

Mobile: +91.9650702777 / +91.8800200280
Email: wetravel@kunzum.com
Timings: 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Mondays Closed

PAYMENT & TERMS
* You can secure a spot with an advance payment of Rs. 50,000. Balance must be paid latest by March April 7, 2019.
* We will not be able to offer any refunds for cancellations. However, you are free to nominate someone to take your place or even resell your booking.
* Pricing may be modified if there are significant USD exchange rate changes.

You can register by paying the requisite fee as follows:
* Cash (with PAN details for payments of Rs. 25,000)
* Cheque favouring ‘Kunzum Ventures Pvt. Ltd.’
* Online: www.payumoney.com/events/#/buyTickets/greatwallofchina
* Bank transfer (request for account information)

THE ITINERARY
Day 1: Beijing
Land in Beijing today. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Beijing.

Overnight in Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing and Simatai
Arrival in Beijing and transfer to Simatai. Upon arrival, check in at the Great Wall Resort and Spa in Gubei Water Town at the feet of Simatai Great Wall. This night, don’t miss the post-dinner walking tour through this picturesque water town; catch grand views of the Simatai Great Wall. You may also enjoy a hot spring spa (cost not included) to rejuvenate and recover from jet leg.

Overnight in Simitai.

Day 3: Simatai
Follow the private path from the Great Wall Resort, climb up and spend the whole morning on the Simatai Great Wall. (Optional sunrise watching can be organised upon request if weather permits.) The hike takes three hours. Descend for lunch in the Water Town. Enjoy an afternoon boat ride through the fascinating inner canals of this unique water town, that provide a glimpse of what ancient China would have been like. A view of the Great Wall (Boat Ticket charges not included) from another angle at a distance. Picturesque sunset at the Great Wall before dinner.

Overnight at Simatai.

Day 4: Simatai — Jinshanling — Simatai
A 45-minute drive to Jinshanling covering 18 kilometers, after breakfast, followed by a 4-hour hike on the wall. A picturesque picnic with packed lunches on the Wall. In the afternoon, you are welcome to be a Great Wall Guard by collecting littered waste along the walk, thus getting a Great Wall Guard Certificate from CYTS and liaise with National Tourism Board for reporting the decent voluntarism and the contribution we made to environmental protection. Dinner upon return to Gubei Water town.

Overnight at Gubei Water Town.

Day 5: Simatai — Huanghuacheng — Mutianyu
Check out early from Simatai. Transfer by road to Huanghuacheng Section which is about 130kilometers away and takes two hours. It will take 4 hours to hike on the Wall today. We can also arrange a Great Wall Guard opportunity should clients want. Drive to Mutianyu area for dinner and staying overnight.

Day 6: Mutianyu — Beijing
Check out and head to Mutianyu Great Wall. A 3-hour hike along the Wall, followed by another packaged sandwich lunch in this pleasant setting.Another Great Wall Guard opportunity. We also offer optional toboggan downhill to finish the Great Wall hike. Transfer back to Beijing for dinner.

Overnight in Beijing.

Day 7: Beijing
We cover 15 kms of the capital city in 5 hours. A subway ride leads to Tian’anmen Square, followed by a trip to the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park to enjoy a panoramic view of the heart of Beijing. Walking further takes you through Hutong Lanes; a local rickshaw ride from there takes you to lunch with a local family. Walk from there to the Drum Tower along the old street to Lama Temple.

Day 8: Beijing
This day is for self-exploration at your own leisure. There is an option of taking a half-day tour to Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace (including a boat ride on Kunming lake) with lunch. In the evening, a farewell Roast Duck dinner awaits.

Day 9: Departure from Beijing

Map (1)
Simatai section was constructed under the supervision of Qi Jiguang, a famous general in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It stretches 3.4 miles (5.4 kilometers). This section has 34 beacon towers, with 18 of them in the western part and 16 in the east. They are relatively close to each other, with the average distance of about 460 feet (140 meters) between each. This section offers arguably the finest hiking anywhere on the Great Wall. It is extremely photogenic, with over 18 watch-towers, and steep gradients that give constantly changing perspectives and wide, open views. There is fascinating variety in the watchtowers here. Some have two storeys, others three. Some have flat roofs, others rounded and others again are pitched with upturned eaves. The walkway along the top is paved with square bricks providing a level surface wide enough to construct or erect batteries. This section of the wall is wild, ruined, preserved and original.
Map (2)
Jinshanling Section was constructed under the direction of general Xu Da in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and renovated under the supervision of the great general Qi Jiguang and the local governor Tan Lun in 1567. Jinshanling section has 67 watchtowers, 3 beacon towers, and 5 passes. They are densely distributed, at intervals of 55 yards (50 meters) to 110 yards (100 meters). Jinshanling section zigzags from Longyu Pass in the west, and ends at the Wangjing Tower in the east, with a total length of 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometers), a height of 16 feet (5 meters) to 26 feet (8 meters), and an altitude of 2,297 feet (700 meters) above sea level. The watchtowers differ in construction materials, the number of tiers, and the patterns of roofs. Some of them are made of bricks and wood, while others are made of bricks and stone. Some have one storey, while others have two or three. The roofs of the watchtowers also vary, including domes, flat roofs, square ones, and octagonal ones.
Map (3)
Originally built in the Beiqi Dynasty (550 A.D.-577 A.D.), Huanghuacheng section was extended and consolidated in the Ming Dynasty due to its close distance to the Ming Tombs area. It was critical to protect the imperial tombs area in the Ming Dynasty. Huanghuacheng is the commanding centre amongst the four adjacent defences. The Wall was built on steep mountain ridges and it can be seen from a far distance. Two reservoirs were built in the 1970s and the Wall was cut down at two positions; thus there’s a reflection of the Wall in the reservoirs. The Wall is steepat the beginning and you have to take many breaks to ease your pace. You will meander through jungles and bushes after the midway point. A stunning view is waiting for you when you reach the last watchtower. You feel like you are standing on the top of the Wall and enjoying a beautiful lake scenery.
Map (4)
Mutianyu section was first built in Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557). In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang, two famous patriotic generals, rebuilt it in order to strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded the strategic pass. It served as the northern protective screen, guarding the capital and imperial mausoleums for generations. There are 23 watchtowers distributed at close intervals along the wall.Mutianyu section offers a wonderfully satisfying experience of the Wall. It has superb scenery, dense vegetation and many fine watch-towers in an excellent restored section which is about six metres broad. The brickwork is elaborate, with crenellations on both sides and finely curved eaves on some watchtower roofs. There are decorative gables with animal statues, and tablets bearing calligraphy above some entrances. You will be rewarded if you approach Zhenbeilou Tower, where you will have a breathtaking view of Jiankou section which is purely wild and unrepaired area.

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