ChallengeHer - Cycle China 2019

Challenge level: 3 out of 5

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When can I go?

9 May - 17 May 2019	On Sale
Duration	9 days

What does it cost?

Registration fee (payable today) $523

Remaining amount Self Funded Pay the balance $2475 Sponsorship Minimum sponsorship target $4950

Total commitment

ChallengeHer - Cycle China 2019

The debut women-only ChallengeHer cycle will give you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride the Dragon's Back (a.k.a. the iconic Great Wall of China). Raise money for a charity of your choice, while cycling through rustic, rural China and marvelling at the panoramic views of rolling green hills and stunning architecture. At the end of the challenge, you can explore the fascinating capital of Beijing and its Forbidden City.

This unforgettable women-only adventure is not only a great way to get fit - it's a chance to make life-long friendships and explore an amazing part of the world, all the while raising money for the cause that's most important to you.

You also have the option to self-fund your costs and raise as much as you can for your chosen charity, without having the pressure of a minimum sponsorship target.

Want all this info in one handy document?

Get all the information you need about ChallengeHer Cycle China 2019 in the challenge info pack here.

Your itinerary

Days 1 & 2
London - Beijing - Huang Ya Guan

After an overnight flight from London Heathrow to Beijing, we’re met by our ground handler at Beijing airport and transferred by coach to our hotel at Huang Ya Guan. This area receives few Western tourists, so we can get a taste of traditional Chinese culture, while admiring the Great Wall of China and the stunning views of rugged, green mountains. We spend the rest of the day bike fitting and exploring the area. You have time this afternoon to stroll around Huang Ya Guan, a typical and fascinating Chinese town, where the new China meets the old and traditional China.

Day 3
Huang Ya Guan - Pinggu | approx. 61km

From our starting point in front of the Great Wall at Huang Ya Guan, we follow the undulating and twisting shore of a beautiful lake. We continue on to flat and comfortably wide roads and stop for lunch at Buddha Hill. This is a stunning local landmark, where the Giant Buddha towers over lush surroundings. Our break gives us the opportunity to explore this holy site. We then cycle back to the lake, which forms the backdrop of our hotel at Pinggu.

Day 4
Pinggu - Miyun Reservoir | approx. 102km

Today kicks off with a gentle 25km flat stretch to our first testing climb. We’re rewarded with a taste of rural China, as we cycle through some picturesque villages and encounter local farming communities, tucked away in rolling green hills. For most of the day, we ride through the hills, before descending to the shore of the Miyun Reservoir, which supplies the majority of Beijing with its drinking water. Here, we settle into our overnight hotel.

Day 5
Miyun Reservoir - Ming Tombs at Shisanling | approx. 98km

Our longest day of riding offers us a mixture of flat cycling on bike lanes through fast developing Chinese towns and climbs through the rugged countryside. We stop for lunch today at a local restaurant near the Great Wall at Mutianyu, before taking on further climbs through forested areas. After a last stop near the Ming Tombs, we settle in our comfortable hotel.

Day 6
Shisanling - Sheng Ping Yuan | approx. 74km

We start the day with some steep climbs and then catch our breath on some easier, downhill sections. These green hills reward us with exquisite views above the lush and ancient valleys. A long descent brings us to a small and bustling market town, where the local farmers gather to sell their fresh produce. We enjoy lunch in a local countryside restaurant. This afternoon, our route cuts through the mildly undulating countryside on well-maintained and surprisingly empty roads. A joy to cycle!

Day 7
Sheng Ping Yuan - Old section of wall at Badaling - Beijing | approx. 48km

Today, we leave the rolling hills behind us and plunge into a more built-up area, where modern skyscrapers, prestigious building projects and wide, modern and smooth roads symbolise the rapid development of China. It’s a flat day of cycling until the last kilometre over a steep, stone paved track to our finish line, within touching distance of an old section of the Great Wall of China near Badaling. After lunch, our coach transfers us to our hotel in Beijing, where we settle in a very comfortable hotel. You have the option to visit a traditional Chinese foot massage parlour after dinner and this might be just what you need after our demanding, yet rewarding, adventure.

Day 8
Beijing

Today, we have a free day to explore Beijing and take an optional tour of some of the city’s many famous sights, including the Forbidden City palace complex museum, the iconic royal lakeside retreat of the Summer Palace and the stunning plaza of Tiananmen Square. In the evening, we meet up with the ChallengeHer Trek China group and celebrate our achievements.

Day 9
Beijing - London

We transfer to Beijing airport for our daytime flights to the UK.

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Self Funded

Cover your tour costs and the registration fee yourself and then fundraise as much as you can for the charity of your choice with no minimum target.

$2,475

Pay the balance

Pay a non-refundable registration fee, which is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
Pay the challenge costs (plus airport taxes and fuel surcharge) yourself, 10 weeks before your challenge starts.
Choose to fundraise as much as you can for the charity of your choice, or make a personal donation.
In return, everything for the challenge will be provided – flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge), food, accommodation, transfers, bike hire, guides, medical support etc.

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Sponsorship

Pay a non-refundable registration fee and then commit to fundraising a minimum sponsorship amount for your chosen charity.

$4,950

Minimum sponsorship target

Pay a non-refundable registration fee and then commit to fundraising a minimum sponsorship target for a charity of your choice.
Your charitable funds must be paid in 10 weeks before your challenge starts.
In return, everything for the challenge will be provided – flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge), food, accommodation, transfers, bike hire, guides, medical support etc.
The more money you raise for the challenge, the higher the percentage of funds that directly support the work of your chosen charity.

Book my place

FAQs
ChallengeHer - Cycle China 2019

How fit do I have to be?

This challenge is not designed for Olympic athletes – it is designed for people looking for an amazing goal to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part on this challenge will have little or no fitness level when they sign up. This challenge is the perfect motivation to get fit, lose weight and have an experience of a lifetime.

I’m worried about signing up on my own…

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the amazing camaraderie and life long friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.

Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for ChallengeHer Cycle China 2019. Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising. You may also want to reach out to the fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

Am I too old?

Absolutely not! One of the amazing things about the challenge is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special. The age range is likely to be from 18 to 75.

Do I need special equipment?

A cycling helmet is essential. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a camel back-type hydration system. Apart from that no specialist equipment is required. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go. Cyclists will have the use of 18 or 21-gear bikes and it is suggested that you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.

Where will we sleep overnight?

We'll experience a whole mix of accommodation during this challenge, including hotels with stunning mountain vistas, simple campsites under a canvas of stars and traditional farmhouse lodgings.

Can I extend my stay at the end of the challenge?

Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay, you will need to come out of our group flights (and of course, we would deduct the cost from your balance).

What other costs will I pay?

In addition to paying your registration fee you will need to budget for your airport taxes and the fuel surcharge (currently £350 but subject to change – up or down), personal travel insurance, gratuities, optional tours and personal expenses.

What about insurance and visas?

You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. Dream Challenges has a recommended policy that provides appropriate cover for this type of activity. We will send you the details once you have registered. You can however take out your own insurance providing it covers you for a charity cycle in China. You will be required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into China, we will send you all the relevant information and forms to do this before the challenge.

How will you support me?

The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your challenge and will support you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the challenge itself. Once you have registered we will send you a realistic training programme to help you get fit for the event. The programme builds up gradually as the event gets closer.