B
Blythe House Hospice
Sponsored Trek · Trip Diary
6 – 14 November 2026

Sandra's Great Wall of China Trek

Nine days from Beijing to Simatai, walking five sections of the Wall in support of Blythe House Hospice — with everything Paul checked, confirmed and prepared before she goes.

47km trekked
2,395m total ascent
5trek days
Emiratesvia Manchester
Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 · 675m Day 6 Day 7
ASCENT PROFILE — GUBEIKOU TO SIMATAI ALL DAYS WELL UNDER 5,000M POLICY THRESHOLD
Full itinerary

Manchester to Beijing and back

1
Manchester to Beijing
Friday 6 November
Overnight flight with Emirates.
2
Arrive in Beijing
Saturday 7 November
Check into a central hotel, group dinner and trip briefing. Free time to explore the hutongs.
3
Beijing to Gubeikou
Sunday 8 November
Coach transfer (~3hrs), then trek uphill to an original, unrestored section of the Wall, descending through forest to the first guesthouse.
7.5km410m ascent4–5 hrs
4
Gubeikou
Monday 9 November
Itinerary text mirrors Day 3 exactly — worth confirming the real route with the tour operator before departure.
7.5km410m ascent4–5 hrs
5
Gubeikou to Jinshanling
Tuesday 10 November
The toughest day. Trek to the "dragon standing on the beautiful golden mountain" — an unrestored section with crumbled stairs and steep stone slopes.
15.5km675m ascent5–6 hrs
6
Jinshanling to Simatai
Wednesday 11 November
A restored 15th-century section, in contrast to the previous days. Longest day by time, on easier underfoot conditions.
9km450m ascent7–8 hrs
7
Simatai to Beijing
Thursday 12 November
Final half-day trek to a remote UNESCO-listed section, then a farewell to the trek team before transferring back to Beijing.
7.5km450m ascent4–5 hrs
8
Beijing
Friday 13 November
Guided visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, free time, and a farewell dinner.
9
Fly home
Saturday 14 November
Evening transfer to the airport; the return flight departs just after midnight, landing in the UK on 15 November. (Those on the Xi'an extension continue to 17–18 November instead.)
Insurance cover

Sandra is fully covered

Emergency medical

£10,000,000

Worldwide, per person — includes rescue, treatment and repatriation.

Cancellation / coming home early

£10,000

Per person, £50 excess applies.

Personal liability

£2,000,000

Per incident, per policy.

Belongings

£1,500

£400 cap per valuable item — keep electronics in a locked hotel safe.

✓

Barclays Travel Plus Pack (Pack ID 7202924725) — active since 15 August 2026, well ahead of departure. Sandra is covered as Paul's nominated partner and can travel independently of him under the policy terms.

✓

Pre-existing conditions upgrade in place — Sandra's HRT is covered 15 August 2026 to 14 August 2027, at no extra premium.

✓

Every trek day checked against the policy's excluded activities list. The exclusion only bites above 5,000m altitude or for genuine mountaineering/climbing — this trek tops out at 675m ascent on foot trails, described throughout as a "trek," never an "expedition." No activity upgrade required.

Worth a quick check

The policy excludes cover for anyone "participating in an activity as a professional or where being paid or receiving benefits of any kind, such as travel and/or accommodation expenses." This is aimed at sponsored athletes, not typical charity challenge fundraisers — but if Blythe House Hospice is covering Sandra's trip costs directly (rather than her booking and paying herself), it's worth a two-minute call to Barclays on 0800 158 2675 to confirm this doesn't apply.

Before you go

Practical checklist