GUIDE MONGOLIA & CHINA 28 DAYS JULY STROUD HIGH AND MARLING SCHOOL ERN: 2019FHF03T1

Transcription

1 GUIDE MONGOLIA & CHINA 28 DAYS JULY STROUD HIGH AND MARLING SCHOOL ERN: 2019FHF03T1

2 WHERE ARE YOU GOING? MONGOLIA & CHINA Step off the plane into a world of nomads and eagle hunters, where wild horses gallop across vast uninhabited deserts and grasslands. Mongolia is a place where the ancient traditions of the past are still practiced today. Get to know the people of this magical land in the unique capital, Ulaanbaatar, before heading for the horizon on horseback across the endless steppe. Travel on to a whole different world, the bright lights of Beijing - where you can try fried scorpions at the markets! Then enter the Forbidden City before venturing along a section of the 8850km Great Wall of China! The purpose of this brief is to introduce your expedition opportunity. It will give you a feel for the destination and the type of activities that you will be involved in. We hope this brief snapshot will leave you feeling inspired and wanting more! HIGHLIGHTS Traverse the Steppe by horseback Trek through one of Earth s greatest wildernesses Explore Beijing; a mega-city of the ancient and modern world Witness a wonder of the world- the Great Wall of China WHAT IT S LIKE... PHYSICAL RATING: Moderately Expedition. CULTURE SHOCK: Eye-opening - You will experience a very different world! ALTITUDE: The expedition will not pass over 3000m. VISA: Required for British nationals* * Please note requirements may change DESTINATION FACTS RELIGION/S: Buddhism, Islam, indigenous beliefs. CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL INTEREST: Mongolia is the world s most sparsely populated country and over a third of people are nomadic. LANGUAGES: Mongolian and Chinese GEOGRAPHY: The Gobi desert, mountains and steppe cover Mongolia, while rolling hills, grasslands, canyons and lush greenery follow the route to Beijing. CLIMATE: Mongolia is dry with warm summers at low altitudes and very cold winters at all altitudes. Beijing has hot and humid summers with cool winters.

3 WHAT IS AN? Expeditions are a life-changing experience, a chance for young people to go on a fun and educational journey with their friends. Most expedition destinations are in developing countries, allowing students to not only experience stunning parts of the world but also witness a very different way of life, often with the chance to immerse themselves in the culture through project work. HOW IT WORKS... EXPEDITION TIMELINE EXPEDITION LAUNCH ITINERARY DEVELOPMENT FUNDRAISING LEADER MEETING EXPEDITION TRAINING FINAL PREPARATION FUNDRAISING Our expeditions are made up of four main phases; acclimatisation, trekking, project and rest & relaxation. During the build-up we put students in the driving seat, allowing them to finalise their itinerary alongside our experts. Acclimatisation Arrive in country and spend some time getting used to the new culture whilst planning your next phase and changing currency. Trekking You may take part in a trek doing either a cultural trek through villages or an attempt to summit a nearby mountain! Project Dedicate some time to helping on a project - either community or environmental based, often working with local people. R&R Enjoy some R&R! This could involve a few days on a beautiful beach, reflecting on your expedition or an adrenaline adventure.

4 EXAMPLE ITINERARY The below itinerary has been created by our Destination Managers as an example of what you may choose to do on expedition. DAY 1-4 DAY 5-10 DAY DAY DAY DAY DAY 28 Fly from the UK to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Spend a couple of days acclimatising to your new surroundings and time-zone. Soak up the unique culture whilst learning some useful phrases! Travel to your project on the outskirts of the city. You will be working at a day care centre for some of Mongolia s most underprivileged children, playing games, teaching or helping with simple renovation work. Say goodbye to your new friends and prepare to set off on a five day trek into the wilds of Mongolia. After your trek you will come across a hot spring where you can enjoy a relaxing soak in the luxurious hot waters! Travel back to Ulaanbaatar and stock up on supplies before setting off on an ancient Mongolian experience - an unforgettable horse trek across the steppe! Take a spectacular train journey across central Asia to the bright lights of Beijing. Enjoy four days of touring the ancient and modern wonders of Beijing. You could choose to visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. Celebrate the successful completion of your expedition with a group meal out. Travel to the airport and fly back to the UK for your homecoming. Due to the changing nature of the world over the build up period, Outlook may be required to change aspects of, or the order of the itinerary. Outlook will consult with the Link Teacher/Group Leader and all participants if this is the case.

5 ADVENTURE At the Itinerary Development Day, with guidance from one of our destination experts, the team will be able to choose from options to finalise their itinerary. The choices may include the project they work with, the challenge level and type of trek and where they go for some rest and relaxation! Take a trek in the stunning north-eastern slopes of the Khangai Mountains, around Tsetserleg in the Arkhangai province. Journey through magnificent valleys nestled between rolling hills and rugged mountains where crystal clear lakes and meandering rivers cut through the landscape. End your trek at the Tsenger Hot Springs where the waters of the spring flow remarkably hot, but are cooled by attending staff using a system of gates and water from the nearby river. Experience the life of a Mongolian nomad with a horseback ride through the open steppe in the Bohog area, passing stunning mountain landscapes on the way. You will be accompanied by English speaking guides who will assist you with riding the horses as well as giving you an in-depth insight into the history, culture and landscape of Mongolia. PROJECT Bayasgalant, Mongolian for Happy, is a day-care centre for 50 children aged between 6-13 years. Instead of being left alone at home, hanging around or living on the streets; children from some of the poorest families attend the centre where they get healthy meals, education and can play in a safe environment. Through their unique philosophy of helping people help themselves, Bayasgalant has become an influential and sustainable part of the community. For four years, Outlook groups have been heavily involved in building and renovation work at the Bayasgalant day care centre, enabling the number of children who attend to grow from 50 to 130. The next step is to renovate a building to provide a kindergarten at the centre. The children that Bayasgalant work with have very little to look forward to. Our teams also support the volunteers to take them to local countryside on summer camps for many the only holiday they will ever have and a chance to escape their day-to-day struggles. Enjoy the ultimate train journey across central Asia to Beijing! Spend the day watching the Mongolian landscape rush past the windows, and watch as the landscape changes from dusty plains to soaring mountains and lush green valleys as you journey across China. Once in Beijing, explore some of the many historical sites, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden Palace, Temple of Heaven, vast spellbinding markets and of course the Great Wall of China!

6 WHAT S INCLUDED? UK BUILD UP* Itinerary Development Session. Expedition Leader Meeting. Final Preparation Day. TRAINING Expedition Training event in the UK with your Expedition Leader. LINK TEACHER TRAINING Leader Team Training (first aid as required). LEADER TEAM COMPOSITION 2 Link Teachers and an Outlook Expedition Leader. FLIGHTS International flight. INSURANCE Comprehensive overseas medical insurance. TRANSPORT All overseas transport. IN DESTINATION All food and accommodation. All group activities including any entrance fees. All rest and relaxation activity. WHAT S NOT INCLUDED? Spending money for gifts / souvenirs whilst on expedition. Inoculations, prophylaxis and personal medicine. (All participants based in England and Wales receive 10% discount at Nomad Travel). Visas and passports please refer to page 3 to see if a visa is required. Personal belongings insurance (this may be covered by your household / contents insurance). Loss of passport. Cancellation insurance (contact our Customer Service Team for more information). Personal equipment (e.g. rucksack, sleeping bag, waterproof clothing); all participants receive 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor. Transport to and from UK-based training courses, to the Final Preparation Day venue and from the airport. Food and accommodation in the UK, unless specified.

7 HOW TO APPLY Visit our website and click on the Go to Basecamp button. Enter the ERN code from the cover of this brief. Read the information on Basecamp including the Booking Terms & Conditions. When you are ready click Apply for Expedition. Follow the instructions to set up your Basecamp account. YOUR EXAMPLE PAYMENT PLAN Direct Debit: Your payments will be spread evenly and collected monthly, up to the final balance date. Deposit: 06/12/17 Remaining Balance: instalments of Debit/credit card, bank transfer or cheque: Payments can be made via Basecamp or by contacting our Customer Support Team. All payments by credit card are subject to 3.5% surcharge. Deposit: 06/12/17 Payment 1: 06/04/18 Payment 2: 01/09/18 Final Balance: 01/04/ Please note that payment dates and amounts may change, should there be any delay in securing a minimum of 10 participants for the expedition. phone INFO@OUTLOOKEXPEDITIONS.COM online