Great Wall Marathon and Half Marathon, China

Kathy Loper presents		8th Annual Tour

May 2009

with Kathy Loper and Kurt Bodmer

Event Date: Saturday May 16, 2009

Kathy Loper Events is proud to announce our 8th Annual tour of the Great Wall Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K in Beijing, China on Saturday May 16, 2009. This unique sporting and touring opportunity, under the direction of the Danish and Chinese Athletic Federations is an incredible experience for both the participant and spectator.

"The Marathon of the Millennium" is now an international event. The course is awesome with 8K on the Great Wall. With the 1800 steps, varying greatly in width and height, the course is run on some steep ascents and descents as well as some very narrow passages on the Great Wall. Participants in the full marathon will conquer this section twice, while the half-marathon and 10K routes will travel through the farmland and villages and cover the 1800 steps of the Wall only once. The longest part of the course is flat with some rolling terrain as well as some dirt road as it travels through the Chinese farmlands and villages.

Spectator Friendly

Please note this event is spectator friendly; you don't have to participate in the runs to travel with our tour. Non-participants will have the opportunity to experience The Great Wall at Huangyuaguan on inspection day two days before the actual event. Transportation is available for spectators on event day to various sections of the course to view the runners. So tell your neighbors and family members about this incredible, awesome travel experience.

Race Location

Huangyaguan, China 3-hour drive from Beijing
The Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557AD) and repaired with bricks during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Qi Jiguang added watch towers and other defensive features.

In 1984, the people of Tianjin spent three years repairing roughly 3km of the main wall from Banlagang Mountain in the east to Wangmaoding Mountain in the west. They restored 20 terraces, the Huangyaguan Water Gate, and the Bagua Castle (the Eight Diagrams Castle). The defensive system of the wall is complete. Watch towers, frontier cities, drain holes, emplacements, barracks and other indispensable military facilities are arranged orderly along the wall.

ABC News: Great Wall Marathon Challenges Runners - 2007 event

See video from 2005 tour - Michigan Runner

Available Tours

"Beijing Program" 10 Night Tour - Thursday 07 May - Monday 18 May

2 Night Xian Option available.
Gateway cities for United Airlines: San Francisco (SFO) & Chicago (ORD).
Option Northwest Airlines from West Coast Cities: LAX/SFO/Portland/Seattle/Anchorage for 10N, 9N, and 7N programs only. Pricing is the same. Ask for details.

"Beijing Program" 9 Night Tour - Friday 08 May - Monday 18 May

"China + Pandas" 16 Night Tour - Friday 08 May - Monday 25 May

includes Beijing 9n /Chengdu / Panda World / Mt. Ermei / Shanghai..
2 Night Xian Option available.
Gateway cities for United Airlines: San Francisco (SFO) & Chicago (ORD)

"China + Tibet" 16 Night Tour - Friday 08 May - Monday 25 May

includes Beijing 9n / train / Tibet / Shanghai.
2 Night Xian Option available.
Gateway cities for United Airlines: San Francisco (SFO) & Chicago (ORD)

"Beijing Program" 7 Night Tour - Monday 11 May - Tuesday 19 May

Gateway cities for United Airlines: San Francisco (SFO) & Chicago (ORD).
Option Northwest Airlines from West Coast Cities: LAX/SFO/Portland/Seattle/Anchorage for 10N, 9N, and 7N programs only. Pricing is the same. Ask for details.

Included in packages:

All Beijing packages include:

Air fare non-stop to Beijing and back from Beijing on United Airlines, coach class. Business Class air supplement available on request. Includes weekend surcharge.
Accommodations at Superior First Class to Deluxe Hotels as shown, basis sharing double/twin, non-smoking room. Single room supplement available.
Package rates are based on Superior Rooms in new Tower "B" at Capital Hotel in Beijing.
Full Buffet Breakfast daily at the hotels (special light breakfasts on early morning starts).
"Welcome to China" cocktail and special carbo-loading Pasta Dinner at the Beijing Capital Hotel.
Lunches on tours as shown
In-flight meals at appropriate meal hours.
Group transfers from/to airports, including baggage handling at airports/hotels.
Sightseeing and excursions as shown, including entrance fees to places visited.
English-speaking local guides.
Hotel service charges and hotel taxes.
Tipping to local guides and drivers on included services.
Earn MileagePlus miles for United Airlines/United Express miles flown (bonus miles if in Biz Class).
Great Wall Marathon/Half Marathon/10K/Spectator official Registration Fee of $360.00 which includes: 14May bus site inspection day trip including lunch, 16May race day bus trip including lunch, organization of run by Chinese/Danish organizers, course marshals all along the run route, water stations every 1¹/₂ miles, medical insurance (value $55.00), finisher medal, certificate, Gala Dinner including transfers, etc.
Note: This fee is included in the tour price and is mandatory for every participant on this tour, running or not. We will automatically register you for the event.
20-minute cool-down massage after the run for every Kathy Loper Events participant in our exclusive KLE massage tent at the finish line.
Surprise memento of the run on the Great Wall.
Beijing map, city and shopping information.
A KLE Hospitality Desk in the Lobby of the Beijing Capital Hotel available daily for optional day tours, evening special dinners, or for any other event or shopping suggestions or general information.

In addition, the 16 Night "China + Pandas" tour with Chengdu/PandaWorld/Emei Mount/Guilin/Shanghai includes:

Intra-China air fare, i.e. Beijing-Chengdu-Guilin-Shanghai, coach class.
Accommodations in Deluxe or first class hotel as shown, basis sharing double/twin room. Non-smoking rooms! Single room supplement available.
Full buffet breakfast daily at hotels (special light breakfasts on early morning starts).
Lunch and dinner on tours as shown.
In-flight meals at appropriate meal hours.
Group transfers from/to airports including baggage handling at airports/hotels.
Sightseeing includes entrance fees to places visited.
Excellent English-speaking local guides.
Delicious local flavor food in Chengdu.
Farewell Dinner at famous Wan Xi He Restaurant in Shanghai.
Hotel service charges and hotel taxes on included services

In addition, the 16 Night "Tibet Extension" tour includes:

Air fare Beijing - Xining and Lhasa - Shanghai with coach class.
Express Train Xining to Lhasa, basis sharing a 4-berth compartment.
Accommodations in 4-star hotels in Lhasa and Shanghai, sharing basis. Non-smoking rooms!
Full buffet breakfast at hotel in Lhasa and Shanghai.
Round trip airport transfers.
City tour including Grand Mosque with dinner at local restaurant in Xining.
Sightseeing as indicated.
Hotel taxes and service charges

Not included:

US and overseas International airport taxes which must be on the air tickets (amount fluctuates - presently $148 pp). Applicable amount will be on final invoice for ticketing. Possible air fuel surcharges (currently $205), unknown at this stage for May2009.
US Passport fee (must have a valid US passport valid to at least 01Dec2009).
China Visa Fee (after registration, we will send you a visa kit to process).
Tips to local guides and drivers on Optional Tours and to masseuse at the KLE massage tent after the race.
Items of personal nature, and any items not specifically listed as included herein.
Timing chip, if you don't have one of your own (available is a Great Wall Marathon/Half Marathon "Souvenir" timing chip - $35.00). Every runner must have a timing chip, spectators excepted.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Optional 2-Night Xian Air Excursion Includes:

Air fare Beijing - Xian - Beijing, coach class. First Class upgrade available.
Accommodations at deluxe Xian Hyatt Regency Hotel, basis sharing twin.
Full buffet breakfast at hotel.
Round trip airport transfers in Beijing and Xian.
Tour of the Terra-Cotta Warriors Excavations, including lunch at the digs.
City orientation tour in Xian.
Tang Dynasty Show/Dinner in Xian, including transfers.
Hotel taxes and service charges.
Tipping to local guides and drivers on included services.
Western buffet lunch at Tang Cheng Hotel.
Special Dumpling Banquet at Han Tang Tian Xia Restaurant.

Optional 2-Night Xian Air Excursion available for 10Night, 9Night, and 16N Tours only.

Other Details

Insurance:

Please note that medical coverage is included in your tour price for the time you are in China, including emergency medical treatment on the run including possible evacuation from the run site.

Optional Travel Protection Plan:

is available which covers your moneys paid if you must cancel or interrupt your trip for medical reasons. Must be paid within 21 days of the initial deposit, cannot be added later.

Cancellation:

If cancellation becomes necessary, monies recoverable from the suppliers will be refunded, less $200.00 per person administration fee. Your deposit includes the $360.00 GWM official registration fee and the $55.00 medical insurance coverage while in China, which are subject to the following cancellation conditions:
$100.00 - 15Feb.
$150.00 16Feb-19Mar.
$200.00 20Mar-19Apr.
No refund 20Apr onwards.

If a sharing person drops out, he/she is responsible for the resulting single room supplement cost to the remaining room partner, unless a new share person can be found that suits the remaining room partner.

Deviation / Change Fees:

Your Great Wall Marathon package has been developed as a group movement in order to take advantage of specially negotiated prices when traveling as a group.

A fee of $125.00 per person will apply per desired deviation or change from the original program, plus the extra costs of the new or changed services.

If such changes necessitate cancellation of confirmed air or ground arrangements which are subject to cancellation charges, unrecoverable costs will be added to the change fee (this occurs likely within 60 days of departure when air tickets and other documents have been issued).

Payment Schedule:

For all programs the deposit is $560.00 per person at time of booking (make check payable to Kathy Loper Events). Add Travel Protection Plan (ask for quote) per person if desired. Balance due by latest 10March2009. (Final invoice will be sent out by 15Feb09).

return to top

KLE CA Reg # 2080745-40

Tour Home | Tour Prices & Options | Itineraries | Reservation Form | Register Online| Contact | Kathy Loper Events Home

May 2009