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Page Title

 Essential Information 

Page Title

 Essential Information 

1. Group size & minimum number of participants

  • We have planned these trips with the objective and expectation to be able to execute it. However, in order to guarantee these tours, a minimum number of 12 participants is required.

  • The maximum number of participants for the tours is 16.

  • In the case that the tours do not reach the minimum participants required and they can not be executed as planned, you will be informed about this 3 months before departure (which is 6 June 2025).

  • Because of the nature of our trip and the local circumstances, there might be situations that require us to make a change to the tours.

2. Enrollment Process

  • Thank you very much for your interest in this cycling tour.

  • The first step in the enrollment process is to complete this enrollment form with your personal details. We will contact you promptly. A deposit is required to guarantee your spot following enrollment for which payment details will be provided.

  • The tour will proceed subject to a minimum number of participants. If the minimum is not reached by 6 June 2025, a full refund of your deposit will be issued immediately.

  • Upon tour confirmation, the balance payment is due.

3. For whom

Riders

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  • To fully enjoy this trip, it’s important that you’re confident and competent in riding a bicycle.

  • The riding is mostly on good tarmac roads, so no technical cycling skills are required, but climbing and descending practice is a great idea before your trip.

  • The cycling distances on this trip are long on some days and there is quite some elevation to conquer, so you’ll need to be reasonably fit. Having good endurance is the key. 

  • Of course, for those less experienced or those simply not finding their riding legs, the support vehicle is never far away for you to take a break for an hour or even a day.

  • The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so be prepared and flexible to ride in all four seasons during this trip.

  • The Tianshan Tour will take us to an altitude of 3400m. The Pamir Extension even goes as high as 4400m. There is less oxygen at these altitudes and your performance will be less than what you’re used to at sea level. Please consider this and adjust your efforts accordingly.​

 

Non-riders

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  • This tour is best suited to guests who want to cycle every day. But if you want to accompany a rider, you can also choose to ride whenever you feel good and enjoy the ride in the van whenever you want to relax. Everyone will have a seat in the van. As you will understand, the vans will stay with the riders and not arrive at the hotel early.

4. Accommodation

  • We believe that you deserve to relax in a comfortable accommodation after your rides.

  • The accommodations for this trip are a mixture of hotels and guest houses that have been chosen on the basis of cleanliness, comfort and route proximity.

  • Due to the nature of the tour and its remoteness however, please be prepared to stay in very basic guest houses for 2 nights during the Tianshan Tour. There simply are no hotels in the proximity:

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       Day 3：639 Wulan Sadeke Xiaoyang Inn

​       Day 7：Kuruli 988 cyclist hostel

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  • All other nights, we will stay in well-equipped and comfortable hotels, like the reference below:​​​​​​​​​

  • At Tashkurgan in Pamir Extension, we will stay in a luxurious glamcampsite for 2 nights. Contrary to your regular campsite, this one offers luxurious tents with regular beds, a fully equipped bathroom and even floor heating!

  • The prices are based on sharing a twin room. Should you wish to have a room all to yourself there will be a single supplement. For more information on this, please contact us.

5. Safety

  • The roads we ride are mostly on well paved tarmac and double lane roads.

  • Traffic on these roads is mostly limited and mainly tourist traffic. Only when leaving Dushanzi (Day 3) and arriving at Kuqa (Day 8) can we expect to share the roads with some trucks.

  • Traffic can be expected to be well behaved. It critical to stay close to the right side of the road. Try to avoid small stones to limit the risk of a flat tyre.

  • It is required to wear a bicycle helmet at all times.

  • Air quality in Xinjiang is excellent. Note however that closer to the mining area near Kuqa the roads will get dustier.

6. The Bike

  • The bike that is provided for during this tour is the Trek FX.

  • The Trek FX is a lightweight aluminium hybrid bicycle that has plenty of gears to get you across any type of mountain on any type of surface. The disc brakes offer you good braking power on the downhill, even in bad weather.

  • The bike will be equipped with a little top-tube bag for your phone, camera, wallet or snacks.

  • The bike is equipped with flat pedals. Of course, you can bring your own (SPD) pedals or saddle.

  • Road bikes with drop bars are impossible to rent in this remote area. If you prefer riding with such set-up, you can consider bringing your own bike (see below). 

Trek FX.png
7. Bringing your own bike

  • We understand that some people can’t imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle.

  • We therefore welcome you to bring your own bicycle, assuming you ensure it is in good mechanical order. If in doubt, consider to have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.

  • Our leaders carry a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems you might encounter. However, as we cannot prepare for all the spare parts of the various bicycles that you might bring, we recommend that you take the following items with you:

​​       - Spare inner tubes

       - Spare spokes

       - Spare chain link

  • As we don't have space in the vans to carry empty bike transport bags during the tour, please pack your bike in a cardboard box. We will help you source a new cardboard box locally for the return trip.

  • Your bike must be carried as part of your luggage allowance. The weight of a bike in cardboard box is about 15-20kg, so please bear this in mind when packing for the trip - you likely will have to pay an excess luggage charge.

8. Support

  • You will at all times have the security of the back-up van. The vehicle will carry your luggage and yourself if you want. The back-up van will be with us throughout the day stopping around every 12 miles (20 km).

  • There is a mechanic in the back-up van who can help fix any bike problems. However, we can’t guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so if you are bringing your own bike on the tour you must ensure that it is in good working order.

  • The back-up van will carry spare bicycles (Trek FX) in case of issues that can’t be solved on the spot.

  • A professional photographer will travel with us to ensure you have beautiful images and proof of your conquering the Tianshan mountains.

  • We start each day with a daily briefing and warm-up to ensure you are well prepared and know what to expect from the day ahead.

9. Getting there & away

  • The Tianshan Tour officially starts in the city of Urumqi on 6 September 2025. The international flights into China should be arranged by you and are not included in the Tour. Please kindly book air-tickets considering locations, dates & times provided:

Tianshan Tour (Meeting point).png
Pamir Extension (Meeting point).png

  • The tour enrollment is open until 6 June 2025. Please do NOT reserve the International air ticket until we confirm the tour proceeds with you. 

10. Travel Documents

  • You must be in possession of a valid passport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival and have 2 blank pages available for visa stamps.

  • Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Dutch, Belgian, French and German passport holders do NOT need a visa for China as long as you stay no longer than 15 days (in 2025).

11. Eating & Drinking

  • Nearly all meals are included in your trip. Please check the itinerary for full details. 

  • Note that it will be very rare to find western food in the remote mountain areas. We invite you to embrace the different food culture in Xinjiang.

  • A traditional Xinjiang meal consists of roasted mutton and beef, rice dishes, handmade noodles and a lot of nan bread. Onions, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are frequently used in cooking as they are locally grown in the Xinjiang area.

  • The cuisine of Xinjiang is influenced by both Chinese and Central Asian traditions. It is predominantly meat- and carbohydrate-based, complemented by an abundance of nuts and fruits. However, if you are vegetarian, please be aware that the range of options may be more limited than you might expect, though still manageable. We will strive to provide a variety of choices at each meal, but please understand that options may be less than ideal in remote areas.

  • On long transportation days (e.g., Days 3, 10, and 12), as well as during some cycling days in the mountain range where finding a restaurant for lunch may be challenging, please be prepared for simple lunch arrangements.

  • If you are very attached to the western cuisine, consider to bring some spare comfort food.

12. Weather

  • Overall, September offers milder temperatures, clearer skies, and reduced rainfall in the Tianshan Mountains, making it a favourable time for outdoor activities and exploration.

  • Nonetheless, the weather can quickly change in the mountains and with higher altitudes the temperatures will drop substantially as well. Therefore, in terms of clothing, please be prepared for all 4 seasons with layered clothing.

  • In September, the Tianshan Mountains in China experience a transition from summer to autumn, leading to cooler and more comfortable weather conditions. Average high temperatures can be expected around 20°C, while nighttime temperatures can drop to about 10°C. The region sees a percentage of overcast or cloudy days of about 40%, with the likelihood of a rainy day at about 25%.

13. Money

  • Making payments in China as a foreigner can be straightforward as long as you prepare ahead. Here are the best methods:

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  1. Mobile Payment Apps (highly recommended)​​

  • These apps are by far the most convenient as QR codes are used everywhere and almost everyone pays with their phone

  • Alipay allows linking to foreign credit/debit cards in some cases

  • WeChat (Weixin) is even more popular in China, but can only be linked to a foreign credit card (or Chinese debit card)

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      Tip: have a VPN. Mobile payment apps require internet access and some       

      services are blocked without a VPN

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    2. Cash​

  • Cash (Renminbi) is still accepted, but is becoming far less common.

  • Carry small bills for rural areas or small vendors

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    3. Credit cards​

  • Cards like Visa and Mastercard are only accepted in major hotels and international stores.

  • They are only very rarely accepted in local shops, markets or taxis.

14. What to bring?

  • In terms of clothing this is clearly up to you and we can only provide a rough guide as to what to take. We recommend you to bring some sets of (layered) cycling clothing along with washing liquid, so you can clean some clothing along the way. The below guide is entirely flexible, not exhaustive and should be tailored to your specific needs *: 

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  1. Mobile Phone

  2. Camera

  3. Sunglasses

  4. Base layer tops

  5. Padded cycling shorts

  6. Socks

  7. Cycling shirts

  8. Buff

  9. Long-sleeved shirt 

  10. Fleece jacket

  11. Waterproof cycle jacket (breathable fabric)

  12. Leg warmers

  13. Comfortable shoes

  14. Cycling shoes

  15. Trousers

  16. T-shirts (easy dry)

  17. Washing liquid

  18. Drying line

  19. Laundry bag

  20. Lipbalm/ high factor sunscreen

  21. Paracetamol/ Ibuprofen (or whatever you prefer for headache)

  22. Plasters (band aids)

  23. Ear plugs

  24. Antiseptic wet wipes

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* Detailed packing list will be provided in the Tour Briefing later. 

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    We will provide, but if you are very used to your own, please bring:

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  • High energy food

  • Energy/recovery drink powder

  • Bicycle helmet

  • Bidon

  • Cycling gloves

15. Health

  • The Tianshan Tour will take us to an altitude of 3400m. The Pamir Extension even goes as high as 4400m. There is less oxygen at these altitudes. Regarding high altitude, please consider:

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  1. Acclimatization is key, so we will gradually increase our elevation every day.

  2. A good fitness level can help your body cope with lower oxygen levels. Note that your performance will be lower than what you’re used to at sea level. Please consider this and adjust your efforts accordingly.

  3. Stay hydrated. High altitudes cause faster fluid loss through respiration and perspiration, so drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

  4. Maintain energy levels by eating frequently and high in carbs. Carbs require less oxygen to metabolize to provide quick energy.

  5. Please monitor yourself for potential altitude sickness during the trip. Mild symptoms are headaches, nausea, dizziness or shortness of breath. We will bring oxygen bottles, just in case. Severe symptoms are confusion and an inability to balance. We would have to descend immediately in the unlikely event these would occur.

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  • There are no mandatory vaccinations for this trip.

  • We aren't medically qualified to answer your health questions, so please check with your health professional if you have any questions before departing for your trip.

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16. Solo Travellers

  • The prices are based on twin shared accommodation. If you sign up as a solo traveller, we will twin share you with another person of the same gender.

  • If you prefer to have your own room, we can make this possible for an extra charge. Please contact us.

17. Insurance

  • It is mandatory that you are well-insured for the full duration of the tour. This must include personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation, helicopter or aircraft rescue, loss of luggage or equipment, cancellation or curtailments.​​

  • You should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activity (cycling) included in your tour. 

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