In designing our programs, selecting locations, and hiring staff, safety is our greatest priority. Keystone Adventures completes risk assessments on our programs, taking not only safety into account, but availability of quality food and water, distance to emergency medical care, evacuation procedures, quality of transportation, etc. Our student-to-leader ratio is kept low in order to closely manage safety, and students receive a safety briefing that reviews possible risks and the procedures used to minimize those risks. Ultimately, our impeccable safety record is a point of pride for our company, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure that it remains unblemished.

Students should NOT plan to use mobile phones or electronic devices during the day, including social media, listening to music, etc. Mobile phones can be used during bus rides and before going to sleep if necessary. The purpose of this policy is to facilitate student engagement in the trip.

For taking pictures, you can consider bringing cameras, though bear in mind this is at your own risk. Many of the locations we visit (such as water environments, deserts, etc) can be particularly unforgiving to electronics. Also consider that your teachers will probably be taking photos of the experiences.

Although there may be an opportunity to purchase souvenirs, there will be little time for shopping in our busy schedule of activities. It will not be necessary for students to bring any more money than they would normally spend on snacks and drinks, perhaps 100-200CNY for the duration of the program.

All meals are included as stated in the itinerary. Breakfasts are typically Chinese-style and served in the hotel. Lunches vary between sit-down lunches at local restaurants and local homes and picnic-style lunches consisting of sandwiches, fruit, and snacks. For dinner, we will eat primarily Chinese food in a variety of different restaurants.

As for water, students should bring refillable water bottles, which can be refilled with fresh spring water at every guesthouse. Students are expected to carry their water bottles at all times. It is safe to drink bottled water, but drinking tap water is not recommended unless it has been boiled.

Personal soft drinks during meals are NOT included.

Medical facilities in urban areas are typically modern and well-equipped, but may not employ English-speaking staff. In the countryside, medical facilities in China are typically quite basic.

To minimize the likelihood of illness, students are advised to dress appropriately, drink plenty of water, and eat the food that is provided for them. Students should limit contact with domestic or stray dogs and cats as it is unlikely they are vaccinated and they may carry diseases such as rabies. Students should be responsible for their valuable items, and use good judgment when interacting with strangers. There may be insects in the areas that we will visit, so feel free to bring insect repellant.

You can find specific information on the accommodation here. In general, all of our accommodation options have been vetted in advance to meet our rigorous standards for safety, hygiene, and comfort. Students will all be allocated their own beds, though rooming assignments will be determined by school teachers. Most hotels/guesthouses offer WiFi coverage.

We try to keep the pace of our trips fairly relaxed. We ensure that students have adequate time to rest and recover, both between activities and at night. That being said, most of our programs have an outdoor component, and most activities will be somewhat physical. Routes have been chosen to accommodate those with limited or no previous experience, though students should nonetheless expect them to be strenuous. While participation in activities will rarely be compulsory, we encourage students to at least give each activity a chance.

Students should prepare a daypack for day activities, to carry essential items only. Other items, extra clothing, etc. can be left behind in a large backpack (or suitcase if necessary), and can be retrieved upon returning to the hotel every evening. As all valuable items should be carried on one’s person, students are discouraged from being computers and other valuable items. Students should expect that all clothes worn during daytime activities will get dirty.

For specific questions on what to bring, please consult the packing list using the link on the application side-bar.

You should check the forecast 24 to 48 hours before departure for a better indication of weather. Please remember that many of the activities will take place outside, so regardless of the forecast, you need to protect yourself against a range of temperatures, sun, and rain.

We have detailed backup plans, including alternative activities, indoor games, team-building exercises, and more. To-date, it has never once been necessary to cancel a trip because of the weather.

Keystone Adventures is contractually obligated to provide adequate cover for medical expenses, personal injury and death, and local transportation. We ensure that insurance covers all activities, such as for trekking, cycling, kayaking, and high ropes activities, as applicable. Of course, these policies do NOT cover against loss of baggage and loss/theft/damage to personal property, and curtailment or cancellation of trip, and participants may consider taking out additional coverage.

Due to the medical/insurance situation in China, patients are required to pay medical providers in advance for any and all medical treatment. If any participants require medical attention for any reason during a Keystone Adventures trip, the client school should be prepared to facilitate payment of medical services and submit an insurance claim where applicable. Keystone Adventures is not responsible for up-front medical costs of participants regardless of its role in arranging insurance for participants.

Yes! Even if a flight is not required, bear in mind that the law of China requires that all individuals present a valid ID as part of the hotel registration process. Those that don’t have IDs can legally be refused entry.

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that students bring their own passports/ID cards and that they are up to date. (Typically, Macau, Taiwanese and Hong Kong passport holders must bring their passport and their Chinese ID card / booklet).

Rest assured that the passports will be looked after by the trip leaders while we are away for the week.

Please ensure any medication your son or daughter need to take is given to their group leader before the trip leaves school. Any personal medication must be in a sealed plastic bag clearly labelled with the child’s name and fully typed instructions in English as to when and how often the medication should be taken. It is vital that these instructions are clear and if the medication needs to be given with food or water, or in a specific order, this should also be recorded. If you are confident that your child can be in charge of his/her own medication then he/she should keep it in his/her rucksack etc. If however, your child needs supervision with the medication, please email the trip leader and include all the relevant information mentioned above.