Your questions answered

What's it all about?

This is a 4x4 Adventure Drive, a style of event invented by HERO to enable owners of modern 4x4s to take their own vehicles on an organised long distance journey of discovery to places off the beaten track, sharing the experience with others of like mind. It isn't a competitive rally, but we are rally people: we use rally techniques to give you the freedom to travel on your own, but within the security of a competent organisation that takes care of most of the hassle of visiting remote parts of the world.

Are the organisers experienced and reputable?

4x4xplore is part of HERO - the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation. Event Director John Brown is one of the world's most experienced organisers or rallies and long distance motoring adventures. HERO was founded in 1996 by John and around 100 enthusiasts.Today there are some 2,500 members, the great majority of whom have competed on at least one big event organised by the club.

Major 4x4 endurance events have been the London-Cape Town of 1998, 2001's Inca Trail around South America and the recent Arctic Winter Trial - not to mention the Great Silk Road Rally to Australia planned for autumn 2004. Hero's classic car rallies include the legendary LE JOG (the Land's End to John o'Groats Reliability Trial), the Scottish Malts Reliability Trial, and the London-Lisbon Classic Rally.

How experienced do I need to be?

If you are a reasonably experienced and skilled driver on normal roads, you should cope perfectly well. Before the event, you should accustom yourself to your 4x4, and gain some experience of driving it in off-road conditions - why not come on one of our training days? The event does not require you to drive fast, and gives you time to find your feet - and our experts will be there to help.

What are the roads like?

China's road system is being transformed by the creation of a network of dual carriageway expressways, and by improvements to other roads. We use these when we want to move quickly from one interesting area to another. But we take you, too, on smaller byways, frequently gravel surfaced. When we travel in remote areas like Tibet and Hunnan province, even the main roads may be just rough tracks, subject to the ravages of nature.

How will the event run?

We are particularly privileged to be able to run the first event of its kind in China. However, our special permit from the Chinese authorities requires us to observe certain disciplines. We must follow the route we have chosen, and run within a certain time window. Crews must sign out at the start and back in at the finish of each day, and at one or two points in between. This is for your own safety as much as anything else. But we do not run in a nose to tail convoy.You are free to travel on your own or just with a small group of friends, to stop at places along the way, to explore local sights, to shop in the street markets and eat in little restaurants. For much of the time, we will have the benefit of a friendly police escort, to provide added security and to smooth our passage through road checkpoints.

What kind of car is best, and will it need special preparation?

A reputable modern 4x4 with high ground clearance should cope perfectly well with all the conditions we are likely to meet. You will need to make sure that the suspension is in good condition, and that the vehicle is properly equipped, with long range fuel supply, extra spare wheel, good jack, and so on. We will issue you with detailed advice notes on vehicle choice and preparation, and you will be able to bring your vehicle along to one of our own Briefing Days and discuss it with one of our experts. Your car will need Chinese licence plates for the event, and you will need a Chinese driver's licence.These are arranged by our agents in China and will be issued before the start.

How do I get to Beijing, and back from Hong Kong?

The entry fee includes shipment of your vehicle to and from the event, from a port in the UK, continental Europe or west coast USA (or any other part of the world). Our shipping agents will take care of all the hassle, and help you with the paperwork . The fee does not include your own personal travel to and from China. We can help you with this, too (although you may find better fares on the Internet).

What kind of hotels do we stay in?

We use the highest standard of accommodation available. In major cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming and Shenzhen, we stay in luxurious international five star hotels. In smaller places, our lodging will vary from four star hotels with fully equipped air conditioned bedrooms, to simple one or two star Chinese inns.When we are really off the beaten track, on about six or seven nights, we use simple guest houses, or we set up camp. You must equip your vehicle with a tent and sleeping bags, and be prepared for conditions that do not always come up to Western standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

What do we eat, and where?

In China, you will experience one of the world's great cuisines, discovering its wide variations as we travel from region to region. In the bigger hotels, you will be able to find skilfully prepared Western-style dishes, although the programme does include visits to some wonderful local speciality restaurants. In most places, we eat Chinese food, normally using chopsticks, although knife and fork (and Western dishes) are usually available. During the day, you are free to stop for lunch where you choose, eating at a small restaurant or buying local food and fruit from stalls - our route survey team will give us their own recommendations.

What insurance cover will I need?

The entry fee includes statutory third party vehicle insurance in China, as well as generous personal accident and medical cover.You are responsible for arranging your own comprehensive vehicle cover, and your own travel insurance covering personal liability, theft or loss of personal effects, etc.

What support do HERO provide?

The event will be accompanied by four or five official vehicles crewed by Hero's Event Director and other British officials, along with a Chinese tour manager and other interpreters. Each of these vehicles will carry a satellite phone to ensure good communications wherever they are. A sweeper vehicle will follow the event, crewed by a skilled mechanic (who is also a trained paramedic) with tools and other light equipment, and by the event doctor with an emergency medical kit.The event doctor will be present at each overnight halt to assist anyone taken ill. Participants must however be aware that the event is potentially dangerous, and that the Organisers' resources are limited and may not be able to cope with a serious accident or mechanical breakdown. They should not take part unless they accept that there is an element of risk to themselves and their vehicles. At overnight halts in bigger towns, we will where possible arrange for local motor traders to stay open, to provide workshop facilities, tyre repairs and replacements, etc.

What clothes will I need?

The temperatures will vary from the subtropical to the chilly, falling below zero at night in the high Himalayas. Bring a range of practical, comfortable clothes, bearing in mind that you may need to change a wheel at some time. You will be able to get clothes laundered during the rest days, so don't load yourselves down with a whole month's supply.

Most evenings, smart casual dress is fine; although you will need a jacket and tie for some special functions.

What about the altitude?

In Tibet, you will be at over 3,000m (10,000ft) for about 14 days, climbing on several occasions to over 5,200m (17,000ft).You should seek medical advice before tackling this challenge. The event doctor, Dr Greg Williams, will be giving guidance at the Briefings and in later bulletins. He and paramedic Mike Johnson will accompany the event, with the necessary equipment and medication to alleviate altitude sickness.

How much does it cost?

The entry fee of £24,000 includes the rally itself; 32 nights bed and breakfast for two people sharing a twin or double room in high quality hotels; pre-start welcome and grand finale dinners; 30 other evening meals in your hotel or in speciality restaurants; various other functions and receptions; rally number plates and door panels; a souvenir medallion for all finishers; event clothing; fully detailed tulip roadbook; etc, etc. Hotel upgrades to single room accommodation are available at extra cost. No refunds are available to participants not taking up accommodation booked for them, for whatever reason.

What training and briefing opportunities will there be?

There will be a Briefing Day at the Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon (M40 Junction 12) on Saturday 18 October.