Open Gold Back-to-Back Expedition

Outline Itinerary

Our Open Gold Back to Back expeditions enable you to complete your Training, Practice and Qualifying expedition in one go. 

Important note: the ‘Back-to-Back’ expedition is physically demanding, requiring you to walk long distances over seven days. As such, this option is only suitable for participants with good levels of walking / expedition fitness and prior DofE/hiking experience. 

Day 1, Training: You'll meet your instructor team and get to know your expedition team mates. Training will cover the Gold DofE syllabus, and will include sessions on campcraft, route planning, first aid and expedition safety. Camp overnight.

Day 2, Practice: You will set off on your practice expedition today. Your instructor will continue to give you input on your navigation skills and may walk with you for some of your route. As the day progresses, you and your team will become more independent and you will be supervised remotely. Camp overnight.

Day 3, Practice: You'll continue along your planned route and finish the Practice expedition in the afternoon. You will have a chance to repack your bags and restock your supplies from your spare bag. Your instructors will give you any feedback ahead of the qualifying expedition and complete all expedition checks. Camp overnight.

Day 4-6, Qualifying: Each day you will walk along your planned route, with instructors supervising you remotely throughout and meeting you at agreed checkpoints (please read here for more info on remote supervision). Your instructors will camp with you (or near you) at the campsites each evening.

Day 7, final day of Qualifier: You'll continue along your planned route to the finish point, where you'll give your aim presentation, and receive a debrief from your instructor. In the days following the expedition, our team will upload your assessor report directly to your eDofE account, and we will be in touch via email to confirm this has been done.

Expedition supplies - You can bring a spare bag with extra clothes and food supplies to our ‘Back-to-Back’ expeditions. This will either be stored in a vehicle or at our office base, and you will have access to this in the evening of Day 3, allowing you to repack your main pack.

Getting to your Expedition

The Chiltern Hills are located approximately one hour's drive from Central London, near High Wycombe, and can be reached via train. Your exact meeting/departure point will be confirmed after booking.

Landscape

Rolling hills, green meadows with hedgerows, woodland and picturesque villages. Although not in wild country, participants are now permitted to complete their Gold expedition in the Chiltern Hills and other non wild country locations. Please check with your DofE Leader that they are happy for you to do this expedition.

Terrain

A combination of well defined paths with some uneven and sometimes muddy ground.

Campsites

Please come prepared for basic facilities, however you can be assured that all campsites have toilets and clean drinking water.

IMPORTANT Our Open programmes are usually set up in a way that requires participants to be fully independent and without needing additional support from the instructor team. If you (or the person you are booking for) requires any additional support or has specific needs, please contact us before booking so we can ensure we are able to put suitable support and adjustments in place.

Cost - £495.00