China Great Wall Trek

Intro

One of the great monuments of the world, the Great Wall of China stretches for more than 8000 km across northern China. The Great Wall grips the popular imagination like nothing else: the wall itself courses along the narrow ridges of mountains, with lookout towers dotted around like scales on a Chinese dragon's back. In places, the wall takes an ingenious course up impossible-looking cliff faces. On top of that is the magnificent construction, and in places expert restoration, featuring broad steps and a castellated outline chiselled out of stone.

The first versions of the Great Wall were begun during the Qin and Han dynasties after 221BC, to keep out marauding Mongolian tribes. It remained a work in progress for a millennium and a half, and is said to have claimed more than a million lives in its construction. It was during the legendary Ming dynasty (1368-1640) that the Wall reached its most finished stage and most recognizably modern form. The Wall is up to 8 metres high, 9 metres wide, and for most of its length is constructed out of granite slabs weighing up to 1000kg. The spectacular watchtowers are usually about 170m apart; they are within sight of each other so as to communicate news of enemy invasion. The Wall offers a vivid portal into an ancient age of empire and warriors.

The trek is a true challenge: it involves six consecutive days' walking on the wall. The itinerary is structured so that day three (your first day on the wall) is a relatively short stint to get your feet wet. Day seven also is a relatively short day, to keep you ready for an early and quite hard final trek on day eight. You also get to take a break from the wall on day five: we take you to a beautiful national park with waterfalls and a river gorge.

This itinerary takes in all the major sections of the wall that are open and accessible from Beijing. It is designed to give the best possible overview of the variety, history, and geographical setting of the wall within a realistic time frame. To do it, you will find yourself following the wall up and down mountains every day - and sometimes several of them. You do not need to be superman to do this trek. The trekking level is easy to moderate overall, the distances are generally modest, and the itinerary mostly takes you where the wall is in very good condition or newly restored. A few sections are genuinely steep. Moreover, on day six you get to trek along and on top of a ruined section of wall.

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: week

Quick Facts

One of the most famous sites of the ancient world
Eight day trip
Six days on the wall
Certified trekking guides
5-8 hours trekking each day
Accommodation in guest houses on the wall, hotel off the wall
Two days in Beijing

Itinerary

Day	Activity
Day 1	Departure: London Heathrow
Day 2	Arrive in Beijing, and transfer to the hotel in the city. The rest of the day is free to relax, adjust, or tour the city. Evening: dinner, trip briefing, meet guides.
Day 3	Badaling - Eight Ridges, approx 2-3 hours of trekking.Check out of hotel and transfer to Juyongguan; 1.5 hours from Beujubg. Check into hotel and get day equipment; then a short 20 minute transfer to Badaling. Chinese lunch. Afternoon: 2-3 hours at Badaling, and transfer back to Juongguan (20km.)
Day 4	Juyongguan, Mutianyu - Mountain Pass and Autumn Colour 6-8 hours trekking Morning: trek at Jongguan (4km trekking) This is a long day of trekking taking in two major wall destinations among mountains. The first is a mountain stronghold, and the second is a section of wall among beautiful forested mountains.
Day 5	Hei Long Tan - The Black Dragon Pools 6 hours trekking Morning transfer (about 2 hours) to Hei Long Tan Park. Hei Long Tan, is a beauty spot located in a ravine close to the remains of the wall at Yunmengshan. A packed lunch will be provided this day. After the park, you will transfer to your hotel in Gubeikou (1½ hours).
Day 6	Gubeikou, Jinshanling - Course of the Ruined Wall 6 hours trekking After breakfast, check out of guest house, finalise day equipment, and start the trek to Jinshanling 11 km with some pronounced up and down. The wall is crumbling and discontinuous here.
Day 7	Jinshanling - Ming Watchtowers 5 hours trekking Breakfast at the hotel in Jinshanling. Trek from Jinshanling in the direction of Simatai before returning to Jinshanling. After an early dinner, there will be a transfer (2 hours) to guest house accommodation in Huangyaguan.
Day 8	Dawn and the Yellow Cliffs 7 hours trekking Start at dawn with a short 20-minute transfer to Tai Pingzhai. Trek from the mountain fort in the East, steeply down to the pass at Huangyaguan, then up the cliffs on the other side, over a mountain and down into a valley. Breakfast and break at Huangyaguan. Packed lunch on the way. The end of the trek is at Quianganjian. Travel back to Beijing (125km - 2 ½ hours), and check back into the hotel in the city. This will give you time to freshen up, and enjoy a well-deserved foot massage. This will be followed by a celebratory dinner, and a rest.
Day 9	Free Day in Beijing. You will be able to do what you like this day: relax, hunt for souvenirs, or go on a tour of the sights of the city. Recommended sites include: the Forbidden City, Tianenmen Square, and the Summer Palace.
Day 10	After breakfast, check out of your hotel, transfer to the airport and take a morning flight. Arrive back in London late that afternoon.

Please note: this is a complex itinerary, and certain elements of it may need to be varied in accordance with conditions on the ground, as the guides see fit.

Dates

Please call us on 017683 71289 to register your interest and discuss dates with us directly.

Create Your Own Trip Dates

Course Requirements

To do this trip you need to have a certain level of fitness. The trekking level is moderate, and the actual distances are quite modest, but there is some up and down. No previous trekking experience is required for this trip, however, the fitter you are the more you will enjoy your day. The average day covers about 12 miles walking and will take us between 5 and 8 hrs. Please try the odd training walk before you arrive.

Please note that the Gubeikou-Jinshanling section is on crumbling wall and is not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo. Otherwise, the trek is suitable for most people. You should be able to walk several hours a day whilst carrying a small backpack.

We recommend that you follow a fitness plan in preparation for your challenge, an example of one will be sent to you when you have confirmed your booking. Although the fitness plan we will send to you has been devised by a fitness professional, this is only provided as a guide and you should seek professional advice before starting your own fitness regime.