Walk the Great Wall of China

Company : G Adventures
Duration: 1 week to 2 weeks
Approx Costs: 500 to 1000 £ Pound (UK)

Centuries after its construction, China’s Great Wall remains one of humankind’s engineering marvels.

At over 21,000km (13,048 mi) in length, the Wall is a trip in and of itself. You won’t tackle the whole thing on this ten-day trek, but you’ll return home with a deeper understanding of the life that goes on around and upon it.

The Beijing-to-Beijing route will take you to small villages that have stood for centuries in the shadow of this massive tribute to human will and introduce you to the cuisine, culture and history that make this one of China’s most captivating attractions. The Wall’s been standing for centuries. Isn’t it about time you turned up?

Itinerary

Day 1 Beijing
Arrive at any time.

Day 2 Beijing
Guided tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Included tea art lesson with a traditional tea ceremony.

Day 3 Mutianyu
Transfer to Mutianyu. Trek along the Great Wall to Xizazi village for the night. Included dumpling cooking class.

Day 4 Jiankou
Trek along the Great Wall to Jiankou. This is one of the toughest days of hiking, as parts of the Wall are broken up and loose underfoot. With several ascents and descents, this is a challenging hike. Transfer to Gubeikou for the night.

Day 5 Gubeikou
In the morning, stop for a tai chi lesson to stretch your legs before the hike. Trek around Gubeikou and take in two sections of the Wall, before heading to a farmer's village for the night.

Day 6 Jinshanling
Continue along the Great Wall to Jinshanling, where the restoration of the Wall can be seen while on the hike. Sleep in a guesthouse at the foot of the Wall itself.

Day 7 Simatai/Huangyaguan
Enjoy another morning tai chi lesson and get ready for the hike. Continue along the Wall towards Beijing. The Wall is more restored here, but the trek is no less spectacular. Spend the night in a guesthouse.

Day 8 Huangyaguan/Beijing
Enjoy the last day trekking along the Wall at Huangyaguan, named for the bright yellow flowers that appear in this region. In the afternoon, explore Qing tombs before returning to Beijing.

Day 9 Beijing
Free day to relax in Beijing, or to explore more of the sights of the city.

Day 10 Beijing
Depart at any time.

What's Included

Great Wall entrances and trek (6 days)
Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square guided tour
Tai chi classes
Tea ceremony
Chinese cooking class
Luggage transfer on every hiking day
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners. (Allow USD200-250 for meals not included.)
Local bus, walking.
English-speaking Chinese Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
Small group experience; Max 16, avg 10
Hotels (4 nts), simple guesthouses (5 nts)