Stretching 6,000km across China, the Great
Wall was begun in the 5th Century BC. As it
snakes across the mountains it conjures up
a sense of history which is difficult to grasp
until you have had the opportunity to experience
it.
The trek is very varied, as you pass through
woodland and terraced farmland, and follow
the contours of the beautiful hills and
mountains in remote areas north of Beijing.
We walk on old sections of the Great Wall,
as well as restored sections with smooth
flagstones and lots of steps!
This challenge is physically demanding
and offers fabulous scenery and a fascinating
insight into a rich culture and history.
For a tour brochure and reservation form
please contact
us.
Itinerary
Day 1: Leave UK
Depart London for Beijing.
Day 2: Beijing
You arrive in Beijing and transfer to your
city hotel, where you can refresh and relax!
There will be a full trip briefing in the
evening. (Dinner not included)
Day 3: Beijing - Huangyaguan (2-3 hours
walking)
You transfer this morning from the busy
streets of Beijing, driving northwest into
the hills above Huangyaguan (3.5-4.5 hours.)
Huangyaguan is situated in a beautiful valley
in the heart of the Yanshan mountains. After
a scenic drive through a landscape of hills
and lakes, you arrive at your village and
see the Great Wall for the first time, as
it snakes along the ridgeline of the mountains.
After a good traditional lunch you start
your trek. The Wall is well renovated here
and it disappears into the horizon in both
directions. After some steep step sections,
which give you a good inkling of what lies
ahead, you walk predominantly downhill before
you reach the small town of Huangyaguan.
Here the wall crosses the road that leads
to your nearby accommodation.
Day 4: Huangyaguan - Mountain Village
(7 hours walking)
Your day's walk begins where you left the
wall yesterday, and you head up the steep
renovated steps towards what appears to
be a sheer cliff face. This is where you
encounter 'Heaven's Ladder', a steep climb
of over 200 steps leading you up the cliff
face. There are fabulous views from the
top, and once you have caught your breath
the path continues gradually on steep tracks
through forest, up to the top of the ridge.
Once again you join the old Wall, and follow
it along the contours of the mountain until
you clamber down into the valley below.
You bed down in the houses of a local village,
a real cultural experience.
Day 5: Village - Jinshanlin (4-5 hours
walking)
Waving goodbye to your hospitable hosts,
you head up through the farming terraces
immediately behind the village. The path
is steep, and the terraces soon give way
to rocky hillsides scattered with scrub.
Eventually you re-join the Wall, which is
un-restored and crumbling so you follow
a path which takes you alongside it, with
fabulous views along the ridgeline to the
day's highest point. You then drop down
the hillside and make your way on winding
tracks through trees back to the valley,
where farmers grow maize, and walnut and
fruit trees. Back at the village, you walk
along the village road, enjoying the scenes
of rural life, until reaching the main road
and your waiting transport. Your drive through
the mountains to Jinshanlin (3-4 hours)
is very scenic.
Day 6: Gubeiko - Jinshanlin (7-8 hours
walking)
A quick 20-minute hop on the bus takes you
to your start point just outside the village
of Gubeiko. You walk through the village
and farmland until your path takes you alongside
an un-restored yet well preserved section
of the Wall. This part appears to be of
almost brick-like construction and dates
back to the Quing dynasty, the last dynasty
to rule over this vast land. You follow
a track down into the valley in order to
skirt a Chinese military post and follow
dirt paths through trees and undergrowth
before re-joining the Wall. There are some
steep sections and you help each other along
if need be. Stunning views of the Great
Wall snaking along the hilltops keeps you
going whenever you find it tough! The final
stretch to Jinshanlin is on restored Wall
with lots of steps. A short walk through
the village and small shops takes you to
your simple accommodation.
Day 7: Jinshanlin - Simatei (6 hours
walking)
Today's stunning walk on this largely restored
section of the Wall takes you from Jinshanlin
to Simatei. Starting where you left off
yesterday, you head up the carefully restored
steps which take you into the mountains
one final time. There are a few sections
on older bricks and some dirt tracks, but
for most of today you walk on good flagstones.
The scenery is superb with purple rolling
hills fading into the distance. You leave
the Great Wall at Simatei, enjoying the
view as it clings precariously to the rock
face opposite, dotted with many watchtowers;
classic 'scales on a dragon's back' scenery.
You cross a pedestrian bridge and finish
the day with the opportunity to zip slide
(approximately 35 yuan) across the lake
and then catch a small boat back across
to your accommodation. If you prefer not
to zip slide it is an easy 30 minute walk
down.
Day 8: Simatei - Mutianyu (4-5 hours
walking)
Your day starts with a bus transfer (approximately
3 hours) from your hotel at Simatei to the
Mutianyu Great Wall. Your trek itself starts
with a brief walk through a friendly village
before you climb for 1-2 hours up the hillside.
You can see the Great Wall high on the ridge
ahead of you, and slowly wind your way up
to it. Once more your efforts are rewarded
by stunning views as the Wall disappears
from view in both directions. You continue
along the well-restored Wall flagstones,
with some good sections of steps, before
descending down to your hotel at Mutianyu.
There is an opportunity to do some haggling
in the markets before you reach the hotel,
so carry some money with you for this!
Day 9: Mutianyu - Juyongguan (4 hours
walking)
After a transfer (2-3 hours), your final
day's walk takes you on a circuit of the
restored Wall at Juyongguan. The Wall undulates
across the rolling spine of hills offering
spectacular views of this area, where many
warriors once fought. After some of the
steepest steps you have encountered yet,
your trek is over all too soon and you must
leave the Wall and return to the 21st century.
You load up the bus and transfer to Beijing,
the nation's capital and home to over 20
million people. Your senses will be unprepared
as you enter Beijing and experience its
frenetic energy, quite a contrast after
the natural scenery and remote tranquillity
of the past few days. After checking into
your hotel, you have time to refresh yourself
before the evening celebration meal. (Dinner
not included)
Day 10: Free day in Beijing
You take the opportunity to visit the famous
Forbidden City and Tianenman square. You
are then free to do more sightseeing, explore
the local shops and markets or simply relax.
(Lunch and dinner not included)
Day 11: Flight to UK
You transfer to the airport for your flight
to London and arrive the same day.
General information
Accommodation
All accommodation is included and ranges
from western style hotels (3*) to local
farmer's houses, which are basic but clean
and friendly.
Temperature: 6-20 °C
What's included?
All accommodation and food except for 4
meals specified in the itinerary. A tour
of the Forbidden City on your free day is
also included. Travel insurance, your entry
fee and visa costs are not. At the end of
the trip tips are collected for the local
crew, so please leave some money aside for
this.
What's it really like?
You trek on flagstones on the Wall, on moutain
tracks and through fertile farming land.
It can be rough and rocky underfoot. There
are some steep paths and many steps; it
is very rarely flat. There are some sharp
drop-offs. You trek an average of 5-6 hours
each day, staying in small hotels and in
farmers's houses, which provide a unique
insight into Chinese rural life.
Tour costs A non-refundable registration fee of
£249 is required to secure a place
on this challenge.
We then ask that you raise your minimum
sponsorship target of £2,850 to be
received by Epilepsy Research UK at the
latest 8 weeks before departure. Epilepsy
Research UK then pays the full cost of your
tour.
Alternatively you can pay the full tour
costs of £1,140 (plus the registration
fee) and fundraise as you choose with 100%
of your donation remaining with Epilepsy
Research UK.
Please note that prices may be subject
to change.
For a tour brochure and reservation form
please contact
us. This trip is organised by Discover
Adventure (ATOL Protected 5636).
