Walk the Great Wall

Incredible eleven day walking tour along the Great Wall of China!

The 'Dragon's Head'
Stretching for some 4500 kilometres from the Yellow Sea westwards to the edge of the Gobi Desert, the magnificent ramparts and watch towers of the Great Wall were built to protect China's northern frontier from raiding Mongol horsemen. Our walk concentrates on some of the most interesting and spectacular sections of the Great Wall, and gives us an insight into China 'off the beaten track'. After visiting the major sites of Beijing, we make for Shanhaiguan where the Great Wall begins - thrusting out into the sea, it's known as the 'Old Dragon's Head'. From here, we take an easy walk along the wall to Jiaoshan.

A Painted Landscape
At Panjiakou, we take a boat excursion on the lake. Here, the ancient defensive wall rises and falls along precipitous mountain ridges, crossing the water several times. At Luowenyu, we make another scenic walk before continuing by road via Zunhua to the Eastern Qing Tombs. After admiring the red walls, golden roofs and marble bridges of the Tombs, we drive to a point where we join the Great Wall to hike into Huangyaguan before perhaps the most beautiful section of the Great Wall is walked from Jinshanling towards Simatai. After a final night in Jinshanling we return to Beijing.

Trekking along some of the Great Wall's least known and most spectacular sections is graded moderate to strenuous. Distances covered are less than 12kms a day but there are several steep ascents and descents on stone stairways.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Trip Highlights
Beijing - Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
Old Dragons Head - Visit the point where the Great Wall meets the sea.
Jiaoshan - Walk on spectacular sections of the wall near its eastern end.
Panjiakou - Boat trip on lake where the Wall crosses the water.
Eastern Qing Tombs - Visit the stunning Imperial Tomb Complex of the Qing Dynasty near Zunhua.
Jinshanling - Walk on the wall towards Simatai and return to Jinshanling

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Join tour Beijing
Arrive Beijing and check-in at hotel.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)

Day 2: In Beijing; city tour
A full day in Beijing, China’s capital and its political and cultural centre. The city has been the capital for most of the period since Kublai Khan made it the capital of his mighty Asian Empire in the late 1200s. All clocks in this vast country are set by Beijing time despite the western- most regions being some 5000kms away. During our stay we shall visit the Forbidden City, the one-time home of the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors and a treasure trove of eastern wares. The afternoon is free for you to explore this fascinating city and you may choose to go on a tour of the hutongs (old residential districts of the city - optional). There is the possibility of seeing a Beijing opera in the evening, or perhaps an acrobatic performance (optional). The opera in Beijing is considered to be the best in China.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Train to Shanhaiguan
Leaving Beijing by train this morning we head for Shanhaiguan. It is here that the Great Wall reaches the Bohai Sea at a point called Laolongtou or the ‘Old Dragon’s Head’ – named after the legendary carved dragon’s head that once faced the ocean. The city was a garrison town with a large square fort (which still exists) with huge gateways facing the four compass points. The east gate is an impressive structure known as ‘First pass under Heaven’. It has these words inscribed at the top signifying the ancient Chinese perceived division of the world into ‘civilised China’ and the ‘barbarians’. This afternoon we head to Laolongtou, known as the Old Dragon's Head wher the Great Wall meets the sea. After this we then drive to the First Pass where we have our first opportunity to walk on the wall and visit the Great Wall Museum.

Overnight Basic Hotel (H) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Trek on Great Wall; drive to Panjiakou
Today we walk out of town along an old section of the wall to the impressive Jiaoshan Pass where it heads into the mountains for the first time. The fitter amongst the group may wish to continue up to a high point for spectacular views (weather permitting). This afternoon we take the scenic drive to Panjiakou where the wall crosses water.

Overnight Basic Hotel (H) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Boat excursion. Walk on wall at Luowenyou; drive to Eastern Qing Tombs
This morning we take a boat excursion on the reservoir at Panjiakou. The surrounding scenery is stunning – the wall following undulating ridges across the rugged hills before plummeting into the water at two points, Panjiakou and Xifengkou. Joining our vehicle again we head for Luowenyou where we are able to walk for approximately 10kms on a rugged and quite steep section of the wall with glorious views across the surrounding area. From Luowenyou we continue to our hotel in the grounds of the Eastern Qing Tombs near Zunhua.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Visit the Eastern Qing Tombs; trek on Great Wall to Huangyaguan
Making a reasonably early start this morning, we hope to have this lovely site to ourselves. The Eastern Qing Tombs are the largest and most complete of the Imperial Tombs in China with 5 emperors, 15 empresses and 136 concubines all buried here. In addition the surrounding mountains contain the tombs of hundreds of lesser nobles such as princes and dukes. We are able to enter a few of the beautifully carved tombs which mostly date back to the 17th and 18th Centuries. That of Emperor Qianlong covers almost half a square kilometre. Leaving the tombs we drive to a point on the Great Wall where there is access, and walk for 2-3 hours into Huangyaguan. This section of the wall is very quiet and offers some great views – the first part of the walk is an ascent up to a prominent tower before descending down to another tower near the river. From here we cross the river and walk into the town and our hotel for the night.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Drive from Huangyaguan to Gubeikou; walk along the wall to Jinshanling
Today we drive from Huangyaguan to Gubeikou. On arrival we walk through the small village of local farm houses, a great opportunity to see life in rural China up close. From here we will walk up on to the wall along a mountain path. This section of the wall takes us past 16 beacon towers and we get to see a part of the wall in the distance that is restricted and not usually seen. We leave the wall at Jinshanling and head to the hotel. Total walking about 6hrs.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Trek on Great Wall towards Simatai; return to Jinshaling
Today we aim to walk on one of the most stunning sections of the Wall between Jinshanling and Simatai – both locations where the wall has been refurbished. The walk between these two places is on partially ruined sections, with some quite steep ascents and many steps to be climbed. In 2010 Simitai was closed to the public, so we'll walk as far as we're allowed towards Simitai before returning to Jinshaling for a second night. We pass 18 watch-towers on this walk – these provide the only shade along the route and give us an excuse to pause and admire the breath-taking views. (approx 4-5 hours walking)

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Return to Beijing
Today we return to Beijing. We should arrive back into the city by early afternoon with late afternoon free for further personal exploration. You may wish to take an excursion to the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven in Tiantan Park (both optional).

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Tour ends Beijing
Included meals: Breakfast

Other Details

Accommodation Details

3 nights Comfortable Hotel (H++)
2 nights Basic Hotel (H)
4 nights Standard Hotel (H+)

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Adult Price: $1540 Single Room Price: $225

Fri 09 Sep - Sun 18 Sep 2011 - 1490 GBP
Fri 23 Sep - Sun 02 Oct 2011 - 1490 GBP
Fri 07 Oct - Sun 16 Oct 2011 - 1490 GBP
Fri 21 Oct - Sun 30 Oct 2011 - 1490 GBP
Fri 06 Apr - Sun 15 Apr 2012 - 1540 GBP
Fri 04 May - Sun 13 May 2012 - 1540 GBP
Fri 25 May - Sun 03 Jun 2012 - 1540 GBP
Fri 15 Jun - Sun 24 Jun 2012 - 1540 GBP
Fri 29 Jun - Sun 08 Jul 2012 -1540 GBP

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