Walk the Great Wall of China

China - Trip code WG Walking and Trekking
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459Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
Carbon Footprint
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Take on the iconic Great Wall of China on this 10-day walking tour. Explore some of the most interesting and picturesque sections of the sprawling wall, starting at the Dragon's Head, where the wall meets the sea, and concluding amongst the rolling hills of Jinshanling. Bookended with nights in Beijing, our itinerary balances culture, history and unparalleled landscapes.

Why we love this trip
  • Beijing - Explore China's capital, visiting iconic sites from Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City.
  • Panjiakou - See the Great Wall from the water on a boat trip on this picturesque reservoir.
  • Eastern Qing Tombs - Visit the stunning Imperial Tomb Complex of the Qing Dynasty.
  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 9

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Driver(s)

    Local Guide(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    Boat

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    Accommodation

    2 nights simple guesthouse

    4 nights comfortable hotel

    3 nights simple hotel

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    Walking grade:

    Moderate

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 16
    Explore Average 11

Itinerary

Day 1 - Join trip in Beijing

Our tour starts today in Beijing, China's vibrant capital. A hub of culture and politics, the city blends the ancient and the modern with historic sites sitting alongside cutting-edge architecture. The city has been the capital since the late 1200s when Kublai Khan set up his mighty Asian Empire. Interestingly, all clocks in the country are set to Beijing time, despite the westernmost regions being 5,000 kilometres away.

Our tour leader will meet us in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting at 5pm this afternoon. For those that wish, there is the chance to go out for a group dinner afterwards. There are no other activities planned for today, so you're free to arrive at any time. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into either Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Due to the traffic congestion in the city, you should allow up to 90 minutes to get from the airport to our hotel.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to head out on foot and explore Beijing's central district with its many parks, temples and restaurants. Beijing is a sprawling metropolis and there's plenty to explore but luckily our hotel is centrally located within walking distance of Tiananmen Square (40 minutes) and the Temple of Heaven (15 mins).

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: None

Day 2 - Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

We start today with a visit to Tiananmen Square. One of the largest squares in the world, Tiananmen was the site of major events from the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China in 1949 to the tragic pro-democracy protest of 1989.

After visiting the square we'll cross to the Forbidden City, the one-time home of the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors. The palace complex was given its name as it was off-limits to all but a privileged few for nearly 500 years. Today, it's the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in China, covering an area of 720,000 square metres and containing over 900 buildings.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore solo. You might like to take the opportunity to explore the alleyways (locally known as \ hutongs') that make up the older and rapidly disappearing residential quarters of this sprawling city. This evening, you might like to catch the Beijing Opera or an acrobatic display (optional).

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 3 - Drive to Shanhaiguan where the Great Wall reaches the sea

This morning, we leave the capital and head to Shanhaiguan (a four-to-five-hour drive). This is the spot where the Great Wall of China reaches the Bohai Sea. The meeting point is called Laolongtou (or the 'Old Dragon's Head') thanks to the legendary carved dragon's head that once faced the ocean.

Shanhaiguan was a garrison town with a large square fort, which still stands to this day, 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'.

After visiting the Old Dragon's Head, we'll drive to the First Pass where we get our first opportunity to walk on the wall and visit the Great Wall Museum.

Over the next six nights, we'll stay in simple-grade local guesthouses and hotels. We stay in twin-share rooms with en-suite bathrooms. It's worth noting that service standards might not meet those back home and that electricity and plumbing can be erratic.

Today's 4-kilometre/2.5-mile walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours.

Accommodation:

Grade: Simple Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 4 - Trek on the Great Wall to Jiaoshan Pass. PM drive to Sahe near Panjiakou reservoir

As we walk the Great Wall, we plan to head out early to make the most of the day and catch a glimpse of local rural life in action.

Today, we'll walk out of town and join an old section of the wall, continuing on foot to the impressive Jiaoshan Pass where the wall heads into the mountains for the first time. If you have the energy, and the weather allows it, you might like to continue up to a high point for spectacular views. Our walk returns the same way.

There are a few things to note today. A large visitor centre and car park are being built that intersects the wall and we may need to navigate around the site. Along our route, we might encounter sections that pass through gorse bushes so trousers are recommended. The terrain today is generally stable but we'll come across rocks, concrete slops, a short vertical metal ladder and there are some large steps along the route that might challenge those with knee issues.

Please note, the Jiaoshan Pass is closed each year until the 1st of May due to fire concerns. Departures before the 1st of May will walk the Jiumenkou section of the wall instead, a 40-minute drive from our original start point. This route is a bit shorter at around 2.5 kilometres/1.5 miles long, taking around two hours to complete.

This afternoon we'll drive to Sahe near Panjiakou reservoir where the wall crosses beneath the waters.

Today's 4.5 kilometre/2.8-mile walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 5 - Boat trip beside the wall, walk at Luowenyou

This morning, we drive to Panjiakou reservoir for a boat excursion on the water. The surrounding scenery is stunning, with 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'll continue to Luowenyou (around 90 minutes away) where we'll walk for approximately 5 kilometres/3 miles on a rugged and steep section of the wall with sweeping views across the surrounding area. Our ascent will be scrambling at times as the terrain turns to gravel and is overgrown with trees at some points. From Luowenyou, we'll continue by bus (a journey of around 90 minutes) to our hotel on the grounds of the Eastern Qing Tombs near Zunhua.

Today's 8.5-kilometre/5.3-mile walk is expected to take around five to six hours.

Accommodation:

Grade: Simple Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 6 - Visit Eastern Qing Tombs; trek on 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 five emperors, 15 empresses and 136 concubines all buried here. The surrounding mountains contain the tombs of hundreds of lesser nobles such as princes and dukes. We'll be able to enter a few of the beautifully carved tombs which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

After our visit, we'll drive to a point on the Great Wall where we can begin our walk into Huangyaguan. This section of the wall is more restored, with generally stable, concrete terrain and some hand rails. It can be relatively 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'll cross the river and walk into town and our hotel for the night.

Today's 3.5 kilometre/2.2-mile walk is expected to take around two to three hours.

Accommodation:

Grade: Simple Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 7 - Drive to Gubeikou. Beacon Towers walk to Jinshanling

This morning, we'll from Huangyaguan to Gubeikou (a two-hour journey). From here, we'll walk up onto the wall along a mountain path. This section of the wall takes us past 16 beacon towers where we spot a section of the wall in the distance that's usually obstructed from view. We'll leave the wall at Jinshanling and head to the hotel where we spend the next two nights.

Today's 10-kilometre/6.2-mile walk is expected to take around five to six hours.

Accommodation:

Grade: Simple Guesthouse

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 8 - Trek on the Great Wall towards Simatai; return to Jinshanling

Today we'll walk one of the most stunning sections of the wall between Jinshanling and Simatai. Our walk includes some ruined sections as well as some steep ascents and many steps. In 2010, Simitai was closed to the public, so we'll walk as far as is permitted before returning to Jinshaling. En route, we'll pass 18 watchtowers, which offer the only shade on our walk - we'll take each opportunity to pause and take in the views.

Today's 6-kilometre/3.7-mile walk is expected to take around five hours.

Accommodation:

Grade: Simple Guesthouse

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 9 - Return to Beijing; optional visit to Summer Palace

Today we head back to the capital (a three-hour journey, traffic depending). We should arrive in the early afternoon and have the late afternoon free. You might like to take an excursion to the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven in Tiantan Park.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 10 - Trip ends in Beijing

Our trip ends this morning at our hotel in Beijing.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Beijing at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from either Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Due to the frequent traffic congestion in the city, you should allow up to 90 minutes for this journey.

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Trip information

Climate and country information

China

Climate

China has primarily a temperate climate, with a wide spectrum of extremes due to its huge area. Summer months are hot and rainy though in the south the climate is tropical and we can experience rain at any time of the year, often falling in sharp tropical rain-storms which are heavy but short lived. Winter is colder and drier, temperatures in Beijing can be as low as -12c.

Time difference to GMT

+8

Plugs

3 Pin Flat

Religion

Mainly Buddhist

Language

Mandarin

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


Beijing - Opera 150 CNY; Acrobatic performance 260 CNY ; Summer Palace 40 CNY entrance fee plus 200 CNY private transfer; Temple of Heaven 35 CNY entrance fee; Hutong tour (including lunch) 160 CNY

Please note that it may not be possible to do all of the optionals.

Clothing

Lightweight raingear year round and some warmer clothes in April and October.

Footwear

We recommend you bring lightweight walking boots with ankle support, make sure that your boots are worn-in and comfortable before the start of the trip. Also trainers or sandals for relaxing and general wear. We suggest that on international flights you either carry your walking boots in your hand luggage or wear them - should your luggage be lost or delayed, your own boots are the one thing that will be irreplaceable.

Luggage

20kg

Luggage: On tour

One main piece of baggage and a daysac for personal items. Remember that you'll have to carry your own luggage, so don't overload yourself.

Equipment

A Mandarin phrase book may be helpful. You may wish to bring a trekking pole with a rubber tip and a torch in case of power cuts. You may also find rehydration salts useful in the summer months. We advise you bring a water bottle for day to day use. Sun protection and insect repellant are both useful. Bring some tissues or toilet roll for occasions where none may be provided. Tea bags if you want home comforts (the Chinese use actual tea leaves).

Tipping

Explore leader
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. You may however, want to recongnise a leader that's done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amout. It's tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we'd recommend around £3 per person per day as a guideline.
Local crew
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided.Accordingly, you should allow approx £30 for tips.

In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group's tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.

China

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Lunch price
£5
Dinner price
£6.00 - 10.00
Beer price
£2
Water price
£1.5
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Renminbi/Yuan
Recommended Currency For Exchange
Either EUR, USD or GBP.
Where To Exchange
We'd strongly recommend changing enough money for the duration of your trip at the airport on your arrival. When changing money ask for a receipt so you can change Yuan back into your own currency when leaving China.
ATM Availability
All major towns.
Credit Card Acceptance
Most major restaurants and stores.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, Boat

Accommodation notes

During this tour, we stay in both comfortable and simple-grade accommodation. In general, comfortable-grade hotels are three-star equivalent with twin-share, en-suite rooms and standard amenities such as air-conditioning and WiFi. Some hotels may have extra facilities like a pool or restaurant. Simple-grade hotels are more basic and you should be prepared for the standards to differ from those at home.
As we trek the Great Wall, our choice of accommodation is more limited and we stay in the best available rural, local hotels and guesthouses. We stay in twin-share rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Due to the rural locations, electricity and plumbing can be erratic. Bathrooms in these properties are usually wet-room style so the shower water goes onto the bathroom floor. Any shortcomings are more than made up for by the experience of small-town China and being so close to the Great Wall.
While smoking is officially prohibited in hotel rooms and public areas, it's a challenge for local authorities and hotel management to enforce. At times you might notice the smell of smoke, please mention this to your tour leader to see if anything can be done if necessary.

Food and drink

The included breakfasts in rural China will be local style with rice porridge, eggs, dumplings, noodles etc. In Beijing there will be western options for breakfast as well as Chinese.

Rice and noodles are a staple and usually provided at every meal time. For anybody with a restricted diet - such as gluten- or dairy-free - please note that these products are generally not available in China and we strongly recommend you bring specialised foods from home. In any case please always inform us of any special dietary requirements before departure. Generally vegetarians are well catered for but you may find a more restricted choice as many soups are made with meat stock.

China

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip. 

 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information


China: A visa is required by all nationalities. A single entry visa should be arranged in advance of travelling.

From 1st November 2018, British Passport Holders will be required to present themselves in person at the Chinese Visa Processing Centre in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast on the day of application, to provide biometric information (fingerprints). At time of writing in Sept 2023 the Belfast centre remains closed. We understand that applicants over 70 years old may not be required to attend in person to provide biometric data, but we suggest you enquire with the Chinese Embassy.
www.visaforchina.org

In order to apply for your Chinese visa you will need to submit supporting documents from our local supplier confirming your itinerary and travel arrangements, which we will obtain on your behalf. So that we can provide this for you, and to ensure all local arrangements are in place, we require a copy of your passport no later than 8 weeks before you are due to start your trip. Once we have your passport copy we shall process and pass on the documents you require 6-8 weeks before your trip, please be mindful of this when applying for your visa. If you require the supporting documents earlier than this, please contact Explore so we can arrange this.

Passengers wishing to extend their stay in China should be aware that current visa regulations only allow foreigners to stay in the country for up to 30 days. Please consider this when planning your trip.

You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.

Registering with the Chinese authorities
You must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Chinese authorities enforce this requirement with regular spot-checks of foreigners' documentation. If you're staying in a hotel, they will do this for you as part of the check-in process.

Please ensure that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity from the date of return to your home country.


If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

China

Vaccinations

Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against malaria, infectious hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Travellers may wish to take immunisation against Japanese Encephalitis. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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Airport Transfers
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