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Highlights
Experience authentic China and hike the Great Wall on this 9-day guided tour
Immerse yourself in over 2,000 years of history as you follow the Great Wall of China and climb into its weathered watchtowers.
Experience the authentic side of China as you taste delicious traditional cuisine and stay in local guesthouses.
Marvel at the panoramic views from atop the Great Wall of China as you gaze across the craggy mountain peaks.
Visit the famous sites of Beijing, from Tiananmen Square to the Summer palace before exploring the streets by rickshaw.
This amazing Chinese walking tour follows some of the wildest stretches of the Great Wall of China. You will hike along iconic sections of the wall and have plenty of opportunities to sample local dishes and visit famous monuments.
As well as enjoying the breath-taking landscape walking along the Great Wall, you will visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as you explore the vibrant city of Beijing.
To ensure your comfort, you will enjoy the services of an English-speaking guide and your group will travel between destinations by private transport.
This amazing Chinese walking tour follows some of the wildest stretches of the Great Wall of China. You will hike along iconic sections of the wall and have plenty of opportunities to sample local dishes and visit famous monuments.
As well as enjoying the breath-taking landscape walking along the Great Wall, you will visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as you explore the vibrant city of Beijing.
To ensure your comfort, you will enjoy the services of an English-speaking guide and your group will travel between destinations by private transport.
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Hike The Great Wall of China Itinerary
Day 1 Beijing
Today you will check into your hotel in Beijing. It is possible to arrange a private transfer from the airport to the hotel when you book, or you can make your own way there if you prefer your independence. You will have an early evening meeting with your tour guide and group to break the ice and find out any important information, before heading to a local restaurant to sample some delicious Chinese cuisine.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Beijing
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Walking the Great Wall of China
Today you will set out to hike the Great Wall of China. This ancient defensive wall has more than 2,300 years of history and covers over 20,000 kilometers, from lush greenery to stunning mountain scenery. You will visit the famous Jiankou, from where you will hike to Mutianyu section with your group and guide, exploring the ancient wall with its historical watch towers and beautiful mountain views. You will spend the night in a local guesthouse.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Xishuiyu
Distance: 4 hours, 10 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Hike to Huanghuacheng
You will spend the morning hiking from Xishuiyu to Huanghuacheng. You can expect stunning views on today’s walk, with a striking contrast between ruined parts of the wall crumbling into the lake and better-preserved sections where you can still climb up to the watchtowers. You will then transfer to the old garrison town of Gubeikou to spend the afternoon walking on the beautiful Panlongshan, also known as ‘Coiling Dragon Mountain’.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Gubeikou
Distance: 5.5 hours, 6 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Wild hiking near Gubeikou
You will continue to enjoy hiking on the wall near Gubeikou. This section is popularly known as the wild Great Wall as it is one of the few sections of the wall that has not been fully restored for tourists. The imperfections created by the passage of time are exactly what makes this section of the wall so famous for its wild beauty.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Gubeikou
Distance: 4 hours, 5 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Eastward to Jinshanling
Today you will hike eastward from Gubeikou to Jinshanling. This section of the wall is built on mountain ridges, giving panoramic views of the Chinese countryside. Passing through Spider Valley, you will notice abandoned wells and houses before reaching one of the best viewpoints of the entire Great Wall of China. There will be steep sections of the hike today, with the potential for short stretches of scrambling.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Jinshanling
Distance: 7.5 hours, 13 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Hiking at Simatai
Today you will hike at the Simatai section of the Great Wall. This breath-taking stretch of the wall follows a ridge so narrow it had to be built with the help of goats, which could carry just one brick at a time to the laborers that were working on it. In the afternoon you will continue the walk from Jinshanling to Erchu before returning to the same guesthouse as the evening before for a hearty meal and good night’s rest.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Jinshanling
Distance: 5.5 hours, 8 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Mountains and Palaces
You will spend the morning hiking along Mt Simatai section, savoring the stunning views and adrenaline packed stretches of narrow wall well above the lush green foliage. You will walk through 3 different watchtowers. In the afternoon you will be driven back to Beijing to visit the Summer Palace and a relaxing free evening. Having finished the walking for the trip, you can sleep soundly and give your aching muscles a well-earned break.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Beijing
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Explore Beijing
Back in the capital, you will enjoy a day tour of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. You will spend the afternoon exploring Hutong, absorbing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of the city. After a farewell dinner of Peking Duck, a local specialty, you will settle down in your hotel for your final night of the holiday.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Beijing
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Farewell
After an incredible week of walking the Great Wall, it is time to say goodbye to your group and tour guide. You will enjoy one final breakfast at the hotel before heading out for your onward journey. It is possible to pre-book a private transfer to the airport for a fee.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Hike the Great Wall of China Tour Price and Dates
This guided hiking tour to the Great Wall Tour is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the price depends on the size of your group.The prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room:
- Guided Groups of 4+: USD1610
Accommodation on Hike The Great Wall of China Tour
You will stay in a range of different accommodation as you explore the Great Wall of China. This will include a lovely 4-star hotel right in the center of Beijing as well as comfortable, local guesthouses in the more rural areas that you travel to.
In general, you can expect accommodation with 2 to 3-star facilities. Prices are based on double occupancy, but private rooms for single travelers can be arranged for a supplement.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of USD255 to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
What’s included in the Hike The Great Wall of China Tour?
Meals
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners are included. Fruit and snacks are included on some of the hiking days.
Accommodations
The accommodation for 8 nights along the tour is included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation to you and your luggage is included during the tour. Please note, that only one group departure airport transfer is included and if you need arrival transfer or private departure transfer, you can order this service during the booking for an extra charge.
Also Included
- English speaking tour guide services
- Entrance fees and organized visits:
-
- The Great Wall of China
- Summer Palace
- Bird’s Nest
- Water Cube
- Drinking water
- First aid kit
Not included
- International flights
- China entry visa
- Personal expenses and tips
- Things not expressly mentioned as included above
Optional Extras
- Airport transfers:
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- Private vehicle (with driver) – USD89 per vehicle
- 9-seat van (with driver) – USD110 per vehicle
- Extra night in Beijing before or after the tour – USD129 per double room including breakfast
- How hard is the Hike The Great Wall of China Tour?
- Do I need a Visa to travel to China?
- Does the number of guides depend on the size of the group?
- Are meals included on the Hike The Great Wall of China Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Beijing to start this tour?
- Is the Hike The Great Wall of China Tour in English?
- Where does the Hike The Great Wall of China Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to China?
- Are there any travel restrictions for China?
- When is the best time to travel to China for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. You should be comfortable walking over hilly terrain and hiking day after day. Some parts of this tour include challenging hiking and require previous experience.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Yes! Groups smaller than 6 will be led by one English-speaking guide. For groups of 6 and more, you will also have one porter assigned. Groups of 12 and more will have two English-speaking guides and a porter assigned.
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can get to Beijing via flight from most of major cities in the World.
Yes, the tour guide is English speaking.
This tour ends in Beijing.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to Great Wall for this hike is during spring and autumn.
Customer Ratings
China Adventure Travel has over 30 years of experience in tour operation. They specialize in adventure travel, including cycling, hiking, and tailor-made adventure tours. Their philosophy is to develop a trip in China that you won’t ever forget.
Besides adventure tours, China Adventure Travel also offers cultural tours and cultural exchange programs. They consider excellent leadership to be the soul of a trip, so their guides are chosen carefully for their expertise.
They pay great attention to every detail of your trip, and recognize that great service is a culmination of many smaller efforts.
