|
Six-day Trekking Package - Walk
the
Great Wall of China
|
PRICE TABLE
(Per Person)
# of Head |
USD |
1 |
2389 |
2 |
1439 |
3 |
1409 |
4-5 |
1269 |
6-9 |
1229 |
10+ |
1059 |
WHAT'S INCLUDED
IN THE PRICE
* Personal transfers from and to hotel
* Entry fees to the Great Wall
* One night camping on the Great Wall
* *Accommodation of 5 nights in local hostels or farmer's
courtyards
* 5 lunches, 4dinners and 4 breakfasts
* Quality vehicle, professional driver and English-speaking tour
guide
* Free membership card
* A credit of USD25 for your next tour with us
Guaranteed no detours to shops,
markets, factories, etc.
Want
to see more of the legendary Great Wall in all its beauty and
splendor? Visit our
Instagram page for a preview of what could be
in store for you!
|
|
Complimentary
1-day Beijing Group Tour to
Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and
Summer Palace!
Complementary Airport Pickup
(Airport drop-off @ $29.99/pp for two guests)
|
|
TRAVEL INSURANCE
If you currently don’t have travel insurance then
you will be required to purchase our PICC (People's Insurance
Company of China) travel and accidental insurance.
The fee will be $5 per person, and will cover the duration of
your hiking/camping/trekking in order to ensure that you are
comprehensively protected if injured.
For more information about our travel insurance policy please
see our insurance page.
QUALITY VEHICLES
|
|
|
Six-day Great Wall Trekking & Camping
TOUR 6A: Shixiaguan-Badaling-Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu-Jiankou-Mutianyu-Gubeikou-Jinshanling-West
Simatai Great Wall Expedition
We have been helping our customers explore the
Great Wall for more than 10 years. Whether you're an experienced
hiker looking for adventure, or a family with small children
looking for a memorable experience, then this would be a great
way to spend your time in China. This program combines the four
most popular Great Wall hiking routes into an action packed 6
day journey that shows you all aspects of the Great Wall. From
rugged unrestored “Wild Wall” to restored brickwork and
watchtowers, to even underwater Great Wall, if you’ve been
dreaming about experiencing the Great Wall than this program
will give you the most bang for the buck.
In addition to featuring the 4 most popular Great Wall hikes,
you’ll also get to camp overnight on the Great Wall itself! This
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can’t afford to be missed, and is
sure to be one of the best memories you take away from your
China vacation. This program also comes with your own
English-speaking guide and driver, and all meals are provided.
Highlights:
Explore the best of the Beijing-area Great Wall with these 4
memorable routes
See amazing panoramas and vistas that can only be seen by hiking
these areas! This tour is perfect for amateur photographers you want
to show their friends some amazing photos
See sections of the Great Wall which exemplifies the entire wall
in architecture, scenery, ruggedness, and military importance.
Camp overnight on the
Great Wall any time of the year
All meals and home-stays/hostels are included!
Day-by-day
Trekking Itinerary
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) |
Day 1:
Beijing-Shixiaguan-Badaling
(L+D,
appx. 8km/6miles,
5 hours)
In the early morning your guide and driver
will pick you up from your hotel. From there we will be driven
to the Badaling Great Wall. The ruined Badaling Great Wall (now
officially named “Ancient Badaling Great Wall”) is 10km
southwest of the restored Badaling Great Wall. So, as its name
hints, this section of the Great Wall is partially restored and
more adventurous, while not being easy to climb. Its hikers are
mainly foreign travelers instead of domestic travelers, who
prefer hiking at the restored Badaling Great Wall.
After about 2-3 hours of hiking, we’ll
cross over into Shixiaguan (Stone Gorge) Pass, 5km southwest of
the Badaling section of the Great Wall. It is one of the most
intact parts of the whole Great Wall. In spite of serious
damage, the winding wall set in the lofty mountains reveals its
grandeur. However, a castle in Shixiaguan was pulled down during
the Great Leap Forward. Nevertheless, the wall remains
relatively intact because of its strategic location. Shixiaguan
Pass was originally built in the reign of Ming Emperor Wanli
(about 1600 AD), which was then a key pass guarded by a large
number of soldiers. There are sites such as official residences,
the ancient castle, clay walls and brick walls in the village.
After our hike we will drive to the village of Huanghuacheng.
We'll stay in a “farmotel” called "Good Fortune Restaurants &
Lodge" which has been approved by Great Wall Adventure Club and
which is located at the foot of the Huanghuacheng Great Wall.
|
Day
2: Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu
(B, L, D., appx. 8 kms/6 miles,
3-4 hours)
We will wake up at 7:30AM with breakfast at
the farmotel. We will then continue our trek, this time from
Huanhuacheng to Xishuiyu. Huanghuachengis fast becoming popular
with hikers and tourists who are looking for something a little
different in their Great Wall experience. The wall here is a
combination of both restored and unrestored areas, giving your
hike a little more variety and adventure. When you reach the
middle of the wall you will be able to see that the countryside
is swathed in yellow, as masses of wild flowers come into bloom.
We will then cross over onto the Xishuiyu section.
Today’s hike is quite special-part of the
wall is under water! In 1974 China built the Xishuiyu Reservoir,
and when the water level rose, some low-lying sections of the
wall were submerged under water. Seen from the dam of the
reservoir, this stately sunken wall is still visible under the
water’s smooth and glimmering surface. Following our hike we
will drive back to another farmotel called "Deep Missing"
in Jiankou where
you'll enjoy a country-style Chinese dinner and comfortable
lodging.
|
Day 3: Jiankou Trekking
(B, L, D, 3 to 4 hours of hiking)
After waking up in the morning we will have
a Chinese-style breakfast first. In order to hike on Jiankou, first we have
to climb up a path for about 30-40 minutes (2km) to reach it.
Our hike today will take about 2.5 hours and will cover 4km.
Jiankou is translated as 'Arrow Nock' in English, for the shape
of the mountain is like an arrow, with the collapsed ridge
opening as its arrow nock. The Jiankou
section is known for its ruggedness and wild beauty, and you
will be in awe of the marvelous views it affords. As soon as we
reach Jiankou we will see a deserted watchtower that gives you a
panoramic view of the entire valley. In the early morning the
view is priceless with its morning fog. This section of the wall
is not well known by tourists, although if you see a picture of
the Great Wall from exotic traveling magazines, chances are it
is from Jiankou. This is the pinnacle of exotic Great Wall
scenery.
This part of the wall is often empty, so
you will have some peace and serenity on your hike today. Our
hike will begin in earnest from the watchtower known as
“Defending General”, and over the course of our trek we will
pass through seven to eight different watchtowers. Over the next
two hours we will be moving from west to east. As
we trek we’ll be able to see
“Ying Feng Dao Yang” so named
because this watchtower was erected on the highest peak in the
area, and eagles and hawks often perch on it. Although the
majestic wall is slowly being conquered by small trees and
brambles, but the view from the top is still stunning! Other
landmarks will include the “Beijing Knot “ and the “Heavenly
Ladder”, but we will not be able to scale these peaks as they
are not accessible due to its toughness and dangerous footing.
The toughest challenge that this hike presents is a
portion known as the “38 Steps”, where the Wall vastly increases
in steepness, to the point that it is near 70 degrees! It is due
to this feature that we advise those with heart problems or a
phobia of heights not to go on this trip. The rest
of the hike is mostly smooth sailing.
We’ll end today’s hike at “Jiankou”, or
“Creek Pass” in English, which although pronounced the same as
the Great Wall section, has a different meaning in Chinese and
is composed of different characters. At “Jiankou” we’ll scale
down the wall, which, like the walk to get on, should take
roughly 30 minutes (2km). Once we descend from the Great Wall we
will spend the night at a farmer’s inn. The farmer’s family will
prepare for you a dinner of traditional Chinese dishes. Be sure
to get a good night’s sleep, for tomorrow we descend the wall
again at Zhengbeilou, where we will eventually cross over into
the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
Optional Camping on the Great Wall Tonight
Spend
the night under the stars on the Great Wall for an Optional Camping
on the Great Wall
additional fee of 540 RMB/person (USD $99/person)
You have the unique opportunity to camp in a watchtower at
Jiankou tonight! You'll be able to spend the night on the Great Wall under
the glow of the stars. Our local supplier, who owns a local
restaurant and inn, will carry the tent and sleeping pads for you
and place them in the watchtower. This will takes about 40 minutes,
as he has to reach the Great Wall by climbing a mountain path from
his restaurant at the foot of the mountain. He will also cook for
you a BBQ dinner, which will include Chinese wheat buns or pancakes,
kebabs (beef, pork or chicken), vegetables, photo chips, and fruits,
along with two bottles of local beers, spirits and other colas.
While he is setting up your camping equipment and making your meals,
please make sure to let him know your gratitude for all of his hard
and dedicated work!
|
Day 4: Jiankou-Mutianyu (B, L, D, 4 hours
of hiking)
After waking up we will again scale up the
mountain for about 40 minutes to reach the Jiankou Great Wall
again from a watchtower called Zhengbeilou (Tower to Face North
literally).
After hiking for about
2-3 hours we will cross over onto Mutianyu, a section of the
wall that has been largely restored. Although it has gotten a
face-lift, it avoids the army of tourists that plague Badaling.
Mutianyu offers some breathtaking views of the valley and wall
below, and if you look to your right you’ll see a large sign
engraved in the side of the mountain encouraging you to “Cherish
the teachings of Chairman Mao”. Mutianyu has also become popular
for visiting foreign leaders and celebrities (former U.S.
President Clinton visited Mutianyu on one of his trips to
China).
You can hike down to the parking lot, take
a cable car, or take a toboggan ride (highly recommended, and
lots of fun!) down to meet our driver. We will then drive to
Gubeikou Great Wall to spend the night and sleep in Gubeikou
Village. This will offer you a chance to experience the true
lives of Chinese farmers. You'll have the chance to learn
Chinese traditional paper-cutting and make your own dumplings.
*Mutianyu cable car or toboggan is extra.
Not included in the package price.
|
Day 5: Gubeikou-Jinshanling (B, L, D, 10 kms,
4-5 hours of hiking)
Gubeikou Great Wall occupies a strategically important location,
which is difficult to access. Situated between Shanhaiguan Pass
and Juyongguan Pass, and about 62 miles to Beijing, it is the
bastion protecting the northern gateway to the capital. There
are 14 beacon towers, 143 watchtowers, 16 strategic pass, three
citadels and many other military constructions. Many of them are
famous cultural relics, such as the Big Flower Beacon Tower of
the Northern Qi Dynasty, Fairy Tower, General Tower, and the
dominant Wangjing Tower.
After walking on Gubeikou we will cross
over to Jinshanling. Much of the hiking that we will do on
Jinshanling today is relatively easy, as much of the wall here
is restored and the surface smooth. Jinshanling has five main
passes and 67 watchtowers.
Following our day of hiking on the Great
Wall we'll take you to have a gorgeous Chinese countryside-style
dinner at Mr. Duan's Restaurant. Mr. Duan is a famous Great Wall
photographer and is the winner of several national photographing
competitions. His wife (middle in the left photo) and her niece
will cook traditional Chinese dishes and dumpling for you. Mrs. Duan will serve you Kong Pao Chicken,
Stewed beef and potato,
Green Pepper and Pork, Fried Tofu in Spicy Sauce, Fried Egg
Tomato, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and lots of vegetables (great
for vegetarians), and soup. She changes her menu daily, so you
may have different dishes from the above. What's more important
is that all the vegetables she uses are planted in her yard, so
it is organic and fresh! Rice and Chinese
dumpling are also fresh and of genuine local flavor.
Beer and other drinks are free!
Before it gets dark, we'll set up our tents
and other equipment in a watch tower. We'll
prepare the necessary camping facilities such as sleeping bags
so you don't have to bring anything but yourself. If you prefer
sleeping in a local hostel or a farmer's house, you certainly
can without extra charge. However, during the winter, we'll only
overnight in a local hotel for safety reasons, because the
temperature on the Great Wall is usually 10 degree Celsius lower
than it is on the ground.
|
Day 6: Jianshanling-Second Valley (the West
Wing of Simatai) -Beijing
(B, L, 8 kms, 3 hours of
hiking)
The first thing we'll do today is to watch the
magnificent sunrise early in the morning. After a hearty breakfast
we will resume our hike on Jinshanling's right wing, where we will
hike until we reach Simatai West (aka Second Valley.) As we head
west the wall will start to gradually deteriorate, making the hike
progressively more challenging, but also interesting to observe and
compare.
As there are relatively fewer tourists at the
Second Valley part of the Jinshanling Great Wall, it is a good place
to explore on foot. If you are looking for breathtaking views with a
relatively peaceful walk, then the Second Valley of Jinshanling
can't be better, so we hope that you remembered to bring your
camera! The Second Valley features a complicated and well preserved
fortification system at Jinshanling. The Second Valley Great Wall
meanders through fantastic natural scenery and connects to the
Gubeikou Great Wall to the west.
In addition to the gorgeous scenery on your
hike, you'll also get to see how the wall was designed for practical
purposes, that being the defense against outer enemies and how the
Great Wall was supposed to keep them out. There are 'obstacle-walls'
built perpendicular to the parapets - a feature quite unique to the
Second Valley part of Jinshanling Great Wall. These
'walls-within-walls' were used for defense against enemies who might
have succeeded in scaling the outer wall. The steps of the Great
Wall at Second Valley are rather steep and rocky with loose stones
at times. It is important to choose comfortable footwear with a good
grip and support for the feet.
After about 2-3 hours of hiking on Second
Valley, we’ll again meet up with our van and you’ll be taken back to
Beijing, where you will be dropped off at your hotel, ending your
tour.
|
|