Walking The Great Wall

Day 1  Beijing  
Arrive at any time in to Beijing. A welcome dinner is organised for you to get to know your group and you will sample one of the city’s most famous dishes: Peking Duck.

Day 2  Beijing to Huanghuacheng  
This morning, head to the lesser-visited section of the wall at Huanghuacheng, which has an incredibly picturesque location by a lake. The name Huanghuacheng translates as 'Yellow Flower City', as during the summer the surrounding mountains are swathed in yellow as the local wild flowers come into bloom. The walk today is relatively challenging and with uneven topography, but the views are worth every effort!

Day 3  Huanghuacheng to Jiankou  
Mutianyu is one of the best preserved parts of the Great Wall and is an impressive sight, snaking across mountains and valleys into the distance. The Mutianyu section used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.

Days 4-5  Jiankou to Gubeikou  
This section of the Great Wall was built along a mountain edge and remains completely wild, with towers clinging impossibly to the steepest of ridges. This area is the most photographed section of the Great Wall, due to the unique construction style combined with stunning scenery. On day 5, trek the length of the Jinshanling Great Wall section, which is among the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall. This section reaches 7 metres high and 6 metres wide and incorporates 5 main passes, 67 watchtowers and 2 beacon towers as it zig-zags its way through the Big and Small Jinshan Mountains.

Day 6  Gubeikou
Hike along Gubeikou's Panlongshan Section. Pass many watchtowers until you reach the unique 24 Window Tower. Once here, take a late picnic lunch on the watchtower, and then double back for about half the way, following the stone steps past a communal playground.

Day 7  Gubeikou to Beijing  
Discover a part of Gubeikou's Great Wall known as, Majiagou Hill. Gubeikou's Great Wall was first built in the 6th Century and has not been reconstructed since 1644. It is somewhat dilapidated but it still retains its original beauty. Your steep ascent will start from the northern gate and once you reach the top watchtower, you will enjoy some great views. Return to today's starting point and drive to visit Niangniang Daoist Temple before heading back to Beijing.

Days 8-9  Beijing  
Enjoy a morning walking tour of the city's hutongs to see what is left of old Beijing and its traditions. Visit Tiananmen Square; the largest in the world and able to hold over a million people. In the afternoon, visit the Forbidden City with its innumerable courtyards and temples and enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers. Your tour comes to an end after breakfast on day 9.