Conquer the Great Wall of China

This trek takes you to a remote section of the Great Wall of China, from Gubeikou to Jinshanling and Simatai. Not only will you trek on the wall itself, meticulously built and restored over thousands of years, but you will also have the opportunity to trek through wild and remote landscapes with distant views of green rolling hills, mountain peaks and with one of the great wonders of the world as the backdrop.

Staying in guesthouses throughout the trek allows you to gain an understanding of authentic Chinese culture as you discover more about the lifestyle of the local people and also taste some incredible local cuisine.

A moderate to challenging trip for someone of a good general level of fitness. The Great Wall is built on rolling hills and some sections have hundreds of thousands of stairs, some of which have begun to crumble and are more like steep gravel slopes.

Each day you can expect to walk for 5-8 hours on various types of terrain. The activity level is high so don’t expect it to be easy. You will need to train in preparation for this.

Depart from the UK on an overnight flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing

Arrive in Beijing and check into a central 3* hotel in time for a group dinner and a briefing on the week ahead.

Day 3: Beijing – Gubeikou

After breakfast, we transfer by bus to Gubeikou (approx 3 hours). After lunch we start the trek at a leisurely pace before reaching our first guesthouse.

(approx 3-4 hours walking)

Day 4: Gubeikou

Departing the guesthouse this morning, we ascend to explore a spectacular section of the wall, framed by distant mountains. The wall dates from the Ming Dynasty here, and this little-visited section will be one of the highlights of your trek. We return to Gubeikou tonight.

(approx 7 hours walking)

Day 5: Gubeikou – Jinshanling

We set off early today to trek through cornfields and farmland for a taste of true rural China before exploring this classic section of the wall, well off the beaten track, known locally as the ‘dragon standing on the beautiful golden mountain’. With broad sweeping views, it’s easy to see how the wall resembles a dragon’s back weaving its way across the land. The views are stunning and you will have hundreds of great photographic opportunities. This evening we stay near the wall in Simitai.

(approx 7 hours walking)

Day 6: Jin Shan Ling – Si Ma Tai

Today’s hike takes us along a restored section of the wall, built in the 15th century, and of great military significance. We descend on a winding trail into the Miyun county of Beijing, and return to the same guesthouse in the village of Simatai for the night.

(approx 7-8 hours walking)

What’s included

• Return flights from London
• Airport taxes and charges
• Local transfers and transport in China
• Accommodation in 3* hotel (3 nights) and guesthouses on trek (4 nights)
• All meals as per itinerary
• Trek permits
• English-speaking local guides and support crew
• Different Travel UK tour manager

What’s not included

• Any necessary vaccinations
• Spending money (tips – approx £40-45pp, drinks, souvenirs)
• Transport to/from UK airports
• Travel insurance
• Personal trek kit and equipment
• China visa (current cost approx. £150-£175)

A £395 registration fee is payable at the time of booking (this can be paid in instalments by emailing accounts@different-travel.com). You can then choose one of the following payment options:

1. Sponsorship: Fundraise £3,500 for St Michael’s Hospice. 80% (£2,800) is due by 7 August 2026. The remaining balance of £1,000 is due by the departure date.

This includes your £2,000 tour costs balance and a £1,500 donation to the charity.

1. Flexi*: Pay your own tour costs balance of £2,000 to St Michael’s Hospice and fundraise £1,500 by 7 August 2026. Payment due dates are as above.

The trek is accompanied by local English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of trekking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by an excellent team of assistant staff, cooks and drivers and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.

The terrain is hilly and undulating with steep sections. You will not trek on the wall the entire time, often you will walk next to it through the countryside so be prepared for a variety of ground underfoot from the grassy, dry terrain of the countryside to the stone steps of the Great Wall.

The Great Wall has been restored in some sections so you will find smooth paved ground with steps built up the hillside. In the original sections the Wall may be crumbling, with earth and stone rubble that shifts underfoot like scree, making it challenging to climb and leaving some exposed areas with drops.

In general, you should expect to climb a lot of steps during the challenge, so you must train with this in mind and ensure you do plenty of hill walking to prepare for the hills.

Temperatures will be dependent upon the weather which is usually clear and sunny. Rain is unlikely but possible in October seeing just 5 days of rain throughout the month historically. On average the temperature will range between 15°C to 18°C during the day and down to 0°C at night.

It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing non-cotton trek layers and waterproofs. It’s better to have warm layers and waterproofs and not need them, than to not have any when you need them.

Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate however, climate change impacts the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimate safety of the group.

The trek day will start with a breakfast of hot drinks, noodles, rice, eggs, Chinese dumplings and fruit. You will prepare your own packed lunch each day which will consist of sandwiches with jam or peanut butter, fresh fruit, Oreos (or similar), dried fruit, and nuts, etc. Some days you may have hot lunches. You should bring your own snacks to eat throughout the day.

A freshly cooked traditional Chinese evening meal will be served at the guesthouse comprising rice, noodles, meat, tofu, and vegetable dishes.

You will stay in a hotel in Beijing and guesthouses during the trek. Accommodation is on a twin or triple share basis throughout. A single occupancy room (at a supplement) may be possible, subject to availability.

During the trek you may occupy two or more neighbouring guesthouses depending on the final group size, but you will share your meals together and be able to relax in the evenings as a group.

The hotels have en-suite facilities with flushing toilets and hot showers. Toilet paper should always be placed in the bin, not flushed.

During the trek there are basic toilet and shower facilities available (shared). Towels are provided. Toiletries are not provided at the guesthouses so please bring your own. Toilet paper is provided in limited quantities at the guesthouses so you will need to bring your own for use here and also for use on the trek and at any public toilets (where toilet paper is never provided).

During the trek you will need to pack up any toilet paper you use to dispose of properly at your guesthouse bin. NEVER leave toilet paper, fruit peel, nut shells or other litter on the trail. You are recommended to bring a small pack of baby wipes and hand sanitizer for your general hygiene throughout the day (e.g. to clean your hands after toilet visits and/or before lunch).

You must be 18+ to join this trek. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.

An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new. Adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected so do not expect standards to be the same as you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable (be it because of group pace, weather conditions, local bureaucracy or other factors) and itineraries may be altered to allow for this.

For you to get the most out of your challenge it is important that you are flexible, positive and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. Suitable fitness preparation before departure forms part of this.

You should have a good level of fitness to ensure fast recovery from each day of trekking.

You must engage in training (including plenty of walking up and down hills) before departure to ensure your best chance of enjoyment on the trip. This could include hill walking, running, cycling, gym workouts, boot camps, etc.

You can download a number of free apps to help you train and track your progress e.g. MapMyWalk, C25K, MyFitnessPal etc. Attempting to complete the trek without training will make it more challenging than necessary and will be detrimental to your experience, and the experience of your teammates.

The trek is rated moderate to challenging. There are many steep uphill and downhill sections to contend with and you must be prepared to carry a daypack weighing 6-7kg. Although the distances trekked may appear short, due to the hilly terrain it can take 6-7 hours to trek just 5km, as ascent and descent profile each day ranges from 515m-866m.

You can download and print the suggested Kit List here.