Great Wall of China Trek 2027

We depart the UK for our overnight flight to Beijing.

We arrive in Beijing and then transfer to our hotel near Huangyaguan to freshen up and have some free time before dinner.

Following breakfast we start our warm up trek, as we trek along the Taipingzhai section and return along the Wall to Huangyaguan. This section is very popular as it used to be an army barracks 600 years ago and was a highly strategic point for entering into Beijing – you can still see the links of the barracks to the Great Wall.
Even though it is a warm up day there will still be plenty of ups and downs as you get used to the Great Wall steps! Once we get to the bottom, we stop for something to eat before transferring to our overnight accommodation.

Trekking distance – approx. 4 – 5km/3 hours

Following breakfast we commence trekking along the beautiful Gubeikou section of the wall to Jinshanling. Our main challenge today will be to cover the 27 watchtowers over old brick-made steps! Step back in time here and drink in the history of this remote and beautiful section of the Great Wall. In the afternoon we come off the Wall down to the valley and trek through remote villages and farms. Towards the end of the day we re-join the Wall and trek through the last 8 watchtowers to the Jinshanling section.

Trekking distance – approx. 13km/8 hours

Today we trek from our lodge at Jinshanling to a remote section of the Wall which will give you a flavour of the immensity of the task undertaken in building this incredible structure. It is a truly beautiful area and the vista of the Wall disappearing over the mountains is a memorable sight. Today is a tough day with lots of steps going up and down but it is a truly amazing day you’ll remember forever.
After reaching the highest point of the day we come off the Wall and walk down to meet our coach and take the transfer to our overnight accommodation.

Trekking distance – approx. 7.5km/5 – 6 hours

After breakfast we take a short transfer to the Mutianyu section and climb the awesome 1,000 steps up to the Wall. We then trek through 11 watchtowers to the Heavenly Ladder, which ascends at a 45 degree angle and covers another 460 steps! The view from the top is stunning – the Great Wall pitches up and dives down across the rolling green hillsides disappearing and then reappearing amongst the forested slopes. After we’ve taken all our photos we will head back down following the route we have just climbed. As we get closer to the bottom we have three choices of how to get off the Wall: follow the 1,000 steps we tackled on the way up, descend in a cable car or take a toboggan slide!

Trekking distance – approx. 7km/6 hours

The first part of the day is spent at the Juyongguan section of the Wall, which is very similar to our first day at Huangyaguan with an important barracks situated at the bottom. This section gives you a clear idea of how the Wall would have looked originally. Following this, we will transfer back to Beijing, where we have the opportunity to go on an optional Hutong rickshaw tour. It is one of the most popular tours in Beijing and the best way to explore the old way of life over the last 200 years!

Trekking distance – approx. 3km/3 hours

Free day to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Beijing and all it has to offer, both modern and ancient. There will be an optional full day excursion organised that explores the highlights of Beijing which includes a visit to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and thebe autiful Temple of Heaven! In the evening we will have our farewell dinner at Beijing’s premier Duck restaurant. We indulge in a real Chinese dining experience and celebrate our achievements!

We transfer back to Beijing Airport for our flight back to the UK, arriving the same day.

Absolutely! The trek is suitable for all abilities with the correct training. The minimum age for this trek is 18 years old (if you are aged between 14 – 17 years you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). The one thing everyone will have in common is a great sense of adventure and the desire to help a charity. Whether you are taking part as an individual or as a team with friends, team spirit will be flying high on the challenge.

This challenge has been graded as Challenging (1) on our challenge grading scheme meaning the trek has been designed to be challenging but achievable as long as you train beforehand. You will be trekking for 5 consecutive days and in varied temperatures, a good cardiovascular fitness is required – the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the challenge! GAC will provide you with a full training guide once you register, this is also available to download via their website. 

The GAC policy is to encourage and support as many people as possible to take part in GAC challenges, but they may not be suitable for all people due to restrictions posed by limitation in mobility, physical or cognitive disability, pregnancy or other various medical conditions. If you have any doubts regarding your suitability for this challenge, please contact the Global Adventure Challenge team to discuss. 

All our challenges are graded on a scale from 1 to 3 to indicate the level of difficulty, 1 being the lowest challenge grade and 3 being the most challenging. (1 = Challenging, 2 = Tough and 3 = Extreme).

We will supply you with a kit list of what to take once you register to take part. Apart from some broken in trekking boots and some waterproofs you do not need any specialist kit.

No. Participants will only have to carry a day pack (for items such as sunscreen, water, sun hat, camera, etc.). Your main piece of luggage will be transported from accommodation to accommodation in the support vehicle.

All meals will be provided from dinner on Day 2 through to breakfast on Day 9 except for lunch on Day 8. Bottled water will be supplied and free of charge. We can cater for most dietary requirements as long as we know in advance – just fill in the appropriate section on your registration form. Chinese food contains lots of rice and noodles – very similar to what you can obtain at home actually!

There will be a strong support team with a professional Global Adventure Challenges leader from the UK, as well as local guides. Full, comprehensive first aid kits will be taken and satellite/mobile telephones will be used to ensure your safety and security at all times. A local medic will also be joining the trek.

There will be regular rest stops for drinks and snacks – there is no problem with you taking more rest stops should you need them. A guide will be bringing up the rear of the group ensuring no one is left alone. Remember this is not a race!