Great Wall Itinerary Day 1: International Flight Meet at the Airport for your overnight flight to Beijing, China. Our Expedition Wise representative will be there to assist you with the check-in and any last minute questions. You will be passing over the Great Wall before landing at Beijing airport. Day 2: Beijing to Badaling Area Upon arrival in Beijing you will be met at the airport by our local agent who will transfer you to your hotel (approx 1.5 hrs). After check in, you will have lunch and then the possibility to have a short walk on the Juyunguan Pass section of the Great Wall as a warm up. In the evening after dinner, you will meet for your challenge briefing and have the opportunity to ask any questions of your challenge leader. Overnight in lodge. Day 3: Badaling Ancient Great Wall – 6kms Today, you will be on the Ancient Wall of Badaling which continues gradually upwards for most of the day. It is a short length of wall but is demanding trekking along the un-renovated section of the Great Wall of China. Starting with a road transfer (approx 30 mins) to get you to the start point, you will commence your climb first steeply uphill, watchtower after watchtower along a very rough and stony path with uneven steps until gradually, it levels off and begins to descend again. In contrast to the renovated section nearby, this un-renovated part of the Wall is little visited. Following your descent, you will have lunch in a local farmer’s house - a traditional household where you can get an idea of how the rural population live. After lunch, transfer back to your lodge to rest and reflect on your first day of trekking along the Great Wall. Overnight in lodge. Approx. trekking time - 5hrs. Day 4: Huanhuacheng- 8kms This morning you will transfer to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great wall near to the Ming Tombs. Huanghuacheng section is a part of the Great Wall that connects the Mutianyu section of the Grea Wall in the East, via Jiankou, and the Juyong Pass in the West. You will walk up to the top of the first section and then walk along and down the beautiful old section off the wall to the pass and then up the next section which is rarely walked and is beautiful in its solitude. This is a shorter day that can be very relaxed and enjoyable. Overnight in lodge. Approx. trekking time - 4hrs. Day 5: Gubeikou Gateway – 14kms The day starts with a drive (approx 1.5 hrs) to a village where your trek begins. This section of the Wall is still broken down and original and can be an incredibly quiet place to trek with fantastic views of Simitai and Jinshanling sections of the Wall. Today is a long trek along the Gubeikou section of the Wall before coming to a military zone where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will need to leave the Wall and trek through farmland before then re-joining the Wall towards the start of the Jinshanling section. You will then transfer to your overnight accommodation for the night. Overnight in lodge. Approx trekking time - 8hrs. Day 6: Jinshanling – 10kms After an early breakfast, you will start today’s trek straight from the lodge. The walk from Jinshanling towards Simatai is a spectacular one that is partly on original unreconstructed Wall and partly on renovated sections, with many steep, crumbling staircases and ruined watchtowers along the way. After 20 towers, you will have lunch and then have the opportunity to walk 4 more towers before you need to leave the Wall on a long descending staircase to your transport to transfer to your overnight accommodation. You will transfer approx. 1.5hrs to the next lodge located en route back to the city of Beijing. Overnight in lodge. Approx trekking time 5hrs. Day 7: Mutianyu Section – 6kms The reconstructed section of the Mutianyu Great Wall is where visiting heads of state are usually brought. Today will commence with a steep but paved walk up through lush woodland to join the Wall – approximately 1000 steps. From here the trek will follow this spectacular section where the original battlements and drainage systems have been carefully restored. The highlight of the day is the steep ascent up the Heavenly Stairway (440 steps) to a high viewing platform; this is perhaps the hardest ascent you will complete all week after a week of trekking. On a clear day the Wall is visible on the mountains all around, a fitting end to your trekking challenge. After lunch, you will drive to your hotel in downtown Beijing. Tonight there is the opportunity of visiting the theatre, having an acupressure foot massage and visiting the famous night food market. Overnight hotel, Beijing. Approx trekking time - 4hrs. Day 8: Full Day City Tour of Beijing As a reward for all your hard work, a day of leisure follows with a guided tour of the many attractions of China's capital city, including The Temple of Heaven, the Old Imperial Palace known as the Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square followed by a tea ceremony before shopping at the famous Gem Market to shop for souvenirs. Later you will have your final celebratory evening meal at a Beijing Duck restaurant. Overnight hotel – Beijing. Day 9: Flight Home After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transported to the airport for your international flight back to London. Expedition Wise does not require single travellers to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. On all of our challenges we will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we cannot match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share, a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. .