Pre-expedition experience:

This trek is suitable for fit walkers, without previous trekking or mountaineering experience. The difficulty level varies from relaxed to moderate, with a typical day involving between 1-6 hours of trekking, reaching altitudes of up to 1000 metres.

Leadership:

An RJ7 accredited Expedition Leader will accompany you for the duration of the trip. Our leaders have been chosen not only on the merits of their technical ability or qualifications, but also on their leadership skills andtemperament. We will provide a leader who will make the trek both successful and enjoyable throughout. Their primary objective will be to maximise every participant’s chances of completing the trek, and to manage a team of individuals with a broad spectrum of experience and expectations. Our leaders hold current mountain first aid certificates and have experience of dealing with altitude related illness. They are well versed with wilderness medicine and emergency care.

Itinerary:

Day 1:
Beijing/Jinshan Park

Arriving in Kota Kinabalu after a long flight, the afternoon will be spent resting. You will also be given a briefing from your RJ7 expedition leader, and have time to explore the town. Accommodation will be in a comfortable town centre hotel.

Day 2:
Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City

We begin our tour in Tiananmen Square, the center of Beijing and a walk in to the Forbidden City where you will see the majestic Chinese Imperial Palace. It is said to be the world’s largest existing palace complex with 999.5 rooms. While walking in the city, you can retrace the Chinese history from Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. We will then have the opportunity to experience Beijing in a more modest, local way - riding Pedi-cabs and exploring the city’s traditional neighborhoods - Hutongs, the narrow alleys in old Beijing. B, L, D

Day 3:
Temple of Heaven Park/Temple of Heaven/Huanghuacheng

We start early today, with a visit to the Temple of Heaven Park. Here, we can observe various activities such as Taiji/T’ai Chi, ribbon dances, sword dances, water calligraphy. We will also visit the Temple of Heaven, the prayer palace for good weather and bountiful harvests. In the afternoon we start our trek of the Great Wall itself, driving to the Huanghuacheng (‘Yellow Flower’) Great Wall. This is the only section of the wall to be submerged in water. We will hike along the magnificent west wing of Huanghuacheng, heading towards Yaoziyu Village. We finish the hike in a nearby village and stay here overnight. B, L, D

Day 4:
Jiankou/Xixhazi Village

Today we will hike towards the Jiankou (‘Arrow Nock’) Great Wall, which is generally recognised as the most challenging section of the Ming Great Wall, passing several key towers, such as the Beijing Knot and the General on the Pass. It may be a harder trek today but the breath-taking scenery and astounding views are well worth the extra exertion. We will arrive in Xizhazi Village in the afternoon for a well-deserved rest and a good night’s sleep. B, L, D

Day 5:
Jiankou/Mutianyu

Starting from the foot of Jiankou Great Wall, we will make our way to the impressive main tower - Zhengbei Tower. Hiking towards Mutianyu Great Wall, you will note the contrast between the trail we have followed and the wall itself as this section has been restored and renovated. We will stay overnight in the Mutianyu village. B, L, D

Day 6:
Gubeikou/Jinshanling

We begin today by driving to the Gubeikou Great Wall, located at a strategically important spot and famous for it’s strong military function. We will hike towards the Jinshanling Great Wall, which is connected The Gubeikou Great Wall. This is the most preserved section of the Great Wall, originally built in 1570 during the Ming dynasty and stretching out in front of you for roughly 10 kilometers in length with 67 towers. The trek takes us first along a mountain range before reaching the real wall. We will stay in this area overnight with a local family. B, L, D

Day 7:
Jinshanling

We will hike along the hills and resume our trek. Based on huge stone bars, the Wall was made by huge bricks, each of which weighed about 12 kilograms (26 pounds). It has five main passes and 67 watchtowers. Every 100 meters (328 feet), there is an enemy tower, each of which is about ten meters (33 feet) high. Due to its remarkably preserved state, The Jinshanling Great Wall still retains many original features. B, L, D

Day 8:
Taipingzhai/Huangyaguan

This morning starts with a drive to Taipingzhai. Stopping on the way at Eastern Qing Tombs, among the finest and largest surviving mausoleum complexes in China. We will have a chance to view one of the biggest and most elaborate tombs before continuing our journey. ‘Taipingzhai’ translates as “a village of peace and prosperity”, and is an important component of the Huangyaguan (‘Yellow Cliff Pass’) Great Wall. We will hike from here towards the Huangyaguan Great Wall itself. B, L, D

Day 9
Summer Palace/Beijing

Today begins with a relaxing morning before heading back to Beijing city. En route, we will visit the Summer Palace. Originally constructed as a place of rest and recreation for the emperors of old, it is now open as a public park and is one of the most impressive places to visit in Beijing. The focus of the Summer Palace is a huge lake with a long walkway circling it. To the one end is built a series of towers, halls and temples climbing the hillside. From the buildings towards the top of the hill you can see the entire lake and it’s surroundings. The park is accented by many small architectural features such as the beautiful 17 arch bridge which leads to a small island, and the pagoda on the hill of the far shore. The day ends with a farewell dinner of the famous Peking duck. B, L, D

Day 10
UK

Transfers to the airport and flights back to the UK.