GWPS23- Hiking and Sleeping by the Great Wall (2-day private)
Trip name: Hiking and Sleeping by the Great Wall (2-day private)
Trip code: GWPS23
Trip length: 2 Days
Hiking sections: Simatai West, Jinshanling and Gubeikou
Meeting point and time: Your hotel at 10:00 on Day 1 in May/September, 09:30 in April/October, 08:00 in June/July/August
Finishing point and time: Your hotel at 15:00 on Day 2
Hiking duration: 4 hours on Day 1, 4 hours on Day 2
Best time to go: Late March to early November
Physical rating: ★★★☆☆ Moderate
Departure: Your selected date, start and finish in Beijing, all year round
Prices
Group Size | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Price USD | 285 | 295 | 310 | 320 | 330 | 365 | 385 | 595 |
Highlights
- Hiking on partially restored section of the Great Wall at Jinshanling
- Hiking on original and untouched section of the Great Wall at Gubeikou
- Sleeping by the Great Wall
- Amazing sunrise & sunset by the Great Wall
- Stunning photo opportunity of the Great Wall
- Countryside-style food at local farmer’s restaurant
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Beijing - Jinshanling - campsite (4 hours, 7km hiking)
Pick you up at your Beijing hotel and drive 2.5 hours to Jinshanling. A 40-minute walking up will lead you to East-Five-Eye watchtower. You may take a few breaths before reaching the Wall, and will be rewarded by the breathtaking panoramic view of this amazing human constructions. Once standing on the top of the Wall, you could see Simatai, Jinshanling and Gubeikou in a clear day, what a spectacular view! We will walk mainly on brick steps at Jinshanling section and some of them are big. This section of the Wall is very popular among keen photographers for its intact watchtowers, beacon towers and other solid constructions. The steps rise up and down constantly and scenery is changing at every watchtower. Take a short break and some photos here, we will then walk westward. We will get through Shalingkou and Zhuanduokou and then off the Wall at West-Five-Eye watchtower. A half-hour walking downhill will come to a farmer’s house in the valley, where we will have a simple home-made dinner here due to limited supply of food materials in this isolated location. Basic shower is available in summer. Our host will lift up all camping gears to the campsite after dinner. We will go up to the campsite in 20 minutes. Torch is necessary to find your way at night. You have to go to toilet before ascending the Wall.
Camping gears: twin-shared tent, 1 sleeping bag, 1 rolling mat and 1 pillow per person
Meals: sandwiches lunch/dinner
Accommodation: camping by the Great Wall
Day 2: campsite - Gubeikou - Beijing (4 hours, 7km hiking)
Wake up by the Great Wall as the sun rises around you. It’s the right time to produce amazing photographs. At this time there are usually no other people on the wall, and you have the wall to yourself.We will come downhill to the farmerhouse for breakfast and bathroom.
We will walk on hilly path and then farmer field toward Gubeikou after breakfast for 1.5 hours. Coming back to the Wall again at 24-Eye Watchtower at Gubeikou, we could see the panoramic view of the Crouching Tiger Hill in a distance if weather permits. The rest of 2.5 hours’ walking on the Dragon Hill is relatively flat and easier. A lunch will be served in a local farmer restaurant. We will drive 2.5 hours back to Beijing.
Meals: breakfast/lunch
Jinshanling & Gubeikou Great Wall
Jinshanling is the name given to the wall situated on the Jinshan Mountains. Its earliest section was built in the 6th Century but most of what you see now also dates from the Ming Dynasty. The walkway along the top is paved with square bricks providing a level surface wide enough to construct batteries. Poems and tablet writings can be found here, left from the time General Qi Jiguang directed building of this section of the Great Wall. Barrier walls were built leading to the enemy to protect the towers. Some of the towers were storerooms for food, hay and weapons.
In 1378 (the 11th year of Emperor Hongwu's reign in the Ming Dynasty), General Xu Da ordered this section of the Great Wall rebuilt. Gubeikou has probably seen more battles than any other parts of the Great wall, including some of the most famous in Chinese history. On the southern slope of Gubeikou stands a temple dedicated to Yang Ye, a famous Great Wall garrison general of the Song Dynasty. This is one of the oldest temples dedicated to this general in China. In WWII there’s fierce flighting between Chinese and Japanese armies for weeks, and a cemetery for some 300 Chinese soldiers is preserved close to the Wall.
Additional Information
Included
- Air-con vehicle with experienced driver
- Personal expert English-speaking hiking tour guide
- Entrance fees for the Great Wall
- Camping gears: twin-share tent, 1 sleeping bag/1 rolling mat per person
- Bottled water; snacks; meals as listed
- A certificate of completion for hiking on the Great Wall of China
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Any other additional local facilities
- Personal expenses
- Tipping of hiking guide/driver recommended on good service on a 2:1 ratio separately
What to take
- Comfortable boots
- Snacks
- Sunscreen
- Sun-glasses
- First aid kit
- Lip balm, cap
Notes
- There is no toilet along the path on the Wall. There are toilets at the entrance of Jinshanling & Gubeikou. Please prepare before hiking and always carry toilet paper by yourself.
- Bottled waters are stored in our car/van today, and you need a day pack to carry them.
- We will bring trekking poles in our car/van and please tell your guide if you need one.
- It’s recommended to prepare some snacks before your departure from Beijing if you don’t like snickers.
- We’re not able to guarantee good weather. If the weather is really bad (heavy rain or thunderstorm in June/July/August) at night, we will shift you to a local guesthouse without additional charge.
- Travel insurance is optional and is the sole responsibility of travellers. It is encouraged to have coverage of injury or accident.
- Luggages: you can carry a light daypack for the hiking, and put all other washing stuff and changing clothes in one bag which will be taken to the dinner courtyard by the host; the rest of luggages will be stored in the van and you won’t see it until the next day after hiking.
- As responsible travelers, we “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprint”.
Customized Pick-up & drop-off:
If you plan the hike on the first or last day of your duration in Beijing, we can include a customized pick-up or drop-off at the following points without additional cost. It’s safe to store your luggage at our car/van.
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK at T1/T2/T3): arrival before 9:00 or departure after 16:00
- Beijing Railway Station: arrival before 09:30 or departure after 17:00
- Beijing West Railway Station (train to/from Xi’an): arrival before 09:00 or departure after 17:30
- Beijing South Railway Station (train to/from Shanghai): arrival before 09:00 or departure after 17:30
PKX airport is a little further out of the city. Please email us for customized pick-up & drop-off.
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Cancellation Policy
Not less than 14 days: Loss of deposit
Between 7 and 13 days: Loss of 50% of the total booking cost or loss of deposit; whichever is the greater
6 days or less: Loss of total booking cost