Trek Great Wall of China 2026

The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world—a monumental feat of engineering and endurance. Originally constructed as early as the 7th century BC, the Wall was built, rebuilt, and fortified over centuries to protect the Chinese empire from invasion.

This unforgettable trek takes you along a remote and less-travelled section of the Great Wall of China, from Gubeikou to Jinshanling and Simatai. You’ll walk on centuries-old pathways, some painstakingly restored and others left wild and rugged, offering a truly immersive experience of one of the world’s greatest wonders. Beyond the Wall itself, the journey takes you through breathtaking landscapes—rolling green hills, distant mountain peaks, and peaceful, untouched countryside.

Throughout the trek, you’ll stay in traditional guesthouses, offering a deeper connection to local life. It’s a chance to experience authentic Chinese hospitality, learn about rural culture, and enjoy incredible home-cooked meals that showcase the region’s rich culinary heritage

Day 1: London to Beijing

Fly to Beijing on an overnight flight.

Day 2: Beijing

Arrive in Beijing and check into a central hotel in time for a group dinner and a briefing on the week ahead. If time permits, why not explore the maze of alleys (hutongs) where you will find traditional houses, small local shops and other wonders.

Day 3: Beijing to Gubeikou

Today we transfer by bus to the Great Wall (approx. 3 hours). After lunch we start our trek, winding our way uphill to reach an ancient and original section of the Great Wall, from where you will enjoy views of the wall stretching across the countryside. We descend next to the wall then through a forest to a small town and to our first guesthouse at Gubeikou. (approx. 3-4 hours walking).

Day 4: Gubeikou

This morning we transfer from our guesthouse to explore the Gubeikou section. This area is completely original, quite challenging and one of the lesser visited sections. It is believed to have seen more battles than any other part of the Great Wall and has long been a place of military significance. The majority of the trek today is along a part of the wall which is almost completely worn away and the terrain underfoot is rugged and uneven. We return to the guesthouse tonight. (approx. 6-7 hours walking).

Day 5: Gubeikou to Jinshanling

We set off early today to transfer to the start of our trek. Today we will trek up to a section of the wall known locally as the ‘dragon standing on the beautiful golden mountain’. It’s easy to see how the wall resembles a dragon as it weaves across the land. The views are stunning and you will have hundreds of great photographic opportunities. Unlike other sections of the wall, this area has seen little restoration and many of the stairs and turrets have crumbled away to leave steep stone slopes between each watch tower. We descend through forests and past farmland before transferring to our guesthouse in Jinshanling. (approx. 6-7 hours walking).

Day 6: Jinshanling to Simatai

Today’s trek takes us along a restored section of the wall originally built in the 15th century. In contrast to the unrestored sections of the previous days, here you can see how the wall looked when it was built centuries ago. Here you will gain an appreciation of the incredible effort in building the wall and the meticulous attention to detail, tactical wisdom, and subtle beauty in its construction. We descend through the forest and return to our guesthouse. (approx. 7 hours walking).

Day 7 : Simatai to Beijing

After breakfast, we transfer to the start of our half-day trek through the forest to a remote and rarely visited watch tower at the top of a hill. After enjoying the views from the top, we descend on the same trail through the forest where we meet our vehicles, which transfer us to our lunch spot and a final farewell to our trek support team. After lunch, we drive back to Beijing. (approx. 4-5 hours walking).

Day 8: Beijing

Today you will have guided visits to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square before some free time and a special farewell dinner tonight.

Day 9: Beijing to London

Transfer to the airport for the return flight to London, which may arrive the following day, depending on flight schedules.

OPTIONAL XI/AN EXTENSION: There is an optional 3-day extension where you will take an overnight train to Xi'an to see the more Chinese wonders, such as the Wild Goose Pagoda and the Terracotta Warriors.

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 £485 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:

Sponsorship: Fundraise £3,990 for Community Hospice. 80% (£3,192) is due by 21st Jul 2026. The remaining balance of £798 is due by the departure date.

Flexi*: Pay half (1,885) of the fundraising yourself to Community Hospice and fundraise £1,885 by 13th October 2026. Payment due dates are as above.

In your fundraising journey, we will support you every step of the way, including setting up your JustGiving page and helping you find the fundraising strategy that works best for you. You will receive a fundraising pack filled with tips and advice to boost your efforts, as well as the support of your fellow Great Wall trekkers. We are immensely grateful for anyone who decides to support the hospice and want you to have a positive experience raising funds for us.

The difference you’ll make

Helping us to provide vital care and support services to our patients in Greenwich and Bexley, who are living with a terminal illness

Ensuring our community hospice can continue to deliver the highest standard of care to everyone in our community who needs it

The trek is accompanied by local English-speaking guides who have 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, a Different Travel Company UK tour manager and a representative from the hospice.

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.

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.

Each trek day begins with a hearty breakfast to fuel your adventure—expect a spread of hot drinks, noodles, rice, eggs, Chinese dumplings, and fresh fruit. You’ll also prepare your own packed lunch each morning, with options like sandwiches (jam or peanut butter), fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, and sweet treats such as Oreos or similar snacks. We recommend bringing a few of your favourite snacks to keep you going throughout the day.

In the evenings, you’ll return to your guesthouse for a freshly cooked traditional Chinese meal. These delicious dinners typically include a variety of rice and noodle dishes, along with meat, tofu, and seasonal vegetables—perfect for refuelling and relaxing after a day on the trail.

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.

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 the ascent and descent profile each day ranges from 515m-866m.