Itinerary
For some people, the challenge is the sheer distance walked each day. For others, it might be the lack of home comforts! We want you to complete this challenge and we'll work with you to help you reach your personal goals.
Day 1 Thursday 15th October - London Heathrow Airport
16.25 hrs London Heathrow Terminal 3, meet your Kuoni Group Guide and the representative from ‘Breast Cancer Care’ at the Air China check-in counter area to collect flight tickets. After you have checked in we suggest you go through passport control as soon as possible, giving you a chance to look around the shops and alleviating the pressure on the check-in counter as this can get very congested.
19.25 hrs Air China scheduled economy class flight CA938 departs from Heathrow to Beijing. It is an Overnight flight with a total flying time of approx 10hrs. In flight entertainment is mostly in Chinese, so please bring along a good book or magazine. Dinner and breakfast are served during the flight.
Day 2 Friday 16th October - Beijing to Simatai
12.25 hrs Arrive Beijing. Pass through security check, visa and passport control and collect your luggage. Wait with the group at the luggage carousel. Once everyone has their luggage, exit the Arrivals Hall as a group. Meet the representative from our Land Agents, CITS, who will have a sign saying ‘Breast Cancer Care’. You will be transferred by coach for a drive of approximately 2½ hours to Simatai Lodge or similar, our lodge in the countryside for the next 3 nights. This is close to the starting point of our first day’s trekking.
18.30 hrs Dinner, Welcome Briefing and Overnight at Simatai Lodge or similar (LD). (Breakfast times will be advised locally).
Day 3 Saturday 17th October - Trek Gubeikou to Jinshanling
a.m Breakfast in the lodge dining room. After breakfast make up your packed lunch, collect your day’s water supply and meet in the court yard area. Please be dressed in trekking gear – we recommend long trousers today as you will be walking through some areas of undergrowth. Please ensure that you also have sunscreen, hat and protective clothing with you (according to the weather). Take your small daypack for personal belongs, packed lunch and water supply.
This morning we transfer by coach (approx 45 mins) to the Great Wall at Gubeikou. We start by walking from the entrance up to the Wall. Once on the Wall we trek for approximately 2½ hours until reaching a point where we come off the Wall and walk to a local village. From here we it is a short trek back to Jinshanling where the coach will transfer us back to Simatai Lodge or similar.
TOTAL TREKKING TIME APPROX. 4-5 HOURS
p.m Dinner, Briefing and Overnight at Simatai Lodge or similar (BLD).
Day 4 Sunday 18th October – Trek Jinshanling to Simatai
a.m Breakfast in the lodge dining room. Participants to meet in the court yard area. Today’s trek is a full day on the wall - there will be no shade if it is hot so please ensure that you have sunscreen, hat and protective clothing (according to the weather). Take your small daypack for personal belongings, your packed lunch and water supplies.
We set off by coach to Jinshanling area (approx 45 mins) and walk up to the Great Wall at Jinshanling.
Many parts of the wall today have uneven broken steps and some loose rubble but don’t worry we will take it nice and easy with plenty of stops to enjoy the view! Towards the end of the walk we descend the wall into Simatai valley, and back to the Lodge.
TOTAL TREKKING TIME APPROX. 6 HOURS
p.m Dinner, Briefing and Overnight at Simatai Lodge or similar (BLD).
*N.B This evening it is a good idea to pack up your belongings as tomorrow these will need to be transported to our next accommodation.
Day 5 Monday 19th October -Trek Simatai to Gangfang
a.m Breakfast in the lodge dining room. This morning you need to load your main luggage onto the coach ready to be transferred to the next lodge. Please be ready and dressed in walking gear with your daypack for personal belongings, packed lunch and water supply.
Today we trek back to the Simatai area, and continue to the East Section of the Great Wall from where we walk for approximately 2-3 hours. We then move off the Wall and trek to Gangfang Village, from here it is approximately 3 hours trekking back to Simatai where our coach will be waiting to transfer us to the Wuzoulou Lodge or similar (approx 1½ hours).
TOTAL TREKKING TIME APPROX. 6-7 HOURS
pm Dinner, Briefing and Overnight at Wuzoulou Lodge or similar (BLD).
Day 6 Tuesday 20th October - Trek Wuzoulou Mountain
a.m. Breakfast at Wuzoulou Lodge. Today you trek to the Wuzoulou Mountain- the last part of the wall area built in Ming dynasty.
The trek starts at 300m above sea level to 1000m at the top. It will be a challenging trek – climbing up for at least 3 hours, through shrubbery and forest until you reach the top. Here you will stop for lunch by the watch towers and enjoy the views from the top. We descend the mountain on a different and more exposed route back to the lodge. It would be advisable to pack for all extremes of weather, as it can change quickly, and wear long trekking trousers if you want to avoid scratched legs.
TOTAL TREKKING TIME APPROX. 7-8 HOURS
pm Dinner, Briefing and Overnight at Wuzoulou Lodge or similar (BLD).
*N.B This evening it is a good idea to pack up your belongings as tomorrow these will need to be transported to our next accommodation.
Day 7 Wednesday 21st October - Trek Black Dragon Pool Park
a.m. After breakfast meet in the court yard, again dressed for trekking and your main luggage ready for loading onto the coach. Don’t forget to keep your day pack with you as you will need to carry your own packed lunch and water supply.
Transfer from Wuzoulou Lodge to the Black Dragon Pool Park (approx 30 mins).
Today’s trek begins on local trails as we ascend to the other side of the mountain. This section starts gently but there is loose rubble and rocks underfoot so be careful. The trail narrows as you ascend to the plateau at the top of the gorge and then down into the main Black Dragon Pool Park. After a leisurely lunch we continue through this beautiful national park. This afternoon is mainly easy underfoot as you walk back to the main entrance/exit where the coach will be waiting to transfer us to the Mountain Bar Lodge (approx 1.5hrs).
TOTAL TREKKING TIME APPROX. 5 HOURS
pm Dinner, Briefing and Overnight at Mountain Bar Lodge or Similar (BLD).
*N.B This evening it is a good idea to pack up your belongings as tomorrow these will need to be transported to our next accommodation.
Day 8 Thursday 22nd October -Trek Mutianyu
a.m. After breakfast, meet dressed for trekking, with your main luggage ready for transportation. Please carry your luggage to the coaches in the car park.
Transfer by coach to the Great Wall at Mutianyu (approx 50 mins).
Today’s trek is your final challenge, ending with steps up a steep incline of approximately 70%. The wall at Mutianyu has been renovated and has some of the best views of the whole challenge. Group photos will be taken here, and there is even a chance to take a toboggan ride back down (at own expense). Dependent upon time, there may also be an opportunity to wander around the market stalls before meeting in the car park ready to be transferred back to Beijing. A boxed lunch will be provided on the coach.
TOTAL TREKKING TIME APPROX. 4 HOURS
Transfer to Beijing (approx 3 hours- depending on traffic).
pm Arrive at the King Joy Hotel and check in. Dinner and Overnight in the King Joy Hotel or similar (BLD).
Tonight there is an opportunity to join an optional evening excursion of the city (at extra cost) – details to be advised locally
Day 9 Friday 23rd October - Free Day Beijing
a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. Day free to enjoy the city of Beijing or take any excursions that you have pre-booked with your Guide earlier on in the week. Excursions will start around 0830 – 0900 hrs.
pm A celebration/gala dinner will be held in local restaurant (to be advised locally) for a traditional ‘Peking Duck’ meal.
Overnight at the King Joy Hotel or similar (BD)
Day 10 Saturday 24th October - Beijing to London Heathrow
Breakfast and meet in hotel lobby with your main luggage ready to load on coaches. (B)
09.35 hrs Transfer to the airport.
10.45 hrs Arrive Beijing airport and check in.
13.35 hrs Air China CA937 departs Beijing to London Heathrow. Total flying time is approximately 10 hours.
17.35 hrs Arrive London Heathrow Terminal 3.
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
This is a complicated itinerary and is subject to change. Therefore timings will be confirmed daily by the Tour Leader. Flight timings are provisional. Trekking durations will also vary according to the group's ability.