The Great Wall of China Kiltwalk

A Journey Along One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Grading

Moderate. All participants should be physically fit and capable of walking for several

hours a day on mild – steep terrain.

Length of Challenge

This is a 12 day challenge

Accommodation

Hotel and homestay

Dates

13th – 24th September 2012

Summary

The Kiltwalk invite you to join fellow supporters to trek The Great Wall of China - one

of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Trekking the

Great Wall is substantially different than making a day-trip. On the one hand you will

be physically challenged; on the other, you will obtain a deeper understanding and

appreciation of Chinese history and culture. To have the opportunity to trek on the

Wall is the experience of a lifetime, and with The Kiltwalk you’ll be raising money not

just for our partner charities in Scotland, but for local Chinese children’s charities too.

Join us in your kilts to see the real China!

Trip Itinerary

13th Sept: Departure

We will depart the UK from Glasgow airport on an overnight evening

flight to Beijing.

14th Sept: Arrival and orientation

We will be collected at Beijing International Airport and transferred to

our hotel in central Beijing. Today we will have an opportunity to rest

and recover from the long flight and jet lag. In the late afternoon, there

will be a briefing over dinner. Overnight in shared rooms in Beijing.

Dinner included

15th Sept: Trek Day One

After breakfast, we will depart for Old Dragon’s Head where the Great

Wall meets the ocean. The journey by private vehicle will take 4 to 5

hours. After a traditional Chinese lunch, we will visit the famous

Shanhaiguan Pass and the Great Wall Museum – providing a

fascinating insight into the history of the Wall. Afterwards, we will visit

the Old Dragon’s Head fortifications, the easternmost point of the

Great Wall. In the late afternoon, we will have a short 1 hour warm-up

hike before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight in shared

rooms.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

16th Sept: Trek Day Two

After breakfast, a short drive takes us to the start of the trek. We will

trek through dense undergrowth up to unrestored parts of the Wall.

Today is a full day’s hiking across some tough terrain but with

rewarding spectacular vistas. We will trek towards #1 Great Wall

Village, a rural Chinese village. Tonight’s accommodation will be a

“home-stay” in traditional Chinese beds (long communal beds) with

simple facilities. It will give a fascinating insight into rural Chinese life.

Dinner and overnight in shared dorms.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

17th Sept: Trek Day Three

After breakfast, we will depart on a short hike into the mountains to

visit Cihou Tower, a special structure that is only seen at this portion

the Wall. This section of the wall is one of the best preserved sections

of the original Ming Dynasty Wall, built more than 600 years ago. We

will return back to our village and depart on a 4 hour journey to East

Qing Tomb. Dinner and overnight in simple shared rooms.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

18th Sept: Trek Day Four

After breakfast we’ll visit the East Qing Tombs, the “countryside”

version of the Forbidden City. This imperial city is vast and grand

providing a fascinating insight into imperial China. After the tour, we

will drive to Huangyaguan, situated in the beautiful valley in the heart

of the Yanshan Mountain. We will trek steeply up a well restored

section of the wall to “Heaven’s Ladder”, a near vertical ascent up a

steep ridge line. At the top, enjoy spectacular views before descending

back down to #4 Village. Upon arrival, we’ll drive to Jinshanling Great

Wall. Dinner and overnight in simple rooms at Jinshan.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

19th Sept: Trek Day Five

After breakfast, we’ll depart on a relatively easy day’s trekking across

the Jinshanling section of the Wall, a well restored section. We will

divert around a restricted area of the wall and continue onto our

destination, the General Tower of historic Gubeikou. At the end of the

trek, we will drive to a small village near the Xishuiyu Water Wall.

Dinner and overnight in simple rooms.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

20th Sept: Trek Day Six

After breakfast, we will depart on a short drive to the start point of our

hike on the Huanghuacheng section of the Wall. The first section of

hiking will take us up to a watch tower on a cliff overlooking the moonshaped

Huanghuacheng reservoir. After a short break, we will continue

our ascent towards the highest tower of the route with a picnic lunch

en-route. After lunch, we continue along broken parts of the Wall

westwards towards the Xishuiyu Lake with spectacular views. We’ll

descend down to the lake and take a short boat tour around the lake,

viewing spectacular parts of the wall underwater. We’ll transfer via bus

to a small village close to the bottom of Jiankou Great Wall. Dinner and

overnight in a variety of dorm and shared rooms.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

21st Sept: Trek Day Seven

After breakfast, we will depart for Nine-Eye Tower, a spectacular hike

along some of the most famous sections of the Wall, often depicted in

photography. On a clear day, it will be possible to view the towers of

Beijing Knot and the Mutianyu Great Wall with glimpses of other

sections of the Great Wall that follow nearby mountain ridges. We will

return back to the same accommodation from the previous night for

dinner and an overnight stay.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

22nd Sept: Trek Day Eight

After breakfast, we will depart on a trek along the Mutianyu Great Wall

with lunch en-route at a famous fish restaurant. After lunch, we shall

visit a local children’s charity which shall be benefitting from the funds

raised on this walk. We’ll throw a wee party for the kids and hopefully

entertain them with bagpipes! We will then drive back to Beijing.

Showers and a celebration Peking Duck Roast Dinner await!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

23rd Sept: Sightseeing in Beijing

After breakfast, we will depart on a city tour around Beijing. We will

visit Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City and do a Walking Tour of

the traditional Hutong’s of Beijing. Today is optional but highly

recommended!

Breakfast included

24th Sept: Return to UK

After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to Beijing International

Airport for our return international flights, arriving in the UK in the

afternoon.

Breakfast included

END OF SERVICES

Included

• • International Flights
• • All meals mentioned above and three meals a day during the hike.
• • All relevant transfers.
• • All relevant accommodation.
• • All national park fees, entrance fees, taxes, permits and vehicle entrance fees to all national parks as applicable to the above itinerary.
• • Services of professional English speaking guides at all times.
• • Safe drinking water during the hike.
• • 24/7 support & emergency line available throughout the itinerary.
• • Medical Evacuation Services

Excluded

• • Helicopter Evacuation - In event of serious medical injury we will coordinate with your insurance company to arrange helicopter evacuation.
• • Meals and drinks other than those mentioned.
• • Tips and gratuities.
• • Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs and telephone calls.
• • Alcoholic / soft drinks outside of mealtime provisions.
• • Country visa