Centuries after its construction, China’s Great Wall remains one of humankind’s engineering marvels. At over 21,000km (13,048 mi) in length, the Wall is a trip in and of itself. You won’t tackle the whole thing on this 10-day trip, but you’ll return home with a deeper understanding of life that goes on around and upon it. The Beijing-to-Beijing route will take you to small villages that have stood for centuries in the shadow of this massive tribute to human will and introduce you to the cuisine, culture, and history that make this one of China’s most captivating attractions. The Wall’s been standing for centuries. Isn’t it about time you turned up?

Day 1 Beijing
Arrive at any time.

Day 2 Beijing
Enjoy a guided tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Opt to experience a traditional tea ceremony.

Day 3 Beijing/Jiankou
Transfer to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Enjoy a hike along the Great Wall followed by a drive to Jiankou Village in the afternoon. Spend the night in Jiankou Village.

Day 4 Jiankou/Gubeikou
Hike Jiankou village and visit the Great Wall in the morning. In the afternoon, transfer to Gubeikou and explore the village before getting settled at the guesthouse. Once settled, find some inner peace with a Tai Chi lesson before dinner.

Day 5 Gubeikou/Jinshanling
Transfer to the starting point of the "Coiling Dragon" of the Great Wall and embark on a hike enjoying scenes of vast landscapes and wild greenery. This portion of the Wall is known for containing unrestored aspects of the original wall. Afterward, travel to Jinshanling for a trek on this quintessential portion of the Wall crowned with a two-story watch tower. Jump back in time and get a glimpse of ancient China.

Day 6 Jinshanling
Continue hiking along the Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall, now in the other direction. Maintenance of the Wall starts improving here and walking becomes easier along the way. Trek through this rolling landscape and see the watchtowers that disappear over the horizon.

Day 7 Jinshanling/Huangyaguan
Travel to Huangyaguan in the morning and enjoy the last day trekking along the Great Wall. This portion is named for the bright yellow flowers that appear in the region.

Day 8 Huangyaguan/Beijing
Explore Qing Tombs on the way back to Beijing. Arrive in Beijing around noon and enjoy half day free time.

Day 9 Beijing
Enjoy a free day to relax in Beijing or to explore more of the sights of the city.

Day 10 Beijing
Depart at any time.