Trekking adventure with an exclusive tree planting project

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism industry which employs 1 in 10 people worldwide, we’re keen to promote sustainable adventures to help support local communities and give you the chance to have a more meaningful travel experience.

Our Great Wall of China Trek has been designed to deliver an amazing experience and showcase the some of the most stunning and historic landscapes across the Great Wall of China whilst also giving you the chance to step out of your comfort zone and gain a greater understanding of the mountains, the local environment, local communities and the culture. Plus as part of our Sustainable Travel Policy, be part of an exclusive tree planting project near the Great Wall itself.

On joining us for the Great Wall of China Trek, you will receive all the exciting trip info via our mobile travel app.

You’ll have access to your itinerary, trip countdown, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, know before you go trip info, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24 hours a day via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper to benefit the environment and the need of carrying around documents with you. A’ppy days.

With being a small family business we pride ourselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service. We appreciate that everyone has different levels of experience and reasons for wishing to embark on the Great Wall of China Trek and therefore require varying levels of support and guidance. We’re here to help you every step of the way from the moment you join the flock all the way through to completing the challenge and beyond.

Jim and Sue’s knowledge and expertise stems from dozens of years of travelling and exploring the destinations that we visit in order to fully support you in the lead up to your adventure. They have both completed this trek on numerous occasions so are very well placed to answer your questions no matter how big or small.

On signing up for the trip, we will provide you with the recommended flights to book or alternately, we can book the flights for you through our ATOL & ABTA protected Flight Agent at an additional cost. 

Flights are not included in your to give you the flexibility to travel from your nearest airport, use your frequent flyer points or extend your stay in China if you wish. The recommended flights for this will include airport transfers in China. There are direct flights from London and non-direct flights for all major airports across the UK. 

All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. Airlines may not carry passengers holding passports with less than 6 months validity.

UK Citizens require a visa to enter China. You cannot obtain visas upon entry to China so this MUST be done 3 months prior to your departure. On joining us for this trek, we will send you guidance for your visa application together with your invitation to China letter which contains all the relevant details for your trek. You need to apply online so please click here and first go through the ‘Step-by-Step Guidance’ instructions.

Please note: all visa applicants aged between 14 and 70 will need to visit one of the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres in person (appointment required) where biometric data will be taken as part of the visa application process.

Travel Insurance is an important part of any booking. It is compulsory that everyone who travels with us has taken out adequate travel insurance which includes, among other things, cover for the full value of your trip, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, activities undertaken, personal liability, cancellation, flight delays, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects and pandemic travel cover.

For UK residents we have partnered with Campbell & Irvine Direct to provide you with a travel insurance. If you would like to obtain cover for your trip please feel free to contact specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine Direct for a quote.

You must send your Travel Insurance Policy to Adventurous Ewe no less than 8 weeks prior to departure.

Please note, on your Great Wall Trek itinerary there is the opportunity to ride on a toboggan run at the end of your day’s trek. If you choose to ride the toboggan, you do so at your own risk and this may not be covered under your Travel Insurance Policy. We strongly discourage using the toboggan run and cannot vouch for its safety. Your decision to ride the toboggan should take this into account.

Vaccinations

There are currently no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. For the most up to date info regarding health travel and vaccinations, please click here. 

Please also consult with your GP or travel healthcare practitioner 8 weeks in advance of travel for the most up to date info.

Severe allergies

If you have a severe allergy please inform us at the time of booking. We will do all we can to help, but unfortunately we are unable to guarantee an allergy free environment on this trip. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as ‘adrenaline auto-injectors’ are not carried as standard by AE leaders and crew. Whilst your leader is aware of our trekkers medical history, please also inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

For the most up to date info on travelling to China, please visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website travel advice by clicking here. 

Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and well-being of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and well-being is our top priority. The Great Wall of China Trek is intentionally challenging and requires individual preparation as the trip is designed to take you out of your every-day comfort zone and achieve something great. Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place and we are constantly monitoring health developments in China and making the necessary arrangements.

For more info, please visit our Safety and Well-being page. 

You will be accompanied by an Adventurous Ewe Leader for groups over 10 people. Your Leader is fully experienced and certified and has been carefully selected to ensure you have the best experience with a bit of humour thrown in for good measure. Your Leader is also has remote first aid qualifications and skills.

Your Local Leader is a key part to this trip. They are expertly trained and experienced in every field of this trek, bilingual and qualified in first aid and/or a Wilderness First responder. They also have a huge passion for what they do and have plenty of knowledge ready to share with you. They are responsible for ensuring the complete safety, well-being and enjoyment of the team whilst also retaining a flexible and fun attitude. The Leaders have radio and phone contact with base, the local office and Adventurous Ewe’s HQ.

We pride ourselves in small group travel to minimise the impact on the environment, to maximise your safety and wellbeing and to make your experience more authentic.

The minimum group size for the Great Wall of China Trek to run is 8 people and the maximum group size is 30 people.

You are most welcome to join this trek as a group of friends, family, colleagues, a private group or as a solo traveller. You are also welcome to use this trip as a fundraiser for the charity of your choice.

If you have a group of over 8 people, we would be more than happy to run a private trip for your team, your charity or your company.

For any further info or to chat about running a bespoke trip, we’d love to hear from you at info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

The Great Wall of China Trek is graded as ‘Tough’. This is due to ascending and descending steep steps of both restored and time worn sections of the Wall, ascending steep pathways through forests and woods in order to reach the Wall itself, trekking nearly 50kms of rocky terrain and thousands of steps, occasionally experiencing third world standard toilet facilities in rural areas of China and staying in basic local lodges during the course of your journey.

Please also be prepared for all types of weather conditions on the Wall including the heat and potential rain and wind.

Preparation is key to help you get the most enjoyment and reward from this trek. A good level of fitness, endurance and some gritty determination will help you conquer each day.

Please note, some sections of the Wall are exposed so if you have a fear of heights, please let us know and we’ll ensure you are fully supported during these areas.

A bespoke training programme will be provided when join the team for this adventure to help you with your preparations together with some top tips.

We also have exclusive offers with our Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and the Peter Lant Strength & Movement Coast. For more info, please visit our Training and Preparation page.

The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the challenge.

Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!

A full kit list will be provided when you register for this trip or you can download the Trip Notes for this trek.

Good kit can make the difference between a fantastic trek and an uncomfortable one. 

An exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code will be provided for the independent outdoor retailers on registering for this trek.

To help you get the very best from your Great Wall of China Trek we will provide you with an exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code to use in local independent specialist outdoor retailers, both online and in store. They offer a large choice of kit that the staff themselves use while climbing, hiking, mountaineering, running, travelling or enjoying expeditions across the globe and they pride themselves on sharing their experience and knowledge of equipment so you can choose the right gear to suit you and your trek.

China has the same seasons as the UK, however much more pronounced.

Spring (March-May) is a great time to visit because it’s off-season for local tourists and temperatures are cool. Flowers bloom and trees turn green with new leaves. Daytime temperatures usually reach between 20 and 25°C.

In September/October, the trees are losing their leaves and the Wall is surrounded by vibrant oranges and russet colours. October will be colder, and you may experience wind chill up on the ridges of the Wall, and heat in the valleys. The nightly temperatures will be cold, and temperatures may drop to around 5°C. Warm layers will be necessary for the evening, but in the day you can expect to reach temperatures of around 20°C. Like the UK, the weather is changeable, and these are rough guidelines.

The route is mountainous and the Wall involves a trek incorporating thousands of steps up and down. There are also steep drops either side of the Wall so please take this into account if you suffer from vertigo. Some areas of the Wall are completely unrenovated, and so you may be trekking up some overgrown, crumbly paths in your quest to conquer the Wall! You will also be trekking through villages and forest areas in order to get up onto the Wall. There are some steep ascents and descents during these sections given the location of the Wall.

Please note that the Chinese authorities can occasionally close off sections of the Great Wall at short notice, in which case your Local Leader will make alternative arrangements to in line with your itinerary as much as possible. 

On the Wall you will be staying in basic, but adequate, lodges or hotels some of which are run by local families. It may not be up to the standard expected in Western hotels, but you should have clean linen and hot water – everything you need!

If you feel the cold we recommend taking a light weight sleeping bag or liner. Blankets are provided in the lodges, but a sleeping bag may increase your comfort.

The hotels in Beijing will be of a three-star standard and much more comfortable. All rooms are en-suite and have facilities for charging batteries so ensure you bring a power adapter.

If you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with or if you would prefer a single room, please ensure that you note this where appropriate when booking or email info@adventurousewe.co.uk. Please note, single rooms incur a single room supplement charge and are dependent on availability. 

All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners are included in your trip. The evening cuisine on this trip is varied with lots of new flavours and ‘things’ to try. Food is relatively cheap in China.

Gastronomically the trip can be divided into two parts: ‘hotels’ and ‘local lodges/guesthouses’. In hotels the breakfast is normally a buffet, with a huge spread of Chinese and western food, including coffee, juice, breads, cakes, fruit, eggs, bacon and a wide variety of noodle and stir fried dishes. Dinners are normally taken in the hotel or local restaurants, serving rice with assorted vegetables, pork, fish, chicken and duck dishes with flavours. In the local lodges, breakfast includes rice porridge, dumplings, eggs, noodles, etc. Dinners are taken in local restaurants where the food is heavily flavoured with ginger, garlic bamboo shoots and chilli however, you can avoid the spicier regional food if you wish. 

There will be vegetarian options provided, although the choice is more limited.

It is important that you eat as much as possible during the trekking days in order to replace body salts lost due to increased perspiration.

We strongly recommend to bring your own snacks for the trek. You may also wish to bring additional treats like marmite, peanut butter etc. as you will be making your own packed lunch from ingredients provided and sometimes a little treat from home goes a long way!!

The tap-water is not safe to drink. Bottled water will be provided during the trekking sections for you to fill your own water bottles each morning. Your complimentary Adventurous Ewe Water-to-Go bottle is ideal for this trek as we strongly discourage the purchase of single small units of plastic bottled water. 

Please let Adventurous Ewe know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies by emailing info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

Adventurous Ewe has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates over 99.99% of all microbiological contaminants from any non-salt water source – for more info please click here. Adventurous Ewe trekkers will receive a free Water-to-Go bottle when departing for our Great Wall of China Trek, and better still, 15% of the purchase value for replacement filters will be donated to our environmental charity partner, Cool Earth. Please note that if the water freezes it will clog up the filter – in this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. Please help us reduce the volume of single use plastic in this pristine environment.

Deposit: £295 per person is required on booking.
Remaining balance: £1390 per person is due for payment no later than 6 weeks prior to the trip start date.

Monthly payment plan
A monthly payment plan can be arranged for this trip. Please contact us for more information or to set up your plan. Simply email info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

Fundraising
You are welcome to fundraise for a charity of your choice if you wish to do so. All sponsorship monies are to be sent directly to your chosen charity.

Phone & WiFi

Most of your accommodation places will have limited WiFi which you will be able to use, but please do not rely upon this. Facebook and any Google-based applications (including Gmail) are blocked in China, so you will not have access to these sites or be able to post updates for your friends and family. You will have phone signal in almost all places on the challenge.

We recommend that you get a virtual private network (VPN) app on your phone prior to arriving in China. There are a lot of different VPN apps available, and some are better than others. There are two things that matter most when it comes to a VPN in China – reliability and speed.

Adventurous Ewe

All your trip info will be sent to you through a mobile travel app which is free to download. You will receive an email from Adventurous Ewe with your personalised log in code for this app. For the latest and greatest from the land of adventures, simply follow us at:

Youtube: Adventurous Ewe
Facebook: @adventurousewe
Instagram: @adventurousewe
LinkedIn: Adventurous-Ewe-Ltd

You’re most welcome to use the hashtags
#ewecandoit #thisflockrock #adventurousewe

Your Adventurous Ewe Leader/s and Crew will have a mobile phones and radios communications in case of emergencies. The team are trained to deal with these situations. Please ensure you listen to your Leader during these times and refrain from putting any posts on social media. Should you find yourself unable to continue with the trek, your Leader and crew will make the necessary arrangements. Depending on the situation, you will be met by the support vehicle (depending on access) and you will be transferred back to your accommodation or nearby medical facility as required. Your Emergency Contact at Adventurous Ewe HQ is Jim Young on +(0)7747 346 588.

On completion your final day of trekking on the Great Wall of China, and exclusive to Adventurous Ewe, you can take part in one of China’s reforestation developments with planting a tree near the Wall and be part of China’s Great Green Wall. It’s a great sense of giving back and being part of something bigger to help with reforestation. 

Cool Earth

We are very excited to have teamed up with leading climate change charity Cool Earth, who share our mission to protect the planet’s precious environment in a sustainable manner. The future of rainforest protection is where everyone makes a difference to climate change! We invest a % of our revenue into supporting critical conservation projects around the world through Cool Earth.

You are most welcome to help make a difference too by sparing a few pennies. Please give what you can and help save the world’s rainforests today by clicking here. Just £2.50 will save 10 trees and lock up 10 tonnes of CO2. Together, we can all make a difference in helping preserve this precious and wonderful planet. Thank-ewe