Hiking the Great Wall of China: The ultimate 3-day itinerary

They say you’ll remember the first time you see the Great Wall of China forever. Well they don’t, I just came up with that, but it’s true.

Hiking the Great Wall of China has been on my list for a while, and I’ve always wanted to spend some time here, take more than just a day exploring, and more specifically get away from the crowds. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can definitely expect it to be crowded.

And I’ve done this in collaboration with KLM, my favourite airline.

For that reason, I decided to choose a 3-day hike with Great Wall Hiking, a company referred to me by a friend, and who I fully recommend to you.

You can do anything from 1 to 8-day options, with varied ability levels and accommodation options. From the start they were helpful for me deciding which trip to choose, what was important, and where I wanted to sleep.

They really are the experts, so drop them an email and explain how long you have, your circumstances and your budget, and see what they come up with.

Hiking the Great Wall of China: Introduction

Before going through the itinerary for the Great Wall of China hike, here are some essentials you should know when going.

How Long is the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China, one of the world’s most iconic structures, stretches an astonishing length of about 21,196 kilometres (13,170 miles).

This massive wall, originally built as a defense system, spans across northern China and is a testament to the engineering prowess of ancient civilizations.

While it is massive, you can’t (of course) hike the whole wall and rather, only a smart part, which I’m going to discuss later in this guide.

How Long to Walk the Great Walk of China?

Walking the entire Great Wall of China is a monumental task, one that few attempt in its entirety, and for those who do, it can take around 17 months to complete the journey.

That being said, there are tours and trails that you can complete in a few days only, and the itinerary I followed only took 3 days.

Check below some amazing Great Wall hiking tours, which include round trip transportation.

Can You Walk the Great Wall of China?

Can you actually walk the Great Wall of China? Absolutely! While covering the entire length (13,000 miles) might be a bit much (unless you’ve got a few years to spare), you can definitely hike portions of the wall.

The wall offers stunning views, steep climbs, and stories at every turn. Most people visiting actually only stay about 2 to 3 hours, you can get further into the wall and sleep on the way. Want to know more? Read below for my itinerary.

3-Day Hiking the Great Wall of China: The Itinerary

Now that you have a little more information about the Great Wall of China and the hiking part, let’s discuss the itinerary and the details of each day.

Day 1: Jiankou Section to Mutianyu

We were dropped off in what felt like the middle of nowhere, which was great. The first thing I noticed is no tourists, this was going to be a theme that followed over the next few days.

We wandered passed a couple of houses in a remote village, to a path into the forest. It was far from a well-trodden one. More like a hiking trail.

This was the toughest part of the trip, with steep mountain ridges, and I struggled at times. Not because I am not fit enough, but the jetlag kicked in. When you travel West to East, ie forward in time I always find this the worst.

So, my first tip, for anywhere in Asia coming from Europe; give yourself a couple of days to adjust to the time difference! It wasn’t a luxury I had, as I wanted to walk the wall before the Public holiday kicked in, just a few days later.

Around halfway up, we got a view I will never forget, my first glimpse of the wall. An opening in the forest revealed this magnificent view of a wall that went on for miles, the first of many breath-taking views we’d be seeing over the next few days.

As we got to the top the path opened out and we popped out next to our first watchtower, we found our way up on to the wall, an unrestored, almost ruined section, and we climbed the tower. I recommend you bring hiking poles if possible.

Reaching the top of the tower was a moment of pure realization: I’d made it to the Ming Dynasty Great Wall of China. The views from up there are nothing short of breathtaking; you can see for miles in every direction. What really struck me was how the wall snakes along the mountain’s ridge, right at the very top.

It might seem obvious, but thinking about how they built such a massive structure in such a challenging location back then is mind-blowing.

From this point, we continued our hike, passing through numerous watchtowers on the unrestored part of Jiankou as we made our way toward Mutianyu.

We started our walk with almost no one else around, but as we got closer to Mutianyu, we began to see more people. Most of them were walking from the tourist spot, going as far as they could before turning back—not hiking the full stretch like we were.

As we arrived at the completely restored section, it was fascinating to see the contrast between the old, crumbling parts of the wall and the newly restored areas. Mutianyu is fully restored, which naturally draws in the tour buses and crowds.

Overnight: our driver picked us up from an agreed meeting point and we headed to Gubei Water Town, to what I can only describe as a huge purpose-built village of hotels and entertainment. It was also somewhere that is the only place to offer night visits to the wall by cable car. The wall is lit by spotlights and lights running along the top, it’s certainly a sight worth seeing.

Day 2: Gubeikou

This morning we had the choice between hiking the same spot as last night, or relaxing and starting a little later. I chose to have a later breakfast (very traditionally Chinese) and wander around Gubei Water Town a little more.

Following this we headed the Gubeikou section, near to our accommodation for the second night. We hiked up a nice path to the Guibeikou passes, it wasn’t a difficult walk today or a lot of hiking.

The schedule was very relaxed, this was perfect as I needed lots of time here.

Everywhere we turned, the views were incredible. In some spots, we could see for miles, and I realized just how lucky I was with the weather. I wanted to savor the moment, find the perfect shot, fly the drone, and capture an epic time-lapse. I think I nailed it.

This section of the wall wasn’t restored, and it’s quickly becoming my favorite. It feels more historic, with a richer character and vibrant colors.

But what I loved most was the peace and quiet—far fewer people around. This area also holds significant historical importance; protecting the Gubeikou section was crucial for keeping Beijing safe from the Mongolian Nomads.

Overnight: We stayed at Great Wall Inn at Gubeikou village, and you have the option to stay here both nights, as all these other sections can be reached from here. I really liked this place, it was more of a local farmer’s guesthouse (you’ll see local farmers on the way), and the food was amazing.

The chef let me film a little inside the kitchen, and watch him make pork dumpling from scratch, a tradition sadly that’s not often kept as it becomes easier to buy them ready-made.

Day 3: Jinshanling to Simatai West

We got up first thing and drove to Jinshanling to get there early, the aim being to get there before the tourists arrive. However, we were hit by public holiday traffic and unfortunately didn’t get there as early as we wanted to.

I really recommend you try to though, as Jinshanling is one of the most popular tourist spots for the Great Wall, and for good reason.

People don’t tend to get there first thing as they are usually on day-trips from Beijing, however on this tour, we are just 20 minutes away, or supposed to be!

Nonetheless, this meant we would need to be creative to find a spot away from the crowds, and despite the public holiday, we managed it.

When I arrived, I must admit I thought it was going to be a tourist nightmare, too many people, all trying to get a photo of the same spot, but it really wasn’t.

Jinshanling is huge! Here you’ll find wild, ruined, preserved, original and re-built sections of the wall. There are steep gradients to climb, giving an incredible perspective of the wall and the surrounding areas.

It really is hard to take a bad photo, I mean just look at it. Unbelievable. There are some areas with a lot of tourists, that’s expected, even some parts with a queue as the watchtowers can create a bottle-neck effect.

But that’s OK, this was our last day and I was happy that I had already seen an amazing amount. It was time to find one of the snacks and drink sellers, and buy a well earned beer, and celebrate an amazing few days hiking the Great Wall of China, not only in a way that shows you almost every perspective imaginable, but one that educates and impresses you all the way.

Getting to Beijing with KLM

KLM UK flies to to Beijing using Amsterdam as a hub. Going via Amsterdam allows you to fly from 17 UK based airports, rather than only travelling from Manchester or London.

I fly from Southampton, which is right on my doorstep, and make life so much easier. Southampton is quick and easy, you literally breeze through, and they also have a nice lounge.

The changeover in Amsterdam is smooth, KLM will inform you which gate (sometimes from the plane), and you won’t need to collect and check in your luggage again.

And then it comes to the seat… Business, Economy or Economy Comfort? Not everyone can afford business, so I’d suggest looking into Economy Comfort for the extra leg room, which makes a big difference on any flight over 3 hours. 

I flew to China in partnership with KLM UK. My flights were complementary, but return flights from the UK start at £398, including taxes. All of the content, opinions and photography are my own. Please take time to visit KLM UK to support me on more adventures like this one!