This itinerary is designed to take in the best sights of the Great Wall and also to experience the more remote and unique sections. The 9 day expedition includes five days of trekking and a day’s sightseeing in Beijing. The route has both steep and gentle sections as we pass towers, forts, barracks and enjoy stunning scenery throughout. We visit the more famous sections such as Jinshanling and Mutianyu as well as experiencing the more remote and less travelled sections of ‘wild’ wall. The Great Wall of China is arguably the most impressive man-made structure in the World. Construction of the 6000km long wall began in the 5th century and finished in the 16th century. The wall formed the front line defence of Imperial China which was under attack from nomadic tribes. Trekking the wall is truly an experience of a lifetime. On a clear day one gets a fantastic view of the wall winding through and over the beautiful mountains that once formed China’s northern border. As well as walking along the wall we visit nearby villages meeting friendly locals and getting a great sense of rural life in China.

After the trek enjoy a full days sightseeing in Beijing including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Enjoy the amazing food of Beijing which for some people is a greater experience than seeing the wall!

Day 1: October 11^th; Dublin to Beijing.
Depart Dublin on an overnight flight to Beijing.

Day 2: October 12^th; Beijing to Jiankou.
Arrive in Beijing in the afternoon. We will be met at the airport by our local guide and bus. From the airport we drive for two hours directly to the Great Wall at Jiankou. Overnight homestay.

Day 3: October 13^th; Jiankou Wild Wall, 5 hrs trekking.
Today we ascend to section of the wild wall and completely untouched by tourism. Although not in great condition this section of wall is very beautiful. This section takes us past some beautiful villages and thick forest. After a packed lunch on the wall we descend back to Jiankou. Overnight homestay.

Day 4: October 14^th; Jiankou to Mutianyu, 5 hrs trekking.
After a tasty breakfast we leave the homestay and drive for 20 minutes to reach the trail head. From here is a steep walk up to reach the wall. It’s a fantastic place to join the wall as is very scenic and very few other trekkers go there. We are treated to great views of the surrounding landscape especially in the mornings when there is often a majestic fog present. From Jiankou we cross over to Mutianyu which has been restored to its original glory and is very impressive. From Mutianyu we drive to Huanghuacheng. Overnight guest house.

Day 5: October 15^th; Huanghuacheng to Xishuiyu to Gubeikou, 4hrs trekking.
We begin trekking in Huanghuacheng (yellow cliff), named after the yellowish hills nearby. Today’s route takes us to Xishuiyu located on the beautiful Xiaoxihu lake. The Xishuiyu section connects Zhuangdaokou and Erdaoguan in the east and Longquanyu in the west. We are treated to great views of the lake and high mountains throughout the day. The wall here has not been restored since its construction and is quite rustic. After the trek we take the short drive to Gubeikou. Overnight homestay.

Day 6: October 16^th; Gubeikou to Jinshanling, 5 hrs trekking.
From Gubeikou we trek for five hours to reach Jinshanling. Gubeikou is located only 125 kilometers from Beijing and has always been a town of military significance. This section along a steep mountain is a Chinese architectural masterpiece. The wall rises and falls repeatedly and there are many watch towers some less than 50 meters apart. After finishing the trek we drive back to the homestay in Gubeikou. Overnight homestay. 

Day 7: October 17^th; Jinshanling to Huangyaguan, 5 hrs trekking.
After breakfast we will walk from Jinshanling to West Simatai another stunning section of restored wall. After finishing this section we drive to Huangyaguan and enjoy a further 2.5 hours of walking there. This part of the Great Wall is designed as a miniature of the entire Great Wall of China, thereby allowing you get an understanding of the entire wall in a fraction of the time. The entire section is built on an abrupt mountain ridge. We take our time ensuring to get plenty of photos before returning to Beijing. After lunch in Qianganjian we drive for three hours to reach our hotel in Beijing. Enjoy a celebratory meal in the evening! Overnight Hotel.

Day 8: October 18^th; In Beijing.
We spend the day visiting Beijing’s best sites, new and old. The tour will include a selection of the following sites; Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Olympic village, the Birds Nest and the Water Cube. There will be opportunities for some last minute shopping too. We return to the hotel in the late afternoon and then transfer to the airport in the evening, departing Beijing just before midnight. Overnight flight.  

Day 9: October 19^th; Dublin.
Arrive back in Dublin. Expedition ends.

About Parkinson’s Association of Ireland:

The Parkinson’s Association of Ireland was established in 1987, the charity is based in Dublin with branches throughout the country. Their aim is to assist people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, health professionals and interested others, by offering support, a listening ear, and information on any aspect of living with Parkinson’s and they also initiate and fund research into Parkinson’s disease, its causes and affects. Their objectives are;
- to help and support patients and carers by developing a support network of branches throughout the country
- to make information freely available to patients and their families through seminars, magazines, information leaflets and meetings on a national and local level
- to facilitate easy access to all appropriate services for people with Parkinson’s and to lobby to improve those services
- to help establish a network of Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialists within a multidisciplinary setting, each in association with a neurologist and or a geriatrician.
- to promote and encourage research into Parkinson’s.
- support through our Freephone Helpline, 1800 359359, which is open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday.
- Information and advice from our Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist available through our freephone helpline.
- raising awareness through educating the public, health professionals and influencers, to give a greater understanding and acceptance of Parkinson’s.

About China:

Area: 9,671,018 sq km                 Population: 1,339,724,852

Language: Mandarin (Putonghua)

Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam

Local Time: GMT +8

Foreign Exchange: Local Currency: Renminbi/Yuan Currency for Exchange: EURO, USD$ & GBP. Where to Exchange: Most major towns – your Expedition Leader will advise you on arrival. ATMs: Available in most places. Credit Cards: Widely accepted.

Up-to-date information concerning global exchange rates can be obtained at www.xe.com.

Climate: China’s climate is primarily a temperate one, and due to its huge area it experiences a wide spectrum of extremes. The summer months are generally hot in the north with some rainfall and temperatures will average around 30ºC. Temperatures around the area of Beijing are known to drop considerably in spring and autumn however, particularly at night. Up-to-date information on the weather can be found at www.wunderground.com.

Visa Requirements: Please contact your local consular office for particular information regarding travel from your country. Visa requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

Vaccinations & Prophylaxis: We recommend consulting your national website for expert advice: Ireland: www.tmb.ie Please consult your local healthcare provider for further advice. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

Electric Supply & Plugs: 220v, 50Hz. The official plug of China is similar to Type A, but is slightly shorter and without holes in the blades. Type A and I outlets are common, and Type G may also be found.

For more information or to sign up for this challenge contact Keith by email on keith.adams@parkinsons.ie or by phone on +353 (1) 8722234.