Compare Walking the Great Wall by Exodus Travels vs Trans Siberian journey - Beijing to Moscow by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 16 days |
| Price From | $ 1,860 | $ 6,121 |
| Price Per Day | $ 207 | $ 383 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners are included. Food is cheap in China and you can avoid the spicier regional food if you wish. The cuisine on this trip is fantastically varied with lots of new flavours and 'things' to try. Gastronomically the trip can be divided into two parts: 'tourist hotels' and 'local hotels'. In tourist 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 roughly approximating those you would find in a Chinese restaurant in the UK. In the local hotels, breakfast includes rice porridge, dumplings, eggs, noodles, etc, however, we tend to augment this with fruit and cakes where available. Dinners are taken in local restaurants where the food is heavily flavoured with ginger, garlic bamboo shoots and chilli. Lunches are taken in local village restaurants and will normally consist of noodle soup or stir fried vegetable noodles. Expect an audience most lunches as the locals crowd around to watch the 'big noses' trying to master the use of chopsticks! Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note that in China the availability of certain specialized products for restricted diets, e.g. gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialized dietary items from home. Strict vegetarians may find the diet rather limited to stir fried vegetables and eggs as all the soups are made with meat stock. | N/A |
| Description |
Stepping out across the peaceful semi-ruin of a section of the Great Wall is like walking in the footsteps of the past. Far from the tourist crowds we are able to get a great sense of the scale and majesty of this remarkable piece of engineering without rushing through in a big group. We trek along various contrasting sections of the wall, both dilapidated and rebuilt stretches. The old portions have a romantic feel, but the new ones may look odd to people who are used to seeing their ancient monuments in a poor state, though since the wall was constructed over a 2000 year period, the new sections are just a continuation of that process. We will get closer to day-to-day life in rural China before returning to Beijing, a city steeped in history yet plunging headlong into modernity.Walk one of the seven wonders of the world |
A land of contrasts, China is home to modern metropolises, soaring mountain ranges and some of the world’s most recognisable tourist sites. |
Day 1 Arrive Beijing; free afternoon and Beijing duck dinner
Day 2 Drive to Huanghuacheng Great Wall section; afternoon begin trekking.
This morning we leave the capital and head into the countryside to the Great Wall, a 2-2.5 hour journey to the north west of the city. We reach the lesser-visited section at Huanghuacheng, which has an incredibly picturesque location by a lake. The name Huanhuacheng translates as ‘Yellow Flower City’, as during the summer the surrounding mountains are swathed in yellow as the local wild flowers come into bloom. The walk today is relatively challenging and with uneven topography, but the views are worth every effort! We will spend the night in a guesthouse close to this section of the wall. Accommodation: Fengfuyuan Guesthouse, Huanghuacheng (or similar)
Day 3 Morning trek at Mutianyu, passing many watchtowers.
Today we take a short drive (1-1.5 hours) to Mutianyu. At this lesser-visited section, the Wall is an impressive sight indeed, snaking off across mountains and valleys into the distance. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. There are 22 watchtowers (20 of which are open to the public) on this 2,250-metre-long section. After Mutianyu section, we transfer to Jiankou village to enjoy the hospitality of a local guesthouse. Accommodation: Mr Zhao Guesthouse at Jiankou (or similar)
Day 4 Trek at Jiankou's "Wild Wall"
The Jiankou wild wall section was built along a mountain edge and remains completely wild, with towers clinging impossibly to the steepest of ridges. Highlights of the day include “Spiderman Wall”, or “Sanshibadeng” in Chinese; an optional short vertical climb to the top of the wall for a panoramic view (those who are not a fan of climbing/heights can walk around and regroup at the viewpoint). This area is the most photographed section of the Great Wall due to the unique construction style combined with stunning scenery. We walk along this portion for approx. 4 km in the morning, returning to the guesthouse for lunch, then walking about another 4.5 km in the afternoon. We have the option of seeing sunset from the wall. Accommodation: Mr Zhao Guesthouse at Jiankou (or similar)
Day 5 Transfer to Jinshanling; Hike the Great Wall Jinshanling section.
Day 6 The most challenging walk today along the Gubeikou section
Today we hike from Zhuanduokou Tower along the Gubeikou section of the wall to Panlongshan. This portion keeps the original essence of the wall and will transport us back to the time of the Han Dynasty. We will pass many watchtowers until we reach the unique 24 Window Tower (three level tower). Accommodation: Yeshufang Guesthouse at Gubeikou (or similar)
Day 7 Panlongshan section of the Great Wall
We will walk from Panlongshan north gate to the main entrance. Following our walk along this part of the wall we’ll drive for about three hours back to Beijing. Accommodation: Dong Fang (or similar)
Day 8 Beijing city tour visiting hutongs, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
We take a morning walking tour of the city's hutongs (narrow alleys) to see what is left of old Beijing and its traditions. We also visit Tian’anmen Square; the largest in the world and able to hold over a million people. Later in the day, we visit the Forbidden City with its innumerable courtyards and temples. This evening, recommended optional activities include the amazing Beijing opera or a Kung Fu show, or you may prefer to opt for a foot reflexology treatment to sooth your weary feet! The leader will also arrange a farewell dinner (optional). Beijing is a fantastic place to explore at your own pace; if you wish to add on any additional time please speak to your sales consultant at the time of booking. Note Following the Covid-19 pandemic, maximum numbers of daily visitors to the Forbidden City have been significantly reduced, impacting availability of tickets. Our local team aim to secure tickets for the Forbidden City, but if unable to do so, we’ll visit the Ancestral Temple (used during the Ming and Qing Dynasties to offer sacrifices to ancestors, and architecturally quite similar to the Forbidden City) and the Summer Palace (a complex of lakes, gardens and palaces from the Qing dynasty) instead. You will be advised at the start of the trip if this change needs to be made. Accommodation: Dong Fang (or similar)
Day 9 End Beijing
Our trips ends today in Beijing after breakfast. Free departure transfers are available for all customers departing from either Beijing’s Capital airport (PEK) or Daxing airport (PKX). Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Beijing.
Day 2 : Beijing
On arrival in the Chinese capital this morning you are met by your private driver and guide who will take you to your hotel accommodation in the heart of the city. The rest of your day is at leisure to explore under your own steam.
Day 3 : Beijing
Enjoy a full day excursion out to the Great Wall at Jinshanling today with your private driver and guide. You spend the day exploring here with your private guide before returning to the city by car in the late afternoon. Your evening is at leisure.
Day 4 : Beijing
Take a full day to explore the city under your own steam today. We will give you some suggestions for your time and would highly recommend exploring the Temple of Heaven early in the morning to catch some of Beijing's locals practicing their traditional morning exercises.
Day 5 : Beijing
An early morning transfer today sees you boarding your first train to Mongolia. Your guide will be on hand to help you settle into your compartment before you set off.
Day 6 : Khustaii Nuruu National Park
Arriving into Mongolia this afternoon you are met by your private driver and guide and head out of the city into the countryside to the Khustai Nuruu National Park, home to the rare Takhii Horse Species. After some time to settle into your first ger tent you travel out into the park with your driver and guide for a chance to spot these beautiful creatures. Overnight in your ger with the evening at leisure.
Day 7 : Ulaan Baatar
Your morning is at leisure in the park with your guide before you head back to Ulaan Bataar via the haunting monastery ruins at Manzushir Khiid. You spend some time here with your guide before continuing on to Ulaan Bataar. This evening enjoy a traditional cultural performance.
Day 8 : Ulaan Baatar
Take a morning tour of the city today including a visit to the city's famous Gandan Monastery, home to a spectacular 26 metre high statue of Buddha. This afternoon you transfer on to the station with your guide who will help you to board your onward train to Irkutsk.
Day 9 : Listvyanka Village
Arriving into Russia's most famous Siberian city today you are met by your driver and guide who will take you down to Listvyanka, a small town on the shores of Lake Baikal. The rest of your day is at leisure to allow you some time to relax after the train journey.
Day 10 : Listvyanka Village
Today is at leisure in Listvyanka to allow you some time to explore under your own steam.
Day 11 : Irkutsk
Transfer back to Irkutsk today by car in time to meet your afternoon train on to Moscow.
Day 12 : Irkutsk
A day spent aboard the train, leaving the forested landscapes of deepest Siberia behind and entering the grassy plains that lead towards the Urals.
Day 13 : Irkutsk
Today is the crossing into Europe - the train forges a passage through the Ural Mountains, before emerging into the agricultural lands and gentle countryside of the West.
Day 14 : Moscow
Arriving into Moscow this afternoon you are met by your private driver and guide who will take you to your hotel accommodation at the heart of the city. The rest of your evening is at leisure.
Day 15 : Moscow
This morning you take a walking tour of the beautiful Kremlin Complex, including a visit to the Armoury, home to a small but exquisite collection of Faberge Eggs. The rest of your day is at leisure in the city to allow you some time to explore under your own steam. We will give you some some suggestions for your time.
Day 16 : International return flight
Your morning is at leisure before you meet with your private driver and guide and transfer on to the airport. Your return flight will arrive the same day.
