Most Inspirational Moment
Actually walking on the Great Wall is an incredible experience. You trek on various sections, so every day is different. It's challenging - more so than I expected! - but the scenery is breathtaking and you get a real sense of the scale of the wall. I loved the 'Spiderman' sections, where you're literally clambering up on your hands and knees, which all adds to the experience. If you like trekking, this trip is a must!I also did the Xi'an extension to see the terracotta warriors which was well worth it. Xi'an itself is a fascinating city full of hustle and bustle, and cycling round the old city walls is a great way to see it, as well as wandering the streets taking in the sights, sounds and smells.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jerry was our guide for Beijing and the wall and he was brilliant! Really passionate and enthusiastic, and he loves a joke! He took great care of us and made the trip even more special. He organised everything down to the smallest detail so we really didn't have to think for ourselves. Would love to have him on every trip!
Advice for Potential Travellers
You do need to be reasonably fit to do this trip and have a good head for heights, but if you like a challenge without pushing yourself to extremes, this will suit you. Be prepared for some very basic conditions (I took a sleeping bag so always had clean bedding, plus it did get very cold on some nights), and if you don't like Chinese food, then take plenty of snacks as you'll be eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! (The food was excellent though!)Make sure you have a large memory card for your camera as you'll end up with hundreds of photos - every few steps the wall looks more breathtaking than where you've just come from, and you'll always be chasing that perfect picture!