Great Wall Marathon

17 May 2025

Great Wall Marathon 2025 - 6-day package

Run the Great Wall Marathon and have the time of your life with runners from around the world.
14-19 May 2025
6 days
1 690 USD

Book package

This marathon and holiday package combines a Beijing tour with a stay in Jizhou located near the section of Great Wall of China where the race takes place. This package is a good option, if you want to combine the classic Beijing experience with a touch of China outside the great metropolis. With two nights in the town of Jizhou or the village of Qingsongling, you'll have a good base to relax before the race and a shorter drive on the morning of race day. 

If you want to spend all nights in Beijing, have a look at the 7-day itinerary.

English

Itinerary

The itinerary is detailed below. This is what you'll be doing during your stay!

14 May 2025Welcome to Beijing

Arrival in Beijing. Your flight to Beijing is not included, so you can decide which flight suits you best.
Airport staff in both Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) will be available throughout the day and evening and assist with finding a taxi or showing directions to the airport shuttle bus or the airport express train. Look for "The Great Wall Marathon" sign and our representatives in the arrivals hall will help you if necessary.
Please read the information about arrival and departure under Important for more details.

After checking-in at your hotel, check the hotel notice board to confirm your tour guide's name and phone number. Goodie bags will be handed out by the guide. If you don't receive your goodie bag today, it will be given to you on Inspection Day. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Beijing.

Meals: not included

Pre-night - 13 May: Please note, a pre-night can be added to your travel package before 17 April 2025, when booking your package online, or by contacting us via email. Availability for pre-night requests received after 17 April 2025 cannot be guaranteed.

15 May 2025Great Wall Marathon Route Inspection Day and Jizhou/Qingsongling

Today, is Inspection Day! This is your time to inspect the route, including a leisurely walk along the Great Wall of China, and speak with race officials about the forthcoming event.

Our day will begin early in the morning as we board our bus and head to the Great Wall for route inspection. Breakfast will be served as a breakfast box, if your hotel is unable to serve a buffet breakfast before our early departure. Please remember to check-out of your hotel before leaving Beijing, and bring your luggage, as you will be transferred to your hotel in Jizhou or Qingsongling after the route inspection.

All runners are expected to walk the 3.5km of the Huangyaguan section of the wall that is part of the marathon, half-marathon and 8.5k Fun Run course. Non-runners are also welcome, although good physical condition is required. A sandwich lunch will be served.

After lunch, we will check into our hotel in the town of Jizhou or Qingsongling depending on your choice of hotel package. Jizhou is about a 45-minute drive from Huangyaguan, while Qingsongling is a pleasantly short 20 minutes drive away.

The afternoon is free for you to explore the area surrounding your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

16 May 2025Day at leisure or optional excursion

Today is a good day for relaxing before the big race day tomorrow. Take in the local atmosphere, or go on the optional excursion that takes visitors to the Qing Dynasty Tombs. The tour includes lunch. Learn more about this tour below, under "Excursions".

Load up on your carbs at tonight's dinner with additional rice and noodle dishes.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on the optional excursion)

17 May 2025Race Day

Today is the big day! After an early breakfast, we'll leave our hotel and head to the race venue, located at the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall.

Please remember to check-out of your hotel room, as we will leave for Beijing at the end of the day.

After an aerobics warm-up and speeches by local officials, the race will start at 7:30am.

Sandwich lunches will be provided for everyone. Busses will be ready to take runners back to Beijing between 12 and 4:30pm.

A 20-minute massage on site is included after the race. 

For more information about the race, look here.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

18 May 2025Explore Beijing - excursion options & Evening Celebration Dinner

Today is a day of recovery. Sleep in, relax, do a bit of shopping or fill your senses with the sights and sounds of Beijing.

Two optional excursions are available today. Please note, these must be purchased prior to your arrival in China.

Take in classic Beijing highlights visiting The Forbidden City & The Temple of Heaven or visit the cosy hutongs on the back of a rickshaw. In the evening, we all gather for the big celebration dinner. All participants will be picked up at their hotels and taken to the party venue tonight.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on an optional excursion)

19 May 2025Farewell Beijing

Depending on your departure time, you might be able to do some last-minute shopping or take in more of Beijing's sights. Hotel check-out is before noon.

Hotel reception can assist with calling a taxi to take you to the airport, unless you prefer the airport shuttle or airport express train.

Meal: Breakfast

Post-night - 19 May: Please note, a post-night can be added to your travel package before 17 April 2025, when booking your package online, or by contacting us via email. Availability for post-night requests received after 17 April 2025 cannot be guaranteed.

Price information

Have a look at package prices below. Please note that prices include the race package.

As of 17 March 2025 a late booking fee of USD 150 pr. person applies to all bookings. Registrations close on 17 April 2025, but some packages may sell-out and close earlier.

6-day Itinerary - 14 May to 19 May 2025

Package price per person

Hotel Shared Double/Twin Single supplement
GWM1 - Dongfang (Beijing) & Arcadia (Qingsongling)

 1690 USD

 + 425 USD
GWM2 - Sunworld (Beijing) & Yuyang (Jizhou) 1790 USD

+ 425 USD

GWM3 - Qianmen (Beijing) & Eagle Land (Jizhou)

  1890 USD

+ 490 USD

GWM4 - JW Marriott (Beijing) & Jing Ji Saint Hotel (Jizhou)

 2290 USD + 750 USD

IMPORTANT: All hotels can be changed to another hotel in same standard

 

Optional excursions for 6-day itinerary   Date           Price per person
Qing Tombs 16 May 125 USD
Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven 18 May 110 USD
Hutongs by rickshaw 19 May 59 USD

* Kindly note, excursions can be purchased at the time of booking, or later by contacting us via email. The deadline for adding excursions to your travel is 17 April 2024. It is not possible to participate in both Forbidden City & Hutong excursions.

Inclusions

  • 5-nights accommodation
  • Meals as stated in the itinerary
  • Sightseeing and excursions as stated in the itinerary. Optional tours can be purchased separately.
  • Transportation as per itinerary
  • English speaking tour leader at your hotel
  • English speaking local guide
  • Comprehensive information packet and guide book for the Great Wall Marathon event which includes detailed maps and day-by-day descriptions.

Exclusions

  • Flights
  • Visa for China
  • Airport transfers 
  • Optional tours which must be booked in advance
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not stated in the itinerary
  • Beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not mentioned under 'Inclusions'

Race package

Entry to the race is only possible in combination with the booking of one of the tour packages.
Prices are pr. runner:

Marathon or half marathon entry - USD 150
Fun Run entry - USD 75

Price includes:

  • Official running T-shirt
  • Supplies on route
  • Medal
  • Time taking with net results
  • English speaking medical team

Please note:

It is possible to change distance up until Inspection Day. Changing from Fun Run to half or full marathon will inflict an additional USD 75. Changing from half or full marathon to the Fun Run BEFORE 17 April 2025 will inflict a USD 75 refund. Changing down to the Fun Run AFTER 17 April 2025 there's no refund.

Registration deadlines

If you sign up after 17 March 2025, a late registration fee of 150 USD will be applied to each person on your booking. In addition, the full amount (ie. not just the deposit) must be paid immediately.

Registration closes on 17 April 2025. After this date, no new entries will be accepted.

We advise you, however, to book early to avoid disappointment. Some packages sell-out well in advance of the regular registration period.

 

Important Info

We've put together a list of important information about travel in China. Have a look below.

Visa information

Almost all non-Chinese nationals will need a visa to enter China. There are different categories and you will most likely need a tourist visa (L). Please contact your local Chinese embassy or consulate for more information. The procedure normally requires submitting a visa application form, paying a fee and providing the Chinese authorities with an authorised itinerary from Albatros Adventure.

A few months before departure, you will receive a service voucher which you can use for acquiring a visa. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after entry.

Transfers

No transfer service is provided. Airport staff will be available on May 14th to assist finding taxis or getting to the airport shuttle or airport express. read more on the airport website.

Getting from and to the airport is each participants own responsibility. 

Room options

If you are a solo traveller and choose a shared double room when booking, we will pair you with another traveller of the same gender in a room with two beds. If you prefer to have your own room, choose single room. A single supplement will apply.

Payment

Please note that if you register more than 75 days prior to departure, you will be charged an initial 25% of the total price and the remaining 75% will be deducted from your credit card 75 days prior to departure. If you register less than 75 days to departure, the full amount will be charged.

Book this package

You will be taken to our booking site where you can complete your booking.