Great Wall Marathon

17 May 2025

Great Wall Marathon 2025 7-day package

This 7-day marathon and holiday package offers you the definitive Beijing experience!
13-19 May 2025
7 days
1 790 USD

Book package

All nights are spent in the capital of China and you will get an unforgettable holiday in this exciting city. We will visit classic Beijing highlights such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and also have plenty of chances to sample exquisite local cuisines in the many markets and street stalls of old Beijing.

You can also top up your Beijing stay with our optional excursions that take you on a rickshaw through the old huting areas of Beijing. Whatever your interests, the excursions offer a wide range of attractions that give visitors a great taste of Beijing.

If you want to stay closer to the race venue, have a look at the 6-day option.

English

Itinerary

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

13 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 to 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-nights - 12 May: Please note, pre-nights can be added to your travel package before 17 April 2025, when booking your package online, or at a later date by contacting us via email. Booking requests received after 17 April 2025 cannot be guaranteed.

14 May 2025Explore Beijing - Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & more

The first stop of our day's exploration is Tiananmen Square. We continue to the Forbidden City and spend the rest of the morning there. Lunch will be a delicious local speciality, Beijing roast duck.

After lunch we continue sightseeing at the beautiful Temple of Heaven in southern Beijing. The last stop of the afternoon will be a visit to a silk exhibition hall, where a large variety of silk products can be purchased.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

15 May 2025Great Wall Marathon Route Inspection

Today, is Inspection Day! This is your time to inspect the route, including a leisurely walk along the Great Wall, 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.

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.

An optional acrobatics show is available for purchase. Enjoy a fantastic evening out and watch a spectacular performance by talented acrobats. Learn more under "Excursions".

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

16 May 2025Cloisonné factory and Ming Tombs

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 Ming Dynasty Tombs. The tour includes lunch. Learn more about this tour below, under "Excursions".

The optional tour start with a visit to a cloisonné factory. Cloisonné is an age-old technique for decorating metal objects. At the factory, we will be introduced to the intricate art of making cloisonné.

After lunch, we'll head to the Ming tombs in a valley south of the Tianshou mountain, about 50km west of Beijing. Thirteen out of the sixteen Ming emperors were buried in this peaceful valley.

Meals: Breakfast (lunch included on optional excursion).

17 May 2025Race day

Today is the big day!

Breakfast boxes will be handed out before we leave for Huangyaguan at 3:30am. The race starts at 7:30am. Sandwich lunches will be provided for everyone at the race site.

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 2025Beijing excursion option & Evening Celebration Party

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

The optional Hutong by Rickshaw excursion is available today. For further details, see "Excursions".

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 (lunch is provided for those going on the 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.

Please note that the departure transfer is not included in the package.

Meal: Breakfast

Post-night - 19. May: Please note, post-nights can be added to your travel package before 17 April 2025, when booking your package online, or at a later date by contacting us via email. Booking 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.

Prices

As of 17 March 2025 a late booking fee of USD 100 pr. person applies to all bookings. Registrations close on 17 April 2025, but some packages may fill up and close earlier.

Hotel Shared Double/Twin Single supplement
GWM5 - Dongfang Hotel

 1790 USD

 + 490 USD
GWM6 - Xingqiao Novotel 2190 USD

+ 590 USD

GWM7 - JW Marriott

 2590 USD

+ 890 USD

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

Optional excursions for 7-day itinerary Date Price per person
Acrobatics Show 15 May 75 USD
Ming Tombs 16 May 110 USD
Hutongs by rickshaw 18 May 90 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 2025.

Inclusions

  • 6-nights accommodation
  • Meals as stated in the itinerary
  • Sightseeing and excursions as stated in the itinerary. Optional tours can be purchased separately.
  • Comprehensive information packet and guide book for the Great Wall Marathon event which includes detailed maps and day-by-day descriptions.
  • Transportation as per itinerary

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.

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.

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 for the 2025 Great Wall Marathon 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 Marathons.

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.

Room options

If you are a single traveller and choose a shared double room when booking, we will pair you with another traveller of the same gender.

If you prefer to have your own room, choose single room. A single supplement will apply.

Transfers

No transfer service is provided. Airport staff will be available on May 13th 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. 

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.