The 15 Great Wall Hiking Tours in China We Would Book Again

1.Full-Day Small-Group Great Wall Hiking at Jinshanling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews · from $138Our pick

Join a small group of up to 10 for a full-day hike from Simatai West to Jinshanling. Guides such as Dewit, Cheney, Luis, and Jason lead the walk, explain the Wall’s design and history, provide water and trekking poles, and finish with a local-farmer lunch.

“This was a great tour to see the wall with very few people! Dewit was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable! Highly recommend if you have the whole day available for the tour. Getting photos with no one else in them is pretty special! Lunch was delicious!”

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2.Mini Group: Beijing Forbidden City Tour with Great Wall Hiking at Mutianyu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 344 reviews · from $159

Spend a full day with a small group at Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Central Beijing pickup, English-speaking guides such as Lily, Jerry, and Sunny, entry tickets, water, and transport are included. Plan extra for lunch and the optional cable car or toboggan.

“We loved this tour! It was a small group and we all had a wonderful day together. So great to see so many sights all in one day, especially if you have limited time in Beijing. Our driver was really amazing and the tour guide was fluent in English. The lunch was delicious too. 10/10. Definitely book this!”

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3.Private Great Wall Hiking from Jiankou to Mutianyu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $228

Leave Beijing at 7:30 am for a private hike from rugged Jiankou to restored Mutianyu. Expect steep climbs, quiet wall sections, sweeping Ming-era views, a local lunch, and a guide such as Peter, Lucy, Jack, or Miko. Cable car and toboggan rides cost extra.

“Excellent, excellent experience. The Great Wall hike with Miko was the highlight from my 4 days in Beijing. Its about a 1.5 hour drive to the starting point, followed by a 45min to hour long hike to the wall. You'll start at a section not open to the broader public, and then wind your way down to the touristy area. The first 2/3rds of the hike are exceptional well worth it alone. Miko did an excellent job providing me with background history and guiding the overall experience. In the future, I would very much enjoy hiking with him again.”

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4.Private Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $99

Hike from Simatai West toward Jinshanling with a private English-speaking guide, covering at least three hours on an original, less-restored section of the Great Wall. Hotel pickup, private transport, bottled water, and entrance admission when selected are included. Guides may include Rocky, Linda, Barry, or Kevin.

“The trip was very well organised from start to finish. It was a very beautiful part of the wall and it was a perfect length and level of difficulty for us. Our tour guide Linda (Travel China Guide) was very helpful and gave us options along the waRead more”

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5.2-day Small Group Great Wall Hiking Gubeikou&Jinshanling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $268

Spend two days hiking the Great Wall around Jinshanling and Gubeikou, with early starts, restored and untouched masonry, a farmer’s guesthouse, meals, transport, and a small group of up to 10. Local guides such as Cheney and Yaxin may lead the way, though commentary is limited.

“Amazing. Our highlight of China so far. The two days are different and well worth doing both. We were well looked after and enjoyed home cooked dinner and breakfast. Thank you. 100% recommended.”

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6.Mini Group: One-Day Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $195

Start with a 7 AM hotel pickup and ride to Jiankou, then hike about 10 kilometers over wild wall, ladders, watch towers, and mountain ridges before reaching restored Mutianyu. An English-speaking guide, bottled water, admissions, and round-trip transport are included. Lunch and cable cars cost extra.

“It was a great experience. Finally able to have one of my bucket list done. I enjoyed hiking and this is great that I was able to hike the Great Wall of China. I like the ruin portion of the great wall. the remodel portion of the great wall was full of tourist. there is absolutely no one around the ruin portion. If you like hiking, this is great for you.”

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7.Mini Group: Simatai West to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $222

Travel from central Beijing to the quieter Simatai West section, then hike about three hours toward Jinshanling with an English-speaking guide. Expect steep stairs, original watchtowers, restored wall sections, snacks, water, and air-conditioned transport. Guides such as Nancy and Mico have received strong praise.

“This tour was amazing! The trip took 2 hours to get there, we walked on the wall for about 3 hours. These sections of the Great Wall are amazing, some parts are steep. These sections aren’t crowded and we had a lot of fun during the walk. ORead more”

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8.Private Wild Great Wall Hiking tour at Simatai (Challenging)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $200

You’ll leave Beijing early for a strenuous Great Wall hike linking wild Simatai with Jinshanling. A local guide leads the way, while private transport, entry fees, and a Chinese lunch are included. English guiding is not included, and the route suits fit adults under about 60 to 65.

“I was on a business trip to China and left a couple days early to explore Beijing. I really wanted to see the wild wall, away from the tourists, and am so glad I found this tour. My guide Gerry was outstanding. He met me at my hotel at 7:30am anRead more”

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9.Private Great Wall Hiking Tour from Simatai West to Jinshanling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $222

Travel from central Beijing to Simatai West for a private guided hike across unrestored Great Wall sections to Jinshanling. Your English-speaking guide sets the pace, explains the wall, and leads you past watchtowers and mountain views. Lunch at a local farmer’s restaurant and hotel transfers are included.

“Amazing!!!!! I tested my physical condition but it was worth it every step up and down. There is a lift for those in no such great shape however, at this time of the year it is closed. Beautiful blue sky, perfect weather, incredible views!!!! Nancy, oRead more”

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10.Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking: Guide/Driver Package with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $108

Travel from downtown Beijing to the quieter Jinshanling Great Wall with a private driver or guide. Expect a 2.5-hour ride each way, about four hours on the wall, included admission, and a flexible route. Ask for Huang if available for a lively history walk.

“Our guide Huang was simply the best. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Chinese history. His energy and smile are what made our experience really enjoyable. The hike was not too difficult, although i recommend bringing hiking shoes. Food was genuine and local.”

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11.Private Beijing Great Wall Hiking Tour at Jiankou Section

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $200

Meet your guide at your centrally located Beijing hotel and ride to Xizhazi village. After a one-hour uphill walk, hike from rugged Jiankou toward restored Mutianyu, then enjoy lunch before your private ride back. Expect an active day, changing wall conditions, and broad mountain views.

“The hike was amazing and certainly the highlight of my visit to Beijing! The opportunity to see the Great Wall both in its "wild" and restored states is great. Also, if you would like to be able to admire the views without the crowds of tourists tryRead more”

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12.Private Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking Tour from Beijing with Local Tasty lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $190

Meet your guide at 8:00 am near Agricultural Exhibition Center subway station for a roughly nine-hour trip to Huanghuacheng. Hike a quiet, less commercial section of the Great Wall, enjoy mountain and lake views, then share a local lunch before returning. Guides may include Joe, Tim, or Peter.

“Joe took us on a tour that went over part of the wall that was almost entirely empty. We passed just a few groups on the walk, and covered over a mile of the wall. We started with a hike up to the wall, much more fun than just starting at an eaRead more”

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13.Private Transfer Service: Jiankou Great Wall to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $96Best value

Travel privately from Beijing to Jiankou, hike from Xizhazi Village to Zhengbeilou Tower, then continue to restored Mutianyu. Your driver handles transport and directions, while an English-speaking guide can be requested. Expect steep, rugged walking and separate entrance and cable-car fees.

“Nicholas picked me up directly at the hotel, the ride was confortable and brought me directly at the start of the trail for the jankou wall. If you are not used to go on this kind of journey on your own I suggest you to book the guide too. I made Read more”

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14.Private Great Wall Hiking Tour: Across The Border of 3 China Provinces

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $198

Leave Beijing at 8 a.m. for Sanjiebei, a wild Great Wall section near the Beijing, Hebei, and Tianjin borders. Hike for 3 to 4 hours with a private guide such as Peter or Jason, then eat homemade village dishes before returning by private car.

“The guide Peter was great, very kind, helpful and informative. The old part of the wall is 1600 years old and hides incredible stories. The landscape is majestic, you are surrounded by vastness, sounds of nature and peace. In the end thRead more”

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15.Private Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $120

Leave Beijing by private air-conditioned vehicle for Jinshanling, about 87 miles northeast of the city. You get roughly four hours on this preserved Ming Dynasty section, with an English-speaking guide or time to hike independently. Hotel pickup, entrance, shuttle, water, and return transport are included.

“We were the only ones on the wall. It was magical. What a wonderful experience. Our driver was extremely helpful and always ready and waiting for us. Always had the door open for me and even out waiting for us in very cold conditions. So happy with him we booked him for the following day.”

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