Full-Day Small-Group Great Wall Hike: Simatai West to Jinshanling

I'd give this experience six stars if I could. A really well organised day out with a fantastic guide Yaxin who made sure we got to make the most of this fabulous trip. We did it on a Monday and pretty much had the Great Wall to ourselves, the group was small seven and we went along at an easy pace with plenty of breaks. Snacks were provided too, I suggest bringing a small backpack to carry water and remember to wear layers. The route wasn't too challenging, some of the older hikers we met used poles - but by no means all of them. The end came all too soon and no one wanted to leave however, the post hike lunch was really enjoyable, great food and plenty of it with great company. We took two teenage boys who loved it and I'd recommend this hike in a heartbeat.

Rob and family
Oxford, UK

This is an absolutely fantastic tour. I just completed the trip in March 2018. Our guide Tao was excellent and his knowledge of the history of China is really outstanding. A couple of items to note: First this hike is not for the faint of heart. They provide hiking sticks and you will want it as there are section where you'll want an additional point of contact with terra ferma besides your two feet. The start of the hike is all up hill but you start out in a very modern parking lot with nice facilities i.e. restrooms and use them as this will be your last chance. The hike up hill is a touch bizzare as the pathway up hill has been constructed and modernized. There is even music playing from speakers tucked into the hillside as you ascend toward the wall. When you get to the wall the authentic rustic and ancient feel returns and the music goes away. Warning when you reach the wall you may find a person or two selling great wall memorabilia. If you buy something they will set you free lol just remember to barter. There are sections of the wall on the hike that are a bit sketchy thus the hiking stick. Also to my surprise we came across a couple sections of the wall that were shared with bee colonies if you have a bee allergy you've been warned and bring your epi pen. When you finish the hike you again meet up with the music blaring from the bushes, You also finish the hike down in a disney like village that has recently been constructed... the only way to describe it is you feel like you've just walked onto a movie set.. Bottom line you must do this trip but you must be fit and have good knees..

I took this tour last August and it was absolutely amazing! The tour guide, Jason, was knowledgeable and polite- and the tour as well as its logistics were well-planned, safe, and on-time. The provisions such as map, water, and the post-hike meal was more than adequate and the meal in particular was delicious. I was even told about some of the history of the village that I had lunch in during the meal- many of the villagers were descendants of the soldiers who were stationed on the Wall from when the lookouts were active. I visited the more tourist-populated Badaling section of The Great Wall a day or so before taking this tour because I wanted to compare the experiences this tour took me to the Gubeikou section however due to a closure along the advertised section at the time. With this hike, I felt more in touch with the history of the Wall since it was rather isolated and had that rustic, ruined look and feel that really made its legacy come to life.
Trekking up the hill through the brushes and grasses, the Wall slowly came into sight and then after a while of walking its vista really came to life on top the ridge you could almost hear the silence of the rural countryside whisper The Great Wall of China ever so softly in the ear. On the wall itself, it was truly a humbling experience to walk in the footsteps of the guards of old and to see a view that they would have been accustomed seeing as part of their daily occupation. The fact that it was only myself and Jason the guide on this trip made my time with the wall even more intimate and personalized. I even had the chance to do a bit of dancing and filming on the Wall as part of a video for my China trip. It was one an experience that definitely goes down as one of the greatest of my life- to be able to say that I hiked a wild section of The Great Wall of China which few get a chance to do.
Thanks Jason and Great Wall Hiking for an once-in-a-lifetime experience!!

The hike to Jinshanling was a great day out, our guide had snacks on hand, always happy to help out taking photos and telling us info about life in China.
We were fortunate enough to have this section of the wall almost to ourselves in early Jan, passing only a few other groups over the trek maing for great photos.
My only critique is that this is not a full day hike, perhaps it would be with a larger group that lags but we were back in Beijing before 3pm.
All in all highy recommended.

Great trip, really would recommend, Robert was fantastic and knew the answer to every question. He gave some interesting insights about the Wall and also China. Really good tour, would recommend to anyone in Beijing and go on it myself again!

Utterly stunning tour. Ok, so the drive took two hours to get there and three back due to rush-hour traffic, it was worth every second of it. We found this stretch of the wall deserted unlike the stories we heard about other parts of the wall where there are significant crowds and had it practically to ourselves. On top of that, it was a crystal clear day so the photos we've taken are spectacular. Our guide was informative and caring and happy to answer all manner of questions we threw at him. He also took us for lunch at a local restaurant where the food literally didn't stop coming! We spent three weeks all over China, and this was probably the best day of the entire trip.

This tour was amazing! Our guide Mark was great, aso food was delicius. The only thing we did not like was at the end, when van drop us off, he asked for the 10% tip for the driver.It was a bit strange, because tour is not cheap and we already gave tip to Mark earlier after lunch. Anyway great tour!

This trip was exceptional. Simatai was closed, so my tourguide Mark took me to the Gubeikou section of the wall, approximately 200km from Beijing city center. It was a fairly easy 6km hike with breathtaking views and minimal tourists. This portion of the wall hadn't been rebuilt for tourists and it felt so authentic and historic. Mark was an excellent hiker, my personal photographer, and my Chinese professor. He taught me so much about the Great Wall, Beijing, and Chinese history. He also fed me snacks, gave me plenty of water, and took me to the most delicious and seemingly authentic Chinese lunch a few km away from the Great Wall entrance. Mark made me feel at home in a place where I felt quite foreign I'm an American and a first time visitor to Beijing. In Mark, I made a friend, and I will never forget this incredible adventure and our time together spent hiking the Great Wall.

Our guide Tao was awesome - we walked over 10k, and only saw three other hikers on our trek. The group was small, and we had great weather. Definitely recommend.

This was the highlight of my Beijing trip! We had a small group of 3 and Robert was a fantastic guide. The Jinshanling section of the wall was closed during September so we hiked around the Gubeikou section, which was stunning. This section of the wall is on the Beijing/ Mongolia border and away from the crowds. There are also plenty of guard towers to look out and take photos. A great way to spend a day in Beijing. Highly recommended.