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

Beijing, China
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From $158.00

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Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
  • 9 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Take a break from busy Beijing for a full-day hike along the Great Wall of China, one of the world’s most famous monuments. Hike the section of the Great Wall from Simatai West to Jinshanling, a beautiful and less-crowded section of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. See parts of the Great Wall that have been carefully restored as well as sections that have not been retouched. After the hike, have lunch at a restaurant operated by local farmers before returning to Beijing.
  • Full-day hiking tour of the Great Wall of China — Simatai West to Jinshanling, from Beijing
  • Enjoy fantastic photo ops of the Great Wall of China and the surrounding landscape
  • See intricate stonework, guard towers and decorative elements
  • Have lunch at a local restaurant and chat with the villagers
  • Includes knowledgeable guide, lunch, entrance fees and transportation from Beijing

What's Included

  • 1. air-con vehicle with experienced driver
  • 2. personal English-speaking hiking tour guide
  • 4. unlimited bottled water; snacks on the Wall; lunch in a local farmer’s restaurant
  • 5. a certificate of completion for hiking on the Great Wall of China
  • 1. travel insurance
  • 2. chairlift
  • 3. personal expenses

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • McDonald's
    Dongzhimen, Dongcheng, China, 100007

    Exit C, Dongzhimen Station, Subway line 2. Turn right after getting out of the Exit.

Start time

08:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Jinshanling Great Wall

3 hours Admission Ticket Included

Simatai Great Wall

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Children under 5 are not allowed to take this tour
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • There is no toilet along the path on the Wall. There are toilets at the entrance of Simatai West and Jinshanling. Please prepare before hiking and always carry toilet paper by yourself.
  • Please don’t make any appointment after the trip as the return depending on the traffic between 5-6 pm.
  • You will be followed by local farmers when starting the hike. The farmers will give you help along the way, as a reward they will sell some souvenirs. If you don’t like this, you have to say NO firmly at the beginning (MAYBE LATER does not work in Chinese culture) or just ignore them and not speak a word with them; otherwise they can be persistent and follow you all the way on the Wall.
  • Unlimited bottled waters are stored in our car/van today, and you need a day pack to carry them.
  • We will bring trekking poles in our car/van and please tell your guide if you need one.
  • Travel insurance is optional and is the sole responsibility of travellers. It is encouraged to have coverage of injury or accident.
  • As responsible travelers, we “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprint”.
  • Near public transportation
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Yevgeniy K
Weather was great and the view was amazing plus, a nice hiking exercise. The guide YaShi was great - knowledgeable and caring, which is very important, as I am comparing with other tours. I highly recommend this tour.

Reviews

5.0
225 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 225 reviews
A true hike of the Great Wall!
Joshua_P, Nov 2019
Phenomenal day of hiking the great wall. This is the area of the great wall to go to! Very few tourist, You will have the wall to yourself at times for great pictures. Danny was our guide and the touring company was Great Wall Hiking. Dany was fantastic. He spoke great English and was extremely knowledgeable. You can tell he truly enjoys taking people on the hike of the wall. He also packed some snacks to keep our energy up during the hike. There were only 6 people in my group. I will say, this hike involves some work. I calculated that I walked 110 floors that day! Be prepared to get some exercise. I would not recommend for elderly or for people not comfortable walking non-flat surfaces. That being said, it was a day I will never forget! You have plenty of time during your hike to take in the beauty of the wall and the surrounding views. We finished the day with a fabulous farmers style meal. Many dishes of fresh food. Perfect tour for someone that wants to feel like they truly hiked the wall and just didn't go there to look at it.
Great Hike on a Beautiful Day
WalkswithNoCares, Oct 2019
I booked four of us for this adventure and was convinced it would be great because of all of the positive reviews. We were all more than thrilled with the hike. It is a reasonably strenuous hike but done at our own pace, it was no problem. I'm 75 and had no trouble as long as I looked down, and made sure my footing was good. You need rubber soled sneakers, or shoes. The ride to the jump off location was about 2 hours. The bathroom at the beginning of the trip was the cleanest public facility I have seen in all of my 70 visits to China. The trip was great, but Peter Cao, our guide was more than fantastic. He was knowledgeable, well spoken English, and entertaining. The food at the end of the trip was typical Chinese and went down easily as we all were famished. Great trip with a fantastic guide!
Very impressive!
GJ_Suzanne, Oct 2019
Such an impressive experience to climb this section of the great wall! Very small group (only the 3 of us) and almost no other groups there! For the first 1,5 hour we only met local persons, no other tourist. This made it a very unique experience. I loved the combination of unrestored and restored section. Mark, our guide, was very very knowledgable and he took all the time (we were even quite a bit longer on the wall) no rush at all so could very well enjoy the scenery and take very nice pictures (in which Mark could also give good tips on the most photogenetic spots)!
Worth the hike and money
Resort37909172085, Jun 2019
This great wall walk was the best tour i have ever done. We had the best tour guide and a perfect day to see the wall and how far it stretched! The food that was also included was so delicious, youll want to take some home! This was the best day we had in China!
Very Good experience
David F, Nov 2018
Very nice trip, well organized. The focus was on the wall, no fluff (no tea factory, museum or farmers market). We spent about 3h hiking on the wall (lots of up and downs). November helping, we did not see many people, which makes for nice pictures and a cool experience having sometimes to wall for ourselves.Our guide (Peter) was very knowledgeable and very friendly.I would definitely recommend.
Weather was great and the view was...
Yevgeniy K, Nov 2018
Weather was great and the view was amazing plus, a nice hiking exercise. The guide YaShi was great - knowledgeable and caring, which is very important, as I am comparing with other tours. I highly recommend this tour.
Great Day Out
Christopher_D, Oct 2018
This section of the wall is quite hilly with lots of climbs and descents. Although the walking was quite tough we weren't rushed at all and were given plenty of time to pause and take in the views. In total there were seven of us in the group (plus the guide who was excellent).
Breathtaking views!
fuluigi, Oct 2018
The hike was long but well worth it, since we got amazing views with very little interactions with other tourists. Guide was informative
This small group tour was fantastic...
Kim A, Jul 2018
This small group tour was fantastic! We commenced our climb in a location where there were barely any tourists, we kept a comfortable pace and were allowed time to take photos. We didn't encounter many tourists on the part of the wall we walked, so that made it all the more special. Our tour guide had excellent English, was informative and fun. He also provided each of us with a USB of photos he had taken of us during the day trip. They were tailored personally which was a special touch!
I'd give this experience six stars...
R_F, Apr 2018
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...
Sean_K, Apr 2018
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...
Kiron N, Mar 2018
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...
AE_B, Feb 2018
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...
Tobias G, Jan 2018
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...
Jayne W, Nov 2017
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...
Alja M, Oct 2017
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...
Steven G, Oct 2017
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...
aaron s, Oct 2017
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...
Katherine M, Sep 2017
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.
Due to landslide closure of Simatai...
Bryan K, Sep 2017
Due to landslide closure of Simatai to Jinshanling for several months this tour was relocated at Gu- Bei-Kau. The 2 1/2 hr drive was super comfortable and our guide Cheney gave us a nice briefing on the history of the Great Wall and this section. Cheney did an excellent balance of being informative, but leaving personal time for contemplation. It was Sunday 3-September and the weather was super, pretty clear air, a good breeze, warm but not hot. The Gubeikau section has had no restoration, the core of the wall is intact and made an easy hiking trail. The wall parapets about 6 foot sidewall on top of the great wall remained in only a few short sections. The watch towers are still roofed, but no 2nd story remains. All in all this hike gives a very realistic feel of the effects of time, it is dry, wind-swept, quiet, and on the edge of being isolated. We met perhaps 25 other hikers in the four hours of our hike. Ours was an intimate experience with our guide Cheney and his love of hiking, The Wall, and his country were very clear. He was kind, considerate, and knowledgeable. The lunch in the village was excellent quality, I'de been working in China for 2 weeks, staying at excellent hotels and eating at fine restaurants. The Gubeikau Village eatery was their equal in quality and more authentic, making us feel very welcome and comfortable. I consider myself lucky to have taken this tour and recommend this type of Wall tour to anyone that likes moderate level hiking.
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Product code: 7122P1

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