There is no better way to explore China's Great Wall than by hiking or walking along with it. Tread the centuries-old bricks and walk through watchtower ruins. Take your time and feel the history come to life.
We understand that you want a top-notch hiking experience and we will present you with the best hiking tours and tips here to help you have an enjoyable Great Wall hike. The history will come alive for you with an expert guide. In short, if you love a hiking trip with no hassle, no disappointments, and pleasant surprises, you will love our tours and tips.
The Best Great Wall Hiking Routes
There are about nine sections of Great Wall around Beijing. Here we have recommended these two best routes for you to consider due to their scenery, the hiking experience needed, and the accessibility.
![Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Route 1: Jinshanling to Simatai West
This route is also called Jinshanling Great Wall hiking. It is definitely the best hiking route if you want to see the original Great Wall including some ruined sections as well as some fabulous scenery that includes the wall snaking along the mountain ridges into the distance.
- Distance from Beijing: 2.5 hours by road
- Wall conditions: half ruined
- Time needed: about 3 hours on the wall
- Length: 5 kilometers (3 miles)
- Difficulty: 3 stars
- Best tour: Hike the Picturesque Great Wall at Jinshanling (1 day)
Route 2: Jiankou to Mutianyu (Wild Hike)
![Mutianyu Great Wall](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
This is a totally wild hiking trip. You will trek on the Great Wall ruins along the mountain ridges.
It is challenging — on the way, you need to climb wooden ladders, step over piles of stone blocks, weave around trees growing on the wall, and descend a 50-degree slope on the wall.
The experience will be extraordinary. When you reach the mountain ridges, you'll have a panoramic view of the wall snaking along the sheer peaks.
What's more, there are no crowds around you — it's just you, the mountains, the ruined wall, your guide, and the history behind these ancient wall ruins.
- Distance from Beijing: 2.5 hours by Road
- Wall conditions: totally ruined
- Length: 10 kilometers (6 miles)
- Time needed: about 5 hours
- Difficulty: 5 stars
- Best tour: Conquer the Most Challenging Great Wall Section (1 day)
Map of the above two best Great Wall hiking routes:
Our Best Great Wall Hiking Tours
Our Great Wall hiking tours are private. There are no strangers with you. You can travel at your own pace, giving you plenty of time to take great photos or just to feel the majesty of the wall at certain places. Our hiking itineraries can be customized, which means your travel advisor can help you make the tours unique to suit you.
- See both wild and repaired Great Wall
- Enjoy walking on the most photogenic Wall
- Conquer the wild Great Wall at Jiankou
- Enjoy the restored glory of the Great Wall at Mutianyu
- Discover the 3 most popular hiking sections
- Stay overnight in beautiful Gubei Water Town
Great Wall Camping Tours
The following itineraries are designed for people who want to have a unique Great Wall camping experience — enjoy a sleepover on the Wall with a BBQ meal and great views including sunset and sunrise... They are flexible and can be customized to suit your budget and interests.
- Enjoy a BBQ dinner on rugged Great Wall
- Sleep under the stars on aged ramparts
- Walk on incredible waterside Great Wall
- Sleep in a Great Wall watchtower
- Discover the Great Wall in depth
- Enjoy amazing sunsets and sunrises from the Wall
Great Wall Hiking Tips (FAQs)
Customers from 5 years old to senior couples in their 70s have hiked on the Great Wall with us. So the key factors are how fit you are and what the weather conditions are like.
Some rugged and steep sections are challenging but your private guide is patient — if you need more time then so be it! Free trekking poles are also available.
More Great Wall Travel Articles
Read more articles from our local travel experts to help you plan your Great Wall trips:
- How to Visit the Great Wall (Great Wall Travel Guide)
- The 10 Best Sections of the Great Wall
- Best Hotels at the Great Wall
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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4 day tour of Beijing
![]() We just completed our four-day tour of Beijing. We want to share our experience with you with Ethan Liu (our tour guide). Wow, we had a great experience from the moment we arrived in Beijing, where he greeted us at the airport. We already knew that the next four days would be a wonderful experience. These are some of the reasons why: 1. He connected with my family, including my wife and two boys. They felt comfortable around him, and we enjoyed learning about Beijing and Chinese history; he kept us engaged and informed. 2. He went the extra mile to ensure we had a great time; he even spent extra time after the tour helping me find an ATM. 3. He is a professional guide who is meticulous about details and will make your tour smoothly with low stress. 4. In all, much love and appreciation to Ethan Liu, Carol Wang, who is our travel coordinator & helped us plan our trip, and our driver, who drove us around without making us car sick. We highly recommend our tour guide and China Highlights without any reservations. They are a 5/5 stars company. Sincerely, The Nguyen Family more
May 2024, Azurite
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Great tour for 1 day
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May 2024, Lis R.V
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Amazing time in Beijing with Ethan
![]() During our recent two-week tour in China, we spent three days in Beijing with Ethan as our guide, who left a lasting impression on us. Ethan navigated us through the historical and monumental city of Beijing and its surroundings, shared fascinating historical and cultural stories with us and left none of our questions unanswered. What truly set Ethan apart was his ability to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. His infectious good vibes made our time in Beijing exceptionally pleasant. He truly listened to our interests and preferences, accommodated our requests and made personalized recommendations. All that added an extra layer of enjoyment to our trip. more
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