Great Wall Hiking

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.

There are dirt paths, steps, and trails covered with fallen leaves, paved sections, a few sections with loose bricks and small stones, and partly repaired or fully-restored sections to original and crumbling ones. Generally, the condition is a pleasant surprise to most customers.

We recommend you use walking boots that offer support and protection from loose bricks or rocks that your feet might kick. It is best to have non-slip soles in case of rain.

The best wall section to see both a sunrise and sunset from is Jinshanling. You need to stay for one night at the foot of the wall if you want to see a sunrise.

The Mutianyu section is also a good choice to see a sunset.

Yes, your guide will hike all the way with you. He/she will help you take photos, tell you the best location for photos, and give you information about the wall.

The Great Wall at Jinshanling is half repaired. You can see both a repaired section of wall and the original wall in ruins. This section also has the most beautiful natural scenery. Many professional Great Wall photos are taken at this section.

You can hike on the Great Wall all year round except for when it is snowing and the roads become slippery. There is no defined best time, as the best weather/scenery also means the most crowds.

An experienced travel specialist will make your experience more pleasant whatever the weather. If you would rather hike during the best weather conditions, May/June and September/October will be the best times to hike.

The Best Times to Visit the Great Wall

Yes. If you travel with us, your guide and driver will pick you from the airport and drive you to the Great Wall (usually the Mutianyu section because it is quickest to get to from Beijing Airport, but, if your time allows, we can arrange for you to visit other sections).

Read about our one-day Great Wall hiking tour from the airport.

Various activities can make your experience more interesting, such as hiking the Great Wall at night, camping on the wall, and challenging yourself by taking a wild hike. Don't forget that your experienced guide will help the wall's vivid history come to life for you.

The Top 5 Interesting Things to Do on the Great Wall Besides Hiking

Yes, it is possible. However, it takes years to cover the 13,000+ miles of the entire wall. It took Stephen Robert Loken of Norway, aged 42, 601 days to hike the entire Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) Great Wall, which spans 3,728 miles (6,000 kilometers).