Route 2AA: Gubeikou-Jinshanling-Jiankou-Mutianyu Camping

This program allows you to experience the two best Great Wall hikes at the Great Wall's most popular and photogenic sections. This hike starts at Gubeikou, an unrestored section of “wild” Great Wall. You'll then cross over into Jinshanling, which features magnificent watchtowers and grand watchtowers. You will be amazed at how the Great Wall snakes and winds its way across the countryside here. You'll spend the night in one of Jinshanling's larger watchtowers, and the next morning we'll drive to Jiankou, which like Gubeikou is in its natural state. The ruins here are highly dramatic, so be sure to have your cameras! After hiking through Jiankou you'll come to Mutianyu, which is in many ways similar to Jinshanling, as it is a more restored section of Great Wall. The 22km's distance on the Wall will take us about 10-11 hours of hiking. [TOP]

Route 2AB: Gubeikou-Jinshanling-Second Valley (Simatai West) Camping

In addition spending the night on the Great Wall, you'll get to explore some of the more unknown and wild sections of the wall. The hike will start at Gubeikou, a relatively unvisited part of the Great Wall that is in its natural and unrestored state. After a few hours of hiking we'll pass over into Jinshanling, which will feature some of the most stunning scenery you will see in China. Restored brickwork, and large watchtowers dot the land, and under one of these watchtowers is where you will spend the night. The next day, after watching the sun rise over the Great Wall, we'll continue hiking Jinshanling until we reach the Second Valley (aka the west wing of Simatai), a part of Simatai featuring dramatic ruins and which connects to Jinshanling in the west.  [TOP]

Route 2AC: Self-Managed Great Wall Camping at Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu-Mutianyu

For serious hikers looking to save some money while getting an unforgettable experience you can't go wrong with this program. You'll have the opportunity to spend the night on the Great Wall itself, as you'll camp in a watchtower underneath the stars. Just think of the priceless memories that wait you while watching the sunset and sunrise over the Great Wall in China. While you do bring your own camping equipment, you'll get to save money that you could use elsewhere on your China trip. In addition, you'll also get to hike the Great Wall at Mutianyu while also witnessing the spectacle of the Great Wall underwater at Xishuiyu. [TOP]

Route 2SS1: Sunset and Sunrise - Sleep by the Great Wall

In terms of bang for your buck, this tour gives you just about everything. In addition to seeing both the sunset and sunrise over the Great Wall, you also get to experience two of the best Great Wall hikes that exist. Both the Simatai-Jinshanling and Jiankou, while moderately challenging, are a real blast. You’ll get unrestored Great Wall that has been untouched by repairs, looming watchtowers, postcard-like panoramas and sweeping vistas. This tour is for the one who loves using their camera. In addition, you’ll also get to enjoy an authentic meal of Chinese countryside cuisine at the inn where you will spend the night. Featuring an early morning wake-up (5:30am) and a late start-time (you’ll be picked up in Beijing at 11am), this tour is designed for you to get in prime position on the wall at sunset and sunup. We think that viewing both the sunset and sunrise will be a peaceful interlude on what is probably for you a hectic China trip. [TOP]

In addition to sleeping on the Great Wall, this tour quite nicely introduces you to China both modern and ancient, and for a two day trip, pretty much shows you the best of Beijing, using your time in the best way possible. The tour starts with a visit to the Forbidden City, which for over 400 years was China's home to the Emperor and his imperial retinue. After our visit, we'll cross over to China's modern political center, Tiananmen Square. Then it is off to the Olympic Green, the area where China hosted the 2021 Olympics. We'll then set out for the meat of the trip by going to the Great Wall at Jinshanling, famed for its brick work, watchtowers, and sweeping vistas. Tonight, in one of Jinshanling's larger watchtowers, you'll get to sleep under the stars on the Great Wall! The next day you'll hike to Gubeikou, an unrestored piece of “wild” Great Wall, before being driven back to your hotel. [TOP]

Experience the beauty and majesty of the Great Wall from the best seat in the house! On this program you'll have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sleep over on the Jiankou Great Wall, a fantastically rugged piece of Great Wall often featured in National Geographic and the like. Think of it, facing the stars from a Great Wall watchtower, and seeing the sunrise over the mountains-all of this can and will happen on this tour. This tour also features additional hiking on the Mutianyu Great Wall, as well as your choice of visiting either the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace. As always, you'll have your own English-speaking guide and driver with you on this tour.  [TOP]

Route 2B: Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu-Jiankou-Mutianyu with Camping for an Option

This program starts at Huanghuacheng, a section of Great Wall, which in the spring and summer features lush flowers blooming, beacon towers, and even a section of the wall that runs underwater! From there we'll drive to Jiankou, where you will embark on what is perhaps the best Great Wall hike. Jiankou, located in small farming village, is completely unrestored, meaning this is about as authentic an experience as you can get. You'll see some amazing ruins of watchtowers set against the surrounding hillside, making for an unforgettable hike. After a few hours you'll cross into Mutianyu, a largely restored portion of the Great Wall that is very popular but not as touristy as other sections. One of the most photographed sections of the Great Wall, Mutianyu has played host to world leaders and has been the scene of numerous movies (like the recent remake of the Karate Kid) and TV shows. [TOP]

Route 2C: Chengde-Panjiakou-Xifengkou

This tour starts out in the City of Chengde, which served as the summer retreat for emperors of the Qing Dynasty looking to beat the heat of Beijing. Here you will visit the sprawling and magnificent Summer Resort, along with the Small Potala Palace, a grand Buddhist temple that is a recreation of the Potala Palace of Tibet. The next day you will be taken to the Great Wall at Xifengkou, where you will begin your hike. Due to the nearby construction of the Panjiakou Reservoir, part of the wall here runs underwater, making for a unique and rare site among Great Wall sections. Largely unvisited, you will be able to stretch out your legs and roam, allowing yourself to have a much more intimate Great Wall experience. [TOP]

Route 2E: East Qing Tomb-Huangyaguan

In addition to an outstanding Great Wall experience you'll also get to visit one of imperial China's great treasures. This tour starts with a visit to the East Qing Tombs, the burial site for most of China's last ruling dynasty, the Qing. One of the largest and most well-preserved burial sites in China, you'll find five emperors, four empresses and even the infamous Empress Dowager Cixi, China's power behind the throne in the late 19th Century. You'll then be taken to the Great Wall at Huangyaguan. The great thing about Huangyaguan was that it was designed as a miniature version of the entire Great Wall, giving you an understanding of the Great Wall's functions and features without having to walk the whole thing! From there we'll drive to the Eastern Qing tombs, a sprawling tomb complex that many feel is much more exciting than the Ming Tombs. Here is the final resting place of five emperors, four empresses, five imperial concubines, and one princess of China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing.  [TOP]

Route 2F: Old Dragon's Head-Shanhai Pass-Jiaoshan-Dongjiakou

This program will give you a nice overview of some of the more obscure Great Wall sections that visitors often miss. You'll start at Old Dragon's Head, the eastern-most point of the Great Wall, which is just off the Bohai Sea. You'll then hike to the “First Pass Under Heaven”, an immense watchtower where you'll learn about the history and military strategy of this section. We'll the proceed to the Great Wall at Jiaoshan, which is divided into restored and unrestored sections, and you'll experience both on your walk, allowing you to compare and contrast the two styles. You'll spend the night at a nearby hotel and the next day you'll continue hiking on Jiaoshan. After our hike there you'll be driven to your last stop, Dongjiakou, a section of wall more than 600 years old and which features the Cihou Tower- a solid command post with no roof, giving the defenders a 360-degree-view of the whole area. This structure can not be found anywhere else.
 [TOP]

Route 2G: Great Wall Discovery Tour with Bullet Train

With beaches, Great Wall, and hiking, this program has something for everyone! Via bullet train, we will set out to Qinhuangdao, a pleasant beach area, where you will get to explore Shanhaiguan, which is known as the “First Pass of the World”. During your hike you will pass over into Old Dragon's Head, which is the eastern-most point of the Great Wall, lying just off the Bohai Sea. After walking on Old Dragon's Head you'll get to meander around the beach area nearby. The next day you'll be driven to the Jiaoshan Great Wall, which is the highest peak to the north of Shanhaiguan Pass. It is one of the oldest sections of surviving Great Wall, as it was first built during the 14th century. [TOP]