3-Day Great Wall Tour with Lunch and Guide

Highlights

• Marvel at the Great Wall's iconic sections, including Jinshanling and Simatai
• Explore Gubei Water Town and Longqingxia Gorge with a local guide
• Enjoy a delicious lunch each day with local specialties and flavors
• Learn about the Great Wall's history, architecture, and military significance
• Travel in comfort with a private air-conditioned vehicle and driver

Description

Day 1: Jinshanling Great Wall, Gubei Water Town, and Simatai Great Wall Meet your guide and driver at your Beijing hotel lobby. Board a comfortable private van and depart for northern Beijing. The guide will brief you on today’s itinerary and share stories of the Great Wall’s construction during the 2-hour drive. Visit Jinshanling Great Wall (Luanping County, Hebei), one of the best-preserved original Ming Dynasty sections. Renowned for dense watchtowers, intact battlements, and stunning mountain vistas, it’s a paradise for hikers and photographers. Walk the classic route from Zhuandukou to General Tower, admiring rare features like barrier walls and inscribed bricks. The guide explains how these structures defended against invaders. Have lunch at a local farm restaurant near Jinshanling. Drive 30 minutes to Gubei Water Town, a picturesque water town at the foot of Simatai Great Wall. Explore Simatai Great Wall, the only section preserving its original Ming appearance and offering night tours. Take the cable car to the upper sections, then hike to iconic watchtowers. Return to the vehicle and drive back to your Beijing hotel, ending the first day. Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall and Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Depart from your hotel with the guide and driver. The 1.5-hour drive to Mutianyu passes Tour Mutianyu Great Wall, known for lush forest surroundings and unique triple-watchtower formations. Choose to hike or take the cable car/slide. Have lunch at a Huairou district restaurant, Head to Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall, the only section where the Great Wall meets water. Hike along lakeside paths, watch the wall dip into the reservoir, and take boat rides for unique “wall-in-water” photos. The guide explains how the reservoir was built and its impact on the ancient structure. Drive back to Beijing, arriving at your hotel in the evening. Day 3: Badaling Great Wall, Juyongguan Great Wall, and Longqingxia Gorge Set off for Yanqing District, the final day of Great Wall exploration. Visit Badaling Great Wall, the most famous and accessible section, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climb to North 8 Tower (the highest point), stand at the “Hero Stone,” and overlook the wall snaking through mountains. The guide details its role as a key military pass and its history of welcoming world leaders. Have lunch at a Badaling scenic area restaurant Explore Juyongguan Great Wall, the “First Fort Under Heaven,” a strategic pass in a narrow canyon. Walk the circular wall, visit the Yuntai (a historic stone archway with carvings), and learn about its role in protecting ancient Beijing. End at Longqingxia Gorge, known as the “Little Three Gorges of North China.” Take a boat cruise through emerald gorges, admire steep cliffs and karst landscapes, and enjoy fresh mountain air. The guide describes the gorge’s geological formation and local legends. Drive back to Beijing, concluding the 3-day Great Wall adventure.

Includes

Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver Licensed English-speaking guide One set lunch per day All entrance fees

Excludes

Personal expenses Gratuities Travel insurance cable car

Important Information

• The tour involves a fair amount of walking and hiking. The Great Wall sections visited are less crowded and offer unique views. Night tours are available at Simatai Great Wall.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund