2-Day Great Wall Hiking Tour from Beijing: Jiankou, Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Simatai West

Day 1: Beijing -- Jiankou – Mutianyu -- Gubeikou (L, D)

Meet your guide in central Beijing and hop in an air-conditioned vehicle for a 2.5-hour drive to Jiankou, where you'll begin your moderate 6-mile (10-km) hike along original sections of the Great Wall.

As you hike up hill for the first hour, admire sweeping vistas and notice the elaborate stonework and roofs of structures and statues. You’ll also meander through dense jungles and bushes.

Throughout your hike, you’ll be provided with water and snacks. At midday, take a rest break to enjoy a picnic lunch, which your guide will provide for you.

Reach the restored Mutianyu section, where you’ll then drive to Gubeikou for an overnight stay at a local farmer's guesthouse. Walk around the village with your guide and learn how it played an important role in defending the capital during the Ming Dynasty.

Then, discover the quaint rural lifestyle of local farmers as you relax and mingle with the farmers over an authentic, home-cooked Chinese meal including dumplings.

Day 2: Gubeikou – Jinshanling -- Simatai West – Beijing (B, L)

After a typical farmer’s breakfast, drive 20 minutes to Jinshanling to begin your 3-mile (5-km) hike at 8am. At this time, few other tourists are at the wall, so you can take postcard-worthy photographs.

Hike for three hours with your guide, making a detour at Kylin Tower to head to Simatai West, an extremely photogenic, untamed section of the wall that offers some of the best hiking around. Its numerous towers and steep gradients offer constantly changing perspectives and wide, open views.

After your hike, relax on the ride back to Beijing. When you arrive, enjoy a traditional Chinese lunch at Wangfujing shopping district.