Great Wall of China Tours & Trip Packages

Great Wall of China Tours & Trips

72 Great Wall of China trips. Tours from 53 tour companies. 79 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

72 Trips match your criteria (41 - 60 shown)

Pandas & Yangtze Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Shanghai, Terra Cotta Warriors, The Forbidden City, Xian, Yangtze River, Yichang

Highlights

  • Must-see sights - the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Giant Pandas
  • Fantastic cruise tour on the Li River from Guilin to rural Yangshuo
  • Have a once in a lifetime chance to get close to the incredibly cute treasure -Pandas
  • Take in the impressive skylines of Shanghai as you walk along the Bund

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"TCGT is a company you need for an “all inclusive” trip in China. Emily arranged for us a perfect tailored itinerary based on our preferences. Hotel, transports and guides were professional, gentle and fluent English-speaking. We thank TCGT for such wonderful and perfect vacation in China and we highlight its services to everyone."

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The Best Cities Of China  10 Day Package
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Shanghai, The Forbidden City, Xian

Highlights

  • Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the largest
  • Visit the astonishing Great Wall of China at Juyongguan Pass, one of the most remarkable feats of mankind.
  • Visit the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
  • See the awesome Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, widely regarded as the eighth wonder of the world.
  • View the exterior of the Bird Nest-China National Stadium and Water Cube-China National Aquatic Center.

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Thank you for making our tour-Nov 23-30, 2023 an amazing experience! Not once, from landing in Cairo until we departed from Amman did we feel unsafe. We couldn’t have asked for better guides or drivers, they took care of everything, from our border crossings to checking us in at Amman airport. We loved being a part of the different cultures, seeing the Deserts of Egypt, Mt Sinai, the Red Sea, Mt Nebo, brought the exodus of the children of Israel alive. We are thankful we went, thankful for the dedicated services provided and encourage others to take the tour! Your guides are waiting and will give you an incredible experience! David & Lily Bear - Ohio"

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Follow Pandas' Footprint
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Great Wall of China, Olympic National Park  , Terra Cotta Warriors, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Xian

Highlights

  • Must-see sights - the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Giant Pandas
  • See the giant pandas up close in the Panda Breeding and Research Center
  • Try biking on the Ming Dynasty City Wall of Xian, or tour by electric car
  • Enjoy a la carte meals, Kung Fu Show, Tang Dynasty Music and Dance performance

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Local Immersion & Homestays, Photography

What travelers are saying

"TCGT is a company you need for an “all inclusive” trip in China. Emily arranged for us a perfect tailored itinerary based on our preferences. Hotel, transports and guides were professional, gentle and fluent English-speaking. We thank TCGT for such wonderful and perfect vacation in China and we highlight its services to everyone."

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Top Heritage Discovery
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Xian, Yangshuo

Highlights

  • Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Giant Pandas
  • Cruise on the meandering Li River & admire the essence of Guilin landscape
  • Have a once in a life chance to get close to the incredibly cute treasure - Pandas
  • Walk into a local Chinese family, interact & dine with the hosts in their home

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"TCGT is a company you need for an “all inclusive” trip in China. Emily arranged for us a perfect tailored itinerary based on our preferences. Hotel, transports and guides were professional, gentle and fluent English-speaking. We thank TCGT for such wonderful and perfect vacation in China and we highlight its services to everyone."

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China Golden Triangle Tour
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Ming tombs, Shanghai, Tiananmen Square, Xian

Highlights

  • Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army
  • Walk into a local Chinese family, interact & dine with the hosts in their home
  • Try biking on the Ming Dynasty City Wall of Xi'an, or tour by electric car
  • Cruise on the Huangpu River to take in the impressive skylines of Shanghai

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"TCGT is a company you need for an “all inclusive” trip in China. Emily arranged for us a perfect tailored itinerary based on our preferences. Hotel, transports and guides were professional, gentle and fluent English-speaking. We thank TCGT for such wonderful and perfect vacation in China and we highlight its services to everyone."

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Hidden China
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Tiananmen Square, Yangshuo

Highlights

  • Hike on the remote Gubeikou and Jinshanling portions of the legendary Great Wall on this custom-tailored 6-day adventure
  • Travel by mountain bike and bamboo raft through the surreal karst landscape of Yangshuo
  • Unwind in a scenic mountain retreat, hand-picked by MTS experts, and learn the secrets of authentic Chinese cooking

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

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China: Festivals & Textiles of Guizhou and Guanxi
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square

Highlights

  • Explore Beijing
  • Visit Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and The Hutongs
  • Visit Great Wall and Lama Temple
  • Enjoy Sister’s Meal Festival and Lusheng Festival
  • Explore the Libo

Themes

Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"It is a difficult job to make everybody happy all of the time, but you ladies do a superb job. We were definitely off the beaten path, and when following that path there are sometimes unexpected surprises, but every bump was handled beautifully."

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China Splendor
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Hong Kong, Terra Cotta Warriors, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Xian

Highlights

  • Visit Beijing an imperial city,
  • Visit magnificent Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world,
  • Where Mao's picture hangs over the rostrum at the entrance of the Imperial Forbidden City
  • The Great Wall of China ranks high on the wish list of many travelers and today's excursion will confirm it is one of the world's greatest travel experiences.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"I have worked with Swain for travel in Australia and Africa. On both continents they have always exceeded expectations. I have never written a review until now, but I am truly impressed by their precision in handling the required covid tests for multiple country itineraries in Africa. Numerous travelers have been able to experience Africa with ease because of how easy to follow and clearly pre-arranged travelers testing and requirements. Experts in knowledge and service!"

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Great Wall of China Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
79  Reviews
See all Great Wall of China tour reviews
Excellent
91
Great
34
Average
1
Disappointing
1
Terrible
0
R

Robyn

Oct 2015

Written on

An excellent way to travel with family

An excellent way to travel with family

V

Vassiliki

Sep 2015

Written on

A major reason for the very likely

A major reason for the very likely score was our tour leader Jay. He was informative, made the trip, the understanding of the culture of China, its history and the ...

K

Katrin

Oct 2015

Written on

Good mixture of program and free time

Good mixture of program and free time, local guide is a very good idea as you get much more information about the living in that country, group of max 12 is good siz...

C

Cherie

Oct 2015

Written on

I've travelled with intrepid before and have

I've travelled with intrepid before and have usually had good experiences with this company.

L

Louise

Oct 2015

Written on

The guide Jane wAs fantastic, the variety

The guide Jane wAs fantastic, the variety of destinations and a...

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Great Wall of China Tour Selection Trips

  • There are several sites along the Great Wall. All are all worth seeing but depending on your preferences you may want to focus on only a couple instead of trying to see everything in one go: 
  • Badaling is a two hour drive from Beijing and is the most popular section for tourists (often the most crowded) 
  • Mutianyu is a two hour drive from Beijing and the most restored part of the wall 
  • Jinshanling is a two to three hour drive from Beijing and is the most popular full-day hiking route with half the route in ruins 
  • Jiankou is a three hour drive from Beijing and is the most challenging and extreme route for hikers 
  • Simatai is a two to three hour drive from Beijing and is the most well-known for its architectural significance and became a World Heritage Site in 1987 
  • Juyongguan is closest to Beijing (about 1.5 hour drive) and one of the wall’s greatest forts to defend the ancient city 
  • Shanhai Pass is a 3.5 drive from Beijing, located in Hebei province, and is where the Great Wall meets the sea.
  • Most guided tours of the individual sites/sections take half a day to a full day, so planning to hit multiple sections in one day may be too ambitious.
  • Hiking along parts of the wall can be quite strenuous with a countless number of steps and average elevation gain of anywhere from 600 to 800 feet. Cable car rides are available for Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Simatai for those who wish to experience the wall without a strenuous trek.
  • The most popular times to visit are in the summer, with average highs around 86° F, and the fall with average highs from 46 to 64° F. Visitor counts during peak seasons can reach up to 70,000 people per day.
  • Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen, and dress in layers. The further you trek along the wall away from the base, the fewer the vendors along the way to supply refreshments.

Additional details

Great Wall of China Frequently Asked Questions  

  1. How long is the Great Wall of China? The great wall is 13,170.7 miles long; or 21,196.18 kilometers.
  2. When was the Great Wall of China built? It was built over 2,300 years ago.
  3. Why was the Great Wall built? The last time the Wall had construction done was in 1644, although construction began in 7th century by the Chu State.
  4. Who built the Great Wall? The Great Wall was built over the span of 20 different dynasties, and commanded by their leaders. The actual builders of the Great Wall were soldiers, prisoners of war, and peasants. 
  5. How long did it take for the wall to be constructed? It took the work of thousands of years, different states, and multiple dynasties to construct the Great Wall. In total, it took just over 2,500 years to build the Great Wall of China.
  6. Who has visited the Great Wall of China? The Great Wall of China has is visited by hundreds of tourists each day, and has also seen some celebrity faces. Some of the famous people who have visited include President Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, President Putin, and President Neslon Mandela. 

Great Wall of China Facts

  • The Wall is not continuous. In certain places, natural barriers such as a mountains occupy a break in the wall.
  • Just under ⅓ of the Great Wall has completely disappeared today.
  • Bricks in the Great Wall were bound together not by cement, but by glutinous rice flour.
  • A significant portion of destruction to the Great Wall took place during the Cultural Revolution (early Communist) period. Bricks from the Wall were used to build houses and farms.
  • The average height of the Great Wall is about 7.88 meters

When to Visit the Great Wall of China

Summer is potentially the worst time to visit the Great Wall.  This is the prime season for tourists, especially in sections of the Wall near Beijing, and it can be uncomfortably hot, with the average temperatures being in 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Not only this, but summer is when the Great Wall is most prone to monsoons.

The best time to visit the Great Wall is in either the Spring or the Fall. These times are usually much less crowded, and the weather is less demanding. Spring is slightly warmer, with average temperatures ranging from 52-75 degrees F. In the Fall, average temperatures range from 46-64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Does it cost money to enter the Great Wall?

The cost of the Great Wall depends where you enter it. In some less touristy places, local landowners may ask for a small fee to access their portion of the wall. In other more frequented spots, the price to enter is usually around $7 US dollars.

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