Great Wall of China Only ground transport Tours & Trip...

Great Wall of China Only ground transport Tours & Trips

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

32 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Only ground transport
China Family Holiday
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Hong Kong, Victoria, Xian, Yangshuo

Highlights

  • Though not quite visible from space, the Great Wall of China is still massive! Wander this iconic monument and learn about its history
  • Travel back in time to the era of China’s powerful Emperors in Beijing while you and your family explore the halls and courtyards of the Forbidden City
  • Experience whizzing through the Chinese landscape on futuristic bullet trains
  • The kids will enjoy meeting the pandas in Chengdu on a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Watch these adorable creatures at play, get to know the super-cute red ones, and learn about important conservation work
  • Uncover the secrets of Chinese food in a cooking class in Yangshuo
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Themes

Family Friendly

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

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Beijing to Tokyo: The Great Wall & Mt Fuji
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Hakone, Hiroshima, Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Nijo Castle, Osaka, Shanghai, Suzhou, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Tokyo

Highlights

  • Meet the ancient terracotta warriors
  • Visit the great wall of china
  • Sleep in a temple atop mt kōya
  • Get a bird's-eye view of mt fuji from a cable car
  • Stay in a traditional ryokan

Themes

Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

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China – Panda Conservation Adventure
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4.9/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

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

Highlights

  • Venture behind the scenes of a panda rescue center for hands-on interaction with these gentle creatures
  • Visit Xi'an and experience the unforgettable Terracotta Warriors
  • Experience the unforgettable Great Wall of China on our trip extension to Beijing
  • Experience a traditional cooking class and share a homemade meal with a local family

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

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China Highlights
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Shanghai

Highlights

  • Take on one of the most popular trips in China, packed full of experiences that will give you a great insight into China in just a short time.
  • Be dazzled by Shanghai’s neon lights and the stunning night skyline. Then, get a peek into what life was like in ancient times with a visit to the incredibly scenic Huishan Ancient Town and one of the finest examples of traditional Chinese gardens – Jichang Garden.
  • Spend the night in a charming, family-run guesthouse near the Great Wall of China – a great opportunity to experience local life – and take the chance for a short sunset hike over one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
  • Explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing with a local leader who knows all the history, tips and tricks for this fascinating and historic area.
  • Witness the incredible sight of the Terracotta Army – buried for over 2000 years, this fantastic historical wonder is an excellent example of the genius and artistic prowess of man.
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Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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A Broad Taste of China: 13-Day Private Tour: Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Guilin – Hong Kong
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By China Highlights
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Hong Kong

Highlights

  • Get off the Beaten Path to Find Hidden Halls and Interesting Stories in the Fobidden City
  • Enjoy Peking Roast Duck of a Time-Honored Brand
  • Explore a Top-Ranked Section of the Great Wall
  • Witness the World-Famouse Terracotta Army and Create a Warrior by Yourself.
  • Challenge Yourself to Take a Food Adventure in the Muslim Quarter
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Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Family Friendly, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days trip to Longshen villages with my guide Frank from chinahighlights. The day before our trip has started, in Guilin, Frank met me in hotel and told about our journey. Next 2 days we visited traditional ancient chinese villages (the biggest from them are Ping'an and Dazhai), walking around them, saw the rice-terraces landscape (it was really unbelievable). Also we had a hiking between villages, and stayed at night at ZhongLiu village. I haven't seen any tourists in this village, even chinese tourists. It was fantastic cause we've seen real chinese life of local people, including, for example, planting vegetables, collecting tea). Very quiet, fresh air, natural food. Yes, in this village almost no shops, no souvenirs, but you dont need them. All around you a hundred times better. I advice all, who wants to see real chinese life, visit this place, especially this village, stay at night there. Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!"

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Family China
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Shanghai, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Xian, Yangshuo

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, flexible, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We had several meetings with her leading up to our trip to come up with the perfect itinerary. Throughout this, Stephanie was mindful of our budget, without sacrificing anything. During our trip, Audley was available at all hours to help with anything and everything which was such a relief to know we had that resource available to us. I truly cannot imagine having planned this trip without all of Stephanie's guidance and knowledge- and cannot imagine taking another big trip like this without the help of Audley. Thank you again!"

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A private Trans-Siberian journey - Beijing to Moscow
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Gandan Monastery, Gobi Desert, Great Wall of China, Hermitage Museum, Irkutsk, Kazan, Kazan Kremlin, Lake Baikal, Moscow, St. Petersburg, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square

Themes

Train & Rail Journeys, Music

What travelers are saying

"It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, flexible, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We had several meetings with her leading up to our trip to come up with the perfect itinerary. Throughout this, Stephanie was mindful of our budget, without sacrificing anything. During our trip, Audley was available at all hours to help with anything and everything which was such a relief to know we had that resource available to us. I truly cannot imagine having planned this trip without all of Stephanie's guidance and knowledge- and cannot imagine taking another big trip like this without the help of Audley. Thank you again!"

Trip dates & details
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Trans Siberian journey - Beijing to Moscow
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Irkutsk, Kazan Kremlin, Lake Baikal, Moscow

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, flexible, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We had several meetings with her leading up to our trip to come up with the perfect itinerary. Throughout this, Stephanie was mindful of our budget, without sacrificing anything. During our trip, Audley was available at all hours to help with anything and everything which was such a relief to know we had that resource available to us. I truly cannot imagine having planned this trip without all of Stephanie's guidance and knowledge- and cannot imagine taking another big trip like this without the help of Audley. Thank you again!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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32 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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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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