Traveler Reviews

• Migen14 09-Jul-2023

  Zachary was an excellent tour guide. He was very patient as it took me a while to get up the mountain. It was great to see a less busy part of the wall before heading to the main tourist area so you could feel like you truly experienced it! Zachary gave great insights into the history of the area while we were walking and pointed out different sections of interest. I highly recommend this tour if you’re in Beijing, truly a once in a lifetime experience.

• Lee B 23-Nov-2019

  This Great Wall hike was a true highlight of our Asian Vacation. Our private guide Zachary picked us up at our Beijing hotel, after our drive to the village, we started the challenging hike up the mountain path to the Jiankou section of the wall. Except for a few people hanging out in the first watch tower, we had the unrestored part of the wall to ourselves on the hike. The Jiankou section was as wild as advertised, half ruined and untouched, it was so cool to see some sections of the wall that are slowly being recaptured by nature as you hike among the trees and plants growing there. Even a slight rain did not hinder our experience, there were magnificent views along our hike, the beauty of the original wall and its natural surroundings. We took photos all along our hike, our guide Zachary even took some group photos for us. As we approached the Mutianyu section of the wall, we started seeing more tourists, even the restored section of the wall was impressive, truly the best way to see and experience the Great Wall of China. After a delicious restaurant meal of the local cuisine, we were dropped back off at our hotel. I would highly recommend this 10K hike; it starts with the wall in disrepair and ends with the more finished version, words cannot describe, you just have to experience it yourself!

• Chris C 11-Nov-2019

  I was on a business trip to China and left a couple days early to explore Beijing. I really wanted to see the wild wall, away from the tourists, and am so glad I found this tour. My guide Gerry was outstanding. He met me at my hotel at 7:30am and took care of everything until we returned around 5pm. It was about a 2 hour drive from the city center to the trailhead. Then we had about an hour of a tough trail hike to get to the wall (this was the most strenuous part). The wall was absolutely amazing, towering above a huge valley surrounded by very tall mountains. We spent about 2 hours hiking the wild Jiankou section and saw very few other hikers - it was pretty special to be in such a beautiful place, getting to experience the historic wall first hand and without the crowds. Gerry took me on the Ox Bow section, which was pretty steep, but well worth the view and experience (there is a shortcut to bypass this section for the faint of heart). Once we got to the Mutianyu section, it got pretty crowded, but this was only for about 45 minutes until we got to the cable car to go down. After the hike, Gerry took me to a great restaurant serving local food and it was amazing. This tour was by far the best part of my trip and if I make it back to Beijing, I will definitely do it again. Thanks for an amazing day, Gerry!

• Colemch79 10-Nov-2019

  I was on a business trip to China and left a couple days early to explore Beijing. I really wanted to see the wild wall, away from the tourists, and am so glad I found this tour. My guide Gerry was outstanding. He met me at my hotel at 7:30am and took care of everything until we returned around 5pm. It was about a 2 hour drive from the city center to the trailhead. Then we had about an hour of a tough trail hike to get to the wall (this was the most strenuous part). The wall was absolutely amazing, towering above a huge valley surrounded by very tall mountains. We spent about 2 hours hiking the wild Jiankou section and saw very few other hikers - it was pretty special to be in such a beautiful place, getting to experience the historic wall first hand and without the crowds. Gerry took me on the Ox Bow section, which was pretty steep, but well worth the view and experience (there is a shortcut to bypass this section for the faint of heart). Once we got to the Mutianyu section, it got pretty crowded, but this was only for about 45 minutes until we got to the cable car to go down. After the hike, Gerry took me to a great restaurant serving local food and it was amazing. This tour was by far the best part of my trip and if I make it back to Beijing, I will definitely do it again. Thanks for an amazing day, Gerry!

• Rachel4526 10-Apr-2019

  Our tour guide, Zachary absolutely made our trip. I've never met a more knowledgeable or insightful history buff! Zachary didn't just know the history of the wall out of necessity or obligation, but he really cared and loved all of the depth and history that went into the building! The pickup was smooth and easy, the drop off was easy as well. The hiking was glorious and beautiful, we practically had the wall to ourselves!! We hiked up a section and set up camp, then hiked further for a better view of the sunset, which was every bit as beautiful as we had imagined. The next day, we hiked down and dropped off our camp supplies, then continued hiking in the opposite direction, all the way to the next village where we were picked up and taken to a great local restaurant! One of our favorite parts was Zachary ordering all the local cuisine for us. Best meal we had in China, no joke. As far as the hiking went, the section we hiked was "HuangHuaCheng" and it was fairly rugged and unrestored. About 2 hours hiking day 1 and 4 hours hiking day two. SO MANY STAIRS. so beautiful! 10/10 would do it again in a heartbeat. Zachary made the experience something incredible!

• Laugvpjnse 24-Mar-2019

  My boyfriend and I booked this private tour and we found it the best choice we made in our trip.   Our tour guide Zachary was punctual and picked us up at our hotel. We talked a lot on the way about culture and history of China and our country. It was really a good experience of exchanging ideas and cultures. Zachary was very knowledgeable and also has a variety of knowledge of the world.   The driver dropped us off at a village and we hiked the mountain for about one hour (which was a little strenuous) before we could get on the Great Wall. The view was amazing when you stand on the wall and it was very quiet and isolated. We hiked on the wild Great Wall at Jiankou for about two hours and then we reached Mutianyu, which was restored. We spent one more hour at Mutianyu and took the cable car to get down as we were extremely exhausted.   Zachary took us to a local farmer’s restaurant where the food was very delicious!!! We really enjoyed the experience. Highly recommendable!

• Megan W 18-Dec-2018

  The Great Wall tour I recently took from BDTST was outstanding.I did the 10km version of the hike that started on the "unrestored" part of the wall named Jiankou and ended at the rebuilt portion Mutianyu. My private tour guide May was very friendly and Excellent. May picked my up at my hotel in the morning, and she was with me all the time in the tour. The hiking was a little tough at the beginning, but it was getting better later on.The Chinese lunch was very big and we didn’t finish.  I was even offered a boutique gift at the end of the tour! That was a surprise. I highly recommend this tour and my guide May .

• Jennifer R 06-Dec-2018

  The Great Wall tour I recently took from Beijing Downtown Travel was outstanding.I did the 10km version of the hike that started on the "unrestored" part of the wall named Jiankou and ended at the rebuilt portion Mutianyu. My private tour guide Lanlan did an excellent job.  Lanlan picked my up at my hotel in the morning, and she was with me all the time in the tour. The hiking was a little tough at the beginning, but it was getting better later on.The lunch was very big and we didn’t finish.  I was even offered a boutique gift at the end of the tour! That was a surprise. I highly recommend Beijing Downtown Travel and my guide Lanlan.

• Victory1992 01-Dec-2018

  I had the absolute best time hiking the Great Wall of China and it was all because of Jackie amazing tour guide skills. He was a great host for the day, knew so much about the history of the great wall and was overly accommodating to me . Jackie is the best! And I highly recommend Beijing Downtown Travel Service Co., Ltd. and i also stay the Hotel of Beijing Downtown Travelotel they are from some company the room was Excellent , if you are deciding to take a private tour and hotel they can arranged whole for you !!

• Pjdsb 20-Nov-2018

  It was really a fantastic experience. I was picked up by my tour guide Zac on time from my hotel. He speaks perfect English and was very caring. He told me many interesting things about Chinese history and Chinese culture besides the Great Wall. We arrived at the foot of the mountain in 2 hours and began to hike. The mountain at the beginning was a little strenuous, but ok for me. The Great Wall was completely wild and untouched, which was really amazing!!! We hiked along the wild part for about 2 hours and then reached Mutianyu, another section that was renovated and looked new. But it was also fantastic. There were not many people on the Great Wall the other day. After the hiking, Zac took me to a very cozy restaurant and we had a lavish lunch. As a solo traveler, I didn't feel lonely. Zac was not only a tour guide, but a good friend to talk with. This is so far my bes experience in China. I will highly recommend this company and Zac!!!