Trip Ideas
Change Forum
I will be traveling on my own to Beijing & Shanghai in mid November and I have a question regarding visiting the Great Wall in winter. I’ve heard something about backpacker tours that offer good pricing to get to the Great wall and explore for a couple of hours for a good price. Does anyone know about these groups or have a recommendation? I know I can take a taxi from Beijing but I don’t like the idea of being for long in a cab on my own, I experienced this in the Middle East and even though I didn’t have any problems I didn’t like the experience.
Im trying to avoid big groups that visit Badaling for half an hour and then left, so I was thinking in visiting Simatai. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Book Your Next Trip
Check hotel rates and airfares around the world.
Find a great deal?
Tell us about it.
Hotels
Flights
Packages
Cars
Cruises
Each website you select will open a new window in your browser.
Great Wall options for solo traveler
1 Reply
|1 Reply |Back to top
|Sign in to comment.
Recent Activity
View all Asia activity »
- 1 Phra Pradaeng – Bangkok's Secret Oasis
- 2
RHK's & GPANDA'S in Thailand
- 3 The Great Circular Indian Railway Challenge
- 4 Experience China from Beijing
- 5 Experience China Through Beijing
- 6 Komaneka vs. Alam Shanti
- 7
Burma at Last!
- 8 Shanghai and what else?
- 9 cell phones in china
- 10 china
- 11 Chinese New Year
- 12
Highlights from 17 days in Beijing & Shanghai
- 13 Taxis or metro in Beijing
- 14 Where to start and when?
- 15 China Connection Tours - Good / Bad??
- 16 Please Recommend: Inexpensive, "Comfortable" Hotel in Bangalore
- 17 Northern China – routing and timing advice
- 18 Kathie's Burma Bookshelf
- 19
Thailand Trip Report-the Real Story
- 20 Indochina trip: DIY or tours
- 21
Extended Family's JBR - But we aren't back yet
- 22 Kuala Lumpur: Mandarin Oriental vs. Traders
- 23 On Matsumoto, Enoshima and Tokyo
- 24
Smeagol and Muffins Vietnam adventure begins..
- 25 Bali - Conrad Bali Resort & Spa
I was in China in July and did a tour to Jinshanling/Simatai through Beijing Downtown Backpackers Accomodation. You don't need to stay there to take the tour, although you do need to reserve ahead.
We (about 25 people total) left in two minibuses around 7 a.m. for the three hour drive to Jinshanling. Upon arrival, they gave us our tickets and pointed us in the right direction. After that, we were on our own to walk to Simatai to get the bus back. Take your own food and water.
All in all, it couldn't have been easier. Aside from our small group and the legions of peddlers, the wall was almost totally devoid of tourists, even in July. I didn't go to Badaling but imagine the crowds are oppressive.
You'll have to check to make sure the tour is still running in November.