Tours

In addition to the tour buses that gather around Tiananmen Square, most hotels and tour companies offer trips (in comfortable, air-conditioned buses or vans) to Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan, and Jinshanling. Smaller, private tours are generally more rewarding than large bus trips. Trips will run between Y400 and Y1,500 per person, but costs vary depending on the group size, and can sometimes be negotiated. Wherever you’re headed, book in advance.

Albatros Adventure Great Wall Marathon. Not for the faint of heart, the Great Wall Marathon (and half marathon) takes place each May and covers approximately 6.5 km (4 miles) of the Great Wall, with the rest of the course running through lovely valleys in rural Tianjin. Visitors must book through Albatros, a Danish tour company that arranges weeklong packages, or a local operator. Albatros, Tøndergade 16, Copenhagen, Capital Region, 1752. 45/3698–9838; great-wall-marathon.com.

Beijing Hikers. Arrange weekly day-treks to the wilder parts of the Great Wall throughout the year, as well as personalized tours. 010/6432–2786; www.beijinghikers.com.

Beijing Service. Private guided tours by car include stops at Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Juyongguan for small groups of up to four people. 9–6 West Block of Chang An Block, Miyun, Beijing, Beijing, 101500. 010/5166–7026; www.beijingservice.com.

Bespoke Beijing. This firm designs private tours with English-speaking guides to suit your interests. 107 Dongsi Bei, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing, 100007. 010/6400–0133; www.bespoke-beijing.com.

CITS (China International Tour Service). The company runs bus tours to Badaling and private tours to Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling. 1 Dongdan Bei, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing, 100010. 010/6522–2991; www.cits.net.

Cycle China. This company runs good guided hiking tours of the unrestored wall at Jiankou. 12 Jingshan East St., opposite of east gate of Jingshan Park, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing, 100009. 10/6402–5653; www.cyclechina.com.

Stretch-A-Leg Travel. These off-the-beaten-track tours of the wild Wall, sections of which are usually accessed through someone's backyard or by hopping over a fence, are perfect for escaping the crowds. Qian'gulouyuan 2, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing, 100009. 010/6401–8933; www.stretchalegtravel.com.

Wild China. The company arranges camping trips underneath the Great Wall. Room 803, Oriental Place, 9 East Dongfang Rd., Chaoyang, Beijing, Beijing, 100027. 010/6465–6602; www.wildchina.com.