Beijing Great Wall Private Tour: Mutianyu or Badaling with Driver
Two Great Wall sections, 70 kilometers from Beijing, yours to explore at your own speed.
A private Great Wall tour from Beijing lets you choose between Mutianyu or Badaling, with a private air-conditioned car and either an English driver or English guide depending on your option. Hotel pickup is included, as are entrance tickets and the internal shuttle bus for going uphill. You control when you leave Beijing, how long you spend on the wall, and which ascent method you use at Mutianyu: cable car up and down, or chairlift up with a toboggan slide down. The tour takes 6 to 9 hours depending on your choices and pace.
Step-by-step itinerary
- Great Wall at Badaling Entry included 2h
- Mutianyu Great Wall Entry included 3h
Private Great Wall Tour in Beijing
- Pick up from your Beijing location
- Drive about 1.5 hours to Great Wall
- Visit either Mutianyu or Badaling Great Wall
- Use shuttle bus for uphill and downhill
- At Mutianyu, choose cable car or chairlift and slide down
- Explore the Great Wall and enjoy scenery
- Return to your hotel in Beijing
What’s included
- Bottled water.
- Great Wall entrance ticket.
- private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
- English driver or English guide depending on your selected option.
- internal shuttle bus for the uphill journey at either section.
Times
- Every day 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00
Options for this experience
2 optionsInformation
Prices and times updated yesterday
Operated by Linda's Guide & Driver Service
The experience
Both sections sit about 70 kilometers from central Beijing and take roughly 1.5 hours to reach by car. Badaling is the more accessible option, a Ming Dynasty pass that winds through mountains with watchtowers and defensive structures still standing. The wall itself averages 7.8 meters tall and reflects the architectural precision of ancient China. Mutianyu, in the northeast, is one of the best-preserved stretches of the Ming Great Wall at 5,400 meters long and draws fewer crowds than Badaling, so you move through the site without the press of tour groups. The choice between them is yours. The operator picks you up at your hotel and the route follows from there.
Once you arrive, entrance tickets and the shuttle bus for the uphill journey are already included. At Mutianyu you pick your ascent: cable car both ways, or chairlift up followed by a toboggan slide down. Each adds a different rhythm to the visit. At Badaling you walk the wall directly. Bottled water comes with you, and an English driver or guide (depending on which option you selected at checkout) handles the route and can answer questions about what you're standing in front of. The flexibility is the real difference here. You decide when to leave your hotel, how many hours to spend on the wall, where to stop for photos, and when to head back. No fixed schedule means no waiting for a group to finish lunch or move on.
The return journey follows the same route back to Beijing. Children under 5 ride free, and if you're traveling with an infant, a specialized car seat is available on request. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen or a hat depending on the season. The wall is open year-round but summer heat and winter cold both demand preparation. Instant confirmation arrives by email after booking, so you know the pickup details and can start planning which section calls to you.
Is this one for you?Choose the Mutianyu route if you want fewer crowds and the option to ride a chairlift up and toboggan down. Pick Badaling if you prefer the more historically prominent pass closer to Beijing's main routes. Either way, the private car and your control over departure time and pace mean you're not locked into a group schedule. You spend as long as you want on the wall and leave when you're ready.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.
How far is the Great Wall from Beijing, and how long does the drive take?
Both Mutianyu and Badaling sit about 70 kilometers from central Beijing. The drive to either section takes roughly 1.5 hours by private car, depending on traffic and which route your driver takes.
What's the difference between Mutianyu and Badaling Great Wall?
Badaling is a Ming Dynasty pass closer to Beijing's main routes, with watchtowers and defensive structures averaging 7.8 meters tall. Mutianyu is one of the best-preserved sections at 5,400 meters long and draws fewer tourists, so you can walk the wall more comfortably without large crowds.
Do I have to walk up the Great Wall, or are there other ways to get to the top?
At Mutianyu you choose your ascent: take the cable car up and down, or ride the chairlift up and slide down by toboggan. At Badaling you walk the wall directly. The shuttle bus included in your ticket handles the uphill journey at both sections.
Can I pick what time my tour starts?
Yes, you decide your departure time from your hotel based on your own schedule. The operator recommends leaving earlier on weekends and holidays to avoid traffic and crowds, but the choice is yours.
What's included in the tour price?
Your private car, hotel pickup, Great Wall entrance ticket, internal shuttle bus for the uphill journey, bottled water, and either an English driver or English guide depending on which option you select at checkout are all included. Cable car or chairlift tickets at Mutianyu are available as an add-on choice.
Beijing Great Wall Private Tour: Mutianyu or Badaling with Driver
6h–9h · at your hotel
from US$ 104 per person