Jiankou Wall Technical Hike - James!!! - James is simply a masterful guide. His knowledge of the wild parts of the Great Wall is unmatched. He both takes the time to explain the environment, it's history with local flavor in addition to the technical aspects of hiking this often treacherous, rarely used part of the wall. In our 4 hour hike, we climbed 70 deg stairs, highly difficult and technical passages all with Jame's expertise guiding the way. We really can't thank him enough for a spectacular day, in and out of light rain that led to a truly memorable experience. The Jiankou part of the Wall is a must do for any serious technical hiker and James is only guy who we'd venture out there.

A unique hiking experience along the Great Wall - This was a wonderful and unique opportunity to see a part of the Great Wall that has remained basically untouched for centuries. The views are spectacular. When we approached one of the highest points - the so-called Flying Eagle - two real eagles appeared, flying over us! The hiking is not easy, as there are many steep and rough patches to overcome and the path can be quite slippery at times. But our guide Peter was amazing: so knowledgeable and helpful, he provided interesting information about history and nature, as well as invaluable tips on how to overcome the hiking challenges along the way. And he patiently waited for us when we slowed down - the trip took a bit longer than we anticipated, but it was definitely worthy! Highly recommended to those who are not afraid of taking some risk and making some effort to climb a truly authentic section of the Great Wall!

Amazing Great Wall hiking day trip - The Great Wall hiking day trip was my personal vacation highlight! James, our tour guide, was super friendly, funny and took care of everything. He organised the pickup in Bejing, guided us on the Great Wall and introduced us to traditional chinese food after the hike. This day trip was way better than the typical way of visiting the Great Wall at Mutianyu which I have also done during my trip. You get to be active, see nicer parts of the Great Wall and experience a true adventure!

Niko is the best Great Wall tour guide - Our trip was absolutely fantastic! We could not be happier. The historical knowledge you delivered made us appreciate The Great Wall and culture of China. You maintained a professional manner that kept us safe on trails but also, you are extremely kind, hospitable, and hilarious. You truly made our experience special — the perfect way to end the perfect trip. Thank you sincerely. We will be coming back again and request you!

Amazing Trek of Great Wall - James was an excellent guide and we had an excellent experience with this company. They made everything easy and everything was top quality from transportation to accommodations to food to our trek. Our trek was challenging enough to be interesting but not too hard - perfect for our family. And James brought us to parts of the wall that were less traveled so it was less touristy and a real experience. 5 star, couldn't recommend enough.

Great Hike - First visit to the Great Wall and we hired James to take us to Jiankou! We had a blast and James was exceptional! Definitely one of the highlights of our trip. I would definitely recommend him and the hike in Jiankou! You get to see the original Great Wall without a lot of tourists everywhere and you also get to do a pretty challenging hike!

Great Hike - Had a great day with James! He picked me up from my hotel promptly at 7:30AM, just as was arranged the night before. We drove approximately two hours to a parking lot where we were the only car. This was a good sign, I had been to the main tourist section of the wall and I did not want that again, too many people. We hiked for about 30 minutes all generally uphill. James was very conscious of me as his client. Asking if breaks were needed and pausing to talk about the area and the Wall. He was clearly not rushing. When we got to the wall James explained the best path to climb to get on to the top, always cautious of safety. This carried all the way though the nearly 3 hours on the wall. There are some very steep sections on this hike and areas where a path around some rumble is needed to be taken. It was great to have an experienced guild like James to help navigate. Speaking of experienced. James mentioned that he has been to 40 different sections of the wall and generally hikes about 200 days on the wall. If you are looking for a tour of the Great Wall that is off the beaten path, I highly recommend Greatwall TrekClub Tours and James!

Great Hiking! - This is the second hike I have done with James. Both have been spectacular! Newly relocated to Beijing I wanted someone that really knows the wall to introduce me the the trails and parts I have been searching for. James does not disappoint! He worked with me on where to begin our Great Wall Journey and how to proceed to our next hike. He listened to what we wanted and delivered. James is prompt, responsive and knowledgeable. He also takes the hike at your pace without you feeling like you are slow or fast. He knows what he is doing. Lunches are a big treat at the end. James takes care of the ordering and you can just enjoy. Anyone that enjoys a hike and a view into the Wild Great Wall would be fortunate to have James as their guide. I am scheduling our third hike right now!

What a fantastic day! - I can't say enough about this tour...I travel to Beijing for multiple weeks at a time for business and up until now had never been to The Great Wall. I've just never been interested in the standard tours to the more restored sections that are packed with other tourists and end at a requisite shopping experience. If that's what you're into, then that's great - but, if you want to see the older parts of the wall and have a more peaceful experience, then this is a fantastic option. I would characterize the hike as strenuous uphill for the first third, rolling terrain while you are on the unrestored section of the wall (unless you do the Oxhorn, which I didn't) for the second third, and then strenuous downhill on tired legs for the last third. But, Allen is a great guide and easy conversationalist, so the day and miles flew by. We even stopped at a great local Sichuan restaurant for lunch, after he learned that I love Sichuan food. I highly recommend this tour for someone who has some hiking miles under their belt or those who are physically fit. There are some areas where you need to climb up over walls and scramble up rocks, which is all part of the fun if you are able to do so, but if not you might have some trouble completing the journey.

Highlight of my China trip - Had an absolutely amazing trip with James! Picked me up from my hotel and brought me to this really really cool section of the great wall. Friends who have lived in China had never even heard of it it was so hidden. And, that was NOT because it wasn't superb. It was because it is such a well kept secret. the only people we came across were another trip led by this same company. In total, we saw three other people during 4 hours on the wall. Compare that to more tourist-y sections and you'll be very pleasantly surprised. That being said, it is a very challenging hike. Don't go if you're afraid of heights. But, if you can do it it is so worth it!