As you read on our Website, we guarantee to take you to those
unrestored, unspoilt, off-the-beaten path sections of the Great Wall
that are largely left alone from the swarms of tourists, giving you
an intimate and memorable Great Wall experience.
Some of you have recently asked us why you can’t walk hike on the
Great Wall by yourself without a guide. While we certainly
appreciate your enthusiasm there are a couple of issues that you
should consider:
The unrestored part of the Great Wall, known as “Wild Wall”, is
dangerous in many parts. Hikers can get lost, injured, or even lose
their lives if they try to climb some parts of the wall they are not
familiar with. They can also be apprehended by local administrators
if they violate rules they are not aware of. This is especially true
when it comes to
Gubeikou, as part of it lies within a restricted
military base.
Some trekkers think they won’t be able to freely explore with a
guide. In fact, our guides lead you to parts of the “wild” Great
Wall where only a small number of western visitors have ever been
before.
A few hikers believe they can save some money if they hike alone. In
actuality, the guide fee makes up a minimal portion of your overall
cost. The majority of your tour price comes from vehicle rental,
fuel price, and the ridiculously expensive highway tolls that are
not seen in the countries such as US and Canada.
The peril of hiking alone can best be illustrated
when in early November of 2012 heavy snow fell in Badaling
(the
unrestored part of it). Three Japanese hiked in that part with a Chinese
guide. When the group of hikers encountered extreme danger from the
heavy snow, their guide was able to find a way to run down and get a
rescue team to save the Japanese hikers. Unfortunately, two of the
hikers lost their life. Although only one of the Japanese hikers was
saved, it proved the importance of having a guide to lead a Great Wall
hike. In an emergency, their guide was the only hope that they could
count on. The Japanese hikers didn't count on the snow being a big
problem, as there were few signs that it would snow that day. But, they
made the right decision to hire a professional guide who knew the way
and was able to seek help.
