Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver in Beijing
Beijing, China

Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver

Outty Ranking 63 5.0 · 4 traveler reviews9 hoursFrom $68

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

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Age 12 and under

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From, per person$68
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Outty Ranking

63/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 4 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver worth booking?

Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver is a 9-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $68 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice, based on a 5/5 rating across 4 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
63 / 100
Rating
5/5 (4)
Duration
9 hours
From
$68 per person

Enjoy a self-guided tour on a comfortably-paced private day trip to Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town with your English-speaking driver. Your driver will share some Beijing city and attraction information with you

What you get

    About this experience

    Enjoy a self-guided tour on a comfortably-paced private day trip to Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town with your English-speaking driver. Your driver will share some Beijing city and attraction information with you on the road.

    What's included

    Included

    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Bottled water
    • English speaking driver
    • Entrance fee
    • Transport by private vehicle

    Not included

    • Extra Tour guide Service
    • Cable car tickets
    • Lunch
    • Gratuities

    What you'll see and do

    1. Simatai Great Wall

      Start your day with early morning pickup at your Beijing hotel at 7:30am by your English speaking driver, and drive about two hours to the beautiful Gubei Water Town. Since this is a self-guided tour, you can spend the time you want in the water town and at the Great Wall. Choose to start your tour from the Great Wall at Simatai. In this case, you'll take the ferry to the foot of the Great Wall, and ride on a cable-car to the summit (own expense). Once you are up there, you will be amazed with how untouched and well preserved this Great Wall still remains since Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall is known for its steepness and the beautiful surroundings.

      120 minutes here · Admission included

    2. Gubei Water Town

      After your time on the wall, take the cable car down and start walking around in Gubei Water Town. Relax in the ancient town, and enjoy the beautiful Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir. You surely will have a very unique experience in this rare natural old town with a combination of mountains, water, ancient villages, and hilly areas. Enjoy a tasty lunch meal at the Water Town or after your Water Town visit (own expense). Then your driver will drop you off at your hotel in Beijing around 4:30pm.

      120 minutes here · Admission included

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Beijing Tour Guide

    Know before you go

    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
    • Comfortable hiking shoes are required
    • Simatai Great Wall is unrestored wild Wall

    Photos

    Great Wall of ChinaSimatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver in Beijing, photo 3Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver in Beijing, photo 4Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver in Beijing, photo 5Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver in Beijing, photo 6Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver in Beijing, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    1 mention

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Photo opportunities

    1 mention

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Organization

    1 mention

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Pace and timing

    1 mention

    Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.

    Traveler reviews

    4 verified traveler reviews for Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    4
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    LightPacker767952 · October 2018

    Amazing tour with an excellent tour guide!

    Our tour guide was excellent and communicated well with us! Very knowledgeable. This night tour provides great views and is not so crowded.

    via Tripadvisor

    Shanghai S · July 2018

    Great Service

    I had been to Simatai before and wanted to take my friends, but without a tour guide was unsure of how to go about it. I found this driving service and was so pleased with the results. The driver contacted me the day before in English, picked us up promptly in the morning. The drive was great, water was provided, and Kevin, our driver, gave us his recommendation and bought all our tickets for us so we could have a great time. We were only slightly delayed by a dead battery after our time on the wall, but Kevin was able to get us back to Beijing on time. For no extra fee, he drove us to the train station instead of back to the hotel as we were catching a ride back to Shanghai. I would definitely use this service again for the great convenience.

    via Tripadvisor

    MELISSA_S · July 2018

    Excellent Service

    The driver called us the day before to arrange the pick up. The ride was faster than expected from Beijing to Simatai. I love this part of the wall and the water town that goes with it. The service picked us up from the hotel but was kind enough to drop us off at the railway station for no extra charge.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    9 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $68 to $290
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    1
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Why this scores 63

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)92
    Review evidence (18% weight)28
    Booking momentum (14% weight)15
    Value for money (12% weight)80
    Listing quality (10% weight)61
    Local standing (8% weight)53
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.

    How much does Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver cost?

    +

    Prices start at $68 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Beijing usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver take?

    +

    Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Beijing is not rushed.

    Is Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 4 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Beijing, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver?

    +

    Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Beijing can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Beijing and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Trip with English speaking driver start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Beijing within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Beijing?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Beijing experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour with Summer Palace Options, Beijing: Top 6 Highlights All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour, Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With English-Speaking Driver. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Beijing?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Beijing?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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