Review: Beijing Great Wall & Ming Tomb Round Trip – Worth It?

Visiting the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs is probably at the top of most people’s bucket lists when they’re making travel plans to go to Beijing, right? The question, that very thought is – how do you even get to these famous landmarks conveniently and without spending a ton of money? You’ve probably seen tons of different tour options out there, so too it’s a bit tough to choose. I figured I’d share my experience, in fact, it’s all about the Beijing Great Wall and Ming Tomb round trip transfer, which I tried out recently, to give you the real lowdown.

What You Get in the Package

Let’s talk specifics. This particular package typically provides round trip transportation from your hotel in Beijing to both the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, that is. The vehicles tend to be fairly comfortable, so, too it’s nice to be able to stretch out after a long day of exploring. Usually, there’s a professional driver too, yet that’s pretty important when you consider Beijing traffic, of course, that you probably are very aware of.

The offering usually also includes entrance tickets to both locations, by the way. Often it will come with an English speaking guide, more or less they’ll point out some key sights and share a little bit of history. Keep in mind that meals and additional activities, almost, are not always included, and I’m pointing that out now because it’s a good idea to clarify those details when you’re booking. This, certainly, helps to avoid any surprises. It’s kind of what you’d expect: straightforward, easy access.

Convenience is Very Important

Alright, let’s talk about probably the biggest advantage: pure convenience. Think about the hassle, in fact, it’s finding a taxi, or possibly it’s struggling with public transportation. Especially when you’re dealing with a language barrier. Having a prearranged transfer gets rid of all of that, more or less, which makes this the biggest plus of booking something like this for me.

The driver picks you up directly from your hotel, and usually that’s a great thing. He gets you directly to both locations, then brings you safely back, and that’s probably how it goes. You’re probably thinking, hey, this isn’t something super unique and off the grid, so, too it’s valuable when it’s saving you time. With it, it lets you make the most of your visit to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.

Exploring the Great Wall and Ming Tombs

I went to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and that might be the greatest decision I ever made. It’s just further away from central Beijing than Badaling, as I’m saying that out loud, anyway there were fewer crowds and possibly I got much better pictures, frankly, because there weren’t a bunch of tourists. The views really were mind blowing too it’s so spectacular, really you have to be there.

The Ming Tombs too were equally as fascinating to look at. This huge space that houses the resting spots of thirteen emperors from the Ming Dynasty. The architecture is just simply pretty stunning, like I could wander around the parks for hours, it seems like there’s a lot to unpack from seeing them. With my transfer, I didn’t feel as rushed and honestly had plenty of time to really appreciate what I was seeing.

Is It Actually Worth The Cost?

Now, the very important question: what’s the price value? You might ask, anyway it might depend on the option that you pick. Typically, I was trying to evaluate how it all might compare, it seems like compared to hailing cabs or going the DIY route. To me, personally, it comes down to peace of mind.

Is that worth it? Yes. It saves you energy, right? More or less I thought the money I paid was completely justified given the convenience factor, though of course you are trying to stretch your travel budget as far as possible. But that little peace of mind makes all the difference sometimes when it comes to something like this.

Little Things To Consider

When you are ready to reserve something, be absolutely sure to double check what exactly it is that is included. A pretty big factor that might affect some visitors, actually is the potential add ons like lunch and entrance fees, that it might not actually include those things at face value. Just carefully confirm all the details before going all in.

Check that there aren’t any surprise expenses. Read the reviews to make sure the provider that you ultimately decide on can be pretty reliable, you know. At least confirm for yourself that they have pretty stellar ratings and positive feedback, frankly, from previous travelers. If possible.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

If you place a high value, really very high value, on having a smooth and comfortable experience while traveling to Beijing, arguably, the Great Wall and Ming Tombs round trip transfer is very tough to beat. To me, it allowed me to sit back, relax, and actually soak it all in without the hassle, and by the way I really appreciated it.

Would I suggest doing it? It just really depends on how you actually travel, because for the convenience alone, actually the expense of it is very tough to ignore. For a more free and stress less visit, by the way I felt this was very well worth it in this situation.

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