The Great Wall in the morning, grassland riding in the afternoon. This private day trip pairs a guided walk on Badaling Great Wall with an off-the-main-path horseback ride at Kangxi Grasslands, so you get both famous stone and real Beijing-area open prairie.

I especially like how the Badaling section is set up for a first-time Great Wall visit (it’s well-preserved and complete), and I like that the horseback time is built in as a real activity rather than a quick photo stop—1 hour in the riding field.

One consideration: the horse-riding portion depends on on-site arrangements, so you should be ready for possible waiting or a bit of reshuffling if horses or timing don’t line up perfectly.

Key Things You’ll Want To Know Before You Go

• Small group privacy: private tour with just your guide and a group size of one to ten
• Badaling’s best-for-walking layout: you can hike or take the cable car to Sun-view Tower
• A true horseback block: included 1 hour riding time in the Kangxi riding area
• You’ll get guided help: staff instruct you on pace, and your guide helps with ride setup
• Course rules matter: you’re expected to mount and ride correctly and stay within the managed course

Why This Private Badaling Tour Works for a First Great Wall Day

Badaling is the Great Wall most people picture, and for good reason. It’s described as the most well-preserved and complete section among the common Great Wall areas, and it’s the one that tends to be easiest to tackle in a half-day window. You’re not just dropped at a viewpoint. You’ll have a professional guide, plus hotel pickup and a private car, so your time goes to actual wall walking (or tower access) instead of logistics.

The big “win” here is pace. Badaling gives you a solid walk along the parapet area, with options to hike or take the cable car to reach the Sun-view Tower. That tower stop matters because it’s highlighted as the highest-latitude point in this Badaling area—so you’re not simply moving along wall bricks. You’re aiming for a specific highlight with a panoramic payoff.

If you care about not being stuck in a long, exhausting grind, the guided structure helps. A guide can steer you toward the best route and keep you moving at a realistic speed for a day that also includes lunch and horseback riding.

What I like: your Great Wall portion is positioned as the main event (with an admission ticket included), not a rushed side stop. That makes the day feel fuller, even though it runs about 9 hours total.

Walking to Sun-view Tower vs. Cable Car: Choose What Fits Your Day

At Badaling, you’ll have two ways to get to the Sun-view Tower: hike it or use the cable car. The cable car fee is not included, but it’s an easy lever to pull depending on your energy and time.

• If you want a classic “get your legs moving” experience, hike to the tower.
• If you’d rather conserve your energy for the afternoon ride, take the cable car and keep the walking more manageable.

Either way, your guide is with you, and the admission ticket is included. That’s important because it reduces the number of separate purchases you need to manage while you’re already traveling cross-town.

One practical note: because this day is built for two major activities, I’d plan your Great Wall choice with the horseback hour in mind. If you do a long hike up and down and still have to remount and ride later, you’ll likely feel it.

Kangxi Grasslands Horseback Riding: What You’re Actually Signing Up For

After the wall, the day shifts from stone and steps to open prairie. Kangxi Grasslands is described as an original ecological prairie in the Beijing area, and it’s known as a summer resort area. In other words, you’re not going to a cramped attraction. You’re going to a riding-focused open field.

The riding setup is described as a standard race course with a standard horse riding field. You’ll have a variety of horses to choose from, and your guide helps arrange your ride depending on your experience level. Staff also instruct you on riding at an appropriate pace, so this isn’t just a handover of a saddle and a hope.

The included riding time is 1 hour. That’s enough time to feel the activity rather than treating it like a quick “stretch.” But it’s also short enough that you can keep the day comfortable and not spend the afternoon exhausted.

A key detail to take seriously: you’re expected to ride within the course. The rules explicitly say not to leave the course or ride other horses without uniform management, insurance, security, and staff oversight. If you’re the kind of rider who wants to roam, this is a hard stop for safety and responsibility.

Also pay attention to mounting instructions. The tour notes that you should stand in the left front of the horse when mounting, following staff directions. This matters because staff need consistent positions to keep everyone safe and stable.

A Realistic Look at Timing: How the Day Feels in Practice

This is a 9-hour private outing with hotel pickup and drop-off, plus a morning wall session and an afternoon horse session. That means the day will feel structured and full, even if you’re not doing anything extreme.

The wall part is where you’ll spend your “concentration time.” You’ll hike or cable car up, walk along the parapet area, and take in the Sun-view Tower panoramic views. Expect it to be active, but not complicated—especially because the guide handles route decisions and on-site flow.

Then comes lunch. You’ll have a buffet meal before heading to Kangxi. Having lunch included is one of the biggest value points here, since it keeps you from hunting for food after the wall while you’re still needing to be ready for the ride.

Finally, the horseback block is the part that can shift based on on-site conditions. One of the provided reviews describes a situation where the hour ride was secured after back-and-forth, and the group had to drive somewhere else and wait for the horses. The key upside in that story was the guide’s ability to make it work—specifically, the review called out a guide named Kevin for going above and beyond.

So here’s my practical advice: plan this day as a “best effort” horseback experience, not a guaranteed second-by-second ride start time. A good guide helps a lot if timing needs to be adjusted.

Buffet Lunch and Water: Small Inclusions That Matter

It’s easy to ignore “included water” until you’re halfway through a hot day. Here you get bottled water, and you get lunch too—a buffet lunch is included before Kangxi.

That buffet timing is smart. The wall can build appetite fast (walking on stone tends to do that), and you’re eating before the riding block. If you’re thinking about comfort and energy management, this order is better than doing the ride first and then eating when you’re tired.

There’s also a vegetarian option available. You need to request it at booking, so if your diet has restrictions, do it early. Don’t assume it’ll automatically be available at the buffet line.

Private Guide + Car: What You Get Beyond Convenience

The tour is private in the real sense: just your guide and a small group (one to ten people). You’re not sharing your day with strangers who have different stamina, different interests, or different expectations about the horseback portion.

For the Great Wall, a guide is a big deal because Badaling can feel like a lot of wall and not much context if you’re on your own. The guide helps you walk the best-preserved and popular section, and it keeps the tower stop tied to the panoramic reward.

For horseback riding, the guide and staff arrangement matters. The tour notes that riders of all levels are welcome. That doesn’t mean “no experience needed,” but it does mean your ride setup should match your skill level, and you’ll get instruction on pace.

Value-wise, the price is $68 per person for a full-day experience with hotel pickup, admission ticket included for the wall, lunch, and the included horseback hour. That’s not a budget “just transport you” deal. It includes the two main activities plus the on-the-ground guidance.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This is a strong match if you want one day that blends sightseeing and an active countryside-style experience without doing major independent planning.

It also fits families. Riders of all levels are welcome, and it’s designed as an outing that works for a range of ages—though the child rules matter:

• Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Children under 7 are free, but they’ll be asked to ride with an adult.

That tells you the horseback part is meant to be family-compatible, but it’s still horse riding on a managed course, not a playground.

A moderate fitness level is recommended. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable with a wall walk (or a climb assisted by cable car) plus the physical demands of mounting and riding.

If you’re mainly chasing a “rest and photos” day with minimal effort, the horseback hour plus Great Wall walk may feel like too much. In that case, consider a tour that keeps the afternoon lighter.

Price and Value: Is $68 a Good Deal Here?

At $68 per person, you’re paying for a full, guided day: hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, a professional guide, buffet lunch, Great Wall admission, and a full hour of horseback riding.

What makes it feel like good value is the inclusion pattern:

• You’re not paying separately for the wall admission ticket.
• You’re not bringing your own lunch.
• You’re not relying on “maybe you can ride” during a time window.

Could costs appear? Yes. Cable car on the Great Wall is not included, and there’s also mention of an additional hour horseback riding fee and a horseback riding instructor fee (meaning you should expect there may be charges if you want extra ride time or extra instruction).

But if you plan to do the standard experience—one main wall visit (walk or cable car to Sun-view Tower) and the included horseback hour—this pricing structure looks fair for a private day.

Should You Book This Badaling Great Wall and Kangxi Horseback Tour?

I think you should book if you want:

• A guided Badaling Great Wall day with admission included
• A real horseback experience at Kangxi Grasslands with an included hour
• Private, small-group comfort with pickup and drop-off

I’d hesitate if:

• You need ultra-predictable timing for the horse start time. The ride depends on on-site arrangements, and one review described waiting and a change in setup.
• You’d rather spend your whole day on sightseeing only. This is built for activity, not just looking.

If you do book, ask the guide to clarify the horseback timing expectations when you meet. And take the course rules seriously—this is part of staying safe and also protecting your plan for the included hour.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It runs about 9 hours.

What’s included in the price?

Included are hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, lunch (buffet), the Great Wall admission ticket, and 1 hour horseback riding.

Is the cable car on the Great Wall included?

No. The cable car fee is not included.

Is horseback riding available for beginners?

Yes. Riders of all levels are welcome, and staff instruct you on riding at an appropriate pace.

How long is the horseback riding time?

You get 1 hour of horseback riding included. An additional hour may require an extra fee.

Are children allowed?

Yes. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 7 are free but are asked to ride with an adult.

Can I get a vegetarian lunch?

A vegetarian option is available if you request it at booking.

Do I need to buy Great Wall tickets?

No. The Great Wall admission ticket is included, and a mobile ticket is offered.

What if I want to cancel last minute?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid isn’t refunded.

Where are the two main stops?

You’ll visit Badaling Great Wall and then go to Kangxi Grasslands for the horseback riding portion.