Overnight *ON* the Great Wall of China or in a courtyard style hotel at the base of the wall.
For those sleeping on the wall we provide sleeping bags, mats and shelter in a watchtower or you may sleep on the wall under the stars. Your guide stays with you on the wall overnight.
There are two guided hikes on the wall. One sunset hike and one morning walk 10km (6 miles). Those preferring not to do hike may ride in the bus.
On the way to the wall we visit the Ming Tombs - resting place of 13 Chinese Emperors. We make two stops, one at the Sacred Way and a second at the underground Ding Tomb.
A stop at the Olympic Green where you can photograph the famous Bird's Nest Stadium and the Olympic Swim Cube (from the outside).
English speaking guide.
Transportation & entrance fees.
All meals including two lunches in local restaurants (one local cuisine, one Chinese style), dinner in Jinshanling village at the base of the wall, western breakfast on the wall (muesli, fruit, milk, drinks).
Tour Dates
These tours below will run on any date you select. Please let us know when suits your schedule. To save money you can join an existing group, please check the schedule.
Tour Prices
Sleep on the Wall - 2 Full Day Package Tour Prices effective through 2010
Guests traveling on the same day are automatically grouped together to save cost.
The more guests on your trip, the lower the price for everybody.
The final number in your group on the day of the tour will determine the actual price.
If you overpaid because of advance payment your guide will refund the difference in Chinese RMB cash.
Join or Start a Group
Look on our Tour Matchmaking List to see when there is a tour you can join. If there is nothing on the date you would like,
ask us to start a new trip for you and then other people can join. You can track the expected size of your group as we will update it when new people sign up.
Group Size
We will run trips with only two people. Maximum group size is normally 16 paying guests. As children age 6 and under travel free, we do not count them as paying guests. If you want a private tour please specially request this. Larger groups can be accommodated, we will divide them with multiple guides in more than one watchtower.
Payment Methods
1. Cash payment on pickup.
2. Visa, Mastercard, Amex or JCB (via online form, by phone or upon pickup)
3. Cash payment in our office.
4. Bank transfer
Child Discounts - Specially for Sleep on the Wall
Because we want your children to experience this once in a lifetime trip we offer a special discount.
Children age 16 and under receive a 40% discount.
Children age 6 and under are free and are not counted as paying guests when it comes to discounts. Age is calculated at the time of travel. Passports must be shown to our guide for verification. When booking please give us your children's birth dates.
There must be at least 2 paying adults to create a trip (children do not count as they receive too much discount). There is a limit of one child per adult unless prior arrangements are made with our office.
American owned and operated, our aim is to give you western standard service and an experience which is extraordinary. Your satisfaction is our priority. There are no unscheduled or mandatory shopping stops.
While sleeping on the wall we don't limit you to the standard tour of one cup per meal, you can drink your fill of bottled water, soft drinks and local beer. From free beer and soft drinks on the wall under the stars to breakfast in the morning, we make your tour as we like it ourselves. The tour is designed, tested and monitored by our western management.
Emergency contact phone: If your family needs to contact you during your tour or you have problems on your tour which your guide cannot resolve you can contact our tour director, Judy Huang, mobile phone +86 13699156687.
Sleep on the Wall Tour Itinerary
Day 1 8 - 9am - Pickup in Beijing from your hotel.
- Final resting place of 13 Emperors. We make two stops to give you a complete experience. Walk the Spirit Way and the descend into the underground Ding Tomb.
- Chinese style.
- arrive in Jinshanling village at the base of the Great Wall. Go for a sunset view hike up on the great wall.
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- served in Jinshanling village at the base of the wall. A wide assortment of fresh Chinese dishes, if its not enough tell your guide and we will order more! Dinner also includes free flow of soft drinks, bottled water, local beer and tea.
- after dinner your guide will take you back up to the watchtower on the Great Wall where you will spend the night. This is a 15 minute walk. We supply flashlights. If you have other bags we will lock them in the vehicle for the night. Take what you need for the walk on the wall in the morning as we do not come back down to Jinshanling before walking on the wall to Simatai.
Day 2
- wake up and enjoy breakfast on the Great Wall as the sun rises on your panoramic view. The morning light can produce amazing photographs. Breakfast is western, including German muesli, fruit, milk and other drinks. No cooking is allowed on the wall so sorry, no hot breakfast! At this time of day there are usually no other tourists on the wall, you have it to yourself.
- embark on a 3 to 5 hour walk with fantastic scenery along restored and un-restored sections accompanied by your guide. The hike is medium difficulty with ups and downs and some loose rocks. We give you two bottles of water each to carry with you as well as some snacks. If you prefer not to hike you may choose to ride the bus to Simatai. Any bags left on the bus overnight will remain on the bus.
- is served in Simatai which is Chinese style including drinks.
- drive back to Beijing. We stop at the Olympic Swim Center (Water Cube) and the Stadium (Bird’s Nest) so you can catch a glimpse of these architectural wonders and take photographs.
- you will be dropped off at your hotel. Arrival is 4 - 6pm.
Accommodation on the Great Wall - what to expect
As the Great Wall is a World Heritage Site there is no development allowed. Accommodation is similar to camping. We provide sleeping mats, sleeping bags,flashlights, food and drinks. You may sleep inside the watchtower or under the stars on the wall. There is no electricity, running water or toilets. There are public toilets in Jinshanling and Simatai, otherwise be prepared to commune with nature.
The package includes:
Accommodation on the Great Wall in a watchtower including bedding.
Ming Tombs tickets (Sacred Way and Ding Tomb) and lunch.
Chinese dinner including unlimited soft drinks, beer, bottled waterand Chinese tea.
After dinner walk up to the wall where you may enjoy more complimentary soft drinks and beers under the stars.
Western continental breakfast served on the Great Wall.
Chinese lunch on arrival in Simatai.
All tickets for the Great Wall.
Olympic Venues - walk around the Swim Center and Stadium
Insurance
You are responsible for your own international travel insurance.
What to Bring
Walking shoes or hiking boots, sunscreen, bug repellant, sunglasses and personal items such as medications, toiletries and a change of clothes. A warm jacket or sweatshirt is needed in the spring and fall as its cooler on the wall than in the city. When you hike from Jinshanling to Simatai your bags will be transported in the bus. Use a knapsack to carry your things for overnight and the hike the next morning. You may bring snacks to eat while walking on the wall however we will give you some as well.
In case of Rain
We cannot promise good weather. If the weather looks bad you may call up and change the date of your trip the day before. On the day of the trip we cannot cancel.
If the weather is bad we will put you in a courtyard style hotel at the base of the wall, no extra charge. Because of safety concerns you cannot sleep on the wall if there is a lightning storm and the local government will order us off the wall. In light rain you can still sleep inside the watchtower. However rain is rarely a problem as there is little of it on the wall in the summertime.
Study Tours
The Sleep on the Wall trip is a popular part of our student study tours. For more information see our study tour page.
Combining this tour with another tour
We can help you combine this tour with other activities in Beijing or for a complete custom itinerary for you in Beijing / China depending on your interests. We can arrange discount Kung Fu, Acrobat show or Peking Opera tickets for your evening entertainment in Beijing.
Meals and Special Requests
Dinner is quality local Chinese cuisine which includes meat (usually pork and/or beef), vegetable, eggs and rice. Breakfast is western continental. Lunches are Chinese style in restaurants. Meals include soft drinks, beer and tea. We supply bottled water in your vehicle and at the wall.
If you have special dietary needs please let us know when you book. Vegetarian and other special diets are generally no problem.
Tips
You may tip your guide and driver for good service as they work hard for you. Recommended tipping ratio 2:1 for guide:driver.
- arrive in Jinshanling village at the base of the Great Wall. Go for a sunset view hike up on the great wall.
- after dinner your guide will take you back up to the watchtower on the Great Wall where you will spend the night. This is a 15 minute walk. We supply flashlights. If you have other bags we will lock them in the vehicle for the night. Take what you need for the walk on the wall in the morning as we do not come back down to Jinshanling before walking on the wall to Simatai.
Day 2
- embark on a 3 to 5 hour walk with fantastic scenery along restored and un-restored sections accompanied by your guide. The hike is medium difficulty with ups and downs and some loose rocks. We give you two bottles of water each to carry with you as well as some snacks. If you prefer not to hike you may choose to ride the bus to Simatai. Any bags left on the bus overnight will remain on the bus.
