Inner Mongolia Core Wilds & Culture
If you are looking for the best off-the-beaten-track summer vacation experiences in central Inner Mongolia without missing out on the key cultural sights, this tour is highly recommended for you.
On this 8-day private trip from Hohhot to Ordos, experience local nomadic life and fantastic views on Huitengxile Grassland, then hike on majestic mountains and a volcano! See the region's largest lamasery and enjoy Mongolian handicrafts, then adventure out into the hinterland of Kubuqi Desert. Lastly, visit Genghis Khan's tomb.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

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Beijing in a day
![]() My partner found this company and booked with ease and no hassle. From start to finish we have been so looked after, upon arrival in Beijing after a train from Shanghai we were met by our guide Selinda. She has been amazing through out the day, flexible with times. She showed us the best place to get some food and then taking us to and from the Great Wall was filled with information and little facts. Plenty of time was given to explore the wall and then we were taken for some dumplings to revive us. Selinda made sure we were looked after and ensured we got back on the correct train. She made this trip so much less stressful and much more enjoyable. Would highly recommend this company for future use. more
Jan 2025, French-Biscuit14
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Great way to tour Beijing
![]() My daughter and I toured Beijing with Selinda. She was prompt, professional, friendly, and helpful. We saw Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu Great Wall section. At each site she shared the history and offered suggestions of good places for pictures. She was attentive to us and made sure we had everything we needed. The driver was helpful and having him drop us off and pick us up was immensely helpful. We toured the Summer Palace with Jason and he also did a stellar job sharing interesting facts and information which gave us context and a greater appreciation of what we saw. Jason, like Selinda, did a splendid job suggesting good photo spots and always happily offered to take our picture for us. I highly recommend these two tour guides and the driver. This was a great way to see some of the tourist attractions in Beijing. more
Jan 2025, Chris
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Epic time in Beijing with Selinda Zhang
![]() A huge shoutout to our most awesome tour guide Selinda Zhang!!! She is a walking talking encyclopaedia with a wealth of knowledge both historic and current. She made our visits to well preserved historical sites all the more interesting sharing architecture, literature, Chinese penmanship and poems to highlight the significance of each site we visited! She engages both adults and children and usually reticent kids were asking questions and learnt heaps about Beijing history this trip. We had an epic time in Beijing thanks to Selinda!! more
Jan 2025, Hwei ling C
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Tour 'Wow' Points
Escape from the Summer Heat in a Flowery Grassland
Enjoy a horse ride to appreciate the best views of Huitengxile Grassland. Visit Huanghuagou, which is a unique valley on the grassland


Climb Up a Unique Volcanic Crater and Photograph Spectacular Views
Visit Wulanhada Volcano Geopark, which is a volcano cluster on the Mongol grasslands.


Experience Local Nomadic Life
See Mongolian archery and wrestling, enjoy minority folk singing and dancing, join in a grassland bonfire party, stay overnight in a traditional Mongolian yurt.

Kubuqi Desert Hinterland Adventure with Camel Riding, Sunset Shoot, Barbecue, and Camping
Ride a camel into the depths of the desert, appreciate the stunning views of a desert sunset, enjoy a barbecue dinner, camp in the desert, and see the incredibly starry sky.


Enjoy a Kubuqi Desert Off-Road Vehicle Experience
You will drive into the hinterland of Kubuqi Desert, an area far from the crowds, then get on an off-road vehicle and experience an exciting ride including sliding down 45° sand dunes.

Measure the Grandness of the Yin Mountains with Your Feet.
Hike on Daqing Mountain, which is part of the Yin Mountain Range, where you'll have panoramic views of fantastic natural beauty.


Experience Key Mongol Culture
See the region's largest lamasery and explore Inner Mongolian Museum, visit Genghis Khan's tomb, engage with the life of Genghis Khan and his Mongol Empire.


Hohhot Baotou Ordos Tour Map

Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Your private driver and guide will be ready for you when you arrive in Hohhot. Enjoy a trouble-free transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is your own to explore Hohhot.
In the morning, head to Huitengxile Grassland (2 hours' driving). Visit Huanghuagou ('Yellow Flower Valley') to appreciate multifaceted natural beauty — peculiar stones, unique peaks, and colorful alpine meadows.
In the afternoon, enjoy Mongolian singing and dancing, and watch Mongolian archery and wrestling.
After an ethnic-flavor bonfire party in the evening, stay overnight in a traditional Mongolian yurt.
Visit Wulanhada Volcano Geopark, which is a volcano cluster on the Central Inner Mongolia grasslands.
Walk up the wild slopes, pass large exposed volcanic eruption deposits, and climb to the top of a volcano crater for a science-fiction sensation.
In the afternoon, return to Huitengxile Grassland. Enjoy a horse ride to measure some of the vastness of the grassland the local way, and stay in theme by returning to your Mongolian yurt.
Enjoy the sunrise on the grassland. Then go to Daqing Mountain with 2 hours' driving. It is part of the Yin Mountains, which divide the Mongolian Plateau to the north and the Hetao Plain to the south.
The hike will take about 5 hours. You will pass ancient birch forests on the way to the top of Daqing Mountain, where you'll have a panoramic view of fantastic natural beauty. In the afternoon, visit Inner Mongolia Museum.
Stay overnight in Hohhot.
In the morning, visit Intangible Cultural Heritage Town. There, you can learn about Mongolian folk arts and handicrafts by experiencing Mongolian yurt building and erecting, dough making, paper cutting, and leather painting.
Head to Baotou with 1½ hours' driving. There, visit Wudangzhao Lamasery, which is the biggest and the best-preserved lamaic monastery in Inner Mongolia. (A form of Tibetan Buddhism was the Mongols' main religion until the 19th century and has seen a recent revival.)
Stay overnight in Baotou.
In the morning, drive to the hinterland of Kubuqi Desert, get on an off-road vehicle and experience an exciting ride including sliding down 45° sand dunes.
Then visit the Kubuqi Desert's 'Singing Sands' (Yemingsha) with a half-hour drive. Enjoy a satisfying camel ride as you venture deep into the hinterland of Kubuqi Desert.
Appreciate the stunning views of the desert sunset, enjoy a barbecue dinner, camp in the desert, and see the incredibly starry sky for an unforgettable wilderness experience.
In the morning, enjoy the sunrise over the desert.
Then go to Ordos with a 2½-hour drive, and visit Kangbashi District. Once "China's biggest ghost city", it's now a thriving super-modern environment — how much can change in 10 years! Enjoy the pleasant urban scenery of Ordos City.
Nearby, explore the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan — the impressive cenotaph devoted to the worship of Genghis Khan — the Mongols' hero.
Stay overnight in Ordos City.
Your private guide and driver will transfer you to Ordos Airport for your departure.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.



Price Includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: nm-3