A few hours by fast train from Beijing, the city gives way to the open grassland of Inner Mongolia. Here the land is wide and flat, families still keep horses and sheep, and further south the grass turns to sand dunes. It is a very different side of China from the palaces and crowds of the capital.

The tour begins and ends in Beijing. Day 2 is Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, with an acrobatic show in the evening. On Day 3 you take the fast train to Hohhot and continue to Xilamuren Grassland for the night. Day 4 brings Genghis Khan Square and the Grand Mosque, and Day 5 is the sand dunes of Yinkentala and the Mengliang Ethnic Culture Park. Back in Beijing, you see the Summer Palace and the Bird's Nest stadium, and on Day 7 you walk on the Great Wall.

The days are full and there is a lot of travel, by train and by coach. There are several shopping stops, including a herbal medicine centre, a jade centre and a burn cream shop. In return, every meal from lunch on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 8 is included, and so are the gratuities.

Quick facts

Duration: 8 days 6 nights
Route: Beijing, Hohhot, Xilamuren Grassland and Ordos
Package type: group tour on fixed departure dates
Flights: included, return from KLIA to Beijing, with airport taxes, checked luggage and meals on board
Train: fast train from Beijing to Hohhot
Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
Booking: seats are subject to availability. We confirm with the tour operator and email you once your seats are secured.

Highlights

A night on Xilamuren Grassland
The sand dunes of Yinkentala
Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
The Great Wall of China
The Summer Palace and the Bird's Nest stadium
The Grand Mosque and Genghis Khan Square

Itinerary

Day 1: Kuala Lumpur to Beijing

Fly from KLIA to Beijing.

Meals: on the flight.

Day 2: Beijing

Visit Tiananmen Square, one of the largest city squares in the world, and walk through the Forbidden City, the palace of China's emperors for almost 500 years. In the evening, watch a Chinese acrobatic show.

Meals: lunch, dinner. Overnight: Beijing.

Day 3: Beijing to Hohhot and the grassland

Take the fast train to Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, then continue to Xilamuren Grassland, a wide area of open grassland north of the city.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Xilamuren Grassland.

Day 4: Grassland to Hohhot and Ordos

Drive back through Hohhot and on to Ordos. Visit Genghis Khan Square, named after the founder of the Mongol Empire, and the Grand Mosque.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Ordos.

Day 5: Yinkentala desert and Mengliang

Visit Yinkentala, an area of sand dunes in the desert of Ordos, and the Mengliang Ethnic Culture Park. Return to Hohhot.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Hohhot.

Day 6: Hohhot to Beijing

Return to Beijing. Visit the Summer Palace, a large royal garden around Kunming Lake where the emperors escaped the summer heat. Stop at a herbal medicine centre, then make a photo stop at the Bird's Nest stadium and the Water Cube, built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Beijing.

Day 7: The Great Wall

Walk on a section of the Great Wall of China. Then stop at a burn cream centre and a jade centre, and shop at Hongqiao Market.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Beijing.

Day 8: Beijing to Kuala Lumpur

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: breakfast.

What's included

Return flights from KLIA to Beijing
Fast train from Beijing to Hohhot
Airport taxes
Checked luggage
Meals on the flights
Hotels for 6 nights
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Gratuities

Good to know

The tour includes shopping stops at a herbal medicine centre, a burn cream centre, a jade centre and Hongqiao Market. Buying anything is up to you.
The Great Wall has steep steps. Wear good shoes and walk at your own pace.
The grassland and desert are open and sunny. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a jacket for the cooler evenings.

FAQ

How do we get from Beijing to Inner Mongolia?

By fast train from Beijing to Hohhot on Day 3. The train is included.

Which meals are included?

18 meals: lunch and dinner on Day 2, all meals from Day 3 to Day 7, and breakfast on Day 8.

Is there a mosque visit?

Yes. The tour visits the Grand Mosque on Day 4.

Is my booking confirmed straight away?

No. Seats are subject to availability. We confirm with the tour operator and email you once your seats are secured.