Today introduces Beijing’s imperial scale and neighborhood character. Begin at Tian’anmen Square before continuing into the Forbidden City, the vast former palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Later, visit Jingshan Park for a classic view over the palace rooftops and Beijing’s central axis. The day then shifts into a softer local rhythm around the Drum Tower, Shichahai, and Nanluogu Lane, where old hutongs, lakeside streets, cafés, and small shops reveal a more relaxed side of the capital.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Handpicked five-star properties such as Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Wyndham Beijing North Hotel, Regent Beijing, or similar.

Travel out of central Beijing to Gubei Water Town, located at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall. The setting feels very different from the capital’s broad avenues: stone lanes, bridges, courtyards, waterways, traditional-style buildings, and views toward the Wall above the town.

Complimentary Activity: After check-in, enjoy time to explore at a slower pace. An included cultural workshop may be arranged, with options such as kite making, plant-based tie-dye, or movable type printing, depending on local availability.

In the evening, enjoy the illuminated town, with music water shows or Great Wall light displays subject to the scenic-area schedule.

Complimentary Activity: A hot spring relaxation experience is also available for guests who would like to enjoy it, subject to hotel opening hours, seasonal arrangements, and local operating conditions.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner 

Accommodation: Handpicked distinctive Great Wall-side properties such as Gubei Water Town Hotel, William Edgar Boutique Hotel, or a similar feature stay.

After breakfast, visit the Simatai Great Wall, a dramatic section known for its steep ridgelines, dense watchtowers, and varied architectural forms. To keep the experience comfortable and suitable for most guests, the visit is arranged primarily with a round-trip cable car. After reaching the Wall, enjoy a short and relaxed walk near the accessible section for photos and views rather than a long hiking route. Later, transfer back toward Beijing and board a high-speed train to Hohhot. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and rest.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Handpicked five-star properties such as Hohhot Inner Mongolia Hotel, Crowne Plaza Hohhot City Center, or similar.

Leave Hohhot this morning and travel to Huitengxile Grassland. Upon arrival, receive a traditional Mongolian-style welcome before enjoying a short guided horseback riding experience, usually arranged for about 20–30 minutes with local handlers and safety equipment, subject to weather and local conditions. Continue with a visit to a local herder family and an ovoo blessing experience, then explore Huanghuagou Scenic Area, where grassland, valleys, hills, and seasonal flowers create a refreshing summer landscape.

Depending on local operations, sightseeing transport such as cableways, small trains, or scenic vehicles may be used. In the evening, stay overnight in a grassland-style Mongolian yurt.

Complimentary Dinner: Dinner is a traditional-style Mongolian Zhama Banquet with song and dance elements, a ceremonial dining atmosphere, and a light costume experience where available.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Accommodation: Handpicked distinctive accommodations such as a grassland-style Mongolian yurt or a similar feature stay.

Wake early if you would like to enjoy the grassland morning before breakfast. Then continue to Ulan Hada Volcano Geopark, one of Inner Mongolia’s most distinctive landscapes. The visit may include several volcanic cones, each with different shapes, colors, and textures. A themed astronaut-style photo experience may be arranged in the volcanic landscape, creating a fun and memorable moment without making the day feel overly strenuous.

The visit also includes time to observe volcanic rocks and learn about the area’s geological features in a light, accessible way. Later, join a wool-felt pyrography workshop before returning to Hohhot, where dinner may feature local shaomai, one of the city’s representative specialties.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Accommodation: Handpicked five-star properties such as Hohhot Inner Mongolia Hotel, Crowne Plaza Hohhot City Center, or similar.

After breakfast, travel to Yinken Resonant Sand Bay, a national 5A-rated scenic area known for its “singing sand” phenomenon. The landscape changes again today, from grassland and volcanic terrain to wide golden dunes. Upon arrival, continue to Lotus Hotel, the signature desert resort hotel within the Resonant Sand Bay area.

Included VIP resort access allows guests to enter the desert resort area more conveniently and enjoy the scenic-area experiences of Xiansha Island and Yuesha Island, subject to daily operation and weather conditions. Time is included to take in the desert atmosphere, enjoy sunset views where conditions allow, and experience the resort’s relaxed evening setting under the open sky.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Lotus Hotel at Resonant Sand Bay or a similar signature desert resort stay.

Spend the day enjoying the desert resort area at a relaxed pace. The experience is centered around Xiansha Island and Yuesha Island, where activities may include desert trains, camel riding, sand-based entertainment, family-friendly activities, cultural performances, water-themed experiences, and scenic shows, depending on the season and daily operation.

This day is designed to feel lighter and more playful after the grassland and volcano sections, giving guests time to enjoy the desert environment without rushing. Later, return to Hohhot and check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Handpicked five-star properties such as Hohhot Inner Mongolia Hotel, Crowne Plaza Hohhot City Center, or similar.

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed cultural finish in Hohhot. Visit Dazhao Temple, one of the city’s important Tibetan Buddhist temples, then continue to nearby Saishang Old Street, a historic-style street with local snacks, folk craft shops, small markets, and a lively neighborhood atmosphere. These two sites are close to each other, making the morning smooth and easy before the return journey.

Later, transfer to the railway station and board a high-speed train back to Beijing. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a carefully selected local restaurant. Over dinner, reflect on the journey and share favorite memories from Beijing and the Simatai Great Wall to the grasslands, volcanic landscapes, and desert scenery of Inner Mongolia.

Meals: Breakfast / Farewell Dinner

Accommodation: Handpicked five-star properties such as Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Wyndham Beijing North Hotel, Regent Beijing, or similar.

After breakfast, your journey concludes in Beijing. Depending on your international flight schedule, there may be time at leisure before transferring to the airport for departure.

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Not included

9 nights in carefully selected accommodations, in the listed properties or similar-standard properties, including distinctive feature stays in Gubei Water Town, on the grassland, and at the desert resort, based on double occupancy.

Meals as listed in the itinerary, with complimentary bottled drinking water provided daily

All transportation and transfers as outlined in the itinerary, including airport transfers, ground transportation, and intercity travel between Beijing and Hohhot by high-speed rail in second-class seating or domestic flights in economy class, according to the final operating arrangements. First-class rail seating may be requested at an additional cost, subject to availability at the time of ticketing

Professional English-speaking guides

Nomad Signature Moments: Entrance fees and scheduled activities as specified in the itinerary, including:

- The Temple of Heaven, subject to arrival time; Tian’anmen Square; the Forbidden City; Jingshan Park; and a guided introduction to Beijing’s historic hutongs around the Drum Tower, Shichahai, and Nanluogu Lane.

- Gubei Water Town; a complimentary cultural workshop, with a choice of kite making, plant-based tie-dye, or movable type printing, subject to local availability; an evening light or music-water show, subject to the scenic-area schedule; and a complimentary hot spring experience, subject to hotel and seasonal operating arrangements.

- The Simatai Great Wall, including a round-trip cable car and a comfortable guided walk along the accessible section.

- Huitengxile Grassland, including a traditional Mongolian-style welcome; a short guided horseback riding experience; a local herder-family visit; an ovoo blessing experience; Huanghuagou Scenic Area and required scenic-area transportation; and a complimentary traditional-style Mongolian Zhama Banquet, with song and dance elements and a light costume experience where available.

- Ulan Hada Volcano Geopark, including an introduction to the area’s volcanic landscape and geological features; a complimentary themed astronaut-style photo experience; and a complimentary Inner Mongolian wool-felt pyrography workshop.

- Resonant Sand Bay, including VIP resort access and admission to Xiansha Island and Yuesha Island, with scheduled resort activities and performances available according to weather, season, and daily scenic-area operations.

- Dazhao Temple and a guided cultural walk through Saishang Old Street in Hohhot.

Note: The complimentary added-value experiences identified above are subject to local availability, weather conditions, seasonal arrangements, scenic-area operations, and final routing. They have no cash value and are non-refundable if unavailable, changed, or unused.

- International flights and airport taxes

- Visa fees (if applicable)

- Meals not specified in the itinerary

- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, snacks, and alcoholic beverages; optional activities arranged on request; and any costs not listed as included

- Travel insurance (highly recommended)

- Single room supplement

- Gratuities for the guide and driver