8-Day Hohhot–Ordos Tour with Hiking, Camping, and Culture

Eight days across Inner Mongolia was an adventure. The hiking through the grasslands and the night we camped under a sky absolutely littered with stars near Ordos was unforgettable. Our guide arranged a Mongolian welcome with milk tea and a hospitality ceremony at a herder's ger. Far more than a sightseeing trip.

We started in Hohhot and worked our way to Ordos and the desert edge. The mix of grassland hiking, camping and culture kept the long itinerary varied. Horseback riding on the steppe, watching the sunset over endless grass, then real Mongolian barbecue. Eight days felt full but never rushed because everything was private.

A proper deep dive into Mongolian culture beyond the usual tourist stops. The hiking was moderate and the camping was more comfortable than I expected. Ordos desert section was a highlight. Some transfers were long, but that is the nature of the region. Guide was knowledgeable about local customs.

This trip surprised me. I expected pretty grassland and got a genuine cultural immersion, sleeping in a ger, learning about herder life, eating with a local family near Hohhot. The camping night was the best. Eight days private with the same guide and driver throughout meant we really got to know them.