| 1 |
Arrival in Yinchuan
Activities: airport arrival, meet and transfer, hotel check-in
Drive distance: around 25 to 40 km
Drive time: around 45 minutes to 1 hour
Trekking time: none
Altitude: Yinchuan approx. 1,100 m
|
Arrival in Yinchuan airport and transfer to downtown |
Overnight: Yinchuan |
Local Tibetan |
B |
| 2 |
Helan Mountain Rock Art, Baisikou Twin Pagodas and the 108 Stupas
Activities: Helan Mountain rock art, Baisikou Twin Pagodas, 108 Stupas, return to Yinchuan
Drive distance: around 180 to 220 km total
Drive time: around 4.5 to 5.5 hours total
Trekking time: around 2 to 3 hours of easy site walking
Altitude: 1,100 m to around 1,500 m during excursions
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Helan Mountain Rock Art, Baisikou Twin Pagodas and the 108 Stupas |
Overnight: Yinchuan |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BB |
| 3 |
Yinchuan to Alxa Zuoqi via the Western Xia Tombs and Helan Great Wall Section
Activities: Western Xia Imperial Tombs, Sanguankou Great Wall excursion, transfer to Alxa Zuoqi
Drive distance: around 210 to 260 km
Drive time: around 5 to 6 hours
Trekking time: around 2 hours of site walking
Altitude: around 1,100 m to 1,600 m
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Alxa Zuoqi-Western Xia Imperial Tombs-Ming Great Wall section at Sanguankou-Alxa Zuoqi |
Overnight: Alxa Zuoqi |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BB |
| 4 |
Alxa Zuoqi to Ejina Qi across the Western Desert Margins
Activities: long desert crossing drive, stops en route, changing desert scenery
Drive distance: around 680 to 760 km
Drive time: around 9 to 11 hours
Trekking time: short photo and rest walks only
Altitude: mostly between 900 m and 1,300 m
|
Visit Ejina Qi-Five Trees-Agate Shoal |
Overnight: Ejina Qi |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BB |
| 5 |
Black City, Ruins and Poplar Landscapes around Ejina
Activities: Khara Khoto (Black City), Five-Pagoda-Temple area, Da Tong Cheng ruins, poplar forest zone
Drive distance: around 120 to 180 km total
Drive time: around 3 to 4 hours
Trekking time: around 3 to 4 hours of site walking
Altitude: around 900 to 1,000 m
|
Visit Khara Khoto-Black City-Five-Pagoda-Temple area, |
Overnight: Ejina Qi |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BB |
| 6 |
Ejina Qi to the Alashan / Badain Jaran Approach Zone
Activities: transfer toward Alashan desert approach, desert geology museum, expedition preparation, meet camel caravan team
Drive distance: around 380 to 460 km
Drive time: around 6.5 to 8 hours
Trekking time: light local walking only
Altitude: around 1,000 m to 1,300 m
|
Ejina Qi to the Alashan- Badain Jaran Approach Zone-logistic team and camel caravan |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BD |
| 7 |
Trekking Begins – Toward Tonggutu Lake
Activities: start desert trek, first dune and lake section
Drive distance: minimal support vehicle movement only
Drive time: none for guests
Trekking distance: approx. 15 km
Trekking time: around 5 to 6 hours
Altitude: around 1,200 m to 1,400 m
|
Trekking Begins – Toward Tonggutu Lake |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 8 |
Across Easier Desert Ground to Little Nuoritu
Activities: trekking between lake basins and dunes
Drive distance: none for guests
Drive time: none
Trekking distance: approx. 10 km
Trekking time: around 4 to 5 hours
Altitude: around 1,250 m to 1,450 m
|
Across Easier Desert Ground to Little Nuoritu |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 9 |
Trek to Hatertu
Activities: continued desert trek deeper into the dune system
Drive distance: none for guests
Drive time: none
Trekking distance: approx. 13 km
Trekking time: around 5 to 6 hours
Altitude: around 1,300 m to 1,500 m
|
Trek to Hatertu-Highlight of Badain Jaran Desert trekking tour |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 10 |
Long Trek to Hiler To
Activities: one of the longest desert walking stages
Drive distance: none for guests
Drive time: none
Trekking distance: approx. 15 km
Trekking time: around 6 to 7 hours
Altitude: around 1,350 m to 1,550 m
|
Long Trek to Hiler To |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 11 |
Trek to Nuo To, the Great Lake of the Desert
Activities: trek to Nuo To lake
Drive distance: none for guests
Drive time: none
Trekking distance: approx. 13 km
Trekking time: around 5 to 6 hours
Altitude: around 1,300 m to 1,500 m
|
Trek to Nuo To, the Great Lake of the Desert |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 12 |
Final Trek to Badain Jaran Temple
Activities: last trekking day, Badain Jaran Temple
Drive distance: none for guests
Drive time: none
Trekking distance: approx. 13 km
Trekking time: around 5 to 6 hours
Altitude: around 1,250 m to 1,450 m
|
Final Trek to Badain Jaran Temple |
Overnight: camping |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 13 |
Desert Exit, Yinderitu Holy Spring and Binutu Dune
Activities: jeep exit from desert, Yinderitu spring, Binutu dune climb, transfer toward Alxa Youqi / desert exit town
Drive distance: around 180 to 260 km depending on exact exit logistics
Drive time: around 5 to 6 hours
Trekking time: around 1.5 to 2.5 hours including dune ascent
Altitude: around 1,200 m to 1,600 m
|
Desert Exit, Yinderitu Holy Spring and Binutu Dune |
Overnight: Alxa Youqi or similar desert-edge town |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BLD |
| 14 |
Transfer to Zhangye via the Hexi Corridor Approach
Activities: long overland transfer toward Zhangye, possible en route stop depending on timing
Drive distance: around 430 to 520 km
Drive time: around 7 to 9 hours
Trekking time: short comfort walks only
Altitude: around 1,400 m to 1,600 m, descending slightly toward Zhangye
|
Transfer to Zhangye via the Hexi Corridor Approach |
Overnight: Zhangye |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BB |
| 15 |
Zhangye, Wuwei and onward to Lanzhou
Activities: Mati Si, Dafo Si, Wuwei Confucian Temple, Leitai Han Tomb, transfer to Lanzhou
Drive distance: around 520 to 620 km total
Drive time: around 8.5 to 10.5 hours total
Trekking time: around 2 to 3 hours of temple and site walking
Altitude: Zhangye approx. 1,500 m; Wuwei approx. 1,500 m; Lanzhou approx. 1,520 m
|
Zhangye, Wuwei and onward to Lanzhou |
Overnight: Lanzhou |
Local Tibetan Guide |
BB |
| 16 |
Departure from Lanzhou
Activities: hotel check-out, airport transfer
Drive distance: around 20 to 40 km
Drive time: around 45 minutes to 1 hour
Trekking time: none
Altitude: Lanzhou approx. 1,520 m
|
Departure from Lanzhou |
Overnight: End the trip |
Local Tibetan Guide |
B |