Inner mongolia tour tips
Hi, so my group (4 people) plan to visit Hohhot for 3D2N, and we want to have 2 private tours to explore the scenic areas there. Preferably, we'd love to have 1 day private tour visiting Kubuqi / Xiangshawan Desert, and 1 day private tour visiting the Huitengxile Grasslands. We prefer to have hotel pickup and drop-off as well since it will be much easier and faster given our limited time there. The thing is, I looked up for private tours offered online, the price are so expensive ($120+ per person). My question is, is there any local tour / agents in Hohhot that we can visit directly and look around in order to find cheaper price and detailed itineraries for the private tours mentioned above? and what is the average price for them per person (in CNY or USD)? Thank you in advance!
Visiting Hohhot and exploring both the Kubuqi/Xiangshawan Desert and Huitengxile Grasslands is a great plan for a short Inner Mongolia trip. Since you prefer private tours with hotel pickup and drop-off, here’s some practical advice and tips:
1. Local tour agencies in Hohhot: You can definitely find cheaper and more flexible private tours by visiting local travel agencies directly in Hohhot. Many hotels also have tour desks that can help arrange private tours at competitive rates. Popular areas to find agencies include:
- Hohhot city center, especially around the Inner Mongolia Museum and Bell Tower areas.
- Near major hotels such as Sheraton Hohhot, Wanda Realm, and Sofitel Hohhot.
- Online Chinese platforms like Ctrip (Trip.com) or Fliggy often show local agency options at lower prices if you can navigate Chinese language listings.
2. Average price for private tours: Based on recent traveler reports and local agency rates:
- Kubuqi / Xiangshawan Desert day tour: roughly 400–600 CNY per person (~$55–$85 USD), depending on whether transportation, meals, and dune activities are included.
- Huitengxile Grasslands day tour: roughly 350–550 CNY per person (~$50–$75 USD), including hotel pickup, local lunch, and horseback riding if chosen.
3. Tips for getting the best price:
- Compare several agencies in person rather than booking online immediately, as local prices can be lower.
- Negotiate for private tours if your group has 4 people, as many agencies quote per person for smaller groups.
- Confirm inclusions carefully: some tours charge extra for meals, horse riding, desert vehicles, or admission fees.
- Check travel time carefully: Kubuqi Desert is around 3–4 hours from Hohhot, and Huitengxile Grasslands about 2–3 hours, so allow full day for each tour.
4. Additional advice:
- Book the desert tour for early morning departures to avoid midday heat, especially in spring and autumn.
- Bring sun protection, water, and a light jacket for the grasslands as wind can be strong.
- If your group prefers comfort, confirm whether the agency provides private vehicles versus shared vans.
By visiting local agencies in Hohhot and negotiating for your group size, you can likely secure both tours at a better price than the $120+ per person rates found online, while getting tailored itineraries with hotel pickup and drop-off.
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