Day 1 – Arrival in Xining
Arrive in Xining and check into your hotel. Spend your free time exploring local cultural landmarks such as the Qinghai Provincial Museum or Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Temple). In the evening, attend a mandatory pre-trip orientation meeting hosted by your tour leader.
Overnight: Xining Boutique Hotel
Meals: —

Day 2 – Xining – Sun Moon Mountain – Qinghai Lake – Delingha
Cross Sun Moon Mountain (Riyue Mountain) to reach the magnificent Qinghai Lake. Enjoy a light lakeside trek and a scenic cycling experience along the shore. Continue driving west through the high-altitude landscapes to Delingha, where you can explore the vibrant local night market and food street in the evening.
Overnight: Delingha Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 – Delingha – Dachaidan Emerald Lake
Visit famous filming locations from “Tree of Life” before heading to Dachaidan Emerald Lake. Take a light trek around the vibrant, mineral-rich salt pools, capturing the stunning contrast between the colorful salt lake landscape and the vast Gobi Desert.
Overnight: Dachaidan Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 – Dachaidan – Water Yardang – Mars Highway – Huatugou
Explore the extraordinary Water Yardang National Geopark and hike along the trail surrounding the unique water-carved clay mounds. Pass by Xitai Jinei’er Lake and drive along the famous Mars Highway to admire the iconic whale-back Yardang landforms. Arrive in Huatugou by late afternoon.
Overnight: Huatugou Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 – Huatugou – Mangya Emerald Lake – Aikeng Spring (Eye of the Earth)
Take a lakeside hike around the shimmering green waters of Mangya Emerald Lake. Continue to the famous Aikeng Spring (known as the “Devil’s Eye” or “Eye of the Earth”) and trek along the perimeter trail surrounding the boiling sulfur geothermal spring. Keep an eye out for high-plateau wildlife roaming along the route.
Overnight: Huatugou Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 – Huatugou – Huanggualiang Yardang – Qarhan Salt Lake – Golmud
Hike through the wind-sculpted Huanggualiang Yardang landforms before driving to Qarhan Salt Lake, China’s largest salt lake. Walk along the scenic salt boardwalks to marvel at the endless mirror-like brine pools and salt bridge formations before checking into your hotel in Golmud.
Overnight: Golmud Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Golmud – Hoh Xil Nature Reserve – Golmud Departure
Embark on an expedition deep into the Hoh Xil (Kekexili) UNESCO World Nature Reserve. Enjoy a light trek along the high-altitude viewing trails and search for iconic wildlife such as Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, and Tibetan wild asses in their pristine wild habitat. Return to Golmud in the late afternoon, where the tour officially concludes.
Meals: Breakfast