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White temple buildings on the shore of Miao Haizi with a high dune behind

PreeChina · Route Guide

Badain Jaran Desert 2-Day Tour

A two-day private itinerary through the lakes and dunes of a UNESCO World Heritage desert, that PreeChina can turn into a custom or tailor-made tour.

2 days10 stopsStart: Badain Jaran TownUNESCO World HeritageFrom USD 905 per person, 2 travelers

At a Glance

Route Quick Facts

Length
2 days
Start and End
Badain Jaran Town (巴丹吉林镇)
Stops
10 lake and dune sites
Status
UNESCO World Natural Heritage, 2024
Lakes in the Desert
144 inter-dune lakes
Transport
Specialist desert vehicle and guide

Price

Price of This Private Tour

Per person, in US dollars. The price covers the guide, the ground service, and the hotels, transport, meals and tickets in the itinerary, and it falls as the group grows. This route is customized for the region, so the figures are a starting point. What a price includes and leaves out.

Estimated price per person for Badain Jaran Desert 2-Day Tour, by number of travelers
Travelers246810152030
Standard hotelsUSD 905USD 620USD 510USD 470USD 430USD 405USD 370USD 355
Premium hotelsUSD 1,105USD 770USD 640USD 595USD 550USD 520USD 480USD 465

Premium hotels and first-class rail raise the price: the selectors on Private Tours show by how much. The final price is confirmed in writing before anything is booked.

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Why This Route

Lakes Inside the Dunes

Badain Jaran is the third largest desert in China and the only desert on its World Natural Heritage list. The World Heritage Committee inscribed it on 26 July 2024 at its 46th session in New Delhi. The listing covers tall fixed dunes with lakes between them, and Chinese National Geographic (中国国家地理) magazine has called it the most beautiful desert in China.

This two-day loop starts in Badain Jaran Town, visits ten lake and dune sites in the desert and returns to the town. The stops include the colour-shifting salt lakes, a Tibetan Buddhist temple on a lake shore and Biluutu Peak, which our route notes call the Everest of the dunes.

Our Alxa guide says the desert interior needs specialist vehicles and guides, so PreeChina arranges both. For the story of the listing, see the Badain Jaran Desert World Heritage guide.

Itinerary

Badain Jaran 2-Day Itinerary From Badain Jaran Town

Day 1

  1. 1

    Badain Jaran Town (巴丹吉林镇). Start of the loop.

  2. 2

    Dashazao Haizi (大沙枣海子). Haizi is the local word for a desert lake, and dashazao means big oleaster, after the desert tree that grows along such shores.

  3. 3

    Shuangse Lake (双色湖). Shuangse means two-colour.

  4. 4

    Hong Haizi (红海子). Hong Haizi means Red Lake.

  5. 5

    Nuoertu Lake (诺尔图湖). A lake among the dunes.

  6. 6

    Shenquan (神泉). Shenquan means divine spring.

Day 2

  1. 7

    Biluutu Peak (必鲁图峰). Our route notes call this peak the Everest of the dunes.

  2. 8

    Miao Haizi (庙海子). Miao Haizi means Temple Lake.

  3. 9

    Shuang Haizi (双海子). Shuang Haizi means Twin Lakes.

  4. 10

    Tianchi (天池). Tianchi means Heavenly Lake.

  5. 11

    Badain Lake (巴丹湖). Badain Lake lies in the Badain Jaran tourist area.

  6. 12

    Badain Jaran Town (巴丹吉林镇). The loop ends where it began.

The split into two days is a suggestion. We do not list clock times here: your private itinerary sets the pace, the order and the start time with you. Your tailor-made plan decides where you stay overnight.

Map

Where the Desert Lies

The map shows the stops with confirmed coordinates: the start, Hong Haizi, Miao Haizi and Badain Lake. Numbers follow the route order. We have no confirmed coordinates for the other stops, so we do not place them.

Stop by Stop

The Ten Stops

Tree branch framing a tall dune and its reflection in Dashazao Haizi
2
Desert Lake

Dashazao Haizi (大沙枣海子)

Haizi is the local word for a desert lake, and dashazao means big oleaster, after the desert tree that grows along such shores. In our photo a tree frames a tall dune that stands reflected in still water.

Aerial view of a deep blue lake beside a magenta salt lake among dunes
3
Desert Lake

Shuangse Lake (双色湖)

Shuangse means two-colour. The photo shows a deep blue pool beside a magenta pool with white salt at its edge. The World Heritage listing says the lakes in this desert show different colours because their salinity differs.

Dune above red-pink water with a cracked salt crust at Hong Haizi
4
Desert Lake

Hong Haizi (红海子)

Hong Haizi means Red Lake. The photo shows a dune above red-pink water with a cracked salt crust along the shore.

Low sun over sand ridges and a dark pool of water at Nuoertu Lake
5
Desert Lake

Nuoertu Lake (诺尔图湖)

A lake among the dunes. The photo shows a low sun over the sand and a pool of dark water between two dune ridges.

Blue lake with reeds and a tree in front of a dune at Shenquan
6
Spring

Shenquan (神泉)

Shenquan means divine spring. The photo shows a blue lake edged with reeds and a tree, with a dune behind it.

Large golden dune ridges under a deep blue sky near Biluutu Peak
7
Dune

Biluutu Peak (必鲁图峰)

Our route notes call this peak the Everest of the dunes. Large sand ridges run to the horizon in the photo.

White temple buildings on the shore of Miao Haizi with a high dune behind
8
Lake and Temple

Miao Haizi (庙海子)

Miao Haizi means Temple Lake. Badain Jaran Temple, a small Tibetan Buddhist temple that dates from 1868 according to our Alxa guide, stands on the shore with a high dune behind it.

Two small lakes among dunes at sunrise at Shuang Haizi
9
Desert Lake

Shuang Haizi (双海子)

Shuang Haizi means Twin Lakes. The photo shows two lakes among the dunes under a rising sun.

Blue lake mirroring the sky beside a dune slope and red-brown hills at Tianchi
10
Desert Lake

Tianchi (天池)

Tianchi means Heavenly Lake. The photo shows a clear blue lake that mirrors the sky, a dune slope on the left and red-brown hills beyond.

High golden dune above orange-red water at Badain Lake
11
Desert Lake

Badain Lake (巴丹湖)

Badain Lake lies in the Badain Jaran tourist area. The photo shows a high dune above orange-red water.

Independent Travel

Doing This Route Independently

Arranging these 10 stops yourself keeps the budget lower. It also means booking each one and the transfers between them. Compare a private tour with independent travel, or ask PreeChina to plan it.

Custom Tour

Turn This Into a Private, Custom Tour

This route is a starting point: 2 days and 10 stops. PreeChina plans it as a private, tailor-made trip and changes the stops, the days and the pace to your group.

Plan My Custom Tour See Pricing

Questions

FAQ

Can I see Badain Jaran in two days?

Yes. This loop visits ten lake and dune sites in two days, starting and ending in Badain Jaran Town. Your tailor-made plan decides where you stay overnight and how many stops fit your pace.

Is Badain Jaran a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Yes. The World Heritage Committee inscribed Badain Jaran Desert as a natural site on 26 July 2024 at its 46th session in New Delhi.

Do I need a guide and a special vehicle?

Yes. Our Alxa guide says the desert interior needs specialist vehicles and guides. PreeChina arranges both as part of a private tour.

How do I plan Badain Jaran from Germany or Europe?

Send us your dates, group size and pace through the contact form. We build the route into a private itinerary with an English-speaking guide and personal assistant from arrival to departure.

Who is this route not a good fit for?

A traveler who cannot manage long transfers or limited facilities. This route runs through a remote region, so plan for long travel days and a slower pace.

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Related Guides

Badain Jaran Desert World Heritage guideListing, facts and what to seeAlxa city guideWhere to stay, eat and go

See all PreeChina route itineraries

Explore More

This route is in Inner Mongolia. The province page lists its city guides, themes, museums and other routes.

Related

Keep Exploring Alxa

Attractions in and around Alxa

Routes and day trips

Theme maps

Background reading

Plan This Loop as Your Private Tour

Tell us when you arrive, who is travelling and how much time you have. We build the route around your group.

Plan My Custom Tour See Pricing