Staying in a ger (the Mongolian felt tent also known by the Russian word yurt) is the archetypal Inner Mongolian experience and the main reason many travellers come to Hohhot. The camps within day-trip range of the city — primarily at Xilamuren and Gegentela — offer the essentials: a round felt tent with a central stove and proper beds, evening meals of lamb and dairy products, horse riding at dawn, and a horizon that extends to infinity in every direction.
The experience varies significantly between operators. The best camps are run by Mongolian families who have been herding the same land for generations; the food is home-cooked, the horses are their own animals, and the evening around the fire is genuine hospitality rather than a performance. The worst camps are essentially holiday parks with ger-shaped buildings and disco music. The distinction is usually visible from the booking process: family camps are book by word of mouth or through local guesthouses; the large commercial operations are advertised on every travel platform and are easy to find online. Book the harder-to-find option.