Good to know.

Private journeys across the whole of China: the imperial north (Beijing, Xi’an, Datong), the Jiangnan water-country around Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Fujian’s tulou villages, the karst of Guangxi, Zhangjiajie’s stone pillars, Yunnan’s living cultures, the silk-road cities of Gansu and Xinjiang — and, for those who want it, the high plateau: the G318 overland to Lhasa and Tibet itself. The plateau is one region among many, never the default.

Most of what we plan is fully private — your own vehicle, your own guide, your own dates. We also run a small number of small-group and expert-led departures each year, led by scholars and specialists. If you would like the company of a group without giving up the itinerary, ask what is running in your season.

Yes — every day, every stay and every date can be tailored. Many travellers add days in Chengdu, Xi’an or Beijing before or after a journey. Tell us what you would change and we will re-plan around it, with a written quotation within two working days.

Included: hotels as listed, main meals as per plan, your private vehicle and crew, guide, first-entry tickets, and permits where needed. Not included: long-distance flights or trains to the start and from the end of the journey, scenic-area shuttle buses, tips, single-room supplement, personal expenses, and international travel insurance — which is required for all travellers.

A deposit of USD 300 per person secures your booking and is deducted from the final balance; the balance is due 60 days before departure (bookings made within 60 days of departure are paid in full). We take bank transfer, or a payment link issued by a licensed payment provider — we never store card details. Every price we send is written out line by line; the full schedule is set out in your booking terms.

It depends on how far ahead you cancel: more than 60 days, only the deposit is forfeited; 45–60 days, 20% of the tour price; 30–45 days, 50%; inside 30 days, no refund. The full table is in the booking terms. If travel restrictions stop you from travelling after your balance is paid, we do our best to recover costs from suppliers on your behalf.

Yes — our routes are designed for a gentle pace: fewer places, longer stays, and no early-morning packing races. Walking is optional almost everywhere, cable cars replace the steep climbs where they exist, and we shorten any day that feels long — your comfort sets the pace.

Very little is compulsory. Notable walks are gentle and mostly flat, can be shortened or skipped, and your guide walks at your pace. Viewpoints, lakes and old streets are generally reached within a few minutes’ walk of the vehicle, and cable cars replace the steep climbs.

Only the journeys that cross the Tibetan plateau and western Sichuan — such as the G318 overland, where Lhasa, the highest overnight stay, sits at 3,650 m and the air holds about 70% of the oxygen you are used to. Mild breathlessness in the first day or two is normal and passes; the itineraries sleep low at first and rest several nights at altitude, oxygen is on board, and the highest point of the road — Dongda Pass at 5,130 m — is a short photo stop rather than a hike. Most of our journeys involve no altitude at all. If you have a heart or lung condition, please talk to your doctor before booking a plateau journey.

Yes, with notice. Vegetarian meals are easy almost everywhere; vegan and gluten-free take a little more planning but are workable. Tell us about allergies — peanut oil, shellfish and the like — when you book, and your guides will make sure those ingredients stay out of your restaurant meals. If an allergy is severe, please consult your doctor, bring your medication, and tell us how to help.

Yes — comprehensive insurance covering medical care and emergency evacuation is required for all travellers, and we ask for a copy of your policy before departure. Make sure it covers the activities on your itinerary and, for plateau journeys, medical treatment at altitude.

Many nationalities can now enter visa-free for up to thirty days under the 50-country scheme, valid through 31 December 2026; eligible travellers in transit can instead use the 240-hour visa-free transit. US passport holders currently need a tourist (L) visa. Which route applies to each traveller in your party is something we confirm before you book, and we provide the invitation letter and documentation your application needs. The detail — schemes, ports, arrival cards — is on our visas & entry requirements page.

Yes — all foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit and supporting documents, issued through a licensed agency; we handle the paperwork as part of your journey. Classic Lhasa routes take about 10–15 working days to arrange, journeys into remote western Tibet three to four weeks, so send us your passport details at least 30 days before departure — earlier for peak season. The full process is on our Tibet Travel Permit page.

Layers and comfort: good walking shoes, a warm layer for evenings and air-conditioned trains, and sun protection at altitude. China runs on 220V with a mix of plug types (A, C and I) — a universal adapter solves it. Carry prescription medication in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and a small supply of tissues and hand sanitizer for public restrooms. Checked luggage on domestic flights is limited to 20 kg per person; laundry is easy and inexpensive almost everywhere, so pack less than you think.

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly and link your foreign card — the two apps cover nearly everything, from museum tickets to street breakfasts, and cash is now rarely needed. We have step-by-step setup guides for Alipay and WeChat Pay. Keep a small amount of cash as a backup in remote country; larger hotels still accept international cards.

For most of China, spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the comfortable seasons; Beijing and Shanghai travel well in winter too, with fewer crowds and clear skies. The plateau routes run April to October, when mountain views are clearest. Try to avoid Chinese New Year, the early-May holiday and the October Golden Week, when the whole country is on the move.

Different in ways that are easy to prepare for. Large cities and good hotels have Western toilets, but public restrooms along the road may be squat-style — your guide carries tissue and hand sanitizer and knows where the comfortable stops are. English is limited outside the tourism trade, so your guide does the talking. Distances are real: we build them into the pace rather than pretending them away.

Restaurant tipping is not part of the culture, but tips for your guide and driver are a recognised courtesy in private travel; how much is entirely your decision, and we send suggested amounts with your pre-departure guide.

Almost everywhere, yes. Some halls in temples, monasteries and museums prohibit photography — your guide will flag them, and when in doubt, ask first. People are generally happy to be photographed, but a smile and a gesture before you raise the camera goes a long way. Any images of you that we use for commercial promotion will be subject to your separate consent.

Weather, road works and permit time slots occasionally reorder a day. The order of sights may adjust for conditions — safety always outranks the schedule, and the content of your journey is protected wherever possible. Genuine closures are re-routed or refunded per your booking contract.