Small Group Tours Reviews

Our small group tour in Yunnan was absolutely perfect! From the ancient town of Lijiang to Shangri-La's Pudacuo National Park, every spot was breathtaking. Our guide, Ms. Li, was professional and knowledgeable—she not only explained the history and culture in detail but also took us to try authentic Naxi cuisine. The group members came from different countries, but we got along like a family. The most memorable part was hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge—it was tiring but the view was totally worth it. The itinerary was well-paced with no forced shopping. If we visit China again, we will definitely choose the same company! Thank you for letting us experience the true charm of Yunnan.

I’ve long heard about Xinjiang’s vastness and grandeur, but I was worried about the large area and inconvenient transportation, so I chose this company’s Small Group service. Unexpectedly, it became the most unforgettable part of my China trip! Our small group had 9 people, with a comfortable business car and a guide named Alim who knows Xinjiang well. Alim is Kazakh; he not only speaks fluent Chinese but also introduces local culture in English, and is very friendly to us foreign tourists.​ The itinerary covered classic attractions such as Kanas Lake, Sayram Lake, and Nalati Grassland. In Kanas, Alim took us on a niche hiking route, where we saw blue lakes, golden birch forests, and snow-capped mountains in the distance—the scenery was comparable to Canada’s Rocky Mountains! He also arranged for us to stay in Kazakh yurts; in the evening, we ate pilaf and roasted buns with local herdsmen, listened to them play the dombra and sing folk songs. The lively and warm atmosphere made me feel the enthusiasm of the people of Xinjiang.​ What touched me most were the details: knowing I had mild altitude sickness, Alim prepared oxygen tanks in advance; every day before departure, he would check our luggage and remind us to bring sunscreen (Xinjiang’s UV rays are really strong); when passing by fruit stalls along the way, he would bargain for us, letting us eat the freshest Hami melons and grapes. There were no mandatory consumption throughout the trip, and Alim recommended only restaurants and experience projects that locals visit.​ After returning to Canada, I often look at the photos I took in Xinjiang, and every time I can’t help but sigh: “It’s so beautiful!” If I have the chance, I want to take my family to Xinjiang again, and I will definitely choose this company’s small group service—they not only took us to see the scenery but also let us step into Xinjiang’s culture and life.

Our small group tour in Zhangjiajie with only 6 people was incredible! The guide was extremely professional and took us on some lesser-known paths in the forest park, perfectly avoiding the crowded tour groups. At Tianzi Mountain, we saw the sea of clouds swirling around the peaks, it was like a fairy tale. The guide was also a skilled photographer and proactively took photos for each of us from the best angles. The included Bailong Elevator ticket saved us about two hours of queueing. The Tujia-style dinner in the evening was a fantastic local experience, sour, spicy, and delicious. Our group mates from the US and Canada became fast friends, the atmosphere was great. This small group tour truly offers an in-depth experience, highly recommended!

I am full of curiosity about China’s ancient history, especially the Tang Dynasty culture, so I chose Xi’an’s Small Group Tour. When I saw the reviews of this company on Tripadvisor, “small group size” and “guide with rich historical knowledge” were the most attractive points—and after the actual experience, I think this is the most rewarding trip I have had in China!​ Our small group had only 6 people from different countries, and Guide Lao Zhou graduated from the history department and has a thorough understanding of Xi’an’s history. When we went to the Terracotta Army, he didn’t just take us to see the pit groups, but explained in detail the gestures and costumes of each terracotta warrior (which represented their identities), and even showed us color photos of the terracotta warriors when they were just unearthed on his mobile phone (I never knew the terracotta warriors were originally colored!). He also explained in a mix of simple English and Hindi to ensure I could understand everything; this patience moved me a lot.​ The most surprising part of the trip was the night tour of the Tang Dynasty Never-Sleeping City: Lao Zhou took us to watch the performance of the “Tumbler Lady,” explained the night market culture of the Tang Dynasty, and recommended local “roujiamo” (meat sandwich) and “yangrou paomo” (lamb soup with steamed bread). I told Lao Zhou that I like spicy food, so he specially took me to a small shop and added special chili oil—the taste was spicy and satisfying, more distinctive than the spicy snacks I have eaten in India!​ The transportation and tickets for the whole trip were arranged by the travel agency; I didn’t have to queue or find routes by myself, saving a lot of time. Lao Zhou would also remind us of the next day’s weather and clothing (the temperature difference between morning and evening in Xi’an is very large) after the end of each day’s itinerary. After returning to India, I wrote a detailed PRODUCT REVIEW on my travel blog, and many readers left messages saying they wanted to refer to my itinerary—if you are interested in Chinese history, you must choose this Small Group Tour; it will make you feel as interesting as “reading a living history book”!

My friends from Singapore and I are all nature lovers; we’ve always wanted to go to Xinjiang to see the grasslands, but worried that the small group service wouldn’t adapt to Singaporean habits. When we saw the positive review of this “Xinjiang Singaporean Exclusive Small Group” on Tripadvisor, saying that the guide understands Singaporean tastes and arranges halal meals, we formed a team to sign up—and it turned out to be our best trip this year!​ Our small group had 6 people, all Singaporeans. Guide Xiao Ma is a local Hui person in Xinjiang; he speaks Chinese + simple English, so there was no communication barrier. The itinerary covers Sayram Lake, Nalati Grassland, and Karajun Grassland. Xiao Ma knew we liked a slow pace, so he only arranged 1-2 attractions per day, leaving enough time for taking photos. When we were at Nalati Grassland, he took us to a herdsman’s home as guests; the halal milk tea was added with condensed milk that Singaporeans like, and the hand-grasped meat was served with onion sauce (not greasy). The herdsmen also taught us to dance Kazakh dances, and the video my friend took became popular on Singaporean social media!​ For food, Xiao Ma arranged halal restaurants throughout the trip, such as “Ailizhati Halal Restaurant” in Yining. The recommended spicy chicken pot (adjusted to mild spiciness) and roasted buns (super fragrant lamb filling) were more authentic than the Xinjiang restaurants in Singapore. The transportation used was a 7-seater business car with large space, and it was also equipped with sunscreen and mosquito repellent commonly used by Singaporeans (there are many mosquitoes on Xinjiang’s grasslands).​ The most touching part was that a friend suddenly caught a cold; Xiao Ma immediately went to the pharmacy to buy “Happiness Cold Tablets” which are common in Singapore, and also boiled ginger water for him. After returning to Singapore, we wrote a PRODUCT REVIEW in the travel group, and many people asked about the booking method—this Small Group not only let us see the beauty of Xinjiang but also made us feel “at home” through details; we will definitely bring our families here again next time!