4.8/5 Excellent
Excellent
881
Great
197
Average
14
Disappointing
2
Terrible
0
China Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
Overall, the trip was excellent. This was my first time with Intrepid but I have taken several similar trips (Tucan). The tour leader (Kris) was excellent and the ac...
Emma was an excellent group leader- very friendly, helpful and polite. We really liked her suggested restaurant and activity recommendations and felt that they were ...
Excellent Guide. Good Itinerary.
A well put together itinerary from Intrepid and my tour guide Emma Guo was fantastic. She made herself available to the group 24 hours with added information on loca...
I had a amazing time during this trip. China Experience is a very good to see a lot of spots in China. That only negative point was that we couldn't see the Forbidde...
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Our tour leader wanted to do a good job, but his English skills are not that good. He often failed to communicate clearly or sufficiently with us. He didn't tell m...
Andrew
Apr 2024
China is a phenomenal destination and everyone should go to dispel all the negative stereotypes that are thrown at us by a right wing media. The Wall reminds one th...
Poorly-chosen itinerary. Crappy hotels with no air-conditioning, broken fridges, clogged showers, and smoked-through "non-smoking" rooms. No meals, no transport: you...
Poorly-chosen itinerary. Crappy hotels with no air-conditioning, broken fridges, clogged showers, and smoked-through "non-smoking" rooms. No meals, no transport: you...
Gemma
Nov 2024
The basic itinerary of the trip is excellent but exhausting in its current format. Be prepared for flights that get you to your hotel at 3am and a very basic overnig...
Nicholas
Oct 2024
We had a great time on the China Highlights trip. Frank the Explore leader was excellent. The Itinerary is a little rushed with one really incovinant internal flight...
Keith
Sep 2024
A full-on tour including a bullet train, sleeper train, river cruise, internal flight, chairlift, optional cycling/ river show and acrobat show, with visits (and ple...
This trip was excellent-the first Himalayan experience, a highly thought-of trek through brilliant mountain and remote scenery in mostly ideal weather conditions ...
An absolutely amazing trip. Nepal is such a beautiful country with very beautiful, kind and open people, and this trips opens a door into this culture. I have been...
A great holiday. Excellent leader, good group, great weather, excellent views, lovely locals. Getting to the top of the Thorong la Pass and the high mountains all a...
A trek that shows Nepal from the city to the mountains. Watch the landscape, people, villages, food and animals change as you climb from the city, to subalpine, to...
Namaste! When we decided to book this trek we considered several things - costing, availability, timings and fitness level; and upon reflection, we chose the right...
Fantastic trip. Great people, scenery, culture and views. Very well organised and was very well looked after by trip leader and whole exodus team. Visiting poon hil...
I have just returned from a very exciting three week trip to Annapurna circuit. Every day was different and full of adventure. With excellent guide in Gum, we all ...
Editor’s Take
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.
Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country - however in China it’s a bit of a different story.
Negative or lower rated reviews for China tours often bring up the culture shock - though most have a positive word to say about their tour guide and the trip itinerary in general. So in the case of China reviews, the tour itself may have been enjoyable but the country was different than expected.
As you read China reviews, consider that China - while a wonderful country with amazing history and people - can be very challenging for travelers, particularly western travelers.
The language barrier is one of the primary reasons that traveling with a local guide is essential in China. They are invaluable for keeping things calm in the often crowded and confusing areas you visit, make sure you find things to eat that you’ll enjoy, and can also help you experience more rural countryside regions, that would be extremely difficult to navigate independently if you don’t speak the language.
That said, while most guides in China speak english, sometimes their accent will be thick and difficult to understand. This can be quite frustrating for some and possibly lead to a lower review score. Be sure to take this into account as you read China tour reviews.
Accommodations in China may also be quite different in terms of comfort level, depending on where in the country you’re traveling, and the tour style. Many China tours feature overnight trains, which can be quite an experience - not always super comfortable.
Homestays and local hotels are very common on China tour itineraries, and these too aren’t every travelers cup of tea. Be prepared with an open mind and adventurous spirit, ready to learn about a very different culture from your own.
If you want a professional take on traveling in China, see the Travelstride China Guide »
Top China Travel Packages