China: all the highlights in 11 days
- Length11 days
- Groupup to 10 people
- Formatgroup tour
- DifficultyModerate
A big tour across China: from the southern megacities to imperial Beijing.
Cities where you feel like it's the year 3025. Mountains with one of the longest cable cars in the world and glass bridges hanging right over the abyss. And Beijing: the Forbidden City, old hutongs and a full day on the Great Wall.
But the main thing on this trip is the people. We keep groups small, up to 10 people, and match them by age and interests, so you click with your travel companions from day one — and many keep in touch long after the tour.
The group is led by a tour leader with more than 30 China tours behind him. Tickets, transfers, park and museum entries are already included, so you won't have to figure out Chinese apps, train stations and queues. And after a full day you come back to a good hotel, not a tiny room on the edge of town: we pick places with the best balance of comfort and location. All that's left is to look, taste and be amazed. Including food you'd never have dared to try before.
Shall we go?
Difficulty
Lots of walking around cities and parks. The Avatar mountains have good infrastructure, no big elevation gains. No special skills needed, but decent fitness comes in handy.
Accommodation
3-4* hotels
Transport
Mixed transport
Day by day
Tap a day to see the details and highlight the spot on the map.
Hong Kong grabs us from the very first minutes — a city where the past and the future exist at the same time and clearly have no intention of giving way to each other. First stop, the fish market: the smell of the ocean, piles of dried seafood, shark fins and crabs that are still very much alive. This is where locals pick out their dinner every day — a show in itself.
Then into the very heart of the city. The skyscrapers stand so close together and rise so high that your neck gives out before you've taken it all in. Among all this concrete futurism we'll find the old French Mission building and drop into a former prison turned into one of the city's most interesting art spaces.
Lunch is the start of our food journey. Hong Kong cuisine is the perfect beginning: no flamethrower spice, but an incredible range of flavours.
After that, the longest outdoor escalator on the planet, the Mid-Levels Escalator. Then a tropical botanical garden with waterfalls, orchids and birds. And the finale of the day — Victoria Peak.
In the evening we head out on a street food quest: dim sum, egg waffles with crispy bubbles, squid on a stick, fish balls in broth. And grilled pigeon — for those ready to step outside their comfort zone.
Night at the hotel, Hong Kong.
City transport + funicular
What's included
- Transfers from and to the train station
- Travel along the route by high-speed trains and minibuses
- Domestic flight Zhangjiajie (DYG) — Shanghai (PVG)
- Professional guidance along the entire route
- Hotel accommodation: 11 days, 10 nights
- Breakfasts (9)
- Eco fees and temple entries
- Zhangjiajie National Park, the glass bridge, the zipline over the canyon and a river cruise through the Grand Canyon
- Yellow Dragon Cave
- Entry and cable cars in Tianmen National Park
- Cable car on Lantau Island
- All viewpoints on the programme
- Local guide services
Not included
- Flight to Hong Kong and back from Beijing
- Lunches, dinners and alcohol
- Going up the Canton Tower and the ride at 450 metres
- The national show in Wulingyuan
- Extra activities outside the programme
- Insurance and visa
Insurance for active trips
We work with ERGO and are insured with them ourselves: their travel policy covers active holidays, hiking in the mountains and trips to exotic countries. It takes a few minutes to arrange online.
Dates & prices
- 17 – 27 April 2027Confirmed18-50 years€2670
Reviews
AnastasiaI went to China this autumn and came back with a whole sea of emotions. An incredible group came together, we saw the very best places and laughed our hearts out the whole way. Some kind of magic followed us throughout the trip: the clouds parted, the queues disappeared, and every wish of ours came true as if by a magic wand (that was Tyoma quietly working his spells). We stayed somewhere truly luxurious, and the food was tasty and varied. And of course Artem is a wonderful soul: he finds an approach to everyone and helps the group bond in these 10 days as if you had known each other for years. An incredible pleasure and an unforgettable memory.
OlgaIt was an incredible journey! In 10 days we managed to see a huge number of stunning places, try all kinds of local dishes, take part in a tea ceremony and even catch a show at a local theatre) Best of all, the whole time we had a wonderful guide and the kindest person with us - Artem! With him you're not afraid to slide down the Great Wall of China on a toboggan or to eat chicken feet 😁
AndreyThe most positive trip! Visiting so many beautiful places, getting so many emotions and recharging with positive energy - that is exactly what this tour is about!
FAQ
Do I need a visa for China?
Citizens of many countries can enter visa-free or in transit, but the rules depend on your passport and flight route, and Hong Kong and mainland China count separately. Write to us before booking — we'll go through your particular case.
What's the weather like in April?
Hong Kong and Guangzhou are already warm and humid, around 22-27 °C during the day, with possible rain. Zhangjiajie is cooler: 15-20 °C during the day, with fog and wind on the peaks. Shanghai and Beijing are in full spring: 15-22 °C during the day, cool evenings. Bring layers: a T-shirt, a fleece, a light waterproof jacket.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes for long walks and stairs, a raincoat or shell jacket, a warm layer for the mountains, a power bank and an adapter: mainland China uses type A and I sockets, Hong Kong uses British type G. Passport and insurance are a must. We'll send a packing list and instructions as a PDF 2 weeks before departure.
Is there an alternative to Chinese food?
Yes. In Hong Kong and Shanghai it's easy to find Japanese, Korean, Italian and European food; in Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie the choice is smaller, but it's there. Lunches and dinners aren't included, so you always decide where and what to eat. If you're vegetarian or have allergies, let us know in advance — we'll suggest places and help you explain.
How spicy is the food?
Hong Kong and Cantonese food isn't spicy. Hunan food, which is waiting for us in Zhangjiajie, is spicy, but you can always ask for a dish without chilli — the tour leader will help with the wording.
What insurance do I need?
Medical insurance for the whole trip, covering China and Hong Kong. It's not included in the tour price. The tour leader will advise which one to get and what to look for in the terms: write to us and we'll go through the options before you buy.
Find a policyPartner link
Can I join on my own?
Yes, and that's how most participants travel. In a group of up to eight, people get to know each other naturally. By default we place you in a twin room with a participant of the same gender; if you'd rather have your own room, the single supplement is calculated separately — write to us and we'll work it out.
What about internet and mobile service in China?
In mainland China Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram don't work — set up an e-sim with a VPN in advance, we'll tell you how. In Hong Kong there are no such restrictions.
How do I pay in China?
Almost everywhere people pay with Alipay and WeChat Pay from their phone, and you can link a foreign card to them — better do it before departure. Not everyone accepts Visa and Mastercard, and cash yuan will come in handy in smaller places. In Hong Kong cards are easier.
How physically demanding is the programme?
No special training needed, but we'll walk a lot: cities, parks, stairs and viewpoints. We go up by cable car and lift, not on foot. If you have any health limitations, let us know in advance — we'll tell you what you can skip without missing the point.
Which flights should I book?
Arrive in Hong Kong by the morning of 17 April. The tour ends on 26 April around 15:00 in Beijing, so book your flight for the evening at the earliest — or better still, stay in Beijing a couple more days. The Zhangjiajie — Shanghai flight and the Shanghai — Beijing train inside the route are on us.
How many people are in the group and what language is the tour in?
Up to ten participants, aged 20-45. The tour is run in Russian and English.