What a Private China Tour Costs
We do not publish a price list, and we are not going to pretend that is an accident. A private tour is priced per departure: the same 12-day route costs one amount for two people in April and a different amount for six people in October. What we can do is show you exactly what moves the number, and then make one promise about it.
The four things that change the price
| Variable | Effect |
|---|---|
| Group size | The biggest single factor. Costs are driven by the vehicle, the guide and the driver, which are fixed per departure rather than per person. Two people sharing a private guide pay considerably more per head than six people on the identical itinerary. |
| Season | Peak periods — Chinese New Year, the National Day week in early October, and the Christmas–New Year window — move hotel rates sharply. Shoulder seasons are cheaper and, in most of China, better to travel in. |
| Hotel tier | 3-, 4- and 5-diamond on the Ctrip scale. This is the easiest dial to turn and often the one that brings a trip inside budget without changing the route. |
| Route shape | Adding a city rarely adds cost in proportion — the fixed cost of a guide and vehicle is already spent. Adding a remote region does, because transport and hotel supply change. |
Our no-surcharge promise
The only things that can change a confirmed price are changes you request: a different hotel, an added day, a private guide in a language other than English. Those are quoted before they are applied.
How the quote is built
- A written day-by-day itinerary with named properties where available, vehicle type, and guide language.
- A line-by-line price: accommodation, guiding, transport, tickets, insurance, and the 3% VAT as its own line.
- What is excluded, in the same document, not in a link.
- A deposit and balance schedule, and the cancellation terms, issued with the quotation rather than on request.
Why not just put a number on the page?
Because a number on a page is either wrong or it is a bait price. The figure you see on most China tour listings is the per-person rate at the largest group size in low season — the number almost nobody actually pays. We would rather give you a real quote for your dates, your group and your hotel tier, and then stand behind it.
What to send us to get a real number
- Rough dates, or the month if dates are open
- How many people, and whether any are children or have limited mobility
- Any cities you already know you want, or the shape you have in mind
- A budget range per person, if you have one — it is more useful than a precise figure, because it tells us which dial to turn
A written itinerary and a line-by-line price come back within 24 hours. Nothing is charged until you approve it.
Common questions
Why is there no price on the itinerary pages?
Do you charge for a quote?
Is a deposit required?
Can the price change after I book?
Last verified 2026-10-31. Information on this page is checked against official sources and re-verified monthly. If you are booking, we confirm your specific case in writing before you pay anything.
Still not sure how this applies to you?
Tell us your nationality and rough dates. We will send a written answer, not a link.