China Tours | China Travel Packages | Escorted Small Group China Vacation Trips

Overwhelmed by the long list of tours available? Contact us for help.
25-day Splendid China (2012) Hong Kong - Guilin - Shanghai - Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Suzhou - Yangtze River Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Tai'an - Qufu - Jinan - Beijing The leisurely paced grand tour introduces the visitor to China's three largest metropolises as well as off-the-beaten-path towns stringing together a collection of spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Trip highlights include a cruise on the mighty Yangtze, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, traditional Chinese gardens, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
24-day Imperial China, Tibet & Yangtze (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Chongqing - Yangtze Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai This tour spends 5 days in Tibet and 3 days on a Yangtze cruise. Highlights include the fabled Great Wall at Mutianyu, the legendary Terracotta Army, enigmatic Sanxingdui civilization, the Giant Panda Breeding Center, and a day cruise on picturesque Li River.
24-day China Panorama (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Chengdu - Lijiang - Zhongdian - Kunming - Chongqing - Yangtze Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai Combining China's most popular tourist cities with exotic Yunnan Province (Lijiang, Shangri-la & Kunming) and a first-class Yangtze cruise, the meticulously designed and well tested itinerary gives you as complete an introduction to China as possible all in 24 days. April 6 departure has 4 spots on sale due to cancellations. If you sign up by January 7, you will qualify for $300 discount per person. First come, first served.
24-day Wonders of China (2012) Beijing - Taiyuan - Pingyao - Chengdu - Mt Emei - Dazu - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Wuhan - Huangshan - (Yellow Mountains) - Nanjing - Shanghai An extravaganza of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - both natural and historical, this spectacular small-group journey highlights many of China's unique natural and historic wonders often neglected by most China tour companies.
22-day Tibet & Silk Road (2012) Beijing - Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Xi'an - Dunhuang - Turpan - Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Urumqi - Shanghai China is far more diverse and exotic than many perceive. This immensely rewarding grand tour of cultural discovery dives deep into the hinterlands of China's ethnic regions, offering tour members a rare opportunity to closely examine the life of Tibetans, Uigurs and a few other ethic groups living along the Western borders of China. The physically demanding tour requires participants to be in good shape with absolutely no mobility difficulty or any medical condition that may be complicated due to high altitudes. The highest point during the tour is 4,800 metres or 15,744 feet above sea level.
21-day Silk Road & Southwest China (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Dunhuang - Turpan - Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Urumqi - Chengdu - Lijiang - Zhongdian - Kunming - Shanghai A grand adventure combining the exotic Silk Road region with Southwest China, this tour is ideal for repeat visitors or the adventuresome looking for a more unique China travel experience. Repeat customers may skip Beijing and Xi'an if they want to. Caution: travellers prone to altitude sickness may consider getting on Diamox a few days prior to arrival in Kashgar and/or Zhongdian.
21-day China in Depth (2012) Shanghai - Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Suzhou - Yichang - Yangtze Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Tai'an - Qufu - Jinan - Beijing One of our best sellers this first-class tour introduces the traveller to China's largest metropolises of Shanghai and Beijing as well as off-the-beaten-path towns of Qufu and Tai'an. The tour features a Yangtze cruise aboard a first-class ship, traditional Chinese gardens, the Terracotta Army, hometown of Confucius, the Sacred Mt. Tai, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu.
21-day Highlights of China (2012) Hong Kong - Guilin - Shanghai - Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Suzhou - Yichang - Yangtze Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Beijing This China trip takes in China's most popular cities plus a first-class cruise on the mighty Yangtze. From the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong to the world-class historic sites in Beijing, the sensual overload is simply overwhelming. Back to Top
19-day Best of China plus Tibet (2012) Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Shanghai Created for the active and adventurous, the tour combines China's four most popular tourist cities with mystic Tibet. The tour requires the participant to be in perfect health with no medical condition that may be complicated due to high altitudes. The highest point during the tour is 4,800 metres or 15,744 feet above sea level.
19-day Southwest China (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Yangshuo - Chengdu - Lijiang - Shangri-la (Zhongdian) - Kunming - Shanghai In addition to China's must-see cities, the trip introduces the visitor to exotic Yunnan Province (Lijiang, Zhongdian & Kunming). Biologically diverse Yunnan is where 24 of China's 55 ethnic minorities call home. Many in the West did not notice the stunningly beautiful landscape and intriguing tribal cultures of Yunnan until nearly a century ago when National Geographic published a series article and photographs on the area. It is believed that it was those articles and photographs inspired James Hilton to write his famous novel Lost Horizon.
17-day China Odyssey (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Chongqing - Yangtze Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai Explore ancient sites in Beijing and Xi'an, marvel at the natural beauty of Guilin and Li River, sail through the magnificent Three Gorges of the Yangtze River - this relaxing China Odyssey tour allows you to do all that and much more! This tour has been one of our top sellers for over a decade and it keeps getting better.
17-day Treasures of China (2012) Shanghai - Zhengzhou - Shaolin Temple - Luoyang - Xi'an - Taiyuan - Pingyao - Beijing Focusing on the Central China Plain, the trip brings out the cultural and historical essence of the Middle Kingdom. The Central China Plain refers to the area on the lower reaches of the Yellow River and is considered the cradle of the Chinese civilization. The trip of cultural extravaganza covers 7 UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites including fabled Shaolin Temple and ancient Pingyao.
17-day Classic China with Yangtze Cruise (2012) Shanghai - Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Suzhou - Yichang - Yangtze Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Beijing The well-planned China tour takes in three of China's Eight Ancient Capitals in Hangzhou, Xi'an and Beijing. Also included are Venice of the Orient (Suzhou) and the 13-century-old Wuzhen - a water town intersected with original canals and elegant bridges.
15-day Exotic Yunan (2012) Beijing - Chengdu - Lijiang - Zhongdian (Xianggelila/Shangri-la) - Kunming - Shanghai The tour focuses on the exotic Yunnan Province where you will visit Lijiang, Zhongdian and Kunming. Biologically diverse Yunnan boasts stunning scenery. Twenty-four of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities reside in Yunnan including native tribes with no presence elsewhere. On this China adventure, you will also visit the Giant Panda Research & Breeding Center and Sanxingdui Museum in Chengdu.
15-day Silk Road Adventure (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Dunhuang - Turpan - Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Urumqi - Shanghai On this truly exotic journey we follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo to rediscover the glorious Silk Road era, from the eastern terminus of the ancient trade route to the westernmost tip of China. Please note this is a soft adventure tour into China's hinterland where accommodations may be basic. Travellers sensitive to high altitudes may find the trip unsuitable.
15-day China Golden Route (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Shanghai - Hong Kong This all-inclusive luxury trip featuring China's most popular cities presents a sharp contrast between the old and new, from the awe-inspiring historic sites in Beijing and Xi'an to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. This tour has been a crowd favourite for over a decade, especially among busy corporate executives and white-collar professionals.
14-day Tibet & Beyond (2012) Beijing - Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Shanghai To many, a visit to Tibet can be a profound, life-altering spiritual experience and we certainly hope that's how you'd feel after this in-depth exploration of the Land of Snow Lion. On this tour you'll spend 6 days/5 nights in Tibet including one night in Shgatse.
13-day Essence of China (2012) Shanghai - Zhengzhou - Shaolin Temple - Luoyang - Xi'an - Beijing An inspiring cultural journey through the heartland of the ancient Chinese civilization, this new tour is a shortened version of the 17-day Treasures of China that has been successfully operated since 1998. Back to Top
13-day China Discovery (2012) Shanghai - Yichang - Yangtze Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Beijing The China Discovery Tour is similar to the 11-day Golden Triangle tour below except that it is in reverse order and with a 3-day cruise on the Yangtze River.
13-day Best of China (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Shanghai One of our most popular China vacation packages, this all-inclusive tour is a perfect choice for the time-pressed looking for a well-rounded introduction to both the old and modern China. The leisurely paced small-group China tour includes all the highlights the four cities are most famous for and still leaves you time to explore on your own. This is a premium China vacation package using luxury Sheraton hotels.
13-day China Experience (2012) Shanghai - Xi'an - Tai'an - Qufu - Jinan - Beijing This China trip conducted by experienced bilingual guides is packed with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among the highlights are sacred Mt. Tai (Taishan) and Qufu - Confucius hometown. The travel from Jinan to Beijing (450km) would be by super comfortable high-speed train on a recently completed Beijing-Shanghai railroad dedicated solely to passenger traffic, a great way for the traveller to experience China's new industrial prowess.
12-day Yangtze Expedition (2012) Beijing - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai Rising in the Tanggula Mountains in west-central China, the Yangtze at 6,300 km ranks as the third longest river in the world behind the Nile and Amazon. The river is a cradle of the Chinese civilization and consequently a cruise on it becomes a journey of cultural discovery. Shore excursions during the 3-day cruise take place daily introducing passengers to historic sites and the newly completed Three Gorges Dam. Highlights of the small-group tour also include the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
11-day Golden Triangle (2012) Beijing - Xi'an - Shanghai The well-paced luxury tour visits China's top three tourist cities. Among the highlights are the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Forbidden City and the awe-inspiring Terracotta Army. Like all other China tours we offer, on this tour you would not be marched tourist traps (stores, factory showrooms etc), which means your time is better used when you travel with us. We can also arrange a full-day Great Wall hiking on request, something many of our clients have done. This may not be a gourmet food tour but it is close as we only patronize quality restaurants catering to well-off customers.
International Airfares We use mostly Air Canada, Continental Airlines and American Airlines, allowing our customers to fly non-stop to China from various points in Canada and the US including Vancouver, Toronto, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, DC and Newark. Convenient air add-ons from other cities such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa can be arranged at very low cost. Back to Top	AC Preferred Seats UA Economy Plus
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Where do your tours depart? A: Our tours depart from Vancouver, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Customers from other cities can take advantage of our low-cost air add-ons. We have super low add-on fares from these cities: Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver etc. Clients from Hawaii can depart for China directly from Honolulu via Seoul or Tokyo. Q: What happens after my deposit is paid? A: The invoice will be delivered to you via e-mail within 2 business days upon receipt of your deposit. Instructions on China visa application will be e-mailed to you as soon as we receive your final payment which is due 70 days prior to departure date. Electronic tickets for international flights and the finalized itinerary with hotel and emergency local contact details will be sent via e-mail two (2) weeks before the trip. Q: What is the group size? A: 10 to 20. Tours with less than 10 participants may proceed as planned subject to a surcharge. Q: Do I need a passport and visa to travel to China? A: Yes. Please visit our Webpage Chinese Visa or wait till you sign up for detailed information. Q: Can you help us obtain Chinese visa? A: Yes. Please visit our Webpage Chinese Visa or wait till you sign up for detailed information. Our visa service is available only to our tour participants. Q: Does Laurus Travel accept credit cards? A: We accept Visa and MasterCard. Credit card payments are subject to a surcharge. Please contact us for the current surcharge before signing up with us. Q: How do I know I am suitable for a Laurus tour? A: The answer is two-fold. First, we ask anyone travelling with us to be respectful, friendly, follow our rules, travel light, educate themselves on the concept of group travel. Second, we only accept those free of any physical or mental disability that requires special attention because, without exception, our tours involve frequent and very strenuous walking and stair climbing. Q: What does the tour price include? A: See Terms & Conditions and the itinerary for details. Q: Does Laurus Travel have a recommended reading list? A: Please visit our Webpage Recommended Reading for the updated reading list. Q: Where do we eat when meals are not included? A: Your guides will recommend restaurants near the hotels based on your preference and budget. You can count on the guides for reliable advice. Q: Do you recommend any inoculation shots? A: See Health & Hygiene below for details. Q: Do I need Chinese currency before arrival? A: No. See Money below for details. Q: What is the baggage allowance on intra-China flights? A: Twenty kilograms or 44 pounds. See What to Wear & Pack below and Terms & Conditions. Q: Where do we meet the guide and the rest of the group? A: If you purchased the full package with international airfare and arrive according to tour schedule, you will be met at the airport on arrival. Otherwise, you'll need to get to the hotel on your own to join the group. Click here to view our flag. Q: What time zone is China in? A: China spans several time zones but the whole country operates to a single standard time (GMT+8) all year round. Beijing Standard Time is 13 hours ahead of North America's Eastern Standard Time and 16 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. The difference becomes one hour less during Daylight Saving Time in North America. Q: Do we eat Chinese food throughout the tour? A: Please see Terms & Conditions - Food & Beverage. Q: Is Internet access available at all the hotels? A: Yes. Almost all the hotels we use have free Wi-Fi in the lobby area. Most of Sheraton hotels in China are furnished with Link@Sheraton where Internet connected computers are available to in-house guests at no charge. Q: Is it expensive to call home from China? A: Don’t let the hotels gouge you! If you use a phone card purchased locally, you can save lots of money on long-distance calls. We also have local mobile phones for rental per details at Mobile Phone Rental. Q: Do I get non-smoking rooms throughout the tour? A: Yes. See Terms & Conditions for details. Q: Is laundry service available during the tour? A: Hotels provide speedy laundry service but the price may not be cheap. Laundromat style self-service facilities are not available or very hard to find in China. It's essential to bring clothing that can be worn in layers and easy to wash by hand. Q: Do I need to bring my own hair dryer? A: No. The hotels all have it. Q: How bad is cigarette smoking in China? A: Chinese smoke everywhere including in elevators and restaurants. China accounts for 20% of the world's population but consumes over 30% of the world's tobacco products. The Chinese smokers amount to over 300 million, equal to 9 times of Canada's population or the entire population of the United States. Q: Is quality medical care available in China? A: If money is not an issue, you can find medical facilities in China that rival some of the best in North America. Be sure you have adequate medical and evacuation coverage. If you don't and you still prefer the best local hospital, you may have a heart attack when you see the bill! Q: Are public toilets outside hotels generally clean? A: Generally, the answer is no. If fact, they can be very filthy. Please bring your own antiseptic wipes and toilet paper. Q: How do we handle tipping? A: Please refer to Terms & Conditions and the document titled Important Pre-trip Information for details. Q: What airlines do you use for transpacific flights? A: For clients departing from Canada, we use Air Canada and Air China. Both airlines are Star Alliance members and code-share many flights; passengers flying Air China can collect Aeroplan reward points. Clients from the United States should contact us for more information. Q: What airlines do you use for intra-China flights? A: We choose the local airlines based on convenience and cost, with a slight preference for Hainan Airlines. There is no Chinese air carrier that ranks far below average in terms of flight safety and don't forget that the overall safety record of Chinese airlines is as good as any major airline in the US or Canada. We attribute the satisfactory record of the Chinese airlines to vigorous supervision of the Chinese civil aviation authorities and the young age of the airplanes. Fleet age as of March 2011 United Airlines: 13.9 years Air Canada: 11.2 years Air China: 7.4 years Hainan Airlines: 5.4 years