South East Asia Local boat rides Trips

This was an amazing trip! I was initially drawn to it by the opportunity to explore the Great Wall of China without the crowds, and this trip did not disappoint - we hardly shared the wall with anyone most days, and of those we did meet they were mostly friendly locals or school groups. The scenery was also exceptional and just got better and better - by the end stages the Wall felt more like a mountain ridge walk traversing beautiful lush valleys of chestnut, apricot, walnut and mulberry trees on either side - bliss! Our guide Olly was a superstar, warm, open to any questions and without error; he clearly is very experienced and I felt in safe hands throughout - one of the best tour leaders I have travelled with. I particularly liked that Olly used local people living besides the Wall to help guide some of the more remote parts; these people were always friendly and provided a more authentic insight into living in the areas around the wall we visited. The accommodation in the more rural areas was also charming, if basic in places, and the evening meals were all excellent and never any more than £10 (including a well-deserved beer each night). Beyond the Wall both Beijing and Xi'an were very different but equally fascinating, with lots to see and do. I would recommend doing all the optional extras (Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Panda visit, etc.). On a practical note a walking pole is very helpful, as is a hat and water bottles as it can get very hot. I would also recommend getting an eSIM with an inbuilt VPN before you travel as this way you can access all the usual websites (including WhatsApp) without issue, and also use AliPay in the shops (which is very easy, especially if you set it up before leaving home). Amaps is also useful to download as Google maps does not work in China.

This is a real gem of a trip! We had a fabulous guide (Ollie) who showcased the best of his country. How amazing it was to walk on the Great Wall, see the pandas and the Terracotta Warriors and be immersed in a culture that not only has great food but is hugely fascinately. Our guide Ollie facilitated everything to make our journey as enjoyable and unique as possible - we were able to pay for meals and excursions in cash to avoid payment app issues. For me the walking on the Wall was an experience of a lifetime although it is rather steep (and poles are needed). We walked in remote areas where we had the Wall to ourselves. The accommodation surpassed expectations and was comfortable, safe and charming. Try and arrive early in Beijing as there is loads to see and it's an interesting city. I loved this trip, great group and will have only positive and happy memories.

Fabulous trip. Best tour leader ever. Went above and beyond with helping us make the most of our time in China and helping me with my vegetarian diet. Would have a liked a little more time in Xi’an and Beijing. We were 80km from a panda sanctuary but unfortunately there want enough time. Tempted to go back and do another part of China.

This was a very educational journey and our guide provided wonderful background ahead of each magnificent site that we visited. She was also wisely strategic with arranging our inside and outside activities to beat the typical tourist crush and avoid the hottest times of day. There was always enough time to do some individual exploring and picture taking but the pace was appropriate to keep us moving. We saw so much!

Loved this trip. We had a few early starts, covered a lot of miles, but it was truly excellent. The trip lets you see some truly amazing sights that will live a long, long time in the memory. All the cities we stayed in were quite different from each other, which means every stop is a new experience. Man Mo temple in Hong Kong, limestone karst peaks, River Li cruise, Xi'an city walls and town, Terracotta Army, Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. All in one trip with more stuff on top of that. With spare time in the evenings in Xi'an, I recommend seeing the Bell and Drum towers lit up, absolutely stunning, and then get a meal in the muslim quarter which is super lively at night with tons of choice. If you fancy a real highlights of China trip, this does the trick. My only problem with it is that I liked it so much I want to go back and explore more of the country. We were super lucky to have Tracy Zhang as our tour leader, the loveliest person who looked after us extremely well. Her suggestions on what time is best to get to a particular place to avoid the busier period were all spot on. I could have happily had a few days more in Xi'an and Beijing. But you can easily add on more time to yourself in Beijing at the end if you wish. Getting about on your own there is easy and inexpensive on the metro. Loved it.

This trip was brilliant. It covered the main tourist sites all in one go, from stunning scenery at Gulin to Yangshou to beautifully crafted architecture and temples in Xian and Beijing. The people were friendly and the food was fantastic. My highlights were the boat to Yangshou and the country lanes bike ride - the contrast of the paddy fields and Karsts, such beautiful scenery. I could have spent 2 more days in Xian, there is so much to see. What we saw was spectacular - the only complete city wall left in China, the beautiful buddhist art at the Wild Goose Pagoda, the serene Great Mosque and the stunning Terracotta Army. I didn't want to leave and I'll definitely go back to see more of this fascinating country.