Small Group Tours Reviews

I’ve long heard about Xinjiang’s vastness and grandeur, but I was worried about the large area and inconvenient transportation, so I chose this company’s Small Group service. Unexpectedly, it became the most unforgettable part of my China trip! Our small group had 9 people, with a comfortable business car and a guide named Alim who knows Xinjiang well. Alim is Kazakh; he not only speaks fluent Chinese but also introduces local culture in English, and is very friendly to us foreign tourists.​ The itinerary covered classic attractions such as Kanas Lake, Sayram Lake, and Nalati Grassland. In Kanas, Alim took us on a niche hiking route, where we saw blue lakes, golden birch forests, and snow-capped mountains in the distance—the scenery was comparable to Canada’s Rocky Mountains! He also arranged for us to stay in Kazakh yurts; in the evening, we ate pilaf and roasted buns with local herdsmen, listened to them play the dombra and sing folk songs. The lively and warm atmosphere made me feel the enthusiasm of the people of Xinjiang.​ What touched me most were the details: knowing I had mild altitude sickness, Alim prepared oxygen tanks in advance; every day before departure, he would check our luggage and remind us to bring sunscreen (Xinjiang’s UV rays are really strong); when passing by fruit stalls along the way, he would bargain for us, letting us eat the freshest Hami melons and grapes. There were no mandatory consumption throughout the trip, and Alim recommended only restaurants and experience projects that locals visit.​ After returning to Canada, I often look at the photos I took in Xinjiang, and every time I can’t help but sigh: “It’s so beautiful!” If I have the chance, I want to take my family to Xinjiang again, and I will definitely choose this company’s small group service—they not only took us to see the scenery but also let us step into Xinjiang’s culture and life.

Our small group tour in Zhangjiajie with only 6 people was incredible! The guide was extremely professional and took us on some lesser-known paths in the forest park, perfectly avoiding the crowded tour groups. At Tianzi Mountain, we saw the sea of clouds swirling around the peaks, it was like a fairy tale. The guide was also a skilled photographer and proactively took photos for each of us from the best angles. The included Bailong Elevator ticket saved us about two hours of queueing. The Tujia-style dinner in the evening was a fantastic local experience, sour, spicy, and delicious. Our group mates from the US and Canada became fast friends, the atmosphere was great. This small group tour truly offers an in-depth experience, highly recommended!

I am full of curiosity about China’s ancient history, especially the Tang Dynasty culture, so I chose Xi’an’s Small Group Tour. When I saw the reviews of this company on Tripadvisor, “small group size” and “guide with rich historical knowledge” were the most attractive points—and after the actual experience, I think this is the most rewarding trip I have had in China!​ Our small group had only 6 people from different countries, and Guide Lao Zhou graduated from the history department and has a thorough understanding of Xi’an’s history. When we went to the Terracotta Army, he didn’t just take us to see the pit groups, but explained in detail the gestures and costumes of each terracotta warrior (which represented their identities), and even showed us color photos of the terracotta warriors when they were just unearthed on his mobile phone (I never knew the terracotta warriors were originally colored!). He also explained in a mix of simple English and Hindi to ensure I could understand everything; this patience moved me a lot.​ The most surprising part of the trip was the night tour of the Tang Dynasty Never-Sleeping City: Lao Zhou took us to watch the performance of the “Tumbler Lady,” explained the night market culture of the Tang Dynasty, and recommended local “roujiamo” (meat sandwich) and “yangrou paomo” (lamb soup with steamed bread). I told Lao Zhou that I like spicy food, so he specially took me to a small shop and added special chili oil—the taste was spicy and satisfying, more distinctive than the spicy snacks I have eaten in India!​ The transportation and tickets for the whole trip were arranged by the travel agency; I didn’t have to queue or find routes by myself, saving a lot of time. Lao Zhou would also remind us of the next day’s weather and clothing (the temperature difference between morning and evening in Xi’an is very large) after the end of each day’s itinerary. After returning to India, I wrote a detailed PRODUCT REVIEW on my travel blog, and many readers left messages saying they wanted to refer to my itinerary—if you are interested in Chinese history, you must choose this Small Group Tour; it will make you feel as interesting as “reading a living history book”!

My friends from Singapore and I are all nature lovers; we’ve always wanted to go to Xinjiang to see the grasslands, but worried that the small group service wouldn’t adapt to Singaporean habits. When we saw the positive review of this “Xinjiang Singaporean Exclusive Small Group” on Tripadvisor, saying that the guide understands Singaporean tastes and arranges halal meals, we formed a team to sign up—and it turned out to be our best trip this year!​ Our small group had 6 people, all Singaporeans. Guide Xiao Ma is a local Hui person in Xinjiang; he speaks Chinese + simple English, so there was no communication barrier. The itinerary covers Sayram Lake, Nalati Grassland, and Karajun Grassland. Xiao Ma knew we liked a slow pace, so he only arranged 1-2 attractions per day, leaving enough time for taking photos. When we were at Nalati Grassland, he took us to a herdsman’s home as guests; the halal milk tea was added with condensed milk that Singaporeans like, and the hand-grasped meat was served with onion sauce (not greasy). The herdsmen also taught us to dance Kazakh dances, and the video my friend took became popular on Singaporean social media!​ For food, Xiao Ma arranged halal restaurants throughout the trip, such as “Ailizhati Halal Restaurant” in Yining. The recommended spicy chicken pot (adjusted to mild spiciness) and roasted buns (super fragrant lamb filling) were more authentic than the Xinjiang restaurants in Singapore. The transportation used was a 7-seater business car with large space, and it was also equipped with sunscreen and mosquito repellent commonly used by Singaporeans (there are many mosquitoes on Xinjiang’s grasslands).​ The most touching part was that a friend suddenly caught a cold; Xiao Ma immediately went to the pharmacy to buy “Happiness Cold Tablets” which are common in Singapore, and also boiled ginger water for him. After returning to Singapore, we wrote a PRODUCT REVIEW in the travel group, and many people asked about the booking method—this Small Group not only let us see the beauty of Xinjiang but also made us feel “at home” through details; we will definitely bring our families here again next time!

Our family's small group tour in Zhangjiajie was absolutely perfect! The guide spoke both Chinese and English, so communication was zero problem for us Indonesian Chinese. He took us on the back trails of Yuanjiajie, completely avoiding the crowds, and we took many amazing photos. The sea of clouds at Tianzi Mountain was like a fairy tale; the kids were amazed. Most thoughtfully, the guide knew we are Muslim and specially arranged meals at halal restaurants within the scenic area. Although options were limited, we felt very respected. The seats for the evening "Charming Xiangxi" show were also great. The entire itinerary was well-paced and not tiring at all. Thank you so much!

As a Singaporean Chinese, I’ve long dreamed of Xinjiang’s grassland scenery, but always worried about the tiredness of long-distance travel and food adaptation. When I saw the review of this Small Group Tour on Tripadvisor—“7-person small group + full-process business car + halal food guarantee”—I booked it without hesitation, and this journey became my most unforgettable experience this year! Our small group had 6 people; guide Alim is a local Kazakh in Xinjiang, who speaks fluent Chinese and simple English, so communication was smooth. We started from Urumqi, taking a 7-seater business car throughout the trip—spacious and comfortable, with daily driving time controlled within 3 hours, no tiredness at all. The first stop was Nalati Grassland; Alim took us into a herdsman’s yurt, where we drank freshly boiled salty milk tea and listened to him tell the nomadic stories of the Kazakh people. He also taught us to ride horses, choosing docile ponies for the elderly in the group, and held the reins to protect them throughout—very careful. The food was my favorite part: the “Ailizhati Halal Restaurant” arranged by Alim had pilaf with tender and flavorful mutton, crispy-skinned roasted buns, and even the vegetable salad dressing was confirmed alcohol-free, perfectly matching Singaporean tastes (not too salty or greasy). At Sayram Lake, he prepared a picnic mat and halal snacks in advance; we sat by the lake watching the snow-capped mountain reflections and feeling the breeze—this comfort exceeded expectations. The most thoughtful part was the details: knowing Singaporeans are afraid of sunburn, Alim prepared sun hats for everyone; the homestay at night had an electric kettle (convenient for making coffee brought from Singapore); on the last day of the trip, he also helped us purchase Xinjiang specialties (raisins, almonds) and sent them directly to the airport for checked luggage. After returning to Singapore, I posted grassland photos on Moments, and many friends asked me for the booking link—this Small Group Tour balances “comfort” and “characteristics” perfectly, definitely worth recommending!

I brought my 6-year-old son from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to China; I most wanted to take him to see pandas, but was worried that the spicy food in Chengdu would be unsuitable for him. When I saw the “Cambodian-speaking guide + family-friendly” review of this City Package on Trustpilot, after booking the 3-day itinerary, I found that it fully took care of our needs!​ Guide Xiao Chen is a local Chinese in Chengdu, who speaks fluent Cambodian (my son was born in Cambodia and only understands Cambodian and simple Chinese). When he met us, he handed over a small children’s fan and panda-shaped snacks, and my son immediately liked him. On the first day at the Panda Base, Xiao Chen helped us exchange Fastpass cards in advance and took us directly to the “Baby Panda Villa”—when my son saw the baby panda climbing a tree, he excitedly shouted “so cute” in Cambodian. Xiao Chen also helped us take photos with panda dolls, capturing many parent-child moments.​ The food adjustment was particularly thoughtful: knowing that Cambodians like light tastes, when he took us to the “Chengdu Impression” restaurant, he specially asked the chef to make “Mapo Tofu” non-spicy, and the recommended “steamed sea bass” and “scrambled eggs with tomatoes” were all flavors my son loves; in the afternoon, when visiting Kuanzhai Alleys, he took us to eat “tangyou guozi” (sugar-coated fried dough balls), which were crispy outside and glutinous inside. My son ate two at a time and said, “It’s more delicious than Cambodian banana pancakes.”​ The itinerary pace was very slow: only two attractions were arranged every day, and a 2-hour nap time was reserved for my son at noon; on the second day, we visited Chengdu Science and Technology Museum, Xiao Chen explained the robot performance to my son in Cambodian, and my son also operated scientific experiments by himself, having fun while learning knowledge; on the last day, Xiao Chen helped us book the shuttle service from the “panda-themed homestay” to the airport, and also gave my son a panda backpack as a gift.​ After returning to Cambodia, my son holds the panda photos every day and says “want to go to Chengdu again.” This City Package does an excellent job of “parent-child interaction” and “food adaptation”—if you are a Cambodian Chinese bringing children to Chengdu, choosing it is definitely correct—it makes our trip both easy and full of happiness!​

Coming from Malaysia, we had never seen snow before. This small group ice and snow tour in Harbin made our dream come true! The agency sent us detailed warmth-keeping guidelines in advance, which were very useful. Our group was small, only 8 people. At the Ice and Snow World, the guide took us to all the most fun attractions, like the big slides, and helped us take many beautiful photos. For lunch, they took us for a hot Northeastern stew in an iron pot, which warmed us up instantly. The most memorable part was at the Yabuli Ski Resort; the instructor was very patient teaching us beginners. Although the weather was cold, our hearts were warm. Thank you for giving us such wonderful memories!

Winter trips to Northeast China to see ice and snow have been my dream for years, but I always worried about language and transportation issues when planning a Harbin trip alone. Recommended by a friend, I chose this company’s Small Group Day-trip, and all my concerns disappeared! Our small group had 7 people, and Guide Brother Wang not only spoke fluent Chinese but also basic Japanese, making communication smooth. The trip started at Harbin Ice and Snow World—he booked tickets in advance to avoid long queues. The moment I walked into the ice sculpture castle, I was too shocked to speak! Brother Wang also taught us how to slide safely on the ice slides and took many atmospheric photos for us. Later, we went to Central Avenue; he recommended authentic Russian Western food, and the taste of borscht and braised lamb in a jar is still unforgettable. He also took us to try Madi’er ice cream—eating ice cream at -20°C was such a unique experience!​ The most thoughtful part was that Brother Wang prepared warm patches and a thermos in advance. Knowing I was afraid of the cold, he even reminded me to wear thick socks. In the evening, we went to Songhua River to see ice lanterns; he explained Harbin’s Russian expatriate history in detail, letting me not only see the beautiful scenery but also understand the city’s culture. There were no shopping stops throughout the trip, and the pace was relaxed. After returning to Japan, I’ve shared this trip on social media, and many friends have asked me for the booking link. If I want to experience China’s ice and snow again next year, I will definitely choose this company!