What is the best time to travel?
Our comprehensive tours have been specifically designed for travel during the most comfortable seasons for travel to your destination.
The most popular and comfortable time to travel to China are in the seasons of Spring and Autumn which run from March through to the end of May and September through to the end of November respectively.
The only items not included in your fully inclusive package are the compulsory tipping amount (will be advised before departure), beverages and personal expenditure. What this means for you is that after paying the initial cost your can sit back, relax and we will take care of the rest!
What types of meals are served on tour?
All group tours include 3 meals per day - breakfast lunch and dinner. Breakfast is a combination of eastern and western cuisine served in buffet style. Lunch and dinner usually consist of local cuisine served in a banquet style with a wide range of dishes from which. Packed lunches or dinners may be served when traveling by train or on a day trip.
You will also have the opportunity to sample dishes which are of specialty to particular regions such as Peking Duck in Beijing and the Shui Jiao Banquet in Xian. Whilst on tour you will realise the cultural importance of food and meal times in the country you are traveling in. Our aim is to ensure that our tour members experience all facets of the culture.
One complimentary glass of beer will be served with lunch and dinner in China, all other beverages will be at your own cost.
Can I drink the local tap water?
To esure an enjoyable tour by all, we strongly recommend that you do not drink tap water, nor take ice with your drinks. All hotel rooms will provide flasks of boiled water which may be used for drinking and cleaning teeth.
Is it worthwhile to have travel insurance?
It is a condition of travel that you take out travel insurance, to cover you against any situations that may arise. Please enquire with one of our friendly staff or ask your travel agent for further details.
What immunisation do I need, when travelling to China?
A Health Certificate is not required when traveling to China. Please consult your doctor or contact a Travel Clinic for your vaccination requirements.
How far in advance should I book?
As a general rule, it is best to book as soon as you have made a firm decision on a particular tour in order to avoid disappointment, as our tours fill up rather quickly. To make a booking, contact our office to check for availability, then simply fill out our booking form and send a ZAR2 500.00pp deposit.
Do you create tours specifically for my requirements?
We understand that group travel is not always suited for everyone, so we will happily custom make any itinerary to suit your specific needs. Please locate our tailor made itineray icon on the home page for further details.
How much money should I allocate for tipping?
Introduced by large number of tourists, tipping is now a compulsory aspect of the tourism industry today. In an effort to minimize the impact on our tour members, we ask each tour member to allocate an additional amount of approximately USD 60-80 per person, which is to be given to your National Escort when you first arrive, to enable him/her to do the necessary tipping on your behalf. The exact amount will be specified closer to your departure date.
For independent travellers and those tour members who are doing an extension, an additional sum will be required. For those doing independent travel, a tip of app RMB40 for the guide and RMB20 for the driver is recommended.
What are the coaches and train compartments like on the tours?
Most coaches used whilst on tour are air conditioned and occupy seating for up to 35 people. Train travel utilizes the first class carriages, with approx seven compartments in each carriage. Each consists of 4 people sharing one compartment, with 4 soft sleeper beds. The trains are clean and comfortable.
How much free time do we get whilst on tour?
As indicated in our itineraries daily activities are planned, however the programs are flexible, as whilst at the attractions a period of time is allocated where you are free to roam as you please. Generally, apart from a few performances, the evenings are your own also.
What type of guides escort the tour?
We have two types of guides that escort the tour, one is the national escort who meets you upon arrival and travels with you on a day to day basis. The other are the local guides, who specialise is each city you travel through.
How do I get my visa?
Visas are essential when travelling to China. Your visa costs are included in all fully inclusive tour packages for South African passport holders. Additional costs apply for non South African passport holders. All you have to do is fill out the relevant visa application forms, and send them to us along with your passports roughly two months before your departure date.
What is the breakaway fee?
All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set itinerary will incur a breakaway fee of ZAR700.00 per person.
What is the fuel surcharge?
All packages that are inclusive of flights will be subject to airline fuel surcharges that will be applied from time to time by the airline and will be in addition to the cost of the tour. These fees cannot be waived.
What is a Re-routing Fee?
A re-routing fee will be applied whenever a passenger changes the arrival/ departure city, to that of another where there is a difference in the airfare cost.
Are there any baggage restrictions?
All passengers are limited to two (2) items of luggage each:
> One (1) suitcase or backpack, with a maximum weight of 20kg and maximum size of 70 litres.
> One (1) piece of hand luggage, with a maximum weight of 5kg. It is advisable that your hand luggage consist of a day “daypack”- a small bag which you can access during the day and carry items like your camera, drinking water, toilet paper, hat etc.