China Small Group Tours
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10 best China small group tours
Compiled by
MelissaChina travel expert at TourRadar
- 8-Day Best of China Tour: Luxury Small Group & 5-star Hotels
- 6 Days Central Tibet Culture Small Group Tour: Explore Tibet's religion, cultural gems, and captivating landscapes
- 6 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Group Tour
- 8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Small Group Tour
- China Odyssey Panda (Private Guide No Group) Family Customizable Tour
- China Express
- Explore China (8 destinations)
- Beijing to Hong Kong Adventure (12 destinations)
- 11-Day China Panda Tour: Small Group & High-quality Hotels
- 6-Day Beijing & Xi'an Tour: High-end Small Group & 5-star Hotels
8-Day Best of China Tour: Luxury Small Group & 5-star Hotels
24 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great guides, super well organized, amazing hotels. They send you a list of things to set up beforehand.”
Amanda, traveled in September
Small groups of 2-18 travelers get personal attention at iconic sites like Mutianyu Great Wall and Terracotta Army. For travelers aged 5+, the tour offers cultural connections through family home visits in Beijing's hutongs and hands-on activities like crafting mini warriors in Xi'an's cave dwellings.
Duration 8 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator TravelChinaGuide From $2,705
15% Off- NZ$2,299You save $406
6 Days Central Tibet Culture Small Group Tour: Explore Tibet's religion, cultural gems, and captivating landscapes
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The hotel has no air conditioning and I was arranged a room at the south side which was a boiler room.”
Ivy, traveled in June
Duration 6 days Destinations Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse Age Range Ages 7+ Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator Tibet Vista From
15% Off- NZ$1,356
6 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Group Tour
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Tibet is stunning—like, jaw-droppingly beautiful! Seriously, this trip was perfect in every way.”
Tez, traveled in January
Local English-speaking guides lead intimate group tours through Tibet, costing approx. $160 per day. Sacred sites like Jokhang Temple and Pelkor Chöde Monastery become more accessible. Morning pickups at 9:30 AM provide relaxed starts, with oxygen tanks available for high-altitude comfort.
Duration 6 days Destinations Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Great Tibet Tour From
15% Off- NZ$1,544
Duration 8 days Destinations Beijing, Xiangfan, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Expeditions Gateways From
15% Off- NZ$8,142
Duration 15 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 10 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Operator UME Travel Co. Ltd From
15% Off- NZ$7,465
China Express
37 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour was a fantastic experience.”
Anne-Marie, traveled in June
Small groups of 12-15 adventurers share intimate moments at the Mutianyu Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors. Local experiences range from Beijing's metro rides to Shanghai's Bund explorations with an expert CEO guide.
Duration 8 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai Age Range Ages 12+ Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type Group Operator G Adventures From $2,439
40% Off- NZ$1,463You save $976
Explore China (8 destinations)
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Organised, planned well, everything was as described in the trip notes.”
Jacqui, traveled in April
Small groups of 10-15 travelers share authentic moments throughout China. Highlights include home-cooked lunches in Xi'an and tea tasting at a Dragon Well village farmer's home, plus visits to the Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors.
Duration 12 days Destinations Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Beijing Age Range Ages 15+ Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Intrepid Travel From $5,370
10% Off- NZ$4,833You save $537
Intimate groups share local experiences like homemade dumplings in Beijing and family meals in Yangshuo's countryside. Personal attention enhances visits to the Dujiangyan Panda Center and ancient Tai'an Town.
Duration 12 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangshuo, Guilin, Hong Kong Age Range Ages 15+ Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Intrepid Travel From $4,050
10% Off- NZ$3,645You save $405
11-Day China Panda Tour: Small Group & High-quality Hotels
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“she was well spoken, handled our group wonderfully and went above and beyond to answering any questions.”
Sandra, traveled in March
Small groups of 2-18 travelers receive dedicated attention at Temple of Heaven and Jinsha Museum. The intimate setting allows for home-cooked meals with local families in Beijing's hutongs and clay warrior making in Xi'an.
Duration 11 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator TravelChinaGuide From $3,991
15% Off- NZ$3,392You save $599
6-Day Beijing & Xi'an Tour: High-end Small Group & 5-star Hotels
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The sights we visited were partly very crowded, but with the small group and the great help of the guides, we were flexible and could enjoy everything very much.”
Sabine, traveled in August
Groups of 2-18 travelers receive focused attention at the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Cultural highlights include Beijing Opera makeup demonstrations and Tai Chi practice with locals in Xi'an's City Wall Park.
Duration 6 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator TravelChinaGuide From
15% Off- NZ$1,882
Reviews of Small Group tours to China
- 8-Day Best of China Tour: Luxury Small Group & 5-star Hotels
Great small group tour. Linda in Beijing and Ocean in Shanghai were both excellent guides. Some days were a little drawn out and could be modified and for some reason 2 of the hotels had no aircon turned on which would have been good to know as everyone wasted a lot of time trying to get theirs to work when we could have just been told and ordered a fan for the room. Overall an excellent Golden Triangle Tour
I traveled with my parents to Tibet for the first time. We all can only say great things by the tour guide given to us by this agency. We would recommend this agency to anyone traveling to Tibet. And our tour guide Lobsung was very special to us. He waited in the airport for us after our flight was delayed due to weather. We where all exhausted, I'm sure he must have been too, but he greeted us very kindly. He was extremely accomodating to us and was constantly there to help us with anything. He is an excellent tour guide!
6 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Group Tour
- China Express
Firstly the accommodation for the first night was moved to another hotel the day before the tour started. The hotel where we were moved to had no record of us. The same thing happened to the rest of our tour group. This defeats the purpose of booking through an agent. We waited in the foyer for hours (after a very long flight) to get a room in the hotel. The hotel was far from the original hotel and before we started the tour we planned to see sites and researched metro stops etc.
What our customers ask about China Small Group Tours
What type of accommodation can I expect on a small group tour in China?
Small group tours provide comfortable lodging in 4-5 star hotels that are centrally located. Guests can expect properties like the Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong in Beijing the Crowne Plaza in Xi'an and the Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World. A recent TourRadar traveler noted: "The accommodation was excellent throughout with sumptuous breakfasts and great central locations."
What unique experiences are offered on small group tours in China?
These tours give travelers access to local homes traditional tea ceremonies and cultural demonstrations. In Xi'an visitors can make dumplings with local families join private Tai Chi lessons and get special access at the Terracotta Warriors site. The tours include stays at upscale hotels such as the Crowne Plaza Xi'an and Radisson Blu Shanghai New World. According to a TourRadar traveler: "We particularly enjoyed having informed and caring guides and authentic local experiences like our fabulous lunch meal in Shanghai."
How does transportation work on small group tours in China?
Transportation includes private coaches high-speed trains and flights between major cities. Groups take the bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an which takes 5 hours and fly to destinations like Zhangjiajie. The smaller group size means comfortable travel in private vehicles including trips to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Travelers report: "Everything was well coordinated with seamless transfers between various parts of the tour."
What meals are included on small group tours in China?
Tours generally cover daily hotel breakfasts authentic Chinese lunches at selected local restaurants and special dining events like the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show in Xi'an. Welcome lunches often valued at 150 USD per person and farewell dinners featuring regional dishes are common inclusions. A TourRadar traveler noted: "The authentic meals were a highlight especially experiencing local cuisine with our small group."
How does pricing compare between small group and large group tours in China?
Small group tours cost between USD 150-300 daily while larger groups range from USD 80-150. The higher rates reflect perks like exclusive hotels including the Sunworld Hotel in Beijing or Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel in Xi'an private transport focused guide attention and flexible scheduling. TourRadar data shows small group tours average USD 284 per day.
What is the typical small group size for tours in China?
Groups usually consist of 2-18 travelers creating a more personal experience. TravelChinaGuide's tours keep numbers low to ensure quality time at major sites like the Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall. A TourRadar participant shared: "I liked the small group size. It made visiting places like the Forbidden City much more manageable and intimate." This format allows for special activities like visiting Beijing hutong families and dumpling-making sessions at Xi'an's Tang Paradise Hotel.