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
- Silk Road 10D Group Tour: Xining, Chaka, Golmud, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Xining
- 8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Small Group Tour
- 6 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Group Tour
- 6 Days Central Tibet Culture Small Group Tour: Explore Tibet's religion, cultural gems, and captivating landscapes
- 8 Days Lhasa Shigatse and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour
- Explore China (8 destinations)
- China Express
- Beijing to Hong Kong Adventure (12 destinations)
- Premium China
8-Day Best of China Tour: Luxury Small Group & 5-star Hotels
23 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 1 to 99 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator TravelChinaGuide From $2,657
15% Off- NZ$2,258You save $399
Duration 10 days Destinations Xining, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye Age Range 6 to 80 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 8 Group Type Group Operator Top China Travel From
15% Off- NZ$2,740
Duration 8 days Destinations Beijing, Xiangfan, Shanghai Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Expeditions Gateways From $7,973
50% Off- NZ$3,986You save $3,986
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 2 to 80 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Great Tibet Tour From
50% Off- NZ$1,512
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 7 to 80 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator Tibet Vista From
50% Off- NZ$1,328
8 Days Lhasa Shigatse and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“He also tried to offer a range of options to keep the majority of the group happy.”
Ellen, traveled in June
Duration 8 days Destinations Lhasa, Shannan, Gyantse, Shigatse, Namtso Lake Age Range 7 to 80 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type GroupPersonalized Operator Tibet Vista From
50% Off- NZ$1,959
Explore China (8 destinations)
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I didn't have any problems at all during the trip and I'm sure if there was something wrong our tour leader would try his best to help.”
Joseph, 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 15 to 99 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Intrepid Travel From $4,880
15% Off- NZ$4,148You save $732
China Express
36 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Such a small team and this allowed us to get around all security checks swiftly and through all places visited.”
Kara, traveled in January
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 up to 90 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type Group Operator G Adventures From $2,439
15% Off- NZ$2,073You save $366
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 15 to 99 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Intrepid Travel From $3,895
5% Off- NZ$3,700You save $195
Small groups share meaningful experiences like home-cooked meals in Beijing's hutongs and cooking classes in Yangshuo. Cultural exchanges flourish while visiting the Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall.
Duration 12 days Destinations Shanghai, Huizhou, Yangshuo, Xi'an, Beijing Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Group Size Max Group Size 12 Group Type Group Operator Intrepid Premium From $7,965
5% Off- NZ$7,567You save $398
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
- 8 Days Lhasa Shigatse and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour
Tenzin was helpful and informative throughout the trip. He also tried to offer a range of options to keep the majority of the group happy and was able to organise alternatives.
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.