On Our Trip

Why do you use Chinese tour leaders?
How much free time is there?
Will there be time to explore the cities we start and end in, or should I allow extra time?
What standard of accommodation is like?
What will the food be like?
I'm a vegetarian or have special dietary needs, is that a problem?
How do I get to the start of the tour?
Can I book extra accommodation for the start or end of the tour?
Can we book a triple room?
Can I book a single room?
Is it possible to make any changes to the itinerary of my group trip?
While on my group trip can I add in an extra night en route?
What form of transport do we use?
Is train travel comfortable and convenient in China?
Are there any long travelling days?
Is language a problem in China?
What will the weather be like?
When is the best time to visit China?


Why do you use Chinese tour leaders?Top
One of the main reasons many travellers choose PANDA is the fact that we exclusively use Chinese tour leaders who were born and grown up in China. They are highly qualified, speak excellent English and their intimate knowledge of their homeland enables them to unlock doors and show you things that other travellers miss out on. Travelling with a Chinese leader means that you enjoy a uniquely local perspective, meeting your leaders' friends along the way, eating at restaurants where the locals eat and seeing things that you won't find in any guidebooks.

Our Chinese tour leaders come from different parts of the country, and a few of them are minority group people. All of them are licensed tour guides approved by the China National Tourism Administration. They possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, so you can be confident you're in safe hands. They can tell you the how the terra-cotta warriors was discovered in 1970s, they can tell you how the pandas were raised and they can tell you what's their belief of Tibetan Buddhism. They are out in the field, continually monitoring and refining our adventures to ensure we offer the most innovative trips, as well as the best value for money. There's a lot of fun to travel with a local Chinese tour leader.

How much free time is there?Top
It is an integral part of all PANDA trips to give you enough free time to explore by yourself. Many of your most memorable experiences will occur when you branch out and do your own thing. We understand that different people have different interests, so we build in free time to make your own discoveries. The framework is in place and the details are taken care of, but on many days, you decide what you want to see and do. After all, you might be thoroughly sick and tired of temples, while another group member just can't get enough of them. It's your holiday, so it's your choice.

Will there be time to explore the cities we start and end in, or should I allow extra time?Top
With all of our tours, we believe we have well balanced itineraries to enable you to explore all the places you are visiting. There is generally no need to arrive early or leave later, unless you have a specific interest in the relevant city but then again, there is always more to discover for first time visitor and we can arrange additional accommodation, should you need it.

What standard of accommodation is like?Top
Your accommodation will be basic, but clean and comfortable, locally run, and usually reflecting the character of the region. Aside from being a more interesting place to stay than a brand internationally run hotel, this also helps to keep the cost down and by supporting local businesses you help the local economy. You might also spend a night or two in a 'home stay' or lodge - these could be fairly basic, but will almost certainly end up being one of the highlights, offering a chance to really immerse yourself in the local culture.

What will the food be like?Top
The food on a PANDA trip will definitely be a highlight of your China trip. By using local leaders, we can take you to out of the way places and experience foods that you would never dream of! The leaders' local knowledge will mean you can decipher menus and work out what you really want to eat. There will always be a very strong local influence in the food, which we believe is what travel is all about. There might also be a chance to take part in a cooking course in certain destinations, which usually include a trip to the local markets to buy the produce for the day's cooking.

I'm a vegetarian or have special dietary needs, is that a problem?Top
No problem at all! The only important thing is that you let us know in advance, so we can inform our tour leaders. That way, they can look out for you and make sure you are looked after in the local restaurants. It is important to realise that in some places your diet might be slightly limited, as meat can form an integral part of the local diet.

How do I get to the start of the tour?Top
Tours will always start in a specified hotel and we will let you know exactly when you need to be at that hotel. You can find the details of the starting hotel in each trip dossier. We can organise airport transfers, if you wish. Just let us know your flight arrival details.

Can I book extra accommodation for the start or end of the tour?Top
Yes. In all cases, we can organise extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour. Just let us know and we'll organise a quote for you.

Can we book a triple room?Top
All PANDA trips are organised on a twin share basis. Some places will be able to provide a triple room however the majority of our hotels do not have such rooms available. Triple rooms can never be guaranteed.

Can I book a single room?Top
You can book pre and post accommodation on a single basis, however throughout your PANDA trip, rooming is organised on a twin share basis.

Is it possible to make any changes to the itinerary of my group trip?Top
No. It is not possible to make any changes to our group trip itineraries.

While on my group trip can I add in an extra night en route?Top
No. It is not possible to make any changes to our group trip itineraries..

What form of transport do we use?Top
As a general rule, we travel on local transport, mixing with the locals and getting involved. In some places, the best way to explore is on foot, in others we'll jump on boats, canoes, camels, tuk-tuks... you get the picture. The style of transport will be as varied as it is fun... we don't like sealing you up in a 50 seater coach. Sometimes, however, local transport is not practical, so in these instances, we hire our own vehicles.

Is train travel comfortable and convenient in China?Top
Yes, traveling by train is one of your experiences in your China trip. Train travel is widely used by the local population and is comfortable and convenient in China. PANDA will book sleeper tickets for our clients. All the sleepers are reserved and your luggage will go with you on the train. Usually boiled water is available and snacks trolley go by frequently, however we recommend you carry your own bottled waters and buy some snacks before departure at the supermarket at train station. There's a lot of fun to travel by train in China.

Are there any long travelling days?Top
Many of the tours have several long travelling days, often on local transport, and sometimes on rough roads. The trips are packed with highlights and the pace is fast, so we can see as much as possible. Although there's always time to chill out, enjoy a cold drink and watch the world go by if that's what you feel like doing. The trip dossier for each trip will give you a strong indication of the travelling times for each day.

Is language a problem in China?Top
Mandarin is spoken throughout China, and most people in Hong Kong also can speak Cantonese and English. English is a foreign language for locals and most of them can not speak English, though English becomes more and more popular in main cities. At international hotels and popular tourist places, a limited staff can speak English.

What will the weather be like?Top
It is important when traveling in China to be prepared for extremes in temperature. On our trips which involve in trekking in mountains (e.g. Tiger Leaping Gorge or Great Wall trekking) you should prepare for it to get cool, even in the summer months. Pack some thermal underwear, which are lightweight and take up little room but are worth their weight in gold. In the winter months, which are November to March, it is necessary to pack a hat, gloves, thermal underwear, fleece jacket and a wind/waterproof jacket on all our trips. It can get extremely cold so you should be prepared. When traveling on the Silk Road trip much of the journey is through desert, so make sure you pack plenty of sun block and a hat that provides shade.

For more general weather information we suggest you visit www.worldweather.org.

When is the best time to visit China?Top
Choosing the best time to visit China depends on which places you wish to go. In northern China during winter time (December to February), it's very cold and windy, whilst in southern China, like Guilin and Yunnan, it's still comfortable to travel. Generally the best time to China starts from April to October for most of PANDA trips.

There are two long holidays for Chinese domestic tourists, e.g. National Day's Holiday (1st Oct - 7 Oct) and Spring Festival (usually late February). Try to avoid these peak seasons with flooding tourists.