Feedback on travel agencies for China?

Hi there, I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026. The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting. Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback? Is there a better option? Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this! Michel

Hi there,

It's pretty easy to travel in China. You don’t wanna do it without an agency?

Hi Vilabel. Thanks for your message. I hadn’t thought of that. Traveling with an agency seemed safer to me. What do you mean by "it’s easy"—public transport? English signs? Do GPS apps work well? ... Have you done this before? Solo? For how many weeks? Do you have a travel journal or recap of your memories on this forum? Thanks for your answers. Miiki

Hi there,

Yes, I’m actually working on my travel journal right now. You can already read the first week on the China forum.

wow! indeed, it was a fantastic trip, despite the setbacks! It seems you're already quite the seasoned globetrotter and this isn’t your first trip to China—or even Asia. So, you were already pretty familiar with these countries and their customs. Plus, you seem young. My own adventures have been in Latin America (Central and South), always solo and off the beaten path. So China (even Asia as a whole) is a big unknown for me. Your way of traveling is tempting. Thanks for sharing, along with those beautiful photos. I think for my first trip to Asia, I’ll still let myself be guided by tour guides. That’ll be a first for me too. After that, I feel like I’ll dive back in solo. But that’s another story. I’ll keep following your posts. So interesting! !

hi Miki I’m heading to China on 15/03 from Shanghai—leaving on 05/04 from Beijing— so 21 days through a Chinese agency. Travel by car with a driver, a French-speaking guide at each stop, 3-star hotels, breakfast included + one meal per day. All paid sites covered, plus domestic transport. 9,200 € for 2 people, excluding international flights. We were really impressed by their responsiveness, availability, and the quality of their suggestions—they were truly attentive to our needs. We changed our itinerary 4 times, and each time they provided a little feedback. After contacting 2 French agencies, there was no comparison—no photos either!

Hi there, It really depends on where you want to go in China, but visiting the major highlights without an agency isn’t hard, especially if you're used to independent travel. Transport is inexpensive and easy to use. Accommodation is still very affordable, and food isn’t expensive either. The only potential hurdle is the language barrier, but these days, the tools we have make communicating with locals much easier. Of course, if you plan to visit remote areas, renting a car with a driver might be best—but the bill will add up... China is a beautiful country. My advice? Just go! !

Hello,

A classic 3-week itinerary from Beijing to Shanghai in *** hotels at the price you mentioned seems way overpriced to me. That’s why I’m chiming in. To give you an idea, I’d recommend checking hotel rates on Booking or Trip.com for the places you want to visit. On Trip.com, you’ll also find entry fees for attractions. Note that there are often big discounts—or even free entry—for seniors over 65. You’ll also see train fares, etc. Watch out for Chinese agencies that might charge foreigners a premium. If you really want to go through a travel agency, I’d actually suggest using a French one. "Ciel Chine" has an excellent reputation for good reason—it’s a Franco-Chinese agency. Happy travels!

Thanks a lot for your reply, but 9,000 € is way over my budget. I still wish you a great trip! !

Thanks a lot for your reply. I’m actually starting to have doubts. Not only does the language seem like a barrier, but especially the writing if there’s no translation into ‘normal’ characters. In Latin America, it’s easy—I speak Spanish. I’ll think about it.

Well, here I am back. 17 days with the agency ''Terres Lointaines''. It was really good... but I don’t think I’d do it again. Too used to traveling solo, I sometimes found it tough to follow a fixed itinerary, set schedules, and marching in step with the group. That said, the group was nice, and the vibe was great. The guides were also excellent—welcoming and knowledgeable. The hotels (sometimes too luxurious for my taste) were fine. The agency’s info was accurate. The extras were interesting: the Peking Circus show, the Tang Emperor performance in Xi’an, etc. The sites we visited were perfect (except for Trump, who kept us from seeing the Temple of Heaven in Beijing)... What I didn’t like was the lack of freedom—you have to stick close to the guide (which makes sense but isn’t always fun; I’d sometimes rather wander off). The schedules were sometimes too strict (45 minutes on the Great Wall? Way too short!). But the program’s the program, and you’ve got to stick to it. On the other hand, so much wasted time: a coloring contest, silk shops, jade shops (scams?), a cooking class, a tea demonstration (with a shop attached)... I felt there were more interesting places and sites to see instead. To top it off, I had a rough return flight with Lufthansa (unfriendly staff, cramped seats, mediocre food), plus lost luggage (though it was recovered). Anyway, my dream is to go back to China, see what I missed—especially in the South—solo or maybe with a few companions.

Hello Thanks for your feedback—another great argument for “traveling freely” if one were needed!