23 day tour of China, Shanghai loop

Planet

Transport:
On our trip, you will be using a series of public transportation (buses and trains) to go from one place to another. This helps our travellers keep carbon footprint to a minimum while seeing amazing views and mingling with the locals. A lot of our activities on the trip are based on walking such as exploring the Old Town in Hangzhou or discovering the Fake market in Beijing. These walking trips will provide you with the chance of looking after your well-being, with exercise, as well as the planet's, by reducing your carbon emissions.

Accommodation:
We select the best locally run places that have a passion about doing as much as they can for the environment. On this tour, you'll stay in hotels, guesthouses and during the warmer months, while in Beijing, you will camp on the great wall - a magical experience with an eco-friendly evening. Whilst you’re staying in each of these places, we encourage you to use local services on offer, this way your money goes straight into the local community and economy.

Wildlife:
You will visit a Panda breeding centre while on your tour - it is a centre that contributes to wild panda populations. Get to know the pandas and learn about how the centre breed and release these magnificent animals into the wild. The Adventure Leader will brief you on the strict rules to follow at the centre as a sign of respect to the animals and the centre.

Top Tips:
Tap water is not drinkable but we always suggest packing a reusable water bottle that you can use at filtered water refill points to ensure you have water on hand at all times and help minimise the trail of plastic left behind where possible. We also recommend packing as light as possible, to help keep your carbon footprint low.

People

Local tour guides:
We hire local guides who are bilingual in Chinese and English so we can help support the local people and provide employment opportunities in the countries we visit. This is also a great way for our travellers to learn local knowledge straight from the local community!

Local experiences:
Chinese food is very varied throughout the country so we recommend you to try as much as possible. You’ll learn about the local cuisine and the differences very quickly. Our guide would be very happy to advise you on the food available and recommend the most authentic and local restaurant in each place so when you are enjoying a delicious meal, you will also be giving back to the local communities. If you’re in the mood for some Chinese style entertainment then try out Tai Chi in a park, early in the morning Karaoke night - just ask our guide for the endless list of possibilities! We also offer an optional local farm experience - a fantastic experience that gives you a taste of local life while helping the local community.

As a sign of respect, we think that it is important for travellers to learn a few key words or phrases in the native language, so we offer a written language guide in China.

All of our customers’ interactions are with local suppliers, and we promote integration between travellers and local people through our “unmissable” included activities and our optional activities, and opportunities for authentic cultural immersion.

Our Adventure Leaders are trained in ensuring that customers are aware of local customs and traditions, educating them on when it is appropriate to take photos and/or videos.