This 18-day comprehensive tour offers you the very best features in China and Vietnam. This wonderful tour combination is highly recommended for a first-time visit to these two amazing countries.
Days
18
Price
from US$4,508 P/P
Best For
First-timers
Best Time
Oct. to Apr.
Tour Highlights





China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Our trip to Li Jiang and Shaxi Yunnan
We arrived at Lijiang on 9/8. We enjoyed the time in Lijiang a lot with good hotel selection and a well planned program. We went onto Shaxi for the local singing festival of the local minority groups. It was a fantastic experience. What makes the trip most memorable is our guide Alice. She took excellent care of us, anticipating our every need. She was personable, warm and very knowledgeable. We shared many laughters and traded stories. She brought smiles to us during the entire trip. We will specifically ask for her again when we come back to Yunnan. Five star service. More
Consumer,
Sep 2023
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Great trip around Shanghai
This was our first time ever visiting Shanghai so we wanted to see good places to go to and good food to eat in Shanghai. That's why we booked with China Highlights. They're very responsive and quick to arrange our 3 day trip. Our guide name is Qi and she is a very sweet and helpful person. She knew we wanted to explore many local foods, so she brought us some local breakfast foods when she picked us up from our hotel, just so we can try everything! She was knowledgeable as well about the culture and history of the places we went to. Will definitely recommend this tour and use China Highlights again for our next trip to China! More
Sherry,
Sep 2023
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Great way to see the city
Private tour with China highlights made seeing Xi'an super easy. We saved a lot of time with a private driver, and our guide Jenny took really good care of us, sending instructions for where to meet once getting off the train and made everything feel really safe and easy. She also accommodated a number of last minute changes to our itinerary without batting an eye. She was very patient, knowledgeable and friendly. It was great having a guide who grew up locally in the area to show us around (which is not always the case, from my previous experiences elsewhere). Would definitely recommend! More
Stephanie N,
Sep 2023
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One Day Beijing Trip (Great Wall, Summer Palace) With Jennifer
My tour guide Jennifer made this quick one day trip to Beijing great! The day started out a bit overcast and rainy when I landed, but Jennifer’s positive attitude and kind communication (along with her being able to keep up/put up with my jokes) made it fine.Despite this, Jennifer and our driver Chen were able to swing an extra photo shoot stop at the Olympic Stadium. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back to visit again, and when I do - I will use China Highlights and this great fantastic team. More
Alan Landau,
Sep 2023
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Mervyn is what we call a perfect tour guide!
Mervyn is what we call a perfect tour guide! She is extremely informative all the way through. She knows hers stuff and she is also enthusiastic, knowledgeable, personable and very willing to help. The whole day was perfect. A great amount of walking and a lots of physical activity ( hiking) and she was all smiling, accommodating and keeping us informative. She was absolutely the best tour guide we've ever encountered in China. Her English is perfect! Everything was so well organized. Her knowledge of the local culture and history is impressive. Fantastic More
pdaroundthewrorld,
Sep 2023
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Best Great Wall experience
Used China Highlights for a private all-day tour of Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall. One of the best days of my life! Tour guide Alan and a driver met me at my hotel and the ride was very comfortable. Alan was extremely knowledgable and friendly, I really enjoyed talking with him. The scenery was astoundingly beautiful; this is a less touristy portion of the Wall. The hiking was fun, Alan brought plenty of water, and showed me things I would not have noticed by myself. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch that Alan had arranged - delicious! Once in a lifetime experience. More
LZviajera,
Sep 2023
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Wonderful experience!
Our tour guide was Mervyn, and she was amazing! She had great knowledge of Xi'an and the silk road, and we learned so many things we didn't know before. The Muslim quarter is a must-see, with so many streets of food. Terracotta warriors were breathtaking. We did a Hanfu experience and enjoyed walking the city at night in our tang Dynasty outfits. We wish we spent more than 2 days here as there's so much to do. Definitely recommend this tour and will be visiting again! More
Laura A,
Sep 2023
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Unforgettable trip to Guilin
We enjoyed an incredible two day trip in Guilin, taking a brief half-day boat cruise on the Li River and cycling around Yangshuo in the afternoon with our guide Gary. Gary met us at the airport and made us feel very welcome, providing us with five-star service. He gave us a lot of insight about Guilin and the Guangxi region and even gave us a tai chi lesson on the boat. He provided us excellent dining suggestions for the evening as well as suggestions of things to do. Thank you Gary for making our trip to Guilin so memorable! More
Regis B,
Sep 2023
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
We were paired with great guides on every city, very knowleadgeble and hardworking people that made our trip fabulous. Jack in Beijing was brilliant and very resourceful making sure we enjoyed the city even when he wasn't with us. In Xi'An we were paired with Crystal that was incredibly smart and made sure we felt we had not only a guide but a friend to rely on in Xi'An, we loved how she made sure we tried the best food and fruit available and helped us from arrival to departure from Xi'An. Finally, kudos to Gary (Wei Li) that worked with us in Guiling and Yangshuo. Gary is a local to Guiling and truly proud of his city and origins. We learned a lot from him and he trully went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time in Guiling adjusting the itinerary to our liking and taking time to explain everything. On our flight out of Guiling we had a bit of an issue with our tickets (booked by ourselves) and Gary promptly lent a hand to help us sort it out with the airport staff, trully a champion. If you are heading to Guiling with Chinahighlights, make sure to have Gary as your guide. More
Moises,
Sep 2023
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Amazing tour!
Our guide, Linda, was by far the best person to have for our tours of The Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and Mutianyu Great Wall. She was an encyclopedia with great knowledge of Chinese History and was able to explain every detail of what we were seeing. She picked us up with a very nice car and driver from our hotel both days, at the time most convenient to us, and dropped us back off wherever we wanted at the end of our tours. Both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are marvels of human and Chinese achievements and are a must to see in Beijing. Visiting them both with a tour guide that feels more like a friend was certainly helping enjoying it even more. More
Robin Z,
Sep 2023
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Stunning Yellow Mountain and beautiful Ancient Villages
We had the most fantastic experience with our tour guide, Jack Fan, who is very knowledgeable about the Yellow Mountain and was able to get us quickly to the most stunning highlights. He was our "photographer" anytime we wanted a photo and that was very often. We made the most of our time having him guiding us. He was truly the mountain man as he is a local there. He is very passionate about what he does. He loves history, nature, and travel, which is a must for a guide. He provided historical facts about the stunning Ancient villages at Hong Cun and Xidi. He answered any questions we had about history, nature, and current things we had. I felt like he was a professor, and we were his students in a very good way. He was NEVER late, and neither was our driver. They never bought us anywhere to "sell" us things. He took us to buy tea only when we asked to buy a specific tea, staying much later than he should have! I wanted to check out lotus and rice fields, which was not on the itinerary, but he squeezed it in for us. We were very well taken care of. I highly recommend Jack for a tour guide who speaks English. More
annemompt,
Sep 2023
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An Unforgettable Tibetan Adventure - Qinghai Train Ride Y971
I recently embarked on an unforgettable journey to Tibet, a land steeped in mysticism and rich cultural heritage. My train trip on the famous scenic Qinghai route on train Y971 Lhasa played a significant role in making this trip an extraordinary experience.Upon my arrival in Lhasa via an overnight train, I was warmly welcomed by the guide assigned Tenzin Lhatse. He had waited for more than 3 hours as he was not informed there was a change in the train schedule. Nontheless, it did not dampen his warm attitude and the seamless transferfrom the train station to the hotel set a positive tone for my stay.The highlight of my stay was undoubtedly the visit to the iconic Potala Palace. The sheer grandeur and architectural brilliance of this historic site left me in awe. The guidance of my knowledgeable tour guide, who revealed the stories behind each shrine, enriched my experience. However, the strict visitor limits and rules underscored the importance of preserving this ancient marvel. The Old Barkhor Street Walking Tour was a journey through time. From Jokhang Temple to the bustling local market, each stop offered insights into Tibetan daily life and folk customs. The Pandatsang Compound's history and the cup of Tibetan sweet tea at Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery added unique flavors to the tour.Overall, my journey through Tibet was an incredible odyssey into a world of spirituality, culture, and natural beauty. I'm glad to have taken this step with my wife to challenge the train ride which was totally worthy of this lifetime. More
GOH-family-tours,
Sep 2023
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Wonderful trip to the Chinese Silk Road
Special shout out to our guide for the Gansu leg, Helen, who was the most caring guide we have come across in all of our travels. Make sure you ask for her! More
ED,
Sep 2023
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Fantastic first trip in Shanghai
My partner and I were visiting China for the first time. Our tour guide was Martin, who was friendly and very knowledgeable. He adjusted the tour to our needs and gave us an extensive tour of Shanghai as well as many fascinating insights on China. He also went above and beyond and offered us plenty of recommendations on what to do in the evenings, how to get there, and even made bookings for us. Martin, thanks again! More
Regis,
Sep 2023
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Yangshuo is magical from the misty…
The guide Lily has a great knowledge in hidden gems and the history about the places. Very memorable experience that i have thanks to them. More
Dony Yugo,
Sep 2023
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Beijing is AMAZING
Linda Wang our amazing tour guide helped us to have an unforgettable trip to all the best of Beijing. From organizing the driver (also excellent) to drop us/pick us up exactly when we were leaving busy tourist sites, excellent food recommendations, fascinating knowledge relevant to us and our children (13yo and 11yo) making The Forbidden City, Tiannamen Square, Great Wall, Beijing Zoo and The Hutongs thoroughly enjoyable. Handling all the entrance/exit passport and ticket requirements, interpreting, answering any questions we had about local culture, we were so comfortable and happy, never rushed, everything you could want and more. More
Michelle A,
Sep 2023
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Incredible 2 day tour of Jiuzhaiguo
Our tour guide Mary spoke perfect English, was so nice to us and took us to all the best sights in Jiuzhaiguo. It was an unforgettable tour with incredible views! More
Declan O,
Sep 2023
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Helen is the best Panda tour guide going around!
I had a fantastic Panda tour with Helen in Chengdu City. From the moment she picked me up, my energy was low from a heap of travelling, but Helen quickly brought me up a notch with her breathtaking passion for Pandas. Not only did she provide a fantastic experience accommodating my every need, but she was also a genuinely kind and joyful company to tour the city with. I can't recommend Helen enough - you won't regret it! More
Isaac C,
Sep 2023
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Two days in Xi’an
What an amazing few days in Xi’an! Our guide Jenny was first class - very knowledgeable and very helpful, she went out of her way to make sure we had the best experience like ordering us coffees & food and booking dinners for us. The highlight was of course visiting the Terracotta Warriors, but we also really enjoyed visiting a local family to make dumplings. Can’t recommend this trip and Jenny enough! More
Marvin K,
Sep 2023
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Fantastic experiences in Guilin and the beautiful surroundings together with Vincent.
Lib230524097 More
Go44854472794,
Sep 2023
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Itinerary Details
This itinerary is just a suggestion for you to plan your vacation. We specialize in designing private customer-oriented tours so just let us know your interests and expectations, and we will create a tour that satisfies your preferences.
Hello Beijing!
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your private tour guide who will be holding a sign with your name on it. Then you will be transferred to your hotel. Your guide will assist you with the check-in process and leave you to enjoy some free time for the rest of the day. It is recommended to adjust to the jet lag on your first day.
After a leisurely breakfast in the morning, your tour will start with a visit to the Forbidden City, which is also known as the "Old Palace". The Forbidden City has a history of over 600 years — it is said there is a story behind every brick and a legend behind every hall. Your expert tour guide will take you to enter the palace with exclusive access to avoid the crowds, and share with you the interesting history and hidden stories behind the palace.
Climb Jingshan "Coal Hill", which is a man-made hill that served as a shield to protect the palace from northern invaders during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the top of the hill and you will be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the whole palace as well as its surroundings.
In the morning, you will be escorted to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. This section is reputed as being one of the most beautiful parts of the Great Wall with fewer tourist groups. You are advised to get on the wall via a cable car ride and have a leisurely hike back down the wall. You will be able to see both the renovated and wild parts and to appreciate the splendid view of the surrounding mountains along the way.
Lunch is included at the foot of the Great Wall. Then you will be transferred back to Beijing city, which takes about 2 hours by car.
In the afternoon, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Summer Palace. Stroll along the world's longest corridor filled with paintings, walk through the significant halls, and enjoy the breeze from Kunming Lake on a dragon boat. Learn about the stories that happened in the palace from your tour guide and just imagine how the Chinese royal family spent their vacations at this beautiful resort in the old days.
Before heading to the train station, you will stop at Beijing Zoo to enjoy the lovely pandas. Compared to the other animals' areas, the home that has been built for the pandas can be called a "mansion" because this cute and rare creature is regarded as China's national treasure. Get to the zoo in the morning when the pandas are at their most active. You will be able to see how they are fed and have fun with each other, watch them climbing, or see them resting right after eating.
Later, travel to Shanghai via a high-speed train. The distance is 1,318 kilometers, which only takes about 4½ to 6 hours.
Your Shanghai tour guide and driver will meet you at the train station's arrivals area and transfer you to your selected hotel. Your guide will assist you with the hotel check-in process and leave you free for the rest of the day.
Yu Garden is known as the most classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. Get up early to visit it before it gets crowded so you can enjoy seeing the pavilions, corridors, water, rocks, and plants. Later, visit Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. It will be interesting to experience this magical city from looking at a 600 m2 city model to visiting a 360-degree 3D animation exhibition hall. Discover how old Shanghai's lifestyle has evolved to today's modern way of life.
Lunch is included at a local popular restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will have a relaxing walk along the Bund to feel the prosperity, learn about the history and development, and witness the charming mix between the West and the East in this amazing city.
Take a short tour of the elegant French Concession, which will end at Nanjing Road. Alternatively, go to any other attractions you would like to explore on your own. We will transfer you back to your hotel if you wish.
Have an enjoyable free morning and then you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Hanoi. Your private tour guide will meet you at the arrivals area in the airport in Hanoi, then transfer you to your selected hotel. After checking in at the hotel, enjoy some free time for the rest of the day.
Kindly note the time difference: China is 1 hour ahead of Vietnam.
Good morning Hanoi! You will start your tour with the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology where you will experience the ordinary life of ethnic groups in Vietnam and learn more about their culture and history. Visit the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple and the first university in ancient Vietnam. Later, pay a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is a must for history lovers as you will learn how Vietnam started and how it has evolved over the years.
In the afternoon, navigate the famous Old Quarter to immerse yourself in local life. Have a nice conversation with some locals and don't forget to bargain when shopping there. You are also encouraged to try out the local food, such as some fresh tropical fruit or egg coffee.
After a leisurely breakfast in the morning, you will be picked up by the cruise staff and transferred to the port for your cruise along the scenic Halong Bay.
Halong Bay is about 160 kilometers away from Hanoi and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are hundreds of thousands of islands with karst hills making various fantastic shapes on the sea, which are very picturesque. You will have the chance to stop at some fishing villages and landmark islets, such as Fighting Cock Islet and Human Head Islet, during the journey.
Enjoy a beautiful night on the cruise ship in a quiet port.
Have a nice breakfast and disembark the cruise at about 11am. Your private tour guide and driver will pick you up from the pier and transfer you to the airport in Hanoi for your flight to Hoi An. Your private tour guide will meet you in the arrivals area at the airport in Hoi An, then transfer you to your selected hotel. After you have checked in to the hotel, enjoy some free time for the rest of the day.
After breakfast, you will have a leisurely walking tour in Hoi An Ancient Town. The value of Hoi An's heritage lies in the many well-preserved ancient buildings and streets, which reflect the organic combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cultures and architectural styles. They have not been damaged by war nor have they been demolished for the construction of high-rise buildings. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall, and the Old House of Tan Ky. These are must-see heritage sites in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant.
Many travelers are impressed when this elegant old city is lit up by colorful lanterns at night. Like many other traditions, the skill of handmade lanterns has been continued. In the afternoon, you will have the chance to learn how to make a lantern in a workshop. The workshop is run by the Lifestart Foundation Workshop, a non-profit organization that inspires locals to create items and to improve their lives.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Da Nang International Airport for the flight to Nha Trang.
Your private tour guide will meet you in the arrivals area at Nha Trang Airport and then transfer you to your selected hotel. After you have checked in at your hotel, enjoy some free time for the rest of the day.
Nha Trang Bay is endowed with pristine beaches and an excellent diving environment. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Have some free days to enjoy this tropical paradise.
Enjoy some free time in the morning before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Your tour guide will meet you in the arrivals area at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Then he/she will escort you to Can Tho, which is located in the Mekong Delta. Have a good rest during this 4-hour car ride.
Be an early-bird and arrive at the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market by 7am. It is the most popular floating market in Vietnam where vendors trade fresh fruits, vegetables, and most of the agricultural goods from their farms.
Later, take a private boat ride through a narrow tree-lined canal to a small picturesque island with many fruit orchards. Cycle around the villages on the island and you will spontaneously give way to the local lifestyle in the beautiful countryside.
After lunch in the village, you will be transferred back to Ho Chi Minh City.
In the morning, you will have about an hour's drive from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This site is one of the most important remnants from the Vietnamese War. Learn about the history of the Vietnam War from your guide. You can also have an authentic experience as you crawl in a tunnel to experience how the soldiers had to hide to prevent being killed during the war.
After lunch, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to have some rest.
Ho Chi Minh City is also known as Saigon, a name that sounds very sentimental. After breakfast in the morning, take a relaxing walk from your hotel to the downtown area. Stretch out against the warm breeze, listening to Vietnamese along the way and the roar of motorcycles, and sniffing the rich coffee fragrance — everything is so real and romantic. The Saigon Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, and Reunification Palace are not to be missed when sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City.
The War Remnants Museum is highly recommended for history lovers and is an educational tour experience. This was the former site of the United States Intelligence Agency. The main entrance of the museum looks very simple and there are no magnificent buildings but it records a very heavy page in Vietnam's modern national history — the Vietnam War. The museum mainly displays pictures and, in the small yard, it also displays some heavy weapons and equipment used by the US military in the Vietnam War, such as vehicles and the wreckage of aircraft as well as artillery and bombs. Kindly note you will probably visit this museum without being accompanied by your tour guide because this sad history is a painful memory that many Vietnamese cannot erase.
After the museum, take a rickshaw tour to slowly appreciate the charm of the city.
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. We hope you have had a wonderful time with us!
Price Includes
Price from: $4,508 (Tour code: gh-ah-4)








Trip Notes
Seasonal information
Designed for all year round, however, this tour still has its favorite traveling time. Traveling during late September to early December, as well as late March to early May, gets you to less-touched places where you see more landscape than tourist crowds. Weather is lovely, too.
Biggest rush-in of tourists comes from mid Decemeber till the end of January, followed by national break of the Tet Festival, when streets will be deserted. While in China, public transportation before the Spring Festival in February can be chaotic and tight, which means you better plan at least 3 months ahead if you would like a taste of traditional Chinese New Year.
However, consider yourself brilliant if you decide to make the trip in other time spans, as you will great great deals of hotels, flights and cruises. Occasional rainfalls and possiblity of typhoon will be in your consideration.
Not matter when your honeymoon falls, we will suggest a 4-month window for planning and reservation.
China visa
Make sure you can get a visa for China at least one month ahead of your travel time. Usually most foreigners traveling to Chinese mainland, whether for business or pleasure, require a visa. Tourists holding ordinary passports of Singapore, Brunei and Japan are allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without visas for tourism or family/friend visits.
For a China-Vietnam journey with Global Highlights, we will help you with the invitation letter and the visa process.
Vietnam visa
Most nationalities are required to obtain tourist visa for Vietnam ahead of the travel time. Holders of British, German, French, Spanish and Italian passports are exempt from visas for a stay of a maximum of 15 days for all purposes. Instead of applying for Visa-on-Arrival (VOA), we would suggest you get your Vietnam visa at least one month ahead of your travel, which can be done either by application at your nearest embassy or online.
Meals
Daily breakfast at hotels and a lunch for days with sightseeing are included, so are some dinners as mentioned in the itinerary. For meals that are not included, your tour guides will be happy to offer suggestions.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when making your inquiry. We will do our best to accommodation and we appreciate your understanding at some places that are not within our control.
Transportation
You will have a private car in each destination; our cars are within 5 years of usage and your private drivers will be polite and drive with strong regard for safety.
Shanghai - Hanoi airfare is included in this trip, operated by China Eastern Airlines or similar class.
Internal flights that are detailed in this very tour are operated by Vietnam Airlines, a national-run and trustworthy company runs on good punctuality and safety. During your visit to Phong Nha Ke-Bang and the Mekong Delta, you will use local boats. We will have life jacket for every traveler and the boatmen will proceed with caution.
Tour Arrangements
Sightseeing, activities and accommodations that are mentioned in this tour you are looking at are just for your inspiration.
If you would like walking to find street food in Hanoi, instead of cyclo, change it; if you would like a junior suite in Ho Chi Minh City, change it; if you want to spend more time in Hoi An, change it; it is always up to you to make the trip just the right way you want. If you are looking for experiences that are not done by others, Discovery your way, Global Highlights' motto suites you the best.
Also, as for an exploration tour, it is designed with some mildly intense physical activities such as trekking. However, we encourage you to talk with our travel advisor and set your own pace.
Responsible travel
Travel avails you with special experiences. Somehow its impact on the local community can be more beyond imagination and what Global Highlights wishes to do is lead the impact onto a good path, a path that helps the local people (not only your tour guides) boarden their outlook and the local communities develop.
During your trip, you will eat at a training restaurant where underprivileged youngsters get trained as a chef, ride on local cyclo to reduce your carbon footprints and most commonly learn about the country's cultures with respect. Taking baby steps one at a time, we highly appreciate you would like to be part of it. With that being said, detours to so-called factories or specialty workshops are strictly prohibited. We make sure your tour guides earn enough to support their families without squeezing commissions out of you.
Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day. Over 50% of our clients complete their bookings within 10 days of submitting their inquiry.
Why Travel with Global Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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