How was your Explore Tour Leader?

George was absolutely brilliant. He ordered the food for us most days. Couldn't believe how cheap the meals were. He made sure we knew exactly where and when to meet. He was very informative on places we visited. He was so patient with us all!! 

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Do not expect 4* accommodation. This really is China on a Shoestring. Just what we wanted from the holiday - eating and sleeping with the Chinese!!

Do you have anything else to add?

The holiday was everything we had hoped for. Explore did a grand job in telling us what to expect. Thank you and our thanks to George.

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

 

Very good.  He kept us informed, was efficient with all the travel and accommodation arrangements, gave us the flexibility to spend time doing our own sightseeing or just relaxing and was good company socially.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

 

 

Be fit enough for a bit of hill climbing.  The information from Explore told us everything we needed to know for the holiday and our experience of other Explore travellers is that they are a well prepared lot and keen to take part in everything.

Do you have anything else to add?

 

The holiday was good value and gave us a wide range of travel and activities.  We would definitely recommend it to friends looking for a bit of adventure and the chance to get close to the country.

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

He was great, enthusiastic, friendly and very helpful.  He made great efforts to look after everyone in the group and join in with the jokes. He took us to some great restaurants and helped us to group up and to make a plan of action at every destination. I think he really did his best to make sure we enjoyed the trip as much as possible.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Travelling from one place to another takes up a fair amount of the time on this trip. It's worth it to see so much of China. The train journeys are long but an experience you might never have again.

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Could not fault Dominic, he was thoughtful, understanding, and always to hand - excellent!

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Take extra money - optional trips are expensive and be careful where you eat and drink. The price of a beer can range from 50p for a pint to £6 for a small bottle.  Really good meals can be had for less than £1, be choosy. Lastly, get fit, the active level shown is wrong, should be at least 3, possibly 4

Do you have anything else to add?

Please review the Active level for the benefit of other 70 year olds!  I swapped trips to avoid a 5-6 hour hike, only to pay £25 for a sedan chair to climb the 2000 plus steps to Pingan.  Even the uphill walk to the cable car for the Great Wall was challenging at that altitude.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

George was very good,in keeping the group organised and on time,he explained things well,and made sure everyone had the best experience possible

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

When visiting the Pandas go to the other panda,s as most of the world is queuing to see the ones nearest the gate,but the ones further have less visitors and bigger pens,giving you more time and a better view

A fantastic holiday, so varied and interesting. Highlights were numerous: walking the wall, the terracotta warriors, the Yangtze river and the dam - we were there at night and it was very dramatic, the wonderful work of the panda research station, the dong villages where the people were so kind and friendly, trekking among the rice terraces was awesome, shopping in Yangshou!!  I agree with other reviewers that it's best to take a soft bag and a sturdy small rucksack for the treks. Also plenty of toilet paper and hand gel, wet wipes!! Toilets an experience alone!  

What was unexpected was the friendliness of the Chinese and their desire to say hello to us and take our photographs. Also the huge apartment blocks and the building going on in the cities, China is growing fast.  Finally, our guide Rich was the best we have ever had, thank you! (QCH -7th August 2011)

One of the best trips I've ever made. Such variety. World famous monuments such as the Great Wall and Terracotta Army, unbelievable Mega -Cities (The night scape of Shanghai is the best in the world), sublime stays in small villages among paddy fields, relaxing trip down the Yangste, pandas, limestone pinnacles all in one vast exciting country. A few long train rides -2O hrs on one occasion, but the hard sleepers are more comfortable than any of us imagined. Take a ruck sack or a soft back with wheels rather than a holdhall as you have to lug your own luggage a lot further than on most Explore trips- on and off public buses and metros for example. There are a few more extras to allow for than detailed in the dossier. Eg Cable Car up to the Great Wall, Drum tower in Xian, Mosque in Xian, parks in Beijing plus a few quid for public transport,,but £50 should cover this all and this and you will find food is cheaper than the dossier.  A brilliant way to see an awful lot of this fantastic country in a short space of time. PS -In Shanghai a tube to the airport only cost 70p - far cheaper than a transfer or a taxi if you are land only. (QHC- 5th June 2011)

Fantastic holiday, great value. Chinese people very friendly and welcoming. The hill people enjoyed my half bottle of rum! Too many highlights to mention but you will see more of the country than most Chinese. Go now while the exchange rate is good. Best options Acrobats, Sound and Light show, Li river raft trip. Travel tips. ATM/currency exchange ,laundry and internet, all available. Own travel from Beijing airport easy and cheap. Take hotel name in Chinese as taxi drivers do not speak English. Train/subway and taxi total cost less than £5. (QCH - 27 March 2011)