Top China Budget Trips & Packages In 2025/2026

Highlights

• Like everything else it does, China’s ancient history is on a grand scale – see it first-hand, with time to explore and walk the epic Great Wall’s Mutianyu section.
• Sit back and relax on one of the world’s greatest train journeys – a marathon 45-hour ride to the literal Roof of the World, passing by incredibly mountainous and remote terrain, and the occasional grazing yak!
• Immerse yourself in Tibetan culture, from the spiritual side – explored on monastery visits, pilgrim trails and a monk-led meditation session – to traditional daily life, experienced at a momo-making class and Tibetan family home.
• Climb phenomenal mountain passes and thrilling peaks on your scenic overland journey to see the mightiest of them all – Mt Everest – and visit the world’s highest monastery on your way!
• With a Tibetan leader by your side, it’s a great opportunity to gain true local insight and understanding of the Tibetan culture and the modern life on the plateau .

Highlights

• Discover magical northern India, where the plains meet the Himalaya
• Explore the yoga capital of Rishikesh, where the Beatles wrote songs for the White Album
• Enjoy a wonderfully scenic ‘toy train’ ride to Kalka
• Marvel at Amritsar’s greatest monument, the serene Golden Temple
• Head to the India-Pakistan border at sunset for the spectacular Beating Retreat ceremony

Highlights

• Walk the walk on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China (one of the Seven Wonders of the World), watching the stones snake as far as the eye can see. If you’d like, you can even toboggan back down!
• Take a scenic cycling tour through farms and villages in Yangshuo’s karst-dotted countryside. Every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot before riding to Moon Hill and taking a short hike that leads to panoramic views of the area.
• Watch rolly polly baby pandas playing, munching bamboo and generally doing their thing at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu – if they’re not already, pandas might just be your favourite animal after this.
• Join a local guide to see the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an – the most famous site in the city – only discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well.
• Eat your way through China, from Beijing’s Peking duck to the delicious Sichuan pepper – then, maybe challenge yourself with authentic local delicacies like silkworms, spicy rabbit head and beer fish.

Highlights

• Discover a different side of Kuala Lumpur – away from the skyscrapers – on a half-day street food tour through the alleyways, uncovering flavours you need to be a local to know.
• Dive into a nature lover’s paradise at Khao Sok National Park, exploring, hiking, relaxing, and cruising by longtail boat on a limestone cliff-circled lake.
• Find a slice of paradise on an included sea kayaking trip through the stunning inlets, caves and hidden lagoons of the Ao Thalane mangrove forests.
• Climbing Mt Bromo in the early hours of the morning is an adventure to remember. If the conditions are right, you'll be rewarded with a dazzling sunset over mist-laden volcanoes.
• Get behind the scenes of some of Java's fascinating local industries – from coffee, cocoa and palm sugar to traditional Javanese medicine.

Highlights

• Soak up wild surroundings during a two-night Feature Stay in a first-class jungle oasis on the banks of the Rapti River, opposite Chitwan National Park.
• Get an intimate look at Nepali culture and cuisine during an unforgettable Exclusive Experience – a cooking class with the Seven Women, a social enterprise helping disadvantaged women in Nepal.
• Visit a Tibetan community during an Exclusive Experience where you’ll learn about local life, enjoy a traditional cooking demonstration and sit down together for lunch.
• See panoramic views of Himalayan peaks from Sarangkot Viewpoint and admire the Annapurna Range and Fishtail Mountain (Machhapuchhare).
• Discover the capital's rich cultural and artistic heritage with this trip beginning and ending in Kathmandu. If you have time, why not extend your stay and explore at your own pace.

Highlights

• This is one of the world’s great classic treks, with the additional challenge of reaching Gokyo Lakes. Experience breathtaking scenery and the comradery of trekking with a small group as you challenge yourself to reach Base Camp and beyond. You can read more about what to expect here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/everest-base-camp-trek/
• Get your first glimpses of the might Himalayan range on the included flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – surely one of the most dramatically located airports anywhere.
• Hike with an experienced and passionate locally-based leader as well as a team of guides and porters on a trek that operates according to standards that provide respectful, safe and fair working conditions.
• Stay in a lodge near the world’s highest freshwater lake system in Gokyo, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists and sure to stun any of those lucky enough to see them in person.
• You’ll forget the ache in your body and the chill on your nose the second you’re warming your hands over a plate of momos, but the memories of Himalayan vistas and the feeling of accomplishment will last a lifetime.

Highlights

• Feast on authentic Chinese cuisine during Exclusive Experiences, including a homecooked lunch with a local family in Huizhou and a delicious duck dinner in a Beijing courtyard.
• Take in the scenery of Yangshuo – with karst hills dotted along Li River, you’ll be surrounded by mountain views, sip on perfectly brewed green tea and take part in a traditional countryside cooking class.
• Get a sense of the scale of China’s epic history when you come face to face with the Terracotta warriors and visit a lesser-known section of the Great Wall during an Exclusive Experience – this is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, after all!
• Journey to the peaceful Huizhou villages, home to the quintessential image of white walled, black tiled traditional houses, and enjoy a Feature Stay in a heritage hotel converted from the mansion home of a famous Ming Dynasty poet.
• Discover the bright lights of modern China in Shanghai and uncover a different side of Beijing as you wander through the city’s hutongs, followed by a homecooked lunch in an authentic hutong house.