Short answer: A 100% private, tailor-made China tour with an English-speaking licensed guide, private car & driver and hand-picked hotels runs roughly US$680–1,200 per person for a 5-day Zhangjiajie trip and US$2,000–3,900 per person for a 10-day multi-city tour – about US$150–300 per person per day. International flights to China are not included; on multi-city routes, inter-city train/flight fares are itemised separately in your quote.
What moves the price: group size (biggest lever – a family of 4 pays far less each than a solo traveller), 3/4/5-star hotel level, number of cities, and season (National Day Golden Week Oct 1–7 and Chinese New Year cost the most). Think twice if: you want the lowest possible headline number and don’t mind shopping stops and a 40-person coach – a budget group tour is cheaper on the sticker.
So, how much does a private China tour actually cost in 2026? For a fully private, tailor-made trip with an English-speaking local guide, a private car and driver, hand-picked hotels and all sightseeing handled for you, plan on roughly US$680 to $1,200 per person for a focused 5-day Zhangjiajie trip, and around US$2,000 to $3,900 per person for a 10-day multi-city China tour. The exact figure depends on your group size, hotel level, season and how many cities you cover — and the per-person price drops as your group grows. Below is the honest breakdown, straight from a local team that quotes these trips every day.
Private China tour cost at a glance (2026)
These are real planning ranges for our 100% private tours — not group-tour prices, and not a single headline number that hides the details. Use them to set your budget; your exact, itemised price comes in a personalised proposal.
| Trip | What’s covered | Indicative price (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Zhangjiajie | Avatar Mountains, Tianmen Mountain, Glass Bridge + free cinematic drone aerial video | From around $680 (family of 4) to $1,200 (solo); couples around $750–950 |
| 7-Day Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang | Nature plus the ancient riverside town of Fenghuang | From around $980 per person (family of 4); up to about $2,800 for smaller groups and premium hotels |
| 10-Day Beijing, Xi’an & Avatar Mountains | Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and Zhangjiajie — the classic first-timer route | From around $1,500 per person (family of 4); up to about $3,900 by hotel level and group size |
| 15-Day Ultimate China | Flagship multi-city route with comfortable pacing | About $2,980–6,280 by hotel level |
Ranges are 2026 planning references for private, tailor-made tours. They exclude international flights to and from China. See more sample packages and pricing »
What’s actually included in that price?
One reason a private tour costs more per person than a budget group tour is that almost everything is bundled in — with no surprise add-ons and no shopping-stop kickbacks. A typical China Fantasy Travel price includes:
- Your own English-speaking local guide for every touring day
- A private car and driver — just your group, never a shared coach
- Hand-picked hotels at your chosen level (3, 4 or 5 star)
- All entrance tickets and the park shuttles, cable cars and lifts on your itinerary
- Inter-city transport booked for you — high-speed trains or flights; on multi-city routes the fares are itemised in your quote
- Airport and station transfers, plus 24/7 support while you travel
- On the 5-day Zhangjiajie flagship, a free cinematic drone aerial video of your trip
What’s not included: international flights to China, inter-city train and flight fares on multi-city routes (we book every ticket for you and itemise the fares in your quote), lunches and dinners (kept flexible so you can eat what you like), travel insurance, and personal extras. See the full inclusions list »
What makes the price go up or down?
Two trips of the same length can land at quite different per-person prices. Here is what moves the number, in roughly the order it matters:
1. Your group size
This is the biggest lever. A private guide, car and driver cost about the same whether one person or four people share them, so the per-person price falls fast as your group grows. A couple pays noticeably less each than a solo traveller; a family of four less again. Travelling with friends or another couple is the simplest way to lower everyone’s cost.
2. Hotel level
Hotels are the single largest day-to-day expense. Moving from comfortable 3-star to international 4-star to luxury 5-star properties is what shifts a 10-day China tour across its $2,000–3,900 range. The guiding, transport and sightseeing stay the same — you’re choosing where you sleep.
3. How many cities you cover
Each new city adds a hotel, more inter-city transport and another set of tickets. A focused Zhangjiajie trip is the best value per day; a Beijing–Xi’an–Zhangjiajie–Shanghai grand tour costs more simply because it does more.
4. Season
Spring and autumn are peak season for Zhangjiajie and carry higher hotel rates. China’s two big domestic holidays — National Day “Golden Week” (Oct 1–7) and Chinese New Year — are the most expensive and crowded windows of all. Travelling in early summer or winter can lower the price.
5. Transport choices
High-speed trains between cities are comfortable and good value; domestic flights save time on longer hops but cost more. We’ll recommend the smart mix for your route.
How to pay less per person (without cutting the good parts)
- Travel as a group. Even adding one more couple drops everyone’s per-person price.
- Choose 4-star over 5-star. The comfort gap is small; the saving over a two-week trip is not.
- Avoid the two Golden Weeks. Shift your dates a week either side of the national holidays.
- Let the route earn its days. A deep 7-day Zhangjiajie trip often beats a rushed 10-city dash for both cost and enjoyment.
- Lean on the inclusions. With tickets, transfers and the photo session already in the price, your on-the-ground spending stays low.
Is a private tour worth it over a group tour?
A budget group tour can look cheaper on the sticker, but the gap narrows once you count the things private travel includes by default: no shopping stops eating your day, no waiting on 40 strangers, your own pace, and a guide whose only job is your group. For most travellers coming a long way to China once, the value is in the experience, not the lowest possible headline price. Compare private vs group tours »
Get your exact price
Every trip we run is built from scratch around your dates, group and interests, so the honest answer to “what will my trip cost” is: tell us a little and we’ll show you. Send your dates, group size and the places you’d love to see, and we’ll send a personalised, day-by-day itinerary with a clear price — in your inbox within two hours.
Planning your first trip? Our free China travel guide and 2026 China visa guide cover visas, payments, getting around and sample itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to China cost per day?
On a private China Fantasy Travel tour, plan on roughly US$150–300 per person per day, covering your guide, private car, hotel, tickets and transfers. A focused Zhangjiajie trip shared by a couple or family sits near the bottom of that range; solo travel, 5-star hotels and multi-city routes sit higher.
Is a private China tour expensive?
It costs more per person than a budget group tour, but far less than most people expect for a fully private trip — from around $680 per person for a 5-day Zhangjiajie tour with everything handled. Because there are no shopping stops or hidden commissions, the price you’re quoted is close to the price you pay.
Do China tour prices include flights?
International flights to and from China are not included, so you can book the routing and fare class that suit you. Inside China, transfers and touring are included, and on multi-city routes we book the connecting high-speed trains and domestic flights for you — the fares are itemised in your quote.
How can I get a cheaper China tour?
Travel as a group to share the private guide and car, choose 4-star over 5-star hotels, avoid the National Day and Chinese New Year holiday peaks, and focus on fewer regions in more depth. We’re happy to plan to a budget — just tell us your target.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage: Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
- China 2026 public holiday schedule (State Council notice)
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