This journey is led throughout by Journeys East founders Marcus and Jeff. As bilingual, bicultural hosts, they travel with the group from beginning to end, providing continuity, cultural context and personal support throughout the journey.

Local guides and specialists join us along the way where their expertise adds depth, while Marcus and Jeff remain with the group throughout.

The journey is designed at a thoughtful light-to-moderate pace, with private transportation connecting most activities and time to properly experience each destination. Some sightseeing days involve longer periods of walking, and visits such as the Great Wall include stairs, inclines and uneven surfaces. We provide more detailed activity information before departure and are happy to discuss individual mobility considerations before booking.

We take it from there.

On the published arrival day, Journeys East will welcome you at the designated gateway airport and arrange your private transfer to the hotel. From arrival through departure, transportation, hotels, included dining and experiences, and the details in between are thoughtfully arranged for you.

We’ll help you navigate this well before departure. Once you reserve your place, Journeys East will help you understand the entry requirements that apply to your passport, point you to the appropriate official resources, and check in with you at key points before the journey so there are no last-minute surprises. If a visa is required, you can apply directly yourself, or we can recommend a reputable visa-handling service if you prefer additional assistance and convenience.

If you are traveling on a U.S. passport: you should currently plan on obtaining a Chinese tourist visa for this journey. The standard tourist visa is known as an L visa. The Chinese Embassy in the United States provides the current application requirements and process, including its online visa application system. (Chinese Embassy in the USA)

If you are traveling on a passport from a country currently eligible for visa-free entry: China presently allows ordinary passport holders from a number of countries — including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea, among others — to enter China without a visa for tourism stays of up to 30 days. The published visa-free arrangement for most of these countries is scheduled to remain in effect through December 31, 2026. Because entry policies can change and our journey departs in 2027, Journeys East will reconfirm the rules that apply to each guest’s nationality well before departure.

Ultimately, each traveler is responsible for holding the passport, visa and other travel documents required for entry, but you will not be left to figure it out on your own.

We begin with a conversation to get to know you, answer your questions and make sure the journey is a good fit. Once invited to book, a 25% deposit per guest reserves your place, with the remaining balance due 90 days before departure.

Your departure will be confirmed no later than 90 days before travel. If Journeys East cancels due to insufficient participation, all payments made to Journeys East will be refunded in full.

For bookings made more than 90 days before departure, we offer a 48-hour courtesy cancellation period with a full refund. After that period, guest cancellation charges are 25% of the journey price 91 or more days before departure, 50% from 90–31 days, and 100% within 30 days of departure.

Full details are available in our Terms & Conditions.

Your journey includes five-star accommodations, private ground transportation, premium intercity transportation, arrival and departure airport transfers, included dining and selected beverages, sightseeing and cultural experiences, admissions, local guides and specialists where appropriate, and your bilingual Journeys East hosts throughout. Gratuities for your Journeys East hosts, local guides, drivers and included services are also included.

Marcus or Jeff will follow up personally to answer your questions, learn a little about what you’re looking for and make sure the journey feels like the right fit.

If you decide to join, we’ll send you a private reservation link. From there, we’ll stay connected through pre-departure preparation, including guidance on flights, visas, travel insurance and other practical details.

International flights to and from China are not included in the journey price.

Most guests arrange their own flights, but you won’t be left to figure it out alone. Journeys East will help you navigate routing, arrival and departure timing, and other practical considerations, and can advise on options as needed.

We strongly encourage guests to consider travel insurance that covers trip cancellation or interruption, unexpected medical expenses, travel delays, and lost or delayed baggage.

Most guests arrange their own coverage, but you won’t be left to figure it out alone. Journeys East will help you understand what to consider, remind you during the pre-departure process, and can point you toward reputable providers as needed.

As departure approaches, we’ll also confirm that you’ve addressed your travel insurance needs.

Journeys East journeys are intentionally small, with a maximum of 10 guests. Keeping the group small allows us to move more naturally, dine together around one table and provide a more personal level of attention throughout the journey.

No. We do not pair guests who do not know one another simply to share a room. Guests traveling solo may reserve their own room for the published solo occupancy supplement. Friends or family traveling together are, of course, welcome to share.