Responsible travel
How we travel, and what we refuse to do
Responsible travel in China is mostly about what you refuse to sell. These are the commitments we hold ourselves to on every journey we design.
Our commitments in practice
01
Licensed guides, paid properly
Every guide is licensed, insured and paid a day rate that does not depend on commissions from shops or restaurants.
02
No forced shopping, ever
We do not take travellers to commission factories, jade shops or tea 'museums'. If you want to buy something, we point you to a real shop.
03
No staged animal shows
No tiger temples, no dancing bears, no elephant rides. Where animals are part of the story — pandas, birds, farm life — we visit genuine conservation or working settings.
04
Local money, local stays
We favour family-run guesthouses, village restaurants and community guides, so more of what you spend stays in the place you visited.
05
Fair cancellation terms
Clear, written deposit and cancellation rules — including for the guides and drivers who held your dates.
06
Respect in sensitive places
Monasteries, minority villages and rural communities are visited on their terms: photography asked for, dress codes respected, no staged performances.
We are not perfect at this, and we would rather be honest than aspirational. If you see something on a journey that does not match these commitments, tell us and we will act on it.
Travel trade & DMC
Agencies and tour operators can hold us to the same standards — including no forced shopping on any itinerary we operate.
Partner with usMedical & wellness
Health-related journeys are coordinated with licensed hospitals and interpreters, never with unregulated clinics.
Medical travelOur guides
The people who deliver these commitments on the ground, city by city.
Meet the guidesQuestions about how we work — or something you would like us to do differently? Write to us.