How much does an 11-day China group tour cost from Canada?
The Grand China Experience is CAD $1,399 per person for the land package (double occupancy), plus CAD $220 mandatory gratuities for the guide and driver collected at booking — CAD $1,619 in total. The land package covers 9 nights in international 5-star hotels, high-speed rail between cities, transfers, sightseeing admissions and most meals. International flights are additional; our consultants quote them from Toronto, Vancouver or any Canadian city. Chinese public holidays, major events and the summer peak season can carry an estimated CAD $200 per-person surcharge, which we confirm for your date before you pay a deposit. As a benchmark, booking comparable 5-star hotels, rail tickets, private transfers, guides and admissions independently typically adds up to considerably more than the group rate, because group tours buy all of those components at contracted volume prices.
Is this a good China tour for first-time visitors?
Yes — it is our best-selling China itinerary precisely because it is built for first visits. In 11 days you cover the classic golden-triangle-plus route: imperial Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall at Juyongguan, Temple of Heaven), the Jiangnan water-town region (Wuxi, Suzhou, Hangzhou — including the UNESCO-listed Lingering Garden and West Lake), and modern Shanghai, connected by high-speed rail rather than long coach days, with a full free day in Shanghai to explore on your own.
What is included in the CAD $1,399 land package?
The price is CAD $1,399 for the land package plus CAD $220 mandatory gratuities per person. The land package includes 9 nights in international 5-star chain hotels (brands such as Wanda, Wyndham, Four Points by Sheraton, UrCove and Artyzen), daily hotel breakfast plus signature meals — an imperial-style Yongle banquet in Beijing and a welcome dinner at Suzhou's time-honoured Songhelou restaurant — airport arrival and departure transfers, private ground transportation, second-class high-speed rail between regions, sightseeing admissions on the itinerary, and reserved seats at the Shanghai ERA acrobatic show. Not included: international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, optional excursions and personal expenses. The single supplement is CAD $580.
How often does this tour depart, and when is the best time to go?
It departs weekly, year-round, so you pick the week that fits your holidays. For weather, the sweet spots are April–May and September–October: mild in Beijing, comfortable in the Jiangnan lake country, and clear along the Shanghai waterfront. Summer is hot but lively; November–March is cold in Beijing yet rewards travellers with the thinnest crowds at the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, and winter departures are often the easiest to book late.
Do Canadians need a visa for China?
Right now, in most cases, no. Under China's visa-waiver scheme, Canadian passport holders are currently included through December 31, 2026, with visa-free entry for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit. This tour runs 11 days, comfortably inside that window, so as of this writing Canadians can join with just a valid passport. The waiver is a temporary policy with an announced end date: it may be extended or it may lapse, so verify the rules in force on travel.gc.ca before booking, especially for travel in 2027 or later. Our advisors confirm the current requirements with every traveller at booking.
Are flights from Toronto or Vancouver included?
The listed price is for the land package, which keeps it flexible: join from any Canadian city, use points, or extend your trip on either end. Our consultants quote return airfare to Beijing (arriving) and out of Shanghai (departing) from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal or any other Canadian gateway, so you land exactly when the tour begins and are met at the airport.
How much deposit do I need, and when is the balance due?
A CAD $300 per-person deposit confirms your reservation when you book more than 60 days before departure; the balance is due 30 days before departure. Within 60 days of departure, full payment is due at booking. If we cannot confirm your reservation with our suppliers, the deposit is refunded in full.
Is my booking protected if something goes wrong?
Yes. Maplelux Holidays is operated by Ali Travel Inc., registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario as both a retailer (TICO #50025124) and a wholesaler (TICO #50026847). Ontario's Travel Industry Compensation Fund may reimburse undelivered travel services up to $5,000 per person if a registrant or end supplier fails, subject to the fund's conditions — a protection that only applies when you book through a TICO-registered company.
Can solo travellers join this tour?
Absolutely. Solo travellers join every departure; you simply add the single supplement of CAD $580 for your own room. Group tours are one of the most comfortable ways to see China solo — transfers, guides and dining companions are built in from day one.
Does this tour include shopping stops?
We answer this honestly, because it is the question behind every too-good-to-be-true China price. The itinerary includes six cultural craft visits — jade, Traditional Chinese Medicine, pearls, silk, tea and latex — each listed openly on the day-by-day itinerary rather than hidden. They are visits, not obligations: purchases are entirely optional, no minimum spending exists, and buying nothing changes nothing about your tour or how you are treated. The price works because we package the tour directly as the wholesaler, working with our long-standing local operator in China at weekly volume — not because anyone needs you to shop.
How much walking is involved? Is it suitable for seniors?
The pace is moderate. City sightseeing involves a normal amount of walking on mostly flat ground; the Great Wall section at Juyongguan is a stepped climb you take at your own pace and to your own chosen height — many guests walk a short stretch, enjoy the view and rest. High-speed rail keeps travel days short, Day 2 is a rest day after the flight and Day 10 is completely free. Seniors join regularly (travellers aged 80 and over travel with a companion, per our terms); comfortable walking shoes are the only real requirement. Tell us about any mobility needs at booking and we will advise honestly whether the itinerary suits.
How much spending money do I need on the tour?
Less than most people expect, because the big items are prepaid: hotels, transport, admissions, daily breakfast and the signature meals are in the package. Bring money for the meals shown as free time, personal purchases, and any optional excursions — the optional Shanghai city highlights tour on your free day, for example, is about CAD $70. Anything payable beyond the package price is disclosed before you book or offered openly in destination; nothing is collected as a surprise.
How far in advance should I book a China group tour?
Two to four months ahead is the comfortable window: early enough for visa processing and well-priced flights, and it keeps the CAD $300 deposit option (available more than 60 days before departure) instead of full payment. Peak weeks — Easter, summer holidays, and the fall foliage window — fill first; with weekly departures there is always another date, but the specific week you want is easiest to secure early.
