Start with who will travel with you and how much of the schedule can change. A small-group tour involves sharing an agreed trip with other bookings. Private travel is planned around your own party. Neither label alone confirms the maximum group size, hotel standard, a car throughout or a guide in your preferred language.
When should you consider a small-group departure?
Consider this option if you are comfortable with agreed meeting times, a shared sightseeing pace and the hotels attached to a particular departure. Ask about minimum and maximum numbers, whether everyone uses the same vehicle, arrival transfers and what happens if the departure does not operate.
The site has five-, six-, seven- and nine-day small-group references. They cover different places, so compare their scope before their total prices. Availability, operating status, the final schedule and all costs still need date-specific confirmation.
When should you discuss private travel?
Fewer hotel moves, different arrival times or more control over walking and rest breaks may be reasons to request a private plan. It need not use the same car throughout. Compare trains with local transfers, selected private-car days and continuous vehicle service separately.
A driver, an accompanying guide and remote customer support are different services. Confirm the language, provider and service dates. Do not infer that hotels, admissions or meals are included simply because a trip is private.
Compare five parts of each quote
- Format and dates: shared or private travel, meeting city, arrival and departure days, and conditions for the trip to operate.
- Rooms: each night's hotel, bed setup, room count, breakfast and single-occupancy or extra-bed costs.
- Transport: trains or flights, transfers at both ends, passengers, luggage and vehicle hours.
- Visits and staff: named admission tickets, cableways, scenic shuttles, meals, activities and guide language.
- Changes: optional items, disrupted visits, payment dates and cancellation or refund terms.
Use the Yunnan inclusions and exclusions checklist to compare scope. An unconfirmed starting price is not a confirmed price for your booking.
Travelling with parents or children?
Check meeting times, continuous driving and walking, midday breaks, hotel access and whether anyone can skip an activity. A private trip's flexibility also needs agreement. Start with the Dali and Lijiang two-base family planning guide.
Send a useful enquiry
Include your travel month, adults and children with ages, arrival and departure cities, available days, preferred format and what your budget should cover. Write “undecided” where necessary.
Browse Yunnan routes and planning advice, then request a comparison for your party. Departures, rooms, transport and services are checked before a written proposal; an enquiry does not confirm a booking.