PRIVATE TRAVEL
Designed around you
LOCAL EXPERTS
Based in China
END-TO-END SERVICE
From arrival to departure
PERSONAL SUPPORT
Whenever you need us
Explore China and enjoy your trip.
From ancient capitals and quiet mountain villages to vibrant cities and extraordinary landscapes, China offers a lifetime of journeys.
Your Journey Through China Starts Here
There is no single way to travel through China. We build yours around the way you want to experience it.
Private Custom Travel
For travellers who want a journey built entirely around them, from start to finish.
Family & Friends Travel
Comfortable, flexible travel for the people travelling together, at their own pace.
Business & Educational
Travel arrangements, local support and professional coordination.
Special Journeys
Long stays, outdoor adventures, niche interests and custom journeys.
Whatever Your Journey Looks Like, We Can Help.
Journeys We’ve Crafted
Custom China journeys, planned by us and loved by travelers from around the world.
13 Days, 3 Cities: A French Family Journey Across China
Beijing · Zhangjiajie · Shanghai
Two French families, one 7-year-old, and a wish list from the Great Wall to the Avatar mountains to Shanghai’s soup dumplings. See how we planned every day, every meal, and every transfer.
6 Days in Zhangjiajie, Planned in 5 Days
Zhangjiajie ｜Family Trip
Two families, seven travelers, and a booking made just before National Day. From wingsuit flyers over Tianmen Mountain to an evening in an embroidery master’s home, here is how it all came together.
What Our Travellers Say
New country, no Chinese between the four of us, yet the logistics were the easiest part. Train tickets booked, someone at every station, bags waiting at each hotel. Completely stress-free.
Three cities, two trains, zero arguments
The Hargreaves family, UK
Zhangjiajie is INSANE, and the glass bridge made us scream. But the best part was a tiny village lunch with a family, zero shared words, and our guide translating the jokes. Do this with your friends!
Mountains that look fake, a village that’s very real 🏔️
Jess, Mia & Ollie, Sydney
Our guide turned the Forbidden City into a treasure hunt, and our 10-year-old never got bored. We made dumplings, flew kites, and rested whenever small legs got tired. Merci, ilcompass!
An amazing trip to Beijing
Camille & Thomas, Lyon, France
We reached the terraces for first light, not the midday crowds, and our guide knew exactly which viewpoints were worth the climb. A simple wooden guesthouse, a gentle pace, a view we still talk about.
Worth every early alarm
Helen & David W., Bristol, UK
Recommended Itinerary
Not sure where to begin? Explore our most-loved routes, each one a starting point we can tailor to your dates, pace, and interests.
The Classic China Journey
Beijing · Xi’an · Shanghai
From emperors’ palaces to a 2,000-year-old clay army and a skyline of the future, discover China’s greatest highlights with your own private guide and driver.
Mountains & Ancient Towns
Zhangjiajie · Fenghuang · Guilin
Gaze up at mountains floating in the mist, wander lantern-lit river towns, and drift past emerald peaks. Eight days with a private guide and driver.
Southwest China Highlights
Chengdu · LIjiang · Dali
Meet giant pandas, wander cobbled old towns beneath a snow-capped peak, and cycle beside a shimmering lake. Ten flexible days with a private guide and driver.
Before You Come to China
China’s Most Beautiful Landscapes: How to Plan Zhangjiajie, Guilin and Yunnan
By the iL Compass team | 20 years of crafting journeys across China Most first-time visitors start with Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. But if you…
Why a Private Tour Beats a Group Tour in China
By the iL Compass team | 20 years of crafting journeys across China China is five time zones wide, with thousands of years of history,…
Seven Travelers, Two Families, Six Days: A Custom Zhangjiajie Adventure
By Tanya, Travel Expert at IL Compass On September 25, a message arrived from a traveler asking if I could plan a Zhangjiajie trip for…
Five French Travelers, Three Cities, One Unforgettable Journey: Behind the Scenes of a Custom China Trip
By Tanya, Travel Expert at IL Compass Some messages make my day before I’ve even finished my coffee. This one arrived a month before July…
Your First Trip to China: What to Know Before You Go
China can feel like a lot for a first-time visitor. The country is huge, the culture is rich and layered, and a few everyday things…
Ready to Discover China?
You don’t need to have the whole journey figured out.
Tell us what you’re thinking, and we’ll help you find the way.
