China and Thailand are two highly-representative Asian countries. China boasts a rich historical heritage and exudes the classical charm of traditional Eastern culture.
Thailand, one of the representatives of Southeast Asia, is known for its islands, temples, and delicious cuisine. The combination of these two countries allows you to experience the diversity of East Asia all in one journey.
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Which Country to Fly to First
Considering the convenience of international flights, starting your journey in Thailand or China would not make a big difference because there are many flight options for these two countries.
You could decide according to the most convenient flight times, ticket prices, and your travel dates.
For a better travel experience, we suggest starting from China and ending in Thailand as this winds down from cultural experiences in China to the tropical-island vibe and relaxation found in Thailand.
How to Travel Between China and Thailand
Flying is definitely the best and fastest way to travel between Thailand and China. A direct journey takes about 4 to 5 hours. Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand and Beijing and Shanghai in China are the most frequently used flight hubs.
Many airlines have flights between Thailand and China. If you would like a boutique and luxury flight service, Bangkok Airways is the best choice. For good value and service, Thai Airways, Hainan Airlines, and Air China are the top choices. For budget airline options, you could check out AirAsia and Spring Airlines flights.
Our private tour service would manage all of the transportation within Thailand and China and also your flight between China and Thailand, all according to your cost and service requirements.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Albee Ning Surreal China Trip
Albee Ning with China Highlights never fails to create the perfect vacation!!! She listens and understands what interests us and provides a guided tour that is surreal. We will remember and share the marvellous memories of this experience for the rest of our lives!! Thanks for everything Albee!!! (Including our dinner together by the elephant in Guilin!!) more
Oct 2024, Mike and Lucy
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Well organised and interesting
Tom was very helpful and knowledgeable. The walk along the Wall was well planned and really enjoyable. The visit to the Summer Palace and Forbidden City were memorable with excellent guiding more
Oct 2024, Robin
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Tour of Beijing
Tom from China tours guided us for a hike on the Jiansanling section of The Great Wall and then a one day tour of Beijing including Forbidden City Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. He was very friendly and accommodating from the begin. He answered all of our questions about Chinese history and culture and gave great explanations of the history of all the monuments we visited. The restaurants he chose and dishes he recommended were very tasty on both days. I would recommend him very highly to anyone looking for an English language tour in Beijing and particularly for people interested in history. more
Oct 2024, Sam M
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How to Choose Cities to Visit in Thailand and China
Thailand:
Our guests with elephants in Chiang MaiFor first-time visitors to Thailand, a classic route including Bangkok and Chiang Mai paired with an island visit remains the most popular choice.
For island getaways, Phuket stands out with its lively atmosphere and various choices of water sports, making it particularly appealing for families.
For couples seeking an anniversary or honeymoon celebration, Koh Samui offers a quieter, more romantic vibe, along with high-end resort experiences.
If you are looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations with unique experiences such as jungle hiking, floating houses, or treehouse stays, you might consider Khao Sok National Park or Kanchanaburi.
If you are a history enthusiast intrigued by Thailand's history and ancient ruins, you could consider Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Sirin is the BEST!
My recent trip to Chiang Mai was nothing short of magical, and our tour guide played a huge part in making it so memorable. From the moment we met, Sirin welcomed us with warm hospitality and an infectious passion for sharing the beauty, history, and culture of northern Thailand. more
Oct 2024, Jenny Tse
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Excellent Trip Planning by Alisa Liu at Asia Highlights
Alisa did a wonderful job! She was very detail oriented, extremely responsive and answered my questions very promptly. She incorporated all of the places we wanted to visit and was able to book hotels, airline tickets and special event tickets (to the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival which was sold out when I tried booking on my own.) Alisa was great to work with and I recommend that others use her for their trip planning. more
Sep 2024, Effie
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Excellent experience in Bangkok
Ying was our guide in Bangkok. She was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She knew exactly how to move us through crowds quickly so that we could see all we wanted to say and made good recommendations for other things we were interested in. I would not hesitate to recommend Ying or anyone that helped us at Asia highlights more
Aug 2024, Dr. Meshagae Hunte-Brown
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China:
Our guests have a birthday picnic on the Great WallGiven China's vastness, exploring all its cities in a single trip can be challenging. However, certain gateway cities encapsulate the essence of China's culture and history, making them ideal for first-time visitors—Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an.
Beyond history and culture, China's breathtaking natural landscapes are worth exploring. Time permitting, consider visiting scenic cities like Zhangjiajie (renowned for towering peaks), Guilin (known for its relaxing countryside vibe and scenery), or Huangshan (famous for mountain views).
If you are seeking off-the-beaten-path destinations, you might consider Tibet (offering Tibetan culture and plateau scenery), the Silk Road (featuring deserts and ancient caves), and Yunnan (good for ancient towns and relaxed, unhurried atmosphere).
Our tours can be customized. We will help you to arrange your itinerary based on your interests, available time, and other requirements. If you have a bucket list, we can help you realize it and give you professional advice about what options are available. Just contact us.
How Many Days Are Needed?
For your first trip to China and Thailand, an itinerary of about 2 weeks is appropriate, spending 1 week in China and 1 week in Thailand.
This length of time allows for a relaxed travel pace and ensures a relatively rich experience, including experiences such as hiking on the Great Wall and a cooking class in Thailand.
It could include must-see cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai in China, and Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and some beach time in Thailand.
Both China and Thailand are well worth visiting in depth. If you have a longer vacation of 3 or 4 weeks, you could spend one or two more weeks exploring areas with more ethnic or local characteristics, such as Tibet in China or the rainforest parks in Thailand.
Itinerary Suggestions: 3 Options
We offer three itinerary options to help you consider what you would like to include in your tour: the classic 2-week plan, the extended 3-week option, and the shorter 10-day alternative.
1. Classic 2-Week Itinerary for China and Thailand
If you want to cover the most essential cities in your Thailand and China trip, you could refer to this itinerary:
- Days 1‒3: Beijing (landmark sightseeing, such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City)
- Days 4‒6: Shanghai (city walks to see the skyline, colonial architecture, and classical gardens, and some free time)
- Days 7‒8: Bangkok (visit the Grand Palace and some Buddhist temples)
- Days 9‒10: Chiang Mai (temples, a cooking class experience, and night markets)
- Days 11‒13: Phuket (relaxing unscheduled beach time)
- Day 14: Departure
2. In-Depth 3-Week China and Thailand Itinerary
This 3-week tour would have a more relaxed pace and give you more opportunities to explore Chinese history and culture as well as Thailand's forest parks.
- Days 1‒4: Beijing
- Days 5‒6: Xi'an
- Days 7‒8: Shanghai
- Days 9‒11: Bangkok
- Days 12‒14: Chiang Mai
- Days 15‒17: Khao Sok National Park (jungle hiking, kayaking, elephant camps...)
- Day 18‒21: Koh Samui
3. Basic 10-Day China and Thailand Itinerary (Visa-Free)
If you don't have time for such a long vacation, you could refer to this itinerary. You do not need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa for this itinerary, as you could take advantage of Beijing's 144-hour visa-free transit policy.
- Days 1‒4: Beijing
- Days 5‒6: Bangkok
- Days 7‒9: Phuket
- Day 10: Departure
Our family guests learn to write Chinese characters in a hutong family.Costs for a Trip to China and Thailand
We suggest allocating a daily budget of about 220–250 USD per person for a private tour. This budget allows you to maintain a balance between better experiences and sensible expenditures.
The price includes flights/trains within China and Thailand as well as transportation between China and Thailand, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, guides, and private transport.
You could get an approximate price reference from our 15-Day Thailand and China Tour.
The price difference between the low and high seasons isn't significantly large. What you should be aware of is that during some major holidays, such as Christmas, Thailand's Loy Krathong festival, and China's National Day, hotel prices could increase by 50% to 100%.
We recommend booking 3 months in advance to ensure that you have more options and opportunities for comparison.
When booking with us, you'll receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to 3 weeks before departure (more details here⇒).
Best Times to Visit China and Thailand
Summer in Koh Samui is less affected by the rainy season. The best times to visit China and Thailand are October, November, and March when the two countries have less rain and ideal temperatures. The Yi Peng Festival in Thailand in November could be an event you want to include.
If you don't care too much about the cold wintry weather in China — it's around -5–10°C (23–50°F) in Beijing — then December, January, and February are also good times to travel, as Thailand has fantastic weather in these months.
September could also be an option when China is at its best weatherwise. Thailand would have afternoon showers, but the impact wouldn't be very big.
The summer vacation (June to August) coincides with the hot and rainy season in China and Thailand (Koh Samui and nearby islands will be sunny). Often this means heavy afternoon/evening showers, which have little impact on the touring experience. Sometimes, beach activities may be affected due to rough seas, but there are still many indoor activities available, such as visiting vibrant markets, taking cooking classes, etc.
Making the most of good weather with the high-quality experiences we provide, and mitigating the impact of bad weather through our arrangements, is what we routinely do to enhance your trip. Feel free to contact us for a customized trip.
Visa Requirements
Most European and American tourists don't need a visa to visit Thailand.
You do, however, need to apply for a tourist visa (L visa) to visit China. We recommend that you apply for the visa 1 or 2 months before the intended travel date. You could refer to the requirements for visa applications here.
When booking with us, we would provide the invitation letter that you would need for a tourist visa application.
Tour China and Thailand with Us
All of our tours can be adjusted or customized based on your requirements. Just contact us if you have a good idea about what you want to do or if you need some help to start planning.