About WindhorseTour
Local China and Tibet Tour Experts Since 2007.
WindhorseTour is a local China tour company based in Chengdu, with a dedicated operation office in Tibet’s capital Lhasa. Since 2007, we have specialized in private, customized tours across China and Tibet for individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Our journeys are planned one-to-one around your interests, travel dates, pace, and budget, supported by experienced local guides, private drivers, and our team on the ground. We also operate a small selection of Tibet group tours with guaranteed departures.
When you contact WindhorseTour, you speak directly with the people who plan and coordinate your trip in China.
At a Glance
- Founded: 2007, by General Manager Helen Wang
- License: Licensed inbound travel operator, No. L-SC-A-00089
- Travelers: 2,000+ a year, around 30% through repeat visits and referrals
- Tripadvisor: Rated 4.9 across 440+ reviews
- Recognition: Recommended in Lonely Planet’s Tibet guide since 2008, and a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice provider multiple times
Our Story
“When I started WindhorseTour, reliable information about Tibet travel was hard to find online. I wanted travelers to experience Tibet the way I had come to know it: with good local guides, honest advice, and every detail taken care of. Almost twenty years later, that’s still what matters most to me.”
— Helen Wang, Founder & General Manager
WindhorseTour began with firsthand experience in Tibet and gradually expanded across China.
- 2005: Our founder, Helen Wang, begins operating tours in Tibet, building relationships with local guides and drivers and handling Tibet permits firsthand.
- 2007: Helen founds WindhorseTour in Chengdu.
- 2008: When Tibet temporarily closes to travelers, we expand into Sichuan and Yunnan. The same year, Lonely Planet’s Tibet guide recommends us for the first time.
- Today: We arrange private journeys throughout China and Tibet, from classic first visits to longer journeys through remote regions. Helen remains personally involved, and we still work the same way: knowing the destinations, listening to travelers, and taking care of the details.
Our Name: Wind Horse (Lung Ta)
In Tibetan, lungta means “wind horse.” It is a mythical horse from ancient Tibetan belief. With the speed of the wind and the strength of a horse, it is said to carry people’s prayers up to the heavens. It also stands for a person’s energy and good fortune.
In Tibet, you’ll often see the wind horse on colorful prayer flags, pictured in the center, with four symbolic animals around it. People hang these flags on mountain passes, rooftops, and around monasteries, so the wind can carry their wishes for good fortune. On high passes, travelers also throw small paper wind horses into the air and pray for a safe journey.
We chose the name because Tibet is where our story began. It also expresses our wish for every journey we plan: that the road ahead goes smoothly, and that the memories stay with you long after you return home. As WindhorseTour has grown beyond Tibet, that connection to our beginnings has remained.
Our Approach
We plan each trip from the traveler’s perspective, considering what you want to experience and what will make the journey enjoyable and manageable.
We give honest advice about travel times, seasonal conditions, altitude, and daily sightseeing. If a route involves too much driving or leaves too little time in a destination, we explain the trade-offs and recommend alternatives.
Learn more about our services and traveler commitments on What We Do & Why Choose Us.
The Team
Our team works from two offices. In Chengdu, we handle most itinerary planning, bookings, and trip coordination. In Lhasa, our team manages arrangements and supports travelers on the ground in Tibet.
Many of our travel advisors have been with WindhorseTour for close to ten years or more, and they have personally traveled many of the routes they plan.
Across China, our local guides share the stories and everyday life of the places you visit. In Tibet, your Tibetan guide brings firsthand knowledge of the region’s culture, religion, and traditions.
What Travelers Say
Around 30% of our travelers are returning guests or come through referrals from past travelers.
Here’s what some of our travelers say about their journeys, from planning with their advisor to the guides and support along the way.
“Tibet and Nepal · Solo traveler · April 2026 · Planned by Eva
“Eva did a wonderful job shaping the itinerary, balancing logistics, comfort, and my personal interests in photography, nature, and quieter moments of reflection. It never felt rushed or off the shelf… Travel in Tibet can be complex, but Windhorse made it feel seamless.”
— Polly K, Tripadvisor”
“Yunnan Highlands · 13 days · Couple · September 2026 · Planned by Victoria
“This was our second private tour in China, booked directly with Windhorse Tour, and it won’t be our last… Victoria’s choice of hotels was excellent as was her selection of driver and guides… We visited the homes of traditional Naxi and Mosuo families and a Lesuo village high in the Yunnan highlands.”
— Wai W, Tripadvisor”
“Central and western China · 2 weeks · Family of three · October 2025 · Planned by Sylvia
“We’re a Portuguese family of three and our 2-week trip to central-west China was an amazing experience thanks to the organization of the WindhorseTour in the person of Sylvia. She tries her best to accommodate everything according to our wishes, she keeps checking in during the trip and is always ready to solve any unexpected issue.”
— Maria C, Tripadvisor”
Read more reviews on Tripadvisor
Trust & Credentials
WindhorseTour is a licensed China inbound tour operator serving international travelers.
- Licensed Operator: Chengdu Friendship International Travel Service Qingyang Branch
- Travel Agency License: L-SC-A-00089
- Main Office: Chengdu, Sichuan
- Tibet Operations: Lhasa
- Recommended by Lonely Planet since 2008, WindhorseTour is listed in the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th editions of its Tibet guide.
We have been arranging China and Tibet tours since 2007.
If you are comparing tour companies, see our guide to how to choose a China tour company and what to check before booking.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us roughly when you’d like to travel, who’s coming with you, and what you’d love to see. You don’t need a finished plan. Your travel advisor will recommend a route and design an itinerary around you.
Comments
It will be nice to actually post some photos of your main office, and people working there, faces, it will make your page more personal. I would love to see Murphy's face, who worked with me to organize our tour, Like faceboo, put some faces on about us page.
Hi Saho-Nian!
You are absolutely right, we need to add a few photos. Check back soon I will try to post a few now.
Cheers!
Harley
Dear Sir, dear Madam,
We are presently looking for an agency to organise a 4 persons travel to Tibet.
We are living in Beijing and would like to know if you have an agency in Beijing we could physically communicate with.
Thanks a lot for your answer.
Regards.
We are group og 11 people, travelling during Middle of May. planning to visit Chengdu for 4 nights, Guilin 3 nights and Hangzhou for 3 nights.
please advise if you can arrange Sight seeing tours and airport pick ups
Hello Naren,
Thank you for reaching out! We're happy to hear about your upcoming trip. Yes, we can definitely arrange sightseeing tours and airport pick-ups for your group of 11 in Chengdu, Guilin, and Hangzhou.
We’ll be sending the detailed proposal along with the quotation via email. Please take a look and we look forward to hearing your thoughts and assisting with your travel plans!
Best regards,
Helen
We are a group of 7 people (4 familes) arriving Oct. 10 at Chendgdu Airport 5.20pm. Plan to go with your 3 days Jiuzhaigou. 1) can you give us your whatsapp contact to discuss details? 2) The two-nights hotel stay at Jiuzhaigou - Name of Hotel? Thanks, Mr.Woon
Dear Mr. Woon,
Thank you for your message and interest in our 3-day Jiuzhaigou tour! We're delighted to assist with your travel plans for your group of 7 arriving in Chengdu on October 10.
We’ve sent the detailed program with the hotel name in Jiuzhaigou via email, please review them and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the tour.
Looking forward to speaking with you soon on WhatsApp or email!
Best regards,
Helen
Hi there,
I am traveling to China on the 3rd July to Chengdu from UK. I have my Chinese visa however my two companions are visiting with me on a 10 Day Visa Free.
I was hoping you can provide a invitation letter along with a itenary to use when they go through immigration. They both have British Citizenship, but want these documents to support their case. Please let me know if you can provide these, I am happy to pay for these services. And since they will be in Chengdu for 10 Days we will also use your services.
Kind regards
Alex
Dear Alex,
Thank you for reaching out.
I’m glad to hear about your upcoming trip to Chengdu! As of June 24th, it is my understanding that British passport holders are currently eligible for the 30-day visa-free policy in China. So if your travel companions have British Citizenship with British passports, they do not need a visa for this trip in China, provided their stay does not exceed 30 days in total.
Any further questions, please feel free to let us know.
if you have tours on russian guide?
Hi Ludmila, Russian-speaking guides are available in some major cities like Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. If a Russian-speaking guide is not available in certain areas, we will provide an English-speaking guide instead. Kindly please share which city you prefer to visit. I can help you to check if there is a Russian-speaking guide.
We just sent your the required information via email, please check the details and let me know your thoughts or questions. I eagerly to wait for your reply.
IF WE BOOK A TIBET TOUR IN AUGUST AND COME TO CHENGDU BEFORE GOI(NG TO TIBET CAN WE GET THE TIBET PERMIT FROM YOU IN CHENGDU ??
Hello Marin,
Yes, if you book a Tibet tour with us in August and plan to arrive in Chengdu before entering Tibet, if you take a flight to Tibet, we can arrange to deliver the Tibet Permit to your hotel in Chengdu (Alternatively, you are also welcome to visit our office in Chengdu to pick up the original permit in person). If you take the train to Tibet, we will send you a scanned copy of the Tibet Permit, which you can print out and use to board the train.
If you have any further questions and please feel free to let us know.
My wife and I arrive in Beijing on October 28 at 3am. We want a 19 day tour to include about 3 days in Beijing, 2 nites in Xian, 4-5 nites in Chengdu, 3 nites in Huanglong and juizhaigou, 5 nites in Zhangjiajie including the parks and some ancient towns, then one nite in Shanghai before departure for Osaka. Can you help us with local tours and guides, ideas for hotels, and most importantly, organizing transportation to spend less time traveling and more time sightseeing? Please tell me your fees etc. call or text 1-978-660-5053
Dear Jay,
Thank you for sharing your travel plans with us!
I have sent the detailed itinerary and quotation to your email. Please let me know if you have any further questions or suggestions regarding this trip. I look forward to your reply.
Warm regards,
Jenny
MI piacerebbe fare il tour classico della cina e vorrei ricomprendere il volo e avere vostre informazioni circa gli hotel e i servizi inclusi. 2 persone con partenza intorno al 10 agosto 2026
Dear Katia,
Thank you for getting in touch with us regarding your planned classic China tour starting August 10, 2026.
As requested, I’ve prepared a comprehensive tour proposal, including a detailed quotation and a clear breakdown of the inclusions and exclusions. I’ve sent the proposal to you via email for your review.
Please take a look at your convenience and let me know your thoughts. I’d be happy to answer any questions or make adjustments based on your preferences.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Victoria
I am thinking of travelling to China. I am a solo traveller, is it possible to join a tour? Do you cater for single people? I am planning to visit in the autumn.
Many thanks
Dear Richard,
This is Delia from Windhorse Tour. Thank you for your message!
Currently, we offer several long-distance group tours in Tibet and Yunnan. In other major destinations such as Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and Chengdu, we also offer a selection of half-day and one-day group tours.
Could you please let us know approximately how long you plan to stay in China and whether there are any specific places or attractions you would like to visit? This will help us recommend the most suitable group tour options for you.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Delia
My wife and I are looking to travel to Tibet. We are currently traveling in China and are from New Zealand. Can you provide indication of tours and prices please.
Dear Wayne,
Thank you very much for your inquiry!
It’s great to hear that you’re interested in visiting Tibet. I’d like to share some important information regarding the travel permit process. All foreign travelers visiting Tibet are required to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit, and the application process usually takes around 2–4 weeks. Even with expedited processing, it generally takes at least 10–15 working days.
Before I prepare a detailed itinerary and quotation for you, could you please let me know your preferred travel dates and how many days you would like to spend in Tibet?
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best regards,
Sylvia
Hello,
We are two friends from Denmark planning a trip to China and Tibet in April/May 2027, before continuing on to Central Asia.
We are looking for a fully customized private trip for two people, rather than a standard package tour.
Our timeframe
We have approximately 20–21 days available in China and Tibet.
Our Central Asia trip starts in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 8 May 2027, so we need to be in Ashgabat no later than 7 May 2027.
We would therefore like the China/Tibet itinerary to finish with enough buffer time to reach Ashgabat safely — ideally arriving in Ashgabat around 5–6 May rather than relying on a connection on 7 May.
What we want to see
We would really like to experience as much of China as possible, while still having enough time for Tibet.
Our current ideas are:
Beijing – Great Wall, Forbidden City, hutongs and the main historical sights
Xi'an – Terracotta Warriors and the old city
Zhangjiajie – one of our highest priorities. We would particularly like to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park/Wulingyuan, Yuanjiajie and Tianmen Mountain
Chengdu – pandas, Sichuan food and local culture
Tibet – this is also one of the main highlights of the trip. We would like several days in Lhasa for acclimatization and to see Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, monasteries etc.
We would then ideally like to travel further into Tibet, potentially including Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse, Shigatse and Mount Everest / Everest Base Camp, if this can realistically fit into the itinerary.
We are open to changing the order and destinations if you think there is a significantly better or more efficient route.
We are not particularly interested in spending time in Shanghai if that would make the itinerary too rushed. Our priority is to experience different sides of China rather than simply visiting as many major cities as possible.
Travel style
We are both young travelers and would like the trip to feel adventurous and active rather than like a traditional luxury group tour.
We are happy to:
Take high-speed trains where appropriate
Use domestic flights when they make more sense
Travel by train to Tibet if you think the experience is worthwhile
Hike and spend time in nature
Stay in comfortable but not necessarily luxurious hotels
Have a private guide/driver in Tibet where required
Have some free time to explore places independently where possible
We would prefer good, clean and comfortable accommodation, but we do not need 5-star hotels.
Camping equipment and luggage
There is one important logistical issue.
After China/Tibet, we are continuing on a longer trip through Central Asia, for which we will need camping equipment.
We will therefore be travelling with:
Tent
Sleeping bags
Sleeping mats
Other camping equipment
We would prefer not to carry all of this equipment throughout China and Tibet.
Could you help us arrange secure luggage storage for the camping equipment somewhere along the route, ideally in a city such as Chengdu or another suitable location, and have it returned to us before we leave China?
We are happy to follow your recommendation regarding the best location for this.
What we would like from you
Could you please design a suggested 20–21 day itinerary for two people based on the above?
We would particularly appreciate your advice on:
The best order of the destinations
How to travel efficiently between Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu and Tibet
Whether you recommend taking the train to Tibet or flying
How many days you recommend spending in Tibet
Whether Everest Base Camp can realistically be included without making the trip too rushed
The best way to leave China and reach Ashgabat by 5–6 May
Whether you can arrange storage for our camping equipment
All required Tibet travel permits
A detailed price for the complete private trip for two people
Please provide the price per person and for the two of us together, and specify what is and is not included (hotels, domestic transport, trains, flights, guides, drivers, entrance fees, permits, meals, etc.).
We are very open to your suggestions and would love for you to design something that combines the highlights of China, the spectacular nature of Zhangjiajie, and an adventurous Tibet experience.
Thank you very much. We look forward to hearing your ideas.
Best regards,
Aksel and Sigurd
Denmark
Hi Aksel,
Thank you very much for sending such a detailed plan. This is Jenny from WindhorseTour responding your request. It is extremely helpful for me when preparing the quotation.
First of all, we will definitely arrange this as a private customized tour for you. You will have your own private guide and driver throughout the trip.
Regarding hotels, I personally recommend choosing 3-star hotels. In China, many 3-star hotels are actually quite comfortable and of good quality, and this option can help you control the overall budget. Since your trip covers a long distance and many destinations, the total cost will naturally be higher, so I think it is better to save where it makes sense without affecting the travel experience.
I would also strongly suggest avoiding May 1–5, as this is China’s public holiday period. During this time, popular destinations become extremely crowded, and hotels as well as other travel services increase significantly in price. The cost is higher while the overall experience is usually much worse. I have attached some pictures from previous public holidays so you can see how Chinese travelers make full use of every holiday opportunity. 😊
Next, regarding the itinerary, besides the destinations you mentioned, I have also added some other places that are highly recommended by our previous clients. This will make the journey more diverse and enriching, allowing you to experience more different sides of China.
For transportation between different cities, we will prioritize high-speed trains, as they are more efficient and the booking process is simpler. Flights will only be considered when they are truly necessary or more convenient.
Regarding your camping equipment and luggage, I suggest storing them at your hotel in Chengdu. This would be the most convenient and secure solution, and you can collect them before leaving China.
Please kindly check the document for the detailed itinerary and quotation I sent via email. I have included as much information as possible there. If anything is unclear, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Best regards,
Jenny