Local Experts. Trusted Journeys. Since 2007.
WindhorseTour is a boutique travel agency based in Chengdu, with a dedicated operation office in Lhasa. As a local China-based team, we operate directly on the ground. We offer private, tailor-made journeys and a small selection of group tours across Tibet and China, planned one-to-one, backed by over 19 years of local expertise.
We are not a platform or a call center – we are the people who plan and operate your trip.
Our Story
WindhorseTour was founded in 2007, at a time when reliable online information about Tibet travel was genuinely hard to find.
Our General Manager, Helen Wang, had been operating tours in Tibet since 2005, building local relationships, learning what itineraries actually work, and handling Tibet permits firsthand. That on-the-ground experience became the foundation of the company. Helen remains personally involved in the trips we operate today.
When Tibet closed temporarily in 2008, we didn’t step back. Based in Chengdu, the gateway to Tibet and Southwest China, we expanded thoughtfully into Sichuan, Yunnan, and eventually across China. The same approach applies everywhere we operate: practical, experience-based planning that works in real conditions.
Our Name: Wind Horse (Lung Ta)
In Tibetan culture, Lung Ta (Wind Horse) refers to a person’s inner energy and forward momentum. When your wind horse is strong, things tend to move forward smoothly; when it is low, even simple efforts can feel difficult.
The symbol is often seen on prayer flags across mountain passes, where the wind carries its meaning of balance, good fortune, and movement across the land.
We chose this name with intention. In the places we work, travel often asks something of you. Every journey we plan carries the same wish: that your path opens ahead, and the experience stays with you long after you return.
Our Approach
We keep things simple.
We plan each trip from the traveler’s perspective, focusing on what actually works on the ground.
Clear communication, realistic expectations, and practical solutions matter more to us than selling a perfect-looking itinerary.
How We Work
- One-to-one planning: Work directly with a dedicated specialist from start to finish
- Customized Itineraries: Private custom itineraries designed around you, only group tour for some Tibet tours
- Local Guides: Guides who know their land as home, with Tibetan guides for Tibet
- Handled in-house: Permits, tickets, hotels, and logistics managed directly by our team
- Long-term partners: Trusted drivers, guides and local partners, many working with us for over a decade
- Direct support: Ongoing support via WhatsApp or WeChat throughout your journey
The Team
Our team in Chengdu handles every trip from first inquiry to final day. In the field, our guides and drivers bring destinations to life through years of local experience. When you contact us, you’re speaking directly to the people planning and running your journey.
What Travelers Say
Each year, we work with over 2,000 travelers, and around 30% of our guests come through repeat visits and referrals.
Here are a few recent reviews from Tripadvisor:
“My visit to Tibet had so many wonderful moments and unique experiences that I cannot list them all.”
“One of the best trips of my life. Windhorse Tour is reliable, precise in their contacts, and Victoria is very friendly. 100% recommended.”
“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.”
Read more reviews on Tripadvisor
Trust & Credentials
WindhorseTour operates as a licensed inbound travel service provider in China.
- Licensed Inbound Operator: Chengdu Friendship International Travel Service Qingyang Branch
- License No: L-SC-A-00089
- Main Office: Chengdu, Sichuan
- Tibet Operations: Lhasa
Start Planning Your Trip
If you’re looking for a travel partner with real local experience and personal support, we’re here to help. Share your ideas with us, and we’ll help customize a journey that fits 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
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