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Few destinations capture travellers’ curiosity like China and India, two of the world’s largest and most fascinating countries.
Both have plenty to offer by way of vibrant cultures, fascinating histories, diverse landscapes, unique wildlife, and awe-inspiring cities. So, if you’re thinking about planning an Asian adventure, you might be wondering which to choose.
In many ways, these neighbouring nations are too unique to be compared, and we believe both deserve a spot on your travel bucket list. But, depending on what you’re seeking from your next getaway, one may naturally appeal more than the other.
To help you decide between these two unforgettable destinations, we’ve partnered with affordable escorted tour provider Cosmos to explore what you can look forward to when visiting China and India.
And if you’re looking to book a guided tour, you can choose from two unforgettable journeys with Cosmos – Essential China or Best of India: Land of the Taj & Tigers – from £1,999pp. From iconic landmarks to immersive local experiences, every detail is taken care of for you. Book now and save £300pp with code SAVE300.
Why choose an escorted tour?
Regardless of which country you choose, escorted tours are ideal for exploring destinations like China and India.
Their sheer size means must-see sights can be thousands of miles apart, making it tricky (and expensive) to fit everything into one trip when organising it independently.
Yet, the professionals behind escorted tours are experts in travel logistics, helping you experience as much as possible, as affordably as possible, without the stress of hotel bookings and train connections.
You’ll also get the benefit of expertise from tour directors and local guides, who can make your trip richer and more memorable. As well as supporting with practical things, like navigating language barriers, they’ll also point you towards hidden-gem experiences and offer unique insights into popular attractions.
China
Culinary experiences
China is a great destination for anyone seeking new gastronomical horizons, and you’ll discover far more than what’s offered at your local Chinese takeaway in the UK. As the world’s fourth-largest country, there’s plenty of regional variety.
In Shanghai, for example, melt-in-your-mouth soup dumplings sit simmering in hot broth, and golden-roasted Peking ducks hang in Beijing shop windows, while sampling spicy Sichuan hot pots is practically a rite of passage in the city of Chengdu. Shanghai is also famous for its eel dishes, particularly shansi leng mian (cold eel noodles), a restaurant favourite featuring a delicious gingery sauce that’s now a popular street food.
Meals in China are often important social events where food is designed to be shared, which is perfect for those who enjoy trying different dishes in a single sitting. Choosing a guided tour over independent exploration is a great way to meet people to share dinner with – and many feature organised group meals, which you can take or leave, depending on whether you’re in the mood for socialising.
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Beijing - Beijing-Xi’An - Xi’An - Xi’An-Chengdu - Chengdu - Chengdu-Shanghai - Shanghai - Shanghai-Hong Kong - Hong Kong
China | 14 days | Flights Included
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Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
Wildlife
From South China tigers to golden snub-nosed monkeys, China is home to many wonderful animals. But one resident draws more attention than most: the giant panda. China is the only place in the world where you can witness them in their natural bamboo forest habitat.
To see these docile bears responsibly, it’s best to visit dedicated ‘panda bases’ over zoos, such as the Wolong Shenshuping Base near Chengdu. It’s the world’s largest breeding centre for pandas and the only panda base that’s located on an actual panda reserve, where the conditions are most similar to their natural habitat.
There are over 50 pandas to see at the Wolong Shenshuping Base, including babies. As well as watching these lumbering animals tumble around and chew on bamboo, you can learn about the base’s conservation work while gaining a deeper understanding of pandas and the unique challenges they face.
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Cosmos Essential China*
Beijing - Beijing-Xi’An - Xi’An - Xi’An-Chengdu - Chengdu - Chengdu-Shanghai - Shanghai
China | 11 days | Flights Included
Launch offer! Save £600 per couple & Quote RESTLESS to save extra £100 per couple.
Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
Art, culture, and history
With 3500 years of written history and roots stretching even further back, China is a dream destination for history lovers. World-famous sights like the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, and Beijing’s Forbidden City offer insights into ruling dynasties of centuries past, while ornate temples, grottoes, and mosques reveal the country’s spiritual side.
Culture seekers will be equally spoilt for choice. You can watch a traditional tea ceremony in Beijing, explore modern art galleries of Shanghai’s M50 district, or catch the colourful Sichuan Opera in Chengdu.
One of the advantages of a guided tour over independent travel is that your experienced guide can point you towards experiences that aren’t in travel guides, helping you connect with the local culture as authentically as possible.
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Beijing - Beijing-Xi’An - Xi’An - Xi’An-Chengdu - Chengdu - Chengdu-Shanghai - Shanghai - Shanghai-Hong Kong - Hong Kong
China | 14 days | Flights Included
Launch offer! Save £600 per couple & Quote RESTLESS to save extra £100 per couple.
Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
Cities and everyday life
China’s cities are full of contrasts. Ancient neighbourhoods filled with vibrant traditions rub shoulders with gleaming skyscrapers, and family-run eateries lie side-by-side with Michelin-starred restaurants.
Shanghai, China’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, is packed with unique sights and experiences. Start your day with a visit to the Yu Garden, a maze of emerald pools, elaborate halls, and beautiful rockeries, before heading for a stroll along the Bund promenade. Here, Art Deco and neoclassical buildings from the concession-era colour the skyline with a dash of the unexpected.
The capital, Beijing, also offers far more than just the gateway to the Great Wall. Scratch beneath the surface of its ultra-modern exterior with a visit to one of its hutongs. These traditional, labyrinthine neighbourhoods of narrow lanes and single-story dwellings are filled with fashionable bars and hidden gem restaurants. Beijing’s beautiful public parks are also great places to get a taste for local life, where residents play badminton, practice Tai Chi, and socialise amongst the greenery.
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Cosmos Essential China*
Beijing - Beijing-Xi’An - Xi’An - Xi’An-Chengdu - Chengdu - Chengdu-Shanghai - Shanghai
China | 11 days | Flights Included
Launch offer! Save £600 per couple & Quote RESTLESS to save extra £100 per couple.
Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
India
Culinary experiences
Like China, Indian cuisine certainly doesn’t skimp on variety. One evening, you can be tucking into a thali – a traditional Indian platter featuring dishes like curries, chutneys, and sambar (South Indian stews). And the next day, you might find yourself on a street food tour, sampling treats like chaat (crispy fried potatoes) and stuffed parathas (flatbreads).
The drinks are just as exciting. Follow the sweet, spicy scents that float along the breeze in most towns and villages to a nearby chaiwallah (tea vendor), where you’ll find delicious mixtures of tea, milk, sugar, and spices bubbling away in big metal vats, which are often served in clay cups.
On the other hand, yoghurt-based lassi is a refreshing choice in a country where temperatures often soar to balmy heights. There are countless variations to try, containing anything from fruit to herbs and spices.
If you’re craving something sweet, you’ll certainly be catered for. Gulab jamun (fried dough balls covered in delectable syrup) is possibly the country’s most popular dessert, while mithai shops, selling arrays of small, usually milk-based treats, are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth on the go.
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Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Ranthambore National Park - Ranthanbore National Park-Jaipur - Jaipur - Colombo - Habarana - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya and 4 more
India & Sri Lanka | 19 days | Flights Included
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Wildlife and landscapes
Soaring mountains, palm-fringed beaches, rolling deserts, and beautiful backwaters; these are just some of the mesmerising landscapes waiting to be explored in India – but the sub-continent’s national parks are often highest on visitors’ must-see lists. Here, you can discover magical lakes, lush forests, grassy meadows, and wondrous wildlife.
Ranthambore is one of India’s most famous national parks. A once royal hunting ground that’s now a nature reserve, it’s home to crocodiles, sloth bears, leopards, monkeys, and most famous of all…the Bengal tiger. Catching sight of one of these majestic felines in their natural habitat is an experience you aren’t likely to forget.
Cosmos’ Best of India tour includes an open-air safari game drive in Ranthambore. And for nature lovers seeking an even more varied experience, there are extensions available to whisk you to the golden-sand beaches of Goa and even further afield to Sri Lanka’s national parks, where you can spot Asian elephants.
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Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Ranthambore National Park - Ranthanbore National Park-Jaipur - Jaipur - Goa
India | 14 days | Flights Included
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Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
Art, culture, and history
Culture seekers will be in their element in India. Often called the “Land of Diversity”, it boasts over 200 native languages and thousands of tribal and ethnic communities, each with its own fascinating traditions. The country’s vibrant calendar of festivals draws visitors with promises of colourful celebrations, while monastery visits and authentic yoga and meditation experiences offer more serene ways to tap into India’s spiritual side.
And, of course, there are iconic sights like the Agra Fort, Jaipur’s candy-coloured Hawal Mahal, and the palatial Taj Mahal. Built by a Mughal emperor in the 1600s as a mausoleum for his late wife, this modern wonder of the world combines dazzling grandness with intricate artistry. We think it’s best seen at sunset, when the glittering white marble softens to gorgeous shades of peach and pink.
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Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Ranthambore National Park - Ranthanbore National Park-Jaipur - Jaipur
India | 9 days | Flights Included
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Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
Cities and everyday life
India’s cities are known for their hustle and bustle – where cows and camels share the roads with rickshaws – but they don’t coast by on atmosphere alone.
Take regal Jaipur as an example. The whole city was painted pink in 1876 to welcome the visiting Prince of Wales, and it offers a feast for the senses. When you aren’t exploring its candy-coloured palaces, pavilions, and forts, head to the lively bazaars, which overflow with embroidered textiles, traditional clothing, glittering jewellery, and other local handicrafts.
In Delhi, you’ll find some of the country’s finest cultural offerings. By this, we don’t just mean UNESCO World Heritage sites, like the towering Qutub Minar minaret, and world-famous institutions, such as the National Museum. There’s something to discover around every corner – from food stalls frying moreish jalebi in pans of hot oil to Lodhi Colony, a residential neighbourhood filled with over 65 murals.
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Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Ranthambore National Park - Ranthanbore National Park-Jaipur - Jaipur - Goa
India | 14 days | Flights Included
Launch offer! Save £600 per couple & Quote RESTLESS to save extra £100 per couple.
Additional fees apply, check provider site for details
Final thoughts…
Whether you’re seeking one-of-a-kind wildlife experiences, unforgettable cultural encounters, or mouthwatering cuisine, you can’t go wrong with an escorted tour to China or India. So the question is, after reading the above, which feels most exciting to you?
Does the Taj Mahal’s resplendent beauty spark your imagination, or would you prefer to witness the sheer scale of the Great Wall? Would you like to see a tiger stalking the burnished grass of Ranthambore National Park or immerse yourself in panda conservation work in Chengdu? There are once-in-a-lifetime experiences to be had, wherever you choose to go.
You can choose from two unforgettable journeys with Cosmos – Essential China or Best of India: Land of the Taj & Tigers – from £1,999pp. From iconic landmarks to immersive local experiences, every detail is taken care of for you. Book now and save £300pp with code SAVE300.
And if neither of these countries feels right for your next guided tour, but you still want to book a far-flung adventure, why not use the button below to browse Cosmos tours to other destinations?