If you know anything about Lost Plate, you know that you’ll never go hungry. All meals are included on this trip. You can expect simple yet hearty breakfasts, plus lunches and dinners that offer a huge variety of dishes in large quantities. We often visit family-owned restaurants that specialize in one type of cuisine or dish, and there’s a reason why we visit every single place. We promise the food will be the highlight of your trip!

Dinners include beer. Non-alcoholic options such as tea, mineral water, and soft drinks will always be available. Drinks like soda water and cocktails will not be available at the restaurants we visit.

Please Note: Some of the restaurants we visit are Muslim-owned establishments. Therefore, beer will not be offered in every restaurant we visit.

All of our tours have been designed to accommodate vegetarian diets. With that said, Xian is one of our least vegetarian-friendly destinations. Cuisine here relies heavily on beef, chicken and pork and there is little local awareness to vegetarian diets.

With that said, we will always do our best to make sure everyone gets enough to eat. Please understand that meals are typically eaten in restaurants that specialize in one dish, so there will not always be direct substitute for everything we eat.

Please let us know when paying your deposit if you have any special dietary requirements.

We’ve rated this trip at a level of 2 out of 4, and there is no strenuous activity required during this trip. You should plan to be on your feet a lot as we sightsee and explore the sights of Xian in the city and at the Terracotta Warriors. Exploring and hiking at the caves is optional.

The renovated cave accommodations are comfortable and offer a great chance to get out of the city. Please keep in mind that while they are renovated and offer basic amenities, they are still caves. An adventurous spirit is recommended.

Yes, children are welcome to join this trip. We ask that groups with children exercise their own judgement and contact us with any questions. Due to the schedule each day, it is important that we stay on time and there may not always be an opportunity for you to take breaks or go back to your hotel for rest.

Due to limited capacities on our trips, discounts are not generally provided for children. Contact us with any questions or concerns and we will assess each situation individually.

Flights to and from Xian are not included. This gives you the flexibility to arrive and depart when you would like, on the flights or trains of your choice.

Yes! Feel free to arrive early or stay extra days. We are able to pass on our special hotel rates to you so you don’t need to switch hotels as well. Just let us know your dates and we will check rates and availability for you.

Please note that airport pickup and drop-offs to/from the airport/train station are not available for those that arrive before our itinerary starts or depart after it ends.

The minimum number of guests for this trip is 4, and the maximum is 10. All of our trips guarantee a small, intimate group for your pleasure and enjoyment – no big busses and tour guides waving flags here.

Your trip will have one Lost Plate trip leader with you the entire time and one driver/vehicle that stays with us for the entire trip.

All of our guides and trip leaders are employees of Lost Plate and trained by our founder. We do not outsource staff like other travel companies.

If you were to draw a straight line between Beijing and Chengdu, you’d find Xian roughly halfway in the middle. The capital city sits in the middle of Shaanxi province at an elevation of about 400 meters / 1312 feet. It’s bordered to the south by the Qingling mountain range which bleed into Sichuan, and to the north by Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia.

Xian has a temperate climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold and dry winters. Spring and fall sit right in the middle, yet longer periods of rain or dust storms can occur.

As an aggressively expanding Tier 2 city, air quality is not always great but has been improving. On a clear day, the city offers incredible views of the Qingling mountains just 50km from the city center.

Yes! All of our trips are available for private groups or families, depending on date availability. Pricing will vary for groups under 8 people, but we always make sure they are reasonable. Groups of 8 or more can enjoy our published price for public tours. Contact us with your request and we’ll let you know specific details and pricing. 

• Transportation / flight tickets to/from Xian.
• Shopping and activities during your free time.
• While basic travel insurance will be provided by Lost Plate, coverage is not all-encompassing. Each guest should obtain their own health and travel coverage.

Our trips are in high demand and have limited spots. Deposits are non-refundable unless the trip is cancelled by Lost Plate due to the minimum number not being met. Full payment for the trip is required 14 days before arrival in Xian and is not refundable if you need to cancel.