Asia Odyssey Travel Expert Catherine

Tour name: Line B2, 8 days Lhasa-Yamdroktso-Shigaste-Mt.Everest tour.

Key people: Bob (local Tibetan tour guide), Catherine Wang (travel consultant), Mr. Yu. Jian (driver).

This tour was sublime, a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! From the very start, I was met with grace and incredible kindness. The driver assigned to me by the company was Susan and greeted me with a smile on her face, as well as the traditional Tibetan scarf she delicately placed around my neck. She then kindly offered to take some photos of me outside of the airport and offered me some water as we drove to the first accommodation in Lhasa. She then sent me a few locations within the city to explore, for shopping and food and shared her experience of living in the region for over a decade.

The following day we met our tour guide Bob, who to date has been my favourite tour guide. He was nothing short of incredible. Not only did he translate everything from Tibetan to Mandarin and English, making the tour accessible to all of us, but went above and beyond for all of us. Whether it was taking extra photos from awkward angles as the photographer to answering our follow-up questions or even giving us his own recommendations i.e. where to rent the traditional Tibetan clothes or shop for souvenirs. He was incredibly knowledgeable and humble- a true mix of wisdom and personal insight. I found his personal experiences and insight made the tour feel more authentic, especially as he had been doing this since 2009. His great anecdotes and true appreciation of the Tibetan culture, as well as his uplifting attitude and great sense of humour made the trip that much more special. Especially on the days when we were on the road for up to 7 hours, as we began the travel towards Everest Base Camp (EBC).

In terms of the people I met on the tour, it was truly a mixed bag in the best way possible! As I was a 22-year-old solo solo-female traveler you might expect that I would want to be around a similar company. In contrast, I had the best time ever with a wildly different demographic！ From middle-aged interracial married couples to retired solo travelers and other solo travelers, my group was made up of people from different neighbouring countries each with their own experiences of travel. As someone who is learning Chinese this was perfect for improving my linguistic skills however most could also speak English so there were no language barriers either.

The people in my group were lovely, kind and interesting characters. Each with open-minds and curiousity about the Tibetan culture. Having people from different walks of life and experiences in my group turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Even with our different backgrounds, we shared laughter, food and stories. I am grateful to have been in the same group as them for those 8 days- it was a true pleasure. Also, the nature of the tour meant that we overlapped with different groups based on both of our itineraries, meaning that we mixed with others for the first few days of the tour. This was a great way to also meet others as some were also staying at the same hotel as us.

The driver Mr. Yu Jian was also incredible. He so kindly brought our luggage in and out of the vehicles and always waited for us patiently in the mornings. Even when we (I) were running late, losing track of the timings and rushing outside with a hastily prepared buffet breakfast to go.

In terms of the tour, my personal highlights were of course seeing EBC and Everest in person, however, the in-betweens were just as remarkable. The 108 zig-zags we had to endure on the way to EBC, the petrol station stops where we’d stretch our legs and interact with the locals (often trying to sell us things) and growing closer and closer to the enchanting Everest. Being able to see the surreal landscape views of Tibet, both in Lhasa and outside, was awe-inducing. As I flew in on 25/03, I was met with the mountainscape being submerged with snow. By the time we made it to EBC, the snow had mostly melted but the rugged mountain view perfectly complemented the seemingly endless holy Yamdrok Lake. It was a nature lover’s paradise through and through, especially with the domesticated and wild animals across the area.

I also thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the locals. They met me with such curiosity, warmth and open-mindedness. I was touched to be perhaps the first black European person they met, and hope that they left our interactions with a new perspective. The first meal I had in Tibet was also sublime (I will put a picture below of the dish and a screenshot of the location I went to, recommended to me by my first driver). There was also a traditional Tibetan musical performance shortly after I had finished my meal, also recommended to me by Susan which began around 8pm!

My favourite monastery we visited was also the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse, which we visited on our penultimate day in Tibet. We went on a Sunday which meant that not many tourists, if any, were there. Especially the tour took place during the off-season (End of March/Early April). As such it was an immersive experience being able to calmly walk through the monastery. With a history dating back to 1447, I felt like I connected to this the most, with there being living trees on the site that had been first planted over 400 years ago! Even seeing locals re-paint some of the religious paintings and the monks ready to enter for their evening classes gave a sense of serenity. It was a wonderful way to end the trip. Also, I would like to highlight seeing the Yamdrok Lake’s deep shades of turquoise from many angles (extraordinary), trying yak meat for the first time (different and at times tasty), seeing the Karola glacier (even when the rest of the landscape was snowless), seeing monks’ daily debates at Sera Monastery, of course climbing and seeing Polata Palace (tip: bring a 50 RMB note with you to take the famed picture outside Polata Palace- a fellow tour member loaned me his, thanks Yuki!), as well as Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan incense making where the activity leader wrote us, upon our request, a sign in the Tibetan language with anything i.e. our name or quotes. Seeing the stars on the first day of the new moon in the village just outside of Everest was also phenomenal (tip: walk 5-10 minutes in the opposite direction of heading into town to escape the light pollution for a better view, we only stayed out for 15 minutes just around midnight due to fatigue but if you really commit to it and maybe even venture further out and perhaps later on in the night around the new moon phase you will be stunned out what will find in the starry night sky.. hopefully the milky way!).

I would also like to give a warm mention to the hotel workers in the first hotel we stayed in Lhasa as they were incredibly kind to me. They were curious to know what my story was and where I had travelled as well as catering to my needs in the mornings (i.e. morning coffee etc.). Though they won’t see this, the woman working at the Tibetan clothes’ rental who helped me take pictures on my phone and conversed with me was also very kind! Even the shopkeeper who gave me a freebie after I bought some goods from his store was patient with me as I perused through the shops looking for instant noodles. Overall, I was met with such kindness from the very start of the trip until the very end!

Regarding altitude sickness, if you are worried about the high altitude, I bought Diamox , also known as Acetazolamide, (250mg per tablet) and got a prescription from a pharmacist. I took 1 tablet the day before I flew into Lhasa (during my layover in Kunming, Yunnan) and took another tablet for the next two days, waiting 24 hours between each 250mg dose. I adjusted well to the altitude and only took another one when we were heading to higher altitudes (particularly the mountain pass that is higher than EBC and the day of EBC). In total, I took 4 tablets on 4 days (the day before landing in Lhasa, days 1 and 2 of the tour as well as day 4 of the tour). I stopped taking it after EBC day and was fine throughout the trip. The tour will provide you with one free bottle of oxygen, as well as an emergency tank of oxygen in the shuttle bus. For reference I didn’t finish the bottle of oxygen throughout the trip but bought a spare one from the supermarket down the road from the hotel in Lhasa and the quality was great for only a few more RMB (lasted the entire trip). With a lot of water for hydration and taking it easy, alongside deep breaths, I think this tour is accessible to anyone without any underlying health conditions.

Finally, I would like to thank my tour agent Catherine Wang who has supported me throughout this trip! From when I first sent an email back in December 2024 to inquire about this tour until present she has supported me and provided me with updates throughout this process. Although I sent persistent emails (regarding the Shigatse earthquake and permit process/progress update) she always kept me in the loop. Even during the trip she had sent me an email to ask how it was going. Thank you very much for your patience and hard work, this trip has been the trip of a lifetime!

TLDR: I would 1000% recommend this trip and tour. All the little moments and cherished memories I have made will last a lifetime. Thank you to Bob, Mr. Yu Jian, Catherine, Susan, my tour group members and all the others who have made this trip so special. I am beyond grateful.

Found AOT online and took a chance to try their services. From the start, Catherine of AOT was spot on in assisting me & family in planning our 7 night stay in Beijing and Xian. The guides assigned to us in Beijing, Bruce and Wally were also great. Bruce took us to many nice local restaurant spots where the food was great and the prices reasonable. Jenny our guide in Xian was also super. All in all no regrets trusting and booking with AOT. Woul;d recommend and would also use their services again in future. Thank you again to all! We had a great time!

Overall, had an enjoyable trip, thanks to Catherine. She was very helpful responding to my questions, check in to see how I was doing during the trip, and responded quickly to an issue encountered during the trip. Thank you to Catherine, and the other tour guides and drivers, for their friendly and warm hospitality. For my next visit to the other cities in China, will reach out to Catherine again.

We booked a tour with Asia Odyssey to Xian from 21st April to 27th April 2025. Our domestic flight from Guangzhou to Xian was cancelled a few times due to weather issues and it was a relief to us that our tour guide Lucky and our driver Mr Wang were there waiting for us. All of our tour guides and driver helped make our travel experience a smooth and memorable one. They were all very professional and personal at the same time. The guides explained each site well and were always mindful of our energy level during our travel journey. We were especially thankful to our driver, Mr Wang who was with us for the duration of our visit in Xian. Even though he could not communicate too well in English, we could tell how kind and professional he was. He always asked us if we needed snacks and made sure each of us had bottled water at every tourist stop. He really took great care of us, always so gracious and patient with our family members. Service with a Smile! There were times when we travelling without a guide, Mr Wang always gave us the assurance that he would be there waiting for us upon our return. On our return to Malaysia, Mr Wang took us to the luggage department so we could  leave our bags there while we visited the Airport Museum.  He even checked with the airport staff on our behalf regarding our check- in details. Last but not least, a big "Thank you" to our travel consultant, Catherine Wang who so patiently and professionally tailored this tour to suit us. 

Ms Teoh
Malaysia

Asia Odyssey Travel was the first company to reply to my inquiry regarding a private 4 day tour to Huangshan.  My wife and I were travelling to Chongqing and Chengdu with friends for 7 days and wanted to extend our time in China to see the famed Yellow Mountains.  

I contacted AOT with a short list of places we wanted to visit, and Catherine Wang at AOT responded with an itinerary and price quote.  After a little back and forth and a few tweaks, we were ready to go. I'm glad that we were able to upgrade our hotels in Huangshan City (Crowne Plaza) and on the mountain (Baiyun).

Our local guide, Gary, was knowledgeable about the history, culture, resources, economy, and everything else a tourist might ask about the places he showed us.  He paced our hikes on the mountain to our ability and despite rain, showed us breathtaking landscapes.  In the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun, we got a feel for life in the Ming and Qing dynasties and independent time to wander the back alleys where life continues in present day.

To sum up, AOT gave us a great experience from planning to pick up and departure.

We had only one day so we visited Avatar mountain and Tianmen mountain in a day with Asia Odyssey TRAVEL. It was the only agency with this tour for a day! 
Beautiful esperience! The guide was very kindle and Catherine so disponible. 

After more than 300 flights and visiting more than 60 countries in my life, this was the pinnacle of travelling, thank you Asia Odyssey, and especially thank you to Catherine and Bob!!! Those two are just beyond amazing!

After more than 300 flights and visiting more than 60 countries in my life, this was the pinnacle of travelling, thank you Asia Odyssey, and especially thank you to Catherine and Bob!!! Those two are just beyond amazing!

We have gone to China for an exciting 17-day travel covering 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, something for a lifetime. Trip was a personalized and was well planned, coordinated and executed by Catherine Wang. We were truly amazed by her patience for nearly 2 months to communicate with us, answering our queries and plan this whole trip.  

As for the trip, it went well with the pick-up in Beijing and reorganizing the Beijing sites visit when there was the 80 years celebration parade in Tiananmen square. Perfectly done and start with a bang.

We have travelled in places like Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Dazu-Chongquing, Three Gorges Cruise, Yichang and finally end up in Shanghai. Every place was magnificent specially those we visited. 

In every place we have the comfort due to knowledgeable guides and efficient drivers. They played a fantastic role in the whole 17 days of our trip in China.

Our heartfelt regards to tour organizer Catherine Wang for managing such a fantastic tour of a lifetime. We will definitely pursue more visits in the coming years.  

We just returned from a very pleasant trip in Bhutan. We would like to thank Catherine of AOT who worked with us to plan this journey from scratch. She helped us plan our itinerary and tried to meet all of our requests. She was so efficient and responded quickly every time and paid attention to every detail. The trip was very impressive and memorable. We learnt so much about Bhutanese life and culture. Our trip to Bhutan wouldn’t have been so smooth and successful without the help of Catherine. Thanks again!

I recently arranged my trip leading a group of 25 people to China visiting Shanghai, Suzhou, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie and Beijing through Asia Odyssey Travel travel agency and was thoroughly impressed with the exceptional service provided by Catherine, (travel consultant). From the initial planning stages to the final details, Catherine demonstrated remarkable professionalism, efficiency, and attention to detail.

She listened carefully to my preferences and crafted an itinerary that perfectly matched my expectations. Every aspect of the trip—from accommodations and transfers, train and flight tickets to tours with professional guides and local experiences—was well-organized and seamless. Catherine's communication was prompt and clear, and she consistently went the extra mile to ensure everything ran smoothly, specially her insisted to accompany the group during our first 4 days in Shanghai and I was grateful to her manager who accepted all our needs. 

I am truly grateful for her dedication and expertise, which made my travel experience completely worry-free and enjoyable. I highly recommend Asia Odyssey Travel to anyone seeking reliable, high-quality travel planning and personalized service.

AOT exceeded our expectations and throughout the time Catherine Wang was in contact answering all my queries within shorter timeframe and made the whole process so easy and simple. We had the most memorable BHUTAN trip and our guide CHOWDEN  was darlingly amazing and looked after us so well and by the end of the trip we were so emotional to say GOOD BYE to Chowden and to our gentlemen driver Tashi. I thought Tigers nest was something not achievable by seeing it in real  but with Chowden’s encouragement yayyy I did it and I feel so accomplished. My 14 year old daughter is in awe with Bhutan and its people and culture . Thank you AOT for giving us memories for a lifetime

This was my first experience with AOT so I was a bit cautious initially. Catherine Wang was superb.She was warm, friendly and very responsive. She was focused on making sure that we got the experience that we desired. The booking process was efficient and the tour went as planned.

The hotels were well chosen as were the sights. Sri Lanka is more diverse than I had imagined and we sampled it all from ancient cities to coastlines to tea plantations in the mountains. Our guide and driver were very friendly and we were very happy with our trip.

Our family of 5 comprising of 4 seniors above 70 and an adult went on a 11 days private tour from 5th to 15th November to the Yangtze region including to Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing and Suzhou. The highlight was the 4 days 3 nights Yangtze 3 gorges river cruise on the Sabrina Victoria from Chongqing to Yichang. All of us were very satisfied with the successful tour with the itinerary curated by Ms Catherine Wang, travel consultant of Asia Odyssey Travel based on our outlined requirements. Our trip included an internal flight from Shanghai to Chongqing and 2 high speed train rides from Wuhan to Nanjing and Nanjing to Shanghai on China's famed high speed trains. The tour went on smoothly without issues. The hotels in Shanghai, Wuhan and Nanjing were clean and good and the breakfasts good to excellent. The tour guides and drivers were great, responsible and knowledgeable and spoke good English. We are particularly impressed by Ms Ashley, our Chongqing guide who spoke excellent English and help us navigate the complexities of getting our luggage and checking in to the cruise ferry in addition to conducting the Chongqing tour. We nearly missed our train ride to Shanghai from Nanjing due to a massive traffic jam after visiting the Confucian Temple in Nanjing had it not for Mr George Jiaping, our helpful Nanjing guide who also spoke good English, who has the initiative to contact the driver to arrange alternative routes to the train station. I would like to extend my appreciation to Ms Catherine Wang and the tour guides and drivers for our successful tour and have no hesitation in engaging Asia Odyssey and Ms Catherine Wang again should we decide to travel again.

Tour name: Line B2, 8 days Lhasa-Yamdroktso-Shigaste-Mt.Everest tour.

Key people: Bob (local Tibetan tour guide), Catherine Wang (travel consultant), Mr. Yu. Jian (driver).

This tour was sublime, a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! From the very start, I was met with grace and incredible kindness. The driver assigned to me by the company was Susan and greeted me with a smile on her face, as well as the traditional Tibetan scarf she delicately placed around my neck. She then kindly offered to take some photos of me outside of the airport and offered me some water as we drove to the first accommodation in Lhasa. She then sent me a few locations within the city to explore, for shopping and food and shared her experience of living in the region for over a decade.

The following day we met our tour guide Bob, who to date has been my favourite tour guide. He was nothing short of incredible. Not only did he translate everything from Tibetan to Mandarin and English, making the tour accessible to all of us, but went above and beyond for all of us. Whether it was taking extra photos from awkward angles as the photographer to answering our follow-up questions or even giving us his own recommendations i.e. where to rent the traditional Tibetan clothes or shop for souvenirs. He was incredibly knowledgeable and humble- a true mix of wisdom and personal insight. I found his personal experiences and insight made the tour feel more authentic, especially as he had been doing this since 2009. His great anecdotes and true appreciation of the Tibetan culture, as well as his uplifting attitude and great sense of humour made the trip that much more special. Especially on the days when we were on the road for up to 7 hours, as we began the travel towards Everest Base Camp (EBC).

In terms of the people I met on the tour, it was truly a mixed bag in the best way possible! As I was a 22-year-old solo solo-female traveler you might expect that I would want to be around a similar company. In contrast, I had the best time ever with a wildly different demographic！ From middle-aged interracial married couples to retired solo travelers and other solo travelers, my group was made up of people from different neighbouring countries each with their own experiences of travel. As someone who is learning Chinese this was perfect for improving my linguistic skills however most could also speak English so there were no language barriers either.

The people in my group were lovely, kind and interesting characters. Each with open-minds and curiousity about the Tibetan culture. Having people from different walks of life and experiences in my group turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Even with our different backgrounds, we shared laughter, food and stories. I am grateful to have been in the same group as them for those 8 days- it was a true pleasure. Also, the nature of the tour meant that we overlapped with different groups based on both of our itineraries, meaning that we mixed with others for the first few days of the tour. This was a great way to also meet others as some were also staying at the same hotel as us.

The driver Mr. Yu Jian was also incredible. He so kindly brought our luggage in and out of the vehicles and always waited for us patiently in the mornings. Even when we (I) were running late, losing track of the timings and rushing outside with a hastily prepared buffet breakfast to go.

In terms of the tour, my personal highlights were of course seeing EBC and Everest in person, however, the in-betweens were just as remarkable. The 108 zig-zags we had to endure on the way to EBC, the petrol station stops where we’d stretch our legs and interact with the locals (often trying to sell us things) and growing closer and closer to the enchanting Everest. Being able to see the surreal landscape views of Tibet, both in Lhasa and outside, was awe-inducing. As I flew in on 25/03, I was met with the mountainscape being submerged with snow. By the time we made it to EBC, the snow had mostly melted but the rugged mountain view perfectly complemented the seemingly endless holy Yamdrok Lake. It was a nature lover’s paradise through and through, especially with the domesticated and wild animals across the area.

I also thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the locals. They met me with such curiosity, warmth and open-mindedness. I was touched to be perhaps the first black European person they met, and hope that they left our interactions with a new perspective. The first meal I had in Tibet was also sublime (I will put a picture below of the dish and a screenshot of the location I went to, recommended to me by my first driver). There was also a traditional Tibetan musical performance shortly after I had finished my meal, also recommended to me by Susan which began around 8pm!

My favourite monastery we visited was also the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse, which we visited on our penultimate day in Tibet. We went on a Sunday which meant that not many tourists, if any, were there. Especially the tour took place during the off-season (End of March/Early April). As such it was an immersive experience being able to calmly walk through the monastery. With a history dating back to 1447, I felt like I connected to this the most, with there being living trees on the site that had been first planted over 400 years ago! Even seeing locals re-paint some of the religious paintings and the monks ready to enter for their evening classes gave a sense of serenity. It was a wonderful way to end the trip. Also, I would like to highlight seeing the Yamdrok Lake’s deep shades of turquoise from many angles (extraordinary), trying yak meat for the first time (different and at times tasty), seeing the Karola glacier (even when the rest of the landscape was snowless), seeing monks’ daily debates at Sera Monastery, of course climbing and seeing Polata Palace (tip: bring a 50 RMB note with you to take the famed picture outside Polata Palace- a fellow tour member loaned me his, thanks Yuki!), as well as Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan incense making where the activity leader wrote us, upon our request, a sign in the Tibetan language with anything i.e. our name or quotes. Seeing the stars on the first day of the new moon in the village just outside of Everest was also phenomenal (tip: walk 5-10 minutes in the opposite direction of heading into town to escape the light pollution for a better view, we only stayed out for 15 minutes just around midnight due to fatigue but if you really commit to it and maybe even venture further out and perhaps later on in the night around the new moon phase you will be stunned out what will find in the starry night sky.. hopefully the milky way!).

I would also like to give a warm mention to the hotel workers in the first hotel we stayed in Lhasa as they were incredibly kind to me. They were curious to know what my story was and where I had travelled as well as catering to my needs in the mornings (i.e. morning coffee etc.). Though they won’t see this, the woman working at the Tibetan clothes’ rental who helped me take pictures on my phone and conversed with me was also very kind! Even the shopkeeper who gave me a freebie after I bought some goods from his store was patient with me as I perused through the shops looking for instant noodles. Overall, I was met with such kindness from the very start of the trip until the very end!

Regarding altitude sickness, the tour will provide you with one free bottle of oxygen, as well as an emergency tank of oxygen in the shuttle bus. For reference I didn’t finish the bottle of oxygen throughout the trip but bought a spare one from the supermarket down the road from the hotel in Lhasa and the quality was great for only a few more RMB (lasted the entire trip). With a lot of water for hydration and taking it easy, alongside deep breaths, I think this tour is accessible to anyone without any underlying health conditions.

Finally, I would like to thank my tour agent Catherine Wang who has supported me throughout this trip! From when I first sent an email back in December 2024 to inquire about this tour until present she has supported me and provided me with updates throughout this process. Although I sent persistent emails (regarding the Shigatse earthquake and permit process/progress update) she always kept me in the loop. Even during the trip she had sent me an email to ask how it was going. Thank you very much for your patience and hard work, this trip has been the trip of a lifetime!

TLDR: I would 1000% recommend this trip and tour. All the little moments and cherished memories I have made will last a lifetime. Thank you to Bob, Mr. Yu Jian, Catherine, Susan, my tour group members and all the others who have made this trip so special. I am beyond grateful.

I did a 2-week tour in China, in Dec24/Jan25 and I was very pleased with Asia Odyssey. They handled everything very professionally, from the good accommodations to the great tour guides we had. I totally recommend this company for China tours.

We had a wonderful time on the Century Paragon. It is a beautiful ship, and well worth spending the extra for this modern ship.The cabins have plenty of room, a balcony and a spacious bathroom.The only language we speak is English, but everyone on board tried very hard to make sure we were well looked after, and even though we did not understand a lot of the general announcements, they were all explained to us individually in English. We were kept well informed. The daily tours were all led by a tour guide who spoke English for us. We had a fun time during the activities onboard. The cruise director Leo, was a brilliant host and entertainer.

We have travelled from/to 8-12 January of this year for 5 days trip with Asia Odyssey Travel in Lhasa, Tibet from Mongolia. It made us a great travel experience and the company offered timely and economically trip package for us. We are so excited for our travel with this company, with its gentle staffs and it arranged all the travel days in details and a good communication. We have seen so many interesting things and fully understood Tibet's customs and culture more clarify with support of its local guides. Finally, we would like to thank to Asia Odyssey Travel, especially many many thanks to a person who chats with us, he/she was informed us by its trip details on time, also millions of thanks to Mr. Luvsandorj (a driver who picked up/dropped up us safety), Mr. Dashdeleg and Mr. Dashnamjil (guides whose followed us in Lhasa and in the Turquoise lake and mountains) and certainly many thanks to Asia Odyssey Travel. You have remained us untouchable memories in our heart forever in our life.