Our People

Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.

Alila Anji, Upper Lake View room, Anji, China

Alila Anji

Shanghai, China

Alila Anji is tucked away in a little know area of China, south west of the buzzing city of Shanghai. The peaceful lakeside setting, surrounded by mountains, tea plantations and bamboo forests is an area dedicated to preserving the natural environment.

The hotel fuses traditional and elegant styles with contemporary comforts and has been designed to resemble a traditional Chinese village. Most of the 74 villas and rooms have a private balcony or terrace offering wonderfully elevated views across the lake to the hills and mountains beyond.

Why we like Alila Anji

It can be hard to escape the crowds and find pristine, untouched countryside in China and the location of Alila Anji offers just that. Luxury accommodation amidst spectacular rural landscapes.

Facilities

Heated indoor swimming pools
Spa
Kids club
Gymnasium
Two restaurants serving Asian, Western and traditional Chinese cuisine

Activities

There is plenty to occupy ones time at the Alila Anji, both inside and outside of the hotel. Play Chess, table tennis or snooker or maybe engage in a Tai Chi or Yoga class.

Away from the hotel it is possible to take a gourmet tea tour, spending time with a local tea farmer, learn the art of bamboo crafting or set off for the day with a delicious picnic to do a spot of fishing. A short drive from the hotel is one of Chinas largest remaining bamboo forests which is well worth a visit and is also the location when scenes from the film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon were filmed. During the summer it is possible to river raft, winding through some of the stunning mountain scenery.

Read more

Alila Anji, Anji, China

Alila Anji, Anji, China

Alila Anji, Anji, China

Alila Anji, Anji, China

Alila Anji, Anji, China

Alila Anji, Anji, China

Idea

Highlights of China including Yangtze Cruise

This classic holiday encompasses many of the highlights China has to offer, including Beijing and Xian as well as a Yangtze cruise and the beautiful karst limestone peaks of Guilin. A great first holiday to China…

15 days from £4,000pp

Yangtze River, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Highlights of China including pandas and Tibet

This holiday to China includes many of the classic highlights as well as the chance to see one of the country’s most iconic residents, the giant panda, before flying to the Buddhist world of Tibet.

14 days from £3,950pp

Giant Panda, Chengdu, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

China – Highlights of Yunnan

Yunnan is one of China’s most diverse and naturally beautiful provinces with terrain ranging from snow-capped and alpine mountains to tropical rainforests. Travel from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang to Shangri-La experiencing fascinating cultures and beautiful…

13 days from £4,500pp

Prayer flags in Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri La, Yunnan, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

China – Shangri-La and Beyond

Exploring the far north western region of Yunnan, this holiday to Shangri-La is ideal for travellers wishing to experience remote, untouched and wild regions of China.

12 days from £4,950pp

Prayer Beads, Tibet

View Holiday Idea

Idea

China – Walled Cities and Buddhist Cave Art

This fabulous holiday idea to China showcases some of the classic sites as well as less known gems such as the walled city of Pingyao and the Buddhist caves at Datong.

14 days from £5,250pp

Roof, Hanging Monastery, Datong, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Luxury Hosted Holiday to China

Explore the classic sites of China plus the oasis Silk Road city of Dunhuang, accompanied throughout by a private host who will bridge the gap between cultures.

12 days from £15,750pp

Lines of terracotta warriors stood in tomb trenches.

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Along the Silk Route – Kyrgyzstan to China

This holiday follows the northern Chinese Silk Route, journeying eastwards from the mountains of Kyrgyzstan to the terracotta warriors in Xian, travelling by road, rail and air.

20 days from £4,500pp

Weaving traditional chinese silk arts and crafts

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Family Holiday to China

This family holiday includes many of the classic highlights of China with plenty of exciting things to both educate, excite and entertain the children.

12 days from £2,900pp

Yulong River, Guilin, China

View Holiday Idea

Need Inspiration?
Browse our China holiday ideas.

We know a thing or two about bespoke holidays – we’ve been creating them since 1989. Take a trip through the China holidays that we love today.

Idea

Highlights of China including Yangtze Cruise

This classic holiday encompasses many of the highlights China has to offer, including Beijing and Xian…

15 days from £4,000pp

Yangtze River, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Highlights of China including pandas and Tibet

This holiday to China includes many of the classic highlights as well as the chance to…

14 days from £3,950pp

Giant Panda, Chengdu, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

China – Highlights of Yunnan

Yunnan is one of China’s most diverse and naturally beautiful provinces with terrain ranging from snow-capped…

13 days from £4,500pp

Prayer flags in Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri La, Yunnan, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

China – Shangri-La and Beyond

Exploring the far north western region of Yunnan, this holiday to Shangri-La is ideal for travellers…

12 days from £4,950pp

Prayer Beads, Tibet

View Holiday Idea

Idea

China – Walled Cities and Buddhist Cave Art

This fabulous holiday idea to China showcases some of the classic sites as well as less…

14 days from £5,250pp

Roof, Hanging Monastery, Datong, China

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Luxury Hosted Holiday to China

Explore the classic sites of China plus the oasis Silk Road city of Dunhuang, accompanied throughout…

12 days from £15,750pp

Lines of terracotta warriors stood in tomb trenches.

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Along the Silk Route – Kyrgyzstan to China

This holiday follows the northern Chinese Silk Route, journeying eastwards from the mountains of Kyrgyzstan to…

20 days from £4,500pp

Weaving traditional chinese silk arts and crafts

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Family Holiday to China

This family holiday includes many of the classic highlights of China with plenty of exciting things…

12 days from £2,900pp

Yulong River, Guilin, China

View Holiday Idea

View all holiday ideas

Where to stay in China

Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any journey.

More luxury accommodation

Amanfayun

£££££

Hidden in a picturesque valley, a short drive…

Tea House Exterior, Amanfayun, Hangzhou, China

Banyan Tree Hangzhou

£££££

Banyan Tree Hangzhou sits within China’s first wetland…

Night Lakeview, Banyan Tree, Hangzhou, China

Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao

Boutique
£££££

This renovated building houses a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty…

Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao, Pool Pavilion Bathroom, Zhujiajiao, Near Shanghai

Peninsula Hotel Shanghai

City
£££££

The Peninsula Shanghai occupies a splendid location, with…

Deluxe Room, Peninsula Hotel Shanghai, China

Amanyangyun

£££££

In a bold project, the creators of Amanyangyun…

Antique Villa Exterior, Amanyangyun, Shanghai, China

Banyan Tree – Shanghai on The Bund

City
£££££

Banyan Tree on the Bund is located in…

Banyan Suite Bathroom, Banyan Tree Shanghai on The Bund, Shanghai, China

Let’s chat

Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

The design and operation of this holiday was excellent and took us to places that we had hardly heard of. A great experience and opportunity to sample " Old China" before it becomes overcrowded. We were very happy with the whole procedure.

China

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?

More about Steppes

Featured in the press

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Account Created

All you need to do now is activate this account by clicking on the link we’ve just sent you via email to the address you’ve just provided or log in below.

Reset your password

Enter your email below.

We've sent you an email to reset your password

you will receive an email from us in the next few minutes. Click in the link in the email to change your password.

if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address.