One of the reasons we chose AVIORA was that we wanted to feel independent without actually having to organise everything independently.
That sounds contradictory, but it describes the experience perfectly.
We had our own vehicle and guide during the organised parts of the trip, so the difficult logistics were handled. At the same time, our hotels were in locations where we could go out ourselves in the evenings, find restaurants, shop a little or simply walk around.
Our guide also helped us understand how to do that comfortably. He gave us context rather than instructions.
That balance gave us a wonderful sense of freedom. We never felt trapped inside a tour, but we also never had to struggle with the practical side of travelling around China.