The elephant show in Thailand is one of the biggest attractions for Chinese tourists.[Photo/China Daily]

Many travel agencies have introduced semi-guided tours to attract travelers for the upcoming 3-day New Year's Day holiday, which starts on Dec 31, according to Xinhua.

The semi-guided travel packages usually include return air or train tickets and accommodation at the destination. Tourists spend part of the time traveling with a guide while enjoying free time to do what interests them at their own pace.

According to the report, the most popular semi-guided tour destinations for this New Year's Day holiday are Xiamen, Sanya, Singapore and Thailand. The popular packages are 4-6 days, as many people prefer to take a couple of days off to extend the holiday.

Semi-guided tours are becoming a preferred option for people who want to travel on their own, but don’t want the hassle of getting to and from their destinations, especially during “minor holidays”, such as China’s Dragon Boat Festival and Qingming Festival.

Despite the convenience, insiders remind tourists that they should plan arrangements well in advance, as tickets and accommodation usually cannot be changed on these tours. During outbound travel, participants in semi-guided tours should also exit and enter the border all together as a group.