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18 days from $4,999 per person
Your 18-day Small Group Cruise & Tour features 5-star hotels, the best ship on the Yangtze, 30 meals, sightseeing and shore excursions, luggage handling, port charges, all on-tour transportation and 3 internal flights
A comprehensive voyage into Japan and China... Our exclusive Cruise & Tour takes you to some of the most fascinating places on the planet... Travel Japan’s Golden Route from Tokyo to Kyoto, explore China in-depth with leisurely overnights in the best hotels, and voyage into the magnificent Three Gorges of the Yangtze River aboard the finest luxury ship in China.
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka, Japan; Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yichang and Shanghai, China
Engaging Discoveries
- Browse an open-air market with your guide to shop for a local family, your hosts for a fascinating visit.
- Feel the ancient rhythms of the Silk Road in Xian...A guided twilight tour in the bustling Muslim District evokes the legacy of this ancient trade route.
- Step into the most colorful chapter’s of China’s history! A guided exploration through Shanghai’s historic French Concession reveals the elegant architecture, drama and passions of pre-Revolutionary China.
- 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Day 1 - Welcome to Tokyo
Check in to the deluxe Keio Plaza, a stylish landmark hotel in the heart of the vibrant Shinjuku District.
Day 2 - A morning tour in Tokyo
Your morning sightseeing begins atop Tokyo Tower for great views over the city. With clear skies, you might even espy Mt. Fuji in the distance. Continue to the picturesque Imperial Palace Plaza and drive through Akihabara Electric Town. Stroll among the traditional merchants of the colorful Nakamise Arcade to visit Asakusa Kannon Temple, the oldest in the city. Your tour ends downtown at Tokyo Station where dining and shopping options abound.
Meals B
Day 3 - Tokyo as you please
A free day to enjoy at your own pace. Your hotel’s heart-of-it-all location makes it so easy to explore, shop and dine on your own! From April to November a tour is available to visit the magnificent Toshogu Shrine, set against the splendor of Nikko National Park .
Meals B
Day 4 - Onward to Mt. Fuji and Hakone National Park
Ascend midway up the scenic, forested slopes of Mt. Fuji to the mountain’s 5th station and the Fuji Visitor Center. Enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch, ascend the Hakone Ropeway for unforgettable views and cruise across the tranquil waters of Lake Ashi. Settle in to the 5-star Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa and delight in this idyllic setting, surrounded by the natural beauty of Hakone National Park and the opportunity to experience a traditional onsen - or Japanese hotsprings bath. Meals B,L
Day 5 - The Bullet Train to Kyoto
Travel this morning to nearby Odawara and step aboard the world-famous Shinkansen bound for Kyoto. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel of your choice – the deluxe ANA Kyoto Hotel.
Meals B
Day 6 - Out and about in Kyoto
Your morning sightseeing tour explores the city’s most significant sites, starting with the oft-photographed Kinkaku-ji Temple ; this Golden Pavilion shimmers in its tranquil setting surrounded by pine forests on the edge of a peaceful pond. Then enter into the Age of the Samurai at Nijo Castle. Marvel at the ingenuity of the famed Nightingale Floor, cleverly designed to chirp in warning if intruders gained entry into the Shogun’s quarters! Visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace and finish your sightseeing at the Kyoto Handicraft Center.
Meals B
Day 7 - Welcome to the Celestial Kingdom!
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing and enjoy a leisurely 3-night stay at the 5-star, city-center Sofitel Wanda Hotel.
Meals B
Day 8 - The splendors of Imperial Beijing
Enriching full-day sightseeing begins in Tiananmen Square, one of the largest and grandest public plazas in the world. Then join your expert guide to follow in the footsteps of Ming Dynasty Emperors… Your exploration through the vast Forbidden City reveals an impressive collection of palaces, courtyards and pavilions. Browse a bustling open-air market and help your guide to select fresh produce which you’ll present to your hosts during a hutong tour, exploring by rickshaw through an ancient city enclave and spending time with a resident family.
Meals B,L
Day 9 - The Great Wall of China
Journey into the rugged hills north of the capital to walk atop the Great Wall – an unforgettable experience. Then walk along the statue-lined Sacred Way through a tranquil valley to visit the celebrated Ming Tombs . Back in the city, admire the iconic 2008 Summer Olympic venues, including the Water Cube where American swimmers won Gold! Return to your hotel where the balance of your day and evening is at leisure.
Meals B,L
Day 10 - From Summer Palace to 5-star MS Yangzi Explorer
Explore the magnificent Summer Palace, erstwhile retreat of Chinese royalty. Then fly to Yichang where you’ll be met and escorted to the riverbank to board the luxurious MS Yangzi Explorer. Settle in to your spacious, balcony stateroom before dinner is served in the elegant dining room. Later this evening, a documentary film about the enormous Three Gorges Dam will be shown in the Tang Theater.
Meals B,D
Day 11 - The Immense Three Gorges Dam
Enjoy a leisurely morning onboard as your luxurious ship charts an upstream course along the mighty Yangtze! Early risers can start the day with invigorating Tai Chi exercise before an expansive buffet breakfast. Throughout the morning, you can admire the scenery from your private balcony, relax with fellow guests in the lounge or participate in shipboard cultural activities, lectures and demonstrations. After lunch, step off ship to visit the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world, and learn about its far reaching impact upon the geography and residents of the region. Return to ship for Afternoon Tea as the Explorer navigates through picturesque Xiling Gorge. Tonight’s Captain’s Welcome Reception is followed by dinner and an entertaining show by the ship’s crew.
Meals B,L,D
Day 12 - Up Shennong Stream and through the Yangtze Gorges
Join fellow passengers on deck for early morning Tai Chi before breakfast. Then step off ship for an unforgettable journey up Shennong Stream. You’ll explore this spectacular region in traditional sampans poled by Tujia boatmen. The scenery here is unrivalled, encompassing crystalline rushing waters, dense forests and towering rock formations. Keep your eyes peeled for indigenous species including the elusive Golden Hair monkey. Back onboard, the Explorer navigates Wu Gorge, renowned for massive cliffs that rise sharply from the river. Learn about Chinese arts and crafts and then enjoy Afternoon Tea as your ship enters Qutang Gorge, the narrowest of the river’s Three Gorges.
Meals B,L,D
Day 13 - Ashore in Fengdu
Alight in Fengdu this morning to explore the ancient temples of the famed “Ghost City.” Back onboard, you can try your hand at traditional brush painting and calligraphy, learn Mah Jong and watch as the ship’s chef prepares traditional Chinese dumplings. At this evening’s festive Farewell Dinner, your crew will be colorfully garbed in traditional Chinese dress.
Meals B,L,D
Day 14 - Onward to the ancient capital
Disembark this morning in Chongqing and visit the Panda Hall before your flight to Xian, China’s ancient capital for 13 Dynasties. A specially-arranged twilight walking tour in the city’s vibrant Muslim District evokes the exotic rhythms of the ancient Silk Road. Overnight at the luxurious Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel.
Meals B,L
Day 15 - The Terra Cotta Army
This morning you’ll visit the excavation site of China’s greatest archaeological discovery, where thousands of life-like terra cotta soldiers were buried 2,000 years ago to guard the tomb of an Emperor. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and sit down to a delicious lunch including a lively demonstration in the traditional art of noodle-making.
Meals B,L
Day 16 - Fly to Shanghai
Upon arrival in cosmopolitan Shanghai, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the deluxe Hilton Hotel. Then step out with your guide to explore the historic French Concession, close-by to your hotel.
Meals B
Day 17 - Shanghai Sightseeing
Today’s in-depth city tour begins along the historic Bund, Shanghai’s graceful waterfront boulevard. Then marvel at the futuristic skyscrapers of the bustling Pudong District before exploring the tranquil walkways, bridges and pavilions of Yu Yuan Garden, laid out centuries ago by a Ming Dynasty official as a retreat for his aging parents. Then tour the highly respected Shanghai Museum, renowned for its collection of Chinese art and artifacts spanning thousands of years.
Meals B,L
Day 18 - Farewell, Shanghai...
Your journey ends this morning after breakfast.
Meals B
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