Central Asia to Far East Adventure - 16 Days

Welcome to China. On arrival in Beijing, we’ll transfer you to your hotel. In the early evening we’ll head to Wangfujing Street – a vibrant pedestrian avenue with numerous shops and restaurants – a relaxed way to get acquainted with the city. Dinner is included, after which we’ll return to the hotel. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We set out on a full-day tour of Beijing, taking in its grand avenues and landmark sights. Our first stop is the Forbidden City – the former Imperial Palace where 24 emperors ruled for nearly five centuries. We then head to Jingshan Park to climb Coal Hill for panoramic views over the palace – weather permitting. Crossing to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world, we admire the exterior of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, also known as the Beijing Opera House. Lunch is included.

In the afternoon we continue to the Summer Palace – the Qing dynasty’s lakeside retreat – before immersing ourselves in traditional neighbourhood life with a tricycle ride through the historic hutongs. We visit a classic Siheyuan courtyard house, then return to the hotel for the overnight stay.

Note: Owing to heritage protection and safety regulations, daily visitor numbers to the Forbidden City are currently restricted, so entry cannot be guaranteed. If access is unavailable, we will instead visit the Confucius Temple and the Lama Temple – both emblematic in Chinese history and culture.

We travel out of the city to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China – a remarkable feat of engineering with over 2,000 years of history. We’ll take the cable car up and down to one of the most scenic stretches for far‑reaching views across the mountains.

On our return to Beijing, we visit the 798 Art District, a former military factory now home to contemporary galleries, studios and creative spaces. We then continue to the Temple of Heaven – a UNESCO World Heritage Site where emperors once prayed for good harvests.

Before heading back to the hotel, we unwind with a soothing foot massage followed by a Tai Chi class. In the evening, we round off the day with a lacquered duck dinner, a celebrated local speciality.

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Seoul. On arrival in Korea, we’ll transfer to the hotel and meet our guide. In the late afternoon, we begin our introduction to the city – we head to City Hall to see its distinctive wave-shaped building, then continue to Deoksugung Palace, set opposite City Hall and beautifully illuminated at night, highlighting Korea’s blend of tradition and modernity. We’ll then walk to Myeongdong – Seoul’s main shopping and entertainment district – whose name means bright tunnel. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. We return to the hotel by Seoul’s modern subway – ticket included – for an overnight stay.

An in‑depth five–hour tour introduces Seoul today. We begin at Changdeokgung Palace – a UNESCO World Heritage site – with entrance included, exploring its palace complex set within expansive gardens. We then stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a historic neighbourhood of well–preserved traditional houses. Next, we visit the War Memorial of Korea – entrance included – which presents the nation’s military history with a focus on the Korean War. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We continue to Gangnam, one of the city’s liveliest districts, known for shopping and entertainment. To round off the day, we stop at the 550–metre–tall Lotte World Tower, where you’ll have free time to go up to the observation deck – admission not included – or to explore the park and luxury shopping centres. We then return to the hotel and you’ll have free time.

We visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance included), a landmark with more than 600 years of history – if timings allow, we’ll watch the ceremonial changing of the guard. We then leave Seoul and head south to Suwon, a former capital renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage walls – we’ll view these impressive fortifications and visit Hwaseong Haenggung, the summer palace (entrance included). Lunch is included. In the afternoon we continue to Jeonju to explore its historic centre, the Hanok Village, with its traditional houses, small shops and art galleries.

We leave Jeonju for Sunchang Gochujang Village at the foot of Mount Amisan – a cluster of hanok houses with courtyards lined with clay jars known as hangari. Here, master artisans make gochujang – Korea’s famed chilli paste – and we join a practical session to learn how it is prepared using traditional methods.

We then continue to Damyang to wander the serene paths of Juknokwon Bamboo Forest – entrance included – followed by a visit to the Bamboo Museum – entrance included. Lunch is included and features a local speciality: rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk.

Surrounded by mountain scenery, we travel on to Haeinsa – entrance included – one of Korea’s most important Buddhist temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 802, it houses the Tripitaka, an extensive collection of Buddhist scriptures carved on 80,000 wooden tablets. We then continue to Busan – Korea’s second-largest city – for the night.

This morning, we drive out to Haedong Yonggungsa, a 14th‑century Buddhist temple set dramatically by the sea. Back in Busan, we visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), a serene resting place for people from many nations, before heading to the country’s largest fish market by Nampo Port to experience its lively atmosphere. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our included flight to Fukuoka, Japan – on arrival, we transfer to the hotel.

From Fukuoka we travel to Iwakuni to see its beautiful, historic Kintai-kyo Bridge. We then continue to Miyajima, taking the ferry to the island known as where men and gods coexist. We visit the Itsukushima Shrine – dedicated to the guardian of the seas and built partially over the water – and you’ll have time to explore the shrine, stroll the charming town centre and have lunch at your own pace.

In the afternoon we continue to Hiroshima – a city tragically devastated by the atomic bombing of 1945. We walk through the Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome and visit the moving Peace Memorial Museum. Dinner is included.

We take the ferry to Shikoku – a relaxed two and a half hour crossing that highlights Japan’s island character. On arrival in Matsuyama, we ride the cable car to visit its impressive castle, then continue to Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple and popular pilgrimage site. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Later in the afternoon, we include admission to Dogo Onsen – a traditional Japanese bathhouse dating from the 19th century.

Leaving Matsuyama, we travel to Kotohira to visit its Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of sailors – set on Mount Zosu and reached by 785 steps. We continue to Takamatsu to explore Ritsurin, considered one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, in Naruto, we stop at the impressive sea bridge to learn about its construction and walk along the glass floor walkway 45 metres above the water to see the powerful whirlpools. We then follow a scenic route across island‑linking bridges and arrive in Kobe for the night.

In Kobe, we visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum – a thoughtful space that honours the 1995 earthquake and the city’s remarkable reconstruction. We then continue to Osaka before heading to sacred Mount Koya, the most important centre of Shingon Buddhism in Japan and a major pilgrimage site with around 120 temples and monasteries. We visit the Okuno Mausoleum – a deeply spiritual site and vast cemetery set in nature with over 200,000 graves – and the Kongobuji Temple, originally built in 1593. We spend the night in a Buddhist monastery, where the monks lead us in Ajikan meditation. Dinner is included – a vegetarian meal. If you wish, you can attend the temple’s religious ceremony before breakfast.

Notes: On certain dates, the Earthquake Memorial Museum visit may be replaced by the Sake Museum or an ascent of Kobe Tower. Staying in the monastery is a special experience – rooms are simple in traditional tatami style, there are no private bathrooms and facilities are shared. Meditation may not be available on peak tourist dates. As temple capacity on Mount Koya is limited, accommodation may occasionally be in nearby hotels with half board included.

We begin with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple, then depart early for Kyoto – Japan’s former capital from 794 to 1868 and seat of the Imperial Court. Spared from bombing during the Second World War, the city retains a remarkable cultural legacy and is known as the site of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

On arrival, we explore key highlights: the atmospheric Fushimi Inari Shrine, the historic Imperial Palace, and Kinkaku‑ji – the celebrated Golden Pavilion – set within elegant gardens.

You’ll have free time to explore at your own pace before we continue to Gion, the city’s traditional district known for its Geisha heritage, where you’ll have additional free time to soak up the ambience. Note: If you have already visited Kyoto earlier in your tour, our guide will share tailored suggestions so you can discover different areas independently.

After breakfast, we transfer to Kyoto Station for the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo – a swift journey of just over two hours covering nearly 500 km. On arrival in Tokyo, you have the rest of the day free to explore at your own pace.

This morning we explore Tokyo on a full guided tour of about seven hours – a city where tranquil tradition sits alongside bold modernity. We make a brief stop at Zojoji Temple for a classic view of Tokyo Tower and to see the rows of Jizo statues, guardians of children, dressed with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. From there, we view the famous Shibuya Crossing from the bus, then continue to Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. We head up Tokyo Skytree – admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres – for sweeping city views, before ending in Asakusa to visit Sensoji Temple and stroll along Nakamise Street. We return to the hotel via Akihabara, known as the Electric City and a centre of manga and anime culture, and the elegant Ginza district.

At 6:30 pm – we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway to Shinjuku (tickets included). We enjoy a guided walk through this lively district before dinner at a local restaurant – included – then return to the hotel by subway with our guide. Please note that the order of visits may vary depending on our Tokyo Skytree admission time. In case of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to the Skytree may be limited – in that case, we will visit an alternative iconic viewpoint.

After breakfast, we’ll conclude our journey in Tokyo. The tour ends here – wishing you a smooth onward journey and lasting memories of your time in China, Korea and Japan.