Asian Temples & Tropics - Hong Kong to Singapore Cruise

Day 1 - Hong Kong

Arrive: Mon 27 January 2025

Experience old and new Hong Kong with its ultra-modern high-rise buildings beside street markets and lovely temples. Visit the boat people in Aberdeen and shop in Stanley Market or stroll through the bustling Temple Street night market. Visit Hollywood Road with its temple and antique shops or take a junk cruise and explore the magnificent bay. Travel to the New Territories to see family shrines, the wishing tree and the preserved wetlands. Or visit Lantau Island and the Po Lin Monastery with its giant Buddha statue.

Day 2 - Hong Kong

Depart: Tue 28 January 2025 at 14:00

Experience old and new Hong Kong with its ultra-modern high-rise buildings beside street markets and lovely temples. Visit the boat people in Aberdeen and shop in Stanley Market or stroll through the bustling Temple Street night market. Visit Hollywood Road with its temple and antique shops or take a junk cruise and explore the magnificent bay. Travel to the New Territories to see family shrines, the wishing tree and the preserved wetlands. Or visit Lantau Island and the Po Lin Monastery with its giant Buddha statue.

Day 3 - Kaohsiung

Arrive: Wed 29 January 2025 at 10:00 / Depart: Wed 29 January 2025 at 18:00

The canal-like Love River flows through the heart of this wonderfully modern city, and a boat ride along its shores reveals Kaohsiung's beauty. The former British Consulate, built in 1865, is a historic landmark juxtaposed with more modern sites such as the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, known for its contemporary sculptures.

Day 4 - Taipei

Arrive: Thu 30 January 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 30 January 2025 at 18:00

On this fascinating island visit the world's tallest building, the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, the fabulous Palace Museum's vast collection of Chinese art and the lovely Lungshan Temple. Explore lovely Keelung's historic sites and Yeliu Park's astonishing rock formations.

Day 5 - Ishigaki Island

Arrive: Fri 31 January 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Fri 31 January 2025 at 18:00

Discover this remote and picturesque island's lush mountains, beautiful beaches and magnificent coral reef from island viewpoints. See the native palm forest and the lavishly decorated Chinese tomb. Step back in time and travel to the tiny island of Taketomi-jima with its treasured red-tile- roofed town where rural island heritage, including ox carts, is vividly alive.

Day 6 - Okinawa

Arrive: Sat 01 February 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Sat 01 February 2025 at 18:00

Naha is the capital and the largest city in the Okinawa Prefecture, which is made up of more than 150 islands. This part of Japan was once an independent entity – the Ryukyu Kingdom. Learn about its fascinating history at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and discover traditional Okinawan crafts at locations in the city like Naha City Traditional Arts & Crafts Center. If you’re up for a day trip, visit the ruins of Nakijin Castle less than 60 miles north – you’ll find much to explore on a trek through the grounds of this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site. Also nearby is the Churaumi Aquarium, where two huge whale sharks and a delightful dolphin show are among the highlights.

Day 7 - East China Sea Cruising

Day 8 - Shanghai

Arrive: Mon 03 February 2025 at 08:00

See the amazing contrasts of this burgeoning city, from the broad European-style Bund to the soaring ultra-modern buildings. Visit the magnificent art museum and the renowned 16th century Yu Yuan Gardens. Enjoy the city by night, see an acrobatic show, browse in local markets or take a trip to one of the famed garden cities of Suzhou or Wuxi.

Day 9 - Shanghai

Depart: Tue 04 February 2025 at 17:00

See the amazing contrasts of this burgeoning city, from the broad European-style Bund to the soaring ultra-modern buildings. Visit the magnificent art museum and the renowned 16th century Yu Yuan Gardens. Enjoy the city by night, see an acrobatic show, browse in local markets or take a trip to one of the famed garden cities of Suzhou or Wuxi.

Day 10 - East China Sea Cruising

Day 11 - Nagasaki

Arrive: Thu 06 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 06 February 2025 at 18:00

Discover remnants of old Nagasaki beside the modern city. Visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. Or travel to Arita, home of magnificent Japanese ceramics, and tour famous Kakiemon Kiln, which continues a 400-year-old tradition. Experience feudal Japan and the natural wonders of Shimabara Peninsula with its volcanoes and hot springs.

Day 12 - Busan, South Korea

Arrive: Fri 07 February 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 07 February 2025 at 17:00

From trendy cafes and famous fish markets to sacred temples and traditional tea ceremonies, Busan, the second largest city in South Korea is bursting with flavors and culture. Take a walk in the relaxing Yongdusan Park while admiring the various species of trees and a view of the Busan Tower. At the Hongbeopsa farming temple, explore the renowned large Buddha statues at the Main Buddha Hall while walking along a water lily path, or experience a traditional Korean tea ceremony conducted by one of their monks.

Day 13 - Hiroshima

Arrive: Sat 08 February 2025 at 10:00 / Depart: Sat 08 February 2025 at 19:00

Visit the skeletal A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and the statue dedicated to the children who died after the atomic bomb was dropped on this city in 1945. Stroll through beautifully landscaped Hiroshima Gardens, visit the rebuilt Hiroshima Castle or journey to the exquisite sacred island of Miyajima and see the extraordinary Itsukushima Shrine.

Day 14 - Kochi, Japan

Arrive: Sun 09 February 2025 at 10:00 / Depart: Sun 09 February 2025 at 19:00

Kochi Prefecture, on Japan’s Shikoku Island, is a largely rural area known for its mountains, rivers and Pacific beaches. Capital Kochi City has one of Japan’s best preserved feudal castles, Kochi-jo, established in the 1600s. The city's centuries-old Sunday market has hundreds of vendors selling food and other wares. Summer's Yosakoi Matsuri is a festival in which colorfully attired dance teams fill the streets.

Day 15 - Kyoto, Japan

Arrive: Mon 10 February 2025 at 08:00

Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan's old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto's. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.

Day 16 - Kyoto, Japan

Depart: Tue 11 February 2025 at 17:00

Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan's old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto's. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.

Day 17 - Nagoya

Arrive: Wed 12 February 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 12 February 2025 at 18:00

A center of modern commerce, yet steeped in ancient history; visit the castle in the center of town, its golden orca statues are a symbol of the city. Explore Toyota's Museum of Technology and tour the Noritake factory, where bargains on the fine china can be found.

Day 18 - Tokyo

Arrive: Thu 13 February 2025 at 09:00

Dazzling cityscapes await your exploration; visit Asakusa for the bright lights, street fairs and Senso-ji Temple; the Tsukiji Market, the largest open-air fish market in the world with on-the-spot sushi; and the Imperial Palace's East Garden for some calm. Spend the evening in the bright, active Ginza District, where the night comes alive.

Day 19 - Tokyo

Dazzling cityscapes await your exploration; visit Asakusa for the bright lights, street fairs and Senso-ji Temple; the Tsukiji Market, the largest open-air fish market in the world with on-the-spot sushi; and the Imperial Palace's East Garden for some calm. Spend the evening in the bright, active Ginza District, where the night comes alive.

Day 20 - Tokyo

Depart: Sat 15 February 2025 at 19:00

Dazzling cityscapes await your exploration; visit Asakusa for the bright lights, street fairs and Senso-ji Temple; the Tsukiji Market, the largest open-air fish market in the world with on-the-spot sushi; and the Imperial Palace's East Garden for some calm. Spend the evening in the bright, active Ginza District, where the night comes alive.

Day 21 - Shimizu

Arrive: Sun 16 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 16 February 2025 at 18:00

In the shadow of Mount Fuji, Shimizu is one of the most beautiful ports in Japan. Walk through the pine groves of Miho, home to a 650-year-old Japanese black pine, or enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji from the lush, forested hill of Nihondaira. Take in the seascapes on a bay cruise, or learn of undersea delights at Japan’s first sushi museum. For a historic angle, get a glimpse at feudal life in Japan in 200 BC at the archaeological site of Toro.

Day 22 - East China Sea Cruising

Day 23 - Kagoshima

Arrive: Tue 18 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 18 February 2025 at 18:00

Visit the exquisite Iso-Teien Garden and its villa, built in 1660, and enjoy its gorgeous views before a short ferry ride to smoking Sakurajima for a close-up view of the volcano and its lava fields. Or journey into the countryside to Chiran and its well-preserved streets lined with samurai homes. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Lake Ikeda and the stunning vistas of the Satsuma Peninsula.

Day 24 - East China Sea Cruising

Day 25 - Ishigaki Island

Arrive: Thu 20 February 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 20 February 2025 at 16:00

Discover this remote and picturesque island's lush mountains, beautiful beaches and magnificent coral reef from island viewpoints. See the native palm forest and the lavishly decorated Chinese tomb. Step back in time and travel to the tiny island of Taketomi-jima with its treasured red-tile- roofed town where rural island heritage, including ox carts, is vividly alive.

Day 26 - South China Sea Cruising

Day 27 - Manila

Arrive: Sat 22 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 22 February 2025 at 19:00

Dynamic Manila never slows down, so go with the flow by delving headlong into the attractions, including the elegant Malacanang Palace, the National Museum of the Philippines, verdant Rizal Park and the poignant American Cemetery and Memorial. The walled medieval district of Intramuros is also well worth exploring

Day 28 - Boracay

Arrive: Sun 23 February 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 23 February 2025 at 18:00

Boracay is a small island in the central Philippines. It's known for its resorts and beaches. Along the west coast, White Beach is backed by palm trees, bars and restaurants. On the east coast, strong winds make Bulabog Beach a hub for water sports. Nearby, the observation deck on Mount Luho offers panoramic views over the island. Offshore, coral reefs and shipwrecks are home to diverse marine life.

Day 29 - Puerto Princessa, Palawan

Arrive: Mon 24 February 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Mon 24 February 2025 at 18:00

Puerto Princesa is a coastal city on Palawan Island in the western Philippines. It's a base for boat trips through the massive limestone caves and underground river of the biodiverse Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Dive sites are dotted around Puerto Princesa Bay, home to long-nosed dolphins, turtles and rays. Close to the port is the 19th-century Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral.

Day 30 - Kota Kinabalu

Arrive: Tue 25 February 2025 at 12:00 / Depart: Tue 25 February 2025 at 20:00

Enjoy the sights in this bustling, ethnically diverse city as you see the gold-domed mosque, unique high-rise architecture and the Heritage Village. Or venture into the interior and astonishing Kinabalu Park. Stroll past rare plants along a nature trail and through a garden of rare orchids. Or ride Borneo's last train into the lush countryside of farms, water buffalo and villages. Spend time on the glorious beaches.

Day 31 - Muara, Brunei

Arrive: Wed 26 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 26 February 2025 at 17:00

Enjoy a drive through this fascinating city past the beautiful mosques with their glittering domes and minarets and the Sultan's palace, the largest in the world. Visit the Brunei Museum, a repository of Malay culture and priceless Islamic art. Or take a riverboat through the city's canals and experience its daily life. Travel into the primitive Borneo countryside to a Dayak village where warriors dance in the longhouse.

Day 32 - South China Sea Cruising

Day 33 - Java Sea Cruising

Day 34 - Semarang

Arrive: Sat 01 March 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 01 March 2025 at 17:00

Semarang is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was a major port during the Dutch colonial era, and is still an important regional center and port today.

Day 35 - Surabaya, Java

Arrive: Sun 02 March 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 02 March 2025 at 17:00

Showcasing a dizzying array of cultural influences, this second-largest city in Indonesia was once the most important port of the Dutch East Indies. A prime example is the stately 19th-century House of Sampoerna, a colonial-style cigarette factory that houses a fascinating museum. Discover a vast selection of wares at Pasar Pabean, a lively market that links Chinatown and the Arab Quarter. At the Grand Mosque of Surabaya, one of Indonesia’s largest, climb the soaring minaret for better views of the gleaming blue and green tiles adorning the sanctuary’s domes. As a tranquil respite, settle in for high tea at the elegant Majapahit Hotel, a highlight of Surabaya’s complex and absorbing historical legacy.

Day 36 - Bali

Arrive: Mon 03 March 2025 at 13:00

Experience this exquisite island and its gentle people as you explore the lush countryside of terraced rice fields and mountains dotted with temples. Visit a royal palace, watch an entrancing dance performance, or see carvers at work. Enjoy villages filled with beautiful arts and crafts and the daily festivals with villagers parading in their finery to local temples.

Day 37 - Bali

Depart: Tue 04 March 2025 at 19:00

Experience this exquisite island and its gentle people as you explore the lush countryside of terraced rice fields and mountains dotted with temples. Visit a royal palace, watch an entrancing dance performance, or see carvers at work. Enjoy villages filled with beautiful arts and crafts and the daily festivals with villagers parading in their finery to local temples.

Day 38 - Celukan Bawang, Bali

Arrive: Wed 05 March 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 05 March 2025 at 18:00

Explore the hidden wonders of northern Bali from this busy port, where modern seagoing vessels mingle with traditional Bugis schooners, high-prowed wooden ships that have plied these waters for centuries. More eclectic charms await in Bali’s former capital of Singaraja, whose colonial Dutch influence contrasts with the island’s age-old stone temples. Immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness of Bali Barat National Park, perhaps snorkeling among the luminous coral reefs surrounding Menjangan Island or sighting the graceful Bali starling in a lush monsoon forest. Stroll exotic botanical gardens in the lakeside village of Bedugul and browse a colorful farmer’s market for an authentic glimpse of Bali’s timeless allure.

Day 39 - Java Sea Cruising

Day 40 - Jakarta

Arrive: Fri 07 March 2025 at 07:00

Day 41 - Jakarta

Depart: Sat 08 March 2025 at 18:00

Day 42 - Java Sea Cruising

Day 43 - Singapore

Arrive: Mon 10 March 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 10 March 2025

Discover a delightful city of contrasts, from its old Chinese quarter and colorful Hindu temples to its modern skyscrapers, famous Tiger Balm Gardens and magnificent National Orchid Garden. Stroll along the Esplanade. Take a short cruise along the Singapore River and a tri-shaw ride through town. Visit the Kranji Memorial and Changi Chapel and Memorial, dedicated to those who lost their lives here during World War II.