DAY 01: UK TO KYOTO
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Osaka, via Shanghai.
DAY 02: KYOTO
On arrival in Osaka, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the nearby city of Kyoto. The remainder of the day will be at leisure, allowing you to relax and settle in or explore the area around your hotel.
DAY 03: KYOTO
Experience traditional Japan at its finest as you tour Kyoto, a city of shrines, temples and geisha teahouses that boasts 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Enjoy double visions of gold as you witness the gold-leafed pavilion of Kinkaku-Ji and its shimmering reflection mirrored in the surrounding moat. Visit Fushimi Inari and stroll through a colourful arcade of vivid red 'torii', or shrine gates, inscribed with dedications to Inari, the god of rice. Browse the maze of food stalls in the 400-year-old Nishiki Market, bearing fresh produce, intriguing pickles and steaming bowls of udon noodles, then continue on to the geisha district of Gion. Spot geishas draped in lavish kimonos and explore the charming wooden buildings, teahouses and restaurants of the area before returning to your hotel.
Breakfast
DAY 04: KYOTO
A day trip to the nearby city Nara allows you to delve into the cultural legacy of Japan's ancient former capital. Visit the Buddhist complex at Todaiji Temple, home to the world's largest wooden structure and the colossal bronze Buddha statue nestled in its interior. Continue on to nearby Nara Park and watch over 1,200 deer roaming its greenery, perhaps purchasing some deer crackers to feed to these friendly park inhabitants. Travel back to Kyoto where this evening's entertainment allows you to experience an age-old tradition with a geisha performance and dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 05: KYOTO TO TOKYO
After breakfast, board your train bound for Tokyo and experience Japan's high-tech rail network, renowned for its speed, cleanliness and punctuality. Journey past rolling rural landscapes and through small, traditional towns as you follow the coastline, arriving in Tokyo later this afternoon for the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast
DAY 06: TOKYO
Tokyo's enchanting fusion of futuristic districts, centuries-old palaces, family-run ramen booths and streets dotted with cutesy anime depictions provides endless chances for exploration. A full day of sightseeing begins at Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple. Wander down Nakamise Shopping Street to reach the main hall and pagoda, where fragrant incense and Buddhist prayer chants fill the air. Follow in the footsteps of Japan's masterful sushi chefs as you learn more about this iconic dish at a sushi-making class then continue on to the area of Ginza, the country's biggest luxury shopping and entertainment district. Wander past luxe department stores, flashing neon signage and colourful buildings then end your tour in Akihabara Electric Town where a maze of elaborately decorated high rises houses gadgets and gizmos galore.
Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 07: TOKYO
Following breakfast, visit Hakone National Park, home to one of Japan's most instantly recognisable sights - the iconic Mount Fuji, fringed by thick forests and a crescent-shaped ring of shimmering lakes. Take a Hakone Ropeway cable car ride to a mountaintop station with spectacular vistas of the sparkling, blue waters of Lake Ashi and Fuji's snow-capped peak. From here, a short walking trail leads to Owakudani Valley, an active volcanic crater, where hot springs, bubbling pools and steam vents serve as reminders of the area's volcanic might.
Breakfast
DAY 08: TOKYO TO BEIJING
Bid farewell to Japan as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing, China. Touch down in China's capital city, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in time for dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 09: BEIJING
China's dynamic capital is built on an impressive scale, with its imposing monuments serving as reminders of its imperial past. Today's full-day tour takes you around the highlights of the city, starting with Tiananmen Square, where you'll explore the world's largest public square under the watchful eye of Chairman Mao's large, central portrait. From here, enter the vast Forbidden Palace and wander its 9,999 rooms and chambers before travelling onward to the tranquil Temple of Heaven. Later tonight, experience one of China's top delicacies as you savour a crisp, fragrant Peking duck dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 10: BEIJING TO XI'AN
Today's excursion starts at the iconic Great Wall, constructed over 2,000 years ago to guard the Chinese Empire against Mongol invaders. Stroll along a section of this amazing structure which stretches over 5,500 miles, crossing deserts, grasslands and mountains. Travel back into the city and browse the old, traditional calligraphy and bookshops of Liulichang Antique Culture Street and the historic stores of Qianmen Dashilan, where some of China's most notable silk stores are located. In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train as you travel to Xi'an, taking in the night-time scenery that passes you by.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 11: XI'AN
On arrival in Xi'an, you will be met and transferred to your hotel before setting out in the afternoon to visit Xi'an's City Wall, a long stretch of fortifications which is the oldest in China and provides dramatic views over the city.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 12: XI'AN
Taking nearly four decades to complete and over 700,000 workers, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors were built to protect China's first emperor in his afterlife. Explore this impressive underground mausoleum, and the 8,000 extraordinarily sculpted warriors, bronze chariots and preserved weapons on display. Continue on to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter, home to historic mosques and a labyrinth of market stalls selling everything from souvenirs to edible delicacies. Later this evening, travel back in time as you watch a colourful Tang Dynasty dancing show.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 13: XI'AN TO SHANGHAI
After breakfast, board your bullet train and travel west to Shanghai. On arrival, experience your first taste of this fast-paced metropolis with a visit to the Bund, Shanghai's waterside walkway, followed by a stroll along Nanjing Road to observe the world's busiest shopping street. Check into your hotel in time for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 14: SHANGHAI
Shanghai, China's biggest city, is also its most international. Enjoy the colonial-era and traditional Chinese elements of the city on today's tour. Explore the tranquil pavilions, rockeries and ponds of Yu Garden, the tree-lined avenues and chic eateries of the French Concession and the charming alleyways of the Old Town before taking in the ancient artefacts of the Shanghai Museum. Later, an optional evening river cruise down the Huangpu River that runs through Shanghai gives an excellent vantage point of the city's skyline.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 15: SHANGHAI TO UK
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension.
Breakfast