2020/2021 Siem Reap > Osaka

Tour Code:: DIJP
Duration:: 27 days
Departure City:: Siem Reap
Return City:: Osaka

Selected Itinerary

2020/2021 Siem Reap > Osaka

27 Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart UK

Fly from a choice of UK airports on selected airlines, including Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
Day 2 - Siem Reap

Arrive at your hotel, your stylish home for a three night Special Stay located in the heart of Siem Reap.

Meals Included: Dinner
Day 3 - Siem Reap

Freechoice

Discover Banteay Srei and visit the Landmine Museum or admire the skills on display at Artisans D’Angkor. Alternatively, cruise on Tonle Sap (seasonal), take a tuk tuk ride to the markets, or take a tethered balloon ride above Angkor Wat (weather dependent) before visiting Pouk Silk Farm.

Later visit the colossal Angkor Wat.

Enrich

Take your Premium Reserved seat at the colourful Cambodian Circus, Phare.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 - Siem Reap

Enrich

Marvel at sunrise over the magnificent Angkor Wat before moving to a special location for a champagne breakfast with food prepared by an NGO supported local bakery school.

Visit the atmospheric, jungle covered Ta Prohm Temple, before stopping at Angkor Thom and the multi-faced Bayon Temple. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Enrich

Be wowed by a mystical themed Gala Dinner at an Angkor temple, with included free flow drinks and a show featuring Apsara dancers in front of candlelit temple ruins.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Siem Reap > Mekong Cruise

Discover the rural side of Cambodia on your drive to Kampong Cham where Scenic Spirit awaits, with stops at the Khmer bridge at Kampong Kdei, Kampong Thom and a stone cutters village.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Wat Hanchey > Kampong Cham

Walk (or drive) to the top of Wat Hanchey, an ancient hilltop pagoda and monastery to meet the resident novice monks. Sail downstream to Kampong Cham.

Freechoice

Learn the history of the area with a visit to Phnom Pros (Man Hill) and then Wat Nokor. Alternatively, explore the ecotourism village of Cheung Kok or spend your time visiting a rubber plantation factory and betel nut village.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Angkor Ban > Silk Island > Phnom Penh

Upon arrival in Angkor Ban, explore its historical rural wooden houses, which survived the Khmer Rouge, and visit the local pagoda to observe the lifestyle of the resident monks and nuns

Enrich

Receive a blessing from a monk and learn how to pray in a Buddhist pagoda, before partaking in a ceremony which contributes to the daily meal of the resident nuns and monks.

Later, sail downstream to Koh Dach Island dedicated to the art of silk weaving before continuing your cruise to Phnom Penh.

Sundowners

Enjoy a cocktail reception on the Sun Deck against the backdrop of Phnom Penh’s lights as the ship sails towards the capital at sunset.

Enrich

Later this evening revel in our Phnom Penh by City Lights tour, giving you an insight to the nightlife of the capital before stopping at a distillery for an exclusive tour and tasting behind closed doors.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Phnom Penh

Freechoice

Journey to the Killing Fields and tour Tuol Sleng, or join a hands on Khmer cooking demonstration. Alternatively, explore Phnom Penh’s colonial buildings by tuk tuk, visit the Central Market as well as the city’s modern architecture.

This afternoon is at your leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Phnom Penh > Tan Chau

Marvel at the Royal Palace, featuring the famous Silver Pagoda, on your included visit. The afternoon take advantage of the facilities of the most luxurious ship on the Mekong as you set sail for the Cambodian and Vietnamese border.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Tan Chau

Freechoice

Stay in Tan Chau to visit Evergreen Island and enjoy a ride in a Xe Loi. In Chau Doc visit Vinh Te canal and a family-operated fish farm followed by Tây An Temple at Sam Mountain or visit Tra Su Bird Sanctuary.

Enjoy a free afternoon cruising to Sa Dec.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Sa Dec > Cai Be

Immerse yourself in the historic town of Sa Dec and explore the lively market. Stop at the home of Mr Huynh Thuy Le who inspired Marguerite Duras’ novel L’Amant.

Freechoice

Visit Cai Be before stopping at local cottage industries and a traditional house in the area. Alternatively, savour afternoon tea at a French colonial house or learn how to make cocktails on board.

Enjoy a farewell dinner on board as you sail to My Tho.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 - Mekong Cruise > Ho Chi Minh City

Drive to Ho Chi Minh City and visit the War Museum before an orientation tour around your hotel for a two night stay. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Freechoice Dining

Enjoy a Vespa foodie tour of Saigon, or a meal in the surroundings of an old colonial house or a restaurant specialising in Saigon street food. Alternatively, dine at one of your hotel’s restaurants.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 - Ho Chi Minh City > Tokyo

Transfer to the airport and fly to Tokyo, Japan. Check into your hotel your home for the next three nights.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14 - Tokyo

Begin the day in the beautiful Imperial Palace’s East Gardens then dress up in your chefs clothes to make your own sushi lunch with the help of a local chef. Afterwards wander through Harajuku, the epicentre of Tokyo’s teenage youth.

Enrich

Given by Taiko Masters, partake in an interactive, private group demonstration and lesson in playing the Taiko drums.

Freechoice Dining

Choose from dining at a ninja themed restaurant or culturally immerse yourself in the traditional Japanese evening Izakaya bar scene serving Yaki-tori and Kushiyaki.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15 - Tokyo

Visit the Asakusa district, paying your respects at Sensoji temple.

Freechoice

Visit the Imperial Shinto Meiji Shrine, before walking across the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world in Shibuya. Alternatively, wander through picturesque Shinjuku-Gyoen Gardens before witnessing the Shinjuku entertainment district come alive at dusk.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 16 - Tokyo > Five Lakes > Hakone

Venture deep into the stunning scenery of Kawaguchiko Area. Discover the incredible workmanship involved in creating kimonos at the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. Near Hakone, cruise on Lake Ashinoko then take a cable car ride up the hot springs of the Owakudani geothermal area. Enjoy a Special Stay at your hotel overlooking Lake Ashinoko.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17 - Hakone > Kyoto

Relax in your Green (Business) Class seats on the Shinkansen train to the culturally rich city of Kyoto.

Enrich

Partake in a Japanese tea ceremony while dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, a great photo opportunity.

Settle into your four night stay at Kyoto.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18 - Kyoto

Explore the World Heritage listed Tenryu-ji Temple before gliding through the surreal Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by traditional rickshaw. Move to the famous Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion before having free time this afternoon.

Enrich

After a short stroll through the Gion area, be entertained at dinner with a Samurai Kembu show. After the show you can choose to learn the way of the Samurai yourself in a lesson in swordsmanship.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 19 - Kyoto

Freechoice

Revel in the atmosphere of the ancient preservation districts or visit the Silver Pavilion before strolling along the famous Philosopher’s Walk.

This afternoon enjoy some free time for shopping or relaxation.

Enrich

Tonight’s dinner will allow you to interact with a Maiko who’ll host your meal presentation. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about what is involved in becoming a Geisha and the art of Japanese hospitality.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 20 - Kyoto

Begin your day with an early visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine then continue to Nara, where you’ll visit Todaiji Temple and see deer in Nara Park. Later, stop for a sake tasting at a sake museum.
Ryokan Upgrade - For a unique insight into Japanese culture, choose to stay tonight in a Ryokan (at additional cost, must be pre-booked before departure). This traditional Japanese Inn has tatami mat flooring with futon beds, sliding shoji paper doors, onsen hot spring baths and private facilities, and includes dinner and breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 21 - Kyoto > Hiroshima

Relax on the Shinkansen to Hiroshima and check into hotel for two nights enjoying the views from your Deluxe Corner View rooms.

Enrich

Experience an emotional visit to the Peace Park and Museum before visiting Orizuru Tower to create your own special origami crane offering.

Tonight, sample Okonomiyaki, a delicious Japanese-style pancake, a specialty of the region.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 22 - Hiroshima > Miyajima Island

Sail by ferry to Miyajima Island to visit Daisho-in Temple and the floating Torii Gate at the Itsukushima Shrine. This afternoon see industrial robots perform around the Mazda car factory on your guided visit.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 23 - Hiroshima > Osaka

En-route to Osaka on the Shinkansen train, stop at Himeji Castle and marvel at Japan’s most spectacular and one of the few remaining original feudal castles. This evening, admire the view of Osaka at night from the Floating Garden Observatory. Then settle in for three memorable Special Stay nights in an Executive Room.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 24 - Osaka > Asuka

Drive to the cradle of Japanese culture in Asuka. Wander through the Inabuchi terraced rice paddy fields, the ancient Tobiishi stone bridge and visit Ishibutai tumulus, the largest known megalithic structure in Japan.

Enrich

Learn about the history, life and training routine of a sumo wrestler during a private visit to a Sumo Museum in Kehayaza, where Sumo originated. After the welcome ceremony, see a demonstration of Jinku and the wrestlers in action in the dohyo.

Later stop at the timeless village of Tondabayashi. Visit a traditional Edo period house and wander around this splendid historical time capsule. This evening catch the Osaka Metro to wander around the lively entertainment area of Dotonbori and Hozenji Yokocho food alley.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 25 - Osaka

Freechoice

Wander through Shinsaibashi-suji shopping avenue, followed by Kuromon Ichiba Market, known as Osaka’s kitchen or visit the Museum of History and the rebuilt Osaka Castle.

This afternoon is free for some final shopping before tonight’s farewell dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 26 - Osaka > UK

Depart today with treasured memories of your time in Japan.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 27 - Arrive UK

Welcome home.