Japan & Thailand in 19 Days • 17 Nights in Destination

Arrive in Tokyo, a dazzling metropolis rich in history and tradition. You will be met at the airport by our representative who will deliver your japanese SIM Card, talk you through your itinerary, provide helpful information and recommendations for your free time and assist you with your self-transfer to the hotel. Once settled at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to start discovering this exciting city of contrasts and its delicious cuisine. We recommend heading to one of the many food markets where you can sample lots of different dishes at bargain prices! Overnight stay in Tokyo. 

Today, take a half-day tour of the city of Tokyo including the most important sights in the city. Begin at the famous 'Love' statue in Shinjuku and drive past Harajuku and the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. See the National Diet Building and the Imperial Palace among other highlights before stopping in the historic neighbourhood of Asakusa, home to the Senso-ji Temple Kaminari-mon Gate and the Nakamise shopping avenue. End the tour at Tokyo Station. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Spend the day exploring Tokyo's fascinating city-scape at your leisure. Why not visit Odaiba island high-tech entertainment hub or Climb the Skytree tower for a panoramic view of Tokyo? We recommend an optional excursion to Mount Fuji, an unmissable icon of Japan.* Overnight stay in Tokyo.

* Optional Mount Fuji Excursion: Come face-to-face with legendary Mount Fuji. Head up to the 5th Station, stopping at the market and viewing area of Michi no Eki Subashiri. At this height, you will be amazed by the breathtaking views from above the clouds. After lunch at Mount Fuji View Restaurant, visit Ashi Crater Lake and admire the superb view of Mt. Fuji whilst sailing on the lake. Afterwards, head to Hakone to enjoy the views from the Ropeway and be amazed by the volcanic Owaku-Dani Valley. Return to Tokyo with the option of ending the excursion at Odawara station.

Please note: If road conditions or unforeseen circumstances restrict the ascent to the 5th station, you will instead travel the highest elevation possible considering the circumstances. The same also applies for the cruise on Ashi Crater Lake; if conditions or circumstances prevent sailing on the lake, alternative visits and experiences will be taken to replace the activity.

Enjoy a day exploring Tokyo at your leisure, getting to know the shopping districts, discovering new parts of the city or simply soaking up the culture and sampling the cuisine. Overnight stay in Tokyo.

Today, take a bus* to Kyoto, the capital of the Japanese Empire for 11 centuries. We recommend exploring the emblematic neighborhood of Gion, known for its traditional architecture and admired geishas. Overnight stay in Kyoto.

* Why not upgrade your trip to Kyoto by purchasing the amazing bullet train Nozomi to Kyoto. The trip takes only around 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the train can reach speeds of 300 km/h! 

Set off this morning on a Kyoto Highlights Full-Day Bus Tour to discover the beautiful and historical ‘cultural capital’ of Japan. On this exciting excursion you’ll visit the Fushimi Inari, the most important of the many shrines dedicated to Inari, the deity of good harvest and success, known for its emblematic red ‘gates’. Next visit the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site. Pay a visit to the Kinkakuji Temple next, known as the temple of the Golden Pavilion as the top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Finally, experience the immense natural beauty of the Arashiyama bamboo forest. Lunch included. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Kyoto.

Spend today at your leisure, exploring the delights of Kyoto at your own pace. Why not discover the historic Nijo Castle or the Philosopher's Walk, a beautiful footpath along a cherry-tree-lined canal? We recommend an optional afternoon excursion to the peaceful sanctuary of Nara.* Overnight stay in Kyoto.

* Optional Nara Excursion: Head to Nara on the Kintetsu Express Train, for a tour of two World Heritage Sites: Todai-Ji Temple and Kofukuji Temple. Encounter wild deer up close while walking through Nara Park, a rarity in Japan and worldwide and discover Todai-Ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest wooden structures.

Today, take a local train to travel to Osaka. Upon arrival, the rest of the day is free to discover this charming city. We recommend visiting the Kuromon local market and its Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building, from which there is an unforgettable panoramic view of the city. Overnight stay in Osaka.

Spend the day on a self-guided tour of the sights of Osaka. You will have at your disposal an Osaka Metro + City Bus card to discover the city on your own. You will also have an admission ticket for the Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory. At 300m above ground, you’ll be able to see the incredible borderless day & night scenery of the city. It also includes the ticket for Osaka Castle, where you have the chance to learn about the history of one of Japan's most famous landmarks. Overnight stay in Osaka.

Spend the day at your leisure exploring the cultural delights of Osaka. Get to know the local area and sample the iconic local cuisine. In fact, the street food markets of Osaka are said to be the best in the country! Overnight stay in Osaka.

Sadly it's time to say goodbye to the Land of the Rising Sun. At the indicated time, self-transfer to the airport for a flight to Bangkok. 

Arrive in the capital of Thailand and transfer to your hotel. Bangkok is one of the most influential, modern and lively cities in Southeast Asia thanks to its economic, political and social development. Make the most of your time in the city by exploring the bustling street markets or enjoying some of the exotic street food on offer. Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, get ready to discover the city and its temples on an exciting tour! Begin along the main avenues of Bangkok to reach the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood. Our first stop will be at Wat Traimit Temple or better known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It houses a 5-ton solid gold Buddha loaded with history as it remained hidden for centuries after being covered in plaster to prevent its destruction during the war. Our next stop will be the Wat Pho Temple or Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of the largest reclining Buddhas in the world at over 150 feet-long, where you’ll find a spectacular engraving of 108 images representing positive actions of Buddhism. To finish the tour, head to a local precious stone factory where you will see a demonstration of how local craftspeople make their products. We recommend an optional excursion to the Grand Palace* to learn more about the culture of this country. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Bangkok.

Optional excursion to the Grand Palace: Discover the impressive Grand Palace complex, symbol of the city and former official residence of the King of Thailand between the 18th and mid-20th centuries. Considered one of the most beautiful in the world for its exquisite decoration, it mixes traditional Thai style with Renaissance influences. During the visit to the Grand Palace we will also visit Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most important in Thailand.

NOTE: For the Grand Palace visit you should wear long pants that cover the ankles and a long-sleeved shirt.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy the day at leisure to continue exploring the capital. Why not discover some of its many markets, where you can sample some of the famous street food dishes. We recommend an exciting and entertaining optional excursion to visit the train market and floating market* or an optional trip to Ayutthaya**. Overnight stay in Bangkok. 

*Optional Excursion to the Train Market and Floating Market: Travel by road to the town of Mae Klong where you’ll see a curious market installed on the train tracks. If time and luck permits, we will be able to see how the train crosses through the market and, in record time, the merchants collect all the products they have on display on the train tracks. From there, head to the Klong Damnersaduak floating market in Ratchaburi province, considered the most important in the country. Arrive at a pier in the vicinity of the floating market. Take a motor boat ride through the canal area to reach the market itself, disembark, and enjoy free time to walk around, explore their products and enjoy the lively atmosphere. After the market visit, return to Bangkok and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

**Optional Ayutthaya excursion (outward journey by bus and return by boat): Departure by bus to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam, the name given for over 400 years to the lands that now form Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and part of Myanmar. Discover Ayutthaya and its archaeological site, which is of great historical interest and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At the end of the visit,  continue to Bang Pa-In, where the official summer residence of Thailand royalty is located. Visit the complex and then embark on a river cruise that will you on an interesting three-hour tour along the Chao Phraya River to the city of Bangkok. During the trip a buffet lunch will be served on board (drinks not included), arriving in Bangkok in the afternoon.

NOTE: Optional excursions on this day cannot be done together, it must be one or the other.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Phuket. Arrive in beautiful Phuket, a paradise island of rainforests and mountains known as the ultimate escape in Thailand. After getting comfortable at your hotel the rest of the day is at your leisure to lounge by the pool or search for the most idyllic paradise coves. Overnight stay in Phuket.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to relax, explore and enjoy Phuket. Take a walk along the beaches, sip a cocktail or have a dip in the ocean, and for the more adventurous, maybe have a go at some water sports. We recommend an optional full-day excursion to iconic Phi Phi Islands.* Overnight stay in Phuket.

Optional excursion to Phi Phi by speedboat (with lunch): The fabulous Phi Phi Islands are a must-see paradise archipelago. First, discover the wonders of Bamboo or Khai Islands. From there we head to the famous Monkey Beach where, if we are lucky, we can spot wild monkeys. Continue to the other island that forms the archipelago, Phi Phi Don, where we see monkey beach and swim in a bay surrounded by cliffs. Stop at a nearby beach where we enjoy local lunch (drinks not included). From there we head to Viking cave and those who wish can go snorkeling (both mask and snorkel are included in the excursion). Free time for swimming at Pileh Lagoon before making the last stop of the day at Rang or Pearl Island, where you can chill until the time to return to Phuket.

Note: We recommend that you bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen for this excursion. Itinerary may be altered or varied depending on sea, tide and weather conditions. Drinks and fresh fruit on board included.

** Children under 3 years and adults over 70 are not allowed to join the excursion.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to enjoy the magnificent beaches of the island, either sunbathing, strolling around or cooling off in its crystal clear waters. Why not visit the old part of Phuket Town, the beautiful Buddhist and Chinese temples on the island or the great bazaars of Karon Beach and Patong Beach. We recommend an exciting optional excursion to Phang Nga Bay*. Overnight stay in Phuket.

*Optional Excursion to Phang Nga Bay by speedboat (with lunch): Discover a landscape formed by the curious cliffs, limestone formations and caves. Arrive at Khai Island and do a little snorkeling to kick-off the day. Set off in the direction of Hong to board a small canoe to explore the eroded cliffs and the island's famous sea caves. Discover the "hongs", inland lagoons between the rock formations and only accessible through caves at low tide. Lunch at Panyi or Fisherman Village. After the canoe ride we will head to the famous James Bond Island. On the way to Phuket we will make a last stop at Panak Island. Return to the port in Phuket and transfer to the hotel by land.

Note: We recommend bringing a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen for this excursion. Itinerary may be altered or varied depending on sea state, tide and weather conditions. Drinks on board included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a relaxing day in Phuket, soaking up the laid-back atmosphere, enjoying the warm waters and getting to know the local sights. Overnight stay in Phuket.