Best of Japan & China

(14 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai

See the highlights of Japan and China—in style—on this two-week tour. Begin in Japan, touring Tokyo’s important cultural sights and fashionable neighborhoods. Continue to the Mt. Fuji-Hakone region and stay at the Gora Kadan, Japan’s most decadent ryokan (traditional inn). After a night of gourmet kaiseki (seasonal tasting menu) cuisine and outdoor hot springs, continue by shinkansen (bullet train) to the ancient capital of Kyoto. Tour the classic stroll garden of Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa, a revered model of Japanese architecture and garden design. Eat a Zen lunch and sip green tea in Arashiyama’s vast bamboo forest. Visit major gardens, temples and shrines, including Ryoanji, Ginkakuji and Kiyomizudera. Stroll charming back streets and browse exquisite craft shops and food markets. Sample tofu, noodles, and Kyoto’s other culinary specialties.

Next, fly to Beijing. With your private guide and driver, explore the capital’s imperial highlights, such as the vermilion walls and vast courtyards of the Forbidden City, the lake and hills of the Summer Palace, and the blue tile roofs and stone terraces of the Temple of Heaven. Later, ride in a rickshaw through the atmospheric hutongs— narrow lanes passing through the city’s traditional residential districts. One day, take a private excursion to a dramatic section of the Great Wall. There will also be free time to enjoy the city’s wonderful restaurants and browse antique markets.

Fly to the ancient capital of Xian, a major stop on the Silk Road. See the famed Terracotta Warriors and the massive city walls. Explore a local night market and the lively streets of the Muslim Quarter. Dine on dumplings, a local specialty. Visit the important Big and Small Goose Pagodas. Tour the impressive Shaanxi Provincial History Museum and the Forest of Stelae, a fascinating library of tall stone tablets. Continue to Guilin, home to some of China's most breathtaking scenery. Cruise the Li River past jagged limestone karsts and bamboo groves, and visit rustic villages around the town of Yangshuo. Conclude in exciting Shanghai, where exceptional dining, shopping and sightseeing await.