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Ask a questionThe Discover East Asia tour is a perfect opportunity to experience the beauty and grace of three most important cities of this region. Explore the forbidden kingdom of Beijing and the loud and colorful Seoul, followed by the technologically advanced Tokyo. All three countries have a different ambiance of its own, and visiting these three countries is a perfect way to know what South Asia is actually made of.
The Discover East Asia is a complete package to explore the most prominent and the capital cities of the three Buddhist-influenced countries of Asia. It allows a deep insight into the culture and history of historical sites of these cities. The most symbolic capitals of Asia have a lot to offer, and this opportunity is your chance of getting it all. This tour is perfect for any kind of people, ranging from people with a good physique to those who want luxury.
Start the tour with the beautiful Beijing City, followed by sightseeing around Seoul. Explore the Shinkansen bullet train in Tokyo and stand in awe at the technological advancement of this city. Compare and contrast the three countries and return home happy, for having experienced true traveler’s spirit by visiting three countries in a short time.
Arrival in the capital of the beautiful country of China marks the beginning of the incredible journey. Beijing constantly races towards the future but is linked to its glorious past in ways fewer people can imagine. It is a complex, compelling and beautiful city and is home to imperial delights, heavenly food items, architectural beauty, and artistry. We will be picked from the airport and dropped to our hotel, where we can spend the rest of the day sampling the delectable Chinese cuisine. Afternoon free for leisure.
Time to explore what China is most famous for, the Great Wall of China. Beijing is a dazzling array of food items and it perfectly reflects how joyfully Chinese eat their food. There are also few places on earth which can match the panorama of imperial delights that Beijing has to offer. Known as the Forbidden City, the royalty of Beijing is unparalleled to any. Sublime temples, innovative modern buildings and the cultural beauty of Bejing are even more highlighted by the presence of the Great Wall of China.
We start off the sightseeing tour by visiting the Ming Tombs. The Ming Tombs are a collection of mausoleums built by the Ming dynasty emperors and they are thirteen in number. The Ming Tombs are designated to be the components of the World Heritage Site. Explore the Ming Tombs and move to the Jade Carving Center next. The Jade carving center in Beijing is the largest carving center there and is home to several pieces of perfection carved in Jade. After this, we will explore the fascinating Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall of China is an exemplary piece of achievement when it comes to engineering in China. It is a must-see sight that transcends down from the Liaoning to the Gobi desert and finally ends in Xinjiang. It has been wrongly interpreted that the wall is one continuous piece of architecture. It actually exists in chunks of natural defenses through the above-mentioned regions. We access the great wall through Badaling, which is the most visited chunk of the wall. It has been estimated that about 130 million tourists have visited Badaling on a yearly basis. After witnessing the spectacle, we embark on shopping around the traditional Royal Silk Center.
Yet another day to explore the beauty and the diversity of the Forbidden City of China. Explore the Temple of Heaven followed by a tour of the exotic looking Summer Palace. You can also boat around the Kun Ming Lake in order to receive your built up stress and explore more of the depths of China.
We start off the day by sightseeing around the tranquil oasis of sublime peace, the Temple of Heaven. True to its name the temples is situated amongst the busiest landscapes of China but is still unique and peaceful in its own way. It was originally a stage and is strictly an altar rather than a temple. The architecture of the temple is worth noting.
We move on to visit the Summer Palace next. The Summer Palace is as mandatory a sight in Beijing as the Great Wall is. It was built for the emperors of the time, in order to flee the hot summer of the imperial city. The marvelous design of the palace, amalgamated with hilltop views and the presence of the huge lake, make the ambiance of the place something different than you have ever visited. The park of the palace comprises of three-quarters of the glittering Kunming Lake while the principal structure is a Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. The elegance of woodwork and the plethora of paintings take you back to medieval times. Interested ones can even take part on a boating trip of the Kunming Lake.
An extra day to explore all that you want and to breathe in the ambiance and the delectable cuisine of China before leaving the country. There are a lot of other locations which can be explored on your own. If you have missed out locations to be visited on the previous dates, you can use this day to do all that you want on the last day of the tour at Beijing.
Depart from China, only to reach another wonderful country of South Korea. Depart from the Beijing International Airport and arrive at the Incheon International Airport and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free for your leisure, whereby you can take part in interesting activities which might include sampling the cuisine of the Korean people.
Seoul is both fashion-forward and deeply traditional and the mixture of these two elements makes this city a destination for thrill seekers all over. This dynamic city is an amalgamation of temples, cutting-edge designs, and mountain scenery all into one. Seoul is ideal for a romantic getaway and has historical fragments contrasting deeply with its 24-hour busy schedule.
Today we embark on a sightseeing journey of the capital, Seoul. Seoul is home to several sightseeing locations like the Gwanghwamun Gate, Blue House, Ginseng Shopping Center, NamsangolaHanok Village etc. which are worth exploring.
We start off by visiting the Gwanghwamun Gate, in the early morning. It is the main and the largest gate of Seoul and is a landmark of significance in the capital. The gate has been restored to its present glory by several reconstructions. The changing of the Royal Guards in the gate is an interesting event watched by thousands of tourists each year. The changing of the guards takes place every hour from 10:00 to 15:00 every day.
We move on to visit the Blue House, the official residence of the President of the Republic of Korea. Built in a Korean architectural style, it is a complex of buildings. We move on to shop in the Ginseng Shopping Center home to several items which can be bought to take back home.
The afternoon can be used to pay a visit to the NamsangolaHanok Village. The village is located on the north side of the Namsan Mountain and has five traditional Korean houses along with a pavilion and traditional garden. The village gives a true taste of traditional life and helps one stay away from the hustle and bustle of the many cities. There are a number of traditional activities and programs that can be carried out here. We end the day by visiting the N Seoul Tower for panoramic views of entire Seoul city. The communications and observation tower is located in the Namsan Mountain. It was the first radio wave tower of South Korean and it currently broadcasts signals for some Korean media outlets. One can ride the Namsan cable car up to Mt. Namsan and walk up to the tower for views of the city.
There are a lot of other sightseeing locations around Seoul worth visiting. Use this day to explore the locations or to sample the delectable cuisine of Korea. The mixture of the old and the new is evident in North Korea but the architecture and history have fairly remained the same. Visit your leftover locations today and make your last day in Kora worth all the while.
Your last day in South Korea in the tour. Explore the city, mix in with locals, embark on shopping activities or simply relax in the premises of the hotel. The major thing that can be done here is to buy products and countries for loved ones back home. Fashion and technology are always on the go, with new things being introduced every single day. The fashionable products found in Seoul can be used to create an impact on your people back home.
Time to bid goodbye to South Korea and move to the capital of Japan at Tokyo. Depart from the Incheon International Airport and fly to Narita International Airport. You will be transferred to the hotel and spend the night sampling the unique Japanese cuisine.
Japan is a mystery in itself, and this fact is made more enhanced as you visit different locations here. With wonderful and welcoming people, with exquisite sights worth beholding, Japan has it all. Japan is aptly called as a timeless masterpiece, with a perfect amalgamation of the old and new merging into one complete entity. While Japan appears as a modern country on the surface, the tradition and culture of its people have been retained perfectly over the years. With chanting monks, special tea, and beautiful dances, Japan is truly a wonderful country to be in.
Today is dedicated to exploring the dynamic capital of the beautiful country of Japan. Tokyo is home to sightseeing locations like the Tokyo Tower, Sensiji Temple, Imperial Place Plaza, Nakamise Shopping Street and other dynamic regions worth paying homage to. Tokyo is always on the move, and its people seem to be very busy with their own lives. However, behind and the rush is a city whose architecture and traditions have withstood the washes of time. Tokyo has a passion for everything new but still, retains its age-old culture.
We start the day off by visiting the well-known Tokyo Tower. It is an observation center and communications center and is currently undergoing renovation activities. It is the second tallest structure in Japan and is an Eiffel tower inspired masterpiece. We will move on to visit the Sensiji Temple which is an ancient Buddhist temple, also known to be the oldest temple in Tokyo. It is visited significantly by a huge number of Buddhist pilgrims all over the world.
Our next destination for today is the Imperial Place Plaza. It is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan and the public is permitted to enter its premises through an inner gate which leads to the plaza. We visit the Nakamise Shopping Street next. It is a perfect spot to buy souvenirs and is requested by tourists because of the presence of several handicrafts that are available here. You can also sample several food products on the shopping street.
Also, experience the Tea Ceremony whereby you will; get a chance to sample the Japanese style lunch. Finally, we end the day with the Sumida River Cruise to get the basic idea of what Japan is actually made of.This futuristic way of cruising will take you through several stations before you are taken back to the hotel to put an end to a truly wonderful day.
Explore missed out places in Tokyo or listen to the stories of locals living in this incredible city. You can also spend the day, basking in the leisure of your hotel premises. Another option is to explore the highest mountain and the active volcano in Japan, Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji is one of the most revered destinations in Japan. At 3776 meters, it is the highest mountain in Japan and is a perfectly shaped volcano. Japanese consider it a sacred mountain and worship it. It is an active volcano which erupted in 1707. The easiest way to explore and witness the spectacle of Mount Fuji is to take a train trip from Tokyo to Osaka.
Move to the Odawara Station in the morning, to reach the city of Kyoto. Kyoto is situated in Honshu, Japan and was a former Imperial Capital of Japan. Kyoto is home to roughly 2000 temples and shrines, most of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. After arrival in Kyoto, we will drive to Nara and explore locations like the Nara Park, Todai-Ji Temple, Great Buddha, KasugaTaisha Shrine and Nara Nagomikan before driving back to Kyoto.
Nara is situated in the Kansai region of Japan and is home to the ruins of eight temples and shrines. This temple and shrines are collectively called as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara and have been listed as a World Heritage site. We start off by paying homage to Nara Park. Nara Park is a public park and is one of the oldest ones in Japan. It is home to over 1200 wild deer and adjunct temple buildings. It is also home to the Nara National Museum and the Todai-Ji temple. Todai-Ji temple is a Buddhist Temple complex which serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. Deer roam the grounds of this temple freely.
We move on to pay a visit to the Great Buddha statue followed by visiting the KasugaTaisha Shrine. The Kasuga Shrine is the shrine of the Fujiwara family and its interior is known best for the presence of many bronze lanterns. We end the sightseeing tour in Nara by visiting the Nara Nagomikan where you can find an array of delicious sweets and souvenirs. The rest of the day is free for your own leisure, whereby you can spend the day in the hotel premises, or take the opportunity to explore more interesting locations in Kyoto.
This day is dedicated to visiting several sightseeing locations around Kyoto. Enjoy full day sightseeing of the Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kinkaku-ji, Heian Jingu Shrine, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple as well as the Sanjusangen-do Temple.
The first destination of the day is the NijoCastle.heNijo Castle is an interesting piece of architecture which falls on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is a castle made of wood and is accompanies by lush gardens. We move on to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace which was the imperial family’s residence formerly. Our next destination is the Kinkaku-Ji temple followed by the Heian Jingu Shrine which is modeled in the same way as the ancient Imperial Palace. We visit the temple famous for its wooden terrace, the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and lastly the Sanjusangen-do Temple.
With memories of the three countries embedded in your mind, it is finally time to bid goodbye to Kyoto and return back home, only with a promise to return back for more. The mixture of the old and the new is evident in all three countries but the architecture and history of both have fairly remained the same. With the contrasting and similar feature of these three important Asian cities fresh in minds and embedded forever in pictures, it is finally time to return back home. Depart from the Kansai International Airport.
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
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