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Samurai, shrines & surprising wildness
Japan is imbued with an allure that has inspired for centuries. Now for the first time ever we’re venturing to this fascinating region—on two new adventurous itineraries. Roam shores brimming with temples, teahouses, and ancient traditions; discover a seldom-seen wild side on subtropical islands where azure waters meet verdant forests; plus, get a taste of Taiwan and Korea too. First impressions are everything—join us aboard National Geographic Resolution on these pioneering inaugural itineraries.
(5) Asia Itineraries
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NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged. More details.
New
A Journey from Nome to Tokyo: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture
Duration
20 days
Aug
From
$31,470
Top Highlights
Watch for a profusion of rare wildlife in Alaska’s Pribilof and Aleutian Islands: from whiskered auklets and northern fur seals to Steller’s sea eagles and brown bears
Search for the sacred red-crowned crane on a visit to the wetlands of Kushiro in Hokkaido
Learn about the culture of Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people on visits to a village and a living history museum
New
Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture
Duration
15 days
Sep
From
$28,618
Top Highlights
Delve into the history of the samurai and their feudal lords while visiting castles and samurai districts in Kanazawa, Matsue, and Uwajima
Explore the cultural legacy of Korea’s Silla Dynasty among the ancient ruins of Gyeongju, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Get inspired on the art-filled island of Naoshima, and visit museums and studios dedicated to artists and traditional handicrafts in Matsue and Takamatsu
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Apr
From
$21,068
Prices are per person
Highlights
Asia
New
India by Land and River: Taj Mahal, Safaris and the Brahmaputra
Duration
18 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Apr
From
$21,068
Top Highlights
Explore the rugged coastline of the Russian Far East aboard the National Geographic Orion, stepping ashore at remote Koryak villages and hiking through breathtaking fjords and valleys.
Witness a profusion of rare wildlife from the deck of our ship or aboard a nimble Zodiac, from whiskered auklets and northern fur seals to Steller’s sea eagles and brown bears.
Navigate the Kuril Islands, located between the Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s Hokkaido island, and marvel at their fascinating geology as you trek the tundra-covered volcanic slopes.
Spot the sacred red-crowned crane on a visit to the wetlands of Kushiro in Hokkaido, and learn about the unique culture of Japan’s indigenous Ainu people.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Apr
From
$11,546
Prices are per person
Highlights
Asia
New
India Expedition: Kolkata, Kaziranga and the Brahmaputra River
Duration
11 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Apr
From
$11,546
Top Highlights
Explore the rugged coastline of the Russian Far East aboard the National Geographic Orion, stepping ashore at remote Koryak villages and hiking through breathtaking fjords and valleys.
Witness a profusion of rare wildlife from the deck of our ship or aboard a nimble Zodiac, from whiskered auklets and northern fur seals to Steller’s sea eagles and brown bears.
Navigate the Kuril Islands, located between the Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s Hokkaido island, and marvel at their fascinating geology as you trek the tundra-covered volcanic slopes.
Spot the sacred red-crowned crane on a visit to the wetlands of Kushiro in Hokkaido, and learn about the unique culture of Japan’s indigenous Ainu people.
Contrast the brightly lit metropolis of Tokyo with the narrow, winding streets of Kanazawa’s well-preserved samurai districts. Discover fascinating tales of feudal lords while visiting their castles, shrines, and gardens. And see firsthand how the Japanese have elevated everyday rituals—tea, sake, kimonos, sushi, floral arranging—into spectacular art forms. Only 400 of Japan’s nearly 7,000 islands are inhabited. Our explorations also take us beyond the populous borders of Honshu into wilder realms. Or snorkel through crystal waters that are home to sea turtles, manta rays, and the elusive Okinawa dugong. In Taiwan’s Yehliu Geopark, witness incredible hoodoo spires.
It is a privilege to visit Japan, a richly diverse and culturally fascinating geography. And to the privilege of cruising these islands, National Geographic Resolution adds the luxury of comfort—a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and revitalize body, mind, and spirit.
Expedition Spotlight: Japan, A Travel Photographer's Paradise
In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, Certified Photo Instructor and Naturalist David Cothran shares the inspired photo ops that abound in this beautiful island nation and how he helps guests realize their vision of Japan through composition, light, and storytelling.
Exploring Japan by Sea: From Matsue to Okinawa & Beyond
From the earliest explorers to Shōgun fans, and beyond, Western travelers have long known that the island nation of Japan is best explored by sea.
The History Behind Japan’s Most Beautiful Landscape Gardens
Japan's daimyo gardens have been open to the public since the end of the feudal era in the 19th century and have been exceedingly well-preserved, transporting travelers not only to a place of calm introspection but back centuries in time.
I came here having no idea what to expect, but it’s just been magical. The food, the scenery, the people, the wildlife, all of it.
Ken C.
Explore with top expedition teams
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades.
Expedition Leader
Explore with a veteran expedition leader—the orchestrator of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Contemporary art and age-old religion, stunning architecture and iconic shrines, complex history and unique culture. Japan has captivated the imaginations of Westerners for eons. On our Far East itineraries, you’ll travel with passionate experts—a cultural specialist, a historian, and local guides—who will illuminate every facet to give you an intimate perspective on this distant land.
Sail with a team of four naturalists, each of whom is passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly) and who help illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Choose to spend time with whoever shares your interests in birding, human history, flora and fauna, and so much more.
Joining us on this expedition means signing up for adventure; and the reward for your curiosity is inevitable—the most exhilarating experience of pure discovery possible.
We started our final day on The Jahan visiting the remote village of Angkor Ban, which is one of only a handful of villages with traditional wooden houses dating back over 100 years. These types of homes are a rarity due to neglect and the decades of conflict in the country. We entered the village through a large pagoda complex before walking around the narrow streets to see the homes. Afterward, two local monks came on board to chant and preform a blessing for the ship and guests. Guests were also able to get individual blessings and red string bracelets, a Buddhist tradition for luck and protection. National Geographic Archeologist Fabio Esteban gave a talk on, “Parallel Civilizations and Sacred Landscapes between the Maya and Angkor”. In the afternoon, we visited Wat Nokor, our first Angkor period temple that featured a colorful monastery built inside a 12th-century enclosure. Then, we stopped at a famous bamboo bridge in the provincial capital of Kampong Cham. Guests had the option of walking on a portion of the bridge or walking along the riverside back to the ship. To conclude our voyage, we celebrated with a farewell party on the terrace deck at sunset and enjoyed the world premiere of the guest slideshow.
Before dawn, guests scrambled up the bank of the Tonle Sap River and climbed aboard oxcarts to enjoy a local tour across the rice fields, lotus fields, and brick kilns, the tour ending at a local school that teaches children English, computer skills, and environmental ethics. The Green School was founded by a Lindblad Expeditions expedition leader in 2016 and now teaches over 450 students! The energy there was remarkable. Students sang and played interactive games with guests, practicing their rapidly developing language skills. After visiting the school, guests returned to The Jahan for breakfast, a fashion show, and a morning presentation on “Reimagining an Ancient Kingdom – The Mekong Expedition Commission and Angkor,” by Cultural Specialist, Patrick MacQuarrie. After we transited the “meeting of the waters” the Tonle Sap, Bassac, and Mekong confluence, guests were treated to a presentation on “Photography Essentials in Cambodia and Vietnam”, by Certified Photo Instructor Sue Forbes. In the late afternoon, guests went ashore to Prek Bangkong to visit the home of a former notable Khmer architect and a local silk workshop before returning for cocktails and recap. The evening film screening was Jungle Atlantis.
On The Jahan, our photo instructor Sue led an early morning photo walk in Phnom Penh by tuk tuk to a waterfront park on the Mekong and at Wat Ounalom Monastery, the center of Cambodian Buddhism. The group photographed locals exercising in the park and a ceremony at the monastery. After breakfast, University of Phnom Penh Professor and Linguist Jean Michel Filippi gave a lecture covering the past 70 years of Cambodian history. We took a break for fresh coconuts on deck before a Q&A session in the lounge. During the afternoon, National Geographic Archeologist Fabio Esteban gave a talk about “The Power of Art”. Then, we took local tuk tuks through the village of Kampong Leaeng to visit a local pottery artisan. We also learned about palm sugar production with a demonstration on a farm and watched the locals climbing the palm trees to collect the sap, which is later boiled to thicken it. After dinner, Expedition Leader David Brotherson gave a presentation about “Cambodian Weddings”, sharing his experience and the many costume changes involved.
We spent our first full day in Cambodia exploring the metropolis of Phnom Penh, starting with a 20-minute cyclo ride around the city. Our first stop in the capital city was the large Royal Palace with beautiful gardens and ornate examples of Khmer architecture, including Throne Hall and Silver Pagoda. Afterward, we visited the National Museum which houses many of the large statues from the Angkor period and other treasures. We had lunch ashore at Topaz Restaurant, one of the city’s premier fine-dining restaurants. Then we visited the sobering S-21 Genocide Museum, a former high school that served as an interrogation center by the Khmer Rouge. After the museum, one part of the group visited the killing field of Choueng Ek, while another visited the Central Market and Wat Phnom, the only hill in the city. The temple rests on a 27-meter-high tree-lined hill and has balustrades lined with naga, mythical serpent creatures. We had a lovely barbecue dinner on deck followed by a traditional Apsara Dance performance from Cambodian Living Arts, known for intricate finger movements. During dinner, The Jahan cruised around the Phnom Penh waterfront.
The day began early as The Jahan pulled anchor and sailed through the busy Tan Chau Canal that connects the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. Arriving at the bustling town of Chau Doc, guests disembarked using sampans, one group visiting a chaotic yet efficient wet market with an abundance of chickens, fish, snakes, and other aquatic animals, afterward jumping on a bicycle rickshaw to tour the city. Meanwhile, the other group visited a local fish farm at which the owner lives above, and below he raises tilapia fish for export to Europe and the USA. Returning to the ship, guests attended a presentation on, “The Tonle Sap and Mekong Ecosystem” by Naturalist Anna Mazurek, followed by a ship tour and a presentation of, “The Geography of Cultures in Cambodia and Vietnam” by Cultural Specialist Patrick MacQuarrie. Guests had time to relax on deck and by the pool while cruising up the Mekong River in the afternoon before evening cocktails, recap, and dinner. In the evening, as The Jahan approached Phnom Penh, the film New Year’s Baby was screened in the lounge. Photos by Sue Forbes and Patrick MacQuarrie