Alaska & Japan

11 Sep 28
Departure 6:00 PM

Flanked by majestic mountain ranges on one side and the sparkling Pacific on the other, the British Columbia city has natural beauty in spades, making it a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, swimming, mountain biking, and skiing are all on offer, and easily accessible from within city limits. But it's not just active types that Vancouver caters for. The sophisticated cosmopolis boasts world-class museums, bustling markets, live music and theatre, and a truly diverse culinary scene that spans everything from casual street food to boundary-pushing fine dining.

12 Sep 28

Narrow by name, narrow by nature: this three-mile waterway between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island in British Columbia makes up a small sliver of the larger Inside Passage, but is one of its most defining features. Named after Royal Navy officer Sir George Francis Seymour, the strait is known for its intense – and once treacherous – tidal currents, which became significantly more navigable with the 1958 planned explosion of Ripple Rock, an underwater twin-peaked mountain. Cruising the Seymour Narrows offers front-row access to the raw and rugged natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

13 Sep 28
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Celebrated as the ‘salmon capital of the world', the small Alaskan town of Ketchikan is an angler's dream and the ultimate destination for nature lovers. Hiking trails abound and the surrounding waters offer some of the best kayaking in the Inside Passage. Don't miss a visit to Misty Fjords National Monument, a breathtaking seascape of steep fjords, dramatic waterfalls, and dense coastal forest. And get a sense of the region's rich Tlingit culture at the Totem Heritage Center, which houses the world's largest collection of unrestored 19th-century totem poles.

14 Sep 28
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Situated at the northwest edge of Wrangell Island in the south of Alaska, Wrangell lies 155 miles south of Juneau and 89 miles northwest of Ketchikan. This charming harbor town, nestled in the Inside Passage, is not only scenically stunning – think snow-capped mountains, lush forests, pristine wilderness, and abundant wildlife – but it is also renowned for its Tlingit heritage, rich wildlife encounters, adventures along the scenic Stikine River, not to mention its 40 petroglyphs that are an estimated 8,000 years old. For millennia, the Tlingit people have inhabited this region, leaving a rich tapestry of their culture and history woven into Wrangell. The town boasts a remarkable array of totems, with over a dozen dispersed throughout, offering visitors a varied and interesting walk through stunning scenery as well as a chance to imbibe local stories and heritage.

15 Sep 28
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

In its heyday, this frontier town was the largest in Alaska – its population went from 2 to 10,000 in a single year during the height of the gold boom.

16 Sep 28
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

The native Tlingit people might own and operate the town of Icy Strait Point on Chichagof Island, but this is a place where wildlife reigns supreme. The Spasski River Valley has one of the highest densities of coastal brown bears in the world, while the waters surrounding the island teem with humpback whales, sea otters, and sea lions. If the abundance of wildlife doesn't take your breath away, try the thrilling ZipRider running down from Hoonah Mountain at speeds of up to 60mph, some 300 feet above the rainforest. And don't leave port without a look at the century-old salmon cannery, since transformed into a fascinating museum.

17 Sep 28
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Only by sailing alongside North America's largest tidewater glacier can you fully grasp the majesty of this colossal natural phenomenon, which is 76 miles long and over 2,000 feet deep in certain parts – and steadily thickening. Watch in awe as the Hubbard Glacier's ice calves with a thunderous crash into the ocean, or spot humpback whales breaching from the waters and sea lions lounging on icebergs. This is nature at her most powerful.

18 Sep 28
07:00 AM - 9:00 PM

On the banks of Resurrection Bay, Seward is a rare place where you can easily immerse yourself in Alaska's deep nature. Here, where mountains and ocean meet, you can see orcas and gray whales patroling the pristine waters of the Kenai Fjords National Park, and hike to the awesome Exit Glacier. Offbeat activities include flight-seeing and dog-sledging, learning about the legacy of indigenous Alutiiq people, and tracing the beginning of a 2,300-mile trail that once connected the most remote villages. There's a thriving community to meet, selling local goods, seafood, and even craft beer, in the historic downtown, too.

19 Sep 28
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

With snow-ringed peaks and the icy-blue waters of Kachemak Bay as a backdrop to paintbox-bright wooden buildings on stilts, Homer is known as a creative hub for good reason. Do an art crawl of the galleries from Pioneer Avenue to the end of the 4.5-mile Spit to see works rendered in paper, beads and glass, and afterwards feast on catch of the day at one of the restaurants on the shoreline (this is the halibut fishing capital of the world). The wilderness is never too far away in Alaska: here, sightings could include bears digging for clams at low tide and eagles soaring overhead.

20 Sep 28
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

If you're going on a bear hunt, there are few better places to do – the 3,500 Kodiak bears on this island equates to one every 0.7 square mile. You'll find this unique sub-species of brown bear and mainland grizzly reaching a paw into a salmon-rich river or ambling about the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge – its pristine forests and meadows explain why Kodiak's moniker is the Emerald Isle. This could equally be called the fishing island, with halibut, salmon, and king crab all found in the waters lapping its shores. And don't forget the whales – this is one of Alaska's best places to watch them.

21 Sep 28 - 22 Sep 28

24 Sep 28

25 Sep 28 - 27 Sep 28

28 Sep 28
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

If Japan conjures up images of sprawling mega-cities and neon-decked skyscrapers, the northernmost island of Hokkaido offers a very different experience. Kushiro, on the east coast, is most famous for its natural landscapes, particularly the Kushiro Marsh – home to deer, sea eagles, and the iconic Japanese crane, which overwinters on the island. The city has much to offer, too, from the bustling Fisherman's Wharf, which is dominated by the EGG (Evergreen Garden), and a spectacular dome-shaped greenhouse filled with indigenous plants and trees, to a bowl of kattedon at the Washo Fish Market – a bowl of rice, topped with seafood of your choice.

29 Sep 28
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

When Japan ended two centuries of self-imposed silence, Hakodate, was one of the first ports to open to the outside world. That was in 1859 – fast-forward to today and you'll find a modern metropolis capitalising on its prime location at the southern edge of Hakkaido, just across the water from Honshu. Yet this city values its heritage, especially the impressive 19th- and 20th-century buildings that blend Japanese and Western styles in the Motomachi district, such as the grandiose Old Public Hall of Hakodate and the Former British Consulate, where you can sip tea looking out at a rose garden. Flavors are more authentic at the Morning Market, where chefs from the surrounding cafés pluck fresh seafood from the stalls – try ikameshi (rice-filled squid). And those snow monkeys you see photos of bathing in steaming mineral waters – they're here in the botanical garden. To put it all in perspective, trek up the well-kept paths to the 334m summit of Mount Hakodate.

30 Sep 28
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

With its apple orchards, cherry trees and backdrop of the Hakkoda Mountains, this city on the northern tip of Honshu island is a gateway to some of Japan's most beautiful landscapes. About 30 miles south is UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakami Sanchi, a mountainous area with the last of East Asia' virgin beech forests. Walking trails here lead to waterfalls and lakes, and you may spot golden eagles, black woodpeckers, Japanese macaques and even shy black bears as you go. Some 40 miles southeast, deep-blue Lake Towada is serenely breathtaking and offers gentle activities from walking to canoeing and boat rides. The Aomori area also enjoys a vibrant contemporary arts scene, from the gleaming white Aomori Museum of Art, complete with a colossal dog statue by Yoshitomo Nara, to the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, strikingly set in a former brewery, and Towada Art Center with eye-popping sculpture.

01 Oct 28
11:00 AM - 07:00 PM

Founded by powerful samurai lord Date Masamune in 1600, Sendai has burgeoned into the largest city in the Tohoku region. Visit the ruins of Sendai Castle, built for the warrior atop Mount Aoba, to enjoy panoramic views and admire the family mausoleum, before seeking out armor and other artefacts from Japan's Edo period at the Sendai City Museum. Known as the “City of Trees” for its verdant boulevards and the “City of Music” for its harmonious events – from jazz to big band and pop – Sendai is equally cherished for its ramen restaurants, craft beers, and a delicacy called gyutan – grilled beef tongue. Beyond the city is Akiu Fall, one of Japan's most stunning waterfalls. Visit this scenic area to also enjoy the Akiu Onsen hot springs and nearby Rairaikyo Gorge.

02 Oct 28
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

This young city on the shores of the Pacific was created from two former towns just 30 years ago. Yet it has already won hearts, especially for the Hitachi Seaside Park, a heart-sighing vision of blossoms – carpets of delicate “baby blue eyes” in spring and fiery red kochia, or “burning bush”, in autumn, roses, tulips and more floral spectacles throughout the year. While you're by the ocean, take a stroll on the golden sands of Ajigaura and Hiraisio beaches or go crabbing on the rocky shore a little further north, where you'll also find plenty of fossils amid the geological layers dating back 75 million years. It's all about the sea here, so it's no surprise the city is home to a renowned fish market, Nakamitano, where chefs prepare spanking fresh sashimi and sushi from the daily catch. Yet there's one local snack that comes from the land, slices of sun-dried sweet potato – an irresistible souvenir.

03 Oct 28
Arrival: 07:00 AM

Japan's capital, Tokyo, and its bustling port of Yokohama form a vast urban complex that boasts a unique combination of energy and orderliness. Fusing the vitality of a modern metropolis with the stately elegance of yesteryear, Tokyo is truly unique. From the timeless beauty of the Meiji Shrine to the glittering Ginza district and impressive Tokyo Tower, this international giant is a complex blend of East and West. Houses of wood and paper stand beside towering steel skyscrapers, while kimono-clad women stroll beside teenagers who have created a fashion all their own. The timeless Imperial Palace bears testament to Japan's enduring traditions. Despite encroaching urban development, it continues to exist in a verdant parkland of isolation. Images of the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo, which is home to more than 11 million people, will create memories of a lifetime.