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Your quintessential guides to Japan, Southeast Asia and India.
Your quintessential guides to Japan, Southeast Asia and India.
Experience a Christmas you will never forget
We are delighted to introduce you to our brand new 2023 Christmas Collection: a specially curated selection of our award-winning tours departing over the festive period.
Not only will these tours see you exploring the incredible sights of some of our favourite destinations during the Christmas period, but each itinerary features a whole host of wonderful festive experiences which are completely unique to this special Christmas departure and sure to leave you with plenty of magical memories.
With such an excellent depth of destinations and experiences on offer in this collection, there is something to suit every type of traveller. For those with a penchant for ancient history, you could be exploring the archaeological treasures of Egypt in the warmth of the December sun or traversing China’s iconic Great Wall on Christmas Day. Nature lovers can revel in the scenic beauty of Vietnam and uncover the wealth of wildlife in Sri Lanka, and those looking to immerse themselves in fascinating cultures and age-old traditions won’t find better destinations than Japan and India.
Although not a national holiday in Japan, Christmas is a wonderful time to explore this diverse destination. In the cities you’ll find gorgeous illuminations marking the festive period (and of course, no one does it quite like Japan), and the cold, dry weather means the countryside is often blanketed with fresh snow – the white Christmas we all dream of!
Based on our extremely popular Jewels of Japan itinerary, our Christmas in Japan tour showcases the bright lights of Tokyo and Osaka, magnificent Mount Fuji and the beautiful Himeji Castle including many immersive experiences such soba noodle making, origami classes and a Geisha encounter. Christmas Eve is spent in historic Kyoto with a traditional tea ceremony and very special dinner.
On Christmas Day you may be lucky enough to see a dusting of snow on the iconic Golden Temple, Kinkakuji, before riding the iconic bullet train to Hiroshima where you’ll enjoy a scenic Christmas dinner cruise on Hiroshima Bay.
Despite being a predominantly Buddhist country, the Vietnamese are extremely fond of Christmas. This is a time of great celebration with locals gathering for festivities, beautiful lights and decorations in trees, abundant throughout the cities.
Our Christmas in Vietnam tour, will see you exploring the full length of this spectacular country, from the Mekong Delta in the south all the way up to Hanoi in the north. Along the way, you’ll explore the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An and imperial treasures of Hue, as well as the many highlights of Saigon. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are spent cruising the pictureperfect waters of Halong Bay and, its lesser-known but equally spectacular twin, Lan Ha Bay. On Christmas Eve enjoy an exclusive drinks reception and barbeque Christmas Dinner on deck. A magical Christmas Day is spent cruising on tranquil Lan Ha bay before a special drinks reception and delicious dinner.
Although Christmas isn’t widely recognised as a religious holiday in China, you’ll still see plenty of illuminations in major cities like Beijing and Leshan and may even pay witness to the new trend in China of gifting friends with elaborately-boxed apples on Christmas Eve. The weather is cool this time of year, particularly in the north where you’ll find the Great Wall, which means you may get to experience it surrounded by snow-covered peaks and valleys.
You’ll soak up all of China’s most famous attractions on this tour; the Terracotta Warriors of Xian, Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven, the Grand Buddha of Leshan, and the adorable giant pandas of course! And you’ll enjoy a Christmas Day like no other – spent on China’s iconic Great Wall before swapping traditional turkey for an authentic Peking duck feast!
December is one of the finest months to visit India with temperatures warm, minimal rainfall and low humidity – the perfect conditions for exploring! Uncover the iconic sights of India’s Golden Triangle on this tour, as well as delightful Udaipur and Ranthambore National Park where you’ll go in search of Bengal tigers!
After attending Midnight Mass in Agra on Christmas Eve, you’ll awake on Christmas Day to explore India’s most famous monument, the magnificent Taj Mahal. Enjoy a delicious Christmas feast and sip champagne at a rooftop restaurant accompanied by amazing views of the Taj Mahal at sunset. You’ll even be treated to a fantastic musical show telling the story of Emperor Shahjahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (for whom the Taj Mahal was built) – a true Bollywood experience!
Christmas is widely celebrated in Sri Lanka with festivities beginning at dawn on the 1st December where locals will let off fireworks to mark the start of the season. There is so much happening leading up to Christmas Day, with families gathering, preparation of Christmas cake and mince pies, and decorations hung. The weather is pleasant with warm, sunny days and balmy nights.
Witness the many highlights of Sri Lanka on this extra special December departure, including the Rock Fortress at Sigiriya, the ruined cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura and the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Cave Temple with its abundance of Buddhist mural paintings and Buddha statues. Meet the elephants of Udawalawe and spot leopards in Yala National Park with two safari experiences.
Spend Christmas in Sri Lanka’s gorgeous tea country, Nuwara Eliya. On Christmas Eve you'll enjoy a special dinner before attending a moving midnight mass . On Christmas Day you’ll take part in an exclusive tea plantation experience, receive the gift of a handmade silk saree dress and enjoy High Tea at the iconic colonial era Grand Hotel.
