Treasures of China

From bustling cities to quiet mountain villages, experience the distinct flavour of Japan during this amazing vacation. Of course, you’ll visit Japan’s famous sights, including many of its castles and shrines. In Kyoto, see the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, a Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, and be amazed at its beauty. In Nara, visit Todaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 752 AD and one of Japan’s most significant temples. You’ll also visit the traditional Gassho-Zukuri-style (joined hands) thatched houses in Shirawaka and Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, a magnificent Shinto monument set in a man-made garden. On this Japan tour, you’ll not only see the fascinating structures and shrines, you’ll also have a chance to visit one of Japan’s greatest gardens—Kenroku-en. According to the ancient Chinese book of gardens, gardens should have six different sublime qualities, but it is rare to find all six qualities in a garden. Dating from the 1670s, Kenroku-en does, in fact, combine the six attributes of a perfect garden—spaciousness & seclusion, artifice & antiquity, and water-courses & panoramas. Keep your eyes open for the perfect photos! But that’s not all…on this tour, you’ll discover Japan’s culture through special experiences arranged by Globus. Partake in a traditional tea ceremony, taste sake, and participate in a Japanese cooking class. You'll also attempt calligraphy, learn about the Yuzen dyeing technique used on kimonos, take part in a gold leaf class, browse a farmers market, and try on a traditional kimono. All of this and much more await you on this marvellous Japan tour. It’s a holiday of a lifetime!

One of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots, Sri Lanka offers not only opportunities for seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, but also stunning landscapes, beautiful coastlines, the world’s finest teas, and lots of historic sites with a culture dating back over 2,500 years. In fact, this “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” has been named one of Asia’s leading destinations and on this Sri Lanka tour, you’ll experience all of this and more. Marvel at Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a mountain monastery and fortress dating to the 5th century BC on top of a huge lava plug for an extinct volcano. At Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, enjoy the five preserved caverns with frescoes and Buddha statues. Keep your eyes open for native animals on your jeep safaris in Yala National Park, a bird-watcher’s paradise with over 200 bird species as well as elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, leopards, and more. In Mirissa, embark on an early morning whale watching cruise for the chance to see a variety of marine life including blue whales, the largest animal on earth! Other highlights include sightseeing in Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s most scenic cities, set in the forested hills; a visit to a tea plantation; a visit to the ruins at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second-most ancient kingdom and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and much more. For value-minded, savvy travellers, this Sri Lanka tour is sure to awaken and delight all of your senses!

This Japan tour showcases the very best that the country has to offer. You’ll start in Tokyo and end in Kyoto with many stops in between to see stunning scenery and visit many of Japan’s celebrated sites. During your tour of Tokyo, visit Asakusa Kannon Temple and Meiji Shrine, built in the 1920s to enshrine the emperor. Journey to nearby Nikko to see the Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Kegon Falls. See Shirakawa’s unique Gassho-Zukuri thatched houses, which can only be found here, then continue to historic Kyoto where you will visit several popular sites including the shimmering Temple of the Gold Pavilion. In Hiroshima, visit Peace Memorial Park and see the only remaining structure—the Atomic Bomb Dome—that predates the 1945 atomic blast. An excursion from Hiroshima takes you to the Itsukushima Shrine, built over water and known for its iconic floating Torii gate. All of this—and more—await you on this value-minded tour through Japan!