Classic Tours

These tours are designed for those who wish to see the iconic sites and magnificent treasures of India on an excellent value group tour whilst travelling with like-minded people. The tours are on a fully inclusive basis, so you’ll travel with the assurance that all your arrangements are taken care of. You will be accompanied by our dedicated and professional National Escorts and local guides, whose unparalleled knowledge will turn your holiday into an unforgettable experience.

Day 1-2: Osaka 

Fly overnight to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Dinner

Day 3: Discover Nara

Transfer around 1 hour by coach to Nara and stroll through Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, meeting the resident sika deer en-route. Admire the traditional Isui-en Garden before returning to Osaka. Visit the impressive Osaka castle and later take a short cruise down the Yodogawa River.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 4: Himeji Castle

Journey around 2 hours by coach to Himeji and explore the magnificent 17th Century Himeji Castle and the neighbouring Koko-en, a traditional-style garden. The castle is largely in its original condition, so please use common sense and be mindful of your step when strolling around. You will have to remove your shoes before walking along some of the wooden floors and there are some steep wooden steps to reach certain areas. After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to visitors in order to limit the number of people who can enter the Main Keep, reducing congestion, waiting time, and to protect the cultural properties. Please note that this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep. After lunch, continue around 3.5 hours to Hiroshima.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 5: Explore Hiroshima

Transfer to the famous Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Please be aware that the museum may be confronting and upsetting for some group members and it is at your discretion if you wish to visit or enjoy time at leisure exploring the Peace Memorial Park. After lunch, take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, where sightseeing will be at a leisurely pace on foot. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the traditional market town at leisure. Later this afternoon, return by ferry and coach to your Hiroshima hotel for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto

This morning, transfer to Hiroshima Station and catch a bullet train to Kyoto, a journey of 1 hour 40 minutes. Capital for a thousand years, this enchanting city is the epitome of traditional Japan. After lunch, visit Ryoanji Temple, with its famous Zen Garden, and Kinkakuji Temple, known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’ due to its golden exterior. You will spend approximately 2 hours exploring the temples before continuing to your hotel to check in.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 7: Japanese Tea Ceremony

Start the day by visiting the spectacular Kiyomizu Temple. You will spend 1.5 hours on foot exploring the temple. Later, experience the age-old rituals of a traditional tea ceremony accompanied by a Tea Master. After lunch, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermillion torii gates. The Shrine stretches up Mount Inari (233m high). You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 8: Travel to Kanazawa

Depart Kyoto and travel around 4 hours by coach to Kanazawa. After lunch in a local restaurant, wander through the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden before viewing the excellent art collection of the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Continue to your hotel and check in.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 9: Washi Paper Making

Visit the Nomura Samurai House and garden before transferring around 1.5 hours to Gokayama. Enjoy lunch and then try your hand on making washi paper. Continue approximately 1 hour to Shirakawago and explore the 300-year-old Gassho style Wada House. Finally, drive around 1.5 hours to reach Takayama and check into your hotel with onsen facilities.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 10: Explore Takayama

Head to the Miyagawa Morning Market, where you can sample some of the delicious local fruits and vegetables (at your own expense). Next, take a leisurely stroll around the traditional houses of the area and visit some of the local museums including Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya before spending some free time in Kamisannomachi Street. You will spend around 5 hours on foot today sightseeing around the town of Takayama.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 11: Travel to Nagano

This morning, depart Takayama and travel around 2.5 hours to Matsumoto to visit the formidable 16th Century Matsumoto Castle. After lunch, stop at a Miso House to learn about the process of making this Japanese seasoning and try Miso soup. Also visit a wasabi farm to learn about its cultivation before travelling a further 1.5 hours to Nagano to check in at your hotel and enjoy it's Japanese bath facilities should you wish.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 12: Snow Monkeys

Travel deeper into the Japanese Alps to visit the Snow Monkeys at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. There is around a 30-minute walk through the forested valley along paths, occasionally on an incline, from the bus park to the main pool where the monkeys bathe. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from up-close and they almost completely ignore their human guests. Enjoy lunch and then continue to Zenkoji, one of Japan’s most prolific Buddhist temples. Return to Nagano.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13: Mount Fuji

Today, travel around 3.5 hours by coach to the Fuji Five Lakes area and ascend by road to Fuji’s 5th station (weather permitting) for fantastic views over the area. Visit Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to view the elaborate dyed silk creations of artist Kubota Itchiku. Continue to your hotel in Mishima or Gotemba and check in.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 14: Explore Hakone

This morning, transfer to Hakone, a drive of around 2 hours. Enjoy a boat cruise on the peaceful waters of Lake Ashi before boarding the Hakone ropeway to soar over the hilltops to the volcanic Owakudani Valley. After lunch, continue around 2 hours to Japan’s capital city, Tokyo..
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 15: Discover Tokyo

Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its busy, high-tech façade and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. This morning, head to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and walk the famous Shibuya Crossing. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to spend how you wish.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 16: Tokyo Panorama 

Start your last full day in Tokyo with a stroll in the vibrant Asakusa district and soak up the ambiance of Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Continue to the 634-metre Skytree and ascend to the observation deck for magnificent views. The afternoon is free at leisure until the evening, when you will board a traditional yakata boat for a dinner cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner 

Day 17-18: Depart Tokyo

This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast 

It is Wendy Wu Tours' intention to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as stated however, the order of events or sightseeing may change as Wendy Wu Tours look to improve our tours or as local conditions dictate. In these circumstances Wendy Wu Tours make the best possible arrangements maintaining the integrity of your trip.

Prices

Dates

Dedicated departures for Solo Travellers:
2025: 04 April, 05 April, 09 April, 10 April, 29 October, 31 October 
2026: 04 April, 05 April, 12 April, 19 April, 31 October, 01 November

*Advertised from prices includes maximum saving amount and is based on 02 June 2025 departure. Other dates are available at seasonal surcharge. Special offer applies to selected departure dates. Prices are correct as at 16 December 2024 and subject to availability and change. Please contact your RAC travel consultant for current pricing, departure dates and availability.

*Advertised price is a 'from price' and subject to availability and change. Prices are correct as at 16 December 2024 and subject to change at any time. Prices and services are subject to availability of tour, airline, and specific economy airfare. Indicated rates are based on lead in economy airfares, airfare supplements may apply. Departures booked more than 11 months in advance may be subject to air supplements when airline fares are published. Prices may differ once a preferred booking class is sold out.

^Offer is valid from until 28 February 2025 on a selected range of departures to China, Central Asia, Europe, India, Japan, Latin America, Middle East, South Africa, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Sri Lanka & Taiwan. Tours are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Applicable to new bookings only. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to release specials which are applicable to new bookings only. Bookings are non-transferable. Offer not combinable with any other offer. Related to Flight inclusive option only: Indicated rates are based on lead in economy airfares, airfare supplements may apply. Departures booked more than 11 months in advance may be subject to air supplements when airline fares are published.
A non-refundable deposit of $300pp is to arrive at Wendy Wu Tours or your travel agent within three days of receiving confirmation that space has been held for you. An early flight payment may be required at time of booking to issue tickets depending on airline. Final Balance due day which is 75 days prior to departure (charges may apply if airline tickets already issued). For cancellations made within 75 days, please refer to our standard cancellation policy within our terms and conditions for further information. A valid passport copy must be provided at time of booking to ensure passenger names match with passports. Any spelling corrections made after a deposit is paid must be sent in writing and will incur additional fees, including any ticket reissue fees. Mobile phone number, email address and postcode of residence are mandatory at time of ticketing as required by the Australian Government. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to correct any errors in rates quoted or calculated, or any omissions made at any time during your booking. Any verbal quote given is an indication only of the final price and is subject to confirmation in writing. Please enquire with your local RAC travel consultant for eligible departure dates. Tours are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Further Wendy Wu Tours and general RAC Travel terms and conditions apply.