WORLD HERITAGE & ORIENTAL CITIES

Day 1-2: Hong Kong Private transfer to your hotel. The former British Crown colony was transferred back to China in 1997. The enormous port, the enormous industrialisation and the status of free port make it an important Asian crossroads. The best place to admire Hong Kong is from Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island: enjoy the vast views, the huge Victoria Harbour and glistening skyscrapers. It certainly lives up to its name as a shopping paradise with its many shopping streets and local (night) markets. Stroll along the harbour and admire the view of the skyline of this Asian metropolis. Private transfer on day 3 to the port where you will board the MS EUROPA.

Day 3: Cruise day at sea.

Day 4: Keelung, Taiwan; 06.00-17.00 hours. The large port city of Keelung is your first introduction to Taiwan. You will be amazed by the spectacular architecture of the capital Taipei, with a huge ‘bamboo’ tower as its main eye-catcher.

Day 5: Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 08.00-16.00 hours. Kaohsiung is the Buddhist city of Taiwan, where you can discover the spirituality of temple life in the Fi Guang Shan Monastery with its giant hall of Buddhas. Or enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Kenting National Park.

Day 6: Cruise day at sea

Day 8-7 Halong Bay, Vietnam; 13.00-18.00 hours. The karst mountains arise from the sea in the North of Vietnam. It is one of the new seven wonders of the world. The sunset of Halong Bay is a breath-taking bonus.

Day 8-9: Da Nang, Vietnam; 13.00-14.00 hours next day. Da Nang is one of the largest cities of Vietnam and is located quite centrally in the country. Most people might recognize Da Nang as the city where the Americans first landed during the Vietnam War. From the port of Chan May a favourite excursion takes you to the Unesco protected Hue, with its 1000 year old pagoda temple and citadel. The Nguyen emperors had their residence here from 1802-1945.

Day 10: Cruise day at sea.

Day 11-12: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 09.00-16.00 hours next day. Since the reunification of North and South Vietnam, Saigon is known as Ho Chi Minh-city. The emphatic presence of the French gave it the nickname Paris of the Orient with wide boulevards and stately buildings.

Day 13: Cruise day at sea.

Day 14: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville ), Cambodia; 06.00-22.00 hours. Sihanoukville is the only port city in Cambodia and therefore has a different atmosphere from the rest of the country. In the last century the city was often used as a transit port for weapons in the Vietnam war, nowadays the city depends on tourism. Day 15: Koh Kood, Thailand; 08.00-18.00 hours. As big as Texel, but in bounty version … Koh Kood is located in the far east of Thailand and therefore outside major tourist flows. Plantations of coconuts and rubber trees, together with fishing, are the main means of subsistence.

Day 16: Cruise day at sea.

Day 17-18: Singapore; arrival 12.00 hours. You will stay 1 more night on board. Singapore, a former British trade colony, now an independent island state, has developed into one of the world’s most prosperous countries. With ultramodern skyscrapers combined with a mixture of Chinese, Indian and Malaysian influences, Singapore is a dynamic city rich in contrast and colour.