Or

Which period?

Japanese subtropical Islands

Fukuoka - Keelung (Chilung)

Dates:
6/4/2024
to  13/4/2024

Other available dates

8
days
7
nights on board
Starting from*
AU$9,560
20% Ponant Bonus

In partnership with Les Éditions Tallandier and with featured guest Valérie Niquet, specialist in Asia and author of numerous books and articles on the main countries in the region.

PONANT is the first cruise company to take you to the heart of the sublime landscapes of the tropical islands in southern Japan during an expedition cruise. On this 8-day itinerary aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, from Fukuoka to Taïwan, you will discover the rich natural heritage, traditional villages and craft of the Okinawa and Yaeyama Islands, in the Ryukyu archipelago.

Departing from Fukuoka, you will set a southward course to reach the captivating, mountainous island of Yakushima, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Providing an unspoiled natural setting for endemic species such as the Yakushima monkey and deer, the island is home to an exceptional natural environment featuring forests of ancient cedars, bewitching waterfalls, and majestic peaks.

Le Jacques Cartier will make its way to the island of Amami Oshima, between Kyushu and Okinawa. You will fall in love with this island surrounded by stunning coral reefs, punctuated with verdant peaks, covered in primary forest and monumental mangroves, and boasting strong Okinawan influences.

Your next port of call will be Zamami, in the Kerama Islands. You will enjoy the unspoiled beauty of this pristine island, known the world over for the distinctive blue of the surrounding sea, called “Kerama blue”. The sea life in the area is also exceptionally rich and sea turtles can often be spotted swimming among the coral. 

Following a port of call in the picturesque village of Taketomijima, with its traditional Okinawan dwellings and its idyllic sandy expanses, Le Jacques-Cartier will sail south to Ishigaki, Ishigaki, the capital island of the Yaeyama Islands. In the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, you will be able to enjoy the dynamic atmosphere of the eponymous city or discover Kabira Bay, renowned for its idyllic scenery, combining crystal-clear turquoise water and beaches of white sand.

Next, you will set sail south to the island of Iriomotejima. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this little corner of paradise will enchant you with its authentic and preserved character, with its wild beaches lying alongside traditional villages surrounded by luxurious tropical forest: jungle, mangrove, rivers, waterfalls. This unique biodiversity is made up of many endemic species.  

The landscapes on the remote island of Yonagunijima, the easternmost of the Ryukyu Islands, offer a striking contrast: cliffs, windswept meadows, wild horses. The beauty of its sea-beds and their mysterious rocky formations will delight the most experienced divers.

You will end your cruise in Keelung, the port of the Taiwanese capital Taipei.

 


Ref : EX060424


Your itinerary

Your itinerary - Japanese subtropical Islands

In partnership with Les Éditions Tallandier and with featured guest Valérie Niquet, specialist in Asia and author of numerous books and articles on the main countries in the region. A unique expedition...


View detailed itinerary

Your trip in detail

Contact Us

1300 737 178
(or contact your travel agent)

Request a quote

Partner - Valérie Niquet

Our guest of honour

Partner - Valérie Niquet

Valérie Niquet

I am delighted to be embarking with you on board the Jacques-Cartier for this exceptional cruise to the paradise islands of Ryükyü, the best preserved of the Japanese archipelago. It will also be an opportunity for me to introduce you to the history and culture of a country I have been visiting for over 40 years. On my way to Taiwan, the epicentre of tensions, I will also share with you the keys to a better understanding of geopolitical developments between China and Japan.

Valérie Niquet

Find out more

Partner - Les Éditions Tallandier

Our partner

Partner - Les Éditions Tallandier

Les Éditions Tallandier

Find out more

Choose your stateroom

Choose your stateroom

Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
 

(19 m²)

From AU$9,560
20% Ponant Bonus

Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
 

(19 m²)

From AU$10,600
20% Ponant Bonus

Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
 

(19 m²)

From AU$11,140
20% Ponant Bonus

Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
 

(19 m²)

From AU$11,760
20% Ponant Bonus

Deluxe Suite Deck 4
 

(27 m²)

From AU$16,400
20% Ponant Bonus

Deluxe Suite Deck 5
 

(27 m²)

From AU$16,400
20% Ponant Bonus

Deluxe Suite Deck 3
 

(27 m²)

From AU$16,400
20% Ponant Bonus

Deluxe Suite Deck 6
 

(27 m²)

From AU$16,400
20% Ponant Bonus

Prestige Deck 5
 

(38 m²)

From AU$22,200
20% Ponant Bonus

Prestige Suite Deck 6
 

(38 m²)

From AU$23,360
20% Ponant Bonus

Privilege Suite Deck 5
 

(32 m²)

From AU$24,520
20% Ponant Bonus

Privilege Suite Deck 6
 

(32 m²)

From AU$24,520
20% Ponant Bonus

Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6
 

(45 m²)

From AU$26,950
20% Ponant Bonus

Owner's Suite Deck 5
 

(45 m²)

From AU$35,270



Complete your trip

Complete your trip

Shore Excursions, Overlands & Pre/Post Programmes
To complete your voyage, PONANT can organise a range of shore excursions, pre & post cruise activities and packages, plus transfers.


View options


You may also like...

You may also like...

Papeete, Tahiti Island - Papeete, Tahiti Island
LE PAUL GAUGUIN
14 nights on board
Dates:
30/12/2023 to the 13/1/2024
Other available dates
Mumbai (ex Bombay) - Colombo
LE JACQUES-CARTIER
9 nights on board
Dates:
30/1/2024 to the 8/2/2024
  • New
Ushuaia - Buenos Aires
L'AUSTRAL
NIGHT IN BUENOS AIRES + FLIGHT BUENOS AIRES/USHUAIA + TRANSFER
14 nights on board
Dates:
11/3/2024 to the 26/3/2024
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
NIGHT IN BUENOS AIRES + FLIGHT BUENOS AIRES/USHUAIA + TRANSFERS + VISITS + FLIGHT USHUAIA/BUENOS AIRES
10 nights on board
Dates:
28/1/2024 to the 8/2/2024
Other available dates
Reykjavík - Reykjavík
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
14 nights on board
Dates:
11/6/2024 to the 25/6/2024
Other available dates

Contact Us

1300 737 178
(or contact your travel agent)

Request a quote

*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.