Overview

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 Soléal, 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 Soléal 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 Soléal 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.

Trip Highlights

A unique expedition cruise to discover the sublime landscapes of the subtropical islands of southern Japan.
UNESCO sites: the islands of Yakushima and Iriomote, nature sanctuaries with a biodiversity unlike any other in the world.
Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
Varied landscapes: white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, tropical forest, mangroves, rivers, cliffs, caves, waterfalls.
Local distillery visit and opportunity to taste the local cuisine of Okinawa.
Explore the culture of Okinawa: visit to a traditional village in the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, traditional Eisa drumming show (Iheya Island).
The island of Yakushima, its forests of ancient cedars and its majestic waterfalls.
The discovery of the second largest mangrove in Japan, on the island of Amami Oshima.
Opportunity to snorkel around the renowned coral reefs of Zamami Island.
Gain an insight into the history, culture and the diversity of flora and fauna from your expert expedition team.
Possibility of diving (PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board and of snorkelling with your expedition team.

Day 1 :

FUKUOKA

At the northern tip of the subtropical island of Kyūshū, Fukuoka stands proudly at the centre of a veritable natural setting, between lush mountains and the crystal-clear and calm waters of Hakata Bay. A modern city and high-tech hub, which has earned it the nickame of the Japanese “Silicon Valley” in particular, the seventh town in Japan stands out for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Promoted as one of the nerve centres of maritime trade from the 15th century onward, it experienced long decades of prosperity. A period of splendour which, among other things, saw the construction of many spiritual buildings, including the Sumiyoshi-jinja shrine and the Tochoji temple, as well as its emblematic Maizuru Castle, erected in the 17th century.

Day 2 :

YAKUSHIMA

A splendid sub-tropical, mountainous island listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, Yakushima is one of the most beautiful islands in the Japanese archipelago. Its extensive yakusugi forest contains some of Japanﾒs oldest living trees ﾖ cedars that are over 1000 metres tall and up to 7,000 years old. The Senpiro and Toroki waterfalls, each one several dozens of metres high, are equally impressive. A feast for the eyes.

Day 3 :

AMAMIOSHIMA

Situated in the East China Sea in the Nansei archipelago, a group of islands also known as the Ryuku Islands and lying to the south-west of Japan between Kyūshū and Taiwan, Amami Oshima (literally “Amami Big Island”) is the largest of the Amami Islands. It is influenced by the culture of the great Okinawa archipelago. Amami Oshima is a world apart, with wild and pristine nature in which you will experience the tranquillity of the place. The old-growth forest covers 95% of the island’s surface and can be discovered along hiking trails. Its 700,000 m2 of mangrove, the second largest in Japan, are breathtaking.

Day 4 :

ZAMAMI

Zamami is an island in the Kerama archipelago, 40 km (25 miles) west of Okinawa Island in the China Sea. Visitors to this 16 km2 (6 mi2) quasi-uninhabited isle are enchanted by the many untouched natural treasures they find here. You will discover a tranquil island with lush vegetation, lined with stunning white-sand bays bathing in the glimmering ‘Kerama blue’ waters around the archipelago. Zamami is also renowned for the beauty of its coral reefs, where multicoloured fish engage in an endless mesmerising ballet. The observation deck on Mount Takatsuki reveals stunning views of the Kerama Islands, granted national park status in 2014. With subtle shifting shades of azure above and all around, this island truly is paradise.

Day 5 :

TAKETOMIJIMA

Off the coast of the Okinawa Prefecture, Taketomi Island (Taketomijima) is fascinating for its traditional character, preserved in a beautiful, lush setting. Like its big sisters, Ishigaki and Kuroshima, this island in the Yaeyama archipelago is the ideal destination for an immersion in typical landscapes and the insular way of life of the former Ryukyu Kingdom. Here, time seems to have stood still. There are very few cars about; bicycles and carriages drawn by imposing oxen remain the only means of transport. This is an ideal opportunity to wander through the picturesque streets lined with traditional dwellings with red-tiled roofs and lion-shaped shisa statues placed in front of the vast majority of houses to keep evil spirits at bay.

Day 6 :

ISHIGAKI

Located to the south of the main island of the Yaeyama archipelago, Ishigaki boasts all the aspects of an authentic piece of paradise. You have guessed it, you do not come here for its skyscrapers but for its pure emerald waters and idyllic beaches. The waters off Shiraho, on the island's south-west coast, have one of the largest areas of blue coral in the world.

Day 7 :

IRIOMOTEJIMA

Nestled in the very heart of the Yaeyama archipelago, Iriomote Island conjures visions of a hidden paradise. With 90% of the island covered by thick jungle, crossed by rivers and impressive mangrove forests, Iriomote is an ideal destination for fans of large preserved spaces. With exceptional fauna and flora, this lush jewel is home to many endemic species: you may be lucky enough to get to glimpse an Iriomote cat or a crested serpent eagle. During this port of call, you will also have the possibility of admiring the captivating underwater world during a free diving session or contemplating this lush jungle close up on a cruise along the calm waters of the island’s rivers.

Day 8 :

YONAGUNIJIMA

The geographic situation of the island of Yonagunijima, the most remote and western in the Japanese archipelago of Okinawa, makes it a wild and preserved territory. Between cliffs plunging into the sea and white sandy beaches, lush meadows and palettes of blue, we can admire the last sunset every day here in the Land of the Rising Sun. The island is also renowned for the Yonaguni horses, a small breed standing only a metre high, which graze freely here. If you dive, Yonagunijima will delight you with its sea beds which are as exceptional as they are mysterious.

Day 9 :

KEELUNG (CHILUNG)

On the north-east tip of Taiwan, the harbour city of Keelung stands on one of the most beautiful coasts on the island. Nearby is the spectacular natural park of Yehliu, famed for its striking rock formations. It's easy to tour the city's historical sites on trails that cross the lush green hills surrounding the harbour from Chung Cheng Park to Fort Ershawan, you can enjoy superb views of Keelung and the coastline. But the main attraction is the Miaokou night market, where you can taste some typically Taiwanese culinary delights.