Itinerary
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 all-new 8-day itinerary aboard Le Soléal, from Taiwan to Okinawa, you will discover the rich natural heritage, traditional villages and craft of the Okinawa archipelago and the Ryukyu Islands. As you depart from the Port of Keelung, in Taipei, the capital of the lush island of Taiwan, you will set sail for the southern islands of Japan, including Ishigaki, the capital island of the Yaeyama Islands. 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. Le Soléal will then sail towards the magnificent Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Here wild beaches mix with traditional villages and lush, protected and intact, tropical forest: jungle, mangroves, rivers, waterfalls. This unique biodiversity is made up of many endemic species. You will also call at Iheya Island, Okinawa' northernmost territory, where the traditional culture of the region is preserved. You will be able to discover a few aspects of this through a traditional "Eisa" show featuring traditional drums. Your final 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. Your cruise will draw an end in Naha, your port of disembarkation, on the island of Okinawa.
