5 Night Ishigaki & Taipei Cruise

After you arrive at Hong Kong's airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong's modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon's Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks. The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you're up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid. Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It's a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There's lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.

The most cosmopolitan island in the Yaeyama Island Group of Okinawa, Ishigaki's subtropical climate means it's beach weather all year round here — the island is rimmed with powdery white beaches and sky-blue waters teeming with coral reefs. Cruise to Ishigaki and take the one-hour hike up Okinawa's highest peak, Mt. Otomo, and marvel at the ocean views dotted with neighboring islands. Walk around Ishigaki's small town: Sample freshly caught fish at the Public Market, explore the 19th-century Miyara Dounchi House and Gardens, or channel inner calm at nearby Torinji Zen Temple. Looking for more thrill factor? Head to the mangroves of Nagura Anparu Wetland for a kayaking adventure.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the harbor city of Keelung is the gateway to Taipei. After your ship arrives, take the 25-minute drive into Taiwan's capital, where art, nature and architecture both traditional and modern meet. Cruise to Taipei and walk the narrow corridors of Jiu Fen Old Street, stopping to take tea while you soak in the mountain and ocean scenery. Then, see the city's modern side by climbing Taipei 101, a 449-meter-tall skyscraper with a sightseeing deck for panoramic views. Or spend your time absorbing the natural splendor: Hike Mount Keelung to its now-extinct volcanic summit, then see the Golden Waterfall below before you head to the Yin Yang Sea for some beach time.

After you arrive at Hong Kong's airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong's modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon's Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks. The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you're up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid. Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It's a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There's lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.