Bespoke itineraries
Tokyo, Phuket, Magelang, Bali, Paro 16-day luxe itinerary
- 16 days
- Tokyo, Phuket, Magelang, Bali, Paro · JP
- Luxury
16-day luxe itinerary in Tokyo, Phuket, Magelang, Bali, Paro. Concierge timings, luxe, culture, bien-etre highlights, verified addresses by MyConciergeHotel.
This 16-day journey across Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Bhutan unfolds over five well-paced stops, balancing cultural depth with proper recovery time. Amanpuri and Amanjiwo set the register early. Most stays run to three nights, with four in Bhutan to absorb road time, altitude and permit logistics without rushing. Plan on roughly EUR 28,000 to EUR 42,000 TTC per person, including long-haul flights, depending on season and villa category. The easiest travel window is November through March, when sea conditions and Himalayan visibility are usually more stable. One operational detail matters more than any brochure line. Ask Amankora to place the Tiger’s Nest hike on a weekday outside religious festival dates. The trail is noticeably quieter. If needed, horses for the first half of the climb should be reserved the previous evening through the Paro lodge, not on the morning itself.
What is the best 16-day itinerary for Tokyo, Phuket, Magelang, Bali, Paro?
16-day luxury Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bhutan itinerary for discreet travellers. Tokyo: Otemachi and the Imperial Palace, Ginza, Meiji-jingu. Phuket: Pansea Beach, Amanpuri cape and Thai pavilions, Aman junk cruise. Magelang and Bali: Borobudur, Merapi, Kedu Valley, Tirta Gangga, three-tier infinity pool, private Amankila beach. Paro: Tiger’s Nest, Paro Valley, Punakha Dzong. Stay at Aman Tokyo. Best in autumn. Updated May 2026.
The itinerary, step by step
Each step combines an exceptional hotel, a tested timing and our on-site recommendations.
- Day 1
Days 1-3: Tokyo — vertical Aman calm above Otemachi
- Tokyo — Japon
- Stay duration: 3 days
In Otemachi, Tokyo reads best from above, in a mineral quiet a short walk from the Imperial Palace. Start early. At 7:30, the loop around the Outer Gardens is still ahead of the office flow. Then return to Ginza for opening hour at the maisons and a lunch booked on the first seating, when service is smoother. Keep Meiji-jingu for late afternoon, when the light drops and the shrine settles into a slower rhythm. The real luxury here is timing. Aman Tokyo occupies the top six floors of the Otemachi Tower, with a 30-metre lobby in washi and stone, designed as a pause above the city. The Aman Tokyo Spa deserves a fixed slot. Book the baths for 7:00, when resident traffic is low. On a clear day, Mount Fuji can be seen from the windows. Also ask for a treatment before 10:00; the cabins are quieter and the handover to the pool works well. Hotel note: Aman Tokyo, to be confirmed with the concierge, car transfer to Meiji-jingu, then direct return to Ginza to avoid two separate rides. For dinner, aim for Sushi Saito at Ark Hills, three Michelin stars, with a very tight booking window and written confirmation well in advance. Concierge secret: request an east-facing high-floor room and lock the spa at opening; that is the cleanest slot in the house.
Things to see / do
- Otemachi et Palais Impérial
- Quartier de Ginza
- Sanctuaire Meiji-jingu
- Spa Aman Tokyo (33e étage)
- Day 2
Days 4-6: Phuket — Amanpuri, the brand's birthplace
- Phuket — Thaïlande
- Stay duration: 3 days
In Phuket, Pansea is best approached through the coconut grove, with the sea below and the Thai pavilions set on the cape. Amanpuri is the first Aman, opened in 1988, and the layout still reflects that. Ask for a villa with a pool on the sunset side. It is better in the late afternoon and more protected from beach traffic. In the morning, go down to Pansea before 9:00, when the sand is almost empty. Then keep the Amanpuri cape and the pavilions for a short walk before the heat builds. The afternoon suits the holistic spa, especially in the first slots after lunch, which are often easier to secure than late day. The Aman junk outing should be reserved before arrival. If you are heading for the Similan Islands, leave in the morning for calmer water and cleaner light at anchor. The concierge can also arrange a very early boarding to avoid group departures from other marinas. Hotel note: Amanpuri, ask clearly for buggy priority for villa-beach-spa transfers during hot hours, especially if your villa sits higher up. For dinner, book Arva in the resort, the simplest way to keep the pace of the place; ask for a late table with an open view. Concierge secret: have the sunset-side villa and the exact junk departure time confirmed in writing; here, orientation and the first slot really change the stay.
Things to see / do
- Plage privée Pansea
- Cap Amanpuri et pavillons thaï
- Sortie en jonque Aman
- Spa holistique Amanpuri
- Day 3
Days 7-9: Java — Amanjiwo facing Borobudur at dawn
- Magelang — Java, Indonésie
- Stay duration: 3 days
In Magelang, the Kedu Valley sets a slow pace, between volcanic stone, rice fields, and temple silhouettes. Amanjiwo faces Borobudur directly, and everything is organised around that line. Book the sanctuary at sunrise as soon as the stay is confirmed. The useful detail is simple: the private access leaves the hotel at 4:30. The concierge opens a side gate reserved for residents before the tourist coaches arrive. You reach the top of the stupa in silence, with rare time on the upper terraces of the UNESCO-listed temple. Keep Mendut for late morning. It is shorter and works well after Borobudur, then continue by car through the Kedu Valley in the afternoon. The next day, leave early for Merapi if conditions are good. The views are clearer before the heat rises. Back at the hotel, take time at the central stone dome, directly inspired by the stupa, then dinner on the terrace if the sky stays open. Hotel note: Amanjiwo, ask the concierge for a private car with an English-speaking guide to link Borobudur, Mendut, and Merapi viewpoints without returning to the hotel in between. For dinner, stay at Amanjiwo; it is the most logical table here, especially after a 4:00 wake-up. Concierge secret: confirm the Borobudur departure the night before and ask for coffee before leaving; at 4:30, every minute matters.
Things to see / do
- Temple de Borobudur (UNESCO)
- Volcan Merapi
- Vallée du Kedu
- Temple Mendut
- Day 4
Days 10-12: Bali — Amankila and the quiet east coast
- Manggis — Bali, Indonésie
- Stay duration: 3 days
On Bali’s east coast, Manggis stays quieter, with the Bali Sea ahead and the Lombok Strait on the horizon. Amankila sits above the coast on the hill. Book a well-placed suite if you plan to alternate between beach and pool, because the steps matter. The three-tier infinity pool is best early, before 9:00, when the light is soft and the loungers are still free. After that, head down to the private beach below for late morning. The best timing for Tirta Gangga is a dawn departure. You avoid groups and heat, and still have time to return for lunch at the resort. In the afternoon, Tenganan works well with a local guide arranged by the concierge, especially if you want to understand Balinese organisation without adding extra stops. Keep the end of the day for the terrace and the sea. Hotel note: Amankila, ask specifically for a private car to Tirta Gangga at first light, then continue to Tenganan before returning directly to the hotel, with no detour through the south of the island. For dinner, book the Amankila restaurant in the second service, which is quieter, with a terrace-edge table if available. Concierge secret: have Tirta Gangga opened as early as possible, with departure before 7:00; on this leg, the schedule matters more than the programme itself.
Things to see / do
- Piscine à débordement trois niveaux
- Plage privée Amankila
- Palais d'eau de Tirta Gangga
- Village de Tenganan
- Day 5
Days 13-16: Bhutan — Amankora and the Tiger's Nest climb
- Paro / Thimphu — Bhoutan
- Stay duration: 4 days
In Paro and the neighbouring valleys, Bhutan is best done in short stages, between lodges, dzongs, and high-altitude paths. Amankora links five lodges, including Paro and Thimphu, with very smooth logistics if everything is set before arrival. Start in Paro, then keep Thimphu or a side trip to Punakha depending on your energy. Tiger’s Nest, or Taktshang, should be saved for a 7:00 departure to avoid heat and crowds. Ask Amankora to place it on a weekday outside a religious festival; the trail is noticeably quieter. If you want a horse for the first part of the climb, book it the day before at the Paro lodge. That detail helps, especially after an early arrival flight. The Bhutan daily package is included in the rate, which simplifies the visits. In Thimphu, leave time for cultural appointments with a guide. In Punakha, the dzong needs a well-built half day. If you push on to Gangtey, allow for a longer transfer, but one that still makes sense over four days. Hotel note: Amankora, ask for a dedicated vehicle with the same guide throughout the route to avoid breaks in rhythm between valleys. For dinner, stay at the lodge, especially the night before Tiger’s Nest; the timing adjusts better to your departure. Concierge secret: request a very early packed breakfast and confirm the horses before 18:00 the day before; after that, availability tightens quickly.
Things to see / do
- Monastère de Taktshang (Tiger's Nest)
- Vallée de Paro
- Dzong de Punakha
- Vallée de Gangtey
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need for a grand Aman journey across Asia?
To link Aman Tokyo, Amanpuri, Amanjiwo, Amankila and Amankora without rushing, allow 16 days. That gives you 2 to 3 nights per property, plus regional flights. Below 14 days, Bhutan starts to feel compressed, because an Amankora journey needs at least 4 effective nights. The right pace is 3 nights in Tokyo, 3 in Phuket, 3 in Magelang, 3 in Bali, and 4 in Paro or across a wider Amankora circuit.
Which Aman is best for a first introduction to the brand?
If you want to understand Aman through one address, Aman Tokyo is the clearest entry point. Service is highly polished, the spa sets the tone, and city logistics are easy for a first stay. For a beach-led version, Amanpuri remains the historic benchmark, having opened in 1988. For a more cultural read, Amanjiwo is also strong, with UNESCO-listed Borobudur nearby and private early access before the public opening hours.
Can you watch sunrise at Borobudur from Amanjiwo?
Yes, but the real advantage is not just sunrise itself. From Amanjiwo, private access can start around 4:30 am. The concierge arranges a side entrance reserved for resident guests, so you reach the upper levels before tour buses arrive. The quiet matters more than the light. Access rules at Borobudur do change, so confirm the exact departure time, daily quota, and permission to climb the upper terraces the day before.
How does an Amankora journey in Bhutan actually work?
Amankora works as a lodge-to-lodge circuit with private road transfers and a dedicated guide. The smoothest pattern over 4 to 6 nights is Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, then back to Paro. Driving times are usually 1.5 to 4 hours depending on the valley. The tourism permit and daily levy are generally built into the trip structure. For Tiger’s Nest, ask for a weekday outside religious festivals, and reserve horses for the first half the previous day in Paro.
When is the best time to do this Aman circuit across Asia?
The best balance is mid-October to early December, then February to April. Tokyo is crisp and dry, Phuket avoids the core monsoon period, Java and Bali remain workable, and Bhutan usually has steadier mountain views. Late March to May brings rhododendron season in Bhutan, but also stronger demand. In general, avoid September in Phuket and Japan’s humid summer if you want a smoother pace across all five stops. Updated May 2026.
What budget should you plan for a 16-day grand Aman journey?
For 16 days across these five properties, plan roughly EUR 22,000 to EUR 38,000 including taxes for two people, excluding long-haul flights from France to Asia. That usually covers rooms, breakfasts, several transfers, and the Bhutan component with permit and tourism levy depending on how the trip is structured. With suites, daily treatments, private guides, and regional business-class flights, the total often exceeds EUR 45,000 including taxes for two. Bhutan and Tokyo move the budget fastest.
How should you arrange flights between Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Bhutan?
The simplest flow is Tokyo, Phuket, Java, Bali, then Bhutan. Tokyo to Phuket usually routes via Bangkok or Singapore. Phuket to Yogyakarta generally needs one connection, often through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta or Singapore. Bali to Paro has no neat direct logic. The cleanest routing often goes back through Bangkok, with a buffer night before the Drukair or Bhutan Airlines flight to Paro. Always keep margin before Bhutan, as schedules are more exposed to local operating conditions.
Do French travellers need a visa for Bhutan?
Yes. French travellers need prior travel authorisation for Bhutan, and in practice it is handled by the agency or local partner arranging the trip. You do not travel on a flight ticket alone. Your passport should also be valid for at least six months beyond entry. The daily tourism levy and related formalities can change, so it is best to finalise the file several weeks before departure, especially if you are flying into Paro during high-demand periods. Updated May 2026.
Is this Aman circuit suitable for a family trip?
Yes, but it suits teenagers better than very young children if you keep all five stops within 16 days. There are many flights, and Bhutan requires a more structured rhythm. The easiest family pairing is Amanpuri and Amankila, with beaches, pools and shorter transfer times. Aman Tokyo also works well for 2 or 3 nights. Amanjiwo is strong for children interested in UNESCO sites and volcanoes. For Tiger’s Nest, assess walking stamina and altitude honestly.
Can you shorten this grand Aman journey to just three stops?
Yes, and it is often the more coherent option. Over 9 to 11 nights, keep three distinct registers. The most balanced trio is Aman Tokyo, Amanjiwo and Amankora, giving you city, UNESCO-led culture and the Himalayas. For an easier flight pattern, choose Amanpuri, Amanjiwo and Amankila instead. Plan 3 nights, 3 nights and 4 nights, or 3, 3 and 3 if you accept a tighter pace. I would only keep Bhutan if you can give it at least 4 nights.