JAPAN
Trip information
Next tour – 26th March - 8th April, 2026
Join us for a fully planned and curated itinerary, making the most of the Sakura cherry blossom festival, visiting inspirational Japanese gardens, art and architecture in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Ise Peninsula, Nara, with optional add-on for hiking the Nakasendo Way.
Indicative single room price $7200pp
Indicative shared room price $6500pp
Prices include guided garden tours, intercity flights and rail transport, garden and gallery entries and 3-4 star hotel accommodation.
Not included: NZ flights, incidental local transport and meals. Hiking and cycling side trips available on request.
Information evening:
4pm Sunday 24th August 2025
34 Lloyd Ave, Mt Albert
Please send your expression of interest to pcliffin@gmail.com
Based on our many trips to the beauty, uniqueness and intricacies of Japan, we offer personal, friendly and well researched guidance. Our small groups (8-14 pax) provide an ideal context for fun and interaction in the gardens and over a drink or dinner. To find out more about your Hikoi guides go to ABOUT US.
HIKOI will immerse you in the modern metropolis of Tokyo to appreciate the energetic new architecture of Japan. We spend almost a week in the fascinating gardens, Zen temples and Shinto shrines of the old cultural capital of Kyoto.
The integrated architecture and landscape projects of Tadao Ando feature prominently in the places we visit. Art festivals offer opportunities to see more rural areas or offshore islands of Japan and at the same time enjoy contemporary international art. Experiencing medieval villages hiking on the Nakasendo Way can be an extra option.
Seasonal difference is highly valued in Japan , so we alternate our tours to appreciate either spring sakura blossom or early autumn maple colours.
SPAIN / PORTUGAL / MOROCCO
May 9 - 31, 2020
20 days
From NZ$10,800
Early bird price: twin share (valid till 20th December)
Moorish courtyards of Spain, Portugal and Morocco express the finest distillation of Islamic gardens. Experiencing the harsh desert environment near Marrakech makes sense of the oasis-like character of the gardens of this region. Observing remnants of qanat, early water management infrastructure, make us aware of how these gardens were sustained.
Itinerary Highlights:
The Alhambra in Granada, Jardin Secret and Jardin Majorelle (Yves St Laurent) in Marrakech, Maria Luisa Park (Seville), Cordoba Great Mosque and its Patio of Oranges, Alcazar Palace in Cordoba, Palace of the Moorish King and Water Mine (by Jean Claude Forestier) in Ronda, Gaudi’s Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra and the blue tiles of Portugal.
Click for itinerary and more info
Day 1 Arrive in Barcelona
Orientation walk around the Rambla, Port, Montjuic, Botanic Gardens, Joan Miro museum.
Day 2 Gaudi
An introduction to the wonderful world of Gaudi’s architecture, including the magnificent Sagrada Familia cathedral, Casa Mila/Pedrera and Batllo apartment buildings. Afternoon wander in Parc Guell.
Day 3 Barcelona
A biking excursion along the waterfront to Diagonal Mar, a newer part of town and Miralles’s Parc Diagonal. Visit Picasso Museum on return trip.
Day 4 Travel to Grenada
Check out and fly to Grenada. Night visit to the Nazarid Palaces of the Alhambra.
Day 5 Alhambra
Full day visit to Alhambra and Generalife. Visit Granada’s cathedral, a terrace bar for late afternoon views across city and see a flamenco show after dinner.
Day 6 Travel to Seville
Check out and travel to Seville by train. Settle in and then take a walk along the Guadalquivir river for drinks and a tapas dinner.
Day 7 Seville
Visit Seville Cathedral, the exhibition pavilions from the Ibero-American Trade Exposition of 1929 in Maria Louisa Park, Real Alcazar Royal Palace and Gardens.
Day 8 Cordoba
A day trip to Cordoba by train to visit the famous Mesquita, Alcazar, Botanic Garden and Palacio Viana.
Day 9 Travel to Ronda and Algeciras
Travel by coach from Seville to Ronda for lunch and then on to Algeciras. View the Rock of Gilbralter over dinner.
[Any travelers ending the tour here will train to Malaga for connecting flights].
Day 10 Travel to Fez
Ferry from Algeciras (Gibraltar) to Tangier, then train to Fez.
Day 11 Fez
Explore the old town Medina markets, leather works etc. Walk up to Marinid tomb ruins for sunset after dinner.
Day 12 Fez
Visit Palace gardens & Parc Jnane Sbil, Dar Batha museum & garden. Optional visit to a Hammam spa.
Day 13 Travel to Marrakech
Travel to Marrakech via Casablanca by train. Evening walk in the Medina
Day 14 Marrakech
Koutoubia mosque garden (Parc Princess Lalla Hasna), Palace gardens - Badi & Bahia Palaces, Dar Si Said Art Museum, Tombeaux Saadiens – Sultan’s mausoleum and cemetery / gardens, Maison de la Photographie. Jardin Majorelle (Yves St Laurent), Le Jardin Secret, Cyber Park.
Day 15 Marrakech
Day trip to Aït Ben Haddou, a village of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers. Ait-Ben-Haddou, in Ouarzazate province, is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco.
Hotel Mamounia for drinks.
[Any travellers ending the tour here will fly out from Marrakech airport].
Day 16 Travel to Lisbon
Fly from Marrakech to Lisbon. Orientation walk around city.
Day 17 Lisbon
Explore the city including urban park corridor Marquis de Pombal statue, Botanic Gardens, views from the Castle of Saint George, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
Day 18 Sintra
Sintra day trip.
Sintra was a retreat for royals and their friends to holiday at their mansions amongst the forested terrain. Today it is a delightful tourist mecca, with the palaces open to the public eg. Pena, Sintra and Monserrate Palaces, Quinta da Regaleira and the Castle of the Moors archeological site.
Day 19 Lisbon
Quinta dos Azulejos and Frontiera Palace.
Day 20 Completion of tour
Fly home or on to other travel.
Trip Information
Early bird price: NZ$10,800 twin share (valid till 20th December)
• Costs include return flights from Auckland, regional flights, rail and ferry travel, 3 - 4 star accommodation and garden entries. Meals and local transport not included.
• Land only package is NZ$8800 (BP4500), meeting in Barcelona. Single supplement available
• Costs include return flights from Auckland, regional flights, rail and ferry travel, 3 - 4 star accommodation and garden entries. Meals and local transport not included.
• Land only package is NZ$8800 (BP4500), meeting in Barcelona. Single supplement available.
Get in touch with us
If you are interested in finding out more or have any questions please get in touch with us here.
Or come along to our Info meeting on Sunday 13th October 4.00pm at 34 Lloyd Ave, Mt Albert, Auckland
FRANCE
Trip information
FRANCE
Dates - TBA
Indicative Cost - $NZ7850 twinshare or $8590 single supplement
• Costs include guides, return flights from Auckland, 3 star accommodation, breakfasts, rail travel and garden entries. Other meals and local transport not included.
• Land only packages available on request.
Visit the great Baroque gardens of France to experience the prodigous work of Andre Le Notre, including Vaux-le-Vicomte, Sceaux and Versailles.
Enjoy the Loire Valley by rail and cycle, visiting the famous chateaux and Chaumont-sur-Loire garden and art festival.
See also the trip to England. Combining trips to both the UK and France will offer the contrast between the Classical World and the Enlightenment.
UNITED KINGDOM
Come and roam the English Counties to discover the great English Landscape School and Arts & Crafts gardens.
Itinerary highlights: Blenheim Palace, Chelsea Flower Show, the Eden Project, Hidcote, Sissinghurst, Lost Gardens of Helligan, Great Dixter, Stourhead and Rousham.
ITALY
Trip information
Dates: TBA
Indicative Cost: NZ$9,810 twin share, NZ$11,310 single supplement.
• These include return flights from Auckland, 3 star accommodation, Eurail pass and garden entry. Meals and local transport not included.
• Land only packages available
• Information meeting: TBA
HIKOI’s Italy tours include: the ruins of Classical Rome, original Renaissance gardens of the Florentine Medici, the great Mannerist gardens of Villa d’Este and Villa Lante, the unique piazzas of Sienna’s Campo and Venice’s San Marco, and the transport system of watery Venice.
And of course there are opportunities to take in the astounding art of the Vatican and the architecture of Rome’s Renaissance and Baroque periods, and urban design of Medieval San Gimignano and other hilltop towns. The architecture of Carlo Scarpa is a favourite for our Italy trips.
The Italian trip will be split between guided and self-guided days to explore in the cities, given that there is so much to see, you may have seen parts of Italy already. We will provide a list of significant sites, background information and maps for the purpose of self-discovery.
Please get in touch with us.