Welcome to the Pacific Ring of Fire – on a route that takes you to some of the most remote corners of this world. Like never before, the small HANSEATIC spirit brings together Asian and North American contrasts with great pioneering spirit. Start by exploring Japan’s unfamiliar side together with your experts in the island world of Hokkaido. A new land of smiles with blank pages still unfilled by tourism – your voyage of discovery will craft new pictures of Asia each day like delicate origami. Right at the beginning, you’ll explore the diverse nature of the small volcanic island of Rishiri on hikes with your experts. Feel like something new and different? At a sea urchin station, you can harvest them independently, and then open and enjoy this marine delicacy. You can also discover the rugged rocky island of Okushiri on an individual shore visit together with the experts. The waters off Okushiri are famous for abalones – perhaps you will also try this local seafood?

Natural landscapes, famous traditional festivals and historical sites – Aomori is located at the northern tip of Honshu and is connected to the island of Hokkaido by the Seikan Tunnel. The fantastic lantern parade, the so-called “Neputa Matsuri”, in which huge, illuminated papier mache figures are paraded through the streets after dark, attracts almost three million spectators every year in August. Explore the city on a sightseeing tour* with its hidden treasures – the Seiryuji Temple with a giant seated Buddha statue, the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site and the museum with the floats of the Aomori Neputa Festival. Or discover the deep, crystal-clear Lake Towada in Towada-Hachimantai National Park on a scenic tour*; along the Oirase River, you will then reach Mount Hakkoda. In good weather conditions, you can take the cable car up to approx. 1,200 m (3,937 ft) and enjoy the view.

From Hakodate, your attention turns to the volcano, birds and vegetation of Onuma Quasi-National Park*. Alternatively, inspect fresh fish and crab on a market visit before continuing your city tour* with a visit to Goryokaku Fort, the first Western-style fortress in Japan.

From Kushiro, the trails lead to the Akan Mashu National Park*, known for high volcanoes, clear lakes, great forests and Mount Iou – where you will experience bubbling sulphur fumaroles. You can explore the Kushiro-shitsugen wetland* by canoe* or on an easy hike* along wooden plank paths.

After relaxing days at sea pampering you with plenty of service and comfort on board, you will sense the joy and excitement in the air. Slowly, the contours of a coastline approaches on the horizon as the HANSEATIC spirit reaches the Aleutian Islands, an extremely remote island arc in the Pacific. It is lonely, vast and unspoilt on the southern edge of the Bering Sea, and nature is still very pristine in these realms. Go ashore with your experts to trace the history of Adak Island, a former military base that is now practically a ghost town. Things get somewhat livelier as you cruise off Chagulak Island in the company of thousands of petrels. There is a good chance of spotting sea otters, orcas and humpback whales on your flexible route through the tangled maze of the islands. Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island tells the history of Russian America, as Alaska was called until the middle of the 19th century. A hike on Popof Island takes you to the home of bison.

Alaska will satisfy your longing for great adventures in the vast wilderness. On this unforgettable cruise, dreams of discovery come true in an impressive form. When you arrive on the Alaska Peninsula, you will first meet the locals and gain insights into the life of the residents in the small fishing town of Chignik. Will you spot Steller sea lions and horned lions while cruising off the bird-inhabited Kak Island?

With luck, there may even be bear sightings from deck as the HANSEATIC spirit cruises through Katmai National Park and sets course for secluded bays.

In Homer, the starting point for exciting tours, you will be able to observe bears in spectacular natural surroundings*: A seaplane will take you on a panoramic flight to Katmai National Park, where you may be lucky enough to observe brown bears fishing for salmon in a protected area at Brooks Falls. Or you fly to Lake Clark National Park - during a hike with a ranger you can also experience brown bears in their natural environment. Actively enjoy the beautiful landscape on a coastal hike* or a kayak trip*.

Alaska satisfies your longing for great adventures in vast wilderness. The stuff that explorers' dreams are made of will show itself to you in impressive form on this unforgettable journey. On Kodiak Island, individual explorations or shore excursions with our experts become your personal prologue: get glimpses of the time when Kodiak City was the second largest settlement in Russian America. Or hike through Fort Abercrombie State Park in the footsteps of 19th century trappers.

The best views are also presented to you when cruising at the Aialik Glacier - a true play of contrasts in blue and white.