A supremely scenic week, with Meta di Sorrento as your base, includes the evocative remains of Pompeii, a drive along ‘the divine coast’ to Amalfi, Positano and Ravello, and Capri by boat

A few days in Rome at the Casa per Ferie of the Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph of the Apparition overlooking the Vatican or at a hotel close to the Vatican

Explore the largest of the Greek islands on this tour of Crete, and suspend disbelief to enjoy the myths and legends of the ancient sites, as you visit Roman ruins and Ottoman streets, Byzantine churches and Venetian ports, mountain villages and Minoan Palaces

Spectacular seascapes, beautiful beaches, iconic cube houses in white and sky blue, and that rare blend of island simplicity and a cosmopolitan air, these are the hallmarks of the Cycladic archipelago. Sail on the small ship MS Galileo to visit ten of the fabled isles

Experience Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities, from metropolitan Tashkent to Old Khiva’s towers and cupolas, across the Kyzylkum Desert to beautiful Bukhara, and into exotic Samarkand

Follow in the footsteps of Flaubert and Tennyson, Julius Caesar and Queen Victoria, to enjoy the timeless elegance of Lake Como, where flower-filled gardens and pastel-painted villages punctuate the shore, set against the stunning backdrop of the Southern Alps

Exploring Egypt’s ancient past, the ‘full Nile cruise’ crosses four thousand years of regal and rural life, revealing the tales and tombs of pharaohs, and the temples of the Gods

From cosmopolitan Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope, from the splendid Swartberg mountains to the gorgeous Garden Route, and from winsome towns to white sands and winelands, this is a leisurely tour of South Africa’s culture, colour, and nature

Venture into the rural heart of Crete on this 7-night tour and explore picturesque mountain villages, delve into Cretan culture and sail to the fascinating island of Spinalonga on a journey to remember

Experience a Central Asian Odyssey on this epic 26 day journey exploring the ancient lands and medieval cities of the fabled Silk Route

Staying in hand-picked Pousadas (inns), formerly a monastery, manor house and convent, this tour reveals the sights and psyche of Portugal, from regal splendour to religious heritage, from port-wine cellar to Fado show, from Porto to Coimbra and the capital, Lisbon

A wealth of history, ancient archaeology and pretty villages, Tunisia’s little landmass has seven UNESCO sites, from the ruins of Roman Africa to medieval medinas and the domes of Kairouan