In the 'Land of the Rising Sun', natural splendour is embellished with man-made treasure. From Shinto shrines to Buddhist temples, from moated castles to Zen-calm gardens, from Tokyo to Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Matsue, this is a tour through time and traditions

Sail on a small ship, full circle around the Peloponnese, from inimitable Athens to ancient Epidaurus, old-world Nafplion, the Mycenaean palaces of Nestor and Agamemnon, medieval Monemvasia and Mani, Olympian relics of Gods and games, and the Delphic Oracle

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

Aboard the royal steamer SS Misr, this fabulous cruise takes you to Egypt’s most famous and almost forgotten sites, from Cairo’s Sphinx to the ‘living museum’ of Luxor, and Aswan’s High Dam

Combining wonderfully wild Zambia with Malawi, ‘the warm heart of Africa’, lining its namesake lake, this special safari is arranged with the prestigious Robin Pope Safaris company, known for its small, luxurious, remote camps, in pristine wilderness areas

Travel on the Karakoram Highway to the old kingdom of Hunza, where Three Empires meet, and which Eric Shipton regarded “the epitome of mountain grandeur“

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

A brilliant short break in magical Marrakech, this tour is based within the old medina, staying at the traditional Angsana Riad, where historic character is combined with contemporary comfort, and landmark sites, from souks to palaces, are all within easy reach

Experience the essence of Andalucía, from its Roman, Moorish, and medieval monuments to its food, flamenco and penchant for fiestas; as you tour from southern shores to Sierra Nevada scenery, visiting vibrant Seville, Cordoba’s historic core, and grandiose Granada

Spectacular sights, sumptuous scenery and four very varied cities are the hallmarks of this splendid journey, visiting China’s highlights from Beijing to Shanghai, from the Great Wall to the Terracotta Warriors, and including a cruise through Yangtze River gorges

A veritable feast of Greek and Roman monuments vie for attention amid the Norman, Phoenician and Saracen landmarks of Sicily’s cultural heritage. The island’s astonishing wealth of well-preserved sites bring the ancient past to life and make this our top tour in Italy

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