Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn

The three independent states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are close neighbours on the Baltic Coast and their history is inextricably linked, yet each nation has a remarkably distinct language, architecture and culture.

8 nights price from £3868 per person

Syracuse, Agrigento, Palermo

The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily’s strategic importance has given it a violent, eventful and colourful history. Doric temples, Roman mosaics, elegant and powerful Norman architecture and a wealth of Baroque and Renaissance palaces and churches are a reminder of its great past.

9 nights price from £3986 per person

Rome

Italy not only has many of the greatest 16th and 17th century gardens in Europe, it also has some which have been extensively restored and indeed created in the 20th century. We visit two of these at Ninfa and La Landriana.

5 nights price from £2645 per person

Umbria

Perugia, the capital of Umbria and one of the finest cities in Italy is the centre from which we explore this fascinating region. Umbria is filled with historic art towns, perched on their hilltops with wonderful views of the rolling Umbrian countryside planted with olive groves and vineyards. 

7 nights price from £2798 per person

Malta, Gozo

Malta and Gozo are small islands but there is a great deal of fascinating history on each, which will satisfy even the most demanding of travellers. They have beautiful coastlines, attractive fishing ports, pretty villages often dwarfed by immense churches and much fine Baroque architecture.

5 nights price from £3274 per person

Venice, Ferrara, Mantua

Join Italian chef Valentina Harris for a boutique barge cruise which will take you from the Venetian Lagoon via the River Po and Canal Bianco to the lakeside Renaissance city of Mantua.

6 nights price from £5926 per person

Carcassonne

This tour is based at the pinnacle of the mediaeval citadel of Carcassonne where we stay at the luxurious Hotel de la Cité, built into the ramparts with panoramic views of the countryside. It is from here that we will explore the many distinctive regions of this beautiful part of southwest France.

6 nights price from £2998 per person

Lake Como

After a morning walking tour of Como, we travel by hydrofoil to Bellagio, known as the ‘Pearl of the Lake’. At the Villa Melzi exotic species thrive in the warm climate – the garden is renowned in springtime for its riotous display of azaleas.

6 nights price from £3989 per person

Seville, Granada

Our tour takes in three of Andalucia’s great Moorish cities – Seville, Córdoba and Granada, each one with its own very distinctive characteristics and atmosphere. The grandeur of Seville is represented by its awe-inspiring cathedral and great Alcázar.

7 nights price from £3547 per person

Venice

The first of our two weeks in Venice with Charlie Hall provides a fascinating in-depth introduction to the art, architecture and history of La Serenissima in the company of world-class experts, as well as a day in Ravenna, last capital of the Western Roman Empire.

5 nights price from £3126 per person