escorted journeys | 2015-2016

E S C O RT E D J O U R N E Y S

2 0 1 5 – 2 0 1 6

2 www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk

H E R E AT T H E U LT I M AT E T R AV E L C O M PA N Y, W E B E L I E V E T H AT A N E S C O RT E D TO U R C A N B E O N E O F T H E M O S T I N S P I R I N G A N D C O M F O RTA B L E WAY S TO T R AV E L .

W E A L SO BEL IE V E THAT W E OFFER THE MOS T E XCEP T ION A L

OF TOURS, A ND TA K E PR IDE IN THE IR THOUGHTFUL PL A NNING,

AT TENT ION TO E V ERY DE TA IL , A ND UNPA R A LLELED VA R IE T Y

IN BOTH DE S T IN AT ION A ND FOCUS.

For those who have never contemplated travelling under the umbrella of an escorted tour or perhaps dismissed the notion, the following words from a convert might give you food for thought: “Why we didn’t join one of your tours years ago I will never know! It was planned to perfection with fascinating visits and all those

little touches and surprise additions that made all the difference. What a joy to be cosseted and gently educated from start to finish by our charming escort, yet still be able to assert our independence! Not at all the military-style exercise we had feared.”

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• More choice In addition to the diverse variety of destinations and focus that our regular portfolio of tours offer, our partnership with a number of leading institutions, such as Country Life, enable us to provide an even broader choice of tours.

• Inspiring itineraries Carefully planned, with the assistance of our tour leaders and or guest lecturers, to ensure that travellers derive maximum enjoyment from their chosen destination.

• Expertise The decades of knowledge, experience and attention to detail of our Escorted Journeys ‘team’.

• Value for money Whilst our tours might appear a little costly on paper, in reality, because they include so much more than other comparable tours, they offer excellent value for money.

• Carefully chosen accommodation Selected on the basis of comfort, character and location, not necessarily star-rating.

• Tour Leaders & Guest Lecturers Employed predominantly to ensure the smooth running of your journey and, on occasion, to add expertise to more specialised departures, we truly believe that ours are some of the most dedicated available.

• Financial protection Through our ATOL licence and our membership of ABTA.

We hope that these pages, which feature tours for 2015 and early 2016, will inspire you to investigate further.

SO, W HE THER YOU MIGHT BE RECONSIDER ING THE IDE A OF JO IN ING

A N E SCOR TED TOUR , OR INDEED BE A N OLD HA ND, W H Y SHOULD

YOU CHOOSE ONE OF OURS? WELL , JUST A FEW REASONS MIGHT BE .. .

N I C K VA N G RU ISE N M A N AG I N G D I R EC TO R

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TO U R C A L E N DA R

A PR I L 2015

Morocco: Palaces, Medinas & Gardens

Art of the Italian Hill Towns

The Treasures of Krakow

J U N E 2015

Brazil: Wildlife of the Pantanal & the Iguazu Falls

SE P T E M BE R 2015

Ultimate Invitation to Zimbabwe

Roman Gardens: Renaissance to Modern

Discovering Croatia & Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Legacy of Puglia

Gallipoli Anniversary Tour

Exploring Armenia

O C TO BE R 2015

Amsterdam & the Rijksmuseum

Hidden Istanbul

The Brazilian Amazon & Pantanal Wetlands

Art & History of Vienna

Assam & the Mighty Brahmaputra

N OV E M BE R 2015

Adventure in Nepal

M AY 2015

The Splendours of Dresden

Malta: Crossroads of the Mediterranean

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Friuli-Venezia Giulia: From Udine to Trieste

The Gardens of Belgium

Turin: the Exceptional Exposition of the Holy Shroud

Rural Russia

The Natural Wonders of Northern Iceland

JA N UA RY 2016

The Natural Wonders of Costa Rica

Opera in Prague

Antarctica: Celebrating Shackleton

FE BRUA RY 2016

St Petersburg: Treasures of the Russian Tsars

The Jewels of Sri Lanka

A Journey through Rajasthan

The Colours and Flavours of Vietnam

Rediscovering the Raj

Colonial Brazil

M A RC H 2016

The Sultanate of Oman

The Hidden Treasures of Venice

A PR I L 2016

The Deep South

Art in Paris

SE P T E M B E R 2016

Ultimate Invitation to Burma: The Road to Mandalay

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MOROCCO: PA L ACE S, MEDIN A S & GA RDENS11–18 A PR I L 2015

Join Antonia Lloyd Owen on a journey through central and northern Morocco from Rabat via Fez to Tangier in search of the historic architectural and artistic riches of its ancient cities.

• Explore the well-preserved Roman ruins of Volubilis and the mysterious ‘medieval’ Medina of Fez

• Visit the royal palaces, mausoleums and mosques of Rabat and Meknes

• Discover the Spanish-Moorish influences of Tangier and visit the finest private gardens

TO U R PR I C E : £3 ,395 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £535

TO U R PR I C E : £2 ,84 0 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £395

TO U R PR I C E : £2 ,495 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £4 65

A R T OF THE I TA L IA N H ILL TOW NS16 – 23 A PR I L 2015

Nicola Howard and renowned art historian Peter Lauritzen explore Renaissance art and architecture against the backdrop of the timeless landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria.

• Enjoy excursions to the hill towns of San Gimignano, Montepulciano and Pienza from your base in the beautiful medieval city of Siena

• Drive from Perugia to see frescoes by Giotto in Assisi and by Benozzo Gozzoli in Montefalco

• Visit the Renaissance palace of the Dukes of Montefeltro in Urbino and the great Gothic cathedral in Orvieto

THE TRE A SURE S OF K R A KOW15 –19 A PR I L 2015

Harriet Landseer and guest lecturer Christine Rostworowska explore the former capital of Poland, a treasure house of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture.

• Visit, with the Deputy Director, the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine

• Admire the Potocki Palace of Lancut with its richly decorated interiors and fine collection of 18th and 19th century furniture

• Study the work of painter Wyspianski at the Doctors’ House, the Szolayski House, and the Franciscan Church

5www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk

TO U R PR I C E : £1,74 5 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £112



THE SPLENDOURS OF DRE SDEN3 –7 M AY 2015

Harriet Landseer accompanies German art historian, Tom Abbott, to the beautiful Baroque and Rococo city of Dresden with its outstanding art collections amassed by Augustus the Strong.

• Explore the Old Masters and Porcelain Galleries of the Zwinger, the Historic and New Green Vaults and the Turkish Chamber

• Visit the famous Meissen Porcelain Manufactory and the Electoral Hunting Lodge of Moritzburg

• Enjoy a private lunch and wine tasting at the family owned Schloss Proschwitz and walk in the Baroque gardens of Großsedlitz

MA LTA : CROSSROA DS OF THE MEDITERR A NE A N5 –10 M AY 2015

Based in the Renaissance city of Valletta, built by the Knights of Malta, Antonia Lloyd Owen explores the island’s artistic and historic legacy and visits its private palaces and gardens.

• View Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist in the Baroque St John’s Co-Cathedral

• Take a day trip to Gozo and see spectacular Neolithic remains, and the ‘fat lady’ statue archaeological site

• Visit the War Museum in Fort St Elmo and see the George Cross awarded to the island after WWII

UZBEK IS TA N & TURK MENIS TA N6 – 21 M AY 2015

Travel writer and lecturer Chris Bradley journeys along the legendary Silk Road, exploring the turbulent history of the region and the exquisite architectural highlights.

• Visit the beautifully preserved walled city of Khiva and the nearby spectacular Ichan-Kala Fortress

• Discover the ancient Parthian city of Nisa in Ashgabat and the fortresses of Sultan Kala and Gyaur Kala in Mary

• Explore the madrasahs, mausoleums, mosques and minarets of the fabled cities of Bukhara and Samarkand


F R I U L I - V E N E Z I A G I U L I A :F R O M U D I N E T O T R I E S T E

7–12 MAY 2015

Join Marie-Thérèse Hill on a tour of the region’s splendid Roman remains, fine medieval towns, and magnificent houses and castles, set in a beautiful landscape against a backdrop of the Alps.

• Visit the extensive Roman site of Aquileia including the Cripta degli Scavi with its remarkable mosaics

• Lunch privately at the charming late 17th century Villa Deciani in Montegnacco

• Discover the magnificent duomos and castles in and around the historic cities of Udine, Gorizia and Trieste

TOUR PR ICE: £2 ,165 PER PERSON S INGLE SUPPLEMENT: £20 0

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THE GA RDENS OF BELG IUM11–15 M AY 2015

Garden designer Virginia von Celsing visits the stunning gardens of Belgium which rival those anywhere on the globe, some world-renowned and most opened especially for the group.

• Wander through the fine Arboreta of Wespelaar and Hemelrijk

• See the work of renowned landscape architect Jacques Wirtz at the gardens of ‘sGravenwezel, Berkvenhoef and Fondation Kreftenbroeck

• Visit the innovative gardens of Hof aan Buxusbeemden and Deux Jardins dans un Parc Romantique

TO U R PR I C E : £1, 595 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £350

RUR A L RUSS IA29 M AY – 5 J U N E 2015

Russia specialist Tania Illingworth takes a one-off tour to the picturesque region of Rus in north east Russia, untouched by World Wars and Soviet industrialisation.

• Travel by train to the ‘stars of the Russian North’ Vologda and Kargopol with their incredible wealth of historic buildings and churches

• Discover the Kremlin of Vologda and the fine Ferapontov Monastery with its 14th century Dionysius’ frescoes

• Visit Catherine the Great’s private ‘Chinese Palace’ and Peter the Great’s magnificent Palace of Peterhof in St. Petersburg


TUR IN : THE E XCEP T ION A L E XPOS IT ION OF THE HOLY SHROUD14 –17 M AY 2015

Join Gillian Craig and historian and lecturer Peter Lauritzen for an exceptional opportunity to view the Holy Shroud during a special temporary exhibition in the Cathedral of Turin.

• Explore the Baroque city of Turin including the Church of San Lorenzo, the Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace

• Lunch privately at Villa Il Torrione in Pinerolo and visit the great Baroque Hunting Lodge of Stupinigi

• Drive out of Turin to Superga in the hills above the city, visit the Shrine Church of Superga and continue to the great Royal country Palace of La Venaria Reale

TO U R PR I C E : £1, 530 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £28 0


ULT IMATE INV ITAT ION TO Z IMBABWE1–15 SE P T E M BE R 2015

Join Managing Director Nick Van Gruisen and Graham Boynton, former Group Travel Editor at Telegraph Media who grew up in Bulawayo, on an exclusive luxury safari to the Victoria Falls and beyond.

• Begin at Somalisa tented bush camp in the Hwange National Park hosted by the camp’s owner, top guide and entrepreneur, Beks Ndlovu

• Travel on to Amalinda Camp in the Matopo Hills, guided by Paul Hubbard, a brilliant young polymath who will elucidate the history from the Iron Age to the colonial era of Cecil John Rhodes and current politics

• End at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge run by Clive Stockil, one of Africa’s leading conservationists, in the pristine wilderness of the Gonarezhou National Park

THE N ATUR A L WONDERS OF NOR THERN ICEL A ND24 – 31 M AY 2015

Travel to the land of ‘Fire and Ice’ with ornithology and wildlife expert Andy Bunten to discover the spectacular scenery and birdlife of its northern-most reaches.

• Spot puffins and white tailed eaglets on a cruise of Breidarfjordur Bay with a backdrop of breath-taking mountains and glaciers

• Experience the thunderous splendour of Godafoss and Aldeyjarfoss waterfalls

• View breaching whales in Húsavík Bay and the many species of duck on the volcanic surrounds of Lake Mývatn

BR A ZIL : WILDL IFE OF THE PANTANAL & THE IGUA ZU FALL S 19 J U N E – 2 J U LY 2015

Experienced naturalist, wildlife tour leader and nature photographer, Mike Mockler, returns to Brazil for an in-depth look at the abundant wildlife of the Pantanal and its environs.

• Search for elusive mammals seen by previous groups, including Jaguar, Giant River Otter, Tapir, Marsh Deer, Giant Anteater, Howler Monkey and Coati

• Enjoy incredibly rich and colourful bird-life, with many photo-opportunities, and search for rarities such as Hyacinth Macaw and Harpy Eagle

• Join Mike on the optional extension to the spectacular Iguazú Falls, also rich in wildlife and regarded by many as the world’s most beautiful waterfall



TO U R PR I C E : FRO M £6 , 579 PE R PE R SO N

© Mike Mockler


Historian and garden enthusiast Sir Roy Strong and Nicola Howard take a delightful tour to explore in depth, often by special arrangement, the finest gardens in and around Rome.

• Visit the historic Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola and the fine ornate parterre gardens at Castello Ruspoli followed by a private lunch

• Explore exclusively the Vatican Gardens (subject to permission) and the famous gardens among the ruins of Ninfa in the company of their custodian

• Lunch privately in the gardens of La Landriana designed by Russell Page and dine at the Villa Habsburg with spectacular views of the dome of St Peter’s

RO M A N G A R D E N S : R E NA I S S A N C E TO M O D E R N3 –10 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 15

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TOUR PR ICE: £3,595 PER PERSON S INGLE SUPPLEMENT: £590


DISCOV ER ING CROAT IA & BOSNIA - HER ZEGOV IN A5 –12 SE P T E M BE R 2015

Join Major General Andrew Cumming as he unearths the fascinating history of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina from the early Slav and Ottoman eras to the wars of the 1990s and the situation today.

• Explore Split, Croatia’s second largest city, and travel to the ancient Bosnian capital of Jajce with its beautiful waterfalls and spectacular ancient citadel

• View the site of the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and enjoy a drinks reception with the British Ambassador in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo

• Visit Mostar Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, before continuing to Dubrovnik, Croatia’s beautiful medieval fortified city

THE LEGAC Y OF PUGL IA8 –13 SE P T E M BE R 2015

Travel to one of Italy’s most beautiful yet least-known and unspoiled regions on the ‘heel’ of Italy with Italian expert Susie Orso and art historian James McDonaugh.

• Discover the Greek, Byzantine and Norman architectural legacy and distinctive Puglian Romanesque style sea-shore churches

• Visit the Archaeological Museum in Taranto, Frederick II’s Castel del Monte and the famous trulli (conical stone houses) of Alberobello

• See the extravagant Baroque palaces, churches and Roman amphitheatre of Lecce, ‘Florence of the South’

TO U R PR I C E : £2 , 585 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £425

TO U R PR I C E : £2 ,0 8 0 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £24 0

GA LL IPOL I A NNI V ERSA RY TOUR7–11 SE P T E M BE R 2015

Military historian Lord Ramsbotham and Cicely Taylor explore the Gallipoli Peninsula in the centenary year of one of the bloodiest Allied military campaigns of World War I.

• View the three landing and evacuation sites of Suvla Bay, Anzac and Helles, including W Beach where the Lancashire Fusiliers, uniquely, were awarded six VCs

• See the main battlefield of Sari Bair, including some trenches and the site of the May 1915 truce, and both the French and the two main Turkish memorials

• Visit a number of Allied memorials, including those to the missing and buried at sea, and meet with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gardener

TO U R PR I C E : £1,88 0 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £195


E XPLOR ING A RMENIA18 – 26 SE P T E M BE R 2015

Armenian expert Peter Shahbenderian and art historian Clare Ford-Wille discover the rich cultural heritage of the first nation to adopt Christianity, set in majestic mountain scenery.

• Explore Yerevan including the magnificent Matenadaran, depository of ancient manuscripts, and the Armenian and Russian Art at the National Museum

• Visit the monasteries of Khor Virap, with its splendid views of Mount Ararat, the impressive walled Tatev and the UNESCO world heritage site of Haghpat

• See ancient sites, including the monolithic stones at Karahunj, Khndzoresk cave village, Selim caravanserai and the remarkable rock-carved churches at Geghard


AMS TERDAM & THE R I JK SMUSEUM2– 5 O C TO BE R 2015

Join art historian Douglas Skeggs and Marie-Thérèse Hill to explore Amsterdam’s rich architectural and artistic heritage, legacy of the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century.

• See Rembrandt’s most celebrated painting The Night Watch at the magnificently renovated Rijksmuseum with its incomparable collection of Dutch paintings

• Visit Rembrandt’s house, the Van Gogh Museum and the Museum Van Loon, an exquisite canal-side house filled with treasures, with the museum curator

• Take a day trip to the picturesque city of Delft followed by The Hague including a visit to the newly reopened Mauritshuis with its magnificent collection of Dutch paintings


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Istanbul connoisseur Jax Comyn uncovers the city’s unusual hidden treasures and culinary delights on a tour both for newcomers and for those who would like to come back for more.

• Sail up the to Eyup Mosque, visit Little Hagia Sophia and the 17th century carpet bazaar of Arista which hides a fascinating mosaic museum

• Lunch at the famous bean restaurant at Sulymaniye, sample Ataturk’s favourite drink, boza, and dine at Lokanta Maya as featured by Ottolenghi

• Boat across to the ‘Asian side’ to see Beyleberi hunting lodge, visit Florence Nightingale’s Museum and take a special culinary tour through the lively Kadikoy streets


H I D D E NI S TA N BU L5 –10 O C T O B E R 2 0 15

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THE BR A Z IL IA N AMA ZON & PANTA N A L W E TL ANDS7– 22 O C TO BE R 2015

Join Amelia Dalton to venture up the Rio Negro, the least inhabited river in the Amazon Basin, followed by the remarkable wetlands of Mato Grosso in the northern Pantanal.

• Visit a rubber baron’s palace in the charming city of Manaus and enjoy a performance at the Teatro Amazonas opera house

• Board the small and comfortable Motor Yacht Tucano, chartered exclusively, to spot toucans, river otter and pink river dolphin in this untouched Amazon rainforest

• Stay at an eco-lodge on the banks of the River Mutum, a wonderful base to observe the rich biodiversity of the Pantanal, including ibises, capybaras and alligators

A R T & H IS TORY OF V IENN A23 – 27 O C TO BE R 2015

Harriet Landseer and historian and lecturer Peter Lauritzen take a definitive tour through the history and magnificent art collections of the city, legacy of the Habsburg Emperors.

• See the fine works of art in the Lichtenstein City Palace and the treasury of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, both newly opened

• Hear Mass sung by the Vienna Boys’ choir at the Imperial Chapel and see a gala performance of the Lippizzaner Stallions at the Spanish Riding School

• View the Habsburg treasures at the Hofburg and, in the bicentenary year of the Congress of Vienna, learn how Europe was redesigned after the Napoleonic wars

TO U R PR I C E : FRO M £5,995 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £695


A SSAM & THE MIGHT Y BR A HMA PUTR A30 O C TO BE R – 9 N OV E M BE R 2015

Marie-Thérèse Hill takes a wonderful journey along the mighty Brahmaputra to sample the gentle peace of the river, the pristine countryside and the diversity of culture and wildlife.

• Travel aboard the MV Mahabaahu, a very comfortable river boat, chartered exclusively for a maximum of 40 people

• Enjoy excursions to beautiful villages, ancient monuments and tea plantations in the complete absence of other visitors

• Explore the Kaziranga National Park, a stunning reserve renowned for its healthy population of one-horned rhinoceros

TOUR PR ICE: FROM £3,145 PER PERSON S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £885


Join Director Rowan Paterson as he returns to Nepal for an adventurous but leisurely five-day trek in the Annapurna foothills above Pokhara, staying in comfortable lodges en route.

• Explore the fascinating cultural and artistic heritage of Kathmandu in the company of the city’s foremost restoration experts

• Travel by inflatable raft to the lowland jungles of Terai in central Nepal and stay at the lovely Seti Camp

• Search for the one-horned rhinoceros on elephant-back in the Royal Chitwan National Park

A DV E N T U R E I N

N E PA L21 NOVEMBER – 3 DECEMBER 2015


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THE N ATUR A L WONDERS OF COS TA R IC A10 – 23 JA N UA RY 2016

Ornithology and wildlife expert Andy Bunten returns to Costa Rica, with its spectacular and diverse scenery, providing varied habitats for an extraordinary profusion of wildlife.

• Search for hummingbirds and the resplendent quetzal in the high and humid cloud forest of Monteverde

• See migrant birds, iguana and crocodile in the coastal wetland sanctuary of the Palo Verde National Park and capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths and scarlet macaws in superb lowland forest of the Carara National Park

• Journey by boat to the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically rich habitats on earth, renowned for its concentrations of wildlife


N E PA L21 NOVEMBER – 3 DECEMBER 2015

TOUR PR ICE: FROM £9,445 PER PERSON S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: FRO M £3 ,495

A NTA RC T IC A : CELEBR AT ING SHACK LE TON28 JA N UA RY – 20 FE BRUA RY 2016

Travel in the footsteps of Shackleton with Directors Nick Van Gruisen and Martin Thompson and explorer and Guest Lecturer Henry Worsley for the 100th anniversary of the rescue of the crew of Endurance.

• Board the Polar research vessel Akademik Ioffe in Ushuaia, chartered exclusively, for an 18-night cruise

• Cruise via the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Elephant Island (weather permitting) to the Antarctic Peninsular

• Journey with the grandson of Sir James Wordie, geologist aboard Endurance, who will bring diary extracts and Shackleton memorabilia

OPER A IN PR AGUE14 –17 JA N UA RY 2016

Marie-Thérèse Hill’s annual opera tour travels to the historic city of Prague, one of the most beautiful in central Europe, with its carefully preserved medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and treasures.

• Indulge in a programme of backstage tours and opera combined with ballet or orchestral concerts (programme to be announced)

• Visit the Old Town and the Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter) where churches, houses and palaces line pretty cobbled streets and squares, and cross the famous Charles Bridge to the New Town and Wenceslas Square

• Venture out of the city to the chateau of Nelahozeves, a beautiful Renaissance castle housing one of the Czech Republic’s most notable art collections

TO U R PR I C E TO BE A DV ISE D


THE JE W EL S OF SR I L A NK A12– 26 FE B RUA RY 2016

Travel with Jax Comyn for a comprehensive discovery of the island’s geographical and architectural highlights from ancient sites to fascinating colonial buildings, local modern art and traditional cuisine.

• Explore the 5th-century Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa, the impressive 1st-century Dambulla Rock Temple as well as the Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist temple

• Discover British built colonial buildings in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya and visit the British Garrison Cemetery, established in 1817, in Kandy

• Take a colourful train journey through tea plantations and jungles and enjoy a cookery demonstration in a spice garden

S T. PE TERSBURG: TRE A SURE S OF THE RUSS IA N T SA RS11–15 FE BRUA RY 2016

Tania Illingworth returns once more to the winter splendour of St. Petersburg to explore the unique and unsurpassed architectural and artistic legacy of the Tsars and Tsarinas.

• See the beautifully-preserved palaces of Pavlovsk, Yussupov and the Winter Palace

• Study the extraordinary treasures of the State Hermitage with curator Alexei Leporc

• Visit the brilliant collections of the Russian museum or enjoy a private viewing of the newly opened Fabergé Collection and attend a ballet at the fabled Mariinsky Theatre

TO U R PR I C E TO BE A DV ISE DTO U R PR I C E : £4 , 595 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £825


A JOURNEY THROUGH R AJASTHAN14 FE B RUA RY – 1 M A RC H 2016

Caroline and Peter Stanley take a captivating tour offering a comfortable and gentle, yet comprehensive introduction to Rajasthan, emulating the travelling house parties of old.

• Marvel at the magnificent Taj Mahal and the Fort in Agra and the fascinating Palace of the Winds and the Amber Fort in the ‘Rose City’ of Jaipur

• Travel through rural Rajasthan to the vibrant cities of Narlai, Sardar Samand and Nagaur and stay in former Royal palaces, hunting lodges and forts

• View the shimmering Lake Palace and Lake Pichola in Udaipur and the formidable Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur with its jumble of blue and white buildings

REDISCOV ER ING THE R A J16 FE BRUA RY – 2 M A RC H 2016

Historian and Guest Lecturer Sir Roy Strong accompanied by India devotee Joanna Worsley uncover the extraordinary and prolific architectural legacy of the British in Hyderabad, Bombay, Lucknow, Delhi and Shimla.

• Visit the former British Residencies in Hyderabad, Lucknow and Shimla and the Viceroy’s Palace in Delhi

• See the flamboyant palaces of the Indian nobility in Hyderabad and the Indian Mutiny sites in Lucknow

• Enjoy a private viewing of period footage at the Liberty Cinema in Bombay and dine at the Bombay Yacht Club

TO U R PR I C E : £4 ,995 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £1, 273

TO U R PR I C E : £5 ,84 0 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £1,320

T H E C O L O U R S A N D F L AVO U R S O F V I E T NA M15 –28 FEBRUARY 2016

Renowned photojournalist and restaurateur Chris Caldicott and his wife Carolyn sample the scenery, colours and tastes of this beguiling country with its fascinating, turbulent history and smiling people.

• Take in the ancient temples and crumbling vestiges of the French colonial legacy in Hanoi

• Capture the beauty of the limestone karsts and islands in the emerald waters of Halong Bay as you relax on board a traditional junk

• Wander through the delightful Hoi An with its traditional merchants’ houses and ornate Japanese Covered Bridge and experience a cookery lesson

TOUR PRICE TO BE ADVISED

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COLONIAL BR A Z IL19 FE BRUA RY – 3 M A RC H 2016

Explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison returns to Brazil to follow the Camino Real, the ancient trail followed by mule trains taking gold from the colonial towns of Minas Gerais to the coast.

• Stay in the charming unspoilt towns of Ouro Preto and Tiradentes, founded during the late 17th century gold rush, with their colonial mansions and fine baroque churches

• Relax in the former sugar port of Paraty with its enchanting Portuguese architecture on cobbled streets washed daily by the tide and nearby glorious beaches

• See the iconic sights of Rio and take a day trip to experience the prolific birds and wildlife of the REGUA Atlantic Rainforest conservation project

THE SULTA N ATE OF OMA N4 –13 M A RC H 2016

Take a journey of adventure with Marie-Thérèse Hill to the ancient kingdom of Oman, a country of historic forts and palaces, dazzling mosques and spectacular mountains and deserts.

• Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Al Alam Palace and the Muttrah Souk in Muscat

• Explore the desert fortresses in the ancient capital of Nizwa and the Jebel Shams ‘Grand Canyon’

• Journey south to Salalah to explore the ancient archaeological and biblical sites of the Dhofar region

THE H IDDEN TRE A SURE S OF V EN ICE14 –18 M A RC H 2016

Take an exceptional tour with Nicola Howard and Guest Lecturer Peter Lauritzen, author on and resident of Venice, to find the lesser known treasures as well as many world famous masterpieces of art and architecture.

• Visit San Marco privately by night and see the Palazzo Grimani and Scuola Grande di San Marco both newly restored and opened

• Marvel at the newly installed replica of Veronese’s Louvre Miracle at Cana in the Palladian Refectory at San Giorgio and the newly restored Veronese cycle at San Sebastiano

• See the newly arranged and restored Academy of Fine Arts and enjoy a reception at the Palazzo Da Silva, home of our lecturer

TOUR PR ICE TO BE ADVISEDTO U R PR I C E : £3 ,860 PE R PE R SO N S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £8 0 0 TOUR PR ICE TO BE ADVISED


THE DEEP SOUTHA PR I L 2016

Antonia Lloyd Owen discovers the history, fine architecture and gardens of the Deep South of the United States of America, travelling from Charleston and Savannah to Natchez and New Orleans.

• Journey from Charleston with its 300 year nautical heritage and wonderful houses and gardens to Beaufort with its impressive collection of antebellum architecture

• Experience the beguiling old world charm of Savannah’s historic district and the antebellum cotton plantations of Natchez perched on the banks of the Mississippi

• Walk through the historic French quarter of New Orleans steeped in history and influences from Europe, the Caribbean and Africa cruise up the Mississippi on a paddle steamer

AR T IN PA R IS14 –18 A PR I L 2016

Join art historian Douglas Skeggs and Marie-Thérèse Hill on an illuminating tour to examine some of Paris’s most important masterpieces from the 1830s to the impressionist movement and beyond.

• Study the development of the Barbizon School of painting ‘en plein air’ and visit the studio of its founder Jean-François Millet

• Discover the fine impressionist and post-impressionist works at the Musée D’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie

• Visit the Musée Rodin housed in Hôtel Biron, former home of the sculptor and one of the most charming and best-preserved mansions in Paris with fine gardens featuring his works

ULT IMATE INV ITAT ION TO BURMA: THE ROA D TO MA NDA L AY11– 26 SE P T E M BE R 2016

Take a magical journey with Managing Director Nick Van Gruisen and his wife Iris together with photojournalist Chris Caldicott and his wife Carolyn on the famed Irrawaddy River in Burma.

• Following a two-night stay at the Governors Residence in Yangon, board Belmond’s (formerly Orient Express) luxurious river vessel, Road To Mandalay, chartered exclusively for an 11-day cruise

• Cruise through the jungle-clad gorges of the upper reaches of the river to the market scenes of Katha from George Orwell’s Burmese Days, and the ancient capital of Mandalay

• Watch the sunset over one of the wonders of the world, the 3,000 temple ruins spread across the great plain of Bagan

TO U R PR I C E : FRO M £4 ,795 S I N G LE SU PPLE M E N T: £995TOUR PR ICE TO BE ADVISED TOUR PR ICE TO BE ADVISED

F I N D O U T M O R EIf you would like to find out more about any of the tours featured in this brochure or receive a booking form, please complete and return this postage paid card, telephone one of our experts direct on 020 3411 4595 or email us on [email protected]

Please send me further information about the following tour/s

Name Email

Address Phone

You can also read more information online at www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk/escorted-journeys

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escorted journeys | 2015-2016

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