A wonderful week on a unique vessel, this cruise is aboard ‘the most luxurious steamship on the Nile’, the SS Misr, the former floating palace of King Farouk; sailing upstream and down again between Luxor and Aswan, to visit major sites and highlights

The pyramids of Giza are the country’s most photographed monuments, the timeless Nile is its most vital asset. These two icons of Egypt come together on a tour of tombs, temples, and treasures

This journey focuses on unmissable monuments, with time to explore ancient sites to the astounding rock city of Petra, and to enjoy the Red Sea, the Dead Sea, and the desert landscapes

From the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, to the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, and the route of the wildebeests’ Great Migration, this safari includes the elephants of Amboseli, birdlife on the shores of Elementaita, and the Big Cats of the Masai Mara

Focused on the four Imperial capitals, this is a fascinating tour of Morocco’s history, mysteries, and monuments, from mesmerising Marrakech to fountains in fabulous Fez, ravishing Rabat, the current capital, and medieval Meknes, least known and less visited

Based in cosmopolitan Tunis and the sea and sand city of Sousse, take a fascinating journey through time, from the ancient archaeological sites of Roman Africa to Islamic architecture

A great value tour of the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan including Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, using the high speed railway line to travel between the capital Tashkent and Bukhara

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

Unspoilt, uncrowded, and unique in its culture, Albania is a treasure chest of ancient cities, mystical mountains, museums, castles and coastline, its feast of Ottoman architecture the jewel in its crown. This tour lifts the lid on its riches, of heritage and of nature

Cruising the Guadalquivir from spirited Seville to coastal Cadiz, and travelling by road to Roman and medieval Cordoba, the wine cellars of Jerez area, and Granada’s magnificent Moorish palace fortress, this tour adds an extra dimension to Andalucian discovery

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 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