Global Destinations by ACE Cultural Tours

GLOBAL DESTINATIONS 2019 Highlights

AC E C U LT U R A L TO U R S

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

KARELIA & ARCHANGEL: ARCHITECTURE OF NORTHERN RUSSIA

SOUTH AFRICA: FLOWERS OF NAMAQUALAND

CHINA: THE SILK ROAD

JORDAN

GUJARAT: TRADITIONAL CRAFTS & TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

ETHIOPIA

MOROCCO: ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE WESTERN KINGDOM

TASMANIA

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION “Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world,” wrote French novelist Gustave Flaubert. In 2019, ACE are delighted to offer several tours with which we hope to expand our travellers’ horizons and inspire new perspectives on destinations across all corners of the globe. From discovering the century-spanning history of the Silk Road in China, to exploring the rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia, as well as the flora and fauna of South Africa and Tasmania,

these global ACE tours continue to reflect our commitment to cultural learning and engagement wherever in the world they are based. To discover our full programme of cultural tours in 2019, we warmly invite you to contact the ACE office. 01223 841055 | aceculturaltours.co.uk

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

KARELIA & ARCHANGEL: ARCHITECTURE OF

NORTHERN RUSSIA 1 0 - 2 2 A U G U S T, 2 0 1 9 | with Alex Koller

or centuries the far-flung lands of Karelia and Archangel served as a refuge for hermits who later established great monastic communities. Traditional lifestyles have proved tenacious in Russia’s distant northern territories, and common to the whole area is an outstanding natural beauty, from the seemingly endless forest tracts of Archangel to the lakes and islands of Karelia.

The great pilgrimage site of the Solovetsky Monastery blends the grandeur of a religious shrine with the austerity of a northern fortress. We will dedicate two separate visits to the monastery complex, established in the 15th century and later converted into the first Soviet prison camp. The city of Archangel was founded by Ivan the Terrible. Here, we will visit Gostinyi Dvor (Merchants’ Yard) and the Fine Arts Museum, and take in some of the city’s

churches. As well as acquainting ourselves with the old town, we will visit the open air Museum of Wooden Architecture at Malye Karely with its 18th century survivals from the peasant villages of northern Russia. Not far away lies the village of Kholmogory: after Ivan the Terrible granted trade privileges to the Company of Merchant Adventurers in 1555, the settlement became a centre for English merchants. This tour navigates some of the most isolated and rewarding corners of Russia, visiting towns and villages rarely frequented by westerners. Tour Director Alex Koller is an expert in art history and architecture who has studied in Vienna, Salzburg and Cambridge. In addition to his interest in art history, Alex is a linguist, numbering German, French, Italian and Russian amongst his languages.

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Photo credit: John Parker

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G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

SOUTH AFRICA:

FLOWERS OF NAMAQUALAND 3 0 A U G U S T - 1 3 S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 1 9 | with John Parker

butting the Atlantic Ocean to the west, fringed with an untouched coastline and bounded by desert to the north and east, the region known as Namaqualand encompasses one of the least populated areas of South Africa.

John Parker writes, “This route north into Namaqualand reveals novel, beautiful and exciting faces of South Africa and its flowers and landscapes.The quality of light in this semi-arid region enhances and interacts with the brilliance of its astonishing flowers.” In the heart of Namaqualand – an area that also encompasses parts of Namibia further north – is the town of Springbok. The town, founded to exploit copper mining, lies at the heart of our tour at the furthest point north. To arrive there, we will sweep up from Cape Town through the West Coast National Park and deep into the Northern Cape. On the way we will discover awe-inspiring scenery of coast and mountain, together

with remarkable botanical richness in nature reserves and National Parks, and even along the roadsides. At Postberg, closed for most of the year to preserve its unique flora and fauna, floral fields set amidst granite outcrops open onto stunning ocean views. Every spring, around the time of year our tour will visit, Namaqualand bursts into a myriad of colours as the sparse winter rains give rise to new life, and orange, yellow and white daisies carpet the landscape. The natural spectacle is not to be missed. This tour will be led by botanist John Parker, formerly Professor of Plant Cytogenetics and Director of the University Botanic Garden, Cambridge. John has served as a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and his research on the evolutionary genetics of plants combines fieldwork with laboratory studies.

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

CHINA: THE SILK ROAD 13 - 30 OCTOBER, 2019 | with Elizabeth Morrell

he Silk Road and its many branches, originating in the first century BC, were a vital source of cultural and material exchange for China and the surrounding countries. Islam was introduced from Persia and its influence is omnipresent in the towers and cupolas of the mosques, which dominate the market squares along the route.

The silk roads continued to be used for international trade for more than a thousand years until tribal grievances made them unsafe and effective maritime routes made them uneconomic.The once bustling cities were then deserted and buried by the sands of time until the late 19th century when a band of notorious adventurers, explorers and archaeologists exhumed the route again. From Persia also came dates, pistachios, peaches, pears and the narcissus while the Chinese transported silk, green ginger, peonies, roses and paper to the West. Dunhuang, once the point of departure for travellers heading southwards to India,

was crucial in the spread of Buddhism into China – the Grottoes of the Thousand Buddhas are judged to be amongst the finest examples of Buddhist art in the world. Our ‘journey to the West’ through China commences in the cultivated plains of the east, moving towards the loess landscape of the Yellow River Valley and into the sparsely populated desert, which occupies such a large percentage of Chinese territory. We shall spend several days travelling in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region through the Taklamakan Desert. Rising up to the north are the Heavenly Mountains (near Turfan and Urumchi) and to the south of the desert are the Kunlun Mountains – separating Xinjiang from Tibet and Pakistan. Tour Director Elizabeth Morrell, a Sinologist and Chinese speaker, has been visiting China since 1976, when she studied modern Chinese literature at Fudan University in Shanghai. Elizabeth wrote one of the earliest guidebooks to China, published in 1984.

Call:

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Call:

01223 841055

to make an enquiry, or email: sales@aceculturaltours.co.uk

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

JORDAN

14 - 24 OCTOBER, 2019 | with Andrew Wilson

rom the remains of the Stone Age to the magnificence of the Ottomans, Jordan has long felt the tide of history. Today, the country is home to a spectacular array of archaeological sites offering tantalizing glimpses into some of the world’s most iconic cultures: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Parthia, the Byzantines, the Umayyads, Abbasids, Crusaders and Ayyubids have all left their mark.

Petra, the imposing stronghold carved out of rock by the Nabataeans more than 2000 years ago, is a true marvel. On our visit to the rose-red city we will journey through the towering Siq ravine and admire the stunning vista of soaring temples, dramatic halls and lofty altars hand-chiselled into the sandstone cliffs. We begin our journey on the seven hills of Amman with the biblical city of Madaba, home to the famous floor map of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Meanwhile, at nearby Mount Nebo, home to the mosaic museum and Sanctuary of Moses, we will enjoy unrivalled panoramas of the Dead Sea and the River Jordan.

The superb Hellenistic and Roman city of Jerash was created at the end of the fourth century BC by the Greco-Roman confederation as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. Built to integrate Hellenic and local populations, it is one of Rome’s grandest imperial outposts and boasts a colonnaded oval forum, magnificent theatres, colonnaded Roman streets and the beautifully restored Precinct of Artemis. Highlights include Al Khazneh (the Treasury), the rock-cut theatre, the Great Temple and the Nabataean temple of Qasr al-Bintm, and Petra’s northern suburb of Siq al-Barid, often referred to as ‘Little Petra’. Tour Director Andrew Wilson studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist. He has led many tours for ACE in the Greco-Roman world and Jordan. Andrew is a member of the Society for Libyan Studies and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and the Society for Promotion of Byzantine Studies.

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

GUJARAT:

TRADITIONAL

CRAFTS & TRIBAL COMMUNITIES 2 - 18 NOVEMBER, 2019 | with Annie Owen

ituated in the far western corner of India, where the desert of the Rann of Kutch runs out into salt flats before reaching the Arabian Sea, Gujarat provides a feast for the senses. Above the long line of pale, arid land stretches the massive expanse of wide open sky; the rich colours worn by the people stand out, as do the ancient intricately carved buildings.

Textiles remain one of Gujarat’s most important industries. During our sojourn in the desert we will compare the precise and detailed embroidery in the Muslim village of Dhordo to the intricate tribal embroidery found in the Hindu village of Hodka. We begin our tour at Mandvi where the Rukmavati River merges with the Arabian Sea, once home to the centuries-old boat building industry. A few of the vast, handmade ocean-going dhows are still worked on here, and tower to the height of a three storey building over the carpenters working on them. Throughout the state,

European style is often mixed with local craftsmanship. Mandvi’s Indo-Edwardian Vijay Vilas Palace was built by craftsmen from Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bengal, Saurashtra and the local Kutchi artisan community. Elsewhere, Ahmedabad’s Calico Museum of Textiles displays many stunning exhibits that date back over five centuries. The influential and energetic Jains have played a large role in Gujarat’s development. We will see their beautifully carved temples on Shatrunjaya Hill where 863 cluster together, some 3800 steps up from Palitana. This sacred site is left empty each night, believed to be the abode of the gods. Annie Owen is a photographer, illustrator and printmaker with over 20 years’ experience travelling to the Indian subcontinent. Annie’s passion for India has long drawn her to Gujarat, and she is delighted to be able to give an ACE group the opportunity to get ‘under the skin’ of this remarkable part of the country.

Call:

01223 841055

to make an enquiry, or email: sales@aceculturaltours.co.uk

Call:

01223 841055

to make an enquiry, or email: sales@aceculturaltours.co.uk

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

ETHIOPIA 14 - 28 NOVEMBER, 2019 | with John Binns

In the third century, Ethiopia was considered to be one of the four great empires of the world, alongside Rome, Persia and China.

Exploring this distinctive history, our tour will reveal the country’s wonderful architectural tradition of rock-hewn churches, not least some lesser-known sites in the north east as well the extraordinary ‘New Jerusalem’ carved out of the hillside at Lalibela.

Tour director John Binns writes, “Our journey is a full and wide ranging introduction to the landscapes, buildings and culture of this beautiful and extraordinary country. We will visit the historical towns of Axum and Gondar and enjoy the most spectacular mountain range of the Simiens. A special feature will be to visit some of the most interesting rock churches of the north east as well as the churches of Lalibela.”

n the roof of Africa, source of the Blue Nile, lies an ancient country whose Orthodox church plays a guiding role in the second oldest Christian nation in the world. The church exhibits colourful ceremonies and traditions influenced by Judaism as well as historical links with Islam.

Within the dramatic highland landscapes of northern Ethiopia lies a fascinating array of monuments, many of them UNESCO World Heritage sites. The giant stelae, royal tombs and palace remains at Axum speak of a once mighty and powerful kingdom, whose sprawling territory would have stretched from Southern Arabia to Meroe in northern Sudan.

Although our 2019 tour is currently fully booked, ACE is pleased to offer a waiting list, and we are currently registering interest for a departure of our Ethiopia tour in early 2020.

Rev John Binns, has researched and lectured in a variety of Eastern Orthodox countries, including Russia, Israel/ Palestine and Serbia. He is Visiting Professor at the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge.

G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

M O R O C C O : ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE WESTERN KINGDOM 16 - 29 NOVEMBER, 2019 | with Andrew Wilson

he spread of Islam, combined with the spirit of al-Andalus, gave birth in Morocco to an artistic and architectural legacy of enormous diversity. Meknes, founded in the 11th century and revitalised by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl in the 18th, reflecting his imperial ambitions, is an especially attractive example of the harmonious blending of the Islamic and Spanish styles.

Fez, founded in the 9th century, is perhaps the most enchanting of all Arab cities.The custodian of the world’s oldest university, Fez reached its zenith under the Marinids, as witnessed by the elaborate profusion of souks, madrasas, mosques and minarets that date from the 13th century. Marrakesh charms every visitor with its exuberantly Andalusian madrasa and its breathtakingly intricate 16th century Saadian tombs. The town will be our base for an excursion into the snow-capped High Atlas, where the villages are strongly reminiscent of the settlements of the Alpujarra mountains of Andalucía.

Rabat is a captivating mélange of Moorish and European influences, and home to a wealth of monuments from the 12th to the 14th centuries, including the mosque and fortifications initiated by the great Almohad ruler Yacoub al-Mansour. The tower of this spectacularly sized mosque is similar in design to Seville’s Giralda. We will also visit the walled citadel of the Chellah, an abandoned ancient port that was transformed in the 14th century into a burial ground for the Marinid dynasty, and which today forms one of Morocco’s most beautiful ruins. We will then enter the medina through the 17th century Andalusian walls, and walk to the Almohad citadel known as the Kasbah des Oudaias, with its impressive 12th century gate and enchanting Andalusian style gardens. Tour Director Andrew Wilson studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist. He has led many tours for ACE in the Greco-Roman world and Morocco.

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G l o ba l D e s t i nat i o n s C o l l e c t i o n

TASMANIA 2 7 N O V E M B E R - 1 0 D E C E M B E R , 2 0 1 9 | with Mark Hanger

asmania, separated from mainland Australia during the last Ice Age, is a beautiful, dramatic island, where the rugged terrain nurtures a vast collection of Australian mammals: Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, quolls and pademelons – not to mention the bizarre platypus and the spine-covered echidna. The island’s distinctive birdlife fascinates in equal measure, from fairy-wrens and fairy penguins to cockatoos, rosellas and scarlet robins.

Our circuit around and through Tasmania will celebrate the island’s landscape in all its diversity: Mt Field National Park, with its wondrous mountain scenery and striking alpine plant communities; Lake St Clair, where we will stroll through forests of black peppermint; Ben Lomond, surrounded on all sides by precipitous escarpments; and Mt Wellington, “massive and noble like his brother Etna”, in the words of Mark Twain.

As well as acquainting ourselves with the Tasmanian countryside and coast, we will gain insights into the shaping of Tasmania’s colonial history with visits to iconic Port Arthur with its penitentiary, Richmond, and Saltwater River. Our tour includes a handful of cities of great cultural interest, and particular highlights will be Hobart, home to an impressive array of Georgian buildings, and Launceston, Tasmania’s ‘garden city’ situated on the Tamar River, noted for its attractive 19th century architecture. The Tasmania tour and extension will be led by Mark Hanger, a graduate of Otago University and an experienced botanist and ornithologist. President of New Zealand’s largest conservation organisaton, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Mark is heavily involved in major conservation projects in southern New Zealand.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION: SOUTH EASTERN VICTORIA & MELBOURNE 10 - 14 DECEMBER, 2019 This opportunity to take in cosmopolitan Melbourne and the wildlife of the surrounding areas forms the perfect conclusion to our exploration of Tasmania. This tour is an optional extension and can only be booked in conjunction with the main tour.

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