E S C O RT E D TO U R S 2017
T R AV E L W I T H U S O N A J O U R N E Y N OT M E A S U R E D I N M I L E S, BU T I N M O M E N T S W E L C O M E T O O U R E S C O RT E D TOUR PROGRAMME FOR 2017
We hope you’ll enjoy this snapshot of some of our many fascinating tours to exceptional destinations, both long haul and closer to home, during 2017. From encounters with the art and architecture that have shaped the modern world, to explorations of the vibrant wildlife and waterways of the natural world, we’ve sought to include something to whet the appetite of every enlightened traveller. Please enjoy this overview and don’t forget to register your interest on the reply-paid card so we can provide you with more details.
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Above and beyond level of service. The best holiday I’ve had in a long time. I can’t fault the trip, you thought of everything and delivered! Wonderful!” Mr J Armstrong and Mr M Price, June 2016
W H AT S E T S O U R E S C O RT E D TO U R S A PA RT F RO M T H E R E S T ? Over the last few years we have built an enviable reputation for escorted touring. Here’s why: • M O R E C H O I C E
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 enables us to provide an even broader choice of tours.
• I N S P I R I N G I T I N E R A R I E S Carefully planned, with the assistance of our tour leaders and/or guest lecturers, we ensure that travellers derive maximum enjoyment from their chosen destination. •E XPERTISE Decades of knowledge, experience and attention to detail are the hallmarks of our Escorted Tours team. •V ALUE FOR MONEY Whilst our tours might appear a little costly on paper but because they include so much
more than other comparable tours we believe they offer excellent value for money. •C A R E F U L LY C H O S E N A C C O M M O D AT I O N We base our selection on comfort, character and location, not necessarily star-rating. • T O U R L E A D E R S & G U E S T L E C T U R E R S Our teams will do everything to ensure the smooth running of your journey and add their expertise to more specialised departures. They are chosen for both their knowledge, and their dedication. •F INANCIAL PROTECTION We hold an ATOL licence and are also full members of ABTA. 25 –27 Vanston Place London SW6 1AZ Telephone 020 3411 4595 theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk NICK VAN GRUISEN MANAGING DIRECTOR
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TOUR CALENDAR Escorted Tours
Destinations
Tour Dates
Page
Mekong Delta: Saigon to Angkor
Vietnam & Cambodia
17 Jan – 30 Jan 2017
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A Visit to Ceylon
Sri Lanka
29 Jan – 11 Feb 2017
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Opera in Munich
Germany
18 Jan – 21 Jan 2017
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A Journey through Rajasthan
India
01 Feb – 17 Feb 2017
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Guatemala & Costa Rica
Guatemala & Costa Rica
02 Feb – 17 Feb 2017
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Exploring Colombia
Colombia
04 Feb – 17 Feb 2017
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Central India: Colours, Flavours & Forts
India
18 Feb – 06 Mar 2017
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Myanmar: The Golden Triangle
Myanmar
19 Feb – 04 Mar 2017
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St Petersburg: Treasures of the Russian Tsars
Russia
22 Feb – 26 Feb 2017
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Durrell Expedition: Madagascar, Alabra & the Seychelles
Indian Ocean
24 Feb – 09 Mar 2017
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Art in Vienna
Austria
16 Mar – 19 Mar 2017
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Iran: Persian Treasures
Iran
02 Mar – 16 Mar 2017
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04 Sep – 18 Sep 2017
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South Africa: Battlefields & Bodegas
South Africa
19 Mar – 01 Apr 2017
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Peru: Land of the Conquistadors
Peru
29 Mar – 10 Apr 2017
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Texas with Wild Insights
USA
08 Apr – 23 Apr 2017
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Portugal: The Douro, a Regal Experience
Portugal
30 Apr – 06 May 2017
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Sicily: Conquest & Culture
Italy
06 May – 13 May 2017
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Discover Puglia
Italy
10 May – 15 May 2017
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The Baltic Capitals: Riga & Vilnius
Latvia & Lithuania
10 May – 16 May 2017
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Eastern Austria: Wildlife & Vienna
Austria
13 May – 20 May 2017
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Gardens of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
26 Jun – 30 Jun 2017
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The Northwest Passage: Arctic Ocean
The Arctic
11 Aug – 26 Aug 2017
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Andalucia with Wild Insights
Spain
09 Sep – 16 Sep 2017
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Romania: Bucovina & Maramures
Romania
16 Sep – 23 Sep 2017
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Madrid & Toledo Revisited
Spain
12 Sep – 16 Sep 2017
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The Treasures of Florence & Arezzo
Italy
21 Sep – 25 Sep 2017
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Mantua for the Connoisseur
Italy
27 Sep – 01 Oct 2017
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Morocco: Colours & Flavours
Morocco
07 Oct – 18 Oct 2017
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Caravaggio in Rome & Malta
Italy
06 Nov – 11 Nov 2017
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The Masai Mara in Depth: Kenya Wildlife Tour
Kenya
06 Nov – 19 Nov 2017
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A V I S I T TO C E Y L 2 9 J A N U A RY – 1 1 F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 7
M E K O N G D E LTA : SAIGON TO ANGKOR
1 7 – 3 0 J A N U A RY 2 0 1 7
Nick and Iris Van Gruisen take a cruise along the mighty Mekong River from the dynamic Vietnamese capital of Saigon to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh with an additional overland trip to the magical temples of Angkor. • Travel on the sumptuous, small, all-suite river boat, the Mekong Princess, chartered exclusively for a 7-night cruise • Take a sampan through the floating markets of Can Tho, visit the eccentric Cao Dai Temple and take a cyclo through Phnom Penh • Watch the sunrise over the famed Angkor Wat temple, see Ta Prohm, engulfed by tree roots, and ponder the enigmatic expression on the carved faces of Bayon temple TOUR PRICE: FROM £6,095 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: F R O M £ 2 , 4 2 0
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Historian and guest lecturer Sir Roy Strong and Joanna Worsley uncover the extraordinary island of Ceylon with its magical landscape, ravishing coastline and glimpses through fabulous ruins of vanished kingdoms. • Take an optional hot air balloon flight over the impressive 5th century Sigiriya Rock Fortress and visit the beautifully preserved medieval capital of Polonnaruwa • D iscover British built colonial buildings in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya and visit the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy, established in 1817 • V isit the charming old town of Galle, once the chief port of Ceylon, and discover its Portuguese and Dutch heritage TOUR PRICE: £5,375 PER PERSON SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £815
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OPERA IN MUNICH
A JOURNEY THROUGH RAJASTHAN
Marie-Thérèse Hill’s annual opera tour travels to Munich, Capital of Bavaria, one of Germany’s most important and historic cities, with its magnificent architectural, artistic and musical treasures.
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.
1 8 – 2 1 J A N U A RY 2 0 1 7
• Indulge in performances of the opera Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi and the ballet Romeo and Juliet choreographed by John Cranko with music by Sergei Prokoviev at the Bayerische Staatsoper • Visit the imposing baroque Schloss Nymphenburg, the Residenz, palace of the Bavarian Kings, and the neo-rococo Schloss Linderhof built by King Ludwig II • Peruse one of the most famous collections of Old Masters in Germany at the Alte Pinakothek, one of the world’s oldest art galleries TOUR PRICE: £2,190 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 4 8 0
1 - 1 7 F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 7
• M arvel at the magnificent Taj Mahal and the imposing Red Fort in Agra as well as the fascinating Palace of the Winds and the Amber Fort in the ‘Rose City’ of Jaipur • T ravel through rural Rajasthan to the vibrant villages of Narlai, Sardar Samand and Nagaur and stay in former Royal palaces, hunting lodges and forts • V iew the shimmering Lake Palace and Lake Pichola in Udaipur and the formidable Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur with its jumble of blue and white buildings TOUR PRICE: £5,275 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 1 , 3 5 0
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G UAT E M A L A & C O S TA R I C A 2 – 17 FEBRUARY 2017 Join Liz Bonham on an exceptional journey through Guatemala with its colonial and Mayan treasures and Costa Rica with its extraordinary profusion of wildlife, both with spectacular scenery and warm, hospitable people. • Explore the baroque churches of colonial Antigua, visit Lake Atitlan and the bustling, colourful market of Chichicastenango • Trek through the lush rainforest and the ‘Hanging Bridges’ trails on the slopes of
the Arenal Volcano and see a huge diversity of animal and plant species • Take a boat ride on the waterways of Tortuguero National Park in search of turtles and caiman, and walk through the forest to see howler monkeys, sloth and colourful poison-arrow frogs TOUR PRICE: £5,480 PER PERSON SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £745
EXPLORING COLOMBIA 4 – 1 7 F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 7
Ornithology and wildlife expert Andy Bunten explores Colombia from the historic centre of Bogota to the Coffee Region and the natural wonders of Minca and Tayrona National Parks and finally the colonial jewel of Cartagena. • See the masterpieces of the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in Bogota and visit the underground Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral) in Zapiquira • Search for humming birds in the Rio Blanco Nature Reserve in the Coffee Region, swim in a waterfall in the Minca rainforest and laze on the idyllic beaches of Tayrona National Park
CENTRAL INDIA: COLOURS, F L AV O U R S & F O R T S
1 8 F E B R U A RY – 0 6 M A R C H 2 0 1 7
Renowned photojournalist and restaurateurs, Chris and Carolyn Caldicott, sample the colours and spices of this captivating country with its formidable forts, flamboyant palaces, temples and vibrant rural villages. • Learn how to capture the beauty of India with a photography workshop on the banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur before a sunset boat tour • Enjoy a cooking lesson at the elegant old summer retreat of the ruler of Shahpura
M YA N M A R : T H E G O L D E N T R I A N G L E 1 9 F E B R U A RY – 4 M A R C H 2 0 1 7
Join Joanna Worsley on a magical tour of Myanmar’s ‘golden triangle’and discover a land and a people unchanged by time. • M arvel at Yangon’s spectacular 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda and explore the vast array of exquisite temples and pagodas that dot the plains of Bagan • E mbark on a two-night cruise on the Ayeryarwady River to the ‘Royal City’ of Mandalay aboard the charming colonial style RV Paukan
• Visit one of Colombia’s most beautiful colonial villages, Villa de Leyva, and wander through the charming streets of the historic walled city of Cartagena
• Explore some of India’s best kept secrets in Madya Pradesh including Orchha with its collection of majestic abandoned cenotaphs and the 8th century Gwalior Fort, approached through a canyon of mysterious giant rock sculptures of naked Jain deities
• W itness one of the country’s most enduring traditions, the leg rowing of Inle’s famous Intha fishermen
TOUR PRICE: £5,735 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 5 8 0
TOUR PRICE: £4,995 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 1 , 1 4 5
TOUR PRICE: £5,995 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 1 , 4 9 5
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S T. P E T E R S B U R G : T R E A S U R E S O F THE RUSSIAN TSARS 2 2 – 2 6 F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 7
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.
DURRELL EXPEDITION: MADAGASCAR, ALDABRA & THE SEYCHELLES 2 4 F E B R U A RY – 9 M A R C H 2 0 1 7 (Waiting list)
• See the beautifully-preserved palaces of Pavlovsk, Yussupov and the Catherine Palace
Travel with Ultimate Director Martin Thompson and Amelia Dalton, with lectures from Dr Lee Durrell and Dr Mark Stanley Price, on our fifth but arguably most exciting expedition in association with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
• Study the extraordinary treasures of the State Hermitage in the Winter Palace with curator Professor Alexei Leporc
• Sail aboard the luxurious small expedition vessel, MS Island Sky, chartered exclusively and crewed by an experienced expedition team
• 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
• Search for lemurs, chameleons and endangered tortoises in two of Madagascar’s major national parks
TOUR PRICE: £2,395 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 3 9 0
TOUR PRICE: £8,880 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 3 , 6 0 0
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• Land by zodiac on the empty beaches of the outer Seychelles and snorkel in the clear blue waters of the Aldabra Atoll
ART IN VIENNA
16 – 19 MARCH 2017
Join art historian Douglas Skeggs and Marie-Thérèse Hill on this enchanting tour which embodies the very essence of Vienna, with the option to see Richard Strauss’ opera Arabella at the famous Wiener Staatsoper. • Hear Mass sung by the Vienna Boys’ choir at the Imperial Chapel, the oldest part of the Royal Palace, dating back to the Middle Ages • Enjoy a special private visit and lunch at the 17th-century Schloss Ludwigstorff on the banks of the Danube • Visit the city’s magnificent art collections from the Old Masters of the Kunsthistorisches Museum to the late-19th and early-20th century masterpieces in the Belvedere Palace and the newly re-opened Liechtenstein Palace TOUR PRICE: £1,995 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 2 6 0
IRAN: PERSIAN TREASURES 2 – 16 MARCH 2017 4 – 18 SEPTEMBER 2017 Explore this remarkable country with Sylvie Franquet, discover its vibrant cities, exquisite Islamic architecture and incomparable archaeological sites, legacy of the mighty Persian Empire, and enjoy the traditional warmth and hospitality of its people. • V isit the sacred shrines, tombs and lush gardens of Shiraz, city of ‘roses and nightingales’ and the famous archaeological site of Persepolis • S ee the Zoroastrian Fire Temple and Towers of Silence in the city of Yazd, historically the centre for Iran’s Zoroastrian community • Visit the exquisitely decorated Imam and Friday Mosques in Isfahan, one of the greatest cities of Islam, and spend time in its famous bazaar TOUR PRICE: FROM £3,985 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: F R O M £ 6 3 0
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SOUTH AFRICA: BAT T L E F I E L D S A N D BODEGAS 19 MARCH – 1 APRIL 2017
Join explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison and his wife Louella on an exceptional journey – from battlefields rich in history to the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town and the surrounding spectacular scenery and wildlife. • Discover Kwazulu Natal, steeped in history and scarred with the battlefields of the Zulu Wars and the clashes of the Boers and the British • Get in touch with nature at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, with more than 130 ancient Bushman rock art sites and home to many endangered species of flora and fauna • D iscover the Cape Winelands to see some of its most historic wine estates and cellars and sample some fine wines TOUR PRICE: £4,995 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 9 9 5
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PERU: LAND OF THE C O N Q U I S TA D O R S
TEXAS WITH WILD INSIGHTS
Museum guide and author Leslie Hummel takes a captivating tour to Peru to explore the rich history, culture and scenic beauty of one of South America’s most fascinating countries.
Keith and Linda Offord of Wild Insights take you on a circular tour in the peak migration period, exploring some of the finest birdwatching sites throughout Texas.
• Visit Machu Picchu, the famous mountain-top ‘Lost City of the Incas’, before travelling down the Sacred Valley on the luxury Hiram Bingham train
• Travel the Gulf coast, visiting Goose Island, Aransas Bay and Mustang Island which host multitudes of water birds while waves of migrants arrive from the Yucatan
• Explore Colca Canyon, the world’s deepest river gorge (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon) to search for the Andean Condor, the world’s largest flying bird
• Look out for squadrons of migrating raptors in the Rio Grande Valley and Texan specialities such as Green Jay and Altamira Oriole, not forgetting the Greater Roadrunner
• Take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca with its man-made floating Uros islands, home to the Aymara and Quechua Indians who predate the Incas by over 1000 years
• Spend three idyllic nights in Edwards Plateau, typical Texas hill-country and home to Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo and a plethora of breeding species
TOUR PRICE: £5,445 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 1 , 0 9 5
TOUR PRICE: £3,850 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 5 5 0
29 MARCH – 10 APRIL 2017
8 – 23 APRIL 2017
PORTUGAL: THE DOURO, A REGAL EXPERIENCE 3 0 A P R I L – 6 M AY 2 0 1 7
Travel with Marie-Thérèse Hill to Northern Portugal’s Douro Valley extending from the city of Porto to the eastern border, renowned for its port wine and the unique scenery sculpted by the Douro River and its tributaries • Enjoy a three night cruise on the Queen’s former Royal Barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, passing terraced vineyards and medieval villages • D iscover the Minho region as a guest of the Count of Calheiro, staying three nights at the 600 years old Regal Manor in Paço de Calheiros, situated near Ponte de Lima, Portugal’s oldest village • V isit Porto city with its 16th-century arcaded buildings, hill-top cathedral and 19th-century iron bridge, built by the school of Gustav Eiffel TOUR PRICE: FROM £2,725 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 7 9 5
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S I C I LY: C O N QU E S T A N D C U LT U R E 6 – 1 3 M AY 2 0 1 7
Susie Orso explores not only the island’s most magnificent archaeological and historical sites, but also its beautiful countryside and coastline in springtime bloom. • Enjoy exclusive visits to a private garden with lunch ‘al fresco’, a magnificent private palace and the Palatine Chapel with its intricate mosaics • S ee the ancient ruins of Syracuse, once the greatest city in the Greek world and
the superb Roman Villa Imperiale at Casale and stay at the 5 star Hotel Villa Athena with breath-taking views of the Temples at Agrigento • D rive from the historic city of Palermo to see the great Norman cathedral of Monreale and the spectacular Doric temple at Segesta TOUR PRICE: £2,745 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 5 9 0
DISCOVER PUGLIA 1 0 – 1 5 M AY 2 0 1 7
Travel with Tania Illingworth to one of Italy’s most beautiful yet least-known and unspoiled regions where centuries of foreign domination have left a rich cultural legacy • Discover the Greek, Byzantine and Norman architectural influences and distinctive Puglian Romanesque style of sea-shore churches • Visit the fine cathedrals of Trani and Ruvo, 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, the ‘Florence of the South’
TOUR PRICE: £1,940 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 1 9 0
T H E B A LT I C C A P I TA L S : R I G A & VILNIUS 1 0 – 1 6 M AY 2 0 1 7
Professor Alexei Leporc, curator of the State Hermitage St. Petersburg, accompanied by Cicely Taylor, gives an illuminating introduction to two of the Baltic’s most attractive cities, the capitals of Latvia and Lithuania. • E xplore the beautifully preserved and restored Old Towns of Riga and Vilnius where medieval, gothic and baroque architecture lines the picturesque cobbled streets • V isit the 18th century Rundãle Palace near Riga, the finest Russian Empire palace in the Baltic States • S ee the dramatic 14th century Trakai Castle, former summer residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, set on an island in Trakai National Park TOUR PRICE: £2,595 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 4 2 5
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EASTERN AUSTRIA: WILDLIFE & VIENNA 1 3 – 2 0 M AY 2 0 1 7
Travel with wildlife and ornithology expert Andy Bunten to the eastern lowland region of Austria, an area of outstanding diversity of birds and other wildlife, ending with a chance to sample the cultural wonders of Vienna.
GARDENS OF NORTHERN IRELAND 26 – 30 JUNE 2017
Harriet Landseer takes a very special tour to Northern Ireland, based in Belfast with visits, many by special permission, to the spectacular gardens on the great landed estates of Counties Down, Antrim and Fermanagh.
• See butterflies, amphibians, migratory and resident birds on the vast reedbeds of Lake Neusiedl, one of Europe’s least known and most important wildlife hotspots
• Join the head gardener for a tour of the formal gardens of Mount Stewart, possibly the best garden in the British Isles, and see Athenian Stuart’s Temple of the Winds (described as the finest folly in all of Ireland)
• Search for Great Bustards on the Tadten Plain by the Hungarian border and cross into Hungary to explore the lakes, marshes and wet forests of the ‘Hansag’
• Enjoy drinks at Seaforde built by the Forde family in an extraordinary setting surrounded by lakes and fine parkland which has been transformed into a wild rhododendron garden
• Watch nesting storks on the colourful houses of the attractive village of Rust and walk on Hohe Wand, a spectacular wooded, ancient volcanic plateau rising from the plain
• Lunch privately at Glenarm Castle, principal seat of the Earl of Antrim with its awardwinning gardens and visit Castle Coole, the greatest Palladian house in Ireland
TOUR PRICE: £3,095 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 2 9 5
TOUR PRICE: £1,995 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 2 5 0
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N O RT H W E S T PA S S AG E : A RC T I C O C E A N 11 – 26 AUGUST 2017 Join Ultimate Director Nick Van Gruisen and polar expert Dr Huw Lewis-Jones on an epic voyage through the fabled Northwest Passage from Greenland’s imposing fjords to the ice cliffs of Canada’s high Arctic region. • Sail aboard the Polar research vessel Akademik Ioffe, chartered exclusively for the 12-night voyage • Meet single-tusked narwhal, walrus and polar bear, the undisputed ‘Lord of the Arctic’ • Listen to an on board team of lecturers, historians and marine specialists bring the fascinating geography, history and culture of the Arctic to life TOUR PRICE: FROM £8,840 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: F R O M £ 2 , 3 7 0
© Keith Offord
ANDALUCIA WITH WILD INSIGHTS 9 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2017
Keith and Linda Offord of Wild Insights help you enjoy one of the greatest natural spectacles, the massed migration of raptors and other soaring birds. • S pend a relaxing week based at one perfectlysituated, tranquil hotel enjoying great birdwatching and a delightful balmy climate • S can the skies for migrating White and Black Storks, Honey Buzzards, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Montagu’s Harriers and Black Kites plus resident Bonelli’s Eagles and Black-winged Kites to name a few • V isit selected wetlands in search of passage waders and bird-rich valleys carpeted with cork oak trees - resting places for Hoopoes, Rollers, Woodchat Shrikes and Bee-eaters TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
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RO M A N I A : B U C OV I N A & MARAMURES 16 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2017 Gillian Craig returns to Romania to visit the exquisitely painted monasteries and carved wooden churches of the north set in the most beautiful and unspoilt landscape in Europe. • M arvel at the 15th to 17th century wellpreserved painted churches of Bucovina, where biblical scenes and Moldavian legend are depicted in rich hues including Sucevita, Moldovita, Humor and Voronet • E xplore the sleepy backwater of Maramures, one of the most isolated regions of Romania, and discover its tall, steep belfried, carved wooden churches • H ave lunch with a local family, stay on a farm, visit a farmers’ market and discover their folk traditions that keep a strong link with the past TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
MADRID & TOLEDO REVISITED 12 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2017
Tania Illingworth leads a delightful tour to the city of Madrid, one of the most fascinating in Spain, renowned for its architectural masterpieces, unique artistic treasures and vibrant way of life. • Spend half a day in the famous Prado Musuem concentrating on the works of Velasquez and Goya • Visit the city’s other world renowned art collections: the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, the Museo Sorolla and the Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art • Venture to the historic city of Toledo, former capital of Spain, to explore Moorish cultural heritage and its links with the artist El Greco TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
THE TREASURES OF FLORENCE & AREZZO
MANTUA FOR THE CONNOISSEUR
Marie-Thérèse Hill and renowned art historian Douglas Skeggs explore in depth the incomparable art and architecture in the beautiful city of Florence and nearby Arezzo.
Explore Mantua and its surrounding province with guest lecturer and historian Sir Roy Strong and Nicola Howard on a tour which promises to be a feast for the senses with fine food, delightful music and stunning architecture.
21 – 25 SEPTEMBER 2017
• Explore Florence’s magnificent gothic Duomo and Baptistery, on a private after hours visit • Visit the city’s incomparable art collections such as the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, and the Uffizi, to see works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo • Take a day trip to Arezzo to visit the Legend of the Cross fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca in the Church of San Francesco
TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
27 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER 2017
• L earn of Mantua’s Renaissance heyday under the influential Gonzaga Dynasty whilst visiting the Camera degli Sposi, the beautiful painted chamber inside Mantua’s Ducal Palace • H ear a Stradivarius violin recital in Cremona’s medieval Palazzo Comunale and discover the Renaissance jewel of Sabbioneta town • Create traditional dishes in a cookery class, visit the local market, lunch at Michelin-starred restaurant Aquila Nigra and dine privately at the sumptuous Venetian Villa Sigurtà TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
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M O R O C C O : C O L O U R S & F L AV O U R S
C A R AVA G G I O I N R O M E & M A LTA
Renowned photojournalist and restaurateurs, Chris and Carolyn Caldicott lead a culinary and photographic safari off the beaten track in Morocco, with cookery demonstrations and photography workshops throughout.
Guest Lecturer and art historian Peter Lauritzen and Nicola Howard follow the stormy career of Caravaggio, considered by many to be the most revolutionary artist of his time, from Rome to Malta.
7 – 18 OCTOBER 2017
• Explore the spice souks, gardens and hammams of Marrakech and buy fresh fish for lunch on the harbour wall in Essaouira • Discover the mud mosques of Tiznit, the art-deco Spanish colonial outpost of Sidi Ifni and the deserted wild Atlantic beaches of the deep south • Visit the oasis kasbahs and camel markets of the Sahara and the Berber villages of the High Atlas Mountains.
TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
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6 – 11 NOVEMBER 2017
• Explore the galleries and churches housing works by Caravaggio in Rome including the Capitoline Museum, the Doria Pamphili Gallery and the churches of San Luigi dei Francesi and Santa Maria del Popolo
THE MASAI MARA IN DEPTH: K E N YA W I L D L I F E T O U R 6 – 19 NOVEMBER 2017
Experienced naturalist, wildlife tour leader and nature photographer Mike Mockler returns to Kenya focussing on the spectacular game-rich Masai Mara, regarded by many as the country’s finest wildlife area. • S tay in intimate, comfortable tented camps in more secluded conservancies, rich in wildlife and with few tourist vehicles
• Enjoy a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, source of inspiration for Caravaggio and drinks at Casino Boncompagni Ludovisi with its frescoed ceiling by Caravaggio
• V iew lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and hippopotamus in 4-wheel drive vehicles with the camps’ own Masai guides and spot some of the thousands of migrant birds
• Visit St. John’s Cathedral, home to Caravaggio’s Decapitation of St. John the Baptist, and the Grand Master’s Palace in Malta, where Caravaggio was made a Knight of the Order of St. John
• J oin Mike on the optional extension to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, an important rhinoceros sanctuary in northern Kenya
TOUR PRICE: TO BE ADVISED
TOUR PRICE: £6,950 PER PERSON S I N G L E S U P P L E M E N T: £ 1 , 0 8 0
FIND OUT MORE If you would like to find out about any of the tours featured in this brochure or receive a booking form, please complete and return this postage paid card. Alternatively, telephone one of our experts direct on 020 3411 4595 or email us on enquiry@theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk
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