Guided lights
With someone else doing all the planning , all you have to do is turn up and enjoy these fabulous escorted experiences. By Jane Memmler
India Titan
An escorted tour is the perfect introduction to India. Touring the “Golden Triangle” of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra you’ll get a taste of India’s majestic highlights.
Historic Delhi with its frenetic traffic, the grand India Gate, Red Fort and colourful bazaars, is as exhausting as it is exhilarating.
Jaipur, the Pink City with its rose-hued buildings, is overlooked by the sprawling Amber Fort and the Taj Mahal in Agra needs no introduction. Take game drives in Ranthambore National Park, once a royal hunting ground, where you might spot Bengal tigers and leopards.
■ Ten nights from £1,899pp. Depart Oct 2023. titantravel.co.uk
Bhutan Cox & Kings
Mystical Bhutan is known as the happiest country on Earth. You’ll begin in the capital, Thimphu, overlooked by Punakha Dzong, the 17th-century fortress.
Tucked in between India and China, this pristine Buddhist Kingdom feels cut off from the modern world. You’ll discover remote villages, sample traditional cuisine and try the national sport of archery. ■ 12 nights from £3,895pp. Depart Feb 2023. coxandkings.co.uk
New Zealand Distant Journeys
This trip of a lifetime, via road, rail and sea will take you from the UK to Singapore, Dubai or Bangkok to break the journey for two nights, before touching down in Auckland with its modern skyline and waterfront restaurants. At the Bay of Islands take a cruise to get up close to its wildlife. In Rotorua, famous for its turbulent geysers, you’ll sample Maori cooking before moving on to the capital, Wellington.
There are also stays in Christchurch and Queenstown, set around beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Lord of the Rings fans are well catered for with much of the trilogy filmed in the area.
■ 27 days from £4,995pp. Depart April 2023. distantjourneys.co.uk onboard a vintage train. Finally there’s a stop in Los Angeles.
■ 12 days from £2,695pp. Depart
May 2023. greatrail.com
Australia SAGA
Starting in Sydney, this 18-night tour begins with highlights such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the Rocks area.
From Port Douglas in Queensland you’ll catamaran out to the Great Barrier Reef and in Australia’s red centre, you’ll visit the sacred Aboriginal sites of the Olgas and Uluru.
There’s also visits to the West and its progressive capital Perth, home to some of Australia’s finest beaches. Visits include lively New Orleans and ■ 18 nights from £5,319pp. the beautiful French Quarter CAPITAL Depart Jan 2023.
with its ornate balconies, travel.saga.co.uk
and a cruise on the Mississippi. By night, do a crawl of the countless jazz bars. Next it’s music crazy Nashville, then on to Memphis to visit legendary Sun Studio and Elvis’s home at Graceland. ■ Nine days from £1,799pp.
Depart March 2023. leger.co.uk
US Deep South Leger America’s West Coast Great Rail Journeys
This fabulous rail tour takes you through the best of the West. In laid-back, quirky San Francisco there are trips to Fisherman’s Wharf and the chance to go to Alcatraz.
Next it’s on to the magnificent Yosemite National Park and Sin City, Las Vegas, before seeing the incredible Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon
Canada Rocky Mountaineer Newmarket Holidays
Nothing can compare to the spectacular Canadian Rockies. This 11-day tour starts in Banff before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer train which takes you through stupendous scenery to beautiful Vancouver.
Stop off at historical Gastown and Granville Island’s colourful market. You’ll drive along the Icefields Parkway, dotted in glaciers, enjoy a guided tour of
Vancouver and see the spectacular alpine town of Jasper via the Skytram.
■ 11 days from £3,064pp. Depart Oct 2023. newmarketholidays.co.uk
Mekong River, Asia Riviera
The Mekong weaves through southeast Asia and a seven-night cruise down this mighty waterway will reveal stilted houses and floating markets. Also planned are memorable visits to the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, plus Phnom Penh and Saigon. You can plunge into the Cu Chi tunnels, built during the Vietnam war and enjoy the sensational local cuisine.
■ 15 days from £3,549pp. Depart
Jan 2023. rivieratravel.co.uk
Mauritius SAGA
Beautiful Mauritius in the Indian Ocean offers both a relaxing yet historical adventure. You’ll be based along the coast in two different locations – Bel Ombre on the island’s South West with incredible powdersand beaches and Belle Mare in the East. The 16-night tour features visits to Land Bassin, Mahebourg Naval Museum and the port town of Souillac. Also featured is rum tasting, a visit to a grand colonial house and tea garden, and the Historic Maine Model Ship Factory.
■ 16 nights from £3,449pp. Depart May 2023. travel.saga.co.uk