World art tours

Tashkent, Nukus, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
With Iain Shearer

Discover the ‘Jewel of Central Asia’, a land of vast steppes, verdant oases and ancient mountain ranges, where diverse cultures produce delicate textiles and stunning art and architecture.

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Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Amsterdam
With Kate Kangaslahti

Encounter the rich art historical tradition of the Low Countries on this tour of the galleries and museums of Belgium and the Netherlands. Experience everything from the sublime to the surreal at Belgium’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, before journeying through the countryside to the Flemish jewel of Ghent to admire the Van Eyck brothers’ world-famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Learn about the rise, fall and resurrection of picturesque Bruges before continuing to Antwerp, home of the legendary Flemish Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens.

Finally, explore Amsterdam and wonder at the treasures of the Van Gogh Museum, before uncovering the history of Dutch art from the Middle Ages to the modern day at the magnificent and recently-renovated Rijksmuseum. Along the way, marvel at the exquisite architecture of the region and delight in the natural beauties of the landscape of the Low Countries. 

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Basel and Zurich
With Gitte Weise

Experience the vast wealth and diversity of art and architecture in Switzerland, visiting a series of superb institutions with collections that showcase masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Encounter the work of the legendary European artists who have been drawn to Switzerland for centuries, including Picasso, Monet, Chagall and Giacometti, and admire the unique design of the buildings that house these iconic collections. Wander the tree-lined boulevards of Basel and Zurich, as autumn descends upon these riverside cities. 

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A sumptuous river cruise from Frankfurt to Vienna
With classical music broadcaster Christopher Lawrence and art and history expert Thomas Abbott

Board the luxurious MS Amadeus Queen in Frankfurt and unpack your bags for a relaxed cruise combining the majesty of two great European rivers: the Main and the Danube, waterways that have inspired artists and musicians for centuries.

Enjoy a panorama of European art, history and music, including a series of exclusive onboard concerts that evoke the grandeur of Europe’s enduring cultural influence. Explore the art and culture of Franconia and Bavaria, for centuries at the crossroads of Europe and brimming with well-preserved art and architecture from the Middle Ages to the Baroque.

Disembark in Vienna to spend four days uncovering the City of Music’s extraordinary cultural legacy, visiting outstanding museums and galleries and attending world-class performances by acclaimed orchestras.

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Corsica and Sardinia
With Christopher Allen

Discover an enchanting yet unfamiliar corner of the western Mediterranean, enjoying the rich and distinctive history, art and archaeology, excellent local cuisine and spectacular scenery of these two islands.

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Padua, Ravenna, Urbino and Bologna
With Lorraine Kypiotis

Explore the treasures of eastern Italy, admiring Byzantine mosaics, Gothic architecture and Renaissance masterpieces in less-visited towns with vibrant local food cultures and picturesque locations. 

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Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York
With Anthony Burke 

Travel to three key American cities, where icons such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Alexander Calder shaped the world’s impressions and understanding of modern design.

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Contemporary art, architecture and design in Japan
With Kathryn Hunyor 

Journey to the great cultural metropolis of Tokyo and the celebrated Setouchi ‘art islands’ to appreciate Japan’s bold and unique aesthetic in contemporary art, architecture and design. 

Traditional yet futuristic, timeless yet fast-moving, Japan has developed a bold and unique aesthetic in contemporary art, architecture and design that permeates all aspects of everyday life. The aesthetic adventure begins with ‘the-city-as-museum’, exploring Tokyo’s extraordinary new architectural masterpieces, art museums, design spaces and commercial urban complexes. Continue to the extraordinary ‘art islands’ of Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima, where Japan’s artistic culture brims with a new confidence, and creates some of the most exciting and authentic contemporary Japanese art experiences.

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Prague, Brussels and Paris
With Claudia Chan Shaw

Immerse yourself in three major European capitals, admiring the aesthetic pleasures of two much-loved styles in art, architecture and design: art nouveau and art deco.

Discover the picturesque streets and artistic charms of three of Europe’s culture capitals. Wander the halls of Prague’s Municipal House and Koruna Palace, both impressive displays of Czech art nouveau. Explore the streets of Brussels and the architectural designs of Victor Horta, one of art nouveau’s defining figures, and visit the Grand-Place, featuring 17th-century architecture. Meander your way through the markets of Paris, a gold mine for lovers of vintage items and eccentricities, and a testament to the ongoing love of the jewels of the belle époque period.

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Art, culture and landscapes of Morocco
With Alex McKay

Traverse the Kingdom of Morocco, from the Mediterranean port of Tangier, across the Atlas Mountains to the sands of the Sahara and the bustling souqs of Marrakesh.

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Singapore
With Claudia Chan Shaw

With art deco expert Claudia Chan Shaw, discover Singapore’s architectural gems and fascinating art collections, from grand art deco buildings to cutting-edge contemporary art museums and galleries.

Singapore has reinvented itself in the last decades as a cosmopolitan art scene, embracing its British colonial past and diverse Asian influences in vibrant modern galleries and collections. Explore this cultural melting pot in the city’s lively neighbourhoods, including art deco Tiong Bahru, colourful Little India and the fascinating nineteenth-century Muslim enclave Kampong Glam, as well as in laneways with vibrant Peranakan shophouses and unique street art.

Gain private access to dynamic collections and galleries in Bugis, Kampong and at the elegantly restored Gillman Barracks that hosts the city’s newest arts precinct. Encounter the region’s diverse heritage at the Asian Civilisations Museum and the National Museum of Singapore, and admire Moshe Safdie’s extraordinary design for the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands.

Enhance your appreciation with the expertise of your tour leader, art deco expert Claudia Chan Shaw, and fine gourmet experiences in Singapore’s stylish dining and cocktail scene. 

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Explore the natural and cultural riches of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to discover a complex mix of religion, art and architecture. Nestled between the Black and Caspian Seas, and surrounded by the former Russian, Persian, Ottoman and Byzantine empires, the peoples of the Caucasus have developed proud, independent traditions of their own, with a rich and complex mix of religion, language and art that has fired the imagination of travellers for centuries. Discover the sacred Byzantine monasteries and churches of Armenia, wander the galleries and museums of Georgia, and explore the old palaces, mosques and markets of Azerbaijan. Visit today’s three capitals of Yerevan, Tbilisi and Baku and enjoy the fascinating blend of ancient tradition and contemporary cosmopolitan life.

Discover a lesser-known part of Russia from the ancient capital treasures of Moscow to the Golden Ring cities of Vladimir and Suzdal and follow the Volga River to Nizhny Novgorod and cosmopolitan Kazan. Begin in Moscow, where monuments from Russia’s long and tumultuous history bear witness to the grandeur of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Visit Vladimir and Suzdal, glittering jewels in the country’s ‘Golden Ring’ of ancient cities overflowing with traditional kremlins, monasteries, medieval churches and iconic onion-topped domes which have escaped industrialisation. Explore the technicolour churches and museums of Nizhny Novgorod at the confluence of the Volga and Oka Rivers, then travel to Kazan, the unique capital of the semi-autonomous Tatarstan Republic.

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Traverse the picturesque landscapes of Austria and Slovenia and sail the azure waters of the Adriatic coast of Croatia to discover a rich diversity of art, architecture, culture, history and nature. Enjoy Vienna’s exceptional art collections in the renowned Kunsthistorisches Museum. Savour iconic works by Gustav Klimt in the Belvedere Palace and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of the city’s MuseumsQuartier. Discover a local expression of Art Nouveau in lovely Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, and absorb the breath-taking beauty of Slovenia’s Bled and Bohinj lakes. Be charmed by Pula, Rovinj and Poreč, coastal towns along Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula. From the Belle Époque town of Opatija, sail along the dramatic Dalmatian coast to the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik.

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Uncover the unique culture and history of Uzbekistan, the ‘Jewel of Central Asia’, from the golden city of Samarkand to the towering minarets of Khiva and ancient Bukhara. Uzbekistan was the crossroads of the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that connected China with the Mediterranean. For over two millennia it has absorbed the diverse influences brought by passing merchants and travellers into a unique melting pot of cultural practices. In the capital Tashkent, discover the modern energy of Uzbekistan. Explore the archaeological legacy of the conquering general Timur (Tamerlane) in the romantic cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, which are still crowned with dazzling turquoise-tiled mosques. Visit Nukus and Timur’s birthplace, Shakhrisabz, and meet village artisans upholding ancient traditions of distinctive, hand-made crafts along the way.

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Traverse a glittering section of the Mediterranean coast and discover why artists such as Matisse, Picasso and Cézanne were drawn to this picturesque region. Uncover the layers of European civilization built up along the Côte d’Azur, from ancient Roman ruins and medieval cities to Renaissance villas and the meticulously conserved studios of the modernist masters. Retrace the footsteps of literary greats and artists from around the world, including Matisse in Nice, Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer and Picasso in Antibes, Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and Cézanne in Aix-en-Provence. View beautiful Gothic architecture in Avignon and the Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes. Explore Saint-Remy-de-Provence, the landscape which inspired Van Gogh’s most iconic artworks, and end in Marseille’s thriving Old Port.

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Experience the famously hospitable cultures of North Africa and explore ancient settlements, bustling souqs and a dynamic contemporary arts and culture scene. Delve into the intricacies of North Africa’s unique blend of Arab and Berber cultures and discover ancient Roman and Carthaginian sites, Berber villages, distinctive Islamic sites and French colonial heritage. Starting in Tunisia, discover both the ancient and modern history of the country’s vibrant capital city Tunis with its white-washed medinas, and visit the fascinating archaeological site of Carthage. In Morocco visit the country’s so-called Royal Cities, ancient capitals of great imperial dynasties that display some of the most majestic expressions of both ancient and modern Islamic architecture. Delight in the region’s diverse cuisine and travel through an extraordinary variety of landscapes with spectacular gorges, pastoral valleys, deserts and rugged hills.

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Discover the rich world of cultural rivalry between Italy’s two greatest cities through a hidden complex of archives, libraries, galleries, and artefacts that have shaped Western thought and life throughout the ages. Florence claimed to be the birthplace of humanism, a new Athens, while Rome refashioned its ancient glory as the capital of an even greater Christian empire. These two cities have long had a history of rivalry, competing in politics, economics and, above all, through culture.Today the libraries and archives of both cities house unparalleled collections central to the Renaissance and display art and architecture that served to bolster their prestige.

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From ancient cultures to modern cities bursting with music, dance, cuisine and contemporary art, discover an unparalleled feast for the senses of Latin America’s most colourful nation. Unravel the layered history of Mexico, from the mesmerising myths and legends of the pre-Hispanic world to the vibrant cutting-edge of contemporary culture. Begin with an exploration of Mexico City including visits to the Museum of Modern Art and the National Museum of Anthropology, showcasing the world’s largest collection of Olmec, Mayan and Aztec art. Visit the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Templo Mayor and explore the colonial heritage of the historical centre. In vibrant Coyoacán discover the lives and art of legendary artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Spend a day at Teotihuacán to explore the spectacular Aztec pyramids and travel to the elegant city of Oaxaca, bastion of indigenous culture.

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Explore the monolith rock churches of Lalibela, the monasteries of Axum and the proud imperial castles of Gondar, built by the heirs of King Solomon. From the 3.2 million-year-old skeleton of Lucy to the Queen of Sheba and the mighty Emperors of the Solomonic Dynasty who held out against European colonisation, Ethiopia has been the heart of African civilisation since time immemorial. One of the very first kingdoms to adopt Christianity as its state religion in the 4th century CE, Ethiopia evolved a distinct religious and cultural tradition which gave rise to stunning works of architecture such as the monolithic Lalibela rock churches, hewn from solid rock, the 24-metre-tall Great Stela of Axum and the 17th century Castle of Gondar, the ‘Camelot of Africa’. Along the way, visit the verdant Simien Mountains to discover jaw-dropping natural beauty and come face-to-face with wildlife native to this region.

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Uncover the hidden secrets of northern Sudan’s sweeping deserts and astounding archaeological sites, dominated by the mighty Nile River and its tributaries. With more pyramids than even Egypt has to offer, explore the remnants of Sudan’s Nubian Pyramids and ancient necropolises. Absorb the vast and powerful history of the ancient Kushite civilisation and discover the temples surrounding Jebel Barkal and Naqa. Compare this with the lively, modern capital of Khartoum with its fascinating souks and famously hospitable locals, before delving into the antiquity of the vibrant Omdurman souk.

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Auckland, Napier and Wellington
With Claudia Chan Shaw, art deco specialist

Join Art Deco expert Claudia Chan Shaw to discover the architectural gems and fascinating collections from the inter-war period of New Zealand’s North Island and explore how the country’s contemporary and Pacific Islander art scene enlivens the nation’s cultural life. Discover Napier, the city resurrected from the rubble of the devastating 1931 earthquake and completely rebuilt in the contemporary style of the time, now recognised as the most intact Art Deco city in the world.

In Wellington, appreciate the city’s rich Art Deco heritage and fine collection of museums and galleries, including its impressive national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa. In Auckland, gain an insight into New Zealand’s Maori and Pacific culture and art with visits to its museums and galleries, and take in the magnificent vistas across Waitemata Harbour.

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