Travel on the Karakoram Highway to the old kingdom of Hunza, where Three Empires meet, and which Eric Shipton regarded “the epitome of mountain grandeur“

Sailing from the Black Sea to Budapest, this is a fascinating and multi-faceted journey, revealing the less-known reaches of the Danube, and cruising through the ravishing riverscapes which connect the countries, capitals, and cultures along its remarkable route

A heady blend of ancient sites, stunning scenery, charming towns and glorious churches, this is our ‘grand tour’ of Sicily, its highlights varying from Aeolian Isles to UNESCO sites, Mount Etna to Marsala wine, and the Scicli film locations of Inspector Montalbano

From baroque castles to beautiful bucolic villages, from hilltop medieval ruins to valleys cloaked in the vineyards of age-old wine estates, from mountain scenery to ocean shore, enjoy the ever-changing landscapes of this unique Royal Barge cruise on the Douro

An unhurried antidote to the pace of modern life, this ‘no fly’ tour takes the train to Avignon, and cruises from Roman ruins in Arles to revelations on the Canal du Rhône à Sète, in medieval Aigues-Mortes, the Camargue wilderness, and Étang de Thau sea-lake

Experience Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities, from metropolitan Tashkent to Old Khiva’s towers and cupolas, across the Kyzylkum Desert to beautiful Bukhara, and into exotic Samarkand

A wonderful waltz with the Danube’s drift, this classic cruise goes with the flow from Austrian Melk and Vienna to Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava; and sails the natural, national border to Hungary, to visit the Puszta prairie, beautiful Budapest, and Esztergom’s Basilica

Touring magnificent landscapes and medieval landmarks, this coastal cruise calls at charismatic towns, and takes the ‘back to Nature’ routes to uninhabited islands and peaceful national parks, revealing the secret scenic splendour of Croatia’s untamed interior

Crossing Croatia and Slovenia, from convivial Zagreb to elegant Ljubljana, this is a tour of capital cities, coastal towns, and natural wonders; where a Roman theatre, medieval churches, and modern resorts share the bill with magnificent lakes and mythical caves

In the scenic surrounds of Lakes Como, Lugano and Maggiore, beautiful villas and their bountiful gardens have inspired poets and painters, brilliant botanists, and dedicated designers. This is a week to enjoy the vibrant results of the visionary landscapers’ labours

A very varied journey through Sicily’s less-visited sites, this tour reveals the hidden gems of cultural heritage and contrasting landscapes, from Aeolian Islands to ostentatious Baroque towns, and from fishing villages to the fictional world of Inspector Montalbano

Four countries, four capitals, and seven centuries of architectural styles, in their street-scenes and monuments, form the focus of this intriguing Baltics tour, as we travel to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and take the ferry across the Gulf for a final day in Finland