historical trips main brochure 2017

THE HISTORY THAT SHAPED US

2017 TOUR PROGRAMME

WELCOME TOHISTORICAL TRIPS2017 Programme

Dear Traveller,

Here it is, our 2017 programme of tours — spanning four continents, seventeen countries, and 1000 years of history.

This year, we have not one, not two, but fifteen original tours joining the ranks of our returning favourites — so much for the notion of history having nothing new to share with us! Ernest Hemingway once quipped that “wine is the most civilized thing in the world” and we’re inclined to agree with him, which is why you’ll find five fresh History & Wine tours strategically placed within our new tour programme. Raise a glass to the past while travelling across Umbria’s One Hundred Hills, the Loire Valley’s lavish châteaux, and many more mouth-watering destinations.

Whilst we await all of our tours with the same sense of eager anticipation, there is one tour in particular that’s had our office talking — Iran: Mirrors of the Unseen. Award-winning travel writer Jason Elliot, will lead our tour through a country which consistently defies categorisation. From the ancient ruins of Yazd to the bustling metropolis of modern Tehran, serene gardens to ornate palaces, this journey through Iran’s history will surely be one to remember. If you’re the sort of person who likes to organise their travel plans as early as possible, you might like to take a look at our back pages. We’ve included a 2018 teaser of The Lunatic Express, examining the journey of the infamous Kenyan railway line.

With such a broad span of history to tempt the traveller inside of you, we’re sure you’ll find the right tour for you. But, if you have something more specific in mind — for a society you belong to, or a certain anniversary — please get in touch, we’d be happy to help you arrange your bespoke tour.

I hope that you enjoy our brochure, and look forward to welcoming you on tour in 2017.

MICHAEL IVEY DIRECTOR, HISTORICAL TRIPS

CONTENTSTOP TEN REASONSpage ................................................................ 3

TOURS BY ERApage .............................................................4-5

CALENDARpage .............................................................6-7

TRAVELLING WITH USpage ............................................................. 8-9

GUIDE LECTURERSpage ......................................................... 10-11

MEDIEVAL WORLDpage ......................................................... 12-25

THE RENAISSANCEpage ......................................................... 26-39

EARLY MODERN LIFEpage ......................................................... 40-51

20TH CENTURYpage ......................................................... 52-85

THE LUNATIC EXPRESSpage ......................................................... 86-87

BOOKING INFORMATIONpage ......................................................... 88-89

F.A.Qspage ............................................................... 90

GET IN TOUCHpage ................................................................91

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TOP 10 REASONS TO TRAVEL WITH HISTORICAL TRIPS

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HISTORY AT ITS HEART | Here at Historical Trips, history is at the heart of everything we do as we put our passion for the past into exploring over nine centuries’ worth of world-changing events. SPECIAL ACCESS | Many of our tours present the opportunity for exclusive access or added extras at a range of sites, allowing you to go even further into the history of people and places. EXCITING DESTINATIONS | From Jamestown to Jerusalem and Nairobi to Nantes, our tour schedule is full to the brim with fantastic destinations, including old favourites and new frontiers. ALL INCLUSIVE | No need to worry about tips, tipple, or travel — just leave it to us. The price of flights, all meals — the vast majority with wine at lunch and dinner — site entry, gratuities, and hotels are all included in the price of your tour unless otherwise stated. PEACE OF MIND | ATOL protected and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, Historical Trips guarantees the utmost quality when it comes to your tour itself and also the total protection of your booking. TOP-FLIGHT FOOD | Whether it’s enjoying a swift drink at Ernest Hemingway’s favourite Havana watering hole, or dinner atop Berlin’s iconic TV tower, each tour offers its own gastronomic adventures TAILORED TO YOU | Have a suggestion for an as-yet-unexplored destination or period of history? Part of a society or group of enthusiasts? Get in touch, and we’ll help to turn your vision into a historical trip to remember. EXPERT GUIDE LECTURERS | It’s quite possible that our roster of expert guides have every conceivable pocket of history covered between them, and our guests can benefit from their expertise at every step, from planning to execution.

GOOD ALL-ROUNDERS | While history is naturally at the forefront of what we do, a trip to any country would be incomplete without a look into its wider culture — let troubadours serenade you in the Languedoc, or explore cricket’s proud history at Barbados’ Kensington Oval.

BETTER TOGETHER | Have a thirst that goes beyond historical knowledge? Look no further than our joint tours with our sister company, Arblaster & Clarke. A&C’s superb Wine Guides bring their considerable expertise to each tour, as we learn about the past of each terroir and its present produce.

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TOURS BY ERAMEDIEVAL WORLD FRANCE LANGUEDOC Cathars, Templars & Crusaders 15th – 22nd September ......................................................... p.14

FRANCE THE DEVIL’S BROOD | The Plantagenets in Bordeaux9th – 16th June ....................................................................... p.16

FRANCE & SPAIN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Santiago de Compostela and the Medieval Pilgrimage 5th – 12th June ..................................................................... ..p.18

ISRAEL DEEDS DONE BEYOND THE SEA The Crusades and the Kingdom of Jerusalem 18th – 27th October ............................................................ ..p.20

ITALYUMBRIA | One Hundred Hills 29th May – 4th June ............................................................ ..p.22

SPAINEL CID | History & Wine in the Domain of Rodrigo Diaz5th – 12th September ............................................................p.24

THE RENAISSANCE FRANCE THE LOIRE CHÂTEAUX | History & Wine3rd – 9th September ..............................................................p.28

IRAN MIRRORS OF THE UNSEEN | A History of Iran 4th – 16th March ...................................................................p.30

ITALY ART, LOVE & WAR Northern Italy’s Political & Creative Renaissance3rd – 10th April .....................................................................p.32

SPAINBEYOND THE PILLARS OF HERCULES The Golden Age of Spain 15th – 22nd May .................................................................... p.34

SPAIN LA CONVIVENCIAMoors, Jews & Christians in Southern Spain 27th Mar – 3rd April ............................................................. p.36

UKMAKING OF A TYRANT | The Reign of Henry VIII11th –17th September ........................................................... p.38

EARLY MODERN LIFEAUSTRIA CITY OF DREAMS | A Brief History of Vienna2nd – 4th June ....................................................................... p.42

BARBADOS THE SUGAR BARONSProfit & Plunder in the Caribbean 9th – 18th November ........................................................... p.44

BELGIUM A DAMNED SERIOUS BUSINESS The Battle of Waterloo 12th – 15th May .....................................................................p.46

ITALY THE GRAND TOUR | The Great Cities of North West Italy 4th – 11th September ............................................................ p.48

KENYATHE LUNATIC EXPRESSA History of KenyaSpring 2018 .............................................................................p.86

USAVIRGINIA - A HISTORY | A Great Nation is Born 18th – 28th September .......................................................... p.50

The Albigensian Crusade ends in Languedoc12

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Pope Urban II preaches First Crusade10

95 The Spanish Reconquest ends with the fall of Granada; Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas14

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The Safavid Dynasty is founded by Shah Ismail in Persia15

01 Michelangelo completes his masterpiece, David15

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Henry VIII becomes King of England15

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Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo18

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Slavery is abolished throughout the British Empire18

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Start of the American Civil War

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CUBARED HEATThe Cuban Revolution 16th – 24th October ..............................................................p.54

BELGIUM & FRANCE THE WAR WALKA Journey Along the Western Front 8th – 13th October ...............................................................p.56

BELGIUM, FRANCE & SPAIN SECRET ARMY | The Great French Escapes 2nd – 7th October ................................................................ p.58

FRANCE BLITZKRIEG 1940The Nazi Invasion of France 18th – 24th September ......................................................... p.60

FRANCE STRANGE MEETINGS | The Poets of the First World War 10th – 14th July ..................................................................... p.62

FRANCE WAR & WINE | Bordeaux in the Second World War 4th – 10th June ...................................................................... p.64

FRANCE & UK CHURCHILL’S WARRIORS The Women of SOE 28th Sept – 2nd October ......................................................p.66

GERMANY THE FACE OF EVIL | The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich 10th – 18th June .....................................................................p.68

GERMANY BERLIN AT WARLife and Death in Hitler’s Capital 20th – 23rd October ..............................................................p.70

GERMANY & POLAND KILLING HITLER | Following the Assassins 20th – 27th May .................................................................... p.72 GREECE KIDNAPPING A GENERAL Crete and Patrick Leigh Fermor 4th – 10th April .....................................................................p.74

INDIA BRITAIN’S GREATEST BATTLE | Imphal & Kohima 10th – 19th November ..........................................................p.76

POLAND THE FINAL SOLUTIONLife and Death in Occupied Poland 1st – 8th July ..........................................................................p.78

RUSSIA THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION10 Days that Shook the World 31st May – 7th June .............................................................. p.80

SPAIN BROTHERS IN ARMSThe Spanish Civil War 14th – 21st October ..............................................................p.82

UK OPERATION SEA LION The Nazi Invasion of Britain, 1940 31st Mar – 2nd April ............................................................ p.84

Sigmund Freud publishes The Interpretation of Dreams

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Start of the First World War

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The Russian Revolution

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End of the First World War

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Start of the Spanish Civil War

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The Wannsee Conference implements the Final Solution

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End of the Second World War

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Start of the Cuban Revolution

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End of the Cuban Revolution

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CALENDARA full list of all our tours

MARCH IRANMIRRORS OF THE UNSEEN A History of Iran 4th – 16th March p.30 SPAIN LA CONVIVENCIA Conflict and Harmony in Moorish Spain 27th March – 3rd April p.36

UNITED KINGDOM OPERATION SEA LION The Nazi Invasion of France 31st March – 2nd April p.84

APRILITALY ART, LOVE & WAR Politics and Creativity in the Italian Renaissance3rd – 10th April p.32

GREECE KIDNAPPING A GENERAL Crete and Patrick Leigh Fermor 4th – 10th April p.74

MAY BELGIUM A DAMNED SERIOUS BUSINESS The Battle of Waterloo 12th – 15th May p.46

SPAIN BEYOND THE PILLARS OF HERCULES The Golden Age of Spain15th – 22nd May p.34

GERMANY & POLAND KILLING HITLER Following the Assassins20th – 27th May p.72

ITALYUMBRIA One Hundred Hills 29th May – 4th June p.22

RUSSIA THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION10 Days that Shook the World31st May – 7th June p.80

JUNEAUSTRIA CITY OF DREAMS A Brief History of Vienna2nd – 4th June p.42

FRANCE WAR AND WINE Bordeaux in the Second World War4th – 10th June p.64

FRANCE & SPAIN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Santiago de Compostela and the Medieval Pilgrimage 5th – 12th June p.18 FRANCE THE DEVIL’S BROOD The Plantagenets in France9th – 16th June p.16

GERMANY THE FACE OF EVILRise & Fall of the Third Reich10th – 18th June p.68

JULYPOLAND THE FINAL SOLUTIONLife and Death in Occupied Poland1st – 8th July p.78

FRANCE STRANGE MEETINGS The Poets of the First World War10th – 14th July p.62


SEPTEMBERFRANCE THE LOIRE CHATEAUXHistory & Wine 3rd – 9th September p.28

ITALY THE GRAND TOURThe North of Italy 4th – 11th September p.48

SPAINEL CID History & Wine in the Domain of Rodrigo Diaz5th – 12th September p.24 FRANCE LANGUEDOC Cathars, Templars & Crusaders 15th – 22nd September p.14

FRANCEBLITZKRIEG 1940The Nazi Invasion of France 18th – 24th September p.60

USA VIRGINIA | A Great Nation is Born18th – 28th September p.50

FRANCE & UK CHURCHILL’S WARRIORS The Women of SOE28th September – 2nd October p.66

OCTOBERBELGIUM, FRANCE & SPAIN SECRET ARMYThe Escape Lines 2nd – 7th October p.58

BELGIUM & FRANCE THE WAR WALKA Journey Along the Western Front 8th – 13th October p.56

SPAIN BROTHERS IN ARMSThe Spanish Civil War 14th – 21st October p.82

CUBARED HEATThe Cuban Revolution16th – 24th October p.54

ISRAEL DEEDS DONE BEYOND THE SEA The Crusades and the Kingdom of Jerusalem 18th – 27th October p.20

GERMANY BERLIN AT WARLife & Death in Hitler’s Capital 20th – 23rd October p.70

NOVEMBERBARBADOS THE SUGAR BARONS Profit and Plunder in the Caribbean 9th – 18th November p.44

INDIA BRITAIN’S GREATEST BATTLE Imphal & Kohima10th – 19th November p.76

SPRING 2018 THE LUNATIC EXPRESSA History of Kenya

See a sneak preview of our exciting upcoming tour, The Lunatic Express, on p.86.Telling the story of British colonial expansion in Kenya, our tour follows the intended tracks of the Lunatic Express, so-called for the project’s shockingly expensive and ambitious nature. Our journey across the country’s magnificent urban and rural landscapes is led by Kenyan-born British journalist Aidan Hartley, who has made his home in a ranch on the picturesque Laikipia Plateau.

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TRAVELLING WITH USExpert-led and all-inclusiveFounded and run by historians, at Historical Trips we like to think that a love of things past does not stop us knowing how to have a good time in the present. As well as being expert-led, our tours are convivial, all-inclusive, welcoming, and fun. Tours over 10 people are also accompanied by a Tour Manager, to ensure that the day-to-day business of our holidays goes to plan, and to provide professional planning combined with a personal touch.

ALL INCLUSIVEThe price of our holiday includes accommodation in 4* hotels (and the very occasional 3* and 5* hotel, see individual tour pages) and all meals, the vast majority with wine at lunch and dinner. We choose our hotels carefully for their character, location, and comfort. On tour, we always try to eat in local restaurants, and we have some spectacular meals along the way.

SMALL GROUPS — MAXIMUM 22 GUESTSIn 2015 our average group size was 14 guests — good company but small numbers — which gives our tours a convivial and personal feel. As well as a Guide Lecturer, every Historical Trips tour with a group size above 10 is accompanied by a professional Tour Manager to take care of the practicalities.

LIKE-MINDED TRAVELLERS FROM AROUND THE WORLDWe welcome everyone on our tours. Couples and single travellers are equally welcome, and we always do our best to keep single supplements to a minimum. We have travelled with people from all over the world and of all ages. While most of our tours meet in, or depart from, London, we are also happy to arrange flights from airports across the USA and UK — simply contact us for more details. No prior knowledge of the historical period is required, just interest, curiosity, and a desire to see the world’s great historical sites.

EXPERT GUIDESProfessors, broadcasters, best-selling authors, and leading historians. Our expert Guide Lecturers are at the heart of every Historical Trip — from conception, through planning, to the journey itself. With you throughout each day, they tell the whole story of the crucial events that shaped our history, offering their own eye-opening take on the past with verve, expertise, and enthusiasm.

SPECIAL ACCESSWith unrivalled contacts at sites, museums, and battlefields across the world, our experts are able to arrange privileged access on many of our tours — from private access to Kent’s imposing and little-visited Allington Castle to exclusive tastings at some of the finest wineries in Umbria.

IN MEMORIAM — TRACING YOUR ANCESTORSEvery year, we have a number of guests who wish to visit the graves of relatives, ancestors, and loved ones who fell in the great conflicts of the 20th century. We will always do our best to trace, locate, and visit these memorials. It is an advantage of our small group size, which gives us the flexibility to pay our respects and accommodate this most personal connection with the past.

TAILORMADE TOURSIf you are a member of a group, club, or society, and are interested in our tours, please do get in touch. We have previously arranged bespoke trips for Alumni of Harrow School, Clifton College, and Sherborne School, among others. Don’t hesitate to get in contact to discuss your specific needs.

NO SURCHARGESThe price you see is the price you pay — we won’t alter the prices in this brochure regardless of currency fluctuations, the price of oil, or for any other reason.

OTHER DATES AVAILABLESeen a tour which interests you but can’t make the dates? It’s always worth getting in touch. We add new departures all the time and may well have alternative dates that suit you better.


SATISFIED CUSTOMERSHow our guests rate our tours...

When you return from a Historical Trips tour, we ask that you rate your experience. The feedback we receive helps us to refine and (wherever necessary) improve our

programmes year after year. Our guests have been very happy with us in 2016, just take a look at the scores!

“I enjoyed the history and the way it was made to

come to life, as if it were a living event.”

Clare Freeman | Guest, 1914: Dying of the Light

Historical Advisory Board We are delighted to announce the creation of our Historical Advisory Board, whose role is to guide us in the creation of our tour programme and advise us on all matters historical. Whether that be the latest trends in historical thinking or the accuracy of our tour itineraries, our board of distinguished historians, with decades of experience between them, are on hand to point us in the right direction.

Prof Gary Sheffield is one of the leading authorities on the First World War. He has been at the forefront of the debate about the legacy of the Great War and

frequently appears on television and radio.

Jessie Childs is an award-winning writer and historian. Jessie frequently appears on TV and radio, and has written and reviewed for many publications, including The Telegraph and The

Guardian.

Paul Lay is the editor of History Today. He has written for the Guardian and the Telegraph, and was founder of BBC History Magazine. Paul is also judge of

the Longman-History Today book prize.

Guide Lecturers scored an average of 9.8 out of 10

Tour Managers scored an average of 9.9 out of 10

Satisfaction with the tours 9.6 out of 10


OUR GUIDE LECTURERS Historians, broadcasters, writers, and experts on just about every possible corner of history. Our Guide Lecturers include best-selling authors, history professors, regular television presenters, and filmmakers alike. These are the people who conceive, plan, and lead our journeys, and are at the very heart of what we do.

Dr Sophie Ambler is a historian at the University of East Anglia. She worked on the prestigious Magna Carta Project, and is now writing two books for Pan Macmillan

after a hotly contested bidding war.

Prof Jeremy Black is a historian and Professor of History at the University of Exeter. He is the author of over 90 books, principally on 18th century British politics

and international relations.

Dr Roderick Bailey is a military historian specialising in the study of resistance, intelligence, and clandestine warfare. His current research examines Britain’s Special

Operations Executive in WWII.

Dr Michael Jones is a respected military historian who has held academic positions at the Universities of Bristol and Glasgow. He has written widely on both medieval

and twentieth century history.

Nigel Jones is a historian, journalist, and broadcaster who has published widely on topics ranging from the Tower of London to the Valkyrie Plot to assassinate Hitler.

He is also a co-founder of Historical Trips.

Dr Hugh Doherty lectures at the School of History at UEA. Educated at Jesus College, Oxford, he specialises in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries with particular

interests in the Plantagenets and Iberia.

Clare Mulley is an award-winning author and busy public speaker. She is an expert on the female agents of the SOE and writes articles and reviews for publications such

as History Today and The Spectator.

Jason Elliot is an award-winning travel writer and author, deeply familiar with Iran. The Daily Mail wrote: “Mirrors of the Unseen establishes Jason Elliot as one of

the great travel writers of our time’.

Dr Suzannah Lipscomb is a historian, author, broadcaster, and academic, based at New College of the Humanities. Her television work includes writing and

presenting for Channel 5 and BBC4.

Roger Moorhouse is a historian specialising in the history of World War II. He is one of the co-founders of Historical Trips and has led many tours exploring the legacy of the

Nazis in Europe.

Giles MacDonogh is a writer, historian, and translator. He read modern history at Balliol College, Oxford, and has written fourteen books on his twin passions,

German history and wine.

Anton Gill is a writer and historian specialising in European history and historical fiction. An expert on the Italian Renaissance, his books have been

translated and published worldwide.

Dr Neil Faulkner is an archaeologist, writer, and broadcaster. The editor of Military History Magazine, he has published to great acclaim on topics from Roman

Britain to Zeppelin warfare.

James Holland is an author and broadcaster, and co-founder of the Chalke Valley History Festival. Since 2003, he has written and published a series of acclaimed

historical books and novels.

Aidan Hartley is an author, current columnist for The Spectator, and a former foreign correspondent. Born in Kenya, his book on Africa, The Zanzibar Chest, was

short-listed for the Samuel Johnson prize.


Michael Ivey initially combined his passions for history and travel as a co-founder of Historical Trips. He continues to do so as Tour Manager on

Secret Army and Blitzkrieg 1940.

Carys Lowry-Carter is a singer-songwriter with an interest in the music of medieval Europe. She will join us for a one-night performance on our Languedoc tour.

Lys Hall is an experienced wine guide and lecturer on the wines of Europe. Showcasing her expert knowledge of Italian wines, she joins us on our tour of

Umbria.

Rachel Ritchie works closely with wineries throughout Spain, especially in Priorat, where she has lived since 1996. She joins us on our El Cid tour to share

her expertise and interest in Catalonia.

Ellen Lewis is Product Manager for Historical Trips’ sister company, Arblaster & Clarke. She will join us as an expert Wine Guide on our Devil’s Brood

tour.

ALSO JOINING US ON TOUR...

“A born teacher, Hugh made the city come alive in so many ways. He made me want to return again and again.”

Edward Gerber | Guest, Istanbul and the Fourth Crusade

Jason Webster is a historian and author who has written many books on Spanish history and culture, from the Moors to the Spanish Civil War. He is a frequent

contributor to national newspapers.

MEDIEVAL WORLDTHE RENAISSANCE EARLY MODERN LIFE20TH CENTURYWINE TOURS

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Matthew Parker is a writer, lecturer, broadcaster, and acclaimed author of books on Caribbean history. He has written for the UK national press as well as

The Literary Review and History Today.

Guy Walters is an author, novelist, historian, academic, and journalist. Having previously worked for The Times, he has written many books on twentieth century

history, including The Real Great Escape.

Dr Nick Slope is a military historian and archaeologist who has excavated in the UK, Israel, Palestine, Greece, and Egypt. He is the Honorary Secretary of the Anglo-Israel

Archaeological Society.

Prof. Gary Sheffield is one of the leading authorities on the First World War. He has been at the forefront of the debate about the legacy of the Great War and frequently

appears on television and radio.

Alex von Tunzelmann is a historian, screenwriter, and New York Times bestselling author. As well as acclaimed historical books, she also writes the weekly

Guardian column Reel History.


Shining light on the Dark AgesMEDIEVAL WORLD

FRANCE LANGUEDOCCathars, Templars & Crusaders 15th – 22nd September ............ p.14

FRANCE THE DEVIL’S BROOD The Plantagenets in Bordeaux 9th – 16th June .......................... p.16

FRANCE & SPAIN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Santiago de Compostela and the Medieval Pilgrimage 5th – 12th June .......................... p.18

ISRAEL DEEDS DONE BEYOND THE SEAThe Crusades and the Kingdom of Jerusalem 18th – 27nd October .................. p.20

ITALYUMBRIA One Hundred Hills 29th May – 4th June ................... p.22

SPAINEL CID | History and Wine in the Domain of Rodrigo Diaz5th – 12th September ................. p.24

The Medieval era was filled with breathtaking artistic achievement spurred on by tremendous religious faith. Alongside the beauty, life could be coarse and cruel; cut short by famine, disease or

the religious zeal that spurred on wars that still echo today...

Our 2017 tours offer the perfect opportunity to explore the many facets of the Medieval world. Travel To The Ends of the Earth (p.18) following the exact route through France and Spain taken by pilgrims. Discover the Devil’s Brood (p. 16) at the heart of the Plantagenets during our wine tour in France. Receive an introduction to El Cid (p.24), celebrated national hero and the protagonist of El Cantar de Mio Cid — the most significant medieval Spanish epic poem. Visit Umbria’s One Hundred Hills (p.22), former heartland of papal power, and home to scenic, unspoilt medieval towns...

The medieval era is one of the most intriguing, yet most misrepresented periods of history. Did people really think the world was flat? No, that enduring myth was created by a 19th century American journalist. Were witches put on trial and burnt at the stake? Yes, but you’d have to wait for the refined Renaissance period to bear witness to that. Travel alongside an expert guide lecturer, and separate fact from fiction in this fascinating period...

“No student of history can fail to see the moral interest of the Middle Ages, any more than an artist can fail to see their aesthetic interest.”

GOLDWIN SMITH

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The Languedoc experienced one of the bloodiest episodes of the medieval era: the Albigensian Crusade, led by Simon de Montfort. The crusade set out to obliterate Cathar heresy and colonise

the region for the kings of France. The land beset by the crusaders was one rich in history and culture, and on this tour we explore the story of the Languedoc — before, during, and after the crusade — through the sites preserved amid its dramatic scenery.

We discover the world of the troubadours, whose poetry and song were famous across Europe. The opportunity to hear some of their music, preserved for centuries, arises on one of our evenings, when we enjoy a performance from a trobairitz, or female troubadour. We meet, too, their patrons — the fiercely independent local lords who fought to defend the strongholds of the Languedoc from the northern-French Crusaders. Learn of the rise of the Cathar faith in Cordes-sur-Ciel; and of the crusading knights who laid siege to Minerve and Lastours.

We visit the great abbeys of the monks of Narbonne, and the palaces of the bishops, who supported the crusade cause, and learn about the Dominican Order that was set up to combat Cathar heresy. Finally, we see how the region changed in the wake of the crusade, as the forceful

ambitions of the Capetian kings brought the region under the power of the French crown.

LANGUEDOCCathars, Templars & Crusaders

Dr Sophie Ambler is a historian at the University of East Anglia. She worked on the prestigious

Magna Carta project, and is now writing two books for Pan Macmillan after a hotly contested bidding war.

DR SOPHIE AMBLER

GUIDE LECTURER

Knights, saints, and sinners in a battle for Medieval hearts and minds....


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Toulouse, and enjoy a lecture at our hotel.

Day 2 | Red Brick CathedralsWe travel to the Cathar refuge of Cordes-sur-Ciel and explore its thirteenth and 14th century townhouses. Later, we visit Albi’s colossal red-brick cathedral and Berbie Palace, a fortified residence for the town’s bishops.

Day 3 | Fanjeaux and the Siege of Simon de Montfort We explore Lastours, the Cathar stronghold besieged by Simon de Montfort, before departing for Carcassonne. We visit the Château Comtal, and discover the culture of the troubadours. Finally, stop at the grand basilica of St Nazaire.

Day 4 | The Heretics of MinerveWe visit beautiful Minerve, where some 140 residents were burnt as heretics in a 1210 siege. Then on to Béziers, where, in October 1167, citizens rose up and killed their lord. This afternoon, we visit the Gothic Cathédrale St-Nazaire before exploring the town of Narbonne.

Day 5 | The Power of the CrusadersWe visit unspoilt Lagrasse’s Benedictine abbey, and the Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide. A major power during the 13th century, it now produces its own wines, which we taste over lunch. Continue to Villerouge-Termenès.

Day 6 | Cathar Resistance at the Castle of Foix We begin our morning with a visit to Rennes-le-Château, associated in legend with the Holy Grail. Then, we head to Arques, and finally to the castle at Peyrepertuse.

Day 7 | Troubadour CultureVisit Puivert, centre of Troubadour culture, and Vals’ rock-carved church, thought to pre-date Roman occupation. On to Château de Foix, a counts’ stronghold. This evening, enjoy a special performance by a trobairitz, or female troubadour.

Day 8 | ConclusionExplore Toulouse’s basilica and Jacobin church, former seat of the Dominican order. We return home this afternoon.

ITINERARY

£2,575 incl. flights £330 single supp8 DaysFri 15th – Fri 22nd September, 2017Tour Code: QCR17A

Tour Manager

Return Flights London to Toulouse

All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner

7 nights in 4* hotels in Toulouse, Carcassonne, and Couiza

CouizaChâteau de Foix

Toulouse

Cordes-sur-Ciel

Lastours

Carcassonne

Puivert

Minerve

Peyrepertuse

Villerouge-TermenèsFontfroide

Beziers

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• Explore the Languedoc’s turbulent past, from crusader-besieged castles to Cathar havens

• Marvel at red-brick and Romanesque architecture, nestled in the Languedoc’s wildly varying landscapes

• Enjoy a special performance from a trobairitz, and be immersed in medieval troubadour culture

HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy the musical stylings of Carys Lowry-Carter during our tour. The talented singer-songwriter will join us for a one-night only trobairitz — or female troubadour — performance, showcasing the music of the Languedoc.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Discover some of the most formidable and most dynamic rulers of the 12th and early 13th century western world, Henry II, Richard ‘the Lion Heart’, and John. These Angevin kings of England

exercised their lordship over a vast territorial complex that stretched from Hadrian’s Wall to the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic to the North Sea.

Our tour across the Loire and Bordeaux, is run jointly with our sister company Arblaster & Clarke. These regions are equally famous for their internationally celebrated wines as their rich history; discover why on delicious tastings at local producers. Join us as we explore Poitiers, Chinon Castle, Sainte-Pierre church, and many more sites — where this remarkable set of rulers married, feasted, and hunted; where they challenged, contested, and resisted their rivals and

enemies, all serving to illustrate the tale of what Gerald of Wales called “the Devil’s brood”.

THE DEVIL’S BROODThe Plantagenets in Bordeaux

Dr Hugh Doherty lectures at the School of History at UEA. Educated at Jesus College, Oxford,

he specialises in medieval manuscripts and the twelve and thirteenth centuries, with particular interests in both the Plantagenets and Iberia.

DR HUGH DOHERTY

GUIDE LECTURER

Betrayal, rebellion, and reconciliation: the deconstruction of a royal family

Ellen Lewis is the Product Manager for our sister company, Arblaster & Clarke. Her wine career

began in France, where she worked for iconic Champagne House, Taittinger.

ELLEN LEWIS

WINE GUIDE

HISTORY & WINETOUR


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Nantes, and transfer to our hotel in Angers.

Day 2 | Stained Glass MasterpiecesOur first visit is to the 12th century Le Mans cathedral, which houses striking stained glass. We journey to Angers, home to the cathedral of St Maurice and the palace residence of counts.

Day 3 | Henry on HorsebackContinuing the tale of Henry II, we explore the remains of Chinon Castle, which served as a seat of lordship for the ruler and his sons, and the chapel of Sainte-Radegonde, its remarkable 12th century wall painting thought to depict the family on horseback.

Day 4 | The Fortress of ThouarsWe spend our morning in the great abbey church of Fontevraud. From here, we proceed first to the fortress of Thouars, and then to Sainte-Pierre church, Airvault, to examine its exquisite sculptural programme.

Day 5 | Careers & FortunesWe spend the day in Poitiers, a key location in the careers and fortunes of Eleanor and Richard. We visit the city’s great hall, cathedral, and some of its other Romanesque churches. Later, we visit the superb Ampelidae winery and learn about winemaker Frédéric Brochet’s unique scientific approach. Day 6 | Cognac & CathedralsWe proceed to Chauvigny, visiting two churches situated on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela: Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. After lunch, we drive to Angoulême to see its richly decorated cathedral, and learn of the town’s role in the so-called ‘Angevin empire’. Finally, we pay a visit to Cognac house Rémy Martin.

Day 7 | The Collapse of the Angevin EmpireIn Saintes, we visit the churches of Saint-Eutrope and Abbaye aux Dames, and consider the Angevin empire’s collapse through the lens of King John’s failed campaign of reconquest. Before dinner, we are treated to a fun and informative introductory tasting of wines from Bordeaux.

Day 8 | ConclusionOn our final day, we explore the cathedral and old town of historic Bordeaux, and learn of the city’s destiny to become the seat of English rule. Finally, we enjoy a winery lunch at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a prestigious estate whose history of vine growing dates back to 1365, before transferring to the airport for our flights home.

ITINERARY

Tour Manager and Wine Guide

Flights London to Nantes, Bordeaux to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Angers, Poitiers, and Cognac

Nantes

Le Mans

FontevraudChinon

Chauvigny

Angoulême

Saintes

Bordeaux

FRANCE

• Explore the playgrounds and political arenas of one of Europe’s most remarkable sets of rulers

• Experience the spirit of Cognac in the heart of the region with a visit to Rémy Martin

• Marvel at robust Romanesque architecture and beautifully-preserved relics

HIGHLIGHTS

£2,695 incl. flights £295 single supp8 DaysFri 9th – Fri 16th June, 2017Tour Code: QPL17A

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


According to legend, the ‘lost tomb’ of St. James, Moor Slayer, was found by a monk guided there by the stars. Compostela Cathedral was erected on the spot where the tomb stood. Pilgrims

joined the route in the 9th century, convinced that their sins would be forgiven on arrival. French monks followed, bringing new customs and architectural styles to Spain. Christian resurgence provided the springboard for the great ‘Reconquest’ and capture of Moorish territories, enabling the birth of the Spain we know today.

There are many roads that lead to Santiago de Compostela. We embark on the Camino de Santiago — the Way of St James — via the classic French route, favoured by many pilgrims before us. Journey from Roncesvalles, at the heart of the Pyrenees, to Estella, home of the Monastery of Irache, where pilgrims stopped to sate themselves with the wine flowing from a tap in the back wall. Our tour ends at Finisterre — the ‘end of the Earth’ — finishing point for pilgrims, who view it as symbolic for their journey to the afterlife. Join us as we question who is really buried inside Compostela Cathedral. The Saint, whose image has endured since the middle ages, with his staff and the scallop shell motif? Or could it be someone else entirely? Travelling the Camino de Santiago has barely changed over the centuries, but remains an experience with enough power to stay with

you forever.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTHSantiago de Compostela and the Medieval Pilgrimage

Jason Webster is a historian and author who has written many books on Spanish history and culture,

from the Moors to the Spanish Civil War. He is a frequent contributor to national newspapers.

JASON WEBSTER

GUIDE LECTURER

Take your own Medieval pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela...


Day 1 | IntroductionAfter an afternoon arrival in Toulouse, we enjoy dinner and an introductory lecture at our hotel. Day 2 | Along the Arles BranchWe begin at Toulouse’s Basilica of St Sernin, a major stop thanks to a donation of holy relics by Charlemagne. On to St Bertrand de Comminges for a visit to its magnificent former cathedral, before continuing to Roncesvalles, the beginning of the former French Route, to see its church and museum. Day 3 | Estella - One of the Prettiest Towns in NavarreWe explore the picturesque Punta la Reina, with its former Templar church. We continue to the equally scenic Estella. We also visit San Pedro de la Rua and the Monastery of Irache, the oldest pilgrim hostel in Navarre. Finally, on to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, named for the 11th century saint who looked after the Route’s pilgrims.

Day 4 | El Cid’s Final Resting PlaceThis morning, we visit the Gothic Burgos cathedral, and

the burial site of legendary warrior El Cid. Later, we visit Sahagún’s church of San Lorenzo, before continuing to León, stopping en route at the San Miguel de Escalada monastery.

Day 5 | Spanish RomanesqueWe spend the day in León, where pilgrims not fit enough to continue to Santiago could receive absolution. We visit the cathedral, with its famous stained glass, and the Romanesque masterpiece that is the San Isidoro basilica, exploring its fascinating museum and Royal Pantheon.

Day 6 | Bishops’ Palaces & Templar CastlesWe begin with a drive to Astorga. We visit the cathedral and the Gaudí-designed Bishop’s Palace. In the afternoon, we visit the Templar castle of Ponferrada and the hilltop village of O Cebreiro, with its pre-Romanesque church.

Day 7 | Pilgrims in the Old CityWe spend the day taking in the sights of Santiago. We tour the main square, cathedral, crypt, and Pilgrimage Museum. We end our day with a leisurely walk around the elegant old city quarter.

Day 8 | The End of the EarthOn our final day, we travel to Finisterre, the ‘end of the Earth’, and for an increasing number of pilgrims, the true finishing point of the Route to Santiago. We then drive to Coruna for our return flight.

ITINERARY

£2,345 incl. flights £395 single supp8 DaysMon 5th – Mon 12th June, 2017Tour Code: QRS17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Toulouse, Coruna to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Toulouse, Pamplona, Lerma, León, and Santiago

Toulouse

SPAIN

FRANCE

Roncesvalles St BertrandEstella

BurgosLeon

Santiago

CorunaFinisterre

AstorgaSahagún

• Make the journey from Toulouse to Santiago de Compostela, following the medieval pilgrim route

• Visit beautiful churches, cathedrals, and castles in the picturesque towns and cities of Northern Spain

• Led by Jason Webster, writer, historian, and authority on all things Spain

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


In 1095, a vast Christian army was summoned to holy war by Pope Urban II. They rampaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterranean, seizing possession of Jerusalem, sacred city of both faiths.

The First Crusade took Jerusalem and established a number of Crusader States, most importantly the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Occupation of the Holy Land opened up trade routes between East and West; social interaction between Arabs, Jews, and Byzantines encouraged fresh ideas that fed back to Medieval Europe. The Crusaders brought their own traditions, and their architectural efforts left an indelible footprint on the land.

Travel with military historian Nick Slope, as he reveals how the holy wars reshaped the Medieval world. Explore the castles, fortresses, simple villages, and manor houses built on western lines, and adapted following the Crusaders’ expulsion in 1291. Discover the Crusader ports of Acre and Caesarea. Admire the views from the ‘Star of Jordan’, Belvoir Castle, high above the Sea of Galilee. In the Christian quarter of Jerusalem, we visit the Holy Sepulchre, venerated as the crucifixion site of Jesus of Nazareth.

The once ‘Crusader city’ of Jerusalem is now quartered by the faiths that each believe the Holy Land belongs to them;

echoes of the Crusades resonate to this day....

DEEDS DONE BEYOND THE SEAThe Crusades and the Kingdom of Jerusalem

Dr Nick Slope is a military historian and archaeologist who has excavated in the UK, Israel,

Palestine, Greece, and Egypt. He is the Honorary Secretary of the Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society.

DR NICK SLOPE

GUIDE LECTURER

Atrocities and assimilation across the Holy Lands...


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Tel Aviv. Day 2 | Castles of Northern GalileeWe travel to the site of the 1179 Battle of Jacob’s Ford and the nearby Crusader castle of Chastellet. We continue to the fortresses of Yehiam and Castellum Regis. In the afternoon, we visit Château Neuf, a Crusader castle that helped Hugh of St Omer control the Upper Galilee.

Day 3 | Medieval AcreWe explore the dramatic mountaintop fortress of Castle Montfort, before moving on to the magnificent city of St Jean d’Acre (Akko). Here we tour the Knights Hospitaller Headquarters, Templar’s Tunnel, and fortifications.

Day 4 | The Battle of HattinToday centres around the 1187 Battle of Hattin. We begin at the Crusader fortification at La Sephorie, where the Crusader army settled. We explore the Horns of Hattin battlefield, and finish the day at Tiberius Crusader castle.

Day 5 | Monasteries of Haifa In Haifa, we walk to the Crusader Monastery of the Carmelites in Wadi Siach. We continue to the important crusader castle of Château Pèlerin. We then head to the nearby castle of Le Destroit.

Day 6 | Knights HospitallerWe visit the breathtaking Knights Hospitaller castle of Belvoir, perched above the Jordan Valley. We explore the incredible Crusader city of Caesarea Maritima. Day 7 | Caco & MirabelWe drive to the Crusader castles of Caco (Qaqun) and Mirabel (Migdal Afek). In the afternoon, we head for Mount-Joy and then visit the Frankish village site of Majd al-Kurum. On to the Crusader castle and village of Belmont.

Day 8 | The Holy City of Jerusalem We tour Crusader Jerusalem today, stopping at the Tower of David, and walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the destruction of which was the casus belli for the Crusades. We continue on to Herod’s Gate and the Old City. Day 9 | Ashkelon Archaeological ParkWe drive to Ashkelon Archaeological Park to view the Crusader remains. On to Aqua Bella National Park.

Day 10 | Return HomeEnjoy a free morning before our return home.

ITINERARY

£2,895 incl. flights £570 single supp10 DaysWed 18th – Fri 27th October, 2017Tour Code: QDD17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem to London

All meals included

9 nights in 4* hotels in Tel Aviv, Netanya, and Jerusalem

Acre

Haifa

Caesarea

Netanya

Tel-Aviv

JerusalemISRAEL

• Visit the towns and cities at the heart of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, including the ports of Acre and Caesarea

• See the great Crusader castles and churches, and the battlefields of Arsuf and Hattin

• Explore Jerusalem, catalyst for the Crusades and capital of the Crusader kingdom

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Umbria, once the heartland of papal power, is still home to some of the most scenic and unspoilt medieval towns in Italy. It also forms one of the country’s smallest, but most beloved wine regions.

Our tour, jointly run with our sister company Arblaster & Clarke, begins in the fraught 13th century, and takes us through to Umbria’s rather more relaxed current activities — specifically, its winemaking. As the popes and cardinals imposed themselves on Umbria’s landscape, there came a flowering of artistic production.

Some of the greatest artists and craftsmen of the later Middle Ages were drawn to Umbria’s churches. Discover the fruits of their labour: from richly coloured frescoes at Spoleto Cathedral; to fairy-tale gothic façades at the Cathedral of Orvieto. Join us as we consider the place of

these works in the context of the past, while sampling some of the luscious exports of Umbria’s present.

UMBRIAOne Hundred Hills

Discover historical towns and ancient vines across one hundred hills...HISTORY & WINE

TOUR

Dr Sophie Ambler is a historian at the University of East Anglia. She worked on the prestigious

Magna Carta Project and is now writing two books for Pan Macmillan after a hotly contested bidding war.

DR SOPHIE AMBLER

GUIDE LECTURER

Lys is an established lecturer on the wines of Europe and expert on those of Italy and Spain. She

has a degree in art history, a love of Mediterranean history, and has been wine guiding for over a decade.

LYS HALL

WINE GUIDE


Day 1 | IntroductionWe fly to Rome, and arrive in Orvieto in time to visit the house of Barberani. Dating back to the Roman era, the estate now produces wines of great personality and prestige.

Day 2 | Papal Power and the PeopleWhile the 13th century saw Orvieto at the height of its wealth and power, it also saw it wrenched apart by conflict between papacy and people. Nevertheless, its Italian Gothic cathedral, subterranean caves, and the imposing fortress at Albornoz — all of which we explore today — served to make Orvieto one of the time’s major cultural centres.

Day 3 | Angels & DemonsIn Todi, there lie plenty of clues to the town’s power during the Middle Ages. We see the vast church of San Fortunate, the Palazzo del Capitano, and the magnificent Piazza del Popolo, with its impressive frescoed great hall. Later, we stop for a tasting at Scacciadiavoli — literally “devil banisher” — set within a beautiful property where oenologist Stefano Chioccioli helps to make each vintage better than the last.

Day 4 | Sons of UmbriaWe visit Villa Mongalli — a rustic estate made famous by the late Giorgio Lungarotti — before moving on to Spoleto. Its magnificent cathedral houses a letter written by St Francis, the region’s most celebrated son, and a series of beautifully vivid frescoes by Fra Filippo Lippi. We also visit the churches of San Salvatore, and San Giovanni & Paolo.

Day 5 | Medieval Marvels, Modern WinesIn Montefalco, we visit the San Francesco Museum Complex. A former 14th century church, it is now home to works of art and artefacts from across the centuries — and the Sant’Agostino church. After lunch, we visit Arnaldo Caprai to meet the winemakers responsible for bringing the area’s defining Sagrantino variety up to date. Day 6 | Palazzi of PerugiaIn Perugia, the largest city in Umbria, we first visit the stately Palazzo dei Priori before moving on to the cathedral. We spend the afternoon exploring the town’s 16th century fortress, the San Pietro basilica, and San Bevignate Church.

Day 7 | ConclusionPerched spectacularly above the Umbrian countryside, it’s not difficult to see how evocative medieval Narni inspired C.S. Lewis to create his own fantasy land. We spend our final morning here, visiting the town’s cathedral, fortress, and San Domenico church, before returning home.

ITINERARY


Return flights London to Rome


6 nights in 4* hotels in Orvieto and Spello

Perugia

Spoleto

Montefalco

Narni

Orvieto

SpelloTodi

Rome

ITALY

• Marvel at Fra Filippo Lippi’s fresco cycle, in Spoleto’s Cathedral, still startlingly rich after six centuries

• Sample a selection of sumptuous local wines from vineyards nurtured by “the green heart of Italy”

• Discover some of the finest extant medieval architecture in Italy

HIGHLIGHTS

£2,445 incl. flights £295 single supp7 DaysMon 29th May – Sun 4th June, 2017Tour Code: QUM17A

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Follow in the footsteps of the late 11th century warrior, adventurer, and conqueror, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. Known to posterity as ‘El Cid’, or ‘the lord’, Rodrigo was a man whose fortunes reflected the dynamic

and complex history of the late 11th century Spain. Our journey traces the military leader’s career — in his service to kings and taifa rulers; in his quest for treasure, plunder, and military glory; and in his triumph against his Berber enemies before the walls of Valencia. On this joint tour with our sister company Arblaster & Clarke, we explore El Cid’s former domain in its current incarnation — as the renowned wine regions of Rioja and Ribera. As we examine the military legacy of the region, we also sample the produce of its native orchards and vines. Balancing excursions to the sites seen and taken by El Cid

with visits to fantastic local producers, we take in the very best of Asturias’ present, as well as its past.

EL CIDHistory & Wine in the Domain of Rodrigo Diaz

Dr Hugh Doherty lectures at the School of History at UEA. Educated at Jesus College,

Oxford, he specialises in medieval manuscripts and the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with particular interests in both the Plantagenets and Iberia.

DR HUGH DOHERTY

GUIDE LECTURER

Follow the Castilian nobleman through modern-day Rioja and RiberaHISTORY & WINE

TOUR

Rachel Ritchie works closely with wineries throughout Spain, particularly in Priorat, where

she has lived since 1996. She also has a diverse knowledge of the geography and history of Catalonia.

RACHEL RITCHIE

WINE GUIDE


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Oviedo, where we spend our first night.

Day 2 | Royal RemainsIn Oviedo, the seat of the 10th century kings of Asturias, we examine the remains of the royal palace and its churches. En route to León this afternoon, we stop for a tasting at one of the cider houses for which the region is famous.

Day 3 | Christian KingsWe spend the morning in a city familiar to El Cid: León, home to the leading Christian kings of the 11th century. We visit its Gothic cathedral and the basilica of San Isidoro before departing for Bierzo, where we enjoy a tasting at the Dominio de Tares winery.

Day 4 | Tombs & BirthplacesOur day begins with a visit to Sahagún’s monastery, home to the 11th century tomb of El Cid’s contemporary, Alfonso Ansúrez. On our way to Santo Domingo de Silos, we pass through Vivar del Cid, the military leader’s birthplace.

Day 5 | Passion & PoliticsWe explore the Cathedral of Burgo de Osma, before departing for the Gormaz fortress to examine the complex interplay of passions and politics on the frontier. En route to Zaragoza, we stop for a tasting at a Cariñena winery. Day 6 | Life of an ExileToday, we explore Zaragoza, where El Cid worked for Muslim rulers during his exile. We see the palace of Aljafería, and the Museo de Zaragoza. This afternoon, we move on to the Roman amphitheatre and the contemporary Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta. Before dinner, we enjoy an introductory tasting of Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines.

Day 7 | Magnificent MonumentsThis morning, we proceed to Teruel, rich in Arabic monuments. After lunch, we continue to our final stop — Valencia, captured by El Cid in 1092.

Day 8 | ConclusionWe spend our final morning in Valencia, exploring its impressive cathedral, before our flights home.

ITINERARY

£2,595 incl. flights £255 single supp8 DaysTues 5th – Tues 12th September, 2017Tour Code: QEC17A


Flights London to Oviedo, Valencia to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Oviedo, Leon, Burgo de Osma, Zaragoza, and Valencia

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Zaragoza

Santo Domingo de Silos

Bierzo

Sahagún

León

Gormaz

Teruel

Valencia

El Burgo de Osma

Oviedo

SPAIN

• Examine remarkable remains and royal palaces

• Receive a fun and informative introduction to the superb wines of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, with a tasting hosted by our own expert Wine Guide

• Discover the story of an extraordinary individual and revered military leader

HIGHLIGHTS

“While he lived in this world he always won a noble triumph over the enemies who fought him in battle. Never was he

defeated by any man”.

HISTORIA RODERICI The History of Rodrigo


Cultural rebirth on a global scaleTHE RENAISSANCE

FRANCE THE LOIRE CHÂTEAUXHistory & Wine3rd – 9th September ................. p.28

IRAN MIRRORS OF THE UNSEENA History of Iran 4th – 16th March ...................... p.30

ITALY ART, LOVE & WAR Northern Italy’s Political & Creative Renaissance3rd –10th April ......................... p.32

SPAINBEYOND THE PILLARS OF HERCULESThe Golden Age of Spain 15th – 22nd May .........................p.34

SPAIN LA CONVIVENCIA | Moors, Jews & Christians in Southern Spain 27th March – 3rdApril................p.36

UKMAKING OF A TYRANTThe Reign of Henry VIII 11th – 17th September ............. ..p.38

The Renaissance stands as one of the defining periods of world history. A time when the perceptions of society, culture and politics — to which we still cling — emerged for the first time.

Could any other era ever compare with the rich Renaissance of art, architecture, literature, science, trade, and travel?

No period has been more discussed, dissected, and argued over than the Renaissance — and with good reason. Join us to discover the land of La Convivencia (p.36), where followers of the world’s three main religions lived harmoniously side by side. Go back to where it all began with an introduction to Art, Love & War (p.32) in the Renaissance. Get an insider’s guide to ancient Persia, as we look into the Mirrors of the Unseen. Go Beyond the Pillars of Hercules (p.34) to discover the golden age of Spain. Uncover the hidden history of the Loire Châteaux (p.28), with a glass of the good stuff in hand.

Travelling alongside our expert guides you’ll be afforded unprecedented access to an unmatched world of cultural experimentation and intellectual excitement. There is still so much for us to learn from this unprecedented era.

“Not much was really invented during the Renaissance, if you don’t count modern civilisation.”

P. J. O’ROURKE

NEW

H&W NEW


The fertile Loire Valley has long nurtured not just France’s noble families, but also many of its prized vines. Home to historic châteaux, and estates of considerable pedigree, there is arguably no single

place which better encapsulates the relationship between wine and history. Here, Medieval fortresses and Renaissance residences are just a few of the historical treasures awaiting you. Explore Château de Chinon, where Joan of Arc pledged to help Charles VII defeat the English in battle, and spend a day in Honfleur, the stomping ground of Impressionist painters including Monet. Stop at exceptional wineries, tasting some of France’s most famous varieties, including Sancerre, Muscadet and Vouvray. Our collective palates will also be treated to sumptuous dinners, including a mouth-watering Michelin-starred meal. History buffs and wine lovers alike are sure to enjoy this vintage tour of fine wines,

fascinating tales of wine-making families, and walks through the hallowed halls of impeccable châteaux.

THE LOIRE CHÂTEAUXHistory & Wine

Dr Michael Jones is a respected military historian who has held academic positions at the

Universities of Bristol and Glasgow. He has written widely on both medieval and twentieth century history.

DR MICHAEL JONES

GUIDE LECTURER

A feast of stories, sites, and sumptuous wines...

Lys is an established lecturer on the wines of Europe and expert on those of Italy and Spain. She

has a degree in art history, a love of Mediterranean history, and has been wine guiding for over a decade.

LYS HALL

WINE GUIDE

HISTORY& WINETOUR


Day 1 | IntroductionWe depart London. We enjoy a picnic lunch on board, during an introductory wine tasting. We arrive in Tours and transfer to our hotel.

Day 2 | Chenin Blanc & Château de ChenonceauWe explore the atmospheric city of Tours this morning. We continue to Marc Bredif in the Vouvray appellation. Following a visit to his cellars, we taste a range of his excellent wines from the versatile Chenin Blanc grape. We stop in Chenonceau this afternoon, to visit the elegant Château de Chenonceau, the favourite home of Catherine de Medici.

Day 3 | The Middle of the Indre riverOur first visit is to the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. The picturesque château sits on an island in the middle of the Indre river. We stop for lunch at a winery in the Bourgueil appellation, primarily responsible for producing rich, dry reds, before continuing to tonight’s hotel. We enjoy a Michelin-starred dinner in Saumur this evening.

Day 4 | Visions of Joan of ArcWe visit the Château de Chinon this morning — where Joan of Arc appeared before Charles VII. After lunch in Chinon, you have some free time to yourself in the town. We visit and taste at the well-established, family-owned winery, Domaine Couly-Dutheil, this afternoon.

Day 5 | The Spirit of Richard, Cœur de LionOur first visit today is to the Abbey of Fontevraud, the final resting place of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. After lunch in Saumur, you can either join us for a tour of the Château de Saumur or relax for the rest of the afternoon. We enjoy dinner at the prestigious estate Langlois-Château tonight.

Day 6 | The Apocalypse & the ImpressionistsOur day begins in Angers, where we view the incredible Apocalypse tapestry, produced between 1377 and 1382. Following lunch in Angers, we continue to the charming Normandy port town of Honfleur. This was a favourite destination of many painters — notably Monet — for many years.

Day 7 | ConclusionEnjoy a final free morning in Honfleur. Our final visit is to the former Norman farm, Calvados Christian Drouin at Domaine Coeur de Lion. We enjoy a tasting of cider and Calvados produced on the estate, before our final lunch in Pont l’Evêque. We return home this afternoon.

ITINERARY

£2,445 incl. coach and ferry £245 single supp7 DaysSun 3rd – Sat 9th September, 2017Tour Code: QAL17A


Return coach and Club Class ferry from the UK


6 nights in 3/4* hotels in Tours, Saumur, and Honfleur

Chenonceau

Abbey of Fontevraud

Chinon

ToursSaumur

Honfleur

Angers

FRANCE

• Enjoy an enticing combination of visits to Loire châteaux, and Sancerre and Chablis vineyards

• View the incredible Apocalypse tapestry, commissioned by Louis I, in Angers

• Enjoy a Michelin-starred meal in the historic town of Saumur

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Iran is an incomparably exotic and fascinating destination, rich in historical and cultural treasures, and home to no fewer than 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Our tour will begin in Tehran — known for its magnificent

museums, bustling bazaars, gigantic parks, and Golestan Palace. We visit traditional Persian gardens in Kashan; a ‘pleasure-house’ in Safavid; and discover unique architecture

in Shiraz. Of course, no trip to Iran would be complete without a visit to the unforgettable Persepolis — the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Iran is almost overflowing with monumental

treasures — but thinking only in terms of ‘sights’ misses the real story. Discover a rare and timely portrait

of Iran, alongside Jason Elliot, the award-winning author of the New York Times best-seller Mirrors of the Unseen: Journeys in Iran. Jason will introduce us to the sublime architecture of Isfahan and urban contradictions of the capital, Tehran, and enable us to explore Iran’s immensely rich heritage of Persian and Islamic art.

The Persian Kingdom was one of the greatest powers of the ancient world — walk in the footsteps of the ‘Iranian Henry VIII’, Shah Abbas; the master poet, mystic, and spiritual guide Hafez, and many more. We’ll also discover the mysterious world of the Zoroastrians…

MIRRORS OF THE UNSEENA History of Iran

Jason Elliot is an award-winning travel writer and author, who has travelled extensively in Iran. The

Daily Mail wrote: “Mirrors of the Unseen establishes Jason Elliot as one of the great travel writers of our time”.

JASON ELLIOT

GUIDE LECTURER

Neither East nor West: an off-the-beaten-track adventure…


Days 1 & 2 | Introduction & Qajar-era GrandeurWe arrive in Tehran in the late evening of Day 1. On Day 2, we explore the highlights of Tehran, including the incomparable Golestan Palace.

Day 3 | Unravelling Iran’s HistoryWe visit Niavaran Palace this morning, a Qajar and Phalavi-era complex which includes the former residence of the Shah. Enjoy some free time in Tehran this afternoon.

Day 4 | Testaments to WealthWe continue to the oasis town of Kashan, visiting the traditional Persian garden of Bagh-e Fin, and the palatial homes of Qajar-era merchants and traders.

Day 5 | An Architectural FeastIn Isfahan, we visit the ornate Mosque of Sheikh Lutfullah, and the vast Naqsh-e Jahan square. A real highlight of the day, the latter is seven times the size of St. Mark’s in Venice.

Day 6 | Safavid LegacyWe explore Isfahan’s cavernous Friday Mosque, one of Iran’s oldest, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.

Day 7 | Outstanding MonumentsWe visit the small, leafy town of Na’in, home to glorious monuments include its Jameh Mosque.

Day 8 | The City That Shouldn’t ExistToday, we discover the Tower of Silence, where the dead were sent for decontamination before reaching their final resting place. We also stop at a Zoroastrian Fire Temple.

Day 9 | Homeland of the PersiansToday, we concentrate on former capital Shiraz, with its many monuments, mosques, gardens, and bustling bazaars.

Day 10 | Early ArchitectureWe explore the unique architecture of Firuzabad, which represents a fascinating period in cultural history. This is a modest but hugely significant site.

Day 11 | City of the PersiansNo trip to Iran would be complete without taking in Persepolis; the site is quite simply unforgettable.

Day 12 | Spokesman of the UnseenWe spend our final full day in Shiraz the home and resting-place of Iran’s most beloved figure — Master-poet, Mystic and Spiritual Guide — Hafez.

Day 13 | ConclusionWe return home today.

ITINERARY

£3,995 incl. flights £575 single supp13 DaysSat 4th – Thu 16th March 2017Tour Code: QIR17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Tehran, Shiraz to London

All meals included

12 nights in 4* hotels in Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz

Shiraz

Yazd

KashanNa’in

Firuzabad

Tehran

Persepolis

Isfahan

IRAN

• Visit the ‘City of the Persians’, the incomparable ancient site of Persepolis

• Explore Yazd, the Zoroastrian Desert City on the edge of one of Iran’s giant kavirs

• Discover the exquisitely-decorated Golestan Palace and get a taste of Qajar-era grandeur

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The Italian Renaissance was a remarkable period in world history, and one which still has the relentless power to intrigue us. A time of unprecedented cultural change and achievement, the Renaissance

saw the development of art, philosophy, and government across Italy, influenced by the rediscovery of the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. Join guide Anton Gill as he examines the Renaissance mind, a superstitious, vain, volatile, and brutal beast with an unrivalled delicate sensibility for the arts. We meet some of Florence’s principal Renaissance contributors — Pisano, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Michelangelo — in many of whom this fragile genius is exemplified. In doing so, we find ourselves among the greatest concentration of artists that Europe has ever known. Renaissance artists benefited from their rulers’ need to show wealth and power through their taste. Explore one fantastic example, the Palazzo del Te, Federico II Gonzaga’s summer palace and the most wonderfully over-the-top piece of self-advertisement to be found anywhere in the world. Discover, too, the striking Salimbeni frescoes in the oratory of San Giovanni Battista. Travel with us to Mantua and learn more, not merely about its famous output, but about the diplomatic and military games played to preserve the

independence of its Noble House of Gonzaga.

ART, LOVE & WAR Northern Italy’s Political & Creative Renaissance

Anton Gill is a writer and historian specialising in European history and historical fiction.

He is the author of Il Gigante: Michelangelo, Florence and the David, 1492-1504, and is an expert on the Italian Renaissance.

ANTON GILL

GUIDE LECTURER

Delve deeper into the turbulent history behind the rebirth…


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Milan and transfer to our hotel, where we enjoy an introductory lecture.

Day 2 | Musea and Monumental WorksWe visit Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Italy’s most important galleries. At the Museo d’Arte Antica, in Sforza Castle, we view Michelangelo’s last work, the Rondanini Pietà. After lunch, we visit Milan’s Cathedral, and view Leonardo’s Last Supper in the Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Day 3 | Art Imitating LifeTravelling from Milan to Mantua, we visit the Palazzo del Te and view its tremendous frescoes, from banquet scenes in the Sala di Psiche to apocalyptic splendour in the Sala dei Giganti.

Day 4 | A Painted PalazzoWe visit the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua, once occupied by the Gonzaga family, who ruled the province for almost 400 years. The palace houses Mantegna’s famous ‘painted chamber’, a bridal room decorated with illusionistic frescoes.

This afternoon, we see Alberti’s masterpiece the Basilica of Sant’Andrea, commissioned by Ludovico III Conzaga.

Day 5 | Medieval MonumentsWe drive to Florence, visiting the monumental Baptistery and the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo, containing many of the original works of art created for Florence’s cathedral.

Day 6 | Academics & ArchitectsWe begin our day at the Accademia, viewing Michelangelo’s David and Imprisoned Slaves, then depart for San Miniato al Monte, an 11th century basilica set high above the city. On to the contrasting Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia dei Lanzi.

Day 7 | Renaissance MenWe spend our morning in the Uffizi gallery, home to works by Renaissance masters including Michelangelo and Leonardo. After lunch, we visit the Brancacci Chapel, nicknamed the ‘Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance’.

Day 8 | ConclusionWe enjoy a free morning in Florence before returning home.

ITINERARY

£2,495 incl. flights £375 single supp8 DaysMon 3rd – Mon 10th April, 2017Tour Code: QRE17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Milan, Florence to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Milan, Mantua, and Florence

• Visit three cities key to the development of the Renaissance — Milan, Mantua and Florence — and get under the skin of how they were run

• Marvel at the masterful artistic output of some of the period’s key figures, including Michelangelo’s David

• Explore the decadent homes of the Renaissance rich, replete with beautifully detailed artworks

HIGHLIGHTS

“It is not from presumption that I did not notify the reason of my departure, but because it seemed to me that the

agitated and disturbed condition of our city demands acts, not words.”

LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT to the Signoria of Florence

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Milan

Mantua

Florence

ITALY


In the late 15th century, Spain saw a period of cultural flourishing unprecedented in the country’s history. This was Spain’s Golden Age, a key moment in modern history which saw Europe expand rapidly beyond its narrow

confines, laying the foundations for today’s Western world. The arrival of this Golden Age was heralded not at home,

but across the sea — by Columbus’ discovery of the New World and the subsequent domination of Central and

Southern America by the Conquistadors. But in Spain itself, driven citizens seized on the opportunities of their country’s expanding fortunes to create the world’s first trans-global empire, decimating the

peoples and civilisations that they found in their way.

The ‘Pillars of Hercules’ were the gateway to this era of discovery — the Rock of Gibraltar as the northern pillar, and Morocco’s Jebel Musa its southern brother. ‘Plus Ultra’ — ‘Further Beyond’ — was the motto inspiring this generation of adventurers. Today, the stories of Conquistadors Hernán Cortés, Francisco Pizarro, Inés de Suarez, and more, live on. Their extraordinary tales, filled with daring, violence, and often spectacular success, still resonate. Encapsulated in the impress of the Spanish King, Charles I, the image of the pillars and the accompanying motto persevere to this day in the Spanish Coat of Arms. Join us as we explore the lands that produced these great

Spanish adventurers; discover the culture that inspired them, and examine how their legacy echoes still.

BEYOND THE PILLARS OF HERCULESThe Golden Age of Spain



JASON WEBSTER

GUIDE LECTURER

Curiosity for the unknown, religious fervour, and a lust for gold…


Day 1 | IntroductionWe fly into Seville in the afternoon, check into our hotel and have an introductory talk before dinner. Day 2 | Ships from AmericaWe spend the day in Seville: visiting the Maritime Museum at Torre de Oro, by the riverside where ships from the Americas used to dock; the Archivo General de las Indias; the Cathedral which is home to Columbus’ tomb, and the Giralda Tower.

Day 3 | Columbus’ First VoyageWe make our way to Palos, near Huelva — the departure site of Columbus’ first voyage. We visit the Monasterio de Santa Maria de la Rabida, and the Muelle de Carabelas, where we see replicas of Columbus’ ships and the Columbus monument. We continue to the parador at nearby Mazagón.

Day 4 | Pacific DiscoveriesWe explore Jerez de los Caballeros this morning, the birthplace of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, discoverer of the

Pacific. We stop at the local museum, before travelling on to Zafra parador, where Hernán Cortés once stayed.

Day 5 | Palatial RenaissanceWe make our way to Trujillo, the birthplace of Pizarro and Orellana, conquerors of Peru. We enjoy a walking tour, taking in the Plaza Major and exploring the many churches and magnificent Renaissance palaces.

Day 6 | The Conquests of AmericaWe travel to Guadalupe, the spiritual home of the conquests of America. We visit the monastery where Ferdinand and Isabel gave Columbus the green light, and where he returned with Indian natives upon his return. The Virgin of Guadalupe is patron of all the Americas. We move on to Madrid, stopping en route at Oropesa, the birthplace of Rodrigo Orgónez, one of the conquerors of Peru.

Day 7 | New World WealthIn the morning, we visit the Museo de America and the Museo Naval. After lunch, we continue to El Escorial — Philip II’s gigantic palace built with the wealth of the New World, and architectural symbol of the Spanish Golden Age.

Day 8 | ConclusionWe explore ‘Columbus Square’ in Madrid, with monuments to Columbus and the Age of Discovery, and visit Madrid’s Royal Palace. After lunch, we transfer to the airport for our return home.

ITINERARY

£2,495 incl. flights £350 single supp8 DaysMon 15th – Mon 22nd May, 2017Tour Code: QPH17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Seville, Madrid to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Seville, Mazagon, Zafra, Trujillo, and Madrid

Palos de la FronteraSeville

Oropesa

Zafra

GuadalupeTrujillo

Mazagón

Jerez de los Caballeros

Madrid

SPAIN

• Explore the world of the Conquistadors when the Spanish empire was at its zenith

• Visit Muelle de Carabelas and climb aboard replicas of Columbus’ ships

• Enjoy an afternoon at the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of El Escorial

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


For over five hundred years, Moorish Spain was an engine-room of science, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, technology, poetry, textiles, ceramics, architecture, and agriculture. Its output outstripped

anything within Christendom. This period was known as ‘La Convivencia’ — where Moors peacefully co-existed alongside followers of Judaism and Christianity.

Let expert guide Jason Webster lift the lid on Spain’s Moorish legacy. Visit Toledo Cathedral and hear about the School of Translators, where Muslims, Jews and Christians came together to translate works of science from Arabic into Latin. Discover the Great Mosque at the heart of Córdoba, that has a beauty that “was so dazzling that it defied any description”. Learn more about the culinary influence of Moorish Spain and the political importance of food during the period. Visit the Carmen de los Mártires, behind the Alhambra, where Christian captives were held during the battle for Granada. During our final day we view Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex that is spectacular to behold during the day, but even more beautiful illuminated at night.

German writers of the 10th century described Córdoba, the melting-pot capital of Al-Andalus, as “the ornament of the world”, so in awe were they of its sophistication. Join us and discover its charm for yourself...

LA CONVIVENCIAMoors, Jews & Christians in Southern Spain

GUIDE LECTURER

Moorish Spain: the most culturally advanced corner of Europe...



JASON WEBSTER


Day 1 | IntroductionWe fly to Madrid and drive to Toledo. In the evening, we have an introductory lecture followed by dinner. Day 2 | Cultural Capital of Toledo We visit Toledo Cathedral and hear about the School of Translators, where Moors, Jews, and Christians came together to translate works of science from Arabic into Latin. Afterwards, we visit the former Synagogues del Tránsito and Sta María la Blanca. We end the day at the San Juan de los Reyes monastery.

Day 3 | Clash of ReconquestWe travel to the battle site of Las Navas de Tolosa, the single most important clash between Moors and Christians during the Reconquest. We visit the site museum at the town of Santa Elena.

Day 4 | The Heart of CórdobaWe stroll through Córdoba’s old city this morning, taking in the outside of the Great Mosque, the bridge, the remains

of the Moorish water wheel, and the Jewish Museum. In the afternoon, we tour the Great Mosque — “so beautiful it defies any description”.

Day 5 | The Shining CityIn the morning, we visit Madinat al-Zahra, “the shining city”, and have a tour of the ruins of this vast Muslim palace-city. We continue to Seville and tour the Cathedral, built on the site of the old Almohad Mosque, and climb the Giralda Tower, previously the Almohad minaret.

Day 6 | Moorish Royal PalacesWe visit the Alcázar, a spectacular Moorish-style royal palace. After lunch, we continue to Granada and enjoy a stroll around the old Moorish quarter of Albaicín, visiting Mirador de San Nicolás, with its views over the Alhambra.

Day 7 | Nasrid KingsIn the morning, we visit the spectacular Alhambra. As part of our tour, we visit the adjoining Generalife Palace, summer residence and country estate of the Nasrid Kings. We also tour the Cathedral and visit the Corral del Carbon, the oldest Moorish monument.

Day 8 | ConclusionWe stroll around the old Moorish quarter of Albaicín, walking up to the Mirador de San Nicolás, with its spectacular views over the Alhambra. We return to Málaga Airport for our flights home.

ITINERARY

£2,350 incl. flights £235 single supp8 DaysMon 27th March – Mon 3rd April, 2017Tour Code: QLC17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Madrid, Málaga to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Toledo, Córdoba, Seville, and Granada

Toledo

CordobaSeville

SPAIN

Madrid

GranadaMalaga

Navas de Tolosa

• Explore the palaces of the magnificent Alhambra, a Granadan tribute to Moorish culture, and a superlative example of medieval architecture

• Visit the battle site of the single most important engagement of the Reconquest, Las Navas de Tolosa

• Tour the ruins of the “shining city”, the Muslim settlement of Madinat al-Zahra

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Henry VIII continues to horrify and fascinate us in equal measure. This tour charts the rise and fall of Henry VIII from acclaimed, athletic young king to paranoid, obese, and cruel monarch,

presiding over an irrevocably changed religious and political landscape. Along the way we examine the divorce crisis; the establishment of the Church of England; love, politics and perils at Henry’s Court; war; the dissolution of the monasteries; the magnificence of the King and, of course, Henry’s colourful marital history, including the trial of Anne Boleyn. Walk in Henry VIII’s very footsteps through the often sumptuous remains of Tudor England. Enjoy special access at Allington Castle, visited by both Henry and his final wife Catherine Parr, and spend a night in Thornbury Castle, originally intended as a home for Henry’s distant cousin before his execution was ordered by the king himself. Amongst others, we also visit the incomparable Hampton Court Palace, the theatre where many of the Tudors’ most important moments were played out, and Sudeley Castle, in whose chapel Catherine Parr is buried.

Travel alongside a leading authority on Tudor History — Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, author of 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII and a former curator at Hampton Court Palace

— and join us as we delve inside the mind of this much married monarch...

Curiosity for the unknown, religious fervour, and a lust for gold…MAKING OF A TYRANT

The Reign of Henry VIII

Dr Suzannah Lipscomb is a historian and broadcaster. She has written a number of highly-

regarded books on the Tudor period including 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII. Suzannah was formerly a curator at Hampton Court Palace.

DR SUZANNAH LIPSCOMB

GUIDE LECTURER


Day 1 | IntroductionWe begin our tour with a visit to the Tudor gallery at the National Portrait Gallery. On to Christ Church college, where we learn the story of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. We follow in the footsteps of Henry and Anne Boleyn, spending the night in the Tudor residence of Thornbury Castle.

Day 2 | Family TiesThis morning, we explore Thornbury Castle, confiscated by Henry following its owner’s execution — at the king’s orders — in 1521. We move on to Sudeley Castle, already in the crown’s possession when Henry came to the throne. Edward VI, Henry’s only son, later gifted the castle to his uncle, Thomas Seymour, who he made the first Baron of Sudeley.

Day 3 | Courtly LoveAs we move through the 1520s, we meet the woman who so dramatically captured Henry VIII’s heart — Anne Boleyn — at her childhood home, Hever Castle. We then get a rare chance to visit Allington Castle, a private home that once belonged to the Henrician court poet, Sir Thomas Wyatt.

Day 4 | The Downfall of Anne Boleyn Henry’s discarding of Catherine of Aragon and the break with Rome came at a cost — we visit the former Carthusian Monastery in London to find out more. Having moved heaven and earth to be with her, Henry VIII had Anne Boleyn beheaded on 19 May 1536 at the Tower of London. We reconstruct her last days this afternoon.

Day 5 | A Palace of PleasureWe visit the extraordinary Hampton Court. We examine the architecture, and visit the kitchens, State Apartments, and Young Henry VIII exhibition, to look at the nature of his court and how the palace functioned. We also trace the stories of Henry’s last four wives through their associations with the palace. Enjoy free time to explore the rest of the palace and the gardens.

Day 6 | The Sinking of the ShipWe begin our day at the beautiful, ruined Netley Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery. In the afternoon, we spend time at the Mary Rose Museum, discovering the story behind the magnificent vessel.

Day 7 | ConclusionWe end our tour with a visit to the perpendicular chapel of St George’s at Windsor, and the simple black marble slab that marks the resting place of Henry and his third wife, Jane Seymour. We return to London where our tour ends.

ITINERARY

£2,795 £395 single supp7 DaysMon 11th – Sun 17th September, 2017Tour Code: QHE17A

Tour Manager

Luxury Coach


6 nights in 4* hotels in Thornbury Castle, Kew, and Portsmouth

• Travel with award-winning historian and Tudor expert Dr Suzannah Lipscomb

• Receive private access to Allington Castle, rarely visited by the public

• Spend a night in a Tudor Castle at Thornbury, once visited by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Expansion & EmpiresEARLY MODERN LIFE

AUSTRIA CITY OF DREAMS A Brief History of Vienna2nd – 4th June ........................... p.42

BARBADOS THE SUGAR BARONSProfit & Plunder in the Caribbean 9th – 18th November ............... p.44

BELGIUM A DAMNED SERIOUS BUSINESSThe Battle of Waterloo 12th – 15th May ........................ p.46

ITALY THE GRAND TOUR The Great Cities of North West Italy 4th – 11th September ...............p.48

KENYATHE LUNATIC EXPRESSA History of KenyaSpring 2018 ................................p.86

USAVIRGINIA - A HISTORYA Great Nation is Born18th – 28th September .............p.50

The Early Modern era is one of expanding empires and emerging identities. This new progressive age took cues from the Renaissance that preceded it — embracing individualism, secularism, and

democracy. Change came at unprecedented speed, reshaping Europe and all of the Empires it had acquired abroad.

From Renaissance to Revolution our tours examine all aspects of the Early Modern world. Uncover the best preserved colonial heritage of the former West Indian Empire, built by The Sugar Barons (p.44) in Barbados. Discover A Damned Serious Business (p.46) in Belgium, as we travel back to June 18, 1815, and the conclusion of Napoleon’s reign as the French military leader at the Battle of Waterloo. Hop aboard our tour examining the Lunatic Express (p.86) — built during the Scramble for Africa, at the cost of 2,500 workers’ lives. Uncover the rich political history of Vienna, the City of Dreams (p.42), from the Habsburgs through to the Cold War. Finally, explore the plantations and battlefields of Virginia (p.50), the historic heartland of the United States.

Join us as we explore the changes and transitions that helped the world move towards the modern life that we live today.

“A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.”

NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE

NEW

NEW

NEW


Vienna is the beautiful and historic cultural centre of Europe. The ancient capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ruled by the Habsburg dynasty, is replete with churches, museums, galleries, and

palaces redolent of its glorious past. Immortalised in music by its resident composers — Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Johann Strauss, Brahms, Bruckner, and Mahler — Vienna was also the birthplace of modernism in the arts, seen in the work of such masters as Klimt, Kokoschka, and Schiele, and the writers Franz Kafka and Robert Musil. Famously, of course, it was also the cradle of psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud and his disciples. But the city has a darker side too — exemplified by the down-and-out Viennese youth Adolf Hitler, who returned in triumph to the city he loathed in the 1938 Anschluss, and by the city’s role on the frontline of the Cold War, highlighted in films like The Third Man.

Today, the city’s atmosphere is lighter and cosier — we sample the pleasant ambience of Vienna’s famous cafes and tour its grand palaces such as the Hofburg and Schönbrunn, but also seek out the quirkier and murkier corners which give the city its complex and occasionally neurotic charm. Nigel Jones, a one-time Vienna resident, guides us through the rich political, military and cultural history of a city that has been at the centre of Europe’s life for a thousand years.

CITY OF DREAMSA Brief History of Vienna

Nigel Jones is a historian, journalist, and former Vienna resident, who has published widely on

topics ranging from the Tower of London to the Valkyrie Plot to assassinate Hitler. He is also a co-founder of Historical Trips.

NIGEL JONES

GUIDE LECTURER

Three days of art, power, and politics in Europe’s cultural capital


Day 1 | Famous Faces, Famous PlacesWe fly to Vienna and, on arrival, enjoy a late lunch at the Café Central. Pre-1914, such figures as Freud, Adler, Wittgenstein, Hitler, Lenin, and Trotsky unwittingly rubbed shoulders here. In the afternoon, we have a walking tour of central Vienna. Among the sites we see are the Stefansdom, Vienna’s magnificent cathedral where Mozart’s Requiem received its premiere, and the Opera House where a young Adolf Hitler bought standing room only tickets to hear the operas of Richard Wagner. We also visit Ballhausplatz, Vienna’s ‘Downing Street’. This was where the Great War was planned, and where, in 1934, Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was shot dead in an unsuccessful Nazi putsch.

Day 2 | Paintings, Palaces & ParksIn the morning, we have a tour of the massive Hofburg Palace, the principal residence of the Habsburg dynasty. The sprawling edifice was built over centuries, with architecture ranging from the thirteenth to the early twentieth. Highlights of the tour include the famous white Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School, the Imperial

Treasury containing the crown jewels of the Habsburgs, and the Capuchin Crypt, last resting place of the members of the dynasty. In the afternoon we have a tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Austria’s National Gallery which houses works by such masters as Raphael, Arcimboldo, and Velasquez. We then visit the new Museum Quarter, home to many of Austria’s modernist masterpieces. Our final afternoon visit is to the extraordinary Secession Building, where Gustav Klimt’s friezes are displayed. In the evening, we visit the Prater Park, laid out by Empress Maria-Theresa in the 18th century as a playground for the Viennese. Today it is most famous for its huge funfair — including the Big Wheel, scene of Orson Welles’ famous speech in the classic film The Third Man.

Day 3 | Vienna’s Legacy: the Military and the MedicalThis morning, we leave central Vienna for the western suburbs. Here, we find the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Habsburgs. In the afternoon, we visit the Heersgeschichtliches Museum, which offers a sweeping panorama of Austria’s military past. We then visit the home and famous consulting room of father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, now a museum filled with artefacts of the great psychologist’s life and work. After lunch at Freud’s favourite café, the Landtmann on the Ring, we visit the Belvedere Palace, home of Franz Ferdinand, where Austria’s neutral status and independence was proclaimed after World War II. In the evening, we head to the airport for our return flight.

ITINERARY

£995 incl. flights £125 single supp3 DaysFri 2nd – Sun 4th June, 2017Tour Code: QVI17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to Vienna All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner

2 nights in a central 4* hotel in Vienna

• Explore with former resident Nigel Jones, an expert on Austria’s cultural, political, and military history

• Hear about the city’s rich political history, from the Habsburgs through to the Cold War

• Immerse yourself in Viennese culture in some of the finest churches, museums, and galleries in Western Europe

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Barbados is an enticing destination for anyone seeking beautiful beaches, palm trees and warm azure waters, and rightly so. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll discover a hugely important, dramatic

and fascinating history at its heart. This was the first jewel in the crown of the British Empire, and one of England’s most popular colonies. Barbados’ rich economy was built by the sugar trade — but the secret to its success was anything but sweet. This “industrious empire” was built on the backs of slaves. Between 1627 and 1807, an estimated 387,000 Africans were shipped to the island against their will. Their lives couldn’t have been more different from the luxurious and decadent existence of the Sugar Barons.

Discover the site where the first sugar cane was cultivated in 1642, Drax Hall — one of only two Jacobean mansions in Barbados. Go further back and venture into the limestone caves of the island, which offer clues to Barbados’ population before the arrival of Columbus. Discover Bridgetown, one of the busiest English ports in the Americas, and investigate the island’s profitable rum trade during an exclusive tasting tour of Mount Gay distillery.

The impact of the Sugar Revolution on Britain is impossible to overstate — shipbuilders, bankers and insurers thrived, and sugar money capitalised the Industrial Revolution. This

tour invites you to enjoy a beautiful tropical island that occupies a very important space in British history.

THE SUGAR BARONSProfit & Plunder in the Caribbean

Matthew Parker is a writer, lecturer, and broadcaster, and the author of acclaimed books on

Caribbean history. He spent part of his childhood in the West Indies, including four years in Barbados as a teenager.

MATTHEW PARKER

GUIDE LECTURER

The dark secrets behind the sweet success...


Day 1 | IntroductionWe fly to Barbados and transfer to our hotel. Day 2 | Beginnings We begin at the limestone caves where traces of the island’s earliest population have been found. After lunch, we visit the scenic Welchman Hall Gully, and the island’s superb botanical garden.

Day 3 | First English SettlersWe explore the West Coast at Holetown, where the English settlers landed, and the nearby St James’ Church. We investigate Arlington House Museum’s depiction of the tough pioneer life, before exploring the port of Little Bristol.

Day 4 | The First BaronWe travel to where it all began — Drax Hall plantation, where James Drax produced Barbados’ first sugar. The plantation is still owned by the same family. After a visit to the Brighton great house and lunch at Sunbury plantation, we have a tour of the Clifton great house.

Day 5 | Trade and Rum We discover Bridgetown, once the busiest English ports in the Americas. In the afternoon, we investigate the valuable rum trade on a visit to the Mount Gay distillery. In the evening, we have a special dinner at a plantation house.

Day 6 | Great Houses and OpulenceWe tour the Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey, the second of the island’s two oldest mansions. On to a restored working sugar mill, and the contrasting overgrown ruins of Farley Hill. This afternoon, we learn about the Codringtons, the most notorious family in the West Indies, at the eponymous Codrington College.

Day 7 | Warfare and PrivateersWe explore Barbados’ naval history at St Ann’s Fort, amid the world’s largest collection of 17th century English cannons, and the Garrison. Afternoon at Barbados Museum and George Washington House.

Day 8 | Resistance, Rebellion and FreedomWe discover the stories of the slave rebellions that led to emancipation, meet Barbados’ National Heroes, and learn how independence was won at the Museum of Parliament.

Day 9 & 10 | Barbados: Religion and SportCricket lovers can enjoy behind-the-scenes access to Kensington Oval. Alternatively, discover the island’s most interesting churches on our last day, before our return flight.

ITINERARY

£3,995 incl. flights £750 single supp10 DaysThurs 9th – Sat 18th November, 2017Tour Code: QSB17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to Bridgetown All meals included

8 nights in a selection of 4* hotels

Farley Hill

Limestone CavesHoletown

St. Ann’s Fort Grantley Adams

Bridgetown

Sunbury Plantation House

BARBADOS

• Learn the stories of those on both sides of the Atlantic slave trade, from the infamous Codrington family to the brave slaves of the resistance

• Exclusive access to the grounds of Drax Hall

• Discover the best-preserved colonial heritage anywhere in the former British West Indian Empire

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The battle of Waterloo is one of the most famous military encounters in history. At the climax of a four day struggle, on 18 June 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington met on the

field of battle. This was the only time that these two military giants directly faced each other. The French army tried and failed to defeat Wellington’s rag-tag army of British, Dutch

and German troops, and Blücher’s Prussians arrival sealed a famous victory. This tour, led by Professor Gary Sheffield, will examine the whole campaign from beginning to end.

Starting with a visit to the Wellington museum in Waterloo and a scene-setting lecture, we will examine

Wellington’s desperate delaying action, fought at the vital crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June. Moving a few miles down the road, look at the hard fought action at Ligny. Here, Napoleon won the last victory of his career — but the Prussians were forced back, not destroyed. Next, the battle of Waterloo itself, which we examine over two days from various viewpoints, including that of the so-called ‘Lion’s Mound’, looking out on the erstwhile site of battle. We’ll also visit the famous Waterloo panorama and the new, and very impressive, Waterloo battlefield museum. Finally, we visit the sites of the forgotten fourth battle of the Waterloo campaign: Wavre. Here, a French force, which Napoleon

hoped would arrive to turn the tide at Waterloo, defeated a Prussian army — but to no avail.

A DAMNED SERIOUS BUSINESSThe Battle of Waterloo

Professor Gary Sheffield is one of the leading authorities on the First World War. He has been

at the forefront of the debate about its legacy, and frequently appears on television and radio. He is currently writing a concise biography of Wellington.

PROF. GARY SHEFFIELD

GUIDE LECTURER

Waterloo: from first, to last, to the forgotten final battle


Day 1 | IntroductionEarly this morning, we take the Eurostar to Brussels, enjoying our first breakfast on board. On arrival in the capital, we drive to Waterloo, our base for the entirety of the tour. Once here, we visit the Wellington Museum. A former coaching inn, the vast construction was chosen by the British Military as headquarters for all the army staff. Finally, we visit St Joseph church, before enjoying an introductory lecture and drinks this evening.

Day 2 | Strongholds & CrossroadsDuring our first full day on tour, we focus on the battle of Quatre Bras. Through visits to unassuming modern-day landmarks, once strategic points, we trace the lines of this precursor to Waterloo from a French as well as British perspective. This afternoon, we learn about the Battle of Ligny through a variety of visits. First, to the Fleurus mill used as an observation point by Napoleon, then on to the farm at La Haye, Blücher’s headquarters at the Ferme du Moulin, and finally to Ligny Church.

Day 3 | La Belle AllianceWe begin our first of two days dedicated to the Battle of Waterloo itself. Our first visit is to the Waterloo visitors’ centre and panorama. A brisk walk to the top of the adjacent Lion’s Mound affords a striking aerial perspective on the battlefield, enabling us to all the better envisage the events of 18th June, 1815. From here, we walk to La Belle Alliance, Napoleon’s command post, and to the farmhouse at Hougoumont. After being picked up by our coach, and enjoying lunch in Waterloo, we embark on our afternoon visits. First, we see Picton’s position at the Crossroads of La Haye Sainte and Papelotte. We then move on to La Haye Sainte itself, walking to the Guards’ position before driving, finally, to Papelotte Farm.

Day 4 | ConclusionOur final day — and our second in-depth look at the events of the Battle of Waterloo — begins with a visit to Plancenoit Prussian memorial, the former French artillery position. We move on to Plancenoit church, captured by the Prussians during the battle, and the final stopping point of our study of Waterloo. Now, we move on to the events of the Battle of Wavre, heading to Pont du Christ, St John the Baptist church, and Bierge bridge. We transfer to Brussels this afternoon, for our return to London by Eurostar. We arrive back in the UK this evening.

ITINERARY

£1,295 incl. Eurostar £95 single supp4 DaysFri 12th – Mon 15th May, 2017Tour Code: QWO17A

Tour Manager

Return Eurostar London to Brussels


3 nights in a 4* hotel in Waterloo

• Examine, in unprecedented depth, both the events leading up to the engagement at Waterloo and those of the battle itself

• Led by specialist military historian and Professor of War Studies, Gary Sheffield

• Marvel at the colossal Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo, a 100 metre long painting depicting a single moment on the battleground

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Photo courtesy of Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada


The Grand Tour was the key cultural experience of the 18th century British elite, seeing the curious rich set off across Europe in their droves in order to discover new cultures and sensations. Among their most popular destinations were the towns, cities, and countryside of Italy’s green and pleasant

North, which we explore on this tour, our very own re-creation of the Grand Tour’s Italian leg.

With the difficulties still inherent in maritime travel, and the lack of a road along the Riviera between

Antibes and Genoa, most British tourists arrived in Italy via Paris, Lyons, and the Mt Cenis pass. Once

there, the marauding upper classes would have relished the opportunities to engage with an Italy both old and new, paying visits to ancient sites, tasting new foods, and experiencing the hot climate and the realities of living in a Catholic state. We follow in their exploratory footsteps as we visit Turin, the architectural jewel in the crown of 18th century Italy; the medieval province of Asti; Genoa, home of artistic treasures, and, finally, Florence.

On our very own version of the Grand Tour, we are led by Professor Jeremy Black MBE, an expert on the politics and international relations of 18th century Britain, and on the Grand Tour specifically. Marvelling at the same masterpieces of fine art and architecture as the Grand Tourists preceding us, we are gifted with a real sense of this

18th century rite of passage, and of northern Italy itself.

THE GRAND TOURThe Great Cities of North West Italy

Professor Jeremy Black MBE is a historian and Professor of History at the University of Exeter.

He is the author of over 90 books, many on 18th century British politics and international relations. Among these is 2003’s Italy and the Grand Tour.

PROF. JEREMY BLACK MBE

GUIDE LECTURER

The 18th century British tourist on a voyage of Mediterranean discovery


Days 1&2 | IntroductionArrive in Turin late afternoon for an introductory talk and dinner at our hotel. On our first full day, we take a tour of Filippo Juvarra’s Turin, witnessing the grandeur of the Palazzi Reale, Madama, and Carignano; the majestic boulevards and arcaded shopping streets. The architectural jewel in Turin’s crown is undoubtedly La Venaria, a Versailles-esque residence of the Royal House of Savoy. Finally, we visit the cathedral to see the Turin Shroud, the Royal Palace, and the Rococo hunting lodge at Stupinigi.

Day 3 | Great HeightsThis morning, we take a walking tour of Turin, before moving on to the hunting palace at Venaria to explore its beautiful gardens. After lunch, we ascend the hill of Superga to visit its Basilica. Another of Juvarra’s works, the late Baroque masterpiece sits a lofty 672 metres above the town.

Day 4 | Medieval Cathedrals, Modern ConflictsWe head south today, via Asti, to Genoa. Arriving in Italy’s sixth largest city in the early evening, we take a walking tour

of the old town’s atmospheric narrow lanes. Among the sites we see is the medieval cathedral, which had a lucky escape from British bombardment in 1941. Day 5 | La SuperbaWe begin with a visit to the Baroque palaces of Genoa, deemed among the most important of the Italian scene by critics. We then have visits and walking tours at some of the Palazzi museums along the Via Garibaldi, including the Palazzo Doria Tursi.

Day 6 | Etruscan BuiltWe depart for Lucca — founded by the Etruscans, it is most notable for its intact Renaissance walls which encircle the old town. We embark on a walking tour of the town before lunch, then head to Florence, where we spend the night.

Day 7 | A Renaissance MasterpieceWe spend the whole day in Florence, visiting the Uffizi, Accademia, and Duomo. This Renaissance masterpiece became a key destination for 18th century British Grand Tourists, and we will follow in their footsteps on a tour of the city’s most enduringly impressive sites.

Day 8 | ConclusionOn our final day, we have the morning to spend at our leisure in Florence. After a farewell lunch, we transfer to the airport for flights home.

ITINERARY

Venaria

Province of AstiAlessandria

StupinigiHunting House's Park

Turin

Basilica of SupergaTurin

Genoa

LuccaFlorence

ITALY

£2,495 incl. flights £385 single supp8 DaysMon 4th – Mon 11th September, 2017Tour Code: QGT17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Turin, Florence to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Turin, Genoa, and Florence

• See the beautiful cities of the Italian north through the eyes of an 18th century traveller

• Travel to the beautiful cities of North West Italy: Turin, Genoa, Lucca, and Florence

• Travel alongside Professor Jeremy Black, expert and author of several books on the Grand Tour

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

HIGHLIGHTS


Virginia is the historic heartland of the United States. It was here that a nation was forged during a century of revolution and war between 1775 and 1865. The heritage sites of Virginia — all

magnificently preserved and presented — tell this rich historical story. This is a tale of colonisation, rebellion, slavery, abolitionism, and civil war that created the modern American nation. Virginia provided the stage for historical giants like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E Lee, and Ulysses ‘Unconditional Surrender’ Grant. But crucially, it also provided one for the intimate human experience behind the great upheavals; in the early colonies, on the slave plantations, and in the trenches and killing-fields of America’s most terrible war. We visit a series of evocative sites that truly illustrate the human cost to those on both sides of the American Civil War. The plantation home of Thomas Jefferson, where the alleged advocate of the Enlightenment held victims of the Atlantic slave trade. The battlefield at Chancellorsville, which saw the death of cherished Confederacy General Stonewall Jackson. Spotsylvania, site of one of the bloodiest battles of the war. We are led on our journey of discovery by leading archaeologist and military historian Dr Neil Faulkner, with whom we follow the fortunes and failings of some of American history’s most iconic figures, and learn

the compelling story of the making of the United States.

VIRGINIA - A HISTORYA Great Nation is Born

Dr Neil Faulkner is a leading archaeologist and historian, and the editor of Military History Monthly.

Neil has a wide range of research interests, including the history of Modern and Early Modern conflict.

DR NEIL FAULKNER

GUIDE LECTURER

Destruction, rebirth, and a new perspective on the Old Dominion...


Days 1 & 2 | IntroductionArrive in Washington late afternoon, and drive to Richmond for an introductory drink and talk before dinner. We spend our first full day in Colonial Williamsburg, which formed the centre of political events in the run up to the Revolution.

Day 3 | The Colonies and the RevolutionAt Jamestown, America’s first permanent English settlement founded in 1607, we explore the story of the first settlers. On to Yorktown, the scene of 1781 English siege and surrender.

Day 4 | Washington and the Creation of the United StatesVisit Mount Vernon, George Washington’s plantation home, and Old Town Alexandria, home to the Franklin & Armfield Slave Market and site of the Civil War’s first fatalities. Day 5 | Slavery At Monticello, former home and burial place of Thomas Jefferson, we confront his contradictions. An advocate of Enlightenment ideals, he expressed opposition to slavery, while owning hundreds, and freeing few.

Day 6 | The ConfederacyIn Richmond, we visit the White House of the Confederacy, former home to Jefferson Davis, and Tredegar Iron Works, the Civil War South’s primary iron and artillery production facility.

Day 7 | The Civil War, 1861-1862We move north and visit Manassas, site of the first land battle of the Civil War, which saw 18,000 Confederate soldiers defeated by Union troops.

Day 8 | The Civil War, 1862-1863We visit the battlefield of Fredericksburg, scene of one of the most one-sided battles of the Civil War. This afternoon, we see Chancellorsville, scene of the 1863 battle which saw the death of beloved Confederacy General, Stonewall Jackson.

Day 9 | The UnionWhole day in Washington, visiting the Lincoln Memorial, the Museum of American History, and Arlington Cemetery, burial place of U.S. servicemen from the Civil War onwards.

Days 10 & 11 | The Civil War, 1864We visit the battlefield of the Wilderness, scene of Grant’s first Virginia campaign against Lee, then Spotsylvania, scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Whilst here, we assess the battles of 1865, before reflecting on events over a farewell dinner and heading to the airport for overnight flights home.

ITINERARY

£3,795 incl. flights £465 single supp11 DaysMon 18th – Thurs 28th September, 2017Tour Code: QVA17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to Washington

All meals included

9 nights in 4* hotels in Richmond and Fredericksburg

Washington DC

County National Military Park

AlexandriaManassas

Fredericksburg

Jamestown YorktownWilliamsburg

Richmond

Monticello

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

• Visit key sites associated with the American Civil War, from the first land battle at Manassas to surrender at the Appomattox Court House

• See Yorktown, Washington, Jefferson’s plantation at Monticello and many other iconic sites

• Led by renowned military historian Dr Neil Faulkner

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Revolution in the air, war afoot...20TH CENTURY

CUBA RED HEAT The Cuban Revolution 16th – 24th Oct ..........................p.54

BELGIUM & FRANCE THE WAR WALK A Journey along the Western Front 8th – 13th October ....................p.56

BELGIUM, FRANCE & SPAIN SECRET ARMYThe Great French Escapes 2nd – 7th October .....................p.58

FRANCE BLITZKRIEG 1940 The Nazi Invasion of France 18th – 24th September ..............p.60

FRANCE STRANGE MEETINGSThe Poets of the First World War 10th – 14th July ..........................p.62

FRANCE WAR & WINE Bordeaux in the Second World War 4th – 10th June ...........................p.64

FRANCE & UK CHURCHILL’S WARRIORS The Women of SOE 28th Sept – 2nd Oct ..................p.66

GERMANY THE FACE OF EVIL The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich 10th – 18th June .........................p.68

GERMANY BERLIN AT WAR Life and Death in Hitler’s Capital 20th – 23rd October ................... p.70

GERMANY & POLAND KILLING HITLERFollowing the Assassins 20th – 27th May .......................... p.72

GREECE KIDNAPPING A GENERALCrete and Patrick Leigh Fermor 4th – 10th April ..........................p.74

INDIA BRITAIN’S GREATEST BATTLEImphal & Kohima 10th – 19th November ............... p.76

POLAND THE FINAL SOLUTIONLife and Death in Occupied Poland 1st – 8th July ................................p.78

RUSSIA THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION10 Days that Shook the World 31st May – 7th June .................... p.80

SPAIN BROTHERS IN ARMSThe Spanish Civil War 14th – 21st October .................... p.82

UK OPERATION SEA LION The Nazi Invasion of Britain, 1940 31st March – 2nd April .............. p.84

The 20th century saw the world dominated by war and political upheaval. It was a time of unknowing atrocity and dubious morality; an age of resistance, risk, and revolution.

Take an alternative look at 1940, examining what could have been, had Operation Sea Lion (p.84) gone ahead. Uncover the Nazis’ Face of Evil (p.68), following their beginnings in Munich’s beer halls to the Nuremberg trials. Travel from the Bay of Pigs to Old Havana, tracing the history of the Red Heat (p.56) of the guerrilla revolution. In this modern era, victims of war are more distant and responsibility more dubious. Travel with us as we examine whose hands are stained with innocent blood; and question who is to blame for the horrors inflicted upon mankind...

NEW

NEW

NEW

H&W

NEW

NEW

NEW

NEW


On 26th July 1953, Communist rebels attacked the Moncada army barracks. Despite failing, the mission launched the revolution that brought Castro to power. Expert Guide and author

Alex von Tunzelmann will join you on tour, discussing everything from the Missile Crisis to the brand of cigars favoured by Castro and JFK.

Visit key sites of the Cuban Revolution and Caribbean history. See the bullet holes left behind by Che Guevara in the main square of Santa Clara. Bask on the white sands and swim in the turquoise waters of the Bay of Pigs, where CIA frogmen and Cuban political exiles mounted a disastrous invasion in 1961. Outside of politics, Cuba’s rousing rhythms and luscious landscapes have made it a desirable destination for lovers of music, food, history, and culture alike! Tour the vivid, sensational World Heritage Sites of Trinidad and Havana, dance the night away in the Buena Vista Social Club, and raise a toast to Cuba resident Ernest Hemingway in his favourite cocktail bar.

Join us and follow in the footsteps of Fidel Castro, one of the most divisive figures in history. Are his detractors right to dismiss him as a tyrannical dictator responsible for suppressing freedom of expression, association, movement, and the press? Or is there any truth to his supporters’ claims

that he is a socialist pioneer?

RED HEATThe Cuban Revolution

Alex von Tunzelmann is a historian, screenwriter, and New York Times bestselling author. As well

as acclaimed historical books, including Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder & the Cold War in the Caribbean, she also writes the weekly Guardian column Reel History.

ALEX VON TUNZELMANN

GUIDE LECTURER

Exploring the island of rum, rousing rhythms and revolution...


Day 1 | HavanaWe arrive in Havana.

Day 2 | The Marxist’s MausoleumMore than 2,900 resisters were taken prisoner during the five-day battle of Santa Clara, where we stop today. We visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum which houses the remains of the executed Marxist revolutionary. An eternal flame, lit by Fidel Castro, marks the grave at the site.

Day 3 | Tales of Times PastToday we travel through the picturesque Sierra del Escambray Mountains, a lush range rising above the pastel-coloured houses of Trinidad, to the town itself. During our journey, we have the opportunity to discuss pre-1950 US and Cuban history.

Day 4 | From Across the SeaWe explore the Sierra del Escambray before making our way to Cienfuegos, another beautiful colonial town. Before we sit down to dinner, we discuss the Kennedys’ involvement in

the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion, an event often used as a byword for catastrophic failure.

Day 5 | The Failed InvasionWe make our way to the Bay of Pigs, or Playa Girón. We visit Zapata swamp in the afternoon, where crocodiles and other fantastic wildlife can be found. On to Havana.

Day 6 | Our Man in HavanaWe enjoy a morning at the Museum of the Revolution, then spend the afternoon strolling around Old Havana. The day ends in Floridita, where Ernest Hemingway would always stop by when he was in town.

Day 7 | A Most Famous ExportThis morning, we tour the Partagás Tobacco Factory, leaving the afternoon free to explore Old Havana. We enjoy a final talk before dinner.

Days 8 & 9 | Farewell to CubaOn our last morning, we look around the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, with its huge and varying collection of artefacts and artworks. We enjoy a farewell lunch before our departure in the afternoon, arriving in the UK on Day 9.

ITINERARY

£2,995 incl. flights £350 single supp9 DaysMon 16th – Tue 24th October, 2017Tour Code: QRH17A

Tour Manager

Return Flights London to Havana

All meals included

7 nights in 4* hotels in Havana, Santa Clara, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos

Havana

Santa Clara

CienfuegosPlaya Giron

Trinidad

CUBA

• From the Bay of Pigs to Old Havana, trace the history of the guerrilla revolution through iconic sites and breathtaking landscapes

• Travel with expert guide and author of Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder & the Cold War in the Caribbean

• Stop for a drink in Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar in Havana, El Floridita.

HIGHLIGHTS

“A revolution is not a bed of roses: it is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.”

FIDEL CASTRO Havana, 1961

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The 400-mile trench lines that snaked their way through Flanders and France in the First World War became open wounds along which Europe’s youth sacrificed themselves for the four long

years that the conflict lasted. If war hero turned war poet Siegfried Sassoon is to be believed, then “here”, on the Western Front, was “the world’s worst wound”. As we approach the centenary of the 1918 Armistice, Historical Trips invites you to join Great War historian and our company’s co-founder Nigel Jones

as he walks the most formerly active sectors of the front, detailed in his now classic debut book The War Walk: A Journey Along the Western Front.

Nigel, whose father served on the staff of Field Marshal Haig, and whose uncle was killed near Ypres in 1915 aged just 18, will lead a small group of walkers on a tour of the Western Front’s most active, and devastating sites. Among these, Ypres Salient, Passchendaele, Messines Ridge and Ploegsteert Wood; Arras, Vimy Ridge and the Somme. The walk concludes at Cambrai and Ors, where the British Army fought its last battle on 9th November 1918, an engagement which saw poet Wilfred Owen among the dead. At every step of this solemn and reflective journey, Nigel will offer his personal views on the war, as well as his historical knowledge informed by a lifetime of walking the hallowed

ground along which we take our tour.

THE WAR WALKA Journey Along the Western Front

Nigel Jones is an author and historian specialising in 20th century history. His debut book The War

Walk explores the theatre in detail. Nigel also has a deep personal connection with the conflict, his father and uncle both having served.

NIGEL JONES

GUIDE LECTURER

Life and death on the front lines of the Great War


Day 1 | IntroductionMeet at Victoria coach station and drive to Dover for our ferry crossing to Calais. En route to Ypres, we have an introductory talk from Nigel on the coming of the Great War, and the story of the Ypres Salient. On arrival, we have the first of our walks through the Salient to Tyne Cot, the largest war cemetery on the Western Front. Return to Ypres for the moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.

Day 2 | In Flanders FieldsThis morning, we visit Flanders Fields Museum before walking the Messines Ridge, site of the largest explosion in human history prior to Hiroshima. On to Ploegsteert Wood, site of the famous 1914 Christmas truce.

Day 3 | Scarred by ShellfireWe drive to the foot of Vimy Ridge, before ascending its gentle slope on foot through a landscape scarred by shellfire from the 1917 Battle of Arras. The ridge is crowned by the impressive Canadian national war memorial, which we tour before heading underground to the tunnels and trenches.

This evening, we have some free time to explore the streets and squares of beautiful Arras, where we spend the night.

Day 4 | Missing in ActionThe first of two days exploring the Somme battlefield. We drive to Serre and walk to the Sheffield Memorial Park, scene of the bloodiest day in British military history. Passing the largest cemetery on the Somme, we stop for lunch at a café with its own preserved trench system. Continue south to Newfoundland Memorial Park, its trenches and shell holes preserved in memory of the 600 who died here on July 1st. Continue along the Ancre River to our final stop, the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.

Day 5 | Our Fallen AlliesReturn to Thiepval, exploring the southern sector of the battlefield. Begin at Pozieres, where more Australians died than at Gallipoli. On to the Lochnagar Crater, the embattled village of Mametz and haunting Mametz Wood, and the striking red dragon atop the Welsh Division memorial. Finally, to Flers, the village which saw the first deployment of tanks in warfare in September 1916.

Day 6 | From Beginning to EndDrive to Le Cateau, scene of the war’s opening battles in 1914, and walk to Ors, where the last major engagement of the British Army was fought in 1918. Finally, we tour the village, paying our respects at the grave of Wilfred Owen, before departing for Calais for the journey home.

ITINERARY

£1,495 incl. ferry £235 single supp6 DaysSun 8th – Fri 13th October, 2017Tour Code: QWK17A

Tour Manager

Return coach London to Dover; return Club Class ferry to Calais


5 nights in 3/4* hotels in Ypres, Arras, and Cambrai

Vimy RidgeArras

Ploegsteert

Auchonvillers Thiepval

Pozières Le Cateau

Ypres

Cambrai

Calais BELGIUM

FRANCE

• Hear stories of generals, poets, and ordinary soldiers alike as we walk the hallowed ground

• Walk the trench lines along the length of the Great War’s most important battlefields — each day includes up to 3 hours (5 to 6 miles) of walking

• Visit the iconic battlefields of Ypres and the Somme

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


When an Allied airman was shot down over Occupied Europe, his first duty was to evade capture. Lacking food, civilian clothing, papers, and linguistic skills, this

was a nearly impossible task. Many downed flyers were indeed swiftly tracked down, doomed to spend the rest of the war behind barbed wire. However, within two years, resistance groups in Holland, Belgium, and France had become established. Their aim? To spirit these airmen, and others, through the Low Countries

and France, over the Pyrenees, and away to the safety of neutral Spain. By far the most famous of these vital organisations was called the Comet Line, founded by a remarkably brave young woman called Andrée de Jongh, nicknamed ‘Dédée’. In this unique tour led by Guy Walters, the author of The Real Great Escape, we will be following the route of the Comet Line from Brussels through Flanders and northern France, and then on to Paris and Bilbao. We visit safe houses in both capitals and key locations en route, explore the foothills of the Pyrenees and retrace some of the exact footsteps made by the airmen and their resistance helpers over the mountain range. While we will be travelling in comfort, this promises to be a tour that will reveal the huge hardships endured by so many brave men and women as

they struggled not only for their own personal freedoms, but for those of their countries too.

SECRET ARMYThe Great French Escapes

GUY WALTERS

GUIDE LECTURER

A true story of daring, popularised in Secret Army and ‘Allo ‘Allo...

Guy Walters is an author, novelist, historian, academic, and journalist. His recent book, The Real

Great Escape, details the exploits of Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, who hid from the Nazis in occupied Prague, and escaped twice.


Day 1 | IntroductionFly to Brussels in time for lunch and an introductory talk by Guy Walters. This afternoon, we visit some of the area’s safe houses, including the home of Andrée de Jongh. We end the day with a visit to notorious St Gilles Prison, where many resistance figures were to meet their dreadful fates.

Day 2 | En Route to ParisVisit the National Resistance Museum, and leave Brussels late morning. On our luxury coach journey to Paris, we stop at various important locations on the Comet Line. Lunch in Valenciennes, before arriving in Paris late afternoon.

Day 3 | Stops on Both SidesA day in Paris, beginning with a visit to the safe house run by celebrated Comet Line member Elvire Morelle. Here, many airmen lived packed together while waiting for false papers. We visit some other safe houses, and Gestapo stations at Avenue Foch and Rue Lauriston. After lunch, we visit the Resistance Museum, and a pre-dinner talk from Guy introduces our journey’s next leg.

Day 4 | Last Port of CallAs the evaders would have done, we take a train from Montparnasse to Bayonne — visit the famous Villa Voisin in Anglet and Restaurant Larré, the last port of call for many escapees before trekking over the Pyrenees.

Day 5 | Crossing BordersThis morning, we visit the beautiful hilltop village of Urrugne, through which many evaders passed. On to the Hermitage of St Michael on the French-Spanish border, before, weather permitting, a two-hour walk. After a picnic lunch, we explore Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

Day 6 | ConclusionOn our final day, we visit the excellent Comet Line exhibition at Irun’s Museo Romano Oiasso. Drive to Bilbao to visit the British Consulate. After lunch, we explore Bilbao and visit the Guggenheim Museum, before our flights home.

ITINERARY

£1,995 incl. flights £265 single supp6 DaysMon 2nd – Sat 7th October, 2017Tour Code: QEL17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Brussels; Bilbao to London


5 nights in 3/4* hotels in Brussels, Paris, and Saint Jean de Luz

Paris

Brussels

Bilbao

BayonneSaint-Jean-de-Luz

Museo Romano Oiasso

FRANCE

SPAIN

• Led by Guy Walters, an expert on this secret war and author of The Real Great Escape

• Learn the dramatic true story, popularised in BBC drama Secret Army and well loved comedy ‘Allo ‘Allo

• Enjoy a gentle walk in the dramatic scenery of the Pyrenees, retracing the mountain route taken by those evading capture by the Nazis

HIGHLIGHTS

We are joined on this tour by Tour Manager and Historical Trips co-founder Michael Ivey. Mike read history at Oxford, specialising in medieval Europe, and takes a special interest in modern European conflicts.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The German defeat of France and the Low Countries in May and June 1940 was one of the most stunning victories in the history of warfare and at the time, confirmed what many had feared

about the emerging military might of Nazi Germany. France, one of the foremost industrial nations in the world and a global superpower, was defeated in just six weeks, while Great Britain, with its empire and global trading operation, was sent packing back across the English Channel. Blitzkrieg (the lightning

war) focussed on breaking through the opponent’s line of defence with short, powerful attacks and a continuously changing front.

Join us as we examine Germany’s Vernichtungsschlacht (battle of annihilation) across the sites where many of the most momentous episodes of the campaign took place. Exploring the human side of the conflict — we discover the key leaders and characters involved, and learn about the experience of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who took part in this extraordinary battle. Many myths have evolved around Blitzkrieg. We lay them to rest on tour, and also discover how Germany prevailed against a combined Allied coalition that, on paper, seemed militarily stronger.

This will be an absorbing, and highly thought-provoking look at the extraordinary battle that so changed the world.

BLITZKRIEG 1940The Nazi Invasion of France

JAMES HOLLAND

GUIDE LECTURER

The ‘Phoney War’ — a tense period of anticipation...

James Holland is an author and broadcaster specialising in the Second World War, and co-

founder of the Chalke Valley History Festival. Since 2003, he has written and published a series of acclaimed historical books and novels.


Day 1 | IntroductionWe travel by Eurostar to Lille, and transfer to Sedan.

Day 2 | The German Advance During our first full day on tour, we visit Fort de Fermont near Longuyon — one of the largest and most complete forts of the infamous Maginot Line — and examine the advance of the German spearhead through the Ardennes.

Day 3 | Guderian on the MeuseThe German breakthrough across the Meuse at Sedan was one of the most pivotal actions of the entire Second World War. We explore the events and personalities related to it, following in the footsteps of General Guderian to Givonne, and heading to Gaulier to view the main crossing point.

Day 4 | The Collapse of the Meuse BridgeheadWe head north to Dinant, where Generalmajor Erwin Rommel and his 7th Panzer Division crossed the Meuse. We also uncover the attempts by the French and Belgians to prevent both this and the 5th Panzer Divisions crossing.

Day 5 | The BEF pushed backToday, we turn our attentions to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and their part in the battle. We visit the front line to the south of the village of Pecq and cross the old First World War battlefields at Vimy Ridge, before following in the footsteps of those counter-attacking Rommel’s troops.

Day 6 | Dunkirk: The BeginningWe trace the British defence of the southern flank along the Le Bassée Canal near Bapaume, and visit the tiny village of Le Paradis. We travel to Cassel, the hill so famously marched up and down by the Duke of York.

Day 7 | Dunkirk: The EndOur last full day is dedicated to the battle for Dunkirk. We begin with a visit to the Bergues-Furnes Canal, the defensive line for the Dunkirk perimeter. Our tour ends at Malo-Les-Bains, where we discuss the evacuation and subsequent French armistice. We return home by Eurostar.

ITINERARY

£2,195 incl. Eurostar £265 single supp7 DaysMon 18th – Sun 24th September, 2017Tour Code: QBL17A

Tour Manager

Return Eurostar London to Lille


6 nights in 3/4* hotels in Sedan and Lille

SedanGivonne

Dinant

PecqLille

Longuyon

Malo-les-Bains

Cassel

FRANCE

• Led by James Holland, leading Second World War historian and expert on the campaign

• The complete story, from the German attack at Sedan to the British evacuation at Dunkirk

• Explore the well-preserved fortifications of the Maginot Line

HIGHLIGHTS

We are joined on this tour by Tour Manager and Historical Trips co-founder Michael Ivey. Having read history at Oxford, specialising in medieval Europe, he also takes a special interest in modern European conflicts.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


In the popular imagination, the First World War is most vividly chronicled not by historians, but by its poets.In fact, most people’s initial encounters with the First World War come through the literature that the conflict

produced. The huge quantity of poetry and prose written in response to the experiences of war in the trenches has found a dominant and seemingly permanent place in our culture. Poets like Wilfred Owen and his mentor Siegfried Sassoon are much more familiar to us than the names of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, or politician David Lloyd George. Beyond the brilliance of their verse, the lives of Owen, Thomas, and Brooke have become enduring symbols of the conflict itself. Their bright, young talent cut brutally short as the conflict claimed “half the seed of Europe, one by one”. Over five days, we visit the site where Siegfried Sassoon met Robert Graves, and where Owen’s gallantry at Joncourt won him the Military Cross. We are accompanied on our journey through the harrowing realities of the conflict by Nigel Jones, whose father, Frank, served on the staff of Field Marshal Haig. In keeping with Historical Trips’ philosophy of taking you to the exact places where significant events took place, our unique five-day tour will tell the story of the war poets by visiting the places where they served, and where some were wounded, died, and are buried. Follow in the footsteps of these brave artists,

whose works remain as unflinching, and profoundly moving today, as they were a century ago.

STRANGE MEETINGSThe Poets of the First World War

Nigel Jones is a writer, historian, and biographer specialising in 20th century history. Nigel is the

author of Rupert Brooke: Life, Death & Myth, and is a former editor of History Today and BBC History Magazine. His father served on Field Marshal Haig’s staff in WW1.

NIGEL JONES

GUIDE LECTURER

How the testaments of youth became symbols of war’s futility


Day 1 | From the Garden of England to YpresWe travel from London to Kent to catch our Club Class ferry from Dover. En route we hear the stories of Edward Thomas and Siegfried Sassoon. Following our arrival in Ypres, we attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial.

Day 2 | In Flanders FieldsOur first visit is to Railway Cemetery, close to where the poet Julian Grenfell was killed. We continue to Essex Farm cemetery, where Canadian medic John McRae wrote his iconic poem In Flanders Fields. We tour the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, before travelling to the Cambrin area where Siegfried Sassoon first met Robert Graves in 1915. At the battlefield of Loos, we hear the story of poet Charles Sorley, and of John Kipling, the only son of Rudyard Kipling. We head to Arras to visit the grave of Edward Thomas, killed by a shell which left no marks on his body, on the first day of the battle of Arras. Day 3 | The Poets of the Somme This day is devoted to the battlefield of the Somme. We visit

Serre, the hamlet where Wilfred Owen manned a former German dugout in No Man’s Land. Owen created a poetic account of the event, entitled The Sentry, we also visit Beaumont Hamel, site of his poem Futility. We continue to Thiepval Memorial and the preserved Lochnagar mine crater near Ovillers. We discuss Owen’s first published poem Miners here. Our final stop is Mametz Wood, where both Graves and Sassoon fought. Day 4 | The Last Days of Wilfred OwenToday is devoted to the last days in the life of the conflict’s most famous poet, Wilfred Owen. We travel south of Cambrai to Joncourt, the village where Owen turned a captured machine gun on the fleeing enemy, an action which won him a Military Cross. We later follow Owen to Ors, the village where he was killed on November 4th 1918, just a week before the Armistice ended the war. We visit the striking memorial in the ‘Forester’s House’, where Owen wrote his final letter home, and visit the scene of his death on the bank of the Sambre-Oise canal. Finally, we pay our respects to Owen and his comrades at Ors cemetery.

Day 5 | The Poets of the Somme We head for Calais, stopping at Talbot House in Poperinge, the British army’s chief R&R centre behind the Ypres Salient. It has been preserved as a time capsule of 1914 – 18, where poet Edmund Blunden spent time before and during the battle of Passchendaele in 1917. We catch a lunchtime ferry and are back in London by late afternoon.

ITINERARY

£1,350 incl. ferry £185 single supp5 DaysMon 10th – Fri 14th July, 2017Tour Code: QWP17A

Tour Manager

Return ferry Dover to Calais


4 nights in 4* hotels in Ypres and Arras

Cambrin

Ypres

Joncourt

Arras

Calais

Beaumont-HamelLochnagar Crater

FRANCE

BELGUIM

• From Ypres to the Somme, discover the lives and works of the poets of the Great War

• Travel alongside historian and broadcaster Nigel Jones, author of Rupert Brooke: Life, Death & Myth

• Trace the path of Owen, Sassoon, Graves, and more, to the sites where their immortal lines were penned

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


For centuries, the regions of Bordeaux and Cognac have produced delicious wines. But between the years of 1940 and 1944, German presence in France placed these legendary vines under threat. There was no

manpower to tend the vines and French cellar stocks were ransacked by the Germans. Each year of the occupation

saw 320 million bottles of French wine find their way to Germany.

Join us on this joint tour with our sister company Arblaster & Clarke, as we uncover the story of how French winegrowers fought a game of cat and mouse against the Nazis, determined to preserve their great vineyards. We learn, too, the stories of these brave artisans. Discover more about Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the vineyard owner whose wife, Elisabeth Pelletier de Chambure, was killed in a concentration camp. We also stop at the former home of French philosopher, Montesquieu, who was requisitioned by the Germans during the Occupation. Travel alongside historian and oenophile Giles MacDonogh on an exploration of the conflict, interspersed with visits to superb French vineyards. Enjoy a wonderful tasting experience at the Quai des Chartrons, the 18th century heart of the Bordeaux wine trade, and visit its museum. Explore Château Smith-Haut Lafitte in the Graves

appellation — dating back to the 14th century, it served as the base for Bordeaux Weinführer Heinz Bömers.

WAR & WINEBordeaux in the Second World War

Giles MacDonogh is a historian, journalist, and oenophile. One of the foremost authorities on

Nazi German history, he also wrote for the Financial Times for 25 years, covering food and drink.

GILES MACDONOGH

GUIDE LECTURER

A mouth-watering combination of history and fine wine...

HISTORY& WINETOUR


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Bordeaux and enjoy an introductory lecture.

Day 2 | BordeauxOur first visit is to the Quai des Chartrons. In the 1940s, this was the home of Eschenauer and Schröder et Schÿler, firms which traded with the Germans during the Occupation. In Médoc, we visit Château Chasse-Spleen, and enjoy a tasting of their excellent wines.

Day 3 | Cockleshell HeroesWe spend the day visiting sites associated with the Cockleshell Heroes, a group of Allied canoeists who tried to destroy German shipping in Bordeaux during the Occupation. Later, we stop at the Bordeaux U-boat pens. Today, there exists at the imposing site a solemn memorial to the prisoners of war who were enlisted to build it.

Day 4 | Kirwan & Pichon BaronThis morning, we visit Château Kirwan near Margaux. Once there, we explore the estate’s wonderful gardens and enjoy a

tasting. In the afternoon, we visit the stunning Pichon Baron and learn the story of the refugees who fled here to escape Allied bombing.

Day 5 | Rothschild and the Free FrenchWe drive to Château Mouton-Rothschild and visit its museum. During the war Mouton was seized and its Jewish owner, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, joined de Gaulle in London. We also visit Château Leoville Barton, whose owner, Ronald Barton, fought for the Free French.

Day 6 | Cognac and the LoireToday, we enjoy a visit to Hennessy Cognac, where Gustav Klaebisch, the Weinführer for the Cognac region, was credited with saving the precious stocks to blend cognac. Despite this, he was still responsible for exporting over 26 million bottles to Germany during the war.

Day 7 | A Medieval FortressIn the morning, we visit Château de La Brède, medieval fortress and former home to the French philosopher Montesquieu. In the afternoon, we visit our final vineyard. The Château Smith-Haut Lafitte originates from the 14th century, and we explore the historic property and enjoy a tasting here before our return flights home.

ITINERARY


Return flights London to Bordeaux


6 nights in 3/4* hotels in Bordeaux and Cognac

Bordeaux

FRANCE

Cognac

Royan

• Combine the twin pleasures of history and fine wine

• Taste at Mouton Rothschild, Leoville Barton, Hennessy Cognac, and many others

• Led by historian and oenophile Giles MacDonogh, who tells stories of heroic French resistance while introducing fine French wines

HIGHLIGHTS

“Wine can be a better teacher than ink”

Stephen Fry

£2,595 incl. flights £345 single supp7 DaysSun 4th – Sat 10th June, 2017Tour Code: QWW17A

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Churchill launched the SOE, the secretive Special Operations Executive, in June 1940. The mission? To “set Europe ablaze”. The first agent was dropped into France the next year, and over 400

would follow — 39 were women. From 1943 there was increasing demand for female agents to act as couriers and wireless transmitters in France, where their movement was less conspicuous than men’s.

Join us as we uncover some of the most effective female agents in occupied France, whose work was critically important to the war effort. Sufi Princess Noor Inayat Khan provided Britain’s only wireless communications with Paris in 1944. Discover where she was arrested, and visit Avenue Foch, Gestapo HQ, where she was interrogated before being sent to her death. Eileen Nearne also operated from Paris; her solitary death in 2010 made national headlines in the UK, but her story is still not well known — we hope to right that on this tour. Pearl Witherington initially served as a courier in Valençay, our last destination. When her circuit leader was captured, she bravely stepped up to command over 2,000 men.

The operations of resistance circuits in Europe are credited with shortening the War by at least six months. When, as a woman, Pearl Witherington was offered civil rather than

military honours, she commented there had been nothing remotely ‘civil’ about her work.

CHURCHILL’S WARRIORSThe Women of SOE

Clare Mulley is the award-winning author of titles including The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of

Christine Granville, and an expert on the female agents of the SOE. She was presented with Poland’s national ‘Bene Merito’ honour in 2014.

CLARE MULLEY

GUIDE LECTURER

Female agents in France — a less than civil service...


Day 1 | LondonWe meet in central London. Our tour begins at Kensal Green Cemetery, where we view Krystyna Skarbek’s grave and memorial plaque. We visit Noor Inayat Khan’s former home and memorial statue in Gordon Square Gardens. We continue to South Bank and the SOE memorial, and then Violette Szabo’s old house in Stockwell. In the evening we have an introductory lecture on the Women of the SOE.

Day 2 | Paris: Noor Inayat KhanWe continue to Paris, arriving in the afternoon. We visit the Rue Erlanger, base of the Cinema network, and Grignon, where Noor Inayat Khan narrowly escaped capture. At the Rue de la Faisanderie, we see the apartment where Inayat Khan was finally arrested. Our final stop today is the infamous Gestapo Headquarters on Avenue Foch.

Day 3 | Paris: Eileen NearneIn the morning, we visit Pont Neuf, where Eileen Nearne met her contact at the King Henri IV statue. We go to the Boulevard St Michel, her first Paris radio transmitter base,

and 11 Rue de Saussaies, the former Gestapo headquarters with its original cells. Eileen Nearne was interrogated and tortured here, before being sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. In the late afternoon, we travel to Valençay followed by an evening lecture.

Day 4 | Valençay: Pearl Witherington In the morning, we visit the Valencay SOE Memorial to the 104 SOE F Section agents who died in France, and pay our respects. We drive to Tendu, near Châteauroux, to see the parachute site where Pearl Witherington was dropped in September 1943, to serve as a courier for Maurice Southgate, leader of the Stationer network. We hear how Pearl served as the Wrestler network leader from May 1944 onwards, and visit the site of Château des Souches, the network headquarters, east of Valençay.

Day 5 | Valençay - Paris - LondonIn the morning, we visit sites associated with the Maquis as commanded by Pearl Witherington, they fought large pitched battles against the Germans in the aftermath of D-Day. After lunch, we return to Paris, and in the late afternoon, catch our Eurostar train back to London.

ITINERARY

£1,495 incl. trains £215 single supp5 DaysThu 28th September – Mon 2nd October, 2017Tour Code: QCH17A

Tour Manager

Return Eurostar London to Paris


4 nights in 4* hotels in London, Paris, and Valençay

Paris

London

Valençay

FRANCE

UK

• A tour focusing on the extraordinary exploits of the women of the SOE, based in London and Paris

• Led by Clare Mulley, award-winning historian and biographer of Krystyna Skarbek

• Visit safe houses, museums, drop zones, and Gestapo prisons, and hear the incredible stories of SOE women

HIGHLIGHTS

“In the high ranges of Secret Service work the actual facts in many cases were in every respect equal to the most fantastic

inventions of romance and melodrama.”

WINSTON CHURCHILL

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The Third Reich was presented as the salvation of a Germany exhausted by war, depression, and ever-increasing inflation. Instead, the country found itself plunged into a Second World War. The

Reich would show itself to be Germany’s ‘Pandora’s box’ unleashing the horror of the Holocaust. This most shocking act of evil would change not just the shape of modern Europe, but history as a whole.

Our nine-day tour follows the story of Nazi Germany, beginning with the Party’s birth in the beer halls of Munich in 1919, and ending with the Third Reich’s demise in the ruins of 1945 Berlin. We visit many sobering sites on tour. From the first Nazi concentration camp at Dachau; to the Munich Hofbräuhaus where Hitler unveiled the 25-point Nazi Party programme. We also enter Albert Speer’s vast arenas, built to hold the annual party rallies in Nuremberg; and stop at the courtroom where the surviving Nazi leaders were tried and condemned by the international Nuremberg tribunal for the atrocities they committed during the war. Our final destination is Berlin, where we visit the lakeside villa at Wannsee. Surrounded by luscious greenery, it is hard to fathom that this was the setting where the Holocaust was planned, down to the last chilling detail. Adolf Hitler boasted that the Third Reich would last a

thousand years. It lasted only twelve, but its catastrophic impact on Western civilisation would echo forever…

THE FACE OF EVILThe Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

From its birth in the beer halls to the Third Reich’s demise...

Nigel Jones is a historian, journalist, broadcaster, and author, who has published on a wide range of

topics. A specialist in 20th century history, he is also a co-founder of Historical Trips.

NIGEL JONES

GUIDE LECTURER


Day 1 | Introduction We arrive in Munich, cradle of the Nazi movement. We have an introductory talk before dinner tonight.

Day 2 | From Beer Halls to DachauWe explore Dachau and its horrifying crematorium. In Munich, we follow in the footsteps of the 1923 Beer Hall Putschists to the Odeonsplatz. We stop for dinner at the Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s biggest beer hall, tonight.

Day 3 | Hitler’s RetreatWe journey through the Bavarian Alps to Berchtesgaden. Here, we receive a guided tour of the Eagle’s Nest — the mountain hideaway which made a luxurious gift for Hitler’s 50th birthday.

Day 4 | The Berghof and the SSWe visit the remains of the Berghof, Hitler’s home, where he spent time with his inner circle and met foreign VIPs including Neville Chamberlain. The Documentation Centre here chronicles the history of the Nazi movement.

Day 5 | Justice and PropagandaWe walk the Nuremberg Rally grounds, and visit Courtroom 600. Serving as the scene of the Nazi regime’s final interrogation, it remains a venue for jurisdiction today.

Day 6 | To BerlinToday, we head for Berlin. We stop en route at Bayreuth, home to the annual opera festival beloved by Hitler.

Day 7 | War Crimes at WannseeWe tour the museum at the lakeside villa of Wannsee. Returning to Berlin, we visit the Topography of Terror exhibition. On the site of the old SS HQ, the museum details Nazi crimes in Germany and throughout Europe.

Day 8 | German Resistance in BerlinIn the morning, we visit the Gesundbrunnen air raid shelter, built beneath the underground station, and explore the nearby Humboldthain Flak Tower. We end the day at the Museum of German Resistance.

Day 9 | ReflectionWe take a final walking tour through Berlin, ending at the site of Hitler’s Bunker. We then catch our flights home.

ITINERARY

£2,495 incl. flights £245 single supp9 DaysSat 10th – Sun 18th June, 2017Tour Code: QFE17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Munich, Berlin to London


8 nights in 4* hotels in Munich, Berchtesgaden, Nuremberg, and Berlin

GERMANY

AUSTRIA

Berlin

BerghofBerchtesgaden

Dachau

Nuremberg

Bayreuth

Munich

• Experience a unique tour delving into the darkest episodes of German history

• From Munich beer halls to the Nuremberg trials, discover a complete account of the rise and fall of Nazi Germany

• Explore the opulent sites of Nazi leadership at Wannsee and the Eagle’s Nest, contrasted with the horrors of Dachau

HIGHLIGHTS

“A well-constructed tour with like-minded people, visiting interesting places in the company of the excellent Nigel Jones”

CHRIS JENKINS Guest, The Face of Evil

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Berlin is a city that has truly seen it all. This was the nerve-centre of Hitler’s Germany: the backdrop for the most lavish ceremonies; countless Nazi parades; and the chosen venue for Albert Speer’s abhorrent

plans to forge a new ‘world metropolis’. On the other end of the scale, it served as the scene of the final climactic bid to defeat Nazism. Studies of the Second World War often focus on the devastation inflicted upon the Allied Countries, and the unfathomable events of the Holocaust. However, we often forget the suffering experienced by the civilians living in Berlin during the war. What was everyday life like for them in Nazi Germany?

The city’s history is ever-present, layer upon layer, on every street and in every suburb. Acknowledged expert on the realities of Berlin at war, Roger Moorhouse, leads our tour. In doing so, he presents a flavour of life in Hitler’s capital, while raising issues of consent and dissent, morality and authority. Looking past the grand politics of war-torn Berlin, we discover the viewpoint of the capital’s streets and homes. Explore highly evocative locations — from the infamous ‘model’ concentration camp at Sachsenhausen, to the air raid shelters at Gesundbrunnen, and The Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park. Join us as we chart the violent humbling of this once-proud metropolis, with each visit promising to challenge preconceptions and deepen

understanding of this complex period.

BERLIN AT WARLife and Death in Hitler’s Capital

Roger Moorhouse is a historian specialising in the history of the Second World War. The author of

many works on the 1939-1945 war in Europe, his book Berlin at War was shortlisted for the prestigious Hessell-Tiltman Prize in 2011.

ROGER MOORHOUSE

GUIDE LECTURER

Divided and reunited, bombarded and rebuilt...all within the 20th century


Day 1 | In Search of GermaniaWe fly to Berlin and transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city. Our first visits take us to sites connected to the story of Hitler’s planned rebuilding of the city. Following the grandiose design of Albert Speer, we visit the echoing halls of Tempelhof Airport and the Schwerbelastungskörper — a concrete ‘test’ of plans to build a huge triumphal arch in Berlin and a monument to megalomania.

Day 2 | The Fate of the Jews of BerlinThis morning, we take a short journey west to Moabit and the site of the Levetzowstrasse Synagogue, used as a transit camp for the deportation of many of the 55,000 Berlin Jews who perished in the Holocaust. After that, we follow in the footsteps of the deported, travelling to the poignant memorial at ‘Gleis 17’ in Grunewald, the station from which most of Berlin’s Jews were sent to Auschwitz. We continue to Oranienburg and one of Berlin’s most infamous sites: the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen. Now a museum and memorial complex, it was established in 1936 to serve as a ‘model’ concentration camp and training facility for the SS.

Day 3 | Life during WartimeThis morning’s tour gives a fascinating insight into life for ordinary Berliners during the war. We stop at the impressive air raid shelter and museum at Gesundbrunnen, where thousands of civilians found refuge from Allied bombing. From there, we continue to the remains of the Humboldthain Flak Tower, home to as many as 30,000 Berliners at the end of the war. Our final visit this morning is to a restored hospital bunker in the north of the city. We return to the centre of Berlin for a guided walk of the city’s wartime landmarks, including the Reichstag, the site of Hitler’s new Reich Chancellery and bunker, and Göring’s huge Air Ministry. The walking tour will end at the chilling Topography of Terror museum, which is located on the site of the former SS HQ. It charts Germany’s and Berlin’s descent into barbarism. We enjoy a special final dinner on the roof of the Reichstag building this evening.

Day 4 | The Fall of BerlinOn our final day, we head to the eastern suburbs and the district of Karlshorst. We visit the German-Russian Museum, containing the actual room in which Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Red Army was signed in May 1945. After perusing the museum’s collection of artefacts, we depart for the nearby park at Treptow and its memorial to the 100,000 Soviets killed in the Battle for Berlin. There will be time after lunch for souvenir shopping, before we board the coach to depart for the airport and our evening return flight to London.

ITINERARY

£1,495 incl. flights £245 single supp4 DaysFri 20th – Mon 23rd October, 2017Tour Code: QBW17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to Berlin


3 nights in a 4* hotel in Berlin

• Discover Berlin at war, from the chillingly grandiose plans of Hitler and Albert Speer to build a capital to last “2000 years”, to the bunkers where Berliners sheltered from Allied attack

• Gain perspective on life during wartime, touring little-visited sites of military and civilian Berlin

• Enjoy a special dinner on the roof of the Reichstag building, with panoramic views of the reunited city

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Photo courtesy of Till Krech Photo courtesy of Marion Doss CC: BY SA -2.0


As one of his many would-be assassins glumly noted, Adolf Hitler “had the Devil’s own luck”. Germans, Poles, and Frenchmen, ordinary people and senior military personnel alike all tried. Most

have been forgotten by history; all, of course, failed, and many paid for their temerity with their lives. In this unique tour, which will take us from rural southern Germany — via Munich, Berlin, and Warsaw — to the verdant north-east of Poland, we will visit some of the most important sites associated with those bent on killing Hitler.

Led by Historical Trips’ co-founders and Third Reich experts Roger Moorhouse and Nigel Jones, who have written extensively about the abortive bids to eliminate the Führer, we will be guided around the sites of the assassination attempts, learn the assassins’ motivations and

the reasons for their failures, and their position in the wider story of the resistance to Nazism.

KILLING HITLER Following the Assassins

Roger Moorhouse is an historian specialising in the history of the Second World War. He is the

author of many works on the 1939 –1945 war in Europe, including 2006’s Killing Hitler.

ROGER MOORHOUSE

GUIDE LECTURER

Plotting the map of dissent, resistance, and conspiracy in Hitler’s Germany

Nigel Jones is a journalist, broadcaster, author, and historian specialising in 20th century history.

He has written and contributed to a vast number of works, including a 2009 book on the July Plot, Countdown to Valkyrie.

NIGEL JONES

GUIDE LECTURER


Day 1 | IntroductionFly from London to Munich. In the evening, we have a leisurely guided walk of the city centre, taking in the site of the Bürgerbräukeller where Georg Elser came close to killing Hitler in 1938. We end with dinner in the famed Hofbräuhaus, scene of many early Nazi public meetings.

Day 2 | “We Will Not Be Silent”Morning visit to Munich University, scene of the brave protests by the White Rose youth group in 1942. Drive to Landsberg-am-Lech, where Hitler wrote Mein Kampf while detained after the 1923 putsch. In the afternoon, we see the birthplaces of the two men who came closest to killing Hitler — Claus von Stauffenberg and Georg Elser.

Day 3 | From Border to BayreuthWe visit the concentration camp memorial complex at Flossenbürg, near the Czech border. Here, in April 1945, a group of men were hanged for plotting Hitler’s death. This afternoon, we continue our journey to Bayreuth.

Day 4 | In the Heart of the CapitalContinue north to Berlin, arriving early afternoon. Free time before an early evening guided walk of the city, past the Reichstag, Holocaust memorial, and site of the bunker where Hitler and Goebbels committed suicide in 1945.

Day 5 | The Eponymous HeroWe begin at the impressive Prussian Armoury building, scene of Rudolf Gersdorff ’s 1943 suicide bomb attempt on Hitler’s life. Tour the Museum of the German Resistance in Stauffenbergstrasse, and pay our respects at the courtyard site of the execution of Stauffenberg and his co-plotters.

Day 6 | Sentenced to DeathTravel to the memorial site at Plötzensee prison, execution site of many members of the German Resistance. After a central Berlin lunch, we fly to Warsaw.

Day 7 | Into the Wolf ’s LairDay devoted to exploring Rastenburg. This was the site of Hitler’s ‘Wolf ’s Lair’, and the scene of Stauffenberg’s 1944 bomb plot, the most famous attempt on Hitler’s life.

Day 8 | ConclusionOn our final day, we devote our attention to the Polish Underground State. Tour the excellent National Army Museum, and visit the nearby spot where the Poles planned to kill Hitler on his 1939 visit to the city. We enjoy a farewell lunch, before transferring to the airport for flights home.

ITINERARY

£2,695 incl. flights £385 single supp8 DaysSat 20th – Sat 27th May, 2017Tour Code: QKH17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Munich, Warsaw to London


7 nights in 3/4* hotels in Munich, Bayreuth, Berlin, and Warsaw

BayreuthFlossenbürg

Hermaringen

Munich

Berlin

Jettingen

Warsaw

Rastenburg

POLAND

GERMANY

• A unique tour charting the story of the plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler

• Visit the infamous ‘Wolf’s Lair’, scene of the Valkyrie plot against the Führer

• Traverse the varying landscapes of Germany and Poland, from the lively urban centre of Berlin to the gently rolling hills of Mazovia

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


On an April night in 1944, a chauffered car containing Generalmajor Heinrich Kreipe set out for the Villa Ariadne — but never arrived. On a road between the hillside village of

Archanes and the Minoan palace at Knossos, the car was stopped by two men in German military uniform, and the general spirited away into the night. These ‘German soldiers’ were, in fact, Major Patrick Leigh Fermor and Captain William Stanley Moss, members of the British Special Operations Executive. On this

unique tour, we delve into the story of these men, sent to carry out sabotage against Crete’s German occupiers; the local guerillas resisting Axis authority, and the career soldier who was the target of their daring plan. Travelling across sun-baked Crete’s open expanses and striking landscapes, we visit the key sites in the tale of Generalmajor Kreipe’s kidnapping — immortalised in the 1957 film Ill Met by Moonlight — and in the long history of the island itself. Visit beaches, monasteries, villages, and caves, where we learn how cells of resistance opened up during both the Second World War and Crete’s centuries-long Ottoman occupation. We also follow the conflict through to its conclusion with a visit to the haunting Souda Bay War Cemetery. This scenic site pays tribute to the fallen Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War and

beyond, bringing home the human cost of conflict, and the true importance of these covert operations.

KIDNAPPING A GENERALCrete and Patrick Leigh Fermor

Dr Roderick Bailey is a military historian specialising in the study of resistance, intelligence,

and clandestine warfare. His current research, for Oxford University’s Wellcome Trust, is on the actions of Britain’s Special Operations Executive in WWII.

DR RODERICK BAILEY

GUIDE LECTURER

Three local agents, two British soldiers, one tale of daring capture...


Days 1 & 2 | IntroductionWe fly to Crete, and enjoy a free afternoon before an introductory lecture and drinks at our hotel. On our first full day, we drive to Chania to visit the Maleme airfield and the Maritime Museum. After lunch, we head to Souda Bay Cemetery, burial site of over a thousand fallen Commonwealth servicemen.

Day 3 | Homes & HeadquartersThis morning, we drive to Heraklion to visit the Villa Ariadne, home of Heinrich Kreipe; the ruins of Pavlo Zographistos’ home, used as a hideout by Patrick Leigh Fermor, and Archanes, the general’s headquarters. Before lunch, we stop at the abduction point, between Archanes and Knossos. This afternoon, we visit Knossos and Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum, before tracing the route taken by the party through Heraklion.

Day 4 | A History of RebellionToday, we visit Melidoni Cave, a key site linked to the Cretan resistance against the Turks. Here, we have a

discussion of Crete’s history of rebellion, before moving on to Doxara, where Leigh Fermor abandoned the general’s car, and Damasta, scene of a later ambush. Later, we visit Anogia, first the site where Leigh Fermor finally rejoined the main party, and later the target of German reprisals. Finally, on to the cave at Agios Fanourios, hideout of guerilla leader Mihaili Xylouris.

Day 5 | A Dangerous DescentThis morning, we visit Moni Arkadiou, another famous site of the Cretan resistance; then, we move on to Nithavri, to which the kidnapping party descended after crossing Mount Ida. After lunch, we move on to Fourfouras and Genna — where Leigh Fermor went in search of a radio set for use in the evacuation — and finally to Patsos.

Days 6 & 7 | ConclusionOn the morning of our final full day, we visit centres of SOE activity and resistance, including the village of Asi Gonia, and the south coast monastery of Moni Preveli. En route to the latter, we stop at the pretty ancient town of Argyroupoli. After lunch, we visit Rodakino and Peristeres beach, from where the kidnapping party and Kreipe were evacuated. Finally, our last visit of the tour is to Photeinou, the site linked to Leigh Fermor’s accidental killing of his Cretan guide. Here, we discuss his connection to Crete before returning to Rethymno for our final dinner as a group. In the morning, we enjoy some free time before transferring to the airport for our afternoon flight home.

ITINERARY

£2,275 incl. flights £250 single supp7 DaysTues 4th – Mon 10th April, 2017Tour Code: QPF17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to Crete


6 nights in a 3/4* hotel in Rethymno

Heraklion

Chania

Genna

AnogiaRodakino

Nithavri

Rethymno

CRETE

• Follow the dramatic story of the abduction through visits to its most vital and evocative sites

• Entrench yourself in the ancient as well as the modern, with visits to the iconic Minoan palace at Knossos and Heraklion’s archaeology museum

• Led by Dr Roderick Bailey, an expert on the actions of the SOE and Patrick Leigh Fermor

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The battles of Imphal and Kohima have often been described as the greatest Britain fought in the Second World War. In the distant hills and jungles of north-east India, they crushed Japanese

ambition, reversing the advance into India, and marking the start of the long Japanese retreat back through South-East Asia. At Kohima, 1,500 men (from British, Gurkha, and Indian battalions) held out against 15,000 Japanese for more than two weeks before reinforcements arrived; at Imphal, eighty miles to

the south, the troops carried out a fighting withdrawal before striking back against the Japanese. The fighting was bloody, bitter, and brutal, with a ferocity rarely equalled in the war. The two battles were among the largest defeats ever suffered by the Japanese, in the skies above as much as on the ground, and a triumph for Allied air power. Overall, as Japanese logistical difficulties worsened, so those of the British steadily improved. The steep hills, paddy fields, dusty tracks, and villages have long since recovered from the months of hideous fighting, yet it is still possible to walk in the footsteps of those who fought there. The war in the Far East is still relatively little known, and Imphal and Kohima were two of the greatest battles fought in that long, difficult campaign. Our tour will offer the chance to visit this extraordinary part of the world,

and to reconnect with the story of the Forgotten Army of India and those men who so valiantly fought there.

BRITAIN’S GREATEST BATTLEImphal and Kohima

James Holland is an author and broadcaster, specialising in the Second World War. He graduated

from Durham University with a degree in history, and is now a prolific writer of non-fiction historical books and historical novels.

JAMES HOLLAND

GUIDE LECTURER

The battles that turned the tide of the war in the Far East…


Days 1 – 3 | IntroductionLate evening flight to Kolkata, arriving on the afternoon of Day 2 for our introductory lecture. On Day 3, we visit the heart of Kolkata, the old first city of the Raj. Take an excursion to Belvedere House, a former Viceroy’s residence, and later headquarters of the Fourteenth Army. Evening presentation on the Burma Campaign.

Day 4 | Slim’s AllegoryFly to Imphal and learn the story of General Slim, the commander of the Fourteenth Army who likened Imphal and its surroundings to the hub and spokes of a wheel. We visit some of the main sites related to the Second World War in and around Imphal, including Nungshigum, the closest battlefield to the town, and two local war cemeteries.

Day 5 | War & PeaceTravel to Bishenpur, where a face off between British and Japanese divisions opened the battle. We visit various scenes of fighting, including Red Hill and the village of Ningthoukhong. Finally, we visit Moirang’s Indian National

Army Museum and memorial, and take in a view of glorious Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in North East India.

Day 6 | Advance & Retreat The Shenam Saddle, overlooking the road to the Burmese border, is our focus today, along with major surrounding scenes of fighting. It formed the axis of advance for the Japanese Yamamoto Force, before they were finally evicted in the last week of July, 1944.

Day 7 | Road to KohimaWe drive to Kohima to explore the overlap between the two battles. We stop along the way at Milestone 109 — where the British 2nd Division and Indian 5th Division met in June, 1944 — Kanglatongbi War Memorial, and the Battle of Kohima Museum.

Day 8 | India’s StalingradWe visit the site of the battle known as the ‘Stalingrad of the Far East’, one of the bloodiest of all those fought between the British and Japanese. We walk Kohima Ridge, including its war cemetery, and key strategic positions. Finally, we remember the involvement of the Naga, local tribespeople who were instrumental in helping the British to defeat the Japanese, as we visit the beautiful village of Khonoma.

Days 9 & 10 | ConclusionDrive to Dimapur for an afternoon flight to Kolkata. After a farewell dinner and a final night in Kolkata, we fly home.

ITINERARY

£3,495 incl. flights £375 single supp10 DaysFri 10th – Sun 19th November, 2017Tour Code: QIK17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to Kolkata


8 nights in 4* hotels in Kolkata, Imphal, and Kohima

Kolkata

Bishnupur

Imphal

INDIA Kohima

• Visit Imphal and Kohima, often described as the scenes of “Britain and India’s Greatest Battle”

• Explore Kolkata, the old capital of the British Raj known for its grand colonial architecture

• Spend an afternoon in the beautiful, remote, and densely forested Naga Hills

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


I f any country experienced the Second World War to its full murderous extent, it was Poland. The September 1939 invasion by Nazi forces sparked World War II into life, drawing Britain and France into the conflict, and making

Poland one of the most grievously affected combatant nations. Fought over and occupied by the totalitarian regimes of Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union, its people endured the most brutal occupation imaginable. Soon, Germany would begin its systematic persecution of the country’s Jewish population, culminating with the building of extermination camps Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Majdanek. Here, it became apparent that Poland was the last stage in the Nazis’ “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”. The diabolical restrictions on Polish citizens spawned one of the War’s most effective resistance movements — the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising rallied against German attempts to transport its Jewish inhabitants to concentration and death camps, and lasted nearly four weeks before the ghetto was razed. Resistance forces would try again the following year, regaining brief control of Warsaw in August 1944 before the city was recaptured and burnt to the ground. On this tour, we follow the story of these brave attempts to derail one of the most devastating genocides in human history. We take a cross-country journey that begins with the War’s opening shots at Gdańsk’s Westerplatte, visits the nation’s capital,

Warsaw, and culminates at its cultural heart, Kraków.

THE FINAL SOLUTIONLife and Death in Occupied Poland

ROGER MOORHOUSE

GUIDE LECTURER

A journey to the epicentre of the Second World War...

Roger Moorhouse is a historian specialising in the history of the Second World War. He is one of

the co-founders of Historical Trips and has led many tours exploring the legacy of the Nazis in Europe.


Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Gdańsk, and enjoy introductory drinks and a lecture on the September Campaign of 1939 at our hotel.

Day 2 | First Shots FiredWe explore the ancient heart of Gdańsk, site of the first battles of the Second World War. Notable stops include the harbour channel of Westerplatte, where German and Polish troops first clashed, and the Cathedral heavily damaged in 1945 when the city was stormed by the Red Army.

Day 3 | Base of OperationsWe visit the site of Hitler’s Wartime HQ in Kętrzyn. From here, the dictator ran the war against the USSR, and Stauffenberg made his ill-fated 1944 attempt on Hitler’s life. We continue to the notorious death camp of Treblinka, where we view memorials and the exhibition centre.

Day 4 | Resistance in WarsawSlated to be destroyed by the Nazis, the city of Warsaw resisted Nazi occupation valiantly, and paid a terrible price:

by 1945, four-fifths of the city were reduced to rubble and 200,000 civilians were killed. We tour the old town, which has been painstakingly and beautifully restored. Day 5 | The PianistWe take in Warsaw’s beautiful Powązki Cemetery today. It contains a veritable Who’s Who of Polish heroes — including the famous Warsaw pianist, Władysław Szpilman. We follow with a visit to the National Military Museum, which houses exhibits from 1,000 years of Polish history.

Day 6 | City of CultureWe spend the day in the beautiful city of Kraków, Poland’s former capital, and still its cultural heart. We take in the many sights including St Mary’s Cathedral, the Cloth Hall, and the historic Jewish district of Kazimierz.

Day 7 | Auschwitz-BirkenauA challenging day as we head to Auschwitz-Birkenau – the site of the Nazis’ most infamous concentration and death camp. We tour the brick barrack blocks of Auschwitz, with its ‘Arbeit macht Frei’ gateway, and make the short walk to Birkenau, where over a million people were exterminated.

Day 8 | Schindler’s Ark On our last day in Poland, we spend the morning at one of the more uplifting sites relating to the country’s dark wartime history: Oskar Schindler’s former factory in Kraków. After lunch, we head home.

ITINERARY

£1,995 incl. flights £225 single supp8 DaysSat 1st – Sat 8th July, 2017Tour Code: QPO17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Gdańsk, Kraków to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Gdańsk, Kętrzyn, Warsaw, and Kraków

POLAND

Gdansk

Warsaw

Krakow

Ketryzyn

Treblinka

Auschwitz

• Follow the entire course of events: from the opening shots of the war at Gdańsk, to the liberation of the death camps

• Discover some of the greatest acts of heroism and most heinous crimes the world has ever seen in the cities, battlefields and death camps of wartime Poland

• Join expert guide Roger Moorhouse as he unravels the complexities of Poland’s War

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The Russian Revolution cast its shadow over the whole of the 20th century. It remains one of the most debated, most controversial, and most misrepresented events in history. During the Cold

War, it was caricatured in the West as an authoritarian coup that culminated in the gulags, while it was proclaimed in the East as a popular revolution to create a new socialist order. Neither is true. The Russian Revolution was an explosion of grassroots democracy of such power that it destroyed a 300-year

old dynasty and triggered a chain reaction of popular revolt worldwide. But the revolutionary movement was destroyed by foreign invasion, civil war, and economic collapse. In its place was erected a murderous dictatorship — a process that culminated in the primeval struggle between Nazism and Stalinism during the Second World War. On our tour, we walk the ground where the great demonstrations took place, visiting the grand monuments of early 20th century St Petersburg. Led on our journey by Dr Neil Faulkner, editor of Military History Monthly, and expert on the Russian Revolution, we are able to delve deep into the realities of this little-understood period of history. Join us in going beyond the polemics of politicians and propagandists, to understand the real history and tragedy of Russia’s great,

epoch-defining, world-shaking revolution, one hundred years on.

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION10 Days that Shook the World

Dr Neil Faulkner is a leading archaeologist, historian, and editor of Military History Monthly.

Neil has a wide range of research interests, and will be publishing his newest book, A People’s History of the Russian Revolution, in January 2017.

DR NEIL FAULKNER

GUIDE LECTURER

St Petersburg, 1917: the people’s tools dismantle the master’s house


Days 1&2 | IntroductionWe fly to St Petersburg, and spend our first full day at the Peterhof palace complex. While here, we discuss the origins of the Tsarist autocracy and the character of Old Russia.

Day 3 | Alexander, Catherine & NicholasFull day at another of the great Tsarist palace complexes, Tsarskoye Selo. We see the Alexander Gardens, and the Catherine and Alexander Palaces. The latter was home to Tsar Nicholas II and his family until 1917.

Day 4 | Sentenced to DeathToday, we visit the notorious Peter and Paul Fortress where many revolutionaries, including Trotsky, were incarcerated. We take time to explore the Artillery Museum within the fortress before departing this afternoon for another imperial fortress and prison — the Shlisselburg, where Lenin’s brother was executed.

Day 5 | The Coming Storm The stormy events preceding the revolution will be our focus

today. We visit the scene of the 1825 Decembrist uprising, the first major revolt against Tsarism; the Church of Spilled Blood, site of Alexander III’s assassination, and the Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was murdered in December 1916. Time for independent exploration of the Hermitage.

Day 6 | A Red CentreSpend the morning visiting the major sites of Red Petrograd in 1917. The Finland Station, where Lenin arrived back from exile; the Bolshevik Vyborg District; the Tauride Palace, where the town’s Soviet held its meetings, and the Smolny Institute, the headquarters for the October Insurrection. After lunch, we continue to the Russian Museum to see St Petersburg’s main collection of native Russian art.

Day 7 | Firing the Revolutionary SignalBegin the day with an exploration of the Cruiser Aurora, which fired the signal for the storming of the Winter Palace. Here, we reflect on the central role of revolutionary sailors in the events of that year. Continue to the Kshesinskaya Mansion — former site of the Bolshevik Party offices, now a museum of the revolution — and the Kirov Museum.

Day 8 | ConclusionBefore transferring to the airport, we take a stroll down St Petersburg’s two principal streets, reflecting on the great events of 1917, and finishing with a visit to the museum dedicated to the 900-day Siege of Leningrad during the Second World War.

ITINERARY

£2,795 incl. flights £345 single supp8 DaysWed 31st May – Wed 7th June, 2017Tour Code: QRR17A

Tour Manager

Return flights London to St Petersburg

All meals included

7 nights in 4* hotel in St Petersburg

• A thorough exploration of the last days of Imperial Russia and the first days of Revolutionary Russia in the beautiful grandeur of St Petersburg

• 100th anniversary tour

• Guests receive a copy of Neil Faulkner’s book A People’s History of the Russian Revolution — to be published in January 2017

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


The Spanish Civil War was a bitter conflict which foreshadowed events to come in World War II. What started as a military coup against the democratically-elected Spanish Republic in 1936

escalated as Franco’s Nationalist coalition drew support from Hitler and Mussolini. The Republicans, a bewildering mix of socialists, communists, anarchists, and the idealistic International Brigades, received support from Stalin. In order to ensure a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy, Spain has spent the last three decades trying to sweep its civil war under the carpet.

From our tour’s beginning in Toledo to its end in Barcelona, we trace the contours of the conflict through visits to its key sites. See Madrid’s Casa de Campo, once criss-crossed by the front lines of the two-and-a-half-year Siege of Madrid. Discover Teruel, where one of the decisive battles of the war was fought over the course of the coldest winter of the century. Pay homage to Catalonia, a once staunch Republican stronghold, which found its identity repressed under Franco’s dictatorship.

Guide Jason Webster will be on hand to guide you through the complexities of the struggle during our tour. Go further than the sites themselves, and explore the artists and poets — including Hemingway and Orwell — who followed their

consciences to Spain to fight fascism.

BROTHERS IN ARMSThe Spanish Civil War

JASON WEBSTER

GUIDE LECTURER

The Battle for Spain — reaction, revolution and revenge...




Day 1 | IntroductionWe arrive in Madrid in the early afternoon and drive to Toledo for Jason’s introductory talk and dinner. Day 2 | Toledo and the Siege of the Alcazar After breakfast, we explore Toledo, examining its legendary status in the Spanish Civil War. The Siege of the Alcazar and its relief exemplify both the clash of ideologies and the endurance of the opposing sides.

Day 3 | Madrid: Hemingway, Gellhorn and PicassoThis morning we travel to the city of Madrid. We have a walking tour of the city, visiting the Casa de Campo where the Republicans halted a Nationalist offensive in 1936. After lunch we visit the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and see Picasso’s painting, Guernica.

Day 4 | Jarama and the International Brigades We head out of Madrid and learn about the Battle of Jarama, where Franco was unable to force a decisive victory against the resistance of the International Brigades. On to visit

the Valle de los Caídos. This memorial to both Republican and Nationalist dead was built with the labour of political prisoners and is the burial place of Franco.

Day 5 | Teruel: the Darkest Hour We drive to the city of Teruel where one of the decisive battles of the war was fought between December 1937 and February 1938. Over the course of the coldest winter of the century some 140,000 people became casualties.

Day 6 | The Ruins of BelchiteWe head for the haunting ruins of Belchite, where we have a guided tour. The town was completely destroyed in the course of a failed Republican offensive against Zaragoza in the autumn of 1937 and the remnants of the town remain untouched, preserved as a memorial to those who died.

Day 7 | The Battle of the Ebro After breakfast, we drive to Corbera d’Ebre, visiting the excellent local museum and learning about the largest battle of the war - the Ebro - in which the Republic was decisively defeated. We drive to Barcelona this evening.

Day 8 | Homage to Catalonia In the morning, we have a walking tour of central Barcelona, exploring the city’s Civil War history. It was a Republican stronghold and Franco wreaked revenge on the area, repressing Catalan institutions and suppressing the language. Transfer to the airport for flights home.

ITINERARY

£2,495 incl. flights £235 single supp8 DaysSat 14th – Sat 21st October, 2017Tour Code: QSC17A

Tour Manager

Flights London to Madrid, Barcelona to London


7 nights in 4* hotels in Toledo, Madrid, Teruel, Alcañiz, and Madrid

Valle de los Caidos

ToledoMadrid

Teruel

AlcanizBelchite Barcelona

SPAIN

• Visit the major cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Toledo as well as lesser-known but important towns such as Teruel and Belchite

• View Picasso’s Guernica, perhaps the 20th century’s most famous painting

• Travel with Jason Webster who has lived most of his life in Spain and is the author of Guerra! Living in the shadows of the Spanish Civil War

HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


Operation Sea Lion was the projected German invasion of England in 1940. Fresh from the destruction of France, Nazi forces seemed poised to cross the Channel and seal their

victory in the West. In September 1940, the RAF’s victory in the Battle of Britain, and the Royal Navy’s powerful and undefeated status, saw Hitler indefinitely postpone the invasion. He turned his eyes instead to the Soviet Union.

Would Sea Lion have worked? The evidence suggests that Hitler was deadly serious about making the attempt to invade Britain. While we can never have a definitive answer, in 1974 a high-level kriegspiel — a map wargame — was produced. Using data from 1940 and involving senior British and German officers, it demonstrated that, in all probability, the invasion would have failed. Our tour is based on the findings of that exercise.

At a series of locations in Kent — the centre of the proposed battle — we examine the actions undertaken in an alternate 1940. We view the invasion through the eyes of those at the very top: Hitler and Churchill, Göring and General Brooke. We also consider the impact on infantrymen on the front line and Home Guards defending the coast; British and German pilots and sailors, and German paratroopers and panzer crews who survived the perilous journey across the

Channel only to face those who would never surrender...

OPERATION SEA LIONThe Nazi Invasion of Britain, 1940

PROF. GARY SHEFFIELD

GUIDE LECTURER

Jackboots across Kent — a counterfactual history tour

Professor Gary Sheffield is one of the UK’s leading authorities on military history. He is Vice President

of the Western Front Association and Professor of War Studies at Wolverhampton University, and has made a particular study of Operation Sea Lion.


Day 1 | The Initial ResponseWe arrive in Hythe, which in 1940 would have been the aiming point for the German transport aircraft carrying paratroopers. After lunch, we examine the initial German amphibious landing on the beach at Hythe on 22nd September 1940. From the Royal Military Canal, we discuss the initial British response to the invasion. Moving a short distance inland, we look at the operations of German Parachutists.

Day 2 | The Clandestine WarOur second day begins at the site of RAF Lympne, to where a German Division was flown in on 23 September; this triggered heavy fighting. At Saltwood Castle, we look at the counterattack mounted by the British, and then, from a secret location, we will look at the clandestine war: the role of the ‘Auxiliary Units’, stay-behind sabotage parties that would have formed the nucleus of the British Resistance. From Folkestone, captured by the Germans but wrecked in heavy fighting, we consider the desperate attempt of the invaders to bring in reinforcements, and the critical problem

of logistics. In our last visit of the day, in the Dover area, looking out across the Channel, we examine the war at sea, focusing on the decisive role of the Royal Navy in ensuring the failure of Operation Sea Lion.

Day 3 | The ‘Real’ Battle of BritainWe begin with a visit to RAF Hawkinge, which played a critical role both in our fictitious 1940 campaign and in the ‘real’ Battle of Britain, to consider the role of airpower during Sea Lion. There will then be an opportunity to explore the Battle of Britain Museum. This is followed by an examination of what life would have been like for civilians caught up in the war zone in 1940, and under long-term Nazi occupation. We enjoy a trip to a country pub, to review Operation Sea Lion, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, we visit Churchill’s home, Chartwell, and hear about his role in 1940, before returning to London.

ITINERARY

£795 incl. coach £150 single supp3 DaysFri 31st March – Sun 2nd April, 2017Tour Code: QSE17A

Tour Manager

Return coach London to Hythe


2 nights in a 4* hotel in Hythe

ENGLAND Folkestone

London

Hythe

Dover

• Enjoy a conterfactual ‘what if ’ history tour, looking at an alternative version of events in 1940

• Discover Kent, the ‘Garden of England’, and the epicentre of the proposed Nazi Invasion

• Enjoy a tour led by renowned military historian and an expert on Operation Sea Lion, Professor Gary Sheffield

HIGHLIGHTS

“The aim of this operation is to eliminate the English mother country as a base from which the war against Germany

can be continued, and, if it should be necessary, to occupy it completely.”

ADOLF HITLER 2nd July, 1940

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS


THE LUNATIC EXPRESSA History of Kenya

Aidan Hartley is an author and columnist for The Spectator. Born in Kenya in 1965, he went on to

be educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and SOAS. A former foreign correspondent, he retired from mainstream journalism in 2013 to a ranch in Laikipia. His book on Africa, The Zanzibar Chest, was short-listed for the Samuel Johnson prize. He has also worked as part of Channel 4’s Unreported World team, and has also reported for Dispatches — investigating stories in Somalia and Zimbabwe. His film Warlords Next Door? won a 2009 Banff World Television Award for political documentaries.

AIDAN HARTLEY

GUIDE LECTURER

Tour Manager

Return Flights

All meals included

Accommodation in hand-picked hotels

• Trace Kenya’s long and fascinating journey from colonial stronghold to independent African nation

• Delight in the country’s many contrasts, from vast swathes of grassland to bustling urban centres

• Be warmly invited to our Guide Lecturer’s own homestead in Laikipia, where we spend a night ‘glamping’, with the chance of spotting big game

WHAT’S INCLUDED

HIGHLIGHTS


American author, Charles Miller, coined the term ‘Lunatic Express’ in his 1971 book of the same name. No other moniker could better describe the Uganda Railway and the problems encountered

during its construction. The railway was a purely strategic invention, built to protect British interests in Uganda from the Germans. Nothing highlights this better than its name: 660 miles of track lay in what is today Kenya, but it was named after its ultimate destination, Uganda, instead.

On this unique safari through East Africa’s history, Aidan Hartley introduces us to his beloved Kenya. Discover the Royal Navy operations to end the Arab slave trade, early explorers, and the establishment of British colonial rule in Mombasa. The settlement was, among other things, a means of paying for the vastly expensive ‘Lunatic Express’ railway, which we travel along while learning about the race to secure the Nile’s headwaters in the scramble for Africa. Passing through Kenya’s bustling capital, we learn about the evolution of this rule in the adventures of the empire builders, Churchill’s travels, Theodore Roosevelt’s hunting safari, and Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa. We also learn of the engineers, artisans and labourers who came from India to build the Uganda Railway — an incredible 31,983 workers were recruited in total.

All aboard the Lunatic Express, a whistle-stop tour of colonial expansion

Trace the Great War in Eastern Africa and the subsequent influx of soldiers who saw Kenya as “a modern Eldorado”. Explore the notorious Happy Valley, where settlers lived the “traditional life of the English squirearchy”. Despite the prurient tales of small groups of aristocrats, Kenya’s colonial story is one of hard toil and, against all odds — locusts, the Great Depression, the challenges of the Tropics — people here developed a highly productive agricultural economy by World War II. As we return to the hubbub of Nairobi, Hartley will take us through more than five decades of modern Kenya’s independent story.

This history — often troubled but always exciting and dynamic — ends with a picture of an economy that despite great challenges ahead, many view as Africa’s big hope for the future.

If you’re interested in coming on tour, but still have some questions, we’re here to help.

To find out more about new tours we are planning in 2017 and beyond, simply visit our website and signup for our newsletter:www.historicaltrips.com/signup

Call: 01722 713820 Email: [email protected] www.historicaltrips.com

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

“Perhaps the most difficult part of the railway’s construction was the 330 miles that lay between Mombasa and Nairobi.

A section that was plagued by untold misfortune among them; diseases, drought , desertions, and most infamously,

man eating lions…”

GEORGE WHITEHOUSE Chief Engineer of the Uganda Railway


2017 PRICED TOURSBooking information

INSURANCEWe strongly recommend that all travellers are covered by comprehensive travel insurance and don’t travel against medical advice. You should organise it immediately when you book, to ensure you have cover against possible cancellation charges, medical treatment, and repatriation. We will need to know details of your policy four weeks before departure at the latest.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENTA £300 deposit is required to reserve your place on any tour. Balance payments will be requested two months before you depart, and we will then send you practical information regarding the tour, travel, hotel, and joining instructions.

CANCELLATION BY YOUCancellation charges payable to Historical Trips are calculated on time prior to departure as follows:Up to 56 days: Deposit* | 55 - 41 days: 35% of tour cost 40 - 29 days: 55% of tour cost | 28 - 8 days: 75% of tour cost 7 days to date of departure: 100% of tour cost *plus any invoiced flight costs.

CANCELLATION BY USIf we have to cancel your holiday before the date of departure, you will have the choice of taking an alternative holiday (and paying or receiving a refund/credit in respect of any price difference) or accepting a full refund of monies paid.

FINANCIAL PROTECTIONFlight inclusive tours: we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the CAA (ATOL No. 3552) which provides for our protection in the event of Andante Travels’ insolvency. The price of your air holiday packages includes the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme as explained below.

Tours without flights arranged by us: as a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), Andante Travels has provided a bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. In the event of insolvency, protection is provided for non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK and other non-flight packages excluding pre-arranged travel to and from your destination. Please note that packages booked outside the UK are only protected when purchased directly with Andante Travels. In the above circumstances, if you have not yet travelled you may claim a refund, or if you have already travelled, you may claim repatriation to the starting point of your non-flight package.

The following general information refers to bookings made with Andante Travels Ltd, trading as Andante Travels and Historical Trips. Andante Travels Ltd, of The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT, is registered as a limited company no. 1969761. Please note that bookings with Historical Trips are accepted only in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in our full booking conditions, which can be found on our website or are available on request.


AITO QUALITY CHARTERWe are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. We abide by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adhere to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.com. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

WHAT’S INCLUDEDWe include as much as possible in the tour price:• Expert Guide Lecturer • Tour Manager (may not be included on tours with 10 participants

or less)• Scheduled flights unless otherwise stated • Accommodation• Meals with water, and wine where stated• Tips and entrance to all sites in the programme

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISMWe work hard to ensure our visits have a positive impact on the places we visit and are committed to sustainable tourism.

HOW TO BOOKBooking with Historical Trips is a secure and simple process. You can book by phone, email, or online at www.historicaltrips.com. Once you have notified us of which tour (or tours) you would like to book, we will require a £300 deposit, payable by debit or credit card to secure your place (there is a 2.5% surcharge for credit cards).

We also take some personal details in order to confirm your place on the tour. We request balance payments 2 months before you depart and we then send you practical information regarding your tour, flights, hotel and joining instructions.

To book, or if you have any questions about any of our tours

Phone - 01722 713820 Email - [email protected] Website - www.historicaltrips.com


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What level of knowledge will I need? Does it matter if I’m not an expert?

It doesn’t matter if you’re an amateur historian, well on your way to your PhD, or just a little bit curious: there’s a place for everyone on a Historical Trips tour.

Do you welcome single travellers?

Of course! There’s usually an even mix of single travellers and couples on our tours. Historical Trips are convivial experiences, so you don’t have to be alone (unless you want to be).

Where did the idea for Historical Trips come from?

Like a lot of great business ideas, it started in the pub. Historical Trips Director Michael Ivey and historian Nigel Jones thought it would be a great opportunity to combine their love of both history and travel.

What’s included in the price of the trip?

Our trips are all-inclusive, so you don’t need to pay extra for any meals, drinks (including wine with dinner), 4* hotel stays, entry fees, or tips. Depending on the trip you choose, the flights can be included too.

Are any cultural elements included in your tours?

Yes! We think the right cultural elements can turn great tours into amazing ones. Our 2016 tours include visits to vineyards, art galleries, and game reserves. You could even enjoy a camel trek through the desert.

Do I have to do everything listed in the tour’s itinerary?

Not unless you want to. Nothing is compulsory, and if you would rather spend a day relaxing, that’s fine with us.

Are meals included in the tour price?

They are fully included, and often with wine at dinner. Whenever we can, we also arrange special dinners or stop for drinks in sites connected to our tour.

Can visits to places of personal significance be included in your tours?

As our groups are small, more often than not we can create the time to do this. All we ask is that you let us know in advance if there’s somewhere you’d like included.

What sort of hotels will we be staying in?

We mostly stay in 4* hotels, with some superb 3* or 5* hotels mixed in too. If possible, we also spend the night in historic sites. How does an evening in Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn, sound?


GET IN TOUCH

If you’re interested in coming on tour, but still have some questions about the whole process, we’re here to help. Our staff are available to help you with any queries you may have, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The Historical Trips Team is comprised of well-travelled historians, linguists and travel professionals. Allow us to introduce you to two of the team...

MICHAEL IVEY, DIRECTOR

Michael read history at Oxford University. After a career in design and advertising, he co-founded Historical Trips, where he combines his loves of history and travel. Email: [email protected]

“It is amazing how often the stories of the past - ruling classes driven by envy, greed and

lust - have their exact parallels today.”

JOE SHINGLES, CUSTOMER CARE MANAGER

Joe studied Law at Durham University. Over the past five years, he has planned and accompanied tours across Europe.Email: [email protected]

“The “roaring twenties” are my historical period. The end of the Great War sparked a

real shift. A world that had been black, brown and khaki suddenly became very colourful.”

Phone - 01722 713820Email - [email protected] - www.historicaltrips.com

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

“Difficult to single out a particular aspect. It was a

wonderful and memorable tour.”Christopher Morcom | Guest, Poets of the First World War


T R I P SHISTORICAL

The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HTCall: 01722 713820 // Email: [email protected] // www.historicaltrips.com

historical trips main brochure 2017

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