INDIA

Goddess of the Ghats

India is a vast nation of vibrant contrasts, known for icons like the Taj Mahal, the Pink City of Jaipur, and Lutyens’ New Delhi. Yet beyond these marvels lies lesser-known Varanasi on the Ganges River, a sacred lifeline for millions. To Hindus, she’s a goddess, her celestial waters flowing from Shiva’s locks. Nowhere is her presence more profound than in Varanasi, where life unfolds along the ghats, the stepped waterfronts offering access to these divine waters. Here, devotees bathe, pray, and scatter ashes, while at dusk, the divide between worlds blurs. Chants and incense fill the air as priests perform the mesmerising aarti ritual, honouring the river’s divine spirit.

Make it happen

The Grand Tour of India includes a visit to hallowed Varanasi, as well as the chance to seek out Bengal tigers in the wild, and tour the princely cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.

As well as this, Cox & Kings provides countless other small group tours and tailor-made holidays to India. Whether you want head up in the mountains of the Indian Himalaya, follow the Golden Triangle to soak up lively Delhi, or want to relax on the tropical backwaters of Kerala, Cox & Kings can help. 

SRI LANKA

High tea in Little England

In Sri Lanka’s central highlands, Nuwara Eliya offers a taste of Britain at 1,880 meters above sea level. Dubbed ‘Little England’ for its cool climate and colonial charm, it boasts a Victorian post office, a 19th-century golf course, and rolling tea plantations. The region is famed for its Ceylon tea, with estates offering guided tours from leaf to cup. Beyond the lush hill terraces, the wilderness beckons; spot leopards slinking through the mountain forests of Horton Plains National Park, or take the perfect photo at waterfalls such as Bomburu Ella and Lover’s Leap.

Make it happen

Cox & Kings’ The Enchanted Island tour explores Nuwara Eliya’s tea terraces, the jungle fortress of Sigiriya, and the cave temples of Dambulla.

Whether you're interested in Sri Lanka's beaches, wildlife, local communities, or want to combine a bit of everything, Cox & Kings can plan the perfect tailor-made trip for you.

PERU

Weavers of the Andes

The Incas may be gone from Machu Picchu, but their culture thrives in Peru. Festivals honour the Sun God, the native language of Quechua remains widely spoken, and vibrant handicrafts reflect the rainbow flag of Cuzco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Weaving has deep roots in Andean history, from clothes to story-filled tapestries. The Nazca etched vast, mysterious drawings of flowers and animals into the desert, mirroring these designs in delicate textiles. And today, Peru’s indigenous women carry on the tradition, crafting exquisite garments using age-old techniques. In Chinchero, artisans spin, dye, and weave alpaca and llama wool into colourful manta shawls and chumpi belts - each piece sustainably made and rich with Andean heritage.

Make it happen

The Train to Machu Picchu tour will take you to the iconic ancient citadel as well as to Lake Titicaca, Cuzco and beyond; selected departures also coincide with the Inca festival of Inti Raymi.

Beyond Macchu Picchu, Cox & Kings offer small group tours to lively Lima, Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and much more. 

COSTA RICA

Sea shells

Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, is home to over 500,000 species, including the fascinating sea turtle. Every year from March to November, hatchlings face a perilous journey from sandy nests to the sea, inching forward clumsily under teardrop-shaped shells. Beaches in Tamarindo, Nicoya, and Tortuguero (‘Land of the Turtle’) serve as crucial nesting sites, but dangers abound – predators like lizards, birds, and crabs, as well as human threats from poaching and habitat destruction. Many hatchlings, sadly, never make it to the ocean. In the 1950s, Archie Carr and John Phipps founded the Brotherhood of the Green Turtle, leading to the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Today, the organisation protects nesting grounds for green, leatherback, hawksbill, and olive ridley turtles, with conservation efforts yielding a growing population.

Make it happen

The Natural Splendours of Costa Rica tour explores mist-covered volcanoes, untouched rainforests and tropical beaches, including a visit to the turtle sanctuary of Tortuguero.

As well as this, Cox & Kings offers small group tours and tailor-made trips that reveal Costa Rica’s cultural side, including visiting indigenous cultures, getting hands on at coffee plantations and getting under the skin of the capital city, San José.

CAMBODIA

Secret citadel

Sprawling over 160 hectares, it’s the world’s largest religious structure, and the medieval capital of the Khmer empire. Often called the eighth wonder of the world, Angkor Wat and its jungle-snarled temples are undoubtedly among Asia’s greatest treasures. But 25km away hides a temple unlike the others; it’s smaller, pinker, and filled with the finest relief carvings – so delicate, it was assumed only women could have created them. Banteay Srei (or ‘Citadel of Women’) wasn’t commissioned by Angkor’s rulers, but by courtiers in the 10th century, and is devoted to the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati. Scenes from the ancient epic Ramayana, divinities known as devatas, intricate floral patterns, rearing elephants, and fanged monsters, watched over by monkey-faced guardians crouching on pedestals, adorn its red-sandstone interior, making this a jewel of Khmer art which will richly reward you for the detour.

Make it happen

Embark on Cox & Kings’ Grand Tour of Indochina, which will also showcase Vietnam and the Mekong delta, offering tropical cruises, town tours, and atmospheric temple visits – including Banteay Srei.

Cox & Kings can also help organise trips to explore Cambodia’s countless other temples, visit floating villages, get under the skin of the capital city and see the natural highlights of this contrasting country. 

UZBEKISTAN

Star of the Silk Road

Uzbekistan brings the romance of the ancient Silk Road to life, where legendary cities still showcase their rich history. Thousands of years ago, caravans carried silk, tea, and perfume across Central Asia to Europe and Africa, while honey, horses, and gold travelled east. Along this route, nations rose, with the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara at the heart of trade. In the 14th century, Timur established a vast empire to rival the Romans’ here, sparking a renaissance in Islamic architecture. Today, you can admire his legacy in Khiva’s old town, Bukhara’s historic quarters, and Samarkand’s breathtaking Registan Square. Glittering mausoleums, grand mosques, and ornate madrasahs dazzle with intricate mosaics, multi-foil arches, and vivid cobalt and cerulean domes.

Make it happen

Admire the incredible legacy of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road riches, including the towering fortresses of Khiva and Bukhara, and the Islamic architecture of Samarkand, on the Uzbekistan: Heart of Central Asia tour.

Whatever you want to do and wherever you wish to go in this geographically diverse country, Cox & Kings can help, It has numerous options for tours and tailor-made holidays covering the country’s desert, steppe, oases and river valleys. 

TANZANIA

Roaring from the treetops

Seeing a cat climb up a tree isn’t unusual, and even leopards have been known to seek sanctuary in higher branches. But did you know that certain lions like to frolic among the foliage? A handful of prides in East Africa refuse to be dictated to by gravity, and are often spotted lazing about the boughs. And around Lake Manyara and Tarangire in Tanzania, these elusive tree-climbing lions have drawn attention. Biologists speculate that their unusual arboreal behaviour may be an attempt to escape the sun-baked ground and its bothersome flies to the cooling, buzz-free shade of the canopy, and might also give mothers a break from their young. On safari here, you could be lucky enough to see a whole pride lying prone high up in an acacia tree.

Make it happen

Follow millions of wildebeest, zebra and antelope as they migrate between Tanzania and Kenya, with immersive safaris and cultural encounters along the way, on Cox & Kings’ Ultimate Tour: In the Footsteps of the Great Migration.

Whether you want to climb Kilimanjaro, explore exotic Zanzibar, see the plains of the Serengeti or soak up the tropical beaches, Cox & Kings can help. 

SAUDI ARABIA

The Lonely Castle

Deep in the Arabian Peninsula lies Qasr al-Farid, a breathtaking tomb carved into a sandstone outcrop in the vast desert. At first glance, it blends into the landscape, but a closer look reveals a grand doorway, flanked by columns and crowned with pediments—too precise to be nature’s work. This unfinished Nabataean tomb, abandoned before reaching the artistry of Petra, 460km away in Jordan, stands as a mysterious relic of an ancient civilisation. Though called The Lonely Castle, it’s just one of many rock-cut monuments in Hegra, part of the AlUla archaeological site. With Saudi Arabia recently opening its doors to tourism, these incredible sites are now yours to explore.

Make it happen

The Saudi Arabian Discovery tailor-made holiday takes in the glittering capital, Riyadh, Jeddah on the Red Sea coast, and the archaeological wonders of AlUla, including the rock-carved ‘Lonely Castle’.

With this emerging destination constantly opening new and exciting experiences, make the most of Cox & Kings' experts to find the perfect Arabian adventure for you.

EGYPT

First steps

You’d recognise it from the silhouette alone: Giza’s Great Pyramid, the last standing of the Seven Ancient Wonders. But it wasn’t the first pyramid in Egypt. If you follow the Nile, south of Cairo, you’ll see the groves of date palms drop away, replaced by empty desert and the sprawling necropolis of Sakkara. Here, under the scorching sun, rises the Pyramid of Djoser. This is Egypt’s oldest pyramid, commissioned by Pharaoh Djoser decades before its iconic counterpart in about 2670 BC. The stepped construction might evoke a Mayan temple, and the route into its complex is just as unusual: an almost art-deco bastion and colonnaded corridor, without any of the hieroglyphics that tattoo the walls of most Egyptian tombs. After a 14-year restoration, the historic pyramid re-opened in 2020, and new tombs continue to be discovered across Sakkara each year, revealing more about Egypt’s mysterious first dynasties.

Make it happen

The Splendours of Egypt takes in Giza’s pyramids, the Pyramid of Djoser, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Karnak.

Whether you want to cruise the Nile or discover lesser-known ancient sites in Egypt, Cox & Kings can help. 

ITALY

Head turners

Sicily, a treasure trove of Norman architecture, Roman mosaics, and Arab-inspired gardens, is also famous for its graste: hand-painted, head-shaped flowerpots which gaze watchfully from balconies across the island. These striking ceramics are steeped in folklore, including Renaissance writer Boccaccio’s tale of star-crossed lovers Lorenzo and Lisabetta, whose tragic story ends with a basil-filled flowerpot hiding a severed head. The graste symbolise Sicily’s deep love for ceramics, which you can explore in markets and studios from Palermo to Caltagirone, Sicily’s pottery capital. They also reflect the island’s unique blend of cultural influences, setting it apart from mainland Italy.

Make it happen

Revel in the individual delights of Classic Sicily on an island-spanning journey complete with vineyard visits, food tastings, city tours and trips to ancient sites.

Back on the mainland, Cox & Kings offer tours and tailor-made holidays that reveal the best of Italy’s cities, from the whitewashed towns of Puglia to the characterful streets of Naples.