THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE CULTURAL CULTURAL THE THE
The Cultural Experience 8 Barnack Business Park THE Blakey Road THE Salisbury THE ARCHAEOLOGY SP1 2LP THE MILITARY HISTORY United Kingdom THE ARCHITECTURE THE UK: 0345 475 1815 BATTLEFIELDS International: +44 1722 340699 THE HISTORY USA (Toll-free): 1-877-381-2914 MUSIC ART BATTLEfIELdS, ARCHAEOLOgy & HISTORy [email protected] www.theculturalexperience.com @CultExp 2019/202019/20 /historicaltours 2019 TOURS thecultural_experience INCLUdINg LATE 2018 & EARLy 2020
2019_brochure_cover_FINAL.indd 2 06/08/2018 00:16:04 2019_brochure_cover_FINAL.indd 4 06/08/2018 00:16:22 Midas Tours-Cover.indd 1 06/08/2018 14:51 CONTENTS WHAT yOU SAID
3. elcome 40. Retreat to Corunna 71. Salonika 4. hat to Expect 41. ellington in Portugal 72. Lawrence f Arabia “I have been on a number of trips with The Cultural SEC RL AR 5. Added alue 42. ellington s Eastern ront Experience and they have always been interesting, 6. ur uides 44. The apoleonic ar 74. inland 1939 well organised and good value for money. I am looking in Southern Spain EARL PERI S 75. peration ercury forward to booking more trips in the future” 10. Alexander the reat in Turkey 46. ellington in Spain 76. Russia 1941-1943 “The tour just concluded was all I had hoped for. Well organised, good transport, hotels and food. To visit 12. The Archaeological elights 47. ellington er The Pyrenees 78. peration usky the places we did was a highlight for me. I thoroughly of the Bay of aples 48. The undred ays 80. An io Cassino 1944 enjoyed and would recommend to anyone.” 14. Roman Andaluc a ICT RIA ERA 82. The End in Italy 1945 “Wonderful subject, wonderful guide & tour manager, 16. The Roman Pro ince of Lusitania 50. The Cast of a ie 83. - ay: peration erlord lovely scenery, what more could anyone ask for?” The aya Pass 18. The old of Thrace and Rome 52. The Indian utiny 84. Battling through “The expertise of the guides were outstanding and 20. The Lost Legions 54. The American Ci il ar: the orman Bocage the organization of the group led to a great group Eastern Theater 22. Enigmatic eorgia 85. Arnhem peration experience” 56. The American Ci il ar: arket arden 24. The Pale orseman “We were very pleased with the whole tour. The staff estern Theater 86. Battle of the Bulge were wonderful and we will definitely be going on 25. The ars of the Roses 58. The American Ci il ar: 87. Battle for Berlin another tour with the cultural experience. Trip of a 26. The undred ears ar Through The Southern eartland lifetime that we will recommend to family and friends. 88. The olocaust 28. The olden ourney to Samarkand 60. The ranco-Austrian ar Thank You” CR SS PERI S 17th 18th CE TUR 61. The Austro-Prussian ar 1866 “This was the best trip I have ever been on and 90. atasha s ance exceeded my high expectations. I felt safe and secure at 30. The English Ci il ar 62. The ulu ar 92. epal and the urkhas all times and for expertise on the subject matter it just 31. rederick the reat 64. The Anglo-Boer ars couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent” Almeida Portugal 94. Tunisia 32. arlborough: The irst Churchill IRST RL AR "I have travelled with other tour operators and I have 96. ortress alta 34. inning orth America 66. The allipoli Campaign to say that the standard of your product is excellent USE UL I R ATI AP LE IC PERI 67. irst and Last Shots and unequalled in my experience. I shall certainly be 97. Tailor ade Tours travelling with you again – Thank you" 36. apoleon in Italy 68. ords usic and Landscapes 98. Tours by ate "Highly professional company with a great tour 37. Austerlit : apoleon s asterpiece 69. Battle of erdun 99. Important Information guide, food and accommodation. An inclusive and 38. alking aterloo 70. The irst orld ar in Poland informative holiday" 1914-1915 101. Booking orm 39. apoleon in ermany "Overall, yet another really first-rate tour experience. 103. hat ou Said Very impressed & hugely satisfied from beginning to end" "This is my fourth trip with 'Cultural Experience'and it just keeps getting better Lunch in a yurt U bekistan
or more information on any of tours or to book your trip: I marvel at their attention to detail and their consideration of client welfair and the expert Call 0345 475 1815 knowledge of the guides" USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 "An extremely interesting trip very well organised with excellent guide lecturer and tour manager" Visit www.theculturalexperience.com "The experience really was first rate. Both guides Email [email protected] were very knowledgeable and personable and brought great enthusiasm as well as historical depth to their @CultExp discussions" /historicaltours "The hotel was superb and the choices of dining establishments were outstanding" /thecultural_experience Petersburg USA
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 103
Midas2019_brochure_FINAL.indd Tours-Cover.indd 2 2 06/08/2018 12:18 2019_brochure_FINAL.indd 103 06/08/2018 14:5112:21 WELCOME
I am delighted to present to you our schedule of tours for the remainder of 2018, 2019 and early 2020. The past year has been the busiest one so far for The Cultural Experience and this brochure features more tours than ever before. We are pleased that almost everybody who travelled with us over the past year has said that they would come on another tour with us and that fact is refected in the Gold Trusted Service Award granted to us by the independent review site, Feefo. Please continue to enjoy our newsletter and updates on Facebook and we encourage you to keep sending us news stories and images that we can feature and share with you and other travellers. Over the winter we asked you, our customers, what tours you would like us to run in 2019, and we have listened. Due to popular demand we once again ofer our well-received Battle for Berlin, Arnhem & Operation Market Garden and Alfred of Wessex tours as well as introducing a whole host of new holidays. Brand new tours include Enigmatic Georgia, Natasha’s Dance and Nepal. My personal favourite will be the superb French-Indian War tour to North America – a real tour de force of history and travel. I am pleased to announce that The Cultural Experience is now a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT). We are proud to meet and adhere to the AITO Quality Charter which is built upon the pillars of choice, quality and service whilst our ABTOT membership along with our Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) assures our customers of the highest standards of consumer fnancial protection Thank you to all for taking the time to let us know where you want to go: I am sure that you won’t be disappointed in what we have to ofer. We look forward to seeing you again in the very near future.
Alan Rooney Director, The Cultural Experience
A little about The Cultural Experience Our Team. We are a small but highly professional travel team with a passion for history. We enjoy building and maintaining personal relationships with our clients, many of whom become friends. As much as you do, we look forward to travelling with you on these special journeys that we have diligently created. See us on page 9. Our Ethos is based on three principles: • Using sound research and planning to create a three-dimensional version of history (human, time and space) – and to place the colourful characters and exciting events concerned at the very locations they came together. • Using experienced expert guides, chosen for their extensive knowledge and ability to pull these three dimensions together in an engaging and entertaining manner – so you can virtually ‘touch and feel’ what it would have been like at the time. • Putting all this in the cultural context of the local countryside, customs and cuisine – in a relaxed but organised way. This is what The Cultural Experience is all about: providing a well-planned quality themed tour which is informative, informal and inclusive – aimed at both enthusiasts and those with a general interest in history and travel. For more details see ‘What to Expect’ on the next page. We hope you enjoy browsing our brochure and remember: if you cannot fnd your ideal tour here, we will devise a bespoke one for you - just ask! Our Services. As our range of tours expand, so do our range of services. We now ofer: • Scheduled Tours: These are our all-inclusive pre-arranged tours – and the main subject of this brochure. • Bespoke Tours: These are tailor-made tours for individuals, groups and specialist organisations, such as military units and schools. • Travel Service: Finally, as a travel company in our own right, we are able to cater for specialist travel and accommodation needs, particularly for those guests travelling long distances – and to arrange extensions to, or linking travel between, our scheduled tours.
www.theculturalexperience.com • 0345 475 1815 • [email protected] WHAT TO EXPECT
Your Guides are all experts in their own feld – chosen on the basis of their ability to bring history to life in an interesting, enthusiastic and, where appropriate, humorous way. They will act as your host throughout the holiday and be available to answer your questions whilst conducting tours during the day or when socialising in the evenings. Generally they will also be accompanied by a tour manager who will take care of all administrative matters. Your Fellow Guests will typically be a refreshing and diverse group of individuals and couples from a wide range of backgrounds and professions. No special prior knowledge is assumed or required – just a general interest in the subject. Whilst respecting individual privacy, we work hard to make everyone feel welcome – and normally fnd the group quickly comes together in a very informal and inclusive way. For this reason, we typically restrict the size of our groups to between Enthusiastic and entertaining guides 6 - 22 people – which also means we have more fexibility in fnding good accommodation and restaurants for you. Food. Most of our tours are on a half board basis i.e. the tour price includes a good breakfast and a three-course dinner in the evenings (usually based on regional specialities) with cofee and, when appropriate, wine is included. We endeavour to dine a la carte but dependent on the restaurants ability this may be a fxed menu. At lunchtimes we will stop to allow you a light lunch and drink. The exception is our ‘Experience’ tours which include all meals, albeit if only a picnic lunch. Accommodation. We have taken considerable efort in selecting our hotels which are always very comfortable, well-located and ofer great value. Circumstances and location will dictate their standard, which is generally 4 star, occasionally 3 star and sometimes 5 star. Wherever possible, hotels will have an historic connection to the heritage and events we are covering, and/or which are representative of the style Informal & inclusive groups and culture of the region. Single travellers will be accommodated in a double room for sole occupancy. Often it is possible to upgrade to superior rooms or suites. Please enquire when booking. What’s Included. The tour price includes: fights, which unless otherwise stated are from London Heathrow; either Standard Premier (Eurostar) or First Class trains; modern, comfortable and spacious air-conditioned coaches; and all entrance fees to sites and attractions as detailed in each itinerary. Flights, trains and hotel rooms can be upgraded, where available. Your Financial Security. The Cultural Experience is a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT No. 5390) and we hold a Civil Aviation Authority Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL No. 10153) – so you will never be stranded either fnancially or travel-wise. Comfortable travel
ACTIVITY LEVELS Our tours vary as to the amount of physical activity involved. See the Important Information on the inside back cover for the ‘entry point’ criteria vis: “All tours involve a fair amount of walking, often over uneven cobbled streets, hillsides or steps. Participants on all tours should be able to walk or stand for at least 60 minutes [to, and at, each observation point] without aid or requiring a rest. You should also be able to carry your own luggage”. Within this all-embracing criteria we have graded each tour as: Level 1: Tours where the group is generally conveyed by coach between stands – with walking confned to a short stroll to each observation point. Level 2: This is our standard tour type which necessarily involves a certain amount of walking along country tracks and up slopes in order to reach vantage points. Sensible shoes and outdoor clothing are required and distances of up to a few miles a day may be involved. Level 3: These are tours involving a higher level of ftness and stamina i.e. our ‘walking tours’ or those tours regularly involving uphill stretches or walks of more than a few miles a day, so suitable walking gear and a day pack will be required. Hybrid: Where a walk is described as e.g. Level 2/3, this means it is a Level 2 tour with one or two short Level 3 pitches (e.g. a steep climb) which could be avoided by less able participants rather than holding up the rest of the group.
4 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 ADDED VALUE
At The Cultural Experience we can ofer many additional extras to your trip to enhance the overall experience, please ask us for further details and the costs. Here are just some of the elements we can arrange to make your tour tailored specifcally to you. Think of us as your personal travel agent.
FLIGHTS PREMIUM ECONOMY CLUB/BUSINESS WORLD The Cultural Experience are pleased to be a British Airways Appointed Operator. When Available on longer international fights, Available on longer, international fights. possible we will use British Airways out Premium Economy ofers more privacy, Benefts include: of London for our overseas tours. We also space and comfort in a smaller, secluded • a spacious seat, which converts into have access to a wealth of other top quality cabin. a fully fat bed airlines which will be used dependent on CLUB/BUSINESS EUROPE • delicious food and drink options the requirements of your tour. using fresh, local ingredients REGIONAL CONNECTING FLIGHTS European business-class service, a • access to private lounges perfect combination of efciency, • luxurious spa treatments We are able to ofer regional connections convenience and comfort. • dedicated check in desks to our London fights from airports around Benefts include: • priority boarding the UK including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, • access to comfortable private FIRST CLASS Glasgow, Isle of Man, Belfast, Newcastle, lounges (where available) Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Dublin. • more personal space to work or relax The fnest way to travel! Benefts include: Please contact us for prices. • complimentary food and drink • your own private, spacious suite FLIGHT UPGRADES service • a fully fat bed with mattress and As scheduled airlines continue to revise their • dedicated check in desks (where duvet economy cabin oferings, purchasing an available) • delicious and indulgent dining upgrade is a great way to ensure that you • priority boarding • access to luxurious lounges maintain those in-fight standards that you • larger baggage allowance than Euro • spa treatments have always enjoyed whilst in the air." Traveller • exclusive and attentive service
TRAINS READING LISTS EXTRA TOUR ARRANGEMENTS Our tours to Europe by train include We have compiled suggested reading lists Subject to availability we can lengthen Standard Premier Eurostar seats and 1st class for each of our tours. Although certainly not your holiday, combine it with another, TGV (where applicable). In Standard Premier essential to have prepared for any of our extend your fight dates and book extra you will enjoy comfortable, spacious seats tours in this way, it may improve and add to accommodation. If you want to extend and a light meal with hot and cold drinks your enjoyment of your trip to your selected your break, upgrade your room or book pre but, if you prefer to travel in even more destination. You can fnd these lists on the or post tour accommodation simply ask a comfort, and enjoy a three course gourmet appropriate tour page on our website. member of the team when you make your meal and drinks served at your seat, booking. together with complimentary newspapers and magazines, then why not upgrade to Business Premier – the ultimate Eurostar Experience.
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 5 OUR GUIDES
Our Guides are selected for three attributes: all are accomplished experts in their own felds – whether as acclaimed academics, proven historians or distinguished soldier practitioners. They must also be able to tell their story in an interesting and engaging manner ‘in the feld’ – and be prepared to continue the discussion over dinner in the evenings. It is this combination of expert, raconteur and host that makes our guides special – and is key to the success of The Cultural Experience.
Dr Waitman Beorn is a Lecturer in the Tim Clayton MA, FSA is the author of a Corcoran Department of History at the number of books on military history including University of Virginia. He is also a consultant Trafalgar: the Men, the Battle, the Storm, and writer for the United States Holocaust Waterloo: Four Days that Changed Europe’s Memorial Museum. Dr Beorn was previously Destiny and, most recently, This Dark Business: Director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. the Secret War against Napoleon. He was co- His frst book, Marching Into Darkness: The curator of the British Museum exhibition Wehrmacht and the Holocaust in Belarus, Bonaparte and the British in 2015 and is a was published in 2014 and won the Thomas J. Senior Fellow of the Paul Mellon Centre and a Wilson Memorial Prize for best frst book from Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Harvard Press.
Dr Martin Boycott-Brown A childhood Professor Tim Cole teaches history at the fascination with Napoleon was reawakened University of Bristol and is an expert on the whilst Martin was living near Verona, leading history, representation and memorialisation to eight years of research on Napoleon's frst of the Holocaust. A popular guide on this campaign in Italy. He walked battlefelds, specialist subject, he is the author of Images spoke to locals, found previously ignored of the Holocaust (1999), Holocaust City (2003) Italian and German sources, went back to and Traces of the Holocaust (2011) and has just earlier French theorists to better understand completed a book on Holocaust Landscapes. how Napoleon worked, and strove to fnd eye-witness sources, all of which proved far more interesting than the myths perpetuated in so many books. It is their authenticity which forms the basis of Martin’s approach.
Katie Campbell has worked as an Major Gordon Corrigan MBE was an ofcer archaeologist for the past decade throughout in the Gurkhas before retiring from the Army Central Asia and the Middle East, and is now in 1998. He is now a military historian and completing a doctorate at the University of author of numerous books. His television Oxford looking at the impact of the Mongol appearances include The Gurkhas, Napoleon’s Conquests on the cities of Central Asia and Waterloo and Battlefeld Detectives. He is an the Caucasus. She is currently excavating Honorary Research Fellow of the Universities Medieval Cities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and of Birmingham and Kent, a fellow of the Royal Turkmenistan. Asiatic Society and a member of the British Commission for Military History.
Dr Bruce Cherry has had a varied career Major Imogen Corrigan BA Hons, like her as university lecturer and journalist. His husband, served as a Major in the British Army. doctorate is in military history and he has She is an expert in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval been guiding tours of the First and Second History and is currently studying part-time World War European battlefelds for over 30 for an M.Litt at Birmingham University. She years. His latest book They didn’t want to die has lectured extensively on Anglo-Saxon and Virgins examining sex and morale in the British medieval subjects in Britain and Europe and is Army on the Western Front was published in a NADFAS lecturer. January 2016.
6 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Major General John Drewienkiewicz CB Eamonn Gearon is an historian and CMG or ‘DZ’, is a former Engineer-in-Chief of analyst who has lived and worked across the British Army who spent years in Bosnia the Middle East for twenty years. Like and Kosovo in the late 1990s. After 20 years of T. E. Lawrence, he is a noted desert explorer, walking European and American battlefelds, whose camel-powered Saharan explorations the Balkans sparked his interest in the wars of grew out of time spent with the Bedu in the the mid-19th century, from the 1859 Italian Libyan Desert. Eamonn works as a Special War, through the Austro-Prussian War of Adviser to government and military and is an 1866 to the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. He has analyst of Islamist terrorist groups. Author of written fve books which examine campaigns The Sahara: A Cultural History which the BBC through the lens of wargaming, his latest on described as “vital background reading for Königgrätz was published earlier this year. anyone who wants to understand the deep roots of the Arab Spring campaigns.”
Major Nigel Dunkley is a former Royal Scots Fred Hawthorne BA served with the Dragoon Guard. Nigel performed intelligence United States Air Force during the latter gathering duties in the former East Germany stages of the Vietnam War. In the 30 years with BRIXMIS during the Cold War. He was since, Fred has earned a series of university awarded the MBE and Bronze Star Medal for degrees in American History, US Colonial his services with the US 1st Cavalry Division History and Historical Archaeology – and during Operation Desert Storm. He was Chief he has conducted more than 5,000 tours on of Staf at the Royal Armoured Corp Centre at these themes. He now lives practically on Bovington, ending his army career as Defence the battlefeld at Gettysburg and is one of Attaché at the British Embassy in Berlin. the most experienced experts on Civil War battlefelds.
Dr Neil Faulkner, FSA is a leading confict Simon Jones MA, formerly curator at the Royal archaeologist and military historian, works Engineers and King’s Liverpool Regiment as a writer, editor, lecturer, and occasional Museums, has guided at battlefelds around broadcaster. He is the editor of Military the world since 1997. The author of books History Monthly and the author of ten books. on tunnelling and gas warfare during the His many TV appearances include Channel First World War, he has taught the First World 4’s Time Team, BBC2’s Timewatch, and Sky War at Liverpool and Lancaster Universities Atlantic’s The British. and has Masters Degrees from Liverpool and Leicester Universities.
Dr Andy Fear was born in Morecambe and Colonel Robert Kershaw BA served in the educated at Lancaster RGS and New College army as a Paratrooper. He is now an established Oxford where he obtained his BA and D Phil military historian, author and commentator. (on Roman Spain). After a brief spell at Jesus, An internationally acknowledged expert on Oxford he went on to teach Classics at the the Eastern Front, he has also published books Universities of Keele and Manchester. An on a wide range of battles and campaigns, ardent Hispanophile, his academic interests including Red Sabbath - The Battle of The Little and publications cover the provinces of the Bighorn, and Battles that Changed the World, in Western Roman Empire (especially Britain and which he takes a unique view of the battles of Spain), ancient and medieval Warfare, and the Stalingrad, Hastings and Waterloo and A Street Iberian peninsula. in Arnhem.
Professor Orlando Figes graduated with a Ian Knight is a writer and historian who double starred frst in History from Cambridge is internationally regarded as a leading in 1982. His 2002 history of Russian culture, authority on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Natasha's Dance received wide critical acclaim, He has published over forty books and whilst his 1996 award winning A People's monographs, the majority of them on Zulu Tragedy, a study of Russia from the famine history and the rest on other nineteenth- of 1891 to the death of Lenin in 1924, was century British colonial campaigns. He has described by the Times Literary Supplement appeared on-screen in a number of television as one of the “hundred most infuential books documentaries. since the war". More recently he was historical consultant to the 2012 flm Anna Karenina and the BBC's 2016 War and Peace series."
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 7 Dr Ryan Lavelle, FRHistS is Reader in Alan Rooney MBA A historian by preference Medieval History at Winchester University. and a tour operator by profession, Alan Author of a range of publications on the is the founder and managing director of lands and politics of the Anglo-Saxon The Cultural Experience and before that was kingdoms, he was historical adviser on the managing director at Holts Tours and Midas BBC TV adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s The Tours. He is a Fellow of the International Last Kingdom, whilst his own book Alfred’s Napoleonic Society. a member of the Royal Wars (2010) was awarded the prestigious Historical Society and the British Commission Verbruggen prize by the Society for Medieval for Military History and has been exploring Military History in 2012, and his most recent and guiding on battlefelds of the Napoleonic credits include contributing to and editing the period for over 20 years - and still keeps his important collection of essays Danes in Wessex hand in by regularly leading tours. (2016).
Colonel Nick Lipscombe MSc FRHistS Dr John Sadler FRHistS is a lawyer and a served for 34 years in the British Army; lecturer in War Studies at the University of seeing operational duty with the British and Sunderland Centre for Lifelong Learning. An American armies. He is an accomplished experienced and entertaining battlefeld tour Napoleonic historian with an extensive guide, he is also widely published on medieval knowledge of the Peninsular War. His works themes, the Scottish Wars and The First World include Wellington’s Guns, Wellington Invades War. He is an acknowledged authority on France, the ofcial Waterloo 200 Bicentenary medieval armour and weapons and adopts an book Waterloo, A Decisive Victory and most interactive approach with his audience with recently Wellington’s Eastern Front. He is demonstrations of swordplay, musket drill currently writing and designing an Atlas of and the odd dash of drama! the English Civil War along similar lines to his award-winning Peninsular War Atlas.
Patrick Mercer OBE read history at Oxford Dr Peter Schrijvers is the author of six books University where he studied the Napoleonic on the Second World War and the Ardennes Wars and the military philosophy of ofensive published by, among others, Clausewitz in detail. Having joined the Cambridge and Yale. He specializes in making Sherwood Foresters, he then went on to us understand how ordinary people, soldiers enjoy active service in Northern Ireland, and civilians, experience the extraordinary Bosnia and Uganda. He has been a journalist, circumstances of battle, and currently serves painter, author and MP. Published many times, as an historical advisor for the Bastogne his interests are the Napoleonic Wars, the Memorial. Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaigns and the fghting in Italy in the Second World War.
Amanda Pavlick MA is a Roman archaeologist Dr Simon Trew is a lecturer in the Department who specializes in the material culture of of War Studies at The Royal Military Academy Roman cities and pre-Roman Italy. She has Sandhurst. Since 1994 he has developed taught Roman and Greek art and archaeology, an enthusiastic interest in the Normandy warfare in ancient literature, and the campaign and, as well as lecturing widely on archaeology of ancient Egypt at the University the campaign, has appeared in numerous of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University, TV documentaries on this and other military and has undertaken feldwork in the Republic subjects. In 2009 he was nominated for a of Georgia, England, and Italy. She has prestigious 'Emmy' award for his research in notably spent seven seasons excavating a support of a television documentary on the neighbourhood south of the theatre district D-Day assault at Omaha Beach. in ancient Pompeii, an archaeological site with which she is more than well versed.
Professor Andrew Poulter is a research Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA is professor at the University of Birmingham, an ex Gurkha and Signaller who has enjoyed specialising in the Roman archaeology of a lifelong fascination for military history and Europe (Italy, especially Pompeii, Britain, battlefeld touring. A history graduate, he France and Germany). His primary research studied strategy at the Royal College of Defence interests are in the Balkans where he has Studies, acts as a Defence Adviser and is currently carried out three large scale excavations and Chairman of the Society for Army Historical intensive survey- the city of Nicopolis ad Research. He leads a variety of tours for TCE Istrum, the hill-top fort of Dobri Dyal and the and has made a particular study of Wellington’s late Roman fortress of Dichin. campaigns and leadership style.
8 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Alan Wakefeld graduated from the Dr Isabel Wollaston is a Senior Lecturer in University of Reading in 1990 with a degree in Jewish and Holocaust Studies at the University History and followed this with an MA in War of Birmingham, and programme leader for an Studies from King’s College London. Having interdisciplinary MA Holocaust and Genocide. worked as a curator at the National Maritime She is an expert on the history, representation Museum and RAF Museum, Alan qualifed and memorialization of the Holocaust, with with an MA in Museum Studies from University particular reference to Auschwitz, and the to College London. He is co-author of Under the the work of Elie Wiesel. Devil’s Eye: Britain’s Forgotten Army at Salonika 1915-1918 and Christmas in the Trenches 1914 – 1918 and is currently Chairman of the Salonika Campaign Society and a member of the British Commission for Military History.
Tony Wilmott is a Senior Archaeologist with Dr Paul Wordsworth is a Research Fellow at Historic England. He has spent many years the University of Oxford (Brasenose College), directing excavations on Hadrian's Wall and is focussing on the archaeology of the medieval a recognised authority on the frontiers of the Caucasus and Central Asia. He is currently Roman Empire. He has travelled widely within directing a new archaeological project the Roman world. exploring the remains of a frontier city of the early Islamic Caliphate in Azerbaijan and writing a book on medieval caravanserais and the practice early Islamic travel in the deserts of Central Asia. MEET THE TEAM
The Cultural Experience team outside our ofces in Salisbury, Wiltshire. From left to right: Ashley Truluck – MOD Tours Consultant Shaun Smith – Tour Manager Shaun Bartlett – Sales & Marketing Manager Alan Rooney – Managing Director Frankie Clifton – Sales & Ofce Assistant Kat Godwin – Bookkeeper & Financial Assistant Gael Ritchie – Operations Executive Emma Curteis – Operations Manager
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 9 INXXX THE FOOTSTEPS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT ARCHXXX AEOLOGy bATTLES AND SIEGES IN TURKEy
6 - 15 September 2019 10 days
Early Periods with Dr Andy Fear Activity Level 2
Our ten day tour to Turkey explores the myths and reality that surround Alexander the Great as we follow in the footsteps of his army, starting at Granicus, heading south along the Ionian Coast and ending by tracing the liberation of the Lycian Valley. We explore the ruins of Alexander’s metropolis of Militus, the beautiful temples at Assos, Ephesus and Priene, the ancient harbours of Telmessos and Phaselis, and the remote, atmospheric Patara and Termessus. We will see two of the seven wonders of the ancient world as well as spending time in Istanbul and Antalya. Dr Andy Fear, historian, archaeologist and lecturer in classics at Manchester University leads this fascinating tour of battles, sieges, history, archaeology and architecture to provide evidence to establish the fact from fction.
After subduing the rebellious Greeks, Hagia Sophia, one of the region’s most Alexander embarked upon a campaign spectacular examples of architecture and the against the Persians that took him to the battlements of the imposing Byzantine walls. edges of India in search of the end of the Day 3 - Granicus and Troy. Drive to the world. In doing so he created one of the battlefeld of Granicus, where Alexander won largest empires of the ancient world and a resounding victory against the Persians earned himself a place in legend. With an paving the way for his conquest of Anatolia. uncertain claim to the throne, Alexander set Here we discuss the very diferent ancient out to liberate the region of Asia Minor from records of Alexander’s tactics. Thence to "Would thoroughly recommend King Darius III and reclaim the lost Greek the ruins of Troy, the scene of the triumph of territories of his forefathers. The campaign Te Cultural Experience & will go Alexander’s personal hero, Achilles, and to of 334-333BC saw some of Alexander’s most which he made a special personal pilgrimage. on tour with them in the future, spectacular and memorable moments, from We continue to Canakkale, the narrowest the ingenious crossing of the Hellespont service was of a very high order" point on the Dardanelles, the inspiration for to the defning and disputed battle of the Greek legend of Hero and Leander and Granicus, from the mythical cities of Troy where Alexander’s army crossed into Asia. and Halicarnassus to the defant cities of Check in to our hotel for one night. Aspendus and Termessus. Day 4 - Assos and Pergamon. Along the Day 1 - Outward Travel. Fly from London ESSENTIALS Aegean coast we fnd the beautiful 1st to Istanbul and check in to our hotel for two Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, Century BC ruin of Assos, once the home of nights. Introductory talk and pre-dinner bufet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course Alexander’s tutor, the philosopher Aristotle. drinks. dinner with drinks each evening, Wander around the once glorious Temple of all entrance fees and expert guide Day 2 - Istanbul. We visit the outstanding Athena before making our way to Pergamon, throughout. Archaeology Museum to peruse the riches the seat of what became a regional recovered from antiquity across Asia superpower in the aftermath of the collapse Tour price: £2795 Minor including the impressive decorated of Alexander’s Empire. Brave the walk, or Single supplement: £225 sarcophagus of King Abdalonymous of Sidon, take the cable car, and look down upon the Deposit: £300 in the past confused with the legendary steepest Greco-Roman theatre in the Roman Price without fights: £2620 leader himself. Thence to the thrice built Empire before heading into Bergama for one night.
10 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Day 5 - Ephesus. An early start will take us Memnon. We drive to Telmessos, the home
to the ancient city of Ephesus where we will of Alexander’s favourite sooth-sayer and Periods Early spend the whole day exploring this historic constant companion, to see its spectacular port which welcomed Alexander’s troops Lycian tombs. We make brief stops at tragic with open arms. We wander the streets of Xanthos, the romantic water-logged ruins of this forgotten world, stroll past its iconic Letoon, and Patara which, after surrendering library and bear witness to one of the seven to Alexander, grew into a wealthy and wonders of the ancient world, the Temple strategically important naval base. We end of Artemis. We see the changing character the day at our hotel in Kas. of the city through its architecture, with a Day 8 - Limyra and Phaselis. Continuing Greek temple juxtaposed with the Basilica of our coastal journey we arrive at Limyra, the St John and his tomb. Overnight in Selcuk. Zemuri of the ancient Lycians and site of the Day 6 - Ionian Coast. We explore an Ionian cenotaph of a man who would have ruled Trinity of ancient Greek cities: Priene, the world had he lived: Caius, Augustus’s where Alexander personally funded the grandson. Thence to Phaselis, the town of building of the temple to Athene Polias; three harbours and Alexander’s headquarters Miletus, besieged by Alexander, with its in the winter of 334 BC, picturesquely set now landlocked port’s battered defensive beside the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. walls and castle; and Didyma with its Sacred Continue to Antalya and check in to our hotel Way, the road that connected Miletus to the for two nights. Temple and oracle of Apollo which, after Day 9 - Antalya. At Aspendos, whose fckle its destruction by the Persians, was rebuilt inhabitants tried to double-cross Alexander, by Alexander. End the day at our hotel in we visit a magnifcent theatre. We explore the Bodrum. fortress of Sillyion, a town as ancient as Troy, Day 7 - Halicarnassus and the Lycian Valley. which successfully defed Alexander. And at At Halicarnassus we admire the crumbling the commanding ruins of Termessos, called walls, pillars and rubble that was once a “the eagle’s nest” by Alexander, we wander wonder of the world, the massive tomb of through tombs, city walls, and foundations to King Mausolus. We discuss the infuence of reach the spectacular amphitheatre, perched another of its famous citizens - Herodotus, as if it were on the edge of the world. the father of History. It was here that Day 10 - Home. Fly back to London from Alexander faced perhaps his most dangerous Antalya via Istanbul. Acropolis of Pergamon opponent, the Greek mercenary commander
Ephesius
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8 - 14 April 2019 with Dr Andy Fear 2 - 8 September 2019 with Prof Andrew Poulter Early Periods 22 - 28 October 2019 with Amanda Pavlick 30 March - 5 April 2020 with Dr Andy Fear 7 Days Activity Level 2
This comprehensive archaeological tour of the Bay of Naples and the events of AD79 not only includes the well-known and impressive remains of Pompeii and the superbly preserved Herculaneum but also those lesser known, but nonetheless important sites such as the seaside villas of the wealthy at Oplontis, possibly once owned by Poppeia, wife of the Emperor Nero; Stabiae, where the frescoes are amongst the most beautiful found anywhere in the world; Cumae, the frst Greek colony on the Italian mainland; Baiae, a fashionable Roman seaside resort, When Vesuvius erupted, pyroclastic debris Paestum. The most famous of these is the and Pozzuoli, the main port of the early was hurled more than twenty miles into fresco from the 'Tomb of the Diver', the only Roman Empire. Our guides, archaeologists the atmosphere, engulfng the entire Bay extant wall-painting from a Greek tomb. Professor Andy Fear, emeritus Professor of Naples and beyond, killing thousands Day 3 – Pompeii. A whole day in Pompeii Andrew Poulter and PhD student of people. Pompeii was not the only city exploring the public monuments and private university lecturer Amanda Pavlick, are to be destroyed - the inhabitants of all residences that best illustrate what life was leading experts who have excavated the neighbouring Roman resort cities, like in this bustling port and market town. widely. Throughout the tour we will be including Herculaneum and Stabiae, were The fountains in the street, worn where based at the magnifcent Le Medusa also completely obliterated. The devastation thousands of people have rested to take Hotel, a fabulous and Boutique Spa in wrought and the way the volcanic ash a drink, the stepping stones, wheel ruts, Castellammare di Stabia, an eighteenth sealed and preserved everything it engulfed corner shrines, bakeries, public baths, the century Bourbon residence with refned has fascinated visitors since the frst brothel, street cafés and ancient grafti – all and elegant interiors set amongst its own archaeological investigations at Pompeii of human life in AD79 is here when you know secluded park. in 1748. The fact that it has been the most where to look for it. famous archaeological site in the world for so long means that centuries' worth of repairs Day 4 – Stabiae and Oplontis. Ancient and restorations have added their own Stabiae, founded between the 7th and 6th overlay to the Roman originals. Modern day centuries BC, was one of the places chosen archaeologists have to sift through not only by the aristocracy of Rome to build their layers of dust and ash to interpret this large large luxury villas in a panoramic position on city but also the theories and presumptions the edge of Varano Hill. It was here that Pliny of the excavators that went before them. the Elder met his death, probably during the ESSENTIALS Day 1 - Fly London to Naples. Check in to Return fights from London, 4 star hotel, our hotel for six nights. Welcome drink and bufet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course introductory lecture from your expert guide. dinner with drinks each evening, Day 2 - Paestum. Spend the day exploring all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. the heart of the ancient city of Poseidonia. The most dramatic sights are the three Doric Tour price: £2095 temples; roofess, but still standing, these are among the greatest archaeological Single supplement: £260 monuments in Italy. In the afternoon we Deposit: £200 visit the Museum which contains paintings Price without fights: £1970 and grave goods from tombs in and around Hotel La Medusa
12 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 mud which, as it solidifed, prevented their Museum of the Campi Flegrei; and Pozzuoli,
Pompeii Periods Early collapse. Subsequently sealed under an with its impressive amphitheatre begun airtight layer of volcanic rock, the partially by Roman Emperor Nero and fnished by excavated town now ofers a unique insight Vespasian. into Roman life, with many buildings still Day 7 – Naples. The National Archaeological with upper storeys intact and frescoes and Museum, great treasure trove of the Bay mosaics in an excellent state of preservation. of Naples and home of one of the most In the afternoon, we drive up the slopes of important collections of classical archaeology Vesuvius, taking the fnal stage to the summit in the world. Among the notable exhibits on foot (a walk of around 200m). are the Herculaneum papyri, carbonized Day 6 – Cumae, Baiae and Pozzuoli. A day by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the exploring the area west of Naples known as Alexander Mosaic, originally from the House The Phlegraean Fields. Cumae, the epicentre of the Faun in Pompeii. Continue to Naples of the Greek colonization of the 8th century for our return fight to London. BC; Baiae, the home of pleasure palaces of Roman emperors; the Castello Aragonese which now houses the Archaeological
Centaur, Pompeii
last fatal surge of the pyroclastic cloud. We visit three impressive houses today - Villa San Marco, Villa Arianna and the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis, a grand residential building on an imperial scale, with a huge pool, and cleverly designed gardens. Day 5 – Herculaneum. During the eruption of Vesuvius, the buildings of Herculaneum were smothered by toxic gas and boiling
Fresco,Pompeii Paestum today
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15 - 22 April 2019 8 days
Early Periods with Dr Andy Fear Activity Level 2
Our tour looks at the province’s towns which were its heartbeat, showing us magnifcent buildings, mosaics and other works of art in Seville, Ecija, and the provincial capital, Cordoba, and also where new fnds are emerging at Torrparedones, the ancient colonia of Ituci where we can see how a pre-Roman settlement and its fortifcations were Romanised. We shall also visit a whole suburb built by the Emperor Hadrian for his hometown of Italica which includes one of the largest amphitheatres in the Roman world. As well as urban splendour, we will also visit the villas and garum works which generated this fabulous wealth and see how, in towns like Carmona and Cadiz, locals held on to their Carthaginian heritage despite the passing of the centuries.
Modern Andalusia was the second oldest Day 2 - Jaen and Torreparedones. We visit province of the Roman Empire. It was Jaen’s wonderful provincial museum with its captured from Hannibal’s Carthaginians in fne collection of 5th Century BC sculptures the Punic Wars after the battle of Ilipa, outside and Spain’s largest surviving Moorish of Seville, in 206 BC and then remained a baths, the Baños Arabes. At the impressive Roman possession for some six hundred Torreparedones Archaeological Park, where years. First known as “Further Spain”, Hispania digs continue, we fnd amongst other things, Ulterior, and then as Baetica after the river the forum with its monumental inscription Guadalquivir which runs through its heart, it carved in to the pavement, the Ibero- "Dr Andy Fear made this tour a became one of the wealthiest provinces of the Roman Sanctuary, fortifed eastern gate and empire, famous for its exports of Olive Oil and important necropolis. Continue to our hotel success with his approachability Garum or fsh sauce. It was also the birthplace situated on the edge of the Sierras Subbeticas and wit along with his ability to of some of Rome’s most famous sons, such Natural Park. as the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, the epic wear his learning lightly." Day 3 - El Ruedo and Cordoba. We drive to poet Lucan, and the philosopher Seneca. the Roman villa ‘El Ruedo’, one of the largest The region’s prosperity continued in the such sites in Iberia, with its mosaics, paintings post-Roman period. The Visigothic bishop of and paving. Thence to the impressive Seville, Isidore, wrote an encyclopaedia, the Roman cisterns found under a cemetery in Etymologies, which was to be the standard Monturque. Continue to Cordoba to visit the work of reference across Western Europe archaeology museum with its fne display ESSENTIALS for the best part of a millennium and he of Roman mosaics, ceramics and glassware. Return fights from London, 4 star hotel, has recently been made patron saint of the Check in to our hotel for the night. bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with internet. drinks each evening, all entrance fees Day 4 - Cordoba and Ecija. We see Cordoba’s Day 1 - Malaga and Jaen. Fly London – and expert guide throughout. Roman bridge and temple before we drive Malaga. Driving in to the historical centre of out to the Roman villa of Fuente Alamo, this lovely city, we gain a glimpse of Malaga’s Tour price: £2495 with its superb collection of fgurative and Roman Theatre. After lunch we head for Single supplement: £350 geometric mosaics and thermal baths, and Jaen and check in to our hotel for one night. the archaeology museum at Puente Genil. Deposit: £250 Evening lecture before dinner. Price without fights: £2345 This afternoon we head for Ecija, known
14 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Day 7 - Cadiz and Baelo Claudia. complete Roman town and we will wander
Exploring Roman Cadiz/Gades we fnd the around it streets, houses, basilica, theatre, Periods Early impressive 1st Century BC Roman Theatre, a forum and temples. Our day ends at the columbarium, garum factory and its museum archaeological site of Romano-Punic Carteia housing Phoenician and Roman artefacts. At in the bay of Algeciras which boasts a fne the Phoenician site of Gadir we walk above collection of excavated buildings. Check in to and look down on 5000 year-old streets and our Algeciras hotel for one night. houses and follow evolution of Cadiz from its Day 8 - Home. En route to Malaga we stop at foundation to Roman times. At Baelo Claudia the remains of the Paleochristian basilica of we fnd the excavated remains of an almost Vega del Mar. Return fight to London.
Roman Bridge, Cordoba in Roman times as Astigi, where we fnd the Archaeological Museum which holds fascinating fnds including many mosaics Roman Italica recovered from sites still under excavation. We will also see a monumental Roman pool and the church of Santa Cruz where the altar is a reused Byzantine sarcophagus. Check in to our hotel for one night. Day 5 - Ecija and Carmona. We stop at Osuna to explore the ancient quarry of El Coto las Canteras. Upon arrival at Carmona we discover the Romano-Punic necropolis, the recently accessible amphitheatre, the Gate of Seville with its origins in the Punic period, and the excellent Town museum with its remarkable collection of Tartessian artefacts. Check in to our hotel for the night. Day 6 - Italica. Just outside Seville lies the archaeological site of Roman Italica, birthplace to Hadrian and Trajan. We will explore its theatre, massive amphitheatre, large houses with preserved exquisite mosaics, temples, baths and sophisticated sewer system. Amongst the huge collection of Seville’s archaeological museum we will discover statues and busts of Roman emperors and gods, treasure collections, mosaics, bronzeware and much more. Continue to Cadiz where we spend the night.
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6 - 13 April 2020 8 days
Early Periods with Dr Andy Fear Activity Level 2
The wealth and peace brought to the former province of Lusitania by the Romans are refected in the magnifcent monuments left for us to admire across the province and their variety allows us to see not just the richness of city life, but also the source of the riches and the infrastructure which allowed that life to fourish. This novel archaeological tour takes us through the Portuguese regions of Estremadura, Beiras and Alentejo and the Spanish region of Extremadura. Whilst we will visit many important Roman sites such as Conimbriga and Emerita Augusta, we will also learn how they generally settled in this western extremity of their empire at remote villas, infrastructure sites and even extant factories. We explore some of the region’s great cities such as Coimbra, Caceres, Evora and, of course, Lisbon. And we will enjoy some great historic hotels staying at Portuguese Pousadas and Spanish Paradores and sample the delicious regional cuisine for which they are renowned. The tour is led throughout by renowned Roman historian Dr Andy Fear of Manchester University who will provide insight, analysis and inspiring narrative to this fascinating period of history.
The conquest of Lusitania, the most westerly well as these Celtiberian tribesmen, the area of Rome’s possessions, began in the 180s BC also contained pure Celts as town names like after raids by the Lusitani tribe into Rome’s Mirobriga and Conimbriga show and some province of Further Spain. Lusitani were a Phoenician traders had also ventured here. ferce tribe, the Roman writer Pliny derives In prehistory the region was an important their name from the wild rites (lusus) of outpost of the Tartessic culture. "Overall organisation was the wine god Pan. Long wars of expansion Day 1 – Conimbriga. Fly London to Lisbon followed with the Lusitani at times giving as excellent and the whole trip ran and drive to the ruins of Conimbriga, the good as they got. One chieftain, Viriathus, best preserved Roman town in Portugal. We very smoothly" remains a Portuguese national hero to this will explore many of the surviving buildings day. The area was eventually tamed by Caesar and great houses dating from the 1st to 3rd in the 60s BC. It was made a separate province centuries: Repuxos House with its wonderful ESSENTIALS in around 25 BC by the Emperor Augustus and garden with its original hydraulics and given a new, purpose-built capital at Merida Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star fantastic mosaics; the tunnels and stalls of hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner whose Roman name means “The Emperor’s the amphitheatre; the thermal baths and of with drinks each evening, all entrance City for veterans”. Two famous governors course its forum and wonderful museum. fees and expert guide throughout. who would have known Merida were the Continue to Coimbra where we check in to short-lived emperor Otho and the brother of our hotel for one night and enjoy pre-dinner Tour price: £2495 the the Emperor Severus, Geta. The province drinks and an introductory talk. Single supplement: £350 was a peaceful one, but never quite forgot its Deposit: £250 military roots. Units of Lusitanians are found in Day 2 – Coimbra - Caceres. We take a short the Roman army and legionary veterans from exploration of this important university city Price without fights: £2345 Merida are even found buried at Chester. As including its fne Roman cryptoporticus
16 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 temple, many residential buildings and the and the important Roman archaeological
superb Museum of Roman Art. Check in to site of Mirobriga with its baths, Forum and Periods Early our Merida parador, a former 18th century hippodrome. Thence to the Roman remains convent, for one night. on the Troia Peninsula which include an Day 4 – Medellin – Emerita Augusta. We extant garum factory! Continue to Lisbon for travel out to the superb Roman theatre our last night. nestled below the romantic ruins of Day 8 – Home. Transfer to Lisbon airport for Medellin’s medieval castle whilst at Quintana the return fight to London. de la Serana we fnd a Roman watchtower and quarry. This afternoon we return to Merida to continue our discovery of this exciting Roman city. Day 5 – Proserpina Dam and Badajoz. Built to ensure a bountiful water supply to Emerita Augusta, we walk over this earth dam with its retaining wall which still serves the purpose it was designed for 2000 years ago. Thence to the Roman villa at Torre Aguila with its Octagonal and Summer rooms with their hypocaust, the thermal baths and mill and press. We continue to Badajoz where we visit its wonderful archaeological museum. We spend the night in the delightful fortifed city of Elvas just inside the Portuguese border, our hotel built in to the actual walls. Day 6 – Evora and Alcacer. We spend the morning in Evora where there is the opportunity to explore this UNESCO listed town, including the wonderful Roman Temple surrounded by a host of equally magnifcent medieval religious buildings and its fascinating museum. After lunch we visit the Roman Villa of Sao Cucufate ending our day at Alcacer do Sal where we fnd the remains of a Roman cult site and a small museum. Check in to our pousada hotel, at once both a former convent and a castle, for one night. Day 7 – Mirobriga and Troia. We drive to Merida Santiago do Cacem with its lovely castle Evora and interesting Macheda museum. Drive to the stunning bridge over the River Tagus at Alcantara, so well-built, that until only recently articulated wagons were crossing over it. Today access is limited to lighter trafc and so we can safely walk its length and see the aedicule dedicated to Trajan. Thence to Caceres where we check in for the night at the Renaissance Palace parador located in the heart of Caceres. Day 3 – Caceres - Emerita Augusta. Just outside Caceres we fnd an excellent example of a Roman camp dating to the 2nd century BC, whilst in the city itself we visit the lovely Museum of Roman Art. Travel to Merida, the one-time Roman capital of Lusitania founded in the 1st century BC known as Emerita Augusta. It boasts one of the fnest collections of extant Roman architecture in the Iberian Peninsula. We will spend more than a day exploring its theatre, amphitheatre, circus, bridges and water management systems,
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12 – 20 August 2019 9 days
Early Periods with Prof Andrew Poulter Activity Level 2
Bulgaria is, in archaeological terms, one of the richest countries in Europe possessing a wealth of sites of not just regional but also international importance, the fnds from which have had made a dramatic impact on our understanding of pre-historic, classical and medieval history. In the company of archaeologist Professor Andrew Poulter, a Roman scholar and veteran of Bulgarian archaeology, we navigate the fnest of this country’s incredible inventory of historical sites. We will see the world-famous Chalcolithic gold, the earliest gold fnds in the world, predating the development of Babylonia and Egypt, explore an 8000 year old Neolithic settlement, enter royal and aristocratic Thracian tombs, view Roman walls, theatres and bathhouses casually exposed amidst modern towns and cities. We will walk past Roman town fortifcations and visit a legionary fortress and late Roman town, stand amidst working archaeologists and become privy to the latest fnds and interpretations. We will be able to admire the art and treasures of working monasteries stunningly situated atop the green mountains, walk ancient and medieval cobblestone streets, traverse the verdant breathtaking Balkan Mountains and visit the restored ‘museum’ villages and battlefelds which commemorate the modern Bulgarian The Ancient Greeks referred to everywhere It wasn’t until 1991 that democracy was struggle for independence. north of Thessaly as Thrace, an area that established and the country became open to they recognised as being inhabited by skilled western infuence. horsemen and craftsmen in precious metals Day 1 – Outward Journey. Fly London to and thus worthy of serious trade. Being a tribal Sofa. Arrive early afternoon and drive to people, it was inevitable that Thracian culture, Plovdiv where we check in to our hotel for 4 and the country itself, would be absorbed nights. by the economic prosperity and territorial ambitions of their southern neighbours. Early Day 2 – Plovdiv. A full day exploring Roman Thracian architecture was heavily infuenced Trimontium, known in the high empire as by the Greeks, followed by the martial Philippopolis, with structures dating from ESSENTIALS expansion of the Roman and Byzantine the 2nd Century, in particular the agora and Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star Empires as they utilised the region as a bufer municipal buildings, a spectacular theatre hotels, bufet breakfast, light lunches, against the nomadic threat from north of the still standing, a circus (horse racing) and 4th 3-course dinner with drinks each Danube. By early medieval times, the Bulgars Century city walls. At its highest point there evening, all entrance fees and expert had engineered a period of independence are traces of the Thracian defences. guide throughout. but, yet again, their southern neighbours, this time in the form of the Ottomans, Day 3 – Valley of the Thracians and Tour price: £2295 conquered the area and it struggled under Hisarya. Around Kazanluk we fnd a myriad of tumuli, some yielding rich treasure. They Single supplement: £210 Turkish rule until the late 19th century. For house impressive granite or brick lined burial Deposit: £225 the next hundred years turbulence ensued: independence, monarchy, major regional and chambers, often exquisitely decorated and Price without fights: £2145 world wars, republicanism and communism. individual in nature, some of which are open
18 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 views. Those feeling ft enough can climb Day 8 – Boyana and Rila. Enjoy the
the many steps to the Russian monument wonderful 12th century frescos in Boyana’s Periods Early commemorating the series of battles medieval church and the national history fought against the Turks in 1877/8 which museum in the former palace of the helped secure independence, others can communist leaders. We enjoy the spectacular remain at the bottom enjoying a cofee drive up to Rila monastery with its dramatic and breathtaking views. We visit the quaint setting picturesquely perched amongst water-powered village of Etar, where artisans the mountains. This reconstructed working in original houses produce rugs, wooden monastery, built for both defence and objects and leather goods, ending the day worship, faithfully refects its original style at the preserved town of Arbanassi with its and boasts some fne but foreboding frescos. excellent 17th and 18th Century frescos, timber buildings and fne church. Check in Day 9 – Depart. A late morning check-out to our hotel in Veliko Tarnovo for two nights. from our hotel. Return fights from Sofa to London Day 6 – Nicopolis ad Istrum and Novae. At the former we stroll down paved streets and immerse ourselves in this Roman Empire city with its wealth of inscriptions, monumental masonry blocks and extant buildings. Still a working site, archaeologists will reveal its latest secrets and their interpretations. On the southern extremity lies a remarkable early Byzantine city that was discovered and unearthed by our guide, Professor Poulter, between 1985 to 1996. Listen in-situ as he relates his discoveries and their important implications for our understanding of the Roman and early Byzantine periods. Thence to the 1st Century legionary fortress of Novae with its later developed large extramural settlement, 3rd century hospital, principia, 6th century basilica, numerous inscriptions and fne views of the Danube. Day 7 – Sofa. Drive to Sofa and check in to our hotel for the last two nights. This afternoon we explore the recently exposed ruins of Roman Serdica, St George’s Rotunda, 5th century church of St Sophia and visit the Shipka Pass national archaeological museum.
Rila Monastery for exploration. Thence to the pretty spa town of Hisayra, dominated by its extant impressive, well-preserved ancient walls enclosing a remarkably retained irregular late Roman layout. Walk the walls and visit the Roman baths. Day 4 – Neolithic and Roman. Travel to the Neolithic house at Nova Zagora with its excellent museum, amazing displays and contents including early gold. At Karanova we fnd a settlement mound which exhibits successive occupation from the 6th Century to the 2nd Century BC, with slices cut out of the mound to reveal its chronological sequence. Thence to Stara Zagora (Roman Augusta Traiana) with its so called forum, fne sculptures, marble seating, Roman baths and a remarkable luxurious 4th century house with superb mosaics. Day 5 – Bulgarian history. Drive to the dominating Shipka Pass with its tremendous
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 19 XXXTHE LOS T LEGIONS XXXTHE ROAD TO THE TEUTObURG FOREST
10 – 15 July 2019 6 days
Early Periods with Tony Wilmott Activity Level 2
Follow in the footsteps of Quinctillus Varus and his three legions on the road to their destruction. On this tour we travel through the little visited regions of the Netherlands and North Germany, stopping at the historic towns of sleepy Leiden, Xanten and Paderborn. We will experience the glory of Rome come to life at a variety of diferent museums along the way, including the Hogwoerd and Xanten open air Archaeological Parks, built on the sites of old Roman forts. At Anreppen we will see some of the ongoing excavations of the earthworks and foundations of the Fort that once controlled the Lippe Valley. The whole tour will come to a climactic end with a visit to the Hemannsdenkmal and to the rediscovered site of the battle itself. The tour will be led by Tony Wilmott, a senior archaeologist with Historic England and one of the foremost authorities on the outreaches of the Roman Empire. He will present the tragic story in an exciting and innovative way as we examine the roads, forts and battlefelds of the legions last journey that will leave you buzzing with questions.
Germanic Warriors Storm the Field (Varusschlacht, 1909)
The Battle of Teutoburg Forest was nothing Leiden to see the course of the Roman Empire short of a massacre of three Roman legions, in the Netherlands. Look out for the bronze resulting in the retreat of the Roman Empire horseman’s mask and see the mixture of across the Rhine, a border they would cultures that infuenced the rulers and workers never successfully conquer again. In 9AD, during the Roman occupation and beyond. Quinctillus Varus, supreme commander of Day 2 - Hogwoerd and Xanten. Start the day Germania led the doomed 17th, 18th and 19th at the Fossa Corbulonis, the 23 mile canal dug legion across the Rhine, intending to demand during the reign of Claudius to connect the all- tribute, but instead they were ambushed by ESSENTIALS important River Rhine and the Meuse. Spend four Cherusci tribes, united under the German Return fights from London, 4 star hotel, the rest of the day travelling back through the symbol of resistance and unity, Arminus. The bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with centuries at two intriguing and immersive legions were decimated, some captured, drinks each evening, all entrance fees open air archaeological parks. Discover some escaped, but most died. Such was and expert guide throughout. everyday Roman life at Archaeon by exploring the devastation that their legion numbers its reconstructed town, full of living history were never used by the Romans again. Varus Tour price: £2195 and sights, smells and noise before having escaped, but eventually committed suicide. Single supplement: £225 lunch in the reconstructed Mansio. Travel to Deposit: £175 Day 1 - Depart. Fly from London to Schiphol Hogwoerd, the largest site of archaeological Price without fights: £2070 Airport. Drive to Leiden and visit the world- research in the Netherlands, where we will class National Museum of Antiquities in get a glimpse of the Roman limes, the frontier
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The Teutoburg Forest along the Rhine frst started by Hadrian. Walk wrong) site of battle. Enjoy a walk through the walls and watchtowers of this rebuilt these historic woods before driving to the site Roman fort, experience life as a gladiator and of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. See the feld witness 3000 years of human history. Drive to and walk the battle lines before entering the "Europe’s beautiful countryside Xanten for the frst of two nights. new, cutting edge, research museum which with its historic battlefelds and gives a voice to the two sides of the battle. Day 3 - Xanten. Most of today will be spent lovely old towns were brought Discover the secrets that the disputed and at the vast Roman archaeological park with contradictory history has previously eluded to life with exceptional lectures its superb state of the art Roman museum, and pause at the garden pavilions to listen to built upon the site of the ancient baths of the and discussions; like being in an echoes of the past. Drive to Osnabruck and Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. One of the our fnal hotel. outdoor museum" Augustan forts from which Varus’s forces set of, it was also besieged during the Batavian Day 6 - Home. Drive to Schiphol and fy revolt and was later developed into one of home. the major cities of the Germania Inferior. It was home to the Elder Pliny, who took part in the campaign to recapture Varus’s lost eagles. After the park, we will see the Romanesque cathedral with its two imposing towers in the city that spawned the legend of Siegfried. Day 4 - Lippe Valley. Follow Varus’s route across the Lippe Valley via the three principle legionary fortresses through which his force passed, all abandoned after the massacre. We will stop at the interactive museum at Haltern am See, home of the decimated 19th Legion and centre of Roman command in Germania before travelling to the reconstructed earthworks and ramparts of Oberaden and Anreppen. Drive to our hotel in Paderborn, a 1200 year old medieval university and cathedral city with deep Carolingian links. Day 5 - Hermansdenkmal and Varus Battlefeld. Spend the morning at Hermansdenkmal, the towering majestic monument to Arminius and the Varus battle, Germanicus built by the Kaiser on the traditional (but
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3 – 15 April 2019 13 days
Early Periods With Dr Paul Wordsworth Activity Level 2
Georgia is one of the great undiscovered tourist destinations of this century. See the fabulous monasteries and cathedrals that characterise the landscape, history and society of this mountainous country, from the recently fnished Sameba Cathedral to the ancient Anchiskhati Basilica. Witness the steadfast forts of Nokalakevi, believed to be where Jason and the Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece and Khertvisi, destroyed by Alexander the Great and rebuilt in the 10th Century. Climb through the cave cities of Uplistsikhe and Vardzia, once the refuge of whole nations now the home of fabulous frescoes and wall carvings. Discover the isolated medieval communities of Svaneti and their curious tower houses, and wander the vibrant Akhaltsikhe streets of Tbilisi and Kutaisi. The tour will be led by University of Oxford Georgia’s history has a length and breadth Army, who invaded and established a Soviet Research Fellow Dr Paul Wordsworth. Paul that many countries cannot hope to compete Regime shortly afterwards. Georgia declared has conducted archaeological feldwork with, from evidence of the earliest humans independence in April 1991 after the fall of the across Central Asia and earned his PhD outside of Africa some 1.8 million years USSR, beginning a long process of peaceful by studying medieval Central Asian ago to the disturbingly violent clashes with and violent protests, including the Rose trade routes and travel. He will expand separatist movements and fractious political Revolution of 2003. protests throughout the last thirty years. your knowledge of Ancient Georgia and Day 1 - Outward Travel. Fly London to Tbilisi Initially the two kingdoms of Colchis and enlighten you to the stories and secrets of and check in to our hotel for two nights. this diverse and captivating country. Iberia, Georgia has an ancient history full of legend: home to the Golden Fleece, ravaged Day 2 - Tbilisi. We will spend the day in the briefy by Alexander the Great’s armies and capital, enjoying a walking tour which will the setting for countless wars between the include stops at the recently restored 4th Persians and the Byzantine Empire. The 10th Century Narikala Fortress, the sulphur streams – 13th centuries ofered a reprieve and the that gave their name to the city and fed the birth of a Golden Age of culture and learning famous baths, and the mysterious Anchiskhati under the rule of King David the Builder, and Basilica, its oldest surviving religious structure. his granddaughter Queen Tamar, who to this The afternoon will be spent at the Open day is referred to as King Tamar, in deference Air Museum of Ethnography where we will to her ferce leadership and expansion of experience traditional living from each region territory. Subsequent invasions by Mongol in Georgia and witness some of the practices Hordes and the occupation by the Ottoman that are still employed today. Empire destroyed this Golden Age, making Georgia a divided nation characterised by Day 3 - Mtskheta. We travel to the religious ESSENTIALS border squabbles and constant wars between and spiritual centre of Georgia, starting with Return fights from London, 3 and 4 the Ottomans and the Persians. a brief walk to the ancient capital of Bagineti, star hotels, bufet breakfast, all lunches, before entering the UNESCO World Heritage 3-course dinner with drinks each Initially encouraged in the early 19th Century Site of Mtsheketa for lunch. Walk around evening, all entrance fees and expert as a means to gain independence, Russian the 11th Century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, guide throughout. suzerainty developed into the steady rumoured to be so beautiful that King Giorgi annexation of Georgian regions from the supposedly amputated the architect’s hand Tour price: £3125 Ottomans. After a series of brutally suppressed so that he could never design a rival to it, and Single supplement: £495 nationalist uprisings, Georgia briefy gained which is still the site of important Georgian independence, but the refusal of membership ceremonies today. End the afternoon at the Deposit: £300 to the League of Nations in 1921 helped to Jvari Monastery, set atop a hill overseeing Price without fights: £2775 drive the Georgians to the Bolshevik Red this deceptively sleepy town. Travel onwards
22 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 to the 12th Century sanctuary of Sighnahi for painted churches before sitting down to a Akhaltsikhe, through the impressive gorge of dinner before continuing to our hotel in the sumptuous traditional evening meal. Check in the Mtkvari River and past countless cliftop Periods Early enchantingly beautiful wine region of Kakheti to our Mestia hotel for two nights fortresses such as that at Atskhuri. and check in for one night. Day 8 - Svaneti Province. Today we will travel Day 11 - Akhaltsiskhe, Khertvisi and Day 4 - Kakheti Province. Our frst stop today through unparalleled landscapes to reach the Vardizia. We start the morning walking is the citadel of Gremi, capital of the region in highest settlement in Europe. Wonder along through Akhaltsikhe and its 9th Century castle, the 16th-17th centuries, with the impressive the scenic roads of Ushguli, another medieval ravaged by Mongols, Ottomans and Russian- and the church of the Archangels. We settlement and explore the colourful 12th Georgian armies until its most recent rebirth continue our tour of this picturesque province Century Lamaria Church nestled in this village as a cultural hub. Walk around the mosque, with the 10-11th Century Alaverdi Monastery, against a stunning alpine backdrop. We will synagogue and darbazebi, or traditional home to the second tallest tower in Georgia see and learn more about the rich, distinctive houses, to see how the modern and the with great views and legendary frescoes. history of this region. ancient have been blended together in this After a lunch break in the charismatic town one place. Continue on to Khertvisi Fortress, Day 9 - Samegrelo Province. An early of Telavi, we head to the sprawling estate of one of the oldest surviving forts in Georgia. start sees us at the impressive 19th century the winemaking Chavchavadze dynasty. A This picturesque ruin has seen battles from Dadiani Palace, home to one of the earliest family with a chequered past, we will visit the Alexander the Great through to Russian and museum collections in Georgia, complete house museum to learn about their history Ottoman forces in the 19th Century. We move with curiosities connected with the life of with Russian Tsars, savage attacks, and - most onto the 12th Century cave city of Vardzia. Napoleon including a rare original death importantly – wine, before walking through Destroyed and exposed by an earthquake in mask. We continue to the 4th Century fortress the decorative gardens reminiscent of 1283, some of these miraculous caves are still of Nokakalevi, popularly believed to be the Georgian England. Return to Tbilisi and check inhabited, with 600 intact dwellings including mythical town of Aya where Jason and the in to our hotel for the night. a church, bell tower and frescoes of Queen Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece. A working Tamar who took refuge here from the Mongol Day 5 - Kazbegi. Drive up the famous archaeological site, see the impact of each hordes. Stay in Vardzia overnight. strategic “Georgian Military Road” through historical period up close in the architecture the mountains of the Great Caucasus to and artefacts of this impressive defensive ruin. Day 12 - Tblisi. Drive back to Tbilisi through see the highest peak in the range, Mount Move on to Kutaisi for one night. the spectacular upland provinces of Javakheti Kazbegi. After lunch in the remote town and Kvemo-Kartli. Arrive in Tbilisi in time to Day 10 - Kutaisi. Spend the morning being of Stepantsminda we explore the nearby visit the National Museum, complete with guided around the busy streets of this regional monastery for fantastic views of the the national archaeological treasures from hub, including the recently restored Bagrati great mountain. We drive to the limits of some of the sites we have visited, and the Cathedral, exploring the complex mythical northern Georgia to see the mountain pass thought-provoking exhibition on the history stone carvings and the remaining tiles of the that controlled access to this region from of the 20th century occupation of Georgia. We fabulous foor mosaics. We will travel out of Late Antiquity onwards and some of the check into our last hotel of the tour and enjoy the city to Gelati Monastery, the fnal resting fortifcations associated with it. We return to a fnal evening meal together. place of humble King David the Builder, to Stepantsminda for dinner and check in to our see the fabulously restored frescoes and the Day 13 - Home. Return fight to London. hotel for the night. glittering gold-gilded mosaic of the Virgin Day 6 - Gori and Uplistsikhe. Drive to Mary, one of the largest and best in all of Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin and visit Georgia. We drive south to spend the night in the ingratiating Stalin Museum, perusing memorabilia that survived de-Stalinisation to learn about his life and history, including the darker moments of gulags and purges. Travel on to the late Roman cave city of Uplistsikhe. See the Pagan and Christian temples side by side along with the famous Tamaris Darbazi, underground amphitheatre and wall carvings. Continue to Kutaisi for one night. Day 7 - Svaneti Province. We spend the morning travelling to the intriguing isolated province of Svaneti, high up in the Caucasus Mountains. This remote collection of communities will take us completely of the tourist track to medieval villages where the building, living and land use practices of centuries past are still employed today. After admiring the spectacular scenery on the journey in, we make our way to the Mestia Museum of History and Ethnography to see some of the riches secreted away during the multiple invasions and conficts of the lower country and the alien, non-progressive lifestyles of these captivating people. Take a short walk through the town to see the unique tower houses and intricate and personal
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Saxon collections in the Winchester City Museum, we explore the layout of the old Roman city as it was converted to the master 27 – 30 June 2019 plan of a West Saxon burh. We begin our 4 days evening with welcome drinks, followed by dinner with an introductory talk.
Early Periods with Dr Ryan Lavelle Day 2 – Wantage to Wallingford. We start Activity Level 2 the day at Wantage, now in Oxfordshire, Alfred’s birthplace, on the northern edge of the West Saxon kingdom. A short drive to the Ridgeway, one of the most important routes across northern Wessex, helps us to Travelling through and walking in some of understand how the king’s childhood home the fnest English landscapes, we will try became threatened by Viking forces. We take to understand how Anglo-Saxon kingship a gentle walk along this ancient route (4 kms) worked during this crucial period in to examine locations associated with the English history as the most famous of the battle of Ashdown (871) and enjoy a sweeping sons of Wessex, Alfred the Great, fought panorama of the Anglo-Saxon landscape for survival against his Viking enemies. fought over between West Saxons and Examining the remains of ancient Danes. The day’s exploring ends with a visit fortifcations and taking the high ground to Wallingford, our second Alfredian burh site. as we search for likely battlefelds, the tour explores the West Saxon experience Day 3 – From exile in the Somerset Levels and the reality behind Bernard Cornwell’s to Victory at Ethandun. We go west to popular novels, The Last Kingdom and where Alfred was forced into exile in the The Pale Horseman, as Alfred moved Somerset Levels. A visit to the refuge upon from near total defeat to crucial victory. raised ground at Athelney, ‘the Princes’ Isle’, Situated in the heart of historic Wessex, helps us to understand how, surrounded by we will enjoy stunning scenery, a series of marshes, the king was able to hold this last short walks and one or two country pub western toe-hold of his embattled kingdom. sandwich lunches. The drama of Alfred’s story really comes alive when we travel to the area overlooking Our guide will be Dr Ryan Lavelle, Selwood, where the three shires of Somerset, author of a range of publications on the The statue of Alfred in Winchester Wiltshire and Dorset meet and ‘Ecgberht’s lands and politics of the Anglo-Saxon Stone’ was once used to assemble the forces kingdoms, including Alfred’s Wars (2010). Alfred of Wessex (871–99) is renowned as of Wessex. We ascend the eighteenth- He was also historical adviser on the BBC century ‘Alfred’s Tower’, overlooking this TV adaptation The Last Kingdom. one of the great kings of medieval English history and is the only English king to be ancient landscape, and then continue to the remembered as ‘the Great’. A major part ancient Bratton Camp with its White Horse of this reputation is built on his military and stunning views, near the small Wiltshire leadership of the West Saxon kingdom, the village of Edington , to discuss the most likely last of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to survive site of the bloody battle of Ethandun, which the Viking onslaught of the ninth century. saw Alfred’s 878 victory. The youngest of fve brothers to rule Wessex Day 4 –Wareham to Old Sarum. Drive to the in turbulent times, Alfred’s accession to the Dorset town of Wareham, where Vikings used throne of Wessex in 871 took place in a ‘year of subterfuge to escape the West Saxons in 876. battles’, the most important of which was the Thence to the Iron-age fortress of Old Sarum Battle of Ashdown, when the young prince, which, although not part of Alfred’s network charging ‘like a wild boar’, proved his mettle of late ninth-century burhs, did feature just against his enemies. A series of treaties with over a century later during the disastrous the Vikings bought time for the West Saxons reign of Alfred’s great grandson, Æthelread but, after a surprise attack in the winter of the Unready.Standing atop its ramparts will 878, the king took refuge and fnally rallied help us to understand the tragic epilogue his forces to victory at the Battle of Ethandun. to Alfred’s story as the attacks on southern The peace treaty which resulted allowed the England took their toll during the ‘Second king to build a series of fortifcations (burhs) Viking Age’ and the English kingdom fnally ESSENTIALS throughout his kingdom, which provided the fell to a Danish King, Cnut, in 1016. Return to 4 star hotel, bufet breakfast, all lunches, heartland of the West Saxon kingdom with Winchester for a late-afternoon dispersal. 3-course dinner with drinks each the strength it needed to withstand future evening, all entrance fees and expert Viking attacks. guide throughout. Day 1 – Winchester. We meet at midday "An excellent tour around to enjoy a sandwich lunch at our hotel in Tour price: £1195 Winchester, the city most often associated southern England. Single supplement: £170 with the memory of Alfred the Great and our Ryan brought everything to life" Deposit: £125 home throughout the tour. Visiting Anglo-
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scale and losses than Bosworth and ended in
decisive victory for the crown. We head to the Periods Early medieval town of Lincoln and visit its Norman castle and its impressive cathedral. 7 – 12 July 2019 Day 3 – Battles of Towton and Wakefeld. 6 days The Battle of Towton was one of the largest with Dr John Sadler battles of the war and arguably the bloodiest ever fought on English soil, with a casualty Activity Level 2 list of around 28,000. The battle was an all- day slog in the wind and snow and although outnumbered, the Yorkist army used the wind to outrange the Lancastrian archers and with Over six days we enjoy an eclectic mix of reinforcements arriving midway through the battlefelds, museums and castles as we battle they were able to complete the rout. travel through some of England’s most The Lancastrian cause was severely damaged, beautiful countryside and visit some causing Henry VI to fee the country and iconic towns and cities including two Edward IV was able to rule for nine years of The North’s greatest cities, York and The Battle of Towton uninterrupted. Our second battle of the day is Newcastle upon Tyne in which we are Wakefeld (1460), at the ruins of Sandal Castle, based. This fascinating period of history The Wars of the Roses became one of the most a comfortable Lancastrian victory after a has captured the imagination for centuries defning periods in English history. Lasting number of clever ruses. for 30 years (1455 – 1485), it split the country from Shakespeare’s historical plays such in two and the crown passed between fve Day 4 – Leeds Armoury and Middleham as Henry VI and Richard III, to the stark diferent monarchs from the houses of York Castle. This morning we visit the superb arms comparisons in George RR Martins fantasy and Lancaster, with the latter eventually and armour displays at The Tower Armouries series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, popularised winning and Henry Tudor establishing a new in Leeds. After lunch, we head to Middleham by HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’. Castle, home of Warwick the Kingmaker, royal dynasty. During this tour we visit some Travel through this Yorkist stronghold prison of Edward IV during Warwick’s rebellion of the key battlefelds of the war mostly from and be transported to an era of deceit and fnally home to the future Richard III after the period of Yorkist dominance and the and betrayal, turbulence and intrigue. he married the Kingmaker’s daughter. We height of Edward IV’s power. The standout We will visit some of England’s bloodiest head further north to Newcastle where we engagements being Towton, where defeat in battlefelds, including the devastating check in to our hotel for two nights. the snow caused Henry VI to fee the country, Battle of Towton and the decisive Battle and Hexham where Lancastrian strength in Day 5 – Battle of Hedgeley Moor. One of of Stoke Field, as well as exploring the North was all but wiped out in one blow. the smaller battles of the war Hedegley Moor the imposing and foreboding ruins of Day 1 – York. Assemble at our York hotel (1464) saw a Yorkist army, led by Lord Montague Middleham Castle and the picturesque at noon for a sandwich lunch and pre-tour (Warwick’s brother), defeat a Lancastrian force market town of Hexham. briefng. Check in for three nights. We take comfortably. This allowed the House of York a walking tour of Medieval York including to broker a peace with Scotland and remove York Minster, the Snickleways, the Ruins of St another threat. Although slightly of-topic, we Mary's Abbey and the Richard III and Henry VII visit the battlefeld of Otterburn, where Harry exhibitions at Monk and Micklegate Bars. ‘Hotspur’ and his brother were captured by victorious Scots in 1388. This afternoon we Day 2 – Battle of Stoke Field. From one of learn more about the infuential Percy family the frst battles to the last, we arrive at the at the ruined Warkworth Castle and at their battlefeld of Stoke Field (1487). Leading present family home at Alnwick Castle. Yorkists attempted to usurp Henry VII "John Sadler and Shaun were and install the pretender Lambert Simnel, Day 6 – Battle of Hexham. We start the excellent. Te history, battlefeld day on the battlefeld of Hexham (1464) claiming to be the nephew of Richard III, to and castles were fantastic" the throne. The battle was actually larger in where Montague followed up his success at Hedgeley Moor with another triumph over a Lancastrian army fghting for Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou. The battle was relatively bloodless and another comfortable victory. However the aftermath was anything but bloodless, with over 30 key Lancastrian supporters, including the Duke of Somerset, being executed. The Lancastrian resistance in ESSENTIALS the north all but collapsed. Finally we take a 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, one walking tour of the town of Hexham, taking lunch, 3-course dinner with drinks each in its gothic Abbey, Old Gaol (one of the frst evening, all entrance fees and expert purpose built jails in England) and its historic guide throughout. market place and fnd time for a lunch break. Return to York with drop ofs at our frst hotel Tour price: £1895 or the railway station. Single supplement: £260 York Deposit: £175
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23 – 30 April 2019 8 days with Maj Gordon Corrigan Early Periods & Maj Imogen Corrigan Activity Level 2
We enjoy the wonderful Loire, Pas de Calais and Aquitaine during in late April when the rolling countryside and imposing Gothic architecture are at their best. The late Spring sunshine allows us to combine this battlefeld and cultural tour with pleasant countryside strolls, surrounded by fora and fauna and conjuring images of armour glinting in the sunlight. Travel is mainly by coach and rail where you will enjoy comfortable Standard Premier class with Eurostar and frst class TGV in France. We stay in a variety of small medieval towns and cities where we wander along cobbled streets and through open market squares to enjoy wonderful food and wine in local restaurants. The tour will be led jointly by Major Gordon Corrigan, well-known TV personality, military historian and author of the highly respected A Great and Glorious Adventure – A Military History of the Hundred Years War, and Imogen Corrigan, leading expert and lecturer in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History.
The English claim to the French throne as came from God, as she alleged, whether she the birth-right of King Edward III of England, invented them or whether they indicated the closest male relative to the last of the some form of insanity is still debated – and will Capetian Kings of France, began the Hundred be by us. Whatever the truth she was certainly Years War which precipitated a revolution an inspiration for a resurgence of French zeal in military afairs. This allowed small English before being betrayed, put on trial, and burnt armies to defeat far larger French forces, at the stake in Rouen. and laid the foundation of a British way of Day 1 – Crecy. Our morning Eurostar waging war, which continued to Waterloo departure from London St Pancras will whisk and beyond. In this tour we will examine how us quickly and smoothly to Lille. Picking up the English feudal array of mounted knights our coach, we drive to the battlefeld of Crécy backed by a poorly armed and trained militia where, in 1346, King Edward III, faced by a was transformed into a professional army of ESSENTIALS far larger French army, took up a defensive career soldiers fghting on foot, supported by Standard Premier Eurostar from London, position, waited for the French heavy cavalry the English weapon of mass destruction – the return fight to London, 3 and 4 star to attack and then slaughtered them with longbow. hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner a shower arrows that ‘turned the sky black’. with drinks each evening, all entrance Much myth and legend surrounds the Check in to our hotel in Montreuil sur Mer for fees and expert guides throughout. Hundred Years War, particularly concerning one night. Joan of Arc: contrary to popular belief she Day 2 – Agincourt. This morning we tour Tour price: £2995 was not a poor peasant girl but the daughter the battlefeld at Agincourt, where Henry V of Single supplement: £445 of a local government ofcial and she had a England with a tiny, hungry and bedraggled Deposit: £300 good basic education. Whether her voices army, utterly defeated a far larger French
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Amiens
Day 5 – The Loire Valley and Patay. We visit "Tis holiday was to be a holiday the Abbaye de Fleury, originally founded in 640 and well known to both sides in the war, of a lifetime and the architecture and the Chateau de Sully, a typical fortifed was overwhelming and keep built in the late 1300s to defend the spectacular". crossing of the River Loire. We will also inspect the location of the Battle of Patay, 14 June 1429, one of the few battles that the English, including a contingent led by Sir John Fastolf (the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Falstaf) lost, not as claimed by the French because of Joan of Arc, but because of the English commander’s over-confdence. Day 6 - Poitiers. An early start sees us head to Poitiers, where Joan of Arc’s claim to divine The Battle of Crecy guidance was examined, and tour Poitiers Cathedral with its 12th Century stained glass force. Later we travel to Amiens where we windows and modern memorial to Joan. We inspect the iconography of the Cathedral, examine the Battle of Poitiers where ten years built during the war and well known to the after Crécy, on 19 September 1356, the Black combatants on both sides. Continue to Rouen Prince, son of Edward III, campaigning from where we check in to our hotel for two nights. English Bordeaux to Calais, was attacked by a French army south of Poitiers. The French Day 3 – Rouen. Today we spend a full day had learned something from Crécy and they in Rouen, the location of the main French attacked dismounted, but to no avail. Once shipyards during the war, which was besieged more the professional English archers turn by Henry V in 1418/19. It was here that Joan the French advance into a rout, taking the of Arc was tried for heresy and burned at the French king prisoner. Check in to our hotel stake in 1431. We will visit the modern church for one night. which was erected as a memorial, the Joan of Arc interpretation centre and the nearby Day 7 – Bordeaux and Castillon. This wonderful Gothic cathedral, which houses the morning we take the TGV to Bordeaux, tomb of the heart of Richard the Lionheart. capital of English Aquitaine and examine the Battle of Castillon, the last major battle Day 4 – Orleans. We take a long scenic drive of the war, where French developments in to Orleans, a city besieged by the English artillery defeated the English who had just and Burgundians in 1428/29 and supposedly recaptured Bordeaux. Check in to our hotel relieved by Joan of Arc, hence one of her many in Bordeaux for one night. soubriquets ‘The Maid of Orleans’. Check in to our hotel in Beaugency for two nights. Day 8 – Return. Return fight from Bordeaux to London.
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27 September – 8 October 2019 12 days
Early Periods with Katie Campbell Activity Level 2
Uzbekistan, intriguing and historically rich, is a cradle of culture from where a mesmerising collection of sapphire and gold buildings, monuments and magnifcent cities have arisen refecting the infuence of the diverse cultures that have passed along the ‘Silk Road’. Some of the oldest settlements in the world conjure up images of sandy-coloured buildings adorned with turquoise domes, intricate wall tiles in magnifcent rich colours that fll entire rooms, and bustling bazaars complete with patterned carpets and the smell of spices swirling through the air all of which will transport you back to a time when these places were the centre of world trade. Situated in the heart of the Eurasian Steppe, the country boasts a dramatic geography of unforgiving The Silk Roads were a series of trade routes that its spiritual heart, Hast Imam Square, the deserts, sumptuous oases and fertile stretched from China to the Mediterranean, Tellya Sheik Mosque and the striking brand valleys watered by the Amu Darya, the established during the Han dynasty. Not new Mosque of Hazrati Iman. only were these routes crucial to the trade of ancient River Oxus. Day 4 – Khiva. Check-out of our hotel and goods including textiles, spices and of course take an early morning fight to Urgench From its fast modernising capital Tashkent, silk, arguably its most important export was and drive to Khiva, the most isolated of to the small oasis of the ancient Islamic culture. Religion, language, philosophy and Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities situated on the world in Khiva, a trip to Uzbekistan technology all travelled with the merchants edge of the Karakum desert, and explore ofers a truly pioneering once in a and were introduced to societies all over the this wonderful city on foot. Although it was lifetime opportunity, all to be enjoyed civilised world. The Silk Road was closed of virtually destroyed by Genghis Khan, much of in the company of Paul Wordsworth, in the mid-ffteenth century by the Ottoman what was subsequently rebuilt is impressive. Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Oxford Empire, which wasn’t a total disaster, as Particularly its designated World Heritage University’s Faculty of Oriental Studies and traders were forced out to sea, giving birth to inner fortress of Ichan Kala home to the an expert on Islamic archaeology and the the ‘age of discovery’. Uzbekistan played an Kunya Ark, the Khan’s fortress, the Kalta Minor history of the Caucasus and Central Asia. important role on the route and fourished. Tower, the Djuma Mosque, the superbly After a turbulent history in which it has been tiled Pakhlavan Makhmud and many other conquered by Alexander the Great, Genghis mosques and Madrassas. Check in to our Khan, Imperial Russia as well as a period of Hotel Orient Star, a former Madrassa, for two oppressive Soviet regime, it has been left with nights. a rich and diverse legacy. Day 5. - Khorezm Oasis. We explore the Day 1 - Depart. Fly overnight from London remains of two of the ancient desert castles on Heathrow to Tashkent. the edge of the Khorezm Oasis: Ayaz Kala and Day 2 – Tashkent. Arrive Tashkent early Toprak Kala, the latter known as the fortress in ESSENTIALS morning and check in to our hotel. After some the wind. After lunch in our Yurt restaurant we Return fights from London, 3 and 4 rest and recuperation, we will re-group for return to Khiva to complete our exploration star hotels, bufet breakfast, all lunches, lunch and an afternoon visit to the National of this wonderful city. This evening we dine 3-course dinner with drinks each Museum of History with many of its exhibits besides Lake Kharrat and enjoy the wonderful evening, all entrance fees and expert and displays insightful for the days ahead. sunset over the Kizilkum Desert. guide throughout. Day 3 - Shohruhiya and Tashkent. Drive Day 6 – Journey to Bukhara. We take a long Tour price: £3395 through the Uzbek countryside to the ancient drive the through the desert, enjoying a picnic settlement of Shohruhiya, the frst large city en-route and stopping at the widest expanse Single supplement: £175 of Tashkent oases, situated on the Great Silk of the Amu Dayra (River Oxus) to see how its Deposit: £300 Road through Yaksart. Return to Tashkent to waters have been diverted by the Soviets Without fights: £2995 explore the old city or “eski shakhar” including causing the Aral Sea to dramatically recede.
28 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 which Col Stoddart and Capt Connolly were several years before his death arranged in
imprisoned prior to their beheading in 1842. the shape of a tent. On our return we visit the Periods Early This evening we shall enjoy a traditional folk shrine of Langar Ota with its monument to show followed by dinner. Tamerlane’s general and its wonderfully tiled 15th century mosque. In the late afternoon, Day 8 – Bukhara to Samarkand. Drive to the we take our business class seats on the high Palace of the Moon-like Stars, the Summer speed train to Tashkent. Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara. Thence to the Sarmysh Gorge to see the 4000 year-old Day 12 – Depart. An opportunity to explore open-air petroglyphs painted on its polished the Chorsu Bazaar before transferring to the basalt rocks. Arrive Samarkand where we airport for our return fight home arriving check in to the Grand Samarkand Hotel for London mid-evening. three nights. Day 9 – Samarkand. Visit the 14th Century Ulugbek Observatory, its small museum and the giant astrolabe; explore the stunning Shah I Zinda avenue of beautifully tiled mausoleums; the lavish Regional Studies museum with its peculiar collection including furniture captured from Napoleon in 1812; Registan Square and its wondrous architectural ensemble of Tilla-Kori Madrasah; Ulugbeg Madrasah and Sher-Dor Madrasah, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. Day 10 – Samarkand. Morning visit the Afrosiab museum with its important archaeological collection, thence to the Bibi Tamanna Kala, Bukhara Khoym mosque built in commemoration of Timur's wife, buried in a tomb located in a We arrive at Bukhara mid-afternoon allowing madrasa complex nearby. Continue to the Gur time to visit the beautifully located Samani Emir mausoleum complex where Tamerlane is and Chashma Ayub mausoleums and the Bolo interred. Khauz Mosque before we check in to our hotel Day 11 – Shakhrisabz, Tashkent. Travel via for the next two nights. the Takhta Karcha Pass to one of the oldest Day 7 - Bukhara. A full day to explore the cities in the world and the birthplace of Emir ‘Noble City’ of Bukhara, once one of the most Temur. Among the architectural monuments important and beautiful cities of the Muslim there are the remains of the massive portal of world with over a hundred architectural the Ak-Saray Palace and the Dor-us-Saodat monuments, the most important being the Burial Complex, an outstanding example Po-i-Kalyan religious complex and the massive of Khorazmian architecture. Also here is Ark fortress including its infamous Zinden in a mausoleum built for Tamerlane himself
Khiva
City walls, Khiva
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1 – 6 July 2019 6 days with Col Nick Lipscombe Activity Level 2 Century th During this tour of the north of England we travel through many of its beautiful & 18 th counties: Lancashire, Yorkshire and 17 Cheshire and enjoy wonderful scenery during the (hopefully) lovely summertime. We will visit some iconic battlefelds of the English Civil War such as Marston Moor and Rowton Heath, wander the narrow cobbled streets of historic York By the end of 1643 there had been no York to recount the great Parliamentary siege and Chester, clamber over or walk around decisive achievement by either side, but of 1644 which, although relieved by Prince romantic ruined castles and visit the an alliance towards the end of that year Rupert after 10 weeks, fell days after Marston recently opened National Civil War Centre. by the Parliamentarians with the battle- Moor. Check in to our hotel for one night. The tour is led by Col Nick Lipscombe hardened army of the Scottish Covenanters Day 3 – Marston Moor, Knaresborough and who will shortly be releasing his much considerably altered the dynamics in the Skipton. We spend the morning exploring anticipated English Civil War Atlas, the north of the country. Within months the the feld of the decisive battle of Marston research for which forms the basis for Royalist army had been decisively beaten at Moor and see where the Roundheads many of our excursions and talks during Marston Moor and their stronghold of York released their surprise attack, the confused this tour. would fall two weeks later. Events then swung fghting area which ended in the complete northwest where they fared little better rout of the Cavaliers and the capitulation of for the Royalists, having been driven of at Royalist strength in the north. This afternoon Rowton Heath. To all intents and purposes, we visit Knaresborough Castle, taken by the north was lost to the King. Churchill, in Royalists in 1644, and then Skipton Castle his History of the English Speaking Peoples, which surrendered in late 1645. Check in to wrote of the English Civil War that ‘underlying our hotel for one night. the apparently clear cut constitutional issue was a religious and class confict’. Suggesting Day 4 – Preston and Rowton Heath. At that one of the main drivers was based on Preston we explore the battlefeld where in class and material considerations is both 1648, an infltrated Scottish-Royalist force was misleading and unhelpful; yet this vision of defeated by the New Model Army over two the wars as David rising up against Goliath days. This afternoon we visit Rowton Heath pervades. It was simply not the case. In the where, in 1645 Charles I was thwarted in his English Civil War brother fought against attempt to save the key city of Chester. Check "I thought the English Civil War brother, and father met son. Nothing has in to our Chester hotel for one night. imprinted itself so deeply on the nation’s tour was outstanding and I loved Day 5 – Chester, Nantwich and Beeston. memory as the national civil struggle of the We explore the lovely city of Chester with the explanation provided by Nick mid seventeenth-century. its extant city walls which bore the brunt Lipscombe on the battlefelds" Day 1 – Sieges of Newark. Assemble at our of numerous Parliamentarian attempts to Newark hotel at noon for a sandwich lunch capture this key Royalist stronghold. At and pre-tour briefng. We discuss the three Nantwich we see how a Royalist force under sieges of the town by Parliamentary forces, Lord Byron failed to capture the town and its fnal surrender not being until after that was subsequently defeated by Fairfax’s army. of Charles I himself. We will visit the National Finally we climb high above the Cheshire Plain Civil War Centre with its fascinating exhibits to visit the romantic and impressively sited ESSENTIALS from the sieges and the war in general. Check Beeston Castle which served as a Royalist in for one night. garrison for most of the war. Check in to our 3 and 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, Staford hotel for one night. 3-course dinner with drinks each Day 2 – Winceby, Gainsborough and York. evening, all entrance fees and expert This morning we look at events of 1643 with Day 6 – Hopton Heath. Explore the feld guide throughout. Royalist forces skilfully outmanoeuvred and of the inconclusive battle of Hopton Heath soundly defeated by Parliamentarians at fought in 1643, often remembered for the Tour price: £1895 both Winceby and Gainsborough. Thence to appearance of ‘Roaring Meg’, the largest Single supplement: £220 Pontefract Castle, described by Cromwell as mortar of the Civil War. Return to Newark mid- Deposit: £175 "one of the strongest inland garrisons in the afternoon and disperse. kingdom." Our day ends in the beautiful city of
30 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 FREDERICK THE GREATXXX THE bATTLES IN SAXONy AND PRUSSXXXIA
17 – 24 September 2019 8 days with Maj-Gen John ‘DZ’ Drewienkiewicz
Activity Level 2 17 th & 18 th Century This new Fredrick the Great tour takes Sanssouci Palace us mostly to Saxony where we explore battlefelds from both The Austrian War Frederick had seized Silesia from Austria out to the fortress of Pirna, successfully of Succession and The Seven Years War. during The Austrian War of Succession and in besieged by Frederick in 1756, resulting in the Under the expert guidance of Major- the ensuing peace he ensured that it remained surrender of the Saxon army within a month. General John Drewienkiewicz, a long time under Prussian hegemony. But a revengeful At the majestic and towering Saxon fortress at student of the Prussian Army, we examine Austrian Empress, Maria Theresa, determined Konigstein, we take the lift to the inside of its the roots of that army’s organisation and to win back those lands, went about recruiting walls where we fnd a wonderful museum with operation. As we traverse the felds of allies to her cause. By 1756 Fredrick saw a fne display of military hardware, explore its many of his climactic battles, both victories war as inevitable and so determined on a many period buildings and gain magnifcent and defeats, we will appreciate why pre-emptive strike against the Austrians, views over the Elbe valley. We fnish the day Frederick the Great is considered one of invading neutral Saxony en-route to Bohemia at the impressive Saxon fortress Hohnstein history’s most infuential military thinkers and occupying Dresden and Leipzig in the amidst ‘Saxon Switzerland’. Continue to and tacticians, inspirational to generals process. Inevitably these actions brought Leipzig where we check in to our hotel for two of later years. Rossbach aside, these Saxony into the coalition against him, but at nights. battlefelds may be amongst Europe’s less Pirna he swiftly brought that country’s army Day 5 – Rossbach. Despite being well-known and visited, but they remain, to its knees, even recruiting most of those outnumbered nearly 2:1, in November 1757 in the best part, undisturbed to provide who surrendered in to his own army. Despite Frederick won one of his greatest victories a perfect platform to demonstrate these early successes, the ensuing years at Rossbach. We will see the ground used to Frederick the Great’s tactical genius. We would be bitter sweet for Frederick, especially hide his fanking manoeuvre and over which will be based out of a number of Saxony’s in Saxony and Thuringia: at Rossbach he won he rapidly moved in oblique order to achieve most historic cities: Dresden, the one- his greatest victory and efectively removed complete surprise. In the nearby village time capital of Saxony where Frederick France from the coalition; at Hochkirch he of Reichardtswerben there is a wonderful and Maria Theresa signed the treaty to allowed himself to be surprised and virtually diorama of the battle itself. end the Second Silesian War and whose routed; whilst at Torgau, an over-complicated centre has been meticulously rebuilt to and poorly executed battle plan resulted in a Day 6 - Hochkirch. To the east of Dresden, its baroque and rococo grandeur; the Pyrrhic victory. just outside of the historic city of Bautzen, we cultural city of Leipzig, home to Bach and fnd the battlefeld of Hochkirch (14 October Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Berlin and Goethe, with its wonderful old buildings 1758), considered one of Frederick’s greatest drive to Dresden where we check in to our dotted around its atmospheric market blunders. We explore the open felds, visit the hotel for 3 nights. Introductory talk before place; the historic fortress city of Torgau, distinctive church with extant cannonballs dinner. where American and Soviets met in 1945, embedded into its walls and walk down the with its ancient castle and renaissance Day 2 – Dresden. This morning we take ‘Blutgasse’, the scene of bitter close quarter town hall; and fnally the lovely old town a guided walking tour of Dresden to combat. Perhaps we might even enjoy a of Potsdam, beloved of Frederick himself. include its castle, the Frauenkirche and the refreshment in the Alte Fritz bar! Continue to Zwinger Palace. This afternoon we visit the Torgau where we spend our last two nights. Bundeswehr Military Museum, one of the Day 7 –Torgau. This morning we explore fnest in Europe and which showcases the much of the existing fortifcations of this vital evolution of German military technology. River Elbe bastion. Thence to the battlefeld Day 3 – Kesselsdorf and Maxen. At which, in November 1760, saw one of the Kesselsdorf (December 1745), a victory at bloodiest battles of the Third Silesian War. which Frederick was not present, we examine We consider Frederick’s turning movements, the weak position outside the town where the appreciate how the extant forest served ESSENTIALS outnumbered Prussians were initially repulsed to disorientate the Prussian forces and Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star and we see where they fnally triumphed determine whether indeed Frederick’s plan hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner over an impetuous Austrian counter-attack was simply too ambitious. with drinks each evening, all entrance to capture this important town. At Maxen fees and expert guide throughout. Day 8 – Potsdam. We enjoy a guided tour (November 1759),where once again Frederick around Sanscouci Palace, home to the was not present, we see where an entire Tour price: £2595 Hohenzollerns and favourite of Frederick, Prussian corps became isolated and forced Single supplement: £275 where amidst its grand terraced gardens we into humiliating surrender. Deposit: £225 fnd his simple grave to pay our respects. Fly Day 4 – Fortresses. This morning we drive Berlin to London. Price without fights: £2470
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21 – 27 July 2019 7 days with Dr John Sadler Activity Level 2 Century th For the frst half of the week we will be based in the historic city of Donauworth & 18 th in hospitable Bavaria. From the nearby 17 Schellenberg, we gain magnifcent views of the Danube and its valley, whilst on the Höchstadt Plain below the city we will enjoy walking through the unspoiled countryside. From there we fy to the equally historic city of Mons in French- speaking southern Belgium –‘the cockpit of Europe’ for the second half of the week. Both Bavaria and Belgium are renowned for their cuisine, local beers and wines – and we will do our best to introduce you to all three!
It is no secret that Winston Churchill drew interesting battlefelds in chronological order: huge inspiration from his ancestor John Shellenberg and Blenheim 1704, Ramillies "You’ve a fantastic guide in Churchill, later the Duke of Marlborough, 1706, Oudenarde 1708 and Malplaquet 1709. who is generally regarded as England’s John Sadler, he presents the Day 1 – Introduction. We fy from London fnest commander and one of history’s great to Munich and drive to Donauworth where battles wonderfully " captains. Marlborough understood how we check in to our hotel for three nights. We politics worked and during his career he take in an orientation walk of the town and revolutionised the art of warfare. its 18th Century defences, followed by an Marlborough’s mastery of his craft and introductory talk, welcome drinks and dinner. outstanding leadership enabled two small Day 2 – Schellenberg. We climb the countries – Britain and Holland – to challenge ESSENTIALS Schellenberg Heights to visit Fort Augustus the might and ambitions of the King of France, Flight from London, return by Eurostar and the other surviving fortifcations, which Louis XIV. It was an age of formal warfare, still Standard Premier, 4 star hotels, bufet were stormed by Marlborough on 2 July fought according to the rules of chivalry, with breakfast, 3 course dinner with drinks 1704. This afternoon we explore the beautiful set piece battles and great sieges. But not each evening, all entrance fees and walled town of Nordlingen and visit the even the genius of Vauban, the French King’s expert guide throughout. Stadtmauer Military History Museum with its master of fortifcation, could prevent a series of interpretation of the city’s defences. Tour price: £2195 victories, culminating in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. This heralded a period of peace and Day 3 – Blenheim. We spend the whole day Single supplement: £230 prosperity in England and the birth of the on this iconic battlefeld, starting with the Deposit: £200 British Empire overseas. During this epic tour Allied advance from Schwenningen. We walk Price without fights: £2045 we will visit Marlborough’s greatest and most the ground and examine the bloody actions
32 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 on the Höchstadt plain, fought throughout Day 6 – Malplaquet & Vauban. This morning the dust and sweat of the day. Thence to the we study the bloody battlefeld of Malplaquet, climactic struggle for the village of Blenheim fought in September 1709, where the Allies itself, the key bastion of the French defence aimed to capture Mons and destroy the French line, which was fnally surrendered as night Army once and for all. They succeeded, but it fell. was Marlborough’s most expensive victory. After lunch, we visit the well-preserved Day 4 – Höchstadt & Transfer. We explore fortress of Maubeuge to look at the theory the town of Höchstadt with its battlefeld and practice of Vauban fortifcations. We then 17
museum and diorama before continuing to th
head to the French town of Lille, with its lovely & 18 Munich for our fight to Brussels and thence to town square, for the fnal night. our hotel in Mons for 2 nights. th
Day 7 – Lille and Return. We continue our Century Day 5 – Ramillies & Oudenarde. In the study of Vauban fortifcations by looking at morning we study the battle of Ramillies the Lille Citadel (besieged by Marlborough where Louis XIV hoped to restore the prestige in 1708 and still a military installation) before of the French Army two years after his defeat catching the afternoon Eurostar connection at Blenheim. Then in the afternoon, we move to London. ahead in time to the battle of Oudenaarde where Marlborough drew the French into battle, enabling recovery of territory lost over the intervening two years.
The Battle of Ramillies
Your expert guide Dr John Sadler at Mauberge Vauban Fort
Höchstadt Castle
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13 - 26 July 2019 14 days With Fred Hawthorne & Alan Rooney Activity Level 2 Century th In the company of the ever popular historian Fred Hawthorne and TCE’s & 18 th founder and managing director, Alan 17 Rooney, enjoy a once in a life-time opportunity to comprehensively explore the events of the French-Indian Wars in North America. The story takes us though some wonderful and iconic scenery and places: the mighty Ohio River, splendid Pennsylvania countryside, the wonderful Niagara Falls, beautiful Lakes George and Champlain, old Montreal, the historical maritime city of Halifax, remote Cape The Plains of Abraham - landing and battle Breton and the magical city that is Quebec. Many of the historical sites When King George II granted tracts of land Braddock’s fnal resting place. we visit have been carefully restored to the Ohio Company in 1749 it brought the Day 3 - The French lose the Ohio Valley. and rebuilt and feature professional re- British in to direct confict with the French Visit the wonderfully reconstructed Fort enactment demonstrations. This will be who were intent on maintaining their Ligonier, built as one of a series of forts along a fast moving tour that necessarily covers hegemony in the Ohio Valley. A seemingly the approach to Fort Duquesne. We’ll also much ground from western Pennsylvania minor skirmish in western Pennsylvania in visit the battlefeld of Bushy Run, fought through upstate New York to Montreal. 1754 brought on by a Virginian militia ofcer against the Indians during Pontiac’s uprising Once in Canada we take 5 internal fights by the name of George Washington became of 1763. Upon our return to Pittsburgh we’ll to travel to and through Nova Scotia the catalyst for a war that would see the visit the Fort Pitt Blockhouse and Museum and to and from Quebec via Toronto. end of the French interest in North America. and see the outline of the long-gone Fort This requires an extraordinary amount Such a victory would not come easily to the Duquesne. of scheduling and fight bookings which British. Braddock was mortally wounded will need to be confrmed in good time, at Monongahela in 1755 whilst at Oswego, Day 4 - Niagara. Head up the Allegheny River therefore we urge you to help us to book Lake George and Ticonderoga, and despite valley via the sites of French Forts Machault, this tour as early as possible so we might the best eforts of Lord Amherst, the careful Le Boeuf and Presque Isle abandoned by secure the requisite reservations in good and imaginative leadership of the Marquis the French after the fall of Fort Duquesne. time. de Montcalm placed inferior French forces Arriving at Niagara Falls late afternoon, we’ll at the head of the Hudson valley. Although take a boat-trip through the mist to the base both countries were distracted by a greater of the majestic wonder. Check in to our hotel. worldwide war (The Seven Years War), unlike France, Britain decided to send signifcant Day 5 - Lake Ontario. We visit the wonderfully reinforcements resulting in the reduction of preserved key French strongpoint of Fort Louisbourg fortress in 1758 and the despatch Niagara which commands the mouth of of a major army under James Wolfe that the Niagara River. We travel the southern would, despite that general’s vacillation, seaboard of the lake to Fort Oswego where result in the fall of Quebec in 1759 and the Montcalm won his frst victory in 1756. end of French infuence. Continue to Rome, NY, where we spend the night. Day 1 - Fly London to Pittsburgh via ESSENTIALS Toronto. Check in to our hotel for three Day 6 - The Great Carrying Place. Our frst stop is Fort Stanwix National Monument, Return fights from London, all internal nights. a superb example of a wood and earth fights, 3 and 4 star hotels, bufet Day 2 - The War Begins. Drive to Fort breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks fortifcation in the heart of Iroquoia. Traveling each evening, all entrance fees and Necessity Battlefeld Park to discuss the east we briefy visit the site of old Fort Edward expert guide throughout. opening shots at Jumonville Glen, George where Robert Roger’s Rangers trained and Washington’s surprise attack on the French organized. We end at Lake George, site of Tour price: £5950 and Great Meadows where Washington built several engagements including the Battle Single supplement: £740 the fort that was subsequently surrendered of Lake George and the siege and reduction Deposit: £500 to the French. We’ll visit the site of the battle of British Fort William Henry. We spend the of Monongahela with its recently opened Price without fights: £5650 night at Lake George. visitor centre and pay our respects at General
34 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Day 7 - Lake Champlain. We drive through attempt to out-fank the French and enjoy Day 13 - Quebec and home. We take a tour “The Last of the Mohicans” countryside to the the lovely waterfall. From the Old Quebec we of the citadel, see the famous Van Doos famous Fort Ticonderoga, site of a shocking take the ferry across the St Lawrence to Levis changing of the Guard ceremony and visit French victory at the Battle of Carillon in and the site of the British batteries. Thence their museum. We say farewell to North 1758. Thence to the site of French Fort to Goreham’s point from where Wolfe America as we catch our return fight to Frederic at Crown Point which fell during the reconnoitred the Anse au Foulon. Finally, London via Toronto. Champlain campaign following which the we visit the monuments associated with the Day 14 – Home. Arrive London British built a massive stone fortifcation that battle of Sainte Foy in 1760. Check in to our we can explore. Cross the border into Canada hotel for two nights. 17 th
and spend the night at Montreal. & 18 Day 12 - The Plains of Abraham. Starting at Day 8 - Montreal. We take a sight-seeing Wolfe’s Cove (Anse au Foulon) we follow in th tour of old Montreal and its old port. Catch the footsteps of the British as they ascended Century the afternoon fight to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Heights of Abraham. We explore the "We really appreciated the where we spend the night. southern side of the resultant battlefeld (the amount of preparation Fred had northern part is sadly built over) and visit the Day 9 - Halifax. We spend the day excellent battlefeld museum. This afternoon undertaken both before and exploring the city’s naval and military past: we take a guided walking tour around Old during the tour. Excellent." its harbour, waterfront, the citadel with its Quebec. army museum, the Maritime Museum with
Fort Niagara, looking over Lake Ontario its Titanic artefacts and the Fairview Green cemetery were many of the Titanic dead and the victims of the Great Explosion of December 1917 are buried. Catch the early evening fight to Sydney, NS where we spend the next two nights. Day 10 - Louisbourg. We spend a full day at this wonderfully reconstructed site, originally demolished by the British after its capture in 1758. We’ll visit Gabarus Bay where the British feet arrived, Wolfe’s landing place, the site of the siege lines and Lighthouse Point, seized by Wolfe and his men, and which ofers great views over the fortress. At the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, rebuilt in the 1960s, we’ll explore the King’s and Dauphin’s bastions as well as part of the town. We can also walk the balance of the ruins. Day 11 - The St Lawrence River. A very long day starting with an early morning fight to Quebec via Toronto. We drive out to the Isle d’Orleans where Wolfe’s army landed. At Montmorency we discuss The Wolfe’s Liberty abortive Bell
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12 – 19 October 2018 8 days with Dr Martin Boycott-Brown Activity Level 2
The varied terrain of Northern Italy, and the military challenges that it presented, provide a magnifcent backdrop for this wonderful tour: the confused fghting amidst the wooded, mountainous terrain between the Riviera and Turin; the General Bonaparte giving orders at the Battle of Lodi challenges and manoeuvre opportunities provided by the fat land of the Po valley and its numerous watercourses; the In 1796, France's army in Italy was under-fed, whose bridge was stormed by Napoleon exploitation of the bridges at Piacenza and
Napoleonic under-equipped and unpaid. It’s fair to say on May 10th 1796 earning him his title ‘the Lodi; the beautiful fortress city of Mantua it was also low on morale. It was this army little corporal’. Here we see a fne example which endured numerous sieges; the that Napoleon picked up by the scruf of its of Napoleon's use of his favoured strategy of mighty Alps refected beautifully on the neck and turned into the efective fghting the 'manoeuvre sur les derrieres.' Check in to shimmering surface of the stunning Lake force that would defeat successive Austrian our hotel in Verona and our base for the next Garda, witness to at least three battles in armies and conquer northern Italy. It was to 3 nights. 1796. We will fnd ourselves in fascinating be the beginning of a long road to glory for Day 4 - Mantua and the banks of Lake historic towns and cities along the way: Napoleon and France, and indeed, many have Garda. Explore Mantua in the heart of Milan, Verona, Mantua and Genoa, enjoy said that this, his frst campaign in command, the Po valley and the focus of the many some great hotels and appetising Italian was his most brilliant. Nevertheless, it only Austrian thrusts into northern Italy during cuisine. And all this under the guidance created a peace that was to last for two years this campaign. This magnifcent town is of Dr Martin Boycott-Brown, author of and the year 1800 saw Napoleon once again surrounded by three lakes and was virtually ‘The Road to Rivoli’, the defnitive study of fghting in Italy, winning a dramatic victory at impregnable. We walk around the steadfast Napoleon’s frst campaign. Marengo on the 14th June, where he secured walls and wander through the old town. After France’s dominance of Austria in both central lunch we visit the battlefelds of Lonato and Europe and Italy. It was also here that he Castiglione, where the French desperately began to collect the team of supporting fought of the Austrian attempts to relieve personnel that would accompany him the great fortress. through his career, including half of his future marshals. Indeed it was his exploits in Italy Day 5 - Arcola and Verona. This morning we that became inextricably intertwined with examine Napoleon's 3-day victory at Arcola, the Napoleonic Legend: the little corporal the decisive battle fought amidst the marshy aiming the guns at Lodi; the Republican banks of the River Adige. This afternoon you "Te Cultural Experience have general crossing the bridge at Arcola, fag in are free to wander round the beautiful city of made it possible for us to visit hand; the First Consul crossing the Alps on a Verona. white stallion; the timely arrival of Desaix at many battlefelds. Tey are all Marengo. Day 6 - Rivoli and Pavia. The French well run, enlightening, with good victory at Rivoli on January 14th-15th 1797 Day 1 - Genoa. Fly London to Milan. Drive provides us with our battlefeld study today. guides and good companions." to Genoa, where Massena’s small starving This battle efectively ended the Austrians' army was besieged for 2 months in 1800, and attempts to relieve Mantua and ensured check in to our hotel for two nights. French dominance of the Po Valley. We drive to Pavia and check into our hotel for the last Day 2 - April 1876. Montenotte, Napoleon's two nights of the tour. frst victory in high command, is our frst ESSENTIALS stop followed by the battles of Millesimo, Day 7 - Marengo. Today we visit the scene Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star Dego, and Mondovi, which efectively took of one of Napoleon's greatest victories, hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner Piedmont out of the war. These Ligurian Marengo. With his forces strung out, with drinks each evening, all entrance coast battles demonstrated Napoleon's frst Napoleon was surprised by the Austrians, fees and expert guide throughout. use of the strategy of the central position, the who in turn, believing that they had defeated same strategy that he was to adopt in his last the French, formed an order of march, only to Tour Price: £2475 campaign at Waterloo, some 19 years later. be attacked by Desaix and routed. Single supplement: £350 Day 3 - Lodi and the crossing of the Po. Day 8 - Home. Drive to Milan for our return Deposit: £250 Today we follow Napoleon and his Passage fight home. Price without fights: £2325 of the Po, and the resultant battle of Lodi,
36 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 AUSTERLIT : NAPOLEON S MASTERPIECEXXX THE ANNIVERSARy TXXXOUR
30 November – 3 December 2018 4 days with Alan Rooney Activity Level 2
We spend a fascinating long weekend exploring the whole battlefeld, which has changed little over the years, and intermingling with the numerous participants preparing for the spectacular
anniversary re-enactment that will be Napoleonic taking place near the actual battlefeld. Highlights of the tour will be a lunch spent Rapp presents the Russian Standards to Napoleon in the Post House where we will take the opportunity to sample the house delicacy, The battle of Austerlitz fought on the 2nd Day 3 - The 213th anniversary re- the `Santon Cannonball’. Napoleon of December 1805 saw Napoleon decisively enactment of the battle. Past events have devised his strategy here with his Marshals defeat the combined armies of Russia and involved thousands of participants and are some days before the battle and slept here Austria, bringing the Third Coalition to its usually well attended, creating an almost the night after. We will also have dinner in knees in front of an astonished Europe. carnival atmosphere with hot chocolate and Austerlitz Chateau, where the Emperors Fighting on a feld of his own choosing, mulled wine in abundance (essential at this Francis II and Alexander I spent the night Napoleon used the rolling countryside to time of year!). Subject to availability, we will before the battle. Based out of our four- conceal his troops waiting to spring their enjoy VIP hospitality and view the battle from star hotel in Brno, we will also be able to master's trap. By ostensibly showing his raised seating. In Slavkov (the Czech name enjoy its magical Christmas Market and weakness by surrendering the high ground, for Austerlitz) we will see the Allied marching sample a Gluhwein or two. the over confdent Allied army was drawn troops being reviewed by their respective forward exposing its fanks and rear to emperors and enjoy the traditional winter counter attack by Marshal Soult. However, street fair. We will have time to explore the despite the apparent gullibility of the Allied armies’ camps, and who knows, even catch a commanders, the tenacity of the Russian glimpse of Napoleon himself. After returning soldiers ensured that Napoleon’s victory was to our hotel, we spend our last evening at an harder won than he might have expected. atmospheric city restaurant. Day 1 - Schongraben. Fly London to Vienna. Day 4 - Home. We visit Spaleny Mill, where En-route to our hotel in Brno, we will visit Emperors Napoleon and Francis met 2 days Schongraben, the scene of Bagration’s later to discuss terms. We continue to Vienna valiant rear-guard action immortalised in and visit its famous military museum before War and Peace. Check in to our hotel for taking our return fight to London. three nights. Talk on ‘Background to the 1805 “Tis tour delivered beyond Campaign’. expectations. Te VIP treatment Day 2 - The battle of Austerlitz. This was brilliant morning we examine the northern sector: – a memorable tour“ Soult's headquarters at Slapanitz, Napoleon’s headquarters upon the Zuran, Caferelli's attacks on Blazovitz, the great cavalry battles between Murat and Liechtenstein and the reinforced Santon Hill. Lunch is taken at the Post House. This afternoon we ESSENTIALS look at the central and southern sectors: Return fights from London, 4 star hotel, the Memorial of Peace and museum on the bufet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course Pratzen Heights, Przbyswki's and Langeron's dinner with drinks each evening, attacks on Sokolnitz Castle, Pheasantry and all entrance fees and expert guide granary, Tellnitz, the route of the divisions throughout. of Vandamme and Saint Hillaire as they launched their attacks on the Pratzen Tour price: £1395 Heights, the Stare Vinohrady ending our Single supplement: £120 day above the Satchan lakes. Supper will be Deposit: £150 taken in the kitchens at Austerlitz Chateau. Price without fights: £1195
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5 - 8 October 2018 & 28 September - 1 October 2019 4 days with Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck Activity Level 3
Waterloo is a fascinating but subtle battlefeld. Wellington’s eye for ground and talent for drawing his opponent onto ground of his own choosing - allowing him to observe their dispositions and approach routes whilst concealing his own troops and thus achieving tactical surprise - was French cavalry attack British squares key to his success. This tour will give you the same insight. The Waterloo Campaign in June 1815 ensured from the excellent new Hougoumont visitor
Napoleonic Ashley Truluck – former army General and relative peace in Western Europe for the next centre, walking the length of the Allied Ridge Chairman of the Society for Army Historical ffty years. It was the frst time that the two discussing the French infantry and cavalry Research - has spent a lifetime studying greatest commanders of the era, Napoleon attacks as we go. After lunch near La Haye Wellington’s command style and tactics; and Wellington, met each other in battle and Sainte we push on to the British left fank and he lived for 3 years near Waterloo and it was to be the last campaign for both of – weather permitting - around to see where knows the battlefeld intimately; and he is them. It was also the last campaign for grand the Prussians fell on Napo-leon’s fank at a keen walker. What better host to guide old Marshal Blucher whose Prussian Army, Plancenoit where we stop for refreshment in you ‘of piste’ – and so understand what having been trounced at Ligny, nevertheless the picturesque village square. it was really like to command and fght on arrived in the nick of time to tip the scales in Day 4 – Finale. We return to the battlefeld the battlefelds of Ligny, Quatre Bras and the Allies’ favour as Wellington’s ‘infamous to walk the route of the Imperial Guard’s fnal especially Waterloo? army’, already tested at Quatre Bras, hung on attack up onto the ridge and the very site grimly to the ridge at Waterloo. These will be a series of country walks – not where they were dramatically defeated by a route march! We cover about 5 or 6 miles Day 1 – Brussels & Waterloo Town. Depart Wellington’s elite Guards and Light troops. a day, with stops for lunch and beverages. London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels Thence to the excellent new Waterloo Visitor There is nothing here that any reasonably in time for a town walk into and around the Centre on the battlefeld where we will also ft weekend walker couldn’t cope with – magnifcent Grand Place and on to the Royal enjoy our lunch stop. Then back to Brussels but don’t come if you are aren’t up to this Park where the story of the Waterloo cam- to catch our Eurostar train getting us back to ftness standard as we will be ranging away paign begins. We drive to Waterloo town London by early evening. from main roads and facilities. You will still to visit Wellington’s headquarters before get to visit the excellent visitor centres – checking in to our comforta-ble hotel in the but what this tour really ofers is fresh air centre of the town and our base for the tour. and a fresh perspective - and a chance Welcome drinks and evening talk before to enjoy the surprisingly peaceful and dinner. pretty Belgian countryside in the convivial Day 2 – Ligny & Quatre Bras. We walk from company of fellow walkers. the French positions and follow their attack route across felds into the riverside village of Ligny to get a feel for its tenacious defence by Prussian troops. Then walk up through cornfelds for a panoramic view from the site of Blucher’s windmill – where he and Wellington met prior to the battle. We take lunch at Pierpont farmhouse (now a golf ESSENTIALS club) where the concurrent battle of Quatre Return Standard Premier Eurostar, 4 Bras opened. After viewing the battlefeld star hotel, bufet breakfast, one lunch, from the strategic crossroads which give 3-course dinner with drinks each the battle its name, we walk out along the evening, all entrance fees and expert British front line to Cherry Wood on the left guide throughout. fank and thence cross the very centre of the battlefeld, discussing the highlights as Tour Price: £1295 we go. We end our day by driving the route Single supplement: £145 of Wellington’s skilful withdrawal through Deposit: £125 Genappe to Waterloo where we take dinner. Price without train: £1195 Day 3 – Waterloo. We start today’s walk
38 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 NAPOLEON IN GERMAXXXNy THE CAMPAIGNS OF ANDXXX
and Isserstedt ending at the fnal Prussian stand at Kapellendorf. This afternoon we tour the feld of Auerstedt where we see the deployment of an outnumbered Marshal 14 – 21 October 2019 Davout to the west of the village and 8 days discuss how he repulsed the massive but uncoordinated Prussian attacks and then with Alan Rooney subsequently drove them back to win an Activity Level 2 incredible victory against the odds. Day 3 – Gross Gorchen. Napoleon’s frst victory of the 1813 Dresden campaign. before We the walk war the terrain between the quadrilateral strong- During eight days we will follow the events point villages of Kaja, Rahna, Klein and Gross of 1806 and 1813 in a mostly chronological Gorschen and visit the small museum and order, allowing us to appreciate the time, monument to the frst and infuential Prussian distance and geographical challenges that chief of staf, Gerhard von Scharnhost, had to be overcome by armies fghting erected on the spot where he fell. Continue Re-enactors mainly in Saxony. Like Napoleon and his Napoleonic to the lovely historic town of Bautzen and men, you will climb the Langrafenberg check in to our hotel for two nights. at Jena, walk the ground between Day 4 – Bautzen and The Katzbach. We the villages around Gross Gorschen, visit the massive battlefeld of Bautzen where appreciate the obscured lines of sight Napoleon got the better of 100,000 Russians which afected the outcome of Bautzen, Murat leading the charge at Jena and Prussians. We will see the ground over see where Vandamme was captured, which the Russians were drawn in, follow where Moreau was mortally wounded, Napoleon had seen great success in the route of Ney’s Army and discuss how it ascend the massive Leipzig monument Germany in 1806 with the twin victories of was possible for them to have missed the and ferry across the Elbe at Wartenberg. Jena and Auerstedt resulting in the complete obvious Hochkirch church. This afternoon By the end of the tour you will have gained subjugation of Prussia. Six years later he found we cross the border in to Poland to visit the a greater understanding of the complex himself back in Germany with a new but banks of the River Katzbach where Marshal 1813 campaign and in particular the inexperienced army in an attempt to recover MacDonald received a mauling from an impact of the successful application of the from his disastrous 1812 Russian campaign. eager Blucher on 26 August 1813. Allies’ Trachtenberg Plan. His challenge was immense: his former Prussian allies had turned against him and Day 5 – Dresden and Kulm. This morning we The tour will be led by The Cultural were stoking the fres of German nationalism; visit Dresden to explore the battle fought on Experience founder and MD Alan Rooney. his Austrian allies had abandoned him and 26/27 August 1813. From the Bismarck tower A fellow of the Napoleonic Society and withdrawn from the confict; numerous we gain a good view of the city, see where member of the Royal Historical Society French garrisons were isolated on the Vistula duplicitous Moreau was mortally wounded and the British Commission for Military and Oder; and his recent Russian foe had had and walk through the bitterly fought over History, Alan has a lifetime of experience time to re-organise, reinforce and march to Grosser Garten. This afternoon we visit the exploring and enlightening enthusiastic join their new Prussian partners. For a while, unspoilt feld of Kulm in the Czech Republic guests to Napoleonic battlefelds and will the Napoleon of old showed fashes of genius where, on 30 August, the fery Vandamme present the successes and failures of 1806 as he defeated the coalition forces in a series was forced to surrender to the Austrians. and 1813 in a refreshing and engaging of pyrrhic victories which nevertheless won Continue to Leipzig for two nights way that will stay with your long after your leave. him an armistice. Meanwhile the Allies had Day 6 – Leipzig. From the top of the massive learnt to avoid direct battle with Napoleon, ‘volkerschlactdenkmal’ we gain a 360 degree defeating his subordinate commanders in panorama of the city and its battlefeld (be a series of subsidiary actions instead. As warned, although there is a lift, it only takes "Great tour guide, driver and his junior commanders were successively you so far up!). We will travel out to Wachau, accommodation. A highly defeated, the Emperor found his enemies Liebertwolkwitz, Probstheida in the south closing in on him from all directions and and make out what we can from the north at professional service" Napoleon’s last campaign in Germany came Mokern and end our visit on the banks of the to its inevitable conclusion at the ‘Battle of Elster. Nations’ at Leipzig in October 1813. Day 7 – The Trachtenberg Plan. We drive Day 1 – Depart. Fly London - Berlin. Drive to to Wartenberg, where Blucher forced his Jena and check in to our hotel for two nights. way across the Elbe prior to Leipzig. Thence ESSENTIALS Day 2 – Jena/Auerstedt. Today we focus on to Dennewitz where Bernadotte and Bulow Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, the pivotal twin battles of October 1806. The broke Ney on 5 September to relieve the bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees morning is spent exploring the battlefeld pressure on Berlin. Continue to our hotel on and expert guide throughout. of Jena, We ascend the Landgrafenberg, the outskirts of Berlin. discuss the French deployment, walk to Day 8 – Gross Beeren. Although little Tour Price: £2495 Napoleon’s HQ at the Windknollen, visit the remains of the battlefeld itself, there Single supplement: £275 battlefeld museum in Cospeda, and follow is a massive pyramidal monument to Deposit: £175 the route of the French cavalry assaults of commemorate the Prussian victory over Price without fights: £2370 the villages of Closewitz, Vierzehnheiligen Oudinot on 23 August. Fly Berlin – London.
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13 – 18 May 2020 6 days with Col Nick Lipscombe Activity Level 2
This tour encompasses all the major actions fought by Sir John Moore’s army: Sahagún, Benavente, Astorga, Cacabelos, Lugo and the last battle, that at Corunna. In passing we visit Medina de Rio Seco, the site of the calamitous Spanish defeat in 1808, and the important naval port of Ferrol, scene of an abortive attack by the nascent 95th Rifes in 1800. We travel through the spectacular Galician mountains snaking Napoleonic along deep valleys, crossing ancient bridges and visiting remote villages, often coinciding with the dramatic pilgrim route of the Camino de Santiago. There will The Battle of Corunna opportunity to explore the golden-tinged medieval city of Santiago de Compostela Sir John Moore assumed command of the successful British cavalry action at Benavente with its beautiful cathedral, captivating British Army in October 1808 and led it which took place under the very eyes of squares and fne mix of Romanesque, across Portugal and Spain to link up with Napoleon himself. At Astorga we pick up Baroque and Renaissance architecture. his Spanish allies to commence a campaign the retreat route proper, passing through against his better wishes. At much the same Bembibre, sacked by the British troops, and time Napoleon arrived in the Peninsula at the thence to Cacabelos, where Rifeman Tom head of 125,000 battle hardened veterans. Plunkett shot dead the French general, Having restored his brother to the Spanish Colbert. Continue to Nogales to see the throne, Napoleon turned his attention to probable place where the military chest destroy Moore’s army which he dubbed the was discarded down the mountainside and ‘troublesome British leopard’. With his lines consider the rear-guard action fought nearby of communication compromised, Moore was at Constantino. At Lugo, we examine the only forced to retreat in the dead of winter over place prior to Corunna that Moore ofered the inhospitable Galician mountains, his battle. Continue to Corunna and check in to army fghting tenacious rear-guard actions to our hotel for three nights. facilitate their escape to Corunna where they Day 4 – Corunna. The whole of today is turned to face the French. It is a harrowing given over to a study of the battle of Corunna yet heroic story of a retreat in often freezing "We enjoyed this trip immensely, itself. We see the battlefeld from the French conditions where hunger, tiredness and heights, visit the village of Elvina, Moore's Nick's talks and anecdotes were inadequate clothing were as much an enemy centre, and Monte Mero, his left fank. We superb - we look forward to to Moore’s men as their French pursuers in fnish our day in the gardens of San Carlos, their desperate race to the coast and the travelling with you again." to pay our respects at Sir John Moore's tomb. succour of waiting Royal Navy transport. Day 5 – Ferrol. We visit the important Day 1 - Fly London to Madrid. Drive to Spanish naval port of Ferrol and the two Valladolid for one night. Welcome drinks and forts astride the estuary, the scene of the introductory talk. British naval and land operation in 1800. This Day 2 – Shagun. At Medina Del Rio Seco afternoon we return to Corunna to visit the ESSENTIALS we discuss the calamitous Spanish defeat military museum and the Roman Lighthouse Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, in 1808 before travelling to Sahagun, where known as the Tower of Hercules. bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with Lord Paget's cavalry won a famous victory Day 6 - Santiago de Compostela. Drive to drinks each evening, all entrance fees over their French counterparts. Travelling Santiago de Compostela, the focal point of and expert guide throughout. to Benavente via Mayorga, we stop at the the Catholic pilgrim route, visit the ancient bridge at Castrogonzalo, held by Craufurd's cathedral of Santiago and enjoy a guided Tour Price: £2145 Light Brigade during the retreat. Check in tour of this wonderful city which was sacked Single supplement: £240 to our parador, a renaissance castle, for one by the French during the war. Catch an Deposit: £200 night. evening fight from Corunna to London. Price without fights: £2045 Day 3 – The Retreat. Today we consider the
40 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 WELLINGTON IN PORTUGALXXX THE FRENCH INVASIONS THWARTEDXXX
5 – 12 June 2020 8 days with Col Nick Lipscombe Activity Level 2
On this eight-day tour, led by the award winning Peninsular War and Napoleonic historian Nick Lipscombe, we escape the main roads to discover the Portugal known so well to the men of Wellington’s
Army during the years 1808– 1811. As well Napoleonic as visiting the magnifcent battlefelds, we will see one of the beaches on which The Seminary in Porto Wellington landed his army in August 1808 amidst the treacherous rolling surf; Three times the French invaded Portugal his artillery, before crossing the mighty explore the forts and signal redoubts between 1807 and 1811 and each time the Douro River and visiting the seminary along the Lines of Torres Vedras; wander nation’s saviour was a professional mongrel buildings. We end the day at one of Porto’s around the historic centre of Lisbon; army led by Arthur Wellesley the future Duke fne port lodges to enjoy a tour and sample sample port wine in one of the many port of Wellington. The frst invasion by General their wares. houses in Porto besides the banks of the Junot ended following the battle of Vimeiro Day 4 - Bussaco. We drive to the formidable mighty River Douro; walk the walls of the in August 1808; the second by Marshal Soult ridge on which the battle of Bussaco was pretty medieval town of Obidos the site of ended abruptly following Wellington’s fought. We visit the battle monument, the frst action of the Peninsular War; stay audacious operation to recapture the city of Massena’s headquarters, Wellington’s in a former palace in Lousa and marvel Porto in broad daylight, forcing Soult’s force command post, the military museum and at the stunning Portuguese countryside into a harrowing retreat over the mountains Craufurd’s rock. Check in to our Lousa hotel, as we travel over its mountain ranges in north Portugal; while the third invasion a former 18th century baroque palace (where and through its river valleys and national by Marshal Massena came to an equally both Ney and Wellington are purported to parks. All set amidst the background of dramatic end in front of the Lines of Torres have stayed), for two nights. wonderful local and international cuisine Vedras necessitating, the following year, and great Portuguese hospitality. Marshal Ney to conduct a series of rearguard Day 5 – Massena’s Retreat. We drive south actions for the French to escape. to pick up the frst of a series of rearguard actions fought by Ney’s corps to buy time for Day 1 - Opening Shots. Fly London to Massena’s army to escape in 1811. We will see Lisbon. Check in to our hotel in Obidos for the actions at Pombal, Redinha and Foz de one night. From Wellington’s observation Arouce, where the French 39 Regiment lost tower we discuss the opening shots of the a coveted eagle. campaign. Day 6 – The Lines of Torres Vedras. We Day 2 - Roliça and Vimeiro. We explore drive back towards Lisbon and pick up the the battlefeld of Roliça and visit Lake’s "Nick is so knowledgeable and he Lines of Torres Vedras that encircle the city. monument. Thence to Maceira Bay, where We explore the forts in the First and Second arranged everything impeccably." British reinforcements came ashore prior to Lines; the great redoubt of Sobral and the the battle of Vimeiro, our next stop. From restored fort of San Vicente; Wellington’s the visitor centre we get a great view of the headquarters at Pero Negro; Beresford’s battlefeld; we visit Junot’s headquarters headquarters at Casal Cochim; and fnally before travelling out to Ventosa to look at the visit Colonel Fletcher’s monument at French fanking attacks. Check in to our hotel Alhandra. Check in to our Lisbon hotel for in Curia for two nights. two nights. Day 3 - Porto. We examine Wellesley’s ESSENTIALS Day 7 – Lisbon. We spend a full day in Lisbon audacious crossing of the Douro and the Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, and its environs including the atmospheric recapture of Porto, and the events preceding bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with castle at Belem guarding the entrance to it. En route from our hotel, we stop at Ovar drinks each evening, all entrance fees the Tagus estuary, the impressive military to consider Hill’s attempt to outfank Soult’s and expert guide throughout. museum with its large model of the Lines forward screen by way of an ambitious and an astonishing collection of artillery, Tour Price: £2595 amphibious operation. At Vila Nova, on before fnishing at the dominating Castello the south bank of the Douro, we stand Single supplement: £310 de Sao Jorge. at the monastery, from where Wellesley Deposit: £250 commanded the operation and established Day 8 - Home. Fly Lisbon – London. Price without fights: £2470
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22 – 28 May 2019 7 days with Col Nick Lipscombe Activity Level 1/2
Based around Nick Lipscombe’s book Wellington’s Eastern Front, this six day tour looks at the ebb and fow of Suchet’s campaign on the east coast of Spain and Wellington’s strategic response to that threat. A virtually unknown aspect of the Peninsular War, the tour visits some of the most picturesque and vibrant parts of Spain: from Barcelona we wind our way southwards along the Mediterranean Napoleonic coast stopping at Tarragona, the Roman capital of Spain; the medieval fortress at Tortosa; the small ‘City in the Sea’ at Peñiscola; the imposing fort at Sagunto; and the magnifcent cities of Valencia and Alicante. Inescapably we will fnd ourselves indulging in Roman and Medieval history and architecture whilst enjoying the culture of some of its fnest cities. By the end of this tour the infuence of Suchet’s east coast army and the role and importance of the Royal Navy on Wellington's operations in southern France in 1814 will become very much Spain’s Eastern Front during the Peninsular Ordal to consider the outpost skirmish on apparent. War is all too often overlooked as not an September 1813 and then on to Tarragona integral part of the Duke of Wellington’s where we examine the two sieges: 1811 main army operating on the Portuguese where Suchet was rewarded with his border and in western and northern Spain marshal’s baton and the ill-fated British siege but, in point of fact, the two fronts were of June 1813. Check in to our hotel in Tortosa intrinsically linked. To the Spanish, the east for one night. coast was a matter of national survival; the Day 3 - Three Sieges. The invasion of Valencia ports of Tarragona, Valencia, Alicante and in 1811 required the clearing of a number of Cartagena sustained the nation, fed the fortresses. The siege of the medieval fortress people and the Spanish military machine. at Tortosa, beside the mighty Ebro river, was To the French, failure to gain early control an early glimpse of Suchet’s determination; of the east coast was cited by Napoleon as then to the picturesque fortress in the sea one of the principal reasons for the defeat of at Peñiscola (used in the flming of El Cid); the Grande Armée and the loss of the War. before moving to the fortress and the King’s To the British, the east coast was a necessary Tower at Oropesa where the Royal Navy and cost efective distraction but, by 1812, came to the rescue of the besieged. Continue it had become an integral component to to Valencia to check in to our hotel for three Wellington’s plans and, in the end, it held the nights. key to the successful invasion of France. ESSENTIALS Day 4 – Sagunto. This morning we visit Day 1 - Barcelona. Fly to Barcelona and Saguntum, famously besieged by Hannibal. Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, check in to our hotel for one night. A brief We climb up to its huge fortress, the garrison bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with exploration of La Rambla area before of which would have watched Suchet defeat drinks each evening, all entrance fees enjoying welcome drinks, dinner and an and expert guide throughout. the relieving Spanish army in the plain below evening talk on the Campaigns on the East on 25 October 1811. We also visit its lovely Coast of Spain 1810 - 1814. Tour Price: £2245 restored Roman theatre before descending Single supplement: £340 Day 2 - Tarragona. Visit the Fort Monjuich to the battlefeld below. Deposit: £225 which witnessed one of the frst and the Price without fights: £2120 last actions of the Peninsular War. Drive to
42 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Day 5 – Valencia. This morning we visit the old fortifcations of Valencia which played such a prominent part in its unsuccessful defence from 1811-12. This afternoon is free to explore the town at your leisure. Day 6 - Alicante. We travel to Alicante and visit the French fortress at Denia. On arrival, we either climb or take the lift up to the dominating Santa Barbara fortress overlooking the harbour and Mediterranean Sea. Check in to our hotel for the last night of our tour Day 7 - Castalla. We examine the halting of Suchet’s ofensive from 12 – 13 April 1813: the successful delaying action by Colonel Adam at Biar on 12 April and beyond the defle,
the epic encounter in the valley at Castalla Napoleonic the following day. Return to Alicante for our fight to the UK.
Castalla
The view today
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30 April – 6 May 2019 7 days with Tim Clayton plus optional extension in Gibraltar Activity Level 2
This tour takes us to some of the most elegant and historic locations in all Spain including Seville, Cordoba and especially Cadiz - Spain’s most cosmopolitan city in the Napoleonic period, her main naval base, and the destination of treasure ships inbound from the Americas. We will be travelling through the scenic Andalusian countryside in late Spring when it looks at its best. It’s a landscape that has been Napoleonic settled by Romans, Christians and Moors – and the region’s architecture refects this rich heritage. This is a tour equally suitable for military enthusiasts and those wishing to sample the sites and culture of Southern Spain. Your guide will be Napoleonic Wars expert Tim Clayton, the award-winning and bestselling author of Trafalgar – The Men, Cadiz, Spain’s principal naval port, was Day 2 – Bailen & Cordoba. This morning we The Battle, The Storm; Tars - The Men who blockaded by Nelson in 1797–8 and again drive on to the battlefeld of Bailen to see how Made Britain Rule the Waves; and Waterloo in 1805 when it was the backdrop for the Spanish army won its unprecedented – Four Days that Changed Europe’s Destiny. Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. In the storm that victory over the French in July 1808. We followed the battle, many defeated Spanish visit the museum which marks the Spanish and French ships were wrecked on the coast frontline and celebrate the Spanish victory between there and Gibraltar – into which with a drink at the Casa da Postas in Andujar limped HMS Victory with Nelson’s body where French General Dupont surrendered. on board. When the Spanish subsequently On to Cordoba, sacked by the French before rebelled against French occupation in 1808, the battle of Bailen, where we check into our a Spanish army intercepted and defeated hotel for one night, explore this beautiful city a French army en route to Cadiz, at Bailen and visit the famous Mesquita. (the frst time a Napoleonic army had been Day 3 – Seville. We drive to Seville, taking defeated anywhere in Europe). At the same the opportunity of discussing the British "Te Cultural Experience have time, the Spanish seized the French naval cavalry actions at Villagarcia and Usagre squadron at Cadiz and Great Britain came to made it possible for us to visit that took place in the dusty plains north of their support, in what became known as the many battlefelds. Tey are all our route. Seville was the headquarters of Peninsular War. Cadiz henceforth became Spain’s Supreme Junta from 1808 to 1810. well run, enlightening, with good the capital of independent Spain, a symbol of After the city was captured by the French in resistance against the French, and a vital base guides and good companions." 1810 the Junta moved to Cadiz and Seville for the Royal Navy supporting Wellington’s became the headquarters of Marshal Soult’s allied armies operating across Spain. The French army of occupation – we will visit the subsequent siege of Cadiz tied down three Hospital de la Caridad and discuss the origins corps of French troops. Cadiz’s survival was of Soult’s fne art collection – ‘liberated’ from ESSENTIALS thus vital to the Allied efort in Iberia and Spanish churches. Finally, we see the site of Return fights from London, four-star this gives us an opportunity to explore this Sir John Downie’s charge across the bridge hotels, bufet breakfast, 3 course dinner fascinating historical city and look at some of boats which precipitated the liberation of with drinks each evening, all entrance of the nearby British battlefelds, including the city in 1812. We stay in Seville overnight fees and expert guide throughout. Graham’s spectacular victory at Barossa in 1811. and there will be an opportunity to explore Tour Price: £2395 Day 1 – Jaen. Fly London – Malaga and drive the cultural aspects of Seville for those who Single supplement: £360 over the Sierra Nevada mountains to the wish to do so. historic city of Jaen where French general Deposit: £225 Day 4 – Cadiz allied to France 1797/1805. Sebastiani defeated a Spanish force during Today we explore the crumbling glory that Price without fights: £2270 the invasion of Andalusia in January 1810. is the old city of Cadiz – our base for the Contact us for extension price. Check into our hotel for one night.
44 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 GIbRALTAR OPTIONAL EXTENSION:
which allowed it to hold out against the Day 8 Plus – Gibraltar. Although not French siege from 1810 to 1812. We look exclusively applicable to the Napoleonic War at Fort Matagorda, seized and heroically period, Gibraltar has a rich British colonial defended by Scottish troops before being history spanning several centuries – the captured by the French and its guns turned ambiance of which survives to this day. This on the city. We visit Puerto Real; the defences tiny outpost of Great Britain is crammed full around Puete Zuazo; the set of forts around of fascinating historical sites but is not best- the bridge onto the Isla de Leon; look at San suited to a coach-based conducted tour as Fernando; and walk down to the Urrutia all sites are within easy walking distance or battery. The city was visited by Wellington taxi ride from our recommended base at in 1812 and we will see his headquarters in the elegant Rock Hotel and there is ample Calle Vidor. The area is famous for its sherry – information (all in English) on the sites so we round the day of with a Sherry tasting concerned. If you wish to extend your stay session at the Puerto de Santa Maria. our coach will drop you of at the gates to Gibraltar at about midday on day 7 and our Napoleonic Day 7 – Tarifa and Return. We start our fnal guide will arrange a taxi from there to the day with a visit to the pretty town of Vejar Rock hotel. Thereafter you will fnd it very en route to Tarifa where we discuss how the easy to arrange your own walking itinerary French besieged it over the winter of 1811/12. of ‘The Rock’ – for as many days as you wish. We then travel to Gibraltar for our return The Cultural Experience will make all fight to the UK necessary hotel bookings and fight arrangements back from Gibraltar to the UK.
Cadiz remainder of the tour. We will see ample evidence of the city’s connections with Nelson - starting with a visit to the Alameda Gardens to view the scene of Nelson’s raid in July 1797. At the church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen we will see where the ofcers of the combined Spanish & French feet heard Mass before putting to sea for Trafalgar and then we climb the city’s Tavira Watchtower from where citizens viewed the battle. We visit the well-preserved Forts of San Sebastian Tim Clayton in action and Santa Catalina near where Villeneuve’s Spanish fagship was subsequently wrecked in the storm after Trafalgar. Bringing all this together, we will visit the city’s Museum of Cortes. Day 5 – Two battles: Barossa & Trafalgar. Today we take a sortie inland driving out over the Sancti Petri River area where several ships were wrecked after Trafalgar and where fghting took place during the subsequent French siege. We spend the rest of the morning visiting the museum and battlefeld of Barrosa where British General Graham brilliantly defeated a large French army despite a lack of cooperation from his Spanish allies. In the afternoon we head back to the coast and view the site of the Battle of Trafalgar from an overlooking headland where Tim will recount the story of the battle. Day 6 – Cadiz besieged by France 1810- 1812. Cadiz was strongly fortifed against attack from both land and sea and today we will explore the well-preserved defences
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4 - 11 September 2019 8 days with Col Nick Lipscombe Activity Level 2
This eight-day tour, one of a series of ‘classic‘ Peninsular War tours, is led by award winning Peninsular War historian, Col Nick Lipscombe. It visits some of the most beautiful and historic parts of central Spain and Wellington’s most notable battles and sieges during the period 1809 – 1812. We begin with a drive down the Tagus Valley to Talavera and Salamanca on down to Badajoz and Albuera in the Napoleonic agricultural centre of Estremadura. Then to the fortifed town of Elvas, Portugal, a After his initial successes in twice driving Day 4 – Elvas & Alcantara. Before UNESCO world heritage site steeped in out the French from Portugal, Wellington leaving Elvas, we pay our respects at the history, before heading north again via the advanced towards Madrid to fght his frst British Peninsular War Cemetery on the atmospheric Roman bridge at Alcántara battle in Spain at Talavera in July 1809. Bastion walls. Then we head north via the and on to Ciudad Rodrigo. Back across Uncomfortable with the support that he spectacular Roman bridge at Alcantara and to Portugal and the perfectly preserved received from his Spanish Allies, 1810 saw continue on to Aldea del Obispo, where we fortifed town of Almeida and the hardly- him recuperating in the rugged countryside check-in to our 17th century hotel for two changed village of Fuentes de Oñoro. along the Portuguese border, fghting a nights, formerly known as Fort Concepion, Finally we visit Salamanca, a beautiful and series of small actions, particularly around sometime home to Craufurd’s Light Division culturally rich city with the best preserved Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo, where the Light in 1810/11. Division founded its legendary reputation. Peninsular War battlefeld. You will stay at Day 5 – Almeida, the Coa and Fuentes de After defeating a third invasion of Portugal, great hotels and have every opportunity to Onoro. On the River Coa we see where ‘Black he strengthened his position on the border witness and enjoy Spanish hospitality and Bob’ Craufurd so nearly lost his celebrated with the twin sieges and bloody storming of culture in these varied regions of western Light Division and whilst walking through Ciudad Rodrigo and Badjoz before making Spain. the beautiful walled town of Almeida we his second advance on Madrid which resulted see the remains of the castle which was in the classic encounter battle of Salamanca. destroyed in a cataclysmic explosion during Day 1 – Fly from London to Madrid. Travel the siege of 1810. Thence to the village of to Toledo and check in to our hotel before Fuentes de Oñoro to explore the feld of the enjoying welcome drinks, an introductory battle that raged for three days in early May talk and dinner. 1811. Day 2 – Talavera. Walk the battlefeld Day 6 – Ciudad Rodrigo. We drive to the of Talavera and thence to the bridge at lovely historical city of Ciudad Rodrigo to Almaraz and Fort Napoleon to retrace the walk its walls to the cathedral. We walk-up “Very well organised tour; great steps of General Hill’s raid of May 1812. We the Greater Teson where the heavy siege group of people; great food” then check in to our 16th century convent guns were sited and inspect the Great Breach Parador, situated in the heart of the exquisite assaulted by Picton’s 3rd Division, and the conquistador town of Trujillo. Lesser Breach, attacked by the Light Division. Continue to Salamanca where we check in to Day 3 – Albuera and Badajoz. At Albuera, our hotel for two nights. Marshal Beresford secured a narrow victory over Marshal Soult in what was the bloodiest Day 7 – Salamanca. Today we travel to the ESSENTIALS battle of the entire war. Thence to the wonderful battlefeld of Salamanca, one of Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, fortress town of Badajoz, captured at such Wellington’s fnest victories. We climb the bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with tremendous cost, where we will see the hill above Miranda de Azan and the Greater drinks each evening, and all entrance site of the breaches, stormed by the Light Arapile from where superb panoramas of fees and expert guide throughout. and 4th divisions and the castle, scaled by the battlefeld can be gained. There will be Picton’s Fighting (3rd) Division. We cross over ample opportunity to continue exploration Tour Price: £2495 the border into Portugal, and check in to our of the magnifcent city later in the day. Single supplement: £295 4 star historic hotel built into the walls of the Day 8 – Avila. To Madrid, via a brief photo Deposit: £250 magnifcently fortifed town of Elvas. opportunity of the spectacular walled town Price without fights: £2395 of Avila, for our return fight to London.
46 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 WELLINGTON OVER THE PyRENEESXXX THE INVASION OF FRANCEXXX
23 September – 1 October 2019 9 days with Col Nick Lipscombe Activity Level 2
This tour, a natural progression from our popular ‘Wellington in Spain’ tour, is led by View below the Maya Pass expert guide, Col Nick Lipscombe, author After achieving the decisive victory over the Marcial and the crossing of the Bidassoa, of ‘Wellington Invades France’. Our route French at Salamanca in July 1812, Wellington including Cadoux’s bridge at Vera and the roughly follows the Great North Road from liberated Madrid but then over-extended French strongpoints on Bayonet Ridge Madrid towards the great French border Napoleonic his army at Burgos and was forced into above. Continue to Bayonne and check in to fortress of Bayonne and thence eastwards a harrowing retreat. The following year, our hotel for three nights. to Toulouse. En route we traverse sierras determined not to make the same mistake, and great rivers, once formidable barriers Day 6 - The Nivelle. Today we review the he drove three French armies back and for the armies of both sides and none so operation to recapture the redoubt at Santa defeated them in the epic encounter at much as the dominating mountains of the Barbara, then take the mountain train to Vitoria. The French withdrew and fought western Pyrenees from the top of which the top of the Grand Rhune to discuss the with their backs to the Pyrenees trying to we will gain stunning views over much of capture of the Petite Rhune and the Signals prevent the unthinkable – the invasion of the campaign area. We’ll travel along the Redoubt before seeing the Bridge at Amotz. France. Wellington captured San Sebastian often violent coast of the Bay of Biscay and visit the harbour havens so crucial to the and fought a series of battles in the Pyrenees Day 7 - The Nive/St Pierre. We take the resupply of Wellington’s army. And once in before judging the time right to commence coast road to Bidart and Barrouillet, thence France we’ll enjoy its rich lush countryside the invasion. After two more battles at the to discuss the curious action around the which reminded many of the soldiers of end of 1813, at Nivelle and the Nive, Soult church at Arcangues, the pontoon bridge their homes in Britain. was pushed eastwards towards Toulouse at Villafranque, Horlopo, and take in where the last encounter of the war was the magnifcent view from the Croix de fought in April 1814. Mouguerre. Thence to Bayonne and the extraordinary bridging operation over the Day 1- Burgos. We fy London to Madrid and Adour and the subsequent sortie and battle. drive to Burgos where we visit the castle to discuss the siege, Wellington's only major Day 8 - Orthez & Tarbes. Explore the last setback in the Peninsula. Check in to our pitched battle of the war at Orthez followed four star hotel for the night before enjoying by the sharp action at Tarbes where we will welcome drinks, an introductory talk and also visit the fne hussar museum. Continue dinner. to Toulouse and check in to our hotel for the “Nick was knowledgeable, fnal night. Day 2 - Vitoria. We spend the day studying informative and patient the battle of Vitoria from the Heights of Day 9 - Toulouse & Home. We make our way throughout and brought the Puebla, the knoll at Ariñez, Wellington’s to Toulouse, the scene of the fnal battle of battlefelds and sieges fully to life. viewpoint at Villodas, the bridge at the war. Fly Toulouse – London. Trespuentes and the fnal battles in and An interesting, very enjoyable around the city itself. Continue to Pamplona and hassle free tour in an area and check in to our hotel for two nights. unblemished by tourism.” Day 3 - The Battle of the Pyrenees. We climb the ridge at Maya, desperately held by the 92nd, before stopping for lunch in the picturesque town of St. Jean Pied de Port, from where the French launched their attacks, and visit the pass at Roncesvalles. ESSENTIALS Day 4 - Sorauren & San Sebastian. We visit Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, the site of Wellington’s repulse of Soult at bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with Sorauren, the old port of Pasajes, where the drinks each evening, all entrance fees siege train and supplies had to be landed and and expert guide throughout. the site of the two sieges of San Sebastian. Check in to our hotel for the night Tour Price: £2950 Single supplement: £395 Day 5 - San Marcial and the Bidassoa. Deposit: £300 We look at Soult’s attempt to succour San Sebastian and the resulting Battle at San Price without fights: £2850
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17 - 24 June 2019 8 days with Tim Clayton & Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck Activity Level 2
In a superb and comprehensive assessment of the events associated with ‘The Hundred Days’, award-winning historian Tim Clayton, author of ‘Waterloo: Four Days that Changed Europe’s Destiny’ and General Ashley Truluck CB CBE, chairman of the ‘Society for Army Historical Research’ will guide you around, discuss and challenge this dramatic period of history based upon their academic Napoleonic research and practical military experience. A real tour de force! We will visit two of Napoleon’s favourite chateaux, walk the grounds of another, see where the Eagles were distributed, visit some superb museums, pay our respects to the fallen of both sides, follow the routes of the three armies, explore the major battlefelds and even take afternoon tea at the British Embassy in Paris (the former home of Napoleon’s sister Pauline and purchased from her by the Duke of Wellington in 1814). We understand that during our time at Waterloo, the local Shortly after his frst abdication, in an to be found back in Paris at his favourite authorities are planning a re-enactment emotional farewell to his Old Guard at chateau of Malmaison contemplating his of the battle, although this cannot be Fontainebleau on 20 April 1814, Napoleon failure and future in equal measure. departed for exile on Elba. But less than a confrmed at present, but there are sure Day 1 – The Napoleonic Legend. Depart year later, in what became known as ‘The to be plenty of actors in period costume London St Pancras station by Eurostar to Hundred Days’, he was back in Paris, having nevertheless. Paris from where we drive to the magnifcent overthrown the surrogate Bourbon regime Palace of Fontainebleau. It was here, in the in a desperate attempt to re-assert his in the palace courtyard, that Napoleon bade authority over France and in Europe. Despite "Tis fulflled a lifelong ambition farewell to his beloved Imperial Guard before numerous peace overtures, once again he being forced into exile on the island of Elba. to visit the battlefeld with found a coalition of Allied armies converging Return to Paris to check in to our hotel for knowledgeable guides and more upon France determined to be rid of this three nights. We enjoy welcome drinks and a European outlaw once and for all. Seeing than fulflled my expectation. short talk by both guides before dinner. little choice, Napoleon determined on a pre- Tanks go to Ashley and Tim emptive strike against the two closest armies, Day 2 – The Glory. Upon his return to Paris in who made it fun as well as Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch army around March 1815, Napoleon sought to reassert his educational" Brussels and Marshal Blucher’s Prussian army authority: at the Champ de Mars (Trocadero) both assembling in Belgium. where he distributed cherished Eagles to his regiments; at the Arc de Triomphe (still Initially Napoleon achieved strategic surprise, under construction in 1815) which records ESSENTIALS but was unable to exploit the engagements the martial achievements of France during Return Standard Premier Eurostar, 3 and with Wellington and Blucher at Quatre the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars; at 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course Bras and Ligny respectively. Thereafter the the Tuileries Gardens and the ceremonial Arc dinner with drinks each evening, initiative slipped away from him as the Allied all entrance fees and expert guides de Triomphe du Carrousel, all that remains generals determined to make a united stand throughout. of the palace from where Napoleon exerted together. The fnal showdown at Waterloo his power. This afternoon we consider the became a tense race for time as Wellington’s Tour Price: £2995 greater ‘gloire’ of the First Empire: at Pere outnumbered army held tenaciously to the Single supplement: £395 Lachaise cemetery we pay homage to many famous ridge until Blucher’s army joined of the French generals and marshals; at Deposit: £300 them to tip the balance. Within days a the Luxembourg Gardens we visit Marshal Price without train: £2895 comprehensively defeated Napoleon was
48 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 chateau of Compiegne with its Napoleonic Day 8 – Waterloo 2. We return to the collections from both Empires and stop battlefeld to walk the route of the Imperial briefy at Peronne, scene of the last action Guard’s fnal attack up onto the ridge and fought by the British Army in 1815. Thence to see where they were dramatically defeated Beaumont, from where Napoleon launched by Wellington’s elite Guards and Light his strike, before tracing the route of the troops. We conclude our visit to Waterloo by French army through the lovely Sambre visiting the excellent new Waterloo Visitor valley. Continue to Waterloo where we check Centre. Then back to Brussels to catch our in to our hotel for the remaining four nights. Eurostar train getting us back to London by early evening. Day 5 – Wellington. Enter the Duke of Wellington, who had recently arrived in Brussels to take command of the Allied Army. We visit the magnifcent Grand Place in the centre of medieval Brussels and walk through the city to the Royal Palace to see where he lived, worked and relaxed nearby. We describe his reaction, at the Duchess
of Richmond’s Ball, to Napoleon’s surprise Napoleonic crossings of the Sambre, and then follow his deployment from Brussels south to Waterloo where we visit his headquarters in the town – now the Wellington Museum. Day 6 – Ligny & Quatre Bras. This morning we continue Wellington’s progress south to check Napoleon’s advance into Belgium. We witness his meeting with Blucher at the Prussian Army command post above Ligny and remain on site to see how the ensuing bloody battle for the villages and bridges across the Ligny Brook panned out. We then follow Wellington back to the crossroads at Quatre Bras to witness the parallel clash Waterloo between his Anglo-Dutch Army and the other Wing of Napoleon’s army. Without a decisive result at either location, Wellington Ney’s statue placed on the site where he was forced to withdraw back towards was executed; at Les Invalides we pay our Brussels and we fnish the day by following respects to the Emperor himself; and end his route back to the ridge which becomes our day at the wonderful Musée de l’Armée the battlefeld of Waterloo – and fnally with its fne Napoleonic collection. This return to dine in Waterloo town that night – evening we dine at the legendary historic as did Wellington. Le Procope brasserie, familiar to many a revolutionary and a young Napoleon, Day 7 – Waterloo. Today we return to survey whose pawned hat is proudly displayed in the battlefeld as Wellington did. We also its foyer. view the feld from Napoleon’s perspective Napoleon at Fontainebleau before then visiting the recently restored Day 3 – Love & Death. Drive to elegant Hougoumont Farm on Wellington’s right residence of Malmaison, beloved by both fank where Napoleon opened his attack. Napoleon and Josephine, where we discuss From there we climb onto the ridge to their early years of happy marriage, its witness Napoleon’s infantry attack designed role during the Allied occupation of Paris to punch through the Allied centre, and see when Tsar Alexander and others came to how it was defeated by the charge of the visit Josephine before her untimely death, British heavy cavalry. We walk down the and Napoleon’s last days after Waterloo ridge to see how allied rifemen defended spent in fnal contemplation. Returning the outposts in the famous Sandpit and farm to Paris we visit the little museum that of La Haye Sainte. After lunch, we move to the celebrates France’s highest honour, the area of the French cavalry attacks - defeated Legion d’Honneur, ending our day at the by Wellington’s accurate artillery and Hotel de Charost, the former home of steady infantry squares. Finally, we transfer Napoleon’s sister Pauline, and today the to Plancenoit on the French right fank to British Embassy where we enjoy tea and a describe the belated arrival of the Prussians guided stroll around its gardens. and enjoy a peaceful drink in the pretty Day 4 – Advance to Belgium. Like the village square - reminding ourselves that French army in June 1815, so we set of for this was the scene of some of the bloodiest Belgium. En-route we will visit the Imperial fghting of the whole battle.
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13 – 25 March 2020 13 days with Patrick Mercer Activity Level 2
This 13 day tour travels to the heart of Indian Punjab and to the foothills of the Himalaya. During our journey we will witness the wonderful changing of the guard ceremony in Delhi, travel through rural India to explore the key battlefelds from the First Sikh War, visit the beautiful Golden Temple and tragic Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, enjoy the competitive Wagah border parade, drive through the verdant valleys of Himachel-Pradesh to reach the home of the Dali Lama and the picturesque colonial hill station of Shimla. Our hotels have been selected on the basis of their quality, character and location: in Delhi and Shimla they are 5 star, at Ludhiana and McLeod Ganj they are 4 star, at Amritsar it’s a highly rated boutique heritage 3 star whilst our one night stay The Victorian Era at Ferozepur is more modest, albeit in the best in the area. Though the distance that we cover is not particularly great, the state Charge of the 3rd (King's Own) Light Dragoons at the Battle of Ferozshubur, December 21st 1845 of some of India’s roads means that some journeys may take some time. In 1842 the disastrous and humiliating “the British were about to fght the frst and campaign in which the British “were only ‘modern’ war in India against an army thrashed out of Afghanistan” ended, but of 60,000 who matched them in discipline, it had severely damaged their reputation training and weaponry”. for invincibility in India and beyond. From the middle of the 19th century Smarting from indignation, a hawkish the region of Himachal Pradesh saw the Lord Ellenborough despatched a small development of hill station retreats amidst professional army under the command of a the cool verdant foothills of the Himalaya, pugnacious, God-fearing Sir Charles Napier "I had a stimulating, highly none more important than that of Shimla into the Sind to quell a perceived resurrection where, until the outbreak of WW2, the enjoyable holiday with like- against British hegemony. Victory at Miani colonial government of India would retire for minded, intelligent people and the subsequent sequestration of the the summer. The result was a British home province caused outrage both in India whose company made the trip from home and many of the crumbling and in Britain resulting in the recall of the buildings from this period still exert their worthwhile" Governor-General. His replacement was the charm and enjoy commanding views over peace-minded, forward-thinking Sir Henry the towering mountains beyond. In 1959 Hardinge, whose aspirations to develop the little hillside town of McLeod Ganj saw India’s infrastructure were thwarted by the the arrival of another foreign administration: growing unrest in the Punjab. For years this that of the Tibetan government in exile led province had been robustly ruled by ‘The ESSENTIALS by its spiritual leader, the Dali Lama. Lion of Lahore’, the pro-British Ranjit Singh, Return fights from London, 1st class rail fares, 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, bufet who had created one of the most formidable Day 1. Fly London to Delhi. breakfast, all lunches, 3-course dinner fghting forces in the sub-continent: the Khalsa. But his passing in 1839 had led to a Day 2. Delhi. Arrive early morning and with drinks each evening, entrance fees check-in to our hotel for 2 nights. After lunch and expert guide throughout. power-vacuum in the Khalsa’s leadership, it being increasingly directed against British we take a brief orientation tour around Tour Price: £3795 interests and when it crossed the River New Delhi, designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and visit Coronation Park, where many of Single supplement: £695 Sutlej in December 1845, Hardinge felt the British colonial era statues have been Deposit: £350 obliged to declare war against the Punjab. In the words of historian Lawrence James, ‘retired’. Price without train: £3395
50 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 bloody assaults. Its memorial contains a our hotel for two nights. number of paintings and weapons from Day 9. McLeod Ganj and the Dali Lama. the battle. Continue to Ferozepur where, in Amidst colourfully robed Tibetan monks 1897 at the ‘post of Saragarhi’, 21 Sikhs of we will explore the Tsuglagkhang temple the British Indian Army chose to fght to the complex, the spiritual home of Tibet and, if death for nine hours against an Afghani army we are lucky, perhaps catch a glimpse of His of 10,000 men. Check-in to our hotel for one Holiness the Dali Lama. We’ll visit the Tibet night. Museum to better understand the struggle Day 6. Sobraon. We trace the Sikh defensive of its people. This evening we will sample lines successively attacked over the 10/11 some typical Tibetan cuisine. February 1846 by General Gough, inficting Day 10. The Kangra Valley. We drive the heavy casualties on the Khalsa, driving them 240 km journey to Shimla through the in to the Sutlej and ultimately winning the Kangra Valley. Make no mistake, this will be a war. Thence to Amritsar where we check-in long and tiring journey along winding roads to our hotel for two nights. and one in which we will see how rural India Day 7. Amritsar. We explore a dark period competes with pockets of industrialisation. of Punjabi history as we discuss the British Upon arrival in Shimla we check-in to our Amritsar massacre of 1919 when almost hotel for two nights. 400 civilians were killed at Jallianwala Bagh, Day 11. Shimla. We spend an entire day in poignantly commemorated in the public this archetypal crumbling colonial hill station gardens. Some 65 years later the Indian Army with its stunning views over the Himalayas. would infict a greater number of casualties We will wander along the Mall to Scandal on rebelling Sikhs during its siege of the Point, and the Ridge and Christchurch. A ‘Golden Temple’. We refect on both tragedies Era Victorian The highlight of the day will be an excursion on as we explore the completely restored and the UNESCO listed Shimla mountain railway working temple complex of Hari Mandir. Our before we take afternoon tea at Wildfower day ends at the Pakistani border crossing at Hall, one time home to Lord Kitchener. Wagah to witness the immaculately turned out synchronised border guards, from both Day 12. Shimla to Delhi. A lunchtime countries, lower their fags and close the departure takes us down the pretty twisting gates in an entertaining show of military mountain roads to Kalka from where we bravado. catch the Shatadbi Express back to Delhi and Charge of the 3rd (King's Own) Light Dragoons at the Battle of Ferozshubur, December 21st 1845 transfer to our airport hotel for the night. Day 8. To Dharamshala. We spend most of the day taking a scenic drive of some 200 km Day 13. Fly Delhi to London. Day 3. Changing of the Guard. Arrive Delhi over challenging roads, gradually ascending and transfer to our central Delhi hotel for a the Himalayan foothills to gain our frst very early morning check-in. After some sleep glimpses of those majestic mountains as we and breakfast we visit the presidential palace approach Dharamshala where we check-in to at Rashtrapati Bhawan to enjoy the pomp and ceremony of the splendid ‘Changing of the Guard’ performed by mounted and marching troops, in their parade uniforms, accompanied by brass bands. Board the late afternoon Shatadbi Express to Ludhiana where we check-in to our hotel for two nights. Day 4. Ludhiana and Aliwal. We spend the morning at the impressive Ranjit Singh War Museum with its fabulous collection of military equipment (ancient and modern), uniforms and dioramas, including one of Aliwal. At Aliwal itself we walk the battlefeld where Sir Harry Smith inficted a heavy defeat on the Sikh army on 28 January 1846. Day 5. Mudki and Ferozeshah. We see where, on 18 December 1845, the incursive Sikh Khalsa failed to surprise a gathering British force, whose leader, General Gough, then ordered a bloody assault to drive his enemy back to Ferozeshah. This afternoon we visit the latter village where, 3 days after Mudki, Sir Harry Smith led British battalions against the Sikh breastworks in further
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3 – 14 November 2018 SELLING FAST & 2 – 13 November 2019 12 days with Maj Gordon Corrigan Activity Level 2
This is an opportunity to see and walk the ground of one of the most critical periods in the history of India and of the British Empire – the rising of 1857. The Cultural Experience has obtained entry to sites that tourist rarely see. We shall inspect inspiring Moghul architecture with its palaces and gardens while examining the key aspects of the uprising. We will of course sample delicious Indian food and experience the colour and the favour of the rich and varied Indian culture, from the magnifcence of the Taj Mahal, a memorial to a Moghul The Queens Bays at the Relief of Lucknow Emperor’s love for his dead wife, and the stillness of the memorial to the British women and children murdered and thrown In 1857, sixty two well-trained infantry was in progress when violence broke out; down the well in Cawnpore. battalions and eight cavalry regiments of the the Commandant’s house, where British Bengal Army mutinied and turned on their ofcers took shelter from the mutineers in The tour is led by military historian, author British ofcers in a frenzy of religious fervour the latrines; the cemetery, where some of the The Victorian Era and TV presenter Gordon Corrigan. He – sparked of by the fact that new cartridges British victims are buried and the Memorial had a distinguished career as an ofcer in issued to the troops (the ends of which they Park built after independence to glorify the the Gurkhas. As such he served most of his had to bite of to charge their weapons) were mutineers – an interesting dichotomy which career in the Far East and is an established believed to be greased with fat from cows we will explore during the tour. Depart mid- expert on matters Indian and Nepalese. and pigs – forbidden to Hindu and Muslim afternoon for the drive down to Agra where soldiers. Soon the mutinous soldiers were we check in to our luxurious hotel for 2 nights joined by disafected elements of the civilian Day 4 – Agra. We spend a relaxing day in Agra, population – retrospectively venerated as one of the great fortifed palace complexes of early nationalists. For a time British power in Rajahstan, where we visit the unmissable Taj India – the jewel in the British Empire crown Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. - hung by a thread. With so much at stake After lunch we pick up the story of the mutiny "Excellently organised tour, on both sides, it was a near run thing, with at Agra’s beautiful Red Fort with its marbled bravery and treachery in equal measure, and Major Gordon Corrigan is an halls and formal gardens and which, in 1857, larger-than-life characters on each side - but was a refuge for more than 5000 Europeans outstanding tour guide" in the end the rising was defeated, largely and their Indian servants. by loyal Indian and Gurkha troops under the leadership of their British Ofcers. Day 5 – Gwalior. We travel on to Gwalior, seat of the Scindia Mahrattas and tour the stunning Day 1 - Depart London. fortress, captured by the rebels in 1858, and Day 2 – Delhi – Meerut. Arrive in Delhi after visit the site of the skirmish at Kotah ke Serai midnight (local time) and check in to the where the Rani of Jhansi was eventually killed. conveniently-located Radisson hotel to get a Check in to our palatial (literally!) hotel for one late night’s sleep. After a welcome lie-in and night. an orientation lecture: ‘1857: the Background’, ESSENTIALS Day 6 – Jhansi. On to beautiful Jhansi to we set of late morning for Meerut, arriving in see its impressive fort and learn more about Return fights from London, 3, 4 & 5 time to orientate ourselves in this attractive star hotels, bufet breakfast, all lunches the extraordinary career of Lakshmibai, the former garrison and site of the British and 3-course dinner with drinks each 29 year old widowed Rani of Jhansi – whose cantonment where the Mutiny frst broke out. evening, all entrance fees and expert Palace still survives – and who may or may Check in to our modern 5-star hotel for one guide throughout. not have been responsible for the infamous night. massacre of the British garrison and their Tour Price: £3595 Day 3 – Meerut. We continue our exploration families. Check in to our ornate hotel at Single supplement: £800 of Meerut by visiting the parade ground where riverside Orchha just outside the city. Deposit: £350 the refusal to accept the cartridges sparked of Day 7 – Kanpur (Cawnpore). Drive to Kanpur the mutiny; St John’s Church, where evensong Price without fights: £3195 where we examine the siege of General
52 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Wheeler’s makeshift mud entrenchment and pay a melancholy visit to the memorial church with its mutiny memorials. We follow the poignant route of the Garrison’s survivors down to the Sati Chaur Ghat and see the Bibighar Well where the corpses of the butchered women and children were dumped. Check in to our hotel for one night. Day 8 – Kanpur/Lucknow. Continue our exploration of fascinating Kanpur in the morning and then drive on to Lucknow, once the richest city in India, later that day. Check in to our sumptuous hotel that evening for 2 nights. Day 9 – Lucknow. Although slightly marred now by modern industrial development, there is still ample evidence of Lucknow’s former Mogul splendour and of the Munity for us to explore, including the Kaisarbagh (or King’s Palace); the Secunderbagh Gardens where more than 2000 rebels perished when the British stormed it in 1857; and the famous British Residency compound where the besieged garrison held out until relieved The Red Fort Era Victorian The in 1858 – an epic which became a symbol of British courage and endurance. The efects of the siege are still visible and the place has great atmosphere. Day 10 – Delhi from the British perspective. We take the morning fight to Delhi and after an early lunch we start our tour by discussing how the capital reacted to the outbreak of the mutiny. We visit the powder magazine blown up by the guard rather than allow its capture; the telegraph ofce from whence news of the mutiny was communicated to the Punjab; St James’s Church built by the colourful Colonel James Skinner (who founded Skinner’s Horse, Modern day mural the famous Indian Cavalry Regiment) and looted by the rebels; Delhi Ridge from where the British conducted the siege operation to recover the city from the mutineers; the Kashmir Gate, through which British and Gurkha troops stormed the city and the grave of that extraordinary Victorian, Brigadier General John Nicholson, killed in the storming of the city. Check in to the magnifcent colonial Oberoi Maidens hotel for our fnal 2 nights. Day 11 – Delhi from the rebel perspective. This morning we complete the story by looking at the siege from the rebel’s perspective: we visit Delhi’s magnifcent Red Fort, headquarters of the rebels during the Mutiny, and the tomb of Humayan, the son of Babur and the second Moghul emperor, where Major William Hodson arrested the sons of Bahadur Shah, the fgurehead of the rising. There will be an opportunity to view the magnifcent Lutyens architecture of New Delhi and/or do some sightseeing later in the afternoon before a leisurely fnal meal together that evening. Day 12 - Take the morning fight to London
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21 September - 4 October 2018 & 20 September – 3 October 2019 14 days with Fred Hawthorne Activity Level 2
This tour is set amidst picturesque American countryside which, at this time of year, will be resplendent in early autumn colours: the scenic Shenandoah Valley, the stunning Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains, the mighty James River and a wealth of National Parks. We explore historic American towns and cities such as Fredericksburg, Richmond, Lexington, Harper’s Ferry and of course, Gettysburg and visit the major eastern civil war engagements en-route. We walk over superbly preserved battlefelds, often situated within their own national Detail from the Gettysburg Cyclorama parkland, enjoy inspiring presentations not only from your expert guide, Fred During the American Civil War more town before descending to the battlefeld at Hawthorne, but from selected park rangers Americans lost their lives than during Prospect Hill. Walk along the ‘sunken road’ and visit a wealth of museums, historic the whole of WW1 and WW2 combined. and view the original section of the ‘stone buildings and interpretation centres. We
The Victorian Era An estimated 750,000 – some 2% of the wall’ against which waves of Federal troops are based out of full-service hotels where population – died of battle wounds or were thrown. This afternoon we visit the we can indulge in a drink in the bar, whilst disease. For four years, battles raged across Chancellorsville museum and interpretative in the evenings we experience a plethora the continent, but rarely was the fghting centre and walk the battlefeld to include of restaurants, including several historic fercer than in the Eastern Theater where Hazel Grove, the Lee-Jackson last bivouac taverns, in which we enjoy a varied cuisine. six of the ten bloodiest battles of the war and the Chancellor Clearing. were fought. Encouraged by early victories, Day 4 - The Overland Campaign. Receive the Confederate forces held of subsequent a brief on the Battle of the Wilderness Federal advances around Richmond until from the ‘Shelter’ and Saunder’s Field with they felt confdent enough to take the war interpretive stops at Widow Tapp Farm and into the North, where their advances were the Brock Road intersection, the Higgerson checked at Antietam in 1862 and Gettysburg and Chewning clearings and the spot where in 1863. After achieving their ‘high water Longstreet was wounded. Following in the mark’, Southern forces were engaged in “Fred Hawthorne was superb footsteps of the Union army to Spotsylvania, a fght against the inevitable which was we visit Todd’s Tavern, Laurel Hill, the Mule and went the extra mile all of the to fnally end at a small court house in Shoe Salient, the ‘Bloody Angle’ and the Appomattox in April 1865. time – best tour guide we’ve ever court-house and jail. On our southward had. We saw and experienced so Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Washington- journey we see where ‘Stonewall’ Jackson much thanks to him”. Dulles. Check in to our Manassas hotel for spent his last hours and visit the J.E.B Stuart one night. Drinks reception and tour briefng. memorial. We end the day at Cold Harbor with its extensive earthworks including Day 2 - The two Battles of Manassas. View the Confederate entrenchments and the the excellent 1st Manassas orientation flm Connecticut heavy artillery line. Check in to and the illuminated battlefeld map prior our Richmond-area hotel for four nights. to exploring the battlefeld, its monuments ESSENTIALS and historic buildings such as Stone and Hill Day 5 – The Peninsula Campaign. We visit Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star House. After lunch we visit 2nd Manassas locations associated with the frst Battle hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner battlefeld, including the interpretive centre of the Ironclad Warships USS Monitor and with drinks each evening, all entrance at Brawner Farm, ‘Deep Cut’ and the ‘Dogan CSS Virginia (Merrimac) and the superbly fees and expert guide throughout. House’. Thence to Fredericksburg where we preserved Fort Monroe National Monument check in to our hotel for the next two nights. from where McClellan launched his Tour Price: £4950 campaign and where Confederate President Day 3 - Fredericksburg & Chancellorsville. Single supplement: £675 Jeferson Davis was later imprisoned. At Gain an overview of the battle of Deposit: £350 the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News is Fredericksburg from the lovely Chatham the USS Monitor Centre where we see how Price without fights: £4200 Plantation and enjoy its great views over the
54 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 the historic ironclad is being preserved. En- the surrender movie, explore the village, the South Mountain passes, stopping at route to our march to Richmond we stop at visit the McLean House and the ‘Surrender Crampton’s Gap and ‘War Correspondent’s Yorktown, the Warwick Line, Dam #1, and Triangle’ where the laying down of arms took Arch’ to Sharpsburg, Maryland. At the Williamsburg. place. Continue to Lynchburg, Virginia for an Pry House Farm we gain an appreciation overnight stay. of the Battle of Antietam from the Union Day 6 - Richmond and its Battles. Starting perspective and at the Visitors’ Centre at the James River Falls, from where we gain Day 9 - Lexington and the Shenandoah we watch the orientation flm. We follow a classic view of Richmond, we drive along Valley. Drive to Lexington via the Blue Ridge the Union approach to the Sunken Lane: the city’s scenic Monument Avenue to the Mountains and the James Valley (both in amongst our many stops here will be Dunker Civil War museum at the old Tredegar Iron early autumn colours), where we visit the Lee Church, Miller’s and Otto’s Cornfeld, the Works and the Richmond National Park Chapel and family tomb and visit the grounds Sunken Lane and Burnside’s Bridge. Visitor Centre. Thence to the Museum of of the Virginia Military Institute to view the the Confederacy and its ‘White House’. old barracks, the commandants house, cadet Day 12 – Gettysburg. The greatest battle This afternoon we explore the Seven Days chapel and museum. We continue along of the American Civil War and for many, the Campaign with visits or drive pasts to the magnifcent Shenandoah Valley to New single most important event of that war. Chickahominy Heights, Beaver Dam Creek, Market with its VMI ‘Hall of Valor’ and ‘Field We devote our last full day to exploring this Gaines' Mill, Grapevine Bridge, Trent House of lost shoes’. Weather permitting, we’ll site. We will tour many of the great sites Headquarters, Savages Station, White Oak return to the Blue Ridge Mountains, take associated with the battle: Oak Hill, Cemetery Swamp, Glendale and Malvern Hill. the famous ‘Skyline Drive’ and admire the Hill, Little Round Top, and the famous Bloody wonderful vistas from selected ‘overlook’ Angle. A highlight of all our classic Eastern Day 7 - Siege of Petersburg. At City Point stops - we may even be rewarded with a Civil War tours is the opportunity to walk we walk out to Grant’s headquarters and glorious sunset. Thence to Winchester for the route of the climactic attack: Pickett’s the ‘Dictator’ siege mortar, see the eastern one night. Charge. In the afternoon we will visit the front restored fortifcations, and visit Fort brilliantly restored Cyclorama of Gettysburg, Stedman, the famous Crater and, time Day 10- Winchester and Harpers Ferry. set within one of the fnest military museums permitting, the Blandford Church with its We start at Middletown with an introduction Era Victorian The in the world. Our farewell dinner will be at a memorial stained glass windows. Our day to the battle of Cedar Creek and then return historic Gettysburg Tavern. ends at Pamplin Historical Park and the to Winchester to visit Stonewall Jackson’s National Museum of the Civil War soldier, one headquarters which contains many of his Day 13 - Final Thoughts. We visit the of the fnest museums of its kind. personal possessions. This afternoon we visit Shriver House, a museum in the 19th-century Harpers Ferry, situated at the confuence of home of a Civil War soldier's family, exploring Day 8 - Retreat to Appomattox. At the the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and the civilian experience of the war. Thence to remote Five Forks museum, we handle some explore this historic town, perhaps climbing the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where of the wonderful collection of reproduction up to Jeferson Rock. Continue to Gettysburg, we pay our respects on this fnal stop of our weaponry and munitions and explore the Pennsylvania and check in for three nights. tour. We then depart for Washington and our battlefeld. Like Lee, we then travel west evening fight. to Sailor’s Creek State Park to explore the Day 11 - The Maryland Campaign of 1862 battlefeld, museum and the Hillsman House. and Antietam. At Monocacy we visit the Day 14 - Arrive London. This afternoon is spent at Appomattox battlefeld museum and discuss the lost museum and battlefeld park where we view Special Orders 191 and then drive through
National Cemetary Fredericksburg
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11 – 23 April 2020 13 days with Fred Hawthorne Activity Level 2
On this ‘highlights tour’ we will visit many of the important battle sites of the four year campaign for the Mississippi River Valley: Fort Donelson where the little known Union General U.S. Grant began the rise which would lead to his command of all Federal armies within a few short years; the blood bath at Shiloh; the campaign and siege of the crucial river city of Vicksburg. We will also examine the battles in Kentucky and Tennessee and the opportunities lost by Bragg and Hood. We revel in the splendid glory of America’s ‘Deep South’ as we travel from Kentucky through Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. The battlefelds may not Whilst the American Civil War seemed to ebb note. Explore the preserved Confederate be as well-known as those of the Eastern and fow in the east during the years 1862 – fortifcation and stand in its water battery Theater, but they are just as well preserved 1864, in the west it took the form of a gradual, overlooking the Tennessee River where and set in stunning and varying landscapes
The Victorian Era systematic Federal march southwards in one can still imagine the Union gunboats that ofer a superb platform from which order to open the symbolic, but nevertheless steaming against the fort’s heavy guns. A to interpret the fghting. We’ll also stay important, Mississippi River from the stop will be made at the park’s small Visitor in some of America’s most historical and Union heartland to the Gulf of Mexico, Center as well as the Dover Hotel – site of culturally rich towns including; Nashville, a simultaneously splitting the Confederacy the garrison’s surrender to Federal forces. hotbed of country music and New Orleans, in to half. Today some historians argue the Continue to Nashville, our base for the next one of the most vibrant and diverse cities real victory of the northern states came from three nights. in the USA. Throughout the tour we will be these three years of battles in the mid-west. Day 4 - Nashville. Nashville was the frst staying in comfortable, well located full- It was during these lesser known Western southern capital to be occupied by Federal service hotels and enjoy a wide variety of Theatre battles that many of the great forces during the war and was a point of traditional and American cuisine in a host commanders built their reputations; Grant, contention throughout. This morning we of restaurants. Forrest, Sherman, Johnston, and Thomas. will tour the Stones River National Battlefeld Day 1 - Arrive. Fly London to Louisville, near Murfreesboro where General Braxton Kentucky via Dallas Fort Worth, arriving in Bragg’s strategic campaign of 1862 came to a the evening. Check in to our airport hotel for close. This afternoon we visit Fort Negley and the night. sites associated with the Battle of Nashville. Day 2 – Perryville. Drive out to Perryville, Day 5 - Franklin. This morning we visit where Braxton Bragg failed to wrestle Franklin where the remnants of the once- control of Kentucky from the Union forces. proud Confederate Army of Tennessee was We explore the battlefeld park and its small nearly destroyed in a bloody battle in late interpretive centre. Thence to Abraham fall 1864. Though not preserved as part of Lincoln Birthplace national park with its a National Park, local preservationists have memorial, symbolic cabin and museum. done a remarkable job of interpreting the Continue to Bowling Green, KY, where we site and we will fnd a number of buildings, ESSENTIALS spend the night. fortifcations and monuments. Return to Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star Nashville for a free afternoon to explore the Day 3 – Dover. To keep the tour balanced hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner country music capital of the world. with drinks each evening, all entrance we visit the Jeferson Davis Birthplace state fees and expert guide throughout. park with its monument and museum Day 6 – Shiloh. An early start to travel to to the confederate president. Thence to Shiloh, one of the most brutal battles of Tour Price: £4995 Dover, TN, past the submerged site of Fort the American Civil War, where thousands Single supplement: £675 Henry to the Fort Donelson National Park. were killed and wounded including the Here, in February 1862, General Ulysses S. southern Army Commander, General Albert Deposit: £350 Grant gained national attention when he Sydney Johnston, one of the highest ranking Price without fights: £4245 issued his famed “unconditional surrender” ofcers to be killed in action during the war.
56 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 We devote the entire day to touring this Day 9 – Natchez. Continuing south we will wonderfully preserved site. Following a stop visit the Confederate stronghold of Port at the Visitor Centre to view the orientation Hudson State Historic site and the wonderful flm we head out to see famous sites such old southern town of Natchez, Mississippi. as the Hornet’s Nest, Pittsburg Landing, the We will spend the night in the capital city of fnal defence line and the National Cemetery. Baton Rouge where we will take a brief tour Continue to Corinth for the night. of its Civil War history. Day 7 – Corinth. Our day starts at the Day 10 – - Beauvoir & Chalmette. This Corinth Civil War Interpretive Centre, which morning we visit Biloxi, Mississippi, to tour recounts the battles of 1862 & 1864, before the retirement home of the Confederacy’s we head across the state of Mississippi using only President, Jeferson Davis at Beauvoir. a portion of the historic and scenic Natchez Thence to Chalmette Plantation, the location Trace Parkway, an early American trail. En of the last battle fought between the UK and route we will stop at Civil War sites at Brices the US. Continue to New Orleans and check Cross Roads and Tupelo, the latter also the in to our hotel for two nights. birthplace of Elvis Presley. Along the Trace Day 11 - New Orleans. We enjoy a guided are a number of scenic stops including a tour of the fabulous city of New Orleans cypress swamp, characteristic of some areas including its famous French Quarter whilst of the Deep South. Check in to our Vicksburg the afternoon is free for you to explore hotel for two nights. the many sites and museums that this this Day 8 – Vicksburg. We spend the day wonderful city has to ofer. This evening we exploring the wonderful Vicksburg National board the Natchez steam boat and enjoy a Military Park which tells the story of this 1863 dinner cruise down the Mississippi to the
campaign and subsequent 47 day siege, one accompaniment of an on-board jazz band. Era Victorian The of the crucial turning points of the American Fort Donelson National Park Day 12 – Return. We visit the wonderfully Civil War. We will visit many of the forts atmospheric Civil War Museum at and redoubts along both the Federal siege Confederate Memorial Hall. Return fight to lines and the Confederate defence lines. We London or why not extend your stay? "Lovely, small group of people will also visit the USS Cairo Gunboat and and what Fred doesn’t know Museum. This ship was sunk by an ‘infernal Day 13 – Home. Arrive London. about the Civil War machine’ in 1863 and discovered and raised isn’t worth knowing" a century later.
The Battle of Stones River
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19 March - 2 April 2019 15 Days with Fred Hawthorne Activity Level 2
A wonderful 15 day tour which visits some of the most iconic and beautiful Southern cities and countryside in the states of Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. We trace the hard-marched routes of the soldiers of both sides through some uncompromising yet striking country; the battlefelds around Chattanooga; the stunning Appalachian Mountains and the beautiful antebellum cities of Savannah and Charleston on the eastern seaboard. Make no mistake, these campaigns involved long marches and consequently we cover a lot of ground during the tour. Whilst this was a campaign of manoeuvre, we will still enjoy some The last great victory for the Confederate electric map, admire the magnifcent views superbly preserved battlefelds with their Army was on the bloody battlefeld of over Chattanooga and its surrounding interpretation centres, flms, museums Chickamauga on 19 – 20 September 1863. mountains at Point Park and explore Craven and historic buildings. We will hear from
The Victorian Era But despite this success, their ensuing siege Plateau. Finally we climb down to Bragg and specialist park rangers whose stories will of Chattanooga was fnally broken by the Longstreet’s fantastic observation Point at compliment those of our excellent guide, unifed and reinforced Federal forces in the Sunset Rock. Fred Hawthorne. We will see some unusual west under the overall command of Ulysses aspects of the Civil War: the frst submarine Day 4 – The Campaign for Atlanta. In the S. Grant. Subsequently made responsible for to sink a ship, fortresses with their extant path of Sherman’s pursuit of Johnson we all Union forces, as part of his grand pincer siege damage, famous locomotives and visit some lesser preserved sites such as strategy, Grant dispatched an army group prisoner of war camps. We’ll stay at great Tunnel Hill, the site of the great locomotive under Sherman to pursue the Confederate American full service hotels and end each chase, the rugged terrain of Rocky Face army to Atlanta which fell at the end of August day at a diferent restaurant where we’ll Ridge, the railroad depot of Ringgold and the 1864. Abandoning his line of communications, enjoy some great American food and Southern Museum of Civil War in ‘Big Shanty’ Sherman commenced his famous march to the hospitality. (Kennesaw) with its famous exhibit - the sea which culminated in the fall of Savannah ‘General’ locomotive. Check in to our Atlanta/ in December. He then turned on Johnson’s Cumberland hotel for four nights. recently unifed Confederate command and “Fred’s knowledge of the subject pursued it through the Carolinas, fnally Day 5 – The Battles on Atlanta’s Doorsteps. accepting their surrender at Durham Station At New Hope Church and Pickett's Mill we is exceptional, as is his ability on 26 April 1865. explore the last stages of Joe Johnson's defensive retreat before Sherman's force. to impart it. In addition his Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Chattanooga, The last major mountain obstacle is Tennessee and check in to our hotel for three organisational skills and social well preserved at Kennesaw Mountain nights. Welcome dinner and introductory talk. interaction cannot be faulted.” National Park. We obtain great views of the Day 2 – Battle Of Chickamauga. A full day surrounding area and visit its interpretation exploring Chickamauga, the great battle centre. At Pigeon Hill there are magnifcently of the Western Theater. Much of our time preserved Confederate breastworks whilst is spent in the feld, but we fnd time to visit at Cheatham's Hill we visit the earthworks, ESSENTIALS its orientation flm, museum and historic tunnels and stand upon the glacis like slope. Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star buildings, all set amidst this wonderfully Day 6 – Atlanta History Centre and Stone hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner preserved National Military Park, the frst and Mountain. We take a break from battlefelds with drinks each evening, all entrance largest in America. fees and expert guide throughout. today to visit the famous, recently restored Day 3 – Battles around Chattanooga. We and relocated Atlanta Cyclorama at the Tour Price: £4995 gain an appreciation of the Union assault and fabulous Atlanta History Centre, where we capture of Missionary Ridge from Orchard can see the ‘Texas’ Locomotive, the Tully Single supplement: £795 Knob Reservation; pay our respects at the Smith Plantation House and the superb Deposit: £350 National Cemetery; drive or take the tram museum and gallery which contains some Price without fights: £4245 to the top of Lookout Mountain, view the of the fnest memorabilia of the era. This
58 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 LAND
the site of the small action at Griswoldville our fnal night of the tour. and then visit Milledgeville, the old Georgian Day 14 – Surrender. At the Bennett Place we capital. We explore the defences, shelters and visit the cabin where Generals Johnson and museum at Fort McAlister. Check in to our Sherman met to negotiate the surrender of hotel in the heart of Savannah for two nights. the Confederate army. Continue to Charlotte Day 10 – Civil War Savannah. We take a for return fights to London. walk through Civil War Savannah, the perfect Day 15 - Arrive London. southern city with its Spanish moss covered trees and lovely residential squares. This afternoon we visit lovely Tybee Island and explore Fort Pulaski, complete with extant civil war damage, casements, revetments and moat. Day 11 – Savannah. A late morning departure to allow time for a quiet walk along the Savanah waterfront before we drive through the low country of South Carolina, stopping en-route at a typical Southern Plantation, to Charleston where we check in to our hotel for two nights. Day 12 – Charleston - the Cradle of the Confederacy. We take a morning walk amidst this wonderful antebellum city, in particular The Victorian Era Victorian The Lookout Mountain along the ‘Battery’, Charleston’s landmark defensive seawall and promenade with its grand houses. We take a boat trip to Fort afternoon we travel to Stone Mountain with Sumter, where the Civil War began, and this its huge carvings of southern heroes Jeferson afternoon we visit the conservation site of Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. A H L Hunley, the frst submarine to successfully cable-car ride up to the top of the monolith sink an enemy vessel and possibly the most will provide magnifcent views of hundreds of fantastic artefact from the war. miles of Georgia countryside. Day 13 – March Through The Carolinas. We Day 7 – Margaret Mitchell and Martin rejoin Sherman’s route through the Carolinas Luther King Jr. We start the day at the to Bentonville, North Carolina, the last major apartment where Margaret Mitchell battle of the war. Set amidst cotton felds, we commenced her famous novel ‘Gone with explore the battlefeld, its museum and the the Wind’, today a museum dedicated to Harper House hospital. Thence to Raleigh for Jonesboro Confederate Cemetery the infuence of both the novel and the flm. Whilst the remainder of Atlanta battlefelds are victims of modern development, we enjoy a series of vignettes at the remaining markers found at Peachtree Creek and Ezra Church. At Oakland Cemetery we fnd the Lion of Atlanta and the spot used by Hood for observation of the battle of July 22. Finally we pay our respects to one of the great leaders of the civil rights movement at the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site with its visitor centre, monument, home and tomb. Day 8 – Andersonville and Ocmulgee. We leave Atlanta behind and visit the Confederate Cemetery at Jonesboro, the fnal battle for Atlanta. Thence to the infamous and haunting Andersonville Prisoner of War camp with its museum and National Cemetery. Just outside Macon we visit the Native Indian site of Ocmulgee, which possibly pre-dates Stonehenge, and explore its Earth Lodge and Great Temple, the oldest extant buildings in North America. Check in to our hotel in Macon for one night. Day 9 – March to the Sea. As we follow Sherman’s right wing to Savannah we visit
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20 – 25 October 2018 6 Days with Maj-Gen John ‘DZ’ Drewienkiewicz Activity Level 2
During this six day tour to northern Italy we will visit fve battlefelds that were pivotal in the struggle for Italian Independence; the allied victories in 1859 at Montebello, Palestro, Magenta and Solferino and the reality check at Custoza Battle of Magenta in 1866. We will be based in the colourful Lombardy city of Magenta and Peschiera which provides us with a fne example of After nearly 20 years of ‘enlightened’ French Day 4 - Solferino. A full day exploring a Quadrilateral fortress, perched on the hegemony, the Congress of Vienna saw Solferino, the decisive battle of the 1859 banks of the incredibly beautiful Lake Northern Italy once more placed under campaign, where Franz Josef was persuaded Garda. Throughout our travels we will truly oppressive Austro-Hungarian control as to ofer battle west of the Mincio River. From grasp how the breath-taking mountainous demonstrated by the ensuing development atop of both the Spy of Italy and the San terrain and rivers infuenced the strategy of the ‘Quadrilateral Fortress’ system. But Martino tower we gain a wonderful panorama and planning of both sides. the sparks of nationalism could not be of the battlefeld which has changed little over extinguished and as Sardinia (Piedmont) the years. We visit the Red Cross monument, grew in strength she provided leadership the battlefeld museums, the chapel and for the drive for Italian independence and ossuary. We end the day by crossing the unifcation. Encouraged by the ‘fve day’ Milan Mincio to review the area to the east, where
The Victorian Era revolt on 22 March 1848, she declared war on Franz Josef might arguably have fared better. the Habsburg Empire only to be defeated at Day 5 - Custoza. We spend the day retracing Custoza and Novara. But by ceding Nice and Custoza, situated in the heart of the Savoy to France, Sardinia bought the support Quadrilateral and where on 24 June 1866, of Napoleon III and, thus encouraged, once the vastly outnumbered Austrians inficted again engineered war in April 1859. The serious defeat on the Italians. bloody and unimaginative battles of Magenta and Solferino followed which consolidated Day 6 - Milan. Visit the Risorgimento Museum Piedmont’s dominance of Lombardy. When, which tells the story of the Italian struggle for in June 1866, Prussia struck against Austria, independence from its early days right up to the recently declared Kingdom of Italy once WW1. Transfer to Milan airport for our return again took the ofensive but was defeated at fight to London. the second battle of Custoza. Day 1 - Depart. Fly London to Milan. Check in “Did the tour meet my to our hotel in Magenta for two nights. expectations? I would say, Day 2 - Montebello and Palestro. Travelling unquestionably exceeded. via the strategic Stradella Gap we visit Tank You" Montebello where, on 20 May 1859, a French division supported by Sardinian cavalry ‘bumped’ into a much larger Austrian force. Thence to Palestro where the Austrians attempted to check the Sardinian advance on Milan. ESSENTIALS Day 3 - Magenta and Peschiera. We explore Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, the battlefeld of Magenta, fought on 4 June bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with 1859, the result of which allowed the Allies drinks each evening, all entrance fees to enter Milan triumphant. Here we also visit and expert guide throughout. its museum, ossuary and many monuments. Drive eastwards to Peschiera, one of the Tour Price: £1955 Quadrilateral Fortresses. Walk the impressive Single supplement: £175 ramparts and explore the fortress. Check into our hotel for three nights. Deposit: £200 Price without fights: £1805 San Martino Tower
60 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 THE AUSTRO-PRUSSIAN WARXXX THE ROAD TO KONNIGRAXXXT
28 June – 5 July 2019 8 Days with Maj-Gen John ‘DZ’ Drewienkiewicz Activity Level 2
Over the course of a week in the high summer wooded hills and clashed with the 1st Prussian During our eight-day tour we will be of 1866, the Prussian Army decisively defeated Corps as it emerged from the defles. Thence based entirely in the Czech Republic the Austrian-led German Confederation in to Burkersdorf to follow the following day’s and will enjoy wonderfully picturesque a series of fve preliminary clashes and the attack by the Prussian Guard Corps against countryside, revealing scenery and climactic battle of Kőniggrätz in Bohemia. At the Austrian 10th Corps as it attempted to forested walks (often of up to a Kőniggrätz almost half a million men fought in disengage. mile each). At the 153rd Anniversary a sprawling battle that decided the outcome of Day 5 – Gitschin. Explore the battlefeld of Commemorations we will experience a the war in a single day. This was a battle that Gitschin where, on 29 June 1866, two Prussian series of vignette reenactments and an dwarfed any of those fought in the recently divisions attacked the Austrian 1st Corps. evening multi-media event in the Grand ended Civil War in America. Here was born Check in to our hotel in Jicin for the last three Square of Hradec Kralove (Kőniggrätz), a the myth that all future wars would be quickly nights of the tour. charming and historical regional city. settled, a myth that was reinforced in 1871 but which was so painfully shattered in 1914. Day 6 & 7 – Kőniggrätz. Starting at the With John Drewienkiewicz as your guide, The Victorian Era Victorian The Austrian rear-guard action at Königinhof, you will partake in what is probably the Day 1 – Depart. Fly London to Prague. Drive we commence our two day exploration of most comprehensive tour of this war to Hradec Kralove and check in to our hotel for the Kőniggrätz (3 July) battlefeld. From the through a combination of museum visits, two nights. Orientation briefng before dinner. Chlum Museum, with its well sited viewing battlefeld exploration and travel over the Day 2 - Re-enactment. Today will be the tower, we obtain a magnifcent panorama entire campaign area - all portraying the 153rd anniversary of the battle of Kőniggrätz. of the sprawling feld of battle. We examine start of modern warfare in Europe. There will be many uniformed re-enactors and discuss the initial Austrian defensive on the battlefeld living in their bivouacs and line to the north of Kőniggrätz and evaluate recreating various scenes from the battle. We the opposing High Command positions. We will spend a full day amongst their camps and drive over the entire battlefeld to gain an enjoy the organised spectacles. overall impression of the sheer scale of the terrain. Thence to the actions at Prims Wood Day 3 - The battles of Nachod, Skalitz and and Problus on the Austrian left fank and Schweinschädel (27, 28 and 29 June) where walk through Swiep Wood, the pivotal ebb three Austrian corps, through uncoordinated and fow battle that sucked in so many of the attacks, failed to halt the Prussians debouching Austrian reserves. View the Austrian Battery from the defles of the Bohemian passes. Check of the Dead and explore the Chlum and in to our hotel in Trutnov for 2 nights. Rosberitz positions to discuss the Austrian Day 4 - Tratenau & Burkerdorf. We follow a attempts to retake them. “A harmonious tour due no well laid out wooded path to St John’s Chapel Day 8 – Depart. En-route to Prague airport doubt to the excellent recce to discuss the battle of Trautenau, fought we stop at Stresetitz, the scene of the massed on 27 June, where the Austrian 10th Corps and thorough preparations by cavalry action that checked the Prussian advanced to block the passes through the John DZ, it all made for a really pursuit. Return fights to London. informed and well run trip. We saw and did things not available to most visitors"
ESSENTIALS Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout.
Tour Price: £2295 Single supplement: £165 Deposit: £225 Price without fights: £2145
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5 - 18 March 2019 & 4 - 17 March 2020 14 Days with Ian Knight Activity Level 2/3
This fascinating study of the Anglo-Zulu War takes us to ground that has hardly changed since the memorable events of the period, all set amongst spectacular scenery still populated by Zulu tribes and an abundance of wildlife. As well as visiting the battle sites of Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and others that have gone down in British military folklore, we will be discussing the men, armies and tactics of both sides, their problems, successes and failures. We will be in the very capable hands of Ian Knight whose book Zulu Rising received great critical acclaim and adds to his body of meticulously researched books on the war and on Zulu culture. But this is much more than ‘just’ a battlefeld tour: Ian has been visiting South Africa for more than 30 years and knows
The Victorian Era the ground and its people well. We will be staying in comfortable lodges and hotels, and have ample opportunity to observe Isandlwhana the local people and customs as well as participating in a game drive featuring many of Africa’s best loved animals such as First annexed by Britain in the Napoleonic Day 1 - Depart. Overnight fight from London the elephant, rhino, girafe, zebra, leopard Wars, the Cape of Good Hope was in a vital Heathrow to Johannesburg. position on the route to the Far East. Although and antelope. Day 2 – Durban. Internal fight to Durban. The South Africa never rivalled India in importance Southern column: visit Fort Pearson, on a bluf After many years, we believe we now within the Empire, the battles between Queen above the Thukela River, and the Ultimatum have the defnitive Zulu War tour nicely Victoria's red-coated battalions and the lightly tree nearby. Overnight in Prince’s Grant on the balanced with cultural experience – led armed Zulu forces have remained vibrant in Indian Ocean Coast. by an expert who is both an enthusiastic the memory of both adversaries as few other guide and very good company. imperial events have done. Day 3 – The Battlefelds of Gingindlovu and Nyezane. Drive up to the site of the old In 1879, with Britain at the height of her mission station at Eshowe, converted to a fort imperial power, Lord Chelmsford's three by the men of Pearson's column, stopping at columns marched into Zululand on a punitive the battlefelds along the way. Lunch at Fort expedition to teach the Zulu King Cetshwayo Nongqayi. Overnight at Shakaland with Zulu a lesson. Two equally professional armies dancing after dinner. with totally diferent fghting traditions and weapons met and fought with startling Day 4 - Shakaland. We drive deep into Zulu results. At Isandlwana the Zulus inficted the country to visit King Cetshwayo's grave. After most humiliating defeat of the Victorian era lunch at Shakaland we are introduced to the ESSENTIALS on the over-confdent British battalions. Yet culture and customs of the Zulu people and hours later, the small number of determined stay a second night. Return fights from London, 3 & 4 star and well-led defenders at Rorke's Drift drove hotels, bufet breakfast, all lunches, Day 5 - Ulundi, the fnal battle of the of repeated Zulu attacks and captured the 3-course dinner with drinks each Zulu War. We visit the battlefeld and royal public’s admiration. In the end, the rife evening, all entrance fees and expert homestead at Ondini. Picnic lunch before inevitably triumphed over the spear. It is guides throughout. moving on to Ithala Game Reserve, where we a story of arrogance and determination, stay for 4 nights. Tour Price: £4875 traditions and innovations, but above all amazing individual bravery on both sides. Single supplement: £525 Day 6 - Ntombe Spruit. We walk around this The old Zulu nation was destroyed – but at little-known action where a convoy of the Deposit: £400 the cost of a signifcant dent to British military 80th regiment was wiped out in March 1879. Price without fights: £4375 prestige. River permitting, we wade across the stream
62 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 and explore both sides. Then, on our way back to Ithala, we pick up the story of Col. Wood’s column to hear about the confusion and “ Te Zulu War tour was a truly tragedy on Hlobane mountain. enriching experience. Day 7 – Hlobane Mountain. If you are ft enough and the weather permits, we will Ian Knight is a gifed storyteller and walk up the slopes of Hlobane mountain and a thoroughly knowledgeable scholar." explore as much of the fat-topped summit as we can (n.b. this is potentially a stif walk and the tracks are deteriorating). For the less adventurous there are pleasant walks around the camp and time to relax. A game drive in the afternoon amid spectacular views. Day 8 - Khambula. We explore the battlefeld of Khambula and contrast the success there with the shambles of Hlobane. Day 9 –Blood River & Prince Imperial. Travel by way of the Voortrekker Blood River battlefeld to the memorial which commemorates the spot where France’s Prince Imperial was killed. On to Isandlwana/ Rorkes Drift area for a 4 night stay at our wonderfully sited lodge. The Victorian Era Victorian The Days 10 & 11 – Battle of Isandlwana. During these two days we hear the full story of the battle of Isandlwana, including the Ngwebeni Valley and the spur where the Zulu commander controlled his regiments' attacks. There is time to visit the outpost line and the memorial to the artillery; Black's Koppie, Younghusband's knoll and Durnford's Donga. We drive out to the hills where Lord Chelsmford took half his force to look for the Zulu army. For those of you who are ft enough we will walk as much of the Fugitives’ Trail as is practicable, although we are dependent upon the state of the river – we will in any case Isandlwhana today tell the story from the heights overlooking Fugitives’ Drift where we visit the memorial to Coghill and Melvill. Day 12 - Rorke’s Drift. A full day at Rorke's Drift and there is much to see. Down at the Bufalo River crossing, and at the mission station the great story will be enthrallingly told by Ian as the great climax to the dramatic events of 1879. Day 13 – Johannesburg. Return to Johannesburg with lunch en-route. Overnight return fight to London. Day 14 – Arrive. Early morning arrival at London Heathrow.
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28 October– 6 November 2019 10 days with Ian Knight Activity Level 2
This tour is a study of the two conficts between the Afrikaners seeking independence and the freedom to maintain their unique way of life, and the imperial Forces of the British Empire during the height of the scramble for Africa. Travelling through this wonderful country you will get a feeling for its vastness, gaining an insight into the problems this caused and how the Boers could use it to their advantage. There is also a chance to spot some of Africa’s unbeatable wildlife whilst venturing through impressive landscapes, and staying in characteristic accommodation in serene and natural surroundings. As we have learnt from our In the frst half of the 19th century, a desire for 550 men succumbed to a humiliating defeat, Zulu tours, the local hospitality in South freedom from the British government drove Colley himself being killed in the action. The Africa is always welcoming and your guide, large numbers of Afrikaners away from the defeat led to the Treaty of Pretoria granting Ian Knight, is unrivalled in his knowledge of The Victorian Era settled areas into the hinterland. Conditions independence to the South African Republic. the country and its military history. on the ‘Great Trek’ were harsh and dangerous, We head onto Dundee, which changed hands and progress was contested by African groups twice during the Second Boer War, and check along the way, but it achieved its aim of in to our hotel for three nights. independence for the Transvaal (1852) and the Day 3 - Talana and the Siege of Ladysmith. Orange Free State (1854). This, however, was 18 years after the treaty was signed, the the age of empire and Britain was pursuing the confict once again fared up. The opening wealth and prosperity of this rich and fertile battle of the Second Boer War was at Talana country, and in 1877 annexed the Transvaal Hill where a frontal attack by the British – this “Corpses lay here and there. republic. In 1881 the Boer population rebelled time wearing khaki - succeeded, but at the and the fghting began. We look at the events Many of the wounds were of a cost of heavy losses. Thence to Elandslaagte, which led to that war, the opposing forces where once again the British were victorious, horrible nature. Te splinters and the humiliating defeat of the 'Rooineks' at but retreated instead of hammering home the and fragments of the shells had Majuba Hill in February 1881. advantage. This would become the prelude torn and mutilated them. Te The life of the new republic was short. With to the siege of Ladysmith, to which we turn shallow trenches were choked the discovery of gold in the Transvaal, the Boer our attention this afternoon, visiting the with dead and wounded.” – way of life was again threatened by an infux dedicated museum and the actions around of foreign miners, 'Uitlanders'. In October the defensive perimeter of Platrand and Winston Churchill at Spioen Kop 1899 the confict was reignited. This was a Wagon Hill. war of sieges, of huge distances and guerrilla Day 4 – The Relief Column. Today we focus warfare and we look at the commanders, on the actions of the Ladysmith relief column, strategy tactics and the fghting men of both starting with the early failure at the Battle of sides whilst exploring the most important Colenso where a 21,000 strong force led by battle areas. ESSENTIALS General Buller were beaten back by 6,000 Return fights from London, 3 and 4 Day 1 - Depart . Fly overnight from London to entrenched Boers. Buller was so badly beaten star hotels, bufet breakfast, all lunches, Johannesburg. that he advocated the surrender of Ladysmith. 3-course dinner with drinks each Despite this, he led a successful assault on the Day 2 - Transvaal Rebellion. After a morning evening, all entrance fees and expert Thukela Heights after the disaster of Spioen arrival in Johannesburg we drive south to guide throughout. Kop, which led to the siege being lifted and explore the battlefelds of the climactic the tide of the war began to turn. Tour Price: £3695 actions of the 1881 Transvaal Rebellion. Firstly, Day 5 - Spioen Kop. Spioen Kop was the Single supplement: £450 at Laing’s Nek we discover how General Sir George Colley completely underestimated defning battle for the relief of Ladysmith and Deposit: £350 the 2,000 strong Boer force and was defeated. one of the most poignant British disasters Price without fights: £3195 Thence onto Majuba Hill where Colley and his of the war. After believing they had taken
64 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 where they dug in and successfully repulsed defence held out. We hear of the trials and a frontal attack two weeks later. At the tribulations of living under siege and visit the Magersfontein Museum, we can see some Kimberley Museum. We then head to the ‘Big preserved Boer trenches and explore the Hole’, the remnant of an open Diamond Mine recently renovated exhibition. We end the day that claims to be the largest ever excavated with the battle of Paardeberg, which actually by hand - an incredibly impressive site! This took place after the relief of Kimberley. afternoon is free for you to relax and explore Blocking the Boers’ route to the Modder River, at your leisure. Kitchener led a poorly executed assault and Day 9 – Karoo and Departure. We check out was repulsed. A siege followed and the Boers, of our hotel for the last time and drive north under Cronjé, were starved into surrender. through the vast and impressive semi-desert Day 8 - The relief of Kimberley. The siege terrain of the Karoo and into the Transvaal. of the diamond mining town of Kimberley Evening return fight from Johannesburg to lasted for 124 days and, although ill prepared, London. the inhabitants’ and garrison’s improvised Day 10 - Home. Arrival in London The Victorian Era Victorian The Crossing the Modder River a commanding position atop Spioen Kop under the cover of darkness, the British were horrifed to fnd that their position on the summit did not command the approaches. This left them completely exposed to Boer artillery fre and to an assault at close-range, and nothing short of a massacre ensued. The British force eventually left the hill beaten and bloodied after what was an all-round military disaster – although, ironically, the Boers also withdrew, believing that the British had managed to hold on. This afternoon enjoy a relaxing and scenic drive through the foothills The Mass Grave, Spion Kop of the Drakensburg to our accommodation in Golden Gate National Park for one night. Day 6 – Bloemfontein. Our frst visit today is the battlefeld of Sannah's Post which was one of the frst actions of the guerrilla war. In a perfectly executed ambush, the Boers inficted heavy losses and secured access to Bloemfontein’s water works, aggravating an epidemic of enteric fever dysentery and cholera among the occupying British army. We head into the Free State capital of Bloemfontein and visit The Emily Hobhouse Museum. Emily Hobhouse was a remarkable woman who performed crucial relief work at the concentration camps despite ferce opposition from her own countrymen. We head to our accommodation in Langberg and experience Karoo hospitality at its best. Day 7 - Kimberley relief column. Today is spent following these actions including the battle of Modder River, where the Boers managed to delay the strong British force on their way to Kimberley, but were ultimately unsuccessful and retreated to Magersfontein,
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in the flm ‘Gallipoli’. At the end of our full ANZAC Cove day we cross the Dardenelles to our hotel in 7 - 12 May 2019 Çanakkale and enjoy a leisurely dinner. 6 days Day 4 – Helles peninsular. We will walk a (2 day optional extension) section of Gully Ravine, perhaps the most atmospheric yet least visited part of the with Dr Bruce Cherry battlefeld. Our day will also see us studying Activity Level 2 the battles around the ‘Vineyard’. We will shift our focus to the Turkish perspective, visiting some amazing memorials and the small village of Bigali where we fnd a museum During this six day tour to Turkey we will dedicated to Ataturk. Returning to Çanakkale, visit and examine the main aspects of the we complete our day with a visit to the Gallipoli campaign: the naval assault, the extraordinary naval museum and the Turkish problems of landing against defended gun positions at Ephez. This is followed again beaches at Cape Helles, the command, by dinner on the quayside. control and communication issues, the miracle that was ANZAC, the Turkish Gallipoli Yeomanry perspective, the conditions at Gallipoli, the “Bruce Cherry is an exceptional Suvla Bay fasco and discuss whether it was Gallipoli was the scene of one of the great Allied all worthwhile. All this is set against the guide & tries to personalise failures of the First World War. In attempting exotic backdrop of Turkish history, culture, to take Turkey out of the war, the assault on the tour for everyone. I also scenic beauty and cuisine - all of which we the Dardanelles ended in disastrous failure appreciated the excellent hotels will have ample opportunity to explore. following a campaign that lasted from April There are further opportunities to soak and food on the tour." 1915 to January 1916. The campaign saw some up the culture with our optional two day thirteen British and Empire divisions involved extension to Istanbul including a guided in a struggle against twenty Turkish divisions, Day 5 – Suvla Bay. Drive to beautiful Suvla tour of this beguiling and bustling city at with a total cost of 500,000 casualties. Bay and examine the landings of August 6th the cross roads of Europe and Asia. 1915 at Nibrunesi Point and the baptism of fre Day 1 - Arrival. An early-morning fight for the Kitchener battalions such as the 6th from London sees us arrive in Istanbul early- Green Howards and the King’s Sandringham afternoon. We take the long journey towards Company. Depending on weather conditions, the peninsular and to the town of Gallipoli we will take a short but telling walk to Lala ISTANbUL where we spend the frst night of our tour. Baba, or along a stretch of Kiretch Tepe; 2 DAy EXTENSION Pre-dinner drinks and introductory talk follow the failed attempt to break out at Hill 10, Chocolate Hill and Green Hill and the Local guides, Bed & Breakfast only. Day 2 - Naval and Amphibious Operations. subsequent struggle for Scimitar Hill and Hill Please contact us for extension pricing This morning, following a detailed 60. We will also visit a small private museum at examination of the Turkish coastal defences
First World War Day 6 - Istanbul. Drive to Istanbul and the village of Büyükanafarta. Finally, we shall from Kilitbahir to the hugely impressive our centrally located hotel for two nights. examine one of the most successful phases national Turkish memorial, we visit the French- Spend the afternoon at leisure. of the operation, the evacuation at Suvla Bay. held sector before moving onto the 25th April Return to hotel and a fnal farewell dinner on Day 7 - Sultanahment. A full day guided landing beaches – S, V, W, X and Y Beaches; the harbour-side. exploration of the imperial quarter of each with its own poignant story, including Istanbul including the extraordinary the ill-fated SS Clyde landings at V Beach, and Day 6 – Home. Drive to Istanbul to catch our Haghia Sophia, the imperial Topkapi the “six VCs before breakfast” won at W beach fight to London. Palace, the graceful Blue Mosque and the by the Lancashire Fusiliers. We will also spend enchanting Grand Bazaar. some quiet time at the Helles Memorial for the Day 8 - Home. A morning visit to the Missing. We cross over the Dardenelles and to Turkish Military museum before a return Çanakkale where we check in to our hotel for fight from Istanbul to London. the remainder of the tour. Day 3 –ANZAC. Following a fairly early start, we follow the coast road before turning of to ANZAC. The day’s highlights include the ESSENTIALS museum at Gaba Tepe and Anzac Cove, a Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, climb up to Plugge’s Plateau, scene of ferce bufet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course fghting, with its overview of ANZAC Cove and dinner with drinks each evening, key features such as Razor Back and Shrapnel all entrance fees and expert guide Valley and Lone Pine Ridge, where seven VCs throughout. were won. We also tour one of the many front- line ANZAC positions, such as Johnstone’s Tour price: £1995 Jolly and Quinn’s Post. We visit the important Single supplement: £125 sites of the August ofensive such as Sari Bair, Walker’s Ridge, the Gurkhas battle for Hill ‘Q’ Deposit: £200 and the Nek, the site of the ill-fated attack Price without fights: £1845 of the Australian Light Horse, immortalised
66 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 FIRST AND LAST SHOTSXXX bATTLES AROUND MONS &XXX
20 – 23 August 2019 4 Days with Simon Jones Activity Level 2
By a poignant quirk of fate, British forces fred their frst and last shots of the Great War in the Belgian city of Mons. Today, the frst and last British casualties from 1914 and 1918 lie buried, together with their Mons former German foes, in the remarkable St. Symphorien Cemetery. The armies of 1914 looked for inspiration from Day 2 – Mons Left Flank, Rearguards The stand along the canal at Mons on the battles of Napoleon, but the British Army, Elouges & Le Cateau. We follow the canal 23rd August 1914 against massed German bloodied in the Boer War, had developed line on the British left fank to Les Herbières, armies by the tiny British Expeditionary 'Fire and Movement' tactics with rapid and where the East Surreys were surrounded Force (BEF) resulted in the frst four accurate musketry. At Mons and Le Cateau, and many now lie in the nearby cemetery. A Victoria Crosses of the war awarded. A the tiny BEF could only momentarily slow the costly rear-guard action at Elouges on 24th second heroic defence at Le Cateau three German juggernaut, which the Schliefen Plan August by cavalry, infantry and gunners aided days later could not halt the 'Retreat from had directed through Belgium. By the end the withdrawal. We have a lunch break in Le Mons', which continued until the German of 1914, the original BEF of professionals and Cateau where, on 26th August, Smith-Dorrien advance was defeated at the Marne. reservists was all but destroyed. halted and fought once more. We study the In 1918, the dramatic Allied advances in battle at key locations, including the Sufolks' The stalemate caused by machine guns, the last months of the war saw Le Cateau Memorial, where the guns and infantry held quick-fring artillery, barbed wire and trenches retaken in October, followed on 4th out side by side. On 17th October 1918, Le required revolutionary change. By 1918, the November by the capture of the fortress Cateau was retaken in a daring assault, the War World First Western Front had seen the birth of modern town of Le Quesnoy and the crossing of River Selle was crossed and another German warfare. Signals communication improved, the Sambre Canal. Canadian forces were defensive line breached. infantry frepower was vastly increased, advancing into Mons on the morning and new technologies of artillery, tanks and Day 3 – The Battle of the Sambre 4th of 11th November when, at 11am, the aircraft were closely coordinated in vast November 1918. We focus on the last Armistice came into force. They were battles resembling industrial processes. major ofensive of the war at two dramatic back where it had all begun, more than locations. At the picturesque fortress town four years before. The BEF of 1918 comprised of experienced of Le Quesnoy, we retrace the route of the veterans and teenage conscripts in a British New Zealand Rife Brigade through Vauban's Empire force which spearheaded the advance ramparts to the exact spot where they scaled to victory. The Battle of the Selle broke the the walls with ladders. After lunch, we travel German line in October 1918 and was followed “Our frst battle is a heavy, an to Ors where four VCs were won during the on 4th November by the Battle of the Sambre, unheard-of heavy, defeat, and crossing of the Sambre Canal on makeshift which resulted in an advance on a 25 mile rafts under heavy fre. Here the poet Wilfred against the English, the English front to within 15 miles of Mons. Owen lost his life and we also visit the original we laughed at." Day 1 – First Clash and the Mons Salient. cellar in which he wrote his last letter and his We depart London St Pancras by Eurostar to grave which is alongside those of two of the Captain Walter Bloem, Lille and drive to Mons along the highway on VC winners. 12th Brandenburg Grenadiers, which the dramatic frst skirmish occurred on Mons 1914. Day 4 – Last Shots and the Liberation of 22nd August 1914 between the Royal Irish Mons, Armistice Day, 1918. We trace the Dragoon Guards and German Uhlans. This is painstaking advance into Mons by Arthur commemorated by a memorial standing just Currie's Canadians on the 11th November across the road from a plaque marking the and the spot where the last man to be killed, ESSENTIALS fnal outpost of the Canadian 116th Battalion Private George Price, was shot by a sniper. In Return Standard Premier Eurostar, 4 star on 11th November 1918. We explore the St. Symphorien Cemetery we see his grave, hotel, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner battle along the salient formed by the Mons close by that of Private George Ellison, also with drinks each evening, all entrance canal on 23rd August 1914, from the 4th killed on the morning of the 11th. Both lie just fees and expert guide throughout. Middlesex at Obourg Station to the 4th Royal a few yards from Private John Parr, the frst Fusiliers at Nimy Rail Bridge where Dease and British soldier killed on 22nd August 1914. Tour Price: £1375 Godley won VCs. Check in to our hotel in Mons With a lunch break in Mons and a visit to the Single supplement: £130 for the duration of the tour. innovative new Mons Memorial Museum, we Deposit: £125 drive to Lille for our Eurostar home. Price without train: £1275
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26 - 29 July 2019 4 Days with Simon Jones Activity Level 2
The War Poets created some of the most powerful expressions of the human experience of the Great War, which have moved generations of readers ever since. This tour takes us to the trench where Henri Barbusse was a stretcher bearer, the hillside where Ivor Gurney was wounded and the Somme crucifx where he composed one of his fnest songs, to the battlefeld which inspired Wilfred Owen’s ‘Spring Ofensive’ and the cellar in which he wrote his last letter. To understand fully the works of these great writers and musicians, we consider the context of the battles they were fghting, and hear their words and music in the precise landscapes which inspired them.
Our guide Simon Jones has taught the Wilfred Owen literature and art of the Great War at Liverpool and Lancaster Universities. He Between the patriotism and idealism of the Mametz Wood (Sassoon, Graves, Jones and is ideally placed to juxtapose the idealistic volunteers of 1914 and 1915, to the bitter Wyn Grifth) and fnally Lutyens' Memorial to beauty of poetry and music against the reactions after the Somme in 1917 and 1918, the Missing at Thiepval. horrifc realities of war in a poignant and the literature of the Great War occupies a far Day 3 – On the Somme. To Vadancourt for moving way that cannot fail to leave a wider spectrum of reactions than is often Gurney's poem 'The Silent One' and Fayet for lasting impression. understood. Engendered by the Battles of Owen's 'Spring Ofensive', Joncourt for his Loos and Artois in September 1915, Charles First World War Military Cross, then his fnal days in November Hamilton Sorley's poems and Henri Barbusse's 1918 in the cellar of the Forester's House and novel Le Feu (Under Fire) seem avant-garde in the canal at Ors. their anger and explicit detail. In these early battles, and on the Somme in 1916, we see Day 4 – Return. Arras for the deaths of Edward "Simon Jones is a frst class soldiers trying to prepare themselves for Thomas and Isaac Rosenberg, then back to tour guide. He brings a wealth the test of battle and death and, for many, the Zouave Valley for Ralph Vaughan Williams’ writing was a means of survival. In the works Pastoral Symphony. Continue to Lille for our of his own research to the topic of Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon we return Eurostar journey to London. and delivers it in a unique and also see disillusionment, intense friendships and grief for lost comrades. Poets like Wilfred approachable style. I learn so Owen began to educate and shock those at much from him on his tours. " home who seemed unable to understand the reality of the war, as well as to exorcise their own nightmares. Day 1 – Depart. Depart London St Pancras by Eurostar to Lille. Travel to the Loos Battlefeld ESSENTIALS and the deaths of Charles Hamilton Sorley Eurostar Standard Premier, 4 star hotel, and Kipling's son, My Boy Jack, and the Zouave bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with Valley beneath Vimy Ridge for Henri Barbusse. drinks each evening, all entrance fees Check in to our hotel in Arras for three nights. and expert guide throughout. Day 2 - On the Somme. The Battle of the Tour Price: £1375 Somme, including Serre (Streets, Manning and Owen), Crucifx Corner (Gurney) and Single supplement: £125 Pozières (Butterworth), Louvencourt (Roland Deposit: £125 Leighton), Bois Français (Graves and Sassoon), Price without train: £1275 Devonshire Trench Cemetery (Hodgson),
68 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 bATTLE OF VERDUNXXX THEy SHALL NOTXXX PASS
21 – 25 March 2019 5 Days with Bruce Cherry Activity Level 2
The Verdun battlefeld is dramatically and physically diferent to those on the Western Front. It straddles both sides of the River Meuse, which fows through wonderful scenery and we gain some magnifcent views from the dominating Verdun ridge lines that surround Verdun. This is a tour that explores many of the forts – destroyed and otherwise, miles of On 21 February 1916, the German high Day 4 - Left Bank. We examine the German underground tunnels and gun positions, command launched a battle not to take assaults on the Left Bank of the Meuse at Mort trenches and museums. We will discuss the ground or to capture for strategic advantage Homme and Hill 304, the furthest point of valiant feats of French soldiery such as the but solely to destroy the French army, to German advance. We will also see some of the not so prescient Colonel Driant’s defence ‘bleed France white.’ The attrition Battle of defences located within the Argonne Forest at the Bois de Caures, the desperate fght Verdun lasted ten months, the longest of the such as Malancour, Montfaucon American to recapture the easily relinquished Fort Great War and during that time nearly all of Monument, Romagne, Nantillois and Forêt de Douaumont, the keystone of the Verdun the French Army’s 100 divisions served there, la Haute Chevauchée. defences and Major Reynal’s month-long emerging shattered but undefeated. Day 5 – The Butte de Vauquois. Our visit isolated defence of Fort Vaux. We will The German plan misfred and consequently allows us the opportunity of seeing incredible of course also enjoy French culture and they sufered equally: by November the ‘Mill evidence of a perpetual mining war: craters, cuisine of the area. on the Meuse’ had caused over 700,000 trenches and bunkers. This is probably the First World War World First French and German casualties. Neither army most breath-taking site on the whole Western gained an advantage and neither would Front. Continue to Meuse to begin our journey recover fully. back to London, via Paris. Day 1 - Verdun. We depart London St Pancras for Meuse via Paris. On arrival in Meuse we take the Voie Sacrée to Verdun stopping briefy at Souilly and the Voie Sacrée Monument to hear about the importance of this road. Then an introduction to Verdun with time to photograph the various memorials. Drive to our hotel and check in to our hotel for the "Bruce Cherry is an exceptional duration of the tour. guide and personalises the tour Day 2 – Right Bank. We’ll begin by looking for everyone. I also appreciate at the German preparations, with visits to the wonderfully preserved camp Marguerre and the excellent food and hotels on the long range gun pits at Spincourt and the your tours." Duzey German 380mm Artillery Base. We’ll also visit two interesting German cemeteries. Returning to Verdun mid-afternoon will allow us time to enjoy a walking tour of the city’s monuments and cathedral. ESSENTIALS Day 3 – Right Bank. The battle begins at Col Eurostar Standard Premier, 4 star hotel, Driant’s command post in the Bois de Caures, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with where we will take a walk to see German jump- drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. of positions, the remains of French defences and the spot where Driant fell. Thence to the heart of the defence, dominated by the Tour Price: £1690 French national cemetery and the ossuary: Single supplement: £270 the evocative Tranchée des Baïonnettes, the Deposit: £175 destroyed village of Fleury and Forts Vaux, Price without train: £1590 Douaumont and Souville. Tranchée des Baïonnettes
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4 – 10 August 2019 7 days with Alan Wakefeld Activity Level 2
In Britain and Western Europe, the Modlin Fortress campaign on the Eastern Front is somewhat forgotten and overlooked. The northern half of Poland is a region that Day 4 – Tannenberg. We start at the site of the This seven day tour, led by First World War was the scene of major fghting during 1914 Tannenberg Denkmal, a huge memorial built historian Alan Wakefeld, will endeavour and the frst half of 1915. The most well-known to celebrate the German victory. Hindenburg to put that right. Travelling across action was the Battle of Tannenberg (26-30 was laid to rest here in 1934, however his northern Poland you will see the key August 1914) in which the German Eighth memorial was destroyed during WW2. In the battlefelds of the campaign, alongside Army destroyed the Russian Second Army and town square of Olsztynek we see the famous forts, POW camps and other sites of built the reputations of Field Marshal Paul von Tannenberg lion before following the line of historical interest. Poland is a country Hindenburg and General Erich Ludendorf. the German I Corps and gain an appreciation with a turbulent history, however its The Germans followed up this success with of the terrain. We will also see the memorial to towns and cities display some wonderful another crushing victory at the First Battle of General Samsonov, who took his own life after architecture and the Polish people are the Masurian Lakes (9-14 September 1914). Tannenberg. Check in to our hotel in Olsztyn incredibly friendly and welcoming, adding The second battle in February 1915 would for one night. to a thoroughly enjoyable experience. eventually push the Russians out of East Day 5 – The Masurian Lakes. Today we head During the tour you will get to see a lot Prussia. German forces then invaded Russian west towards the fortress at Gizycko. Built in of this fascinating country, staying in both Poland capturing Warsaw on 5 August 1915. the classic ‘star’ layout, it withstood a major larger cities and smaller towns, travelling The advance included the capture of the huge Russian attack in August 1914. This afternoon through rolling farmland and around fortress complex of Modlin. However, not all we turn our attention to the second battle impressive lakes. This is a unique tour, not forts fell so easily, as the Russian garrison at of the Masurian Lakes. It was here that the just for its historical content, but also for Osowiec held out for 11 months despite the Central Powers intended to advance beyond the opportunity to explore some lesser Germans’ use of heavy artillery and poison the Vistula river and knock the Russians visited parts of Poland. gas. As much of this area of Poland was out of the war. We observe this battle from formerly East Prussia it was the site of several two cemeteries. First at Grabnik, we learn of Prisoner of War camps housing British, French, the action from the spot where the Kaiser Belgian and Russian prisoners. himself watched German forces push back First World War Day 1 – Arrival. Fly from London to Warsaw the Russians, then we get a feel for the terrain and then drive west to Poznan. We check in to and scale of the battle at Talusy. Check in to our hotel for two nights. our Gizycko hotel for one night. Day 2 – Poznan. We start at the Imperial Day 6 – Osowiec and Modlin Fortresses. As castle, which was fnished in 1910 as a we travel towards Warsaw we visit two key "Superb customer service and residence for Kaiser Wilhelm II. At the Old fortresses on the Russian western frontier. excellent brochure. Te booking Garrison cemetery we pay our respects to First we stop at the Osowiec Fortress, which British prisoners of the First World War and a withstood a German siege despite the use process was very straightforward number of the ‘Great Escapers’ who perished of heavy artillery and poison gas. Thence to and kept informed of progress after their mass breakout from Stalag Luft III. Modlin Fortress, besieged by the Germans in We then head to our frst fortifcation of the the summer of 1915 to force the Russians to with my booking" tour, the Poznan Citadel. We end the day in capitulate in just nine days. This afternoon we the town’s cemetery which contains graves complete our journey to Warsaw and check-in and memorials to Polish and Soviet soldiers to our central hotel for one night. from both world wars. Day 7 – Warsaw. We pay a visit to the Powazki Day 3 – Pila. We head north to Pila, home Military cemetery which contains casualties ESSENTIALS to a large First World War POW camp which from the Polish Legion in the First World War, Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, housed soldiers from a number of diferent as well as the Polish-Soviet War, the German bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with nations. Even though there is none of the invasion of 1939 and victims of the Warsaw drinks each evening, all entrance fees original camp left, there is a large POW Uprising. We pay our respects at the Tomb and expert guide throughout. cemetery. Nearby there is a Second World War of the Unknown Soldier, which miraculously cemetery containing Soviet and Polish dead. survived the destruction of the Second World Tour Price: £2195 Our fnal stop is at of the 19th century fort in War and ofers a poignant end to the tour. Fly Single supplement: £210 Torun. This was used as a POW camp in the Warsaw to London. Deposit: £225 Second World War and original grafti from Price without train: £2095 the inmates can still be seen. Check-in to our hotel in Torun for one night.
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26 April – 1 May 2020 6 Days with Alan Wakefeld Activity Level 2/3
This fabulous tour to the quiet and untouched area of northern Greece and FYR Macedonia takes us to the battlefelds of one of the least visited and much overlooked campaigns of the First World War. The scenic backdrop will never be forgotten: spectacular hills and mountains, the picturesque Lake Doiran, wonderful springtime fowers, verdant vegetation and rustic villages. The battlefelds on the Salonika front are some of the best preserved from the First World War and The Birdcage Defence Line ofer a great insight into the conditions the men on both sides withstood. We will be staying in comfortable hotels in The Salonika (or Macedonian) front was against the Bulgarian advance before visiting Thessaloniki and almost on the battlefelds established in 1915 by the allies as an attempt the Struma Cemetery. This afternoon we look themselves, ofering the chance to sit on to protect Serbia against a combined German, at the successful British ofensive of October the terrace with a cold drink in the evening Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian attack. Due 1916 and compare that with the failure at refecting on the day’s explorations. to the late arrival of the mixed allied army Tumbitza farm and Prosenik. Check in to our and the sudden political upheaval in Greece, hotel near Serres for one night. The tour will be guided by Alan Wakefeld which resulted in them becoming neutral, author of Under the Devil's Eye: Britain's War World First Day 3 – Doiran. We cross the border they failed to stop the fall of Serbia. A stable Forgotten Army at Salonika 1915-1918. into Macedonia and head for the Doiran frontline was established near what is now He also holds the post of Chairman of battlefeld, where most of the action on this the Greek/Macedonian border, which saw the Salonika Campaign Society and is a front took place. This involves a 30 minute various actions until a big allied advance in member of the British Commission for walk to Hill 340 in the Bulgarian second line the September of 1918 led to the collapse of Military History making him an almost before taking a relaxing boat ride on Lake Bulgaria and Serbia’s liberation. The Salonica unrivalled authority on this particular Doiran itself. Check in to our lakeside hotel for front is characterised by the huge mix of campaign. three nights. nationalities and armies that took part in the actions and also the terrible conditions Day 4 – Doiran. Our exploration of the Doiran endured by the soldiers. Weather extremes battlefeld continues, taking in the varying and disease were rife on the front line, the terrain which played a key role in the story biggest problem being malaria which inficted of the actions there. We take a gentle but "Te tour achieved a life long many more casualties than the fghting itself. long walk (2 hours) through the bunkers of ambition of learning more There were around 160,000 admissions to the Bulgarian 3rd line from where the more hospital due to malaria over three years, adventurous can elect to ascend the Grand about the battlefeld where my which is almost equal to the fghting force. Couronne (level 3 walk) to discover the Devil’s Grandfather fought in Eye Bunker with its stunning panoramic Day 1 – Thessaloniki. Fly London to the First World War" views. We will also visit The Hilt and the Petit Thessaloniki and arrive mid-afternoon. This Couronne. afternoon we explore the port which is over 2,000 years old, and the White Tower, which Day 5 – Kosturino. On the battlefeld of has become the symbol of the city, before Kosturino we learn of the frst British action ESSENTIALS heading to Lembet Road cemetery, the of the Salonika campaign. It was here that Return fights from London, 3 and 4 star resting place of over 1,600 commonwealth a much depleted and inexperienced 10th hotels, bufet breakfast, packed lunches, servicemen as well as burials of French, Irish Division struggled against the invading 3-course dinner with drinks each Serbian, Italian and Bulgarian troops. Check in Bulgarian army and we will have a chance to evening, all entrance fees and expert to our hotel for one night. pay our respects at their divisional memorial. guide throughout. Day 2 - Struma Valley. We start by visiting Day 6 – Return. We cross the border back into surviving elements of the infamous Birdcage Greece and visit the British Doiran Memorial Tour Price: £1775 defence line, named after the sheer quantity and cemetery, as well as the Greek military Single supplement: £115 of barbed wire used. In the Struma Valley we cemetery. Return to Thessaloniki for our Deposit: £175 hear of the ferce fghting of the XVI corps afternoon fight to London. Price without fights: £1625
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CONTACT US FOR11 - 18 March 2019 AVAILABILITY 8 days with Eamonn Gearon Activity Level 2
This tour has it all! It has a fascinating subject in the shape of Thomas Edward Lawrence - a 26 year old postgraduate researcher at Oxford, sent to Arabia in 1916 to work in the nascent Arab bureau as an observer and liaison point to Prince Faisal - and the rest, as they say, is history. This tour takes us to a seemingly un-ending series of dramatic and exotic locations. And all this in the company of one of the leading experts in the subject who, in the course of a fascinating week will not only follow the fortunes of Lawrence of Arabia but also introduce us to the desert and the dramatic Wadi Rum, the incomparable rock hewn city of Petra, the Dead Sea and the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Crusader Castle at Kerak and the wonderfully preserved Roman remains at Jerash. History, architecture, archaeology - all in one tour - a truly exciting cultural experience! First World War
Lawrence of Arabia
Initially dismissed by critics as a sideshow, the Day 1 – Depart. Fly London to Amman, and Arab Revolt was one of the most successful check in to our hotel for two nights campaigns of the First World War. Conceived " We felt it a privilege to beneft Day 2 – Amman. A full day exploring Jordan’s and plotted by the Arab Bureau, a branch of capital including its Roman Theatre, Odeon from Eamonn’s knowledge, British Military Intelligence, from their rooms and the Archaeological Museum with its experience and scholarship." in Cairo’s Savoy Hotel, Lawrence and his examples of the Dead Sea Scrolls. colleagues brought the idea of a Bedouin uprising to life. Between 1916 and 1918, the Day 3 - Kerak. Transfer to Aqaba, stopping to Arab Revolt wrought havoc and destruction view the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth upon Ottoman-Turkish forces, from the where you might choose to foat on the Sea’s deserts of Arabia to the gates of Damascus. famous healing waters. After lunch we visit the Subsequently called “the frst modern ESSENTIALS dominating Crusader castle at Kerak which intelligence war,” the Arab Revolt is the most impressed Lawrence, the architecture Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, perfect example of what we might today call undergraduate prior to WW1. On to Aqaba for all meals with drinks each evening, asymmetric warfare. Using guerrilla tactics two nights. all entrance fees and expert guide and superior knowledge of geography and throughout. tribal alliances, the irregular Bedouin forces, Day 4 – Aqaba and Wadi Rum. Visit the supported by Lawrence, secured numerous archaeological and Arab Revolt museums in Tour price: £2395 dramatic victories – and kept tens of Aqaba and explore the battle site, also known Single supplement: £250 thousands of enemy troops running in circles as Aqaba Castle. Then on to Wadi Rum, the multi-coloured gorge that Lawrence and the Deposit: £225 trying to fnd them – until their eventual, triumphant entry into Damascus. Arab troops operated from throughout 1917 Price without fights: £1895 and from where they launched their attack
72 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Wadi Rum
Eamonn Gearon First World War World First
Petra on Aqaba. The wadi was widely used by Day 6 - Azraq, and the Hijaz Railway. It was David Lean for the epic 1962 flm Lawrence of at Azrak with its castle that Lawrence based Arabia, with sites including Lawrence Springs his operations for much of the Arab revolt. and Lawrence House. During our travels we will also pass the Hijaz Railway with its abandoned stations, track Day 5 - Petra. A full day to explore the and rolling stock still extant after 100 years. wonders of Petra, the incomparable capital Check back into our Amman hotel for two of the Nabatean Empire, known throughout nights. the ancient world for the wonders of its architecture and innovative means of moving Day 7 – Jerash We explore the magnifcently water across the city. Lawrence visited Petra situated Jerash, one of the best-preserved before and during the war and was captivated Roman sites in the world. Free time in Amman. by the beauty of the rock-hewn Treasury, the Day 8 – Depart. Fly Amman to London. Royal Tombs, Qsar al-Binty and the Temple of the Winged Lion, all of which we will visit. Overnight Petra
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15 – 22 July 2019 8 Days with Col Bob Kershaw Activity Level 2
This tour follows the fortunes of the Ninth Soviet Army attempting to cut Finland in two at its narrowest point in time for Stalin’s 60th birthday. Ex Parachute Regiment colonel and historian Robert Kershaw uses his Arctic Abandoned Soviet tanks training background and broad military experience to explain the nature of this amazing victory against seemingly When Stalin signed the Soviet non-Aggression Day 4 – Battle of Kuhmo. Today we are joined insurmountable odds. Both he and local Pact with Hitler’s Nazi Germany in August 1939, by a local Finnish military historian with whom guides help to explore numerous of-road Eastern Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania we tour the Kuhmo battlefeld including confict areas, where Finnish ski troops were annexed within the Soviet sphere of restored and original battle positions and cut and blocked these roads, and show infuence. Finland realized she would be next museum. We enjoy a forest picnic lunch. and prepared. At the end of November fve evidence of old and renovated bunkers Day 5 – Kajaani and Helsinki. We visit the Soviet armies invaded Finland from north and trench networks where both sides impressive ruins of the northernmost stone to south. Temperatures dropped to as low dug in, and explain what it is like to fght castle built in the world, at Kajaani, en-route as -40° as road-bound Soviet mechanized and live in sub-zero conditions. All this is to the airport for our fight to Helsinki. Check troops were sliced up into isolated segments conducted amid the stunning scenery of in to our central Helsinki hotel for three nights. the land of the ‘midnight sun’, where little by Finnish ‘motti’ ski-borne detachments. has changed in over 75 years. You will These attacked like a ‘white death’ from the fr Day 6 – Suomenlinna sea fortress. We catch appreciate the myriad of lakes and fast forests on either side of the roads and, aided the 20 minute ferry to explore this magnifcent running rivers, which aided the Finnish by the cold, hunger and fear, the Finns harried UNESCO world heritage site, one of the largest defence. This is wild Taiga land with much the Russian columns to extinction. David won maritime fortresses in the world. There a evidence of reindeer, elk and wild life. this particular Goliath contest and the Russian number of museums of interest which trace 44th , 163rd and 54th Divisions virtually the history of the islands, their fortifcation ceased to exist. Although they would lose the and contain a wealth of military equipment subsequent war of attrition, the Suomussalmi including Vesikko submarine from WW2. and Kuhmo victories were an iconic morale, as well as physical, uplift for the Finns. Day 7 – Helsinki. We take a guided tour around Helsinki old city centre and visit the Day 1 - Outward travel. Fly London to Mannerheim Museum dedicated to Baron Helsinki from where we catch a domestic Gustaf Mannerheim, the one-time president fight to Kajaani and transfer to our hotel in of Finland and leader of their successful Suomussalmi for two nights. defence against Russia. This afternoon we visit "Bob is like a walking guide Helsinki’s Military Museum with its Winter War Day 2 – Suomussalmi. After an introduction book, painting pictures in the exhibits.
Second World War to the battles in the region we visit Juntusranta mind of what is would have been battlefeld where the Soviet 163 Division Day 8 - Home. Return fight to London. like to be involved in the events" was defeated on the Palovaara road. Lunch at Arola, the place where the Russians frst attacked in November of 1939. Returning to our hotel you may wish to avail yourself of a Finnish Spa before dinner at nearby Wanha Kurimo, an old, unique, Finnish farmhouse. ESSENTIALS Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, Day 3 – Battle of Raate Road. Drive to Raate bufet breakfast, 6 lunches, 3-course where the Soviet 44th Division sufered dinner with drinks each evening, entrapment and annihilation along the Raate all entrance fees and expert guides road. We visit the Russo- Finnish frontier post throughout. on the border with its Winter War Museum, original and restored trench and bunker Tour Price: £2975 systems and monuments dedicated to both Single supplement: £215 sides. Continue to Kuhmo and check in to our hotel for two nights. Deposit: £300 Price without flights: £2800
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14 – 20 October 2018 7 days with Col Bob Kershaw Activity Level 2
The Battle for Crete Operation Mercury is the fascinating story Operation Mercury was the frst and only time Citizen Memorial to 108 villagers executed of a high risk operation fought across a in history that a strategic objective has been during German reprisals, as well as Galatas stunning Mediterranean landscape. Crete taken by airborne forces alone. Despite being village, memorial and museum. has to be one of the most beautiful Greek forewarned by 'Ultra' Luftwafe intelligence islands, and some would argue that there is Day 3 - Chania and Souda Bay. The decrypts that an attack was pending, General no other place like it. To the modern mind fghting around Chania and Souda Bay is Freyberg's Commonwealth mix of British, it is known primarily as a beach holiday covered with visits to the German Assault Australian and New Zealand forces, recently destination, however the landscape is Regiment Memorial, 42nd Street and the evacuated from Greece, was overrun by wonderfully varied. From beaches and Commonwealth War Memorial Cemetery. At Hitler's elite Fallschirmjaeger (Parachute) bays, to green coastal plains, imposing the Venizelos Memorial we discuss General regiments. mountains and gorges, sleepy hillside Freyberg's command on the island against the villages to bustling, vibrant towns. Not to This tour charts and examines how successive German General Student, based in Athens. mention the warm, friendly, hospitable waves of German parachute, glider and air- The afternoon is free to explore Chania or locals, a rich ancient and modern history landed mountain troops managed to seize relax at your hotel. and culture. the island, vastly outnumbered and in the face Day 4 - The Allied Retreat and Evacuation. of crippling losses. Our guide Colonel Robert All to be enjoyed as we follow the We drive the Allied retreat over the White Kershaw is an experienced former Parachute landings and hard fought actions along Mountains to Chora Sfakia via the withdrawal Regiment ofcer, who has also served with the dramatic coast lines, the towns of route through Megali Horofa, Apterra Stilos, German airborne forces. He wrote Sky Men the Chania, Rethymnon and Iraklion, the White Neo Horia, Vrysses and Askifou. There is an history of airborne forces and has extensively Mountains and down to the crystal clear optional walk through the Imbrou Gorge to walked the ground. waters of Sfakia. the memorial which marks the evacuation Day 1 - Travel to Crete. Fly London-Chania point (weather permitting). We are staying at two superb hotels in and check- in to our hotel for fve nights. Chania and Heraklion, with time available Day 5 – The battle for Rethymnon. We check in the evenings to soak up the delightful Day 2 - Maleme Airfeld, Prison Valley out of our hotel and travel to Rethymnon atmosphere of tavernas and family and Galatas. We drive to Maleme and via Frangokastello and the monastery of restaurants. visit the German Assault Regiment gliding Prevalli. Near Stavromenos we discuss the 19 and parachute landing areas around the Australian Brigade fght to repel the landings
Tavronitis Bridge and the RAF Memorial. After from German Gruppe Mitte. Afterwards we War World Second climbing up Point 107, the vital high ground, drive on to Heraklion and check in to our hotel we examine the costly German glider and for two nights. parachute landings and the subsequent air Day 6 – The battle for Heraklion. We visit the landings under fre by the Mountain Troops Historical Museum of Crete and explore the to take the airfeld, before visiting the German fghting around the Heraklion area. During cemetery. The landings and attacks in Prison the afternoon we will visit the Minoan Palace Valley and Galatas by the German Gruppe at Knossos and explore some of old Heraklion. Mitte and the Commonwealth defence is covered from the Oassi Cretan Memorial, Lake Day 7 – Return. Fly Heraklion to London. Agia and Cemetery Hill. We visit the Allikanou
ESSENTIALS Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout.
Tour Price: £2295 Single supplement: £200 Deposit: £225 Price without fights: £2095
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4 - 14 May 2019 & 4 - 14 May 2020 11 days with Col Bob Kershaw Activity Level 1 / 2
A great opportunity to explore traditional Russia and sample its history, traditions, architecture and landscapes. Our ten day tour covers the three decisive turning points of the Great Patriotic War (as it’s known in Russia) the battles of Moscow, Stalingrad and Kursk. We begin outside Moscow at Borodino, the site of Napoleon's victory in 1812 and coincidentally the same defence line held in 1941. Preserved trench lines and bunkers are visible here as are ruined buildings at Stalingrad (now Volgograd). At Kursk we peruse fascinating local museums, tank scrapes and restored trench complexes en route. Traditional Russian single storey wooden houses and iconic Orthodox churches form the backdrop to our journey, which involves The battle for Moscow during the autumn and imaginable and not just form the Second considerable travel with internal fights winter of 1941-2 was the frst time a German World War. Examples of what we will see to Volgograd and comfortable overnight Army was checked and then repelled during include the massive howitzer that bombarded in two-berth sleeper train to Kursk, the Second World War. A second German Sevastopol, the 'Maus' Mark VIII Panzer, the other nights are spent in four star hotels summer ofensive in 1942, another seemingly biggest tank produced during the war, Tiger I or equivalent. We will also witness a irresistible Blitzkrieg across the southern and II tanks, as well as aircraft, naval ships and magnifcent Victory Day parade right Soviet Steppe, ran out of momentum when even intercontinental missiles! it engaged in a costly battle of attrition outside of our hotel. Day 3 - The Defence of Moscow. We travel at Stalingrad. Yet another Soviet surprise out to the battlefeld of Borodino to explore winter counter ofensive surrounded and and compare the battles of 1812 and 1941. We overwhelmed Paulus’s Sixth Army, the then follow the German advance on Moscow strongest Army in the German Wehrmacht, through Istra and Chimki, its closest point, just and threatened to cut of an entire army short of the Moscow ring road. group in the Caucasus. The German summer ofensive at Kursk in 1943 was the fnal gamble, Day 4 - Stalingrad the Attack. Fly Moscow- involving 6,000 tanks, 4,000 aircraft and two Volgograd, landing at the former Luftwafe
Second World War million men, the highest concentration of airbase at Gumrak. We begin the tour of the men and material achieved up to this point Stalingrad city area from the Mamayev Kurgan in the history of warfare. It achieved a feeting heights, with its impressive memorial complex tactical success but the strategic initiative to overview the German assault. We visit the was irretrievably lost. The tour explores how still preserved Grain Elevator, the Volga River near the Germans got to Moscow in 1941, crossings and Pavlov's House. Check in to our why Blitzkrieg failed at Stalingrad in 1942 and hotel at Volgograd for three nights. ESSENTIALS examines many of the myths surrounding the Return fights from London, internal huge tank battle at Prokohorovka in 1943. Day 5 - Stalingrad The Defence. We visit fights, 1st class train travel, 3 and 4 the Panoramic Museum and Grudinin star hotels, all meals with drinks each Day 1 - Arrive. Fly London-Moscow and Mill to discuss street fghting and the fnal evening, all entrance fees and expert check in to our hotel for two nights. encirclement from von Paulus's fnal HQ at the Univermag department store. We drive to guide throughout. Day 2 – Kubinka and Patriot Park. Today is a the western outskirts of the city, the edge of special one for fans of military hardware. We Tour Price: £3795 the Steppe, to see the Soldier's Field and the visit the magnifcent tank Museum at Kubinka German entry points into the city. Single Supplement: £310 and the new, huge complex at Patriot Park. Solo train occupancy: £240 Across these two exhibits you will be able Day 6 - Victory in Stalingrad. Today we view Deposit: £300 see and get up close to almost every tank, the impressive victory parade in Volgograd Price without fights: £3595 armoured vehicle and self-propelled gun followed by a boat trip on the Volga to view
76 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Operation Barbarossa The Motherland the defence from the Soviet perspective. we head north to Yakhroma, where we hear We travel to the north of the city to view the of the crossing of the Moskva-Volga canal factory district, where the last German troops by the Germans in November 1941. This held out, and Lyudnikov's Island. afternoon we enjoyed a guided tour around "Bob Kershaw provided us with central Moscow ending in Red Square which is Day 7 - Moscow. After our return fight to an interesting, and entertaining, fanked by the GUM store, St Basil’s Cathedral Moscow we visit the Great Patriotic War and the Kremlin. Check in to our Moscow accounts of the battles that Museum displaying much of the epic art and hotel for our last night. equipment of the war and more besides, occurred near Moscow, before catching the overnight train to Kursk. Day 11 – Departure. A late morning check Volgograd and Kursk" out in order to catch our afternoon return War World Second Day 8 - Northern shoulder Kursk Salient. fight to London. Today we drive north from Kursk to view Model's Ninth Army assault of Ponyri, 'the 'Stalingrad' of Kursk, visiting the railway station, the focus of the fghting, and the superb local museum. Moving to the Teplov Heights monument we view the furthest extent of Model's advance and visit the defending Soviet general Rokossovky's bunker headquarters. Check in to our hotel for one night. Day 9 - Southern Advance to Prokhorovka. We drive the southern part of the salient following the 'death ride' of the Fourth Panzer Army to Prokhorovka, the site of the largest tank battle of the war. We follow the fortunes of the SS Adolf Hitler Battle Group, visiting preserved trenches and gun emplacements en route. We also visit the memorial bell tower and the impressive museum dedicated to the battle. Catch the overnight train from Kursk back to Moscow. Day 10 - Moscow. After an early morning return to Moscow and a group breakfast,
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23 – 29 April 2019 7 days with Col Patrick Mercer Activity Level 2
The island of Sicily is rich in military history. From classical Greek and Roman sites, to the Napoleonic war and, of course, the Second World War. The north east of the island, where we spend the majority of our time, is dominated by the imposing site of Mount Etna which looms menacingly over the countryside and coast line through which we travel. There is also the famous Strait of Messina, the narrow body of water that separates Sicily from the mainland, and from where the German army orchestrated their almost miraculous escape in 1943. Whilst travelling through Sicily we will admire its beauty, but also see for ourselves the difculties the terrain posed for both attacker and defender during the war. We travel along the rock-strewn coastline, visit mountain top villages, scale an active volcano and stay in some of the island’s most historic and picturesque towns. This is a tour that has everything, in a place steeped in history.
British troops landing in Sicily
1943 was a difcult year for the Allies. America remarkably light casualties to Reggio Calabria. was still not at full capacity industrially and Then, as Mussolini’s Government imploded she was still learning on the battlefeld. The and his country capitulated, the Allies found British Empire, on the other hand, was under themselves having to make some hard Second World War assault in the Atlantic and from the air whilst decisions about where and how to dominate her victory in North Africa had done little to the Mediterranean. The subsequent invasion convince the battered Soviets that she was of mainland Italy was a strange decision but sacrifcing enough. With a view both to knock this tour will reveal why it was taken. Italy out of the War and to seize a foothold Day 1 – Arrival. Take our late afternoon fight in the Mediterranean, the ambitious plan to from London to Catania and drive to Syracuse grab Sicily was hatched. to check-in to our hotel for three nights. However, the campaign there marked the ESSENTIALS Day 2 – Landings at Gela. The strategy of turning point of the Alliance. Patton’s 7th Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, the US landings will be explained before we Army arrived in Sicily expecting to play bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drive to the Gela Beachhead. There the frst second fddle to Montgomery’s 8th Army but, drinks each evening, all entrance fees landings by the Rangers will be examined after the British ofensive stalled at Primosole and expert guide throughout. before we look at both 3 Infantry Division’s from 13th July, Patton seized the initiative, and 45 Infantry Division’s amphibious driving frst for Palermo and then, in tandem Tour Price: £2195 assaults. If anyone chooses to dismiss the with three, daring amphibious landings, Single supplement: £210 commitment and bravery of the Italian Forces, racing against the British to liberate Messina. they need look no further than the counter- Deposit: £200 The friction and lack of coordination between attacks against these landings. The marks Price without fights: £2045 the Allies helped the Germans to escape with of intense fghting in Gela and around Ponte
78 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Dirillo, where 82nd Airborne Division took on an Italian bunker complex, can still be seen. Mount Etna Day 3 - British & Canadian landings. The strategy will be talked through before we go to the ancient site of Castello Eurialo to oversee the beaches where it was put into practice. The Special Raiding Sqn’s attack on Porco di Murro will start an in-depth examination of this extensive and complex area, followed by air landing operations at Ponte Grande. We then turn our attention to Operation Ladbroke. The difcult combination of glider, parachute, commando and amphibious raiding operations will be examined by studying the defences that remain as well as the glider landing sites which proved so difcult to assess before the aircraft were launched. Day 4 - Exploitation. The British attempt to push forward quickly to capture Catania and exploit northwards will take up the whole of this busy day. Modern developments mean that it has been hard to trace the exact site of the Primosole Bridge but the parachute landings, the frst attempt by the British to seize the bridge and the Germans’ counter attack against the ‘Johnny’ hills, are all there dominate it as a stepping stone to the rest of to be seen. Similarly, the course of the fnal the Mediterranean. The strengths, limitations “Attack both by day and night actions by the Durham Light Infantry Brigade, and faults of the campaign will be discussed and by 10 Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment, will to the limit of human endurance from here as well as a frank overview of what be walked followed by visits to the Durham’s came next for the Allies in two more years and then continue to attack.” memorial and to that at Berkshire Farm. At the of gruelling fghting up mainland Italy. Fly end of another full day we will drive to our Patton in Sicily. Catania to London. hotel near Catania for three nights. Day 5 - Cracking the Etna Line. Once the Germans had decided to evacuate Sicily they established the Etna Line of defences and fell back behind them. We will visit 51st
Highland Div's battles for Gerbini and Sferro, War World Second the frst part of Montgomery’s ‘left hook’ into the foothills of Etna, and climb to the extraordinary 51st Division’s Memorial. From there we will twist our way upwards towards the 1st Canadian Division’s mountainous assaults on Assoro, Regalbuto and Adrano and marvel at their achievements. Finally, the CWGC Cemetery at Agira will be visited - the only completely Canadian cemetery in this theatre. Day 6 - The End Run. Our penultimate day will start with a scene-setting lecture in the German evacuation plans and then a visit to Forte Cavali to get a grandstand view of the whole operation. Then the reasons why the Allies failed to stop the evacuation will be discussed at the quayside in Messina before we head back to both the German and Commonwealth Cemeteries in Catania. Day 7 – Aftermath. The aftermath of Operation Husky will be described from the top of Mount Etna to which we will ascend by cable car. From here the full majesty of Sicily can be appreciated as well as the need to Cafe Antoniera, Mount Etna
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22 – 28 May 2019 7 days with Col Patrick Mercer
Activity Level 2
This tour is simply compelling. Your tour leader, Patrick Mercer, is the son of one of those who fought here and he spent much of his youth interviewing his father’s comrades. As such, his narrative is studded with personal stories and you will stand on the ground where men struggled, bled and died. Indeed, the evidence in this part of Italy is all around you. Dugouts, trenches, stone sangars, bunkers and tank turrets are all there to be seen - and in your guide you will have someone who knows exactly where to fnd them, having walked and scrambled over this ground dozens of times. Accordingly, the tour will traverse the mountains, rivers and streams of Cassino and central Italy right down to the coastal plain and dried up tributaries of the Molleta River north of Anzio - the infamous ‘Wadis’. Breathtakingly, we will fnish in the Alban Hills at Nemi, close to the Pope’s summer palace - an idyllic spot from which German observers could see right down to the coast and Allied shipping.
“Whatever the positions were that we had to attack, we seemed to be attacking like a staircase. After the bloodbath of Salerno and then and it was only by 8th Army’s being brought Te Jerrys’ defences were built the torture of the Volturno crossings, the to 5th Army’s help that victory was achieved. US and British troops of Mark Clark’s 5th Day 1 – San Pietro. Fly London to Rome and up and up and up behind the Army have to deal with the Axis Forces on head to San Pietro. Having talked through the so-called Winter Line. At Camino and Second World War forward lines.” the origins of the campaign and the combat San Pietro the Tommies and Yanks battered leading up to the winter of 1943, you will be Rangi Logan, their way through their enemies only to shown around the picturesque ruins of the fnd Kesselring’s men frmly ensconced on New Zealand soldier. village itself. Check in to our Cassino hotel for the Gustav Line, anchored on the louring four nights. monastery of Cassino. The epic battles to crack through the defences that lined the Day 2 - Approach to Cassino. The battles of Garigliano River dwarfed anything that the Winter Line are hardly understood, yet ESSENTIALS the Allies had experienced in Italy up until they were bloody and bitter. There should Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, then. Then, spearheaded by Free French, have been no pause at Christmas time, but bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with Canadians and Poles, the ofensive still had General Clark allowed his exhausted troops drinks each evening, all entrance fees to sunder the Hitler Line before the road to to lick their wounds before closing in on the and expert guide throughout. Rome was clear. Garigliano and Cassino. First, we will see how the Guards and 56th Division took Camino. Few people understand that the landings Then how the US 36th Division fought three Tour price: £2195 at Anzio were a daring, amphibious hook battles for San Pietro before they failed to Single supplement: £175 around the Gustav Line. Had they worked, cross the Rapido - and the controversy that Deposit: £200 had they been properly directed, the gallant surrounded it. Price without fights: £2045 German defence must have crumbled. In the event, the landings almost failed bloodily Day 3 - The Lower Garigliano. Continuing
80 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 French fanking attack to the south of the Liri RTR, the Guards and 2nd Sherwood Foresters Valley before the main operation - Diadem - as well as many other units - came within a - in May 44 to break through the Germans’ whisker of capturing the town and rupturing resistance. Fittingly, we will pay our respects the German line of communication down to at the Cassino CWGC as a prelude to the next Cassino and the Gustav Line. The mayhem at day. Aprilia and the Flyover, before the German counter-attack was stemmed, will be studied Day 5 - Break out & Hitler Line. No account before we do what few other groups do. The of the fghting around Cassino is complete ‘wadis’ fghting of Feb - May 44 epitomises without the Canadians’ and Free French Anzio yet few other tours go there and when epilogue between the towns of Pontecorvo they do they get lost! But we will do it and and Aquino. The cracking of the bristling feel the atmosphere of fghting which many Hitler Line was a minor epic and the remains Germans thought was worse than Stalingrad of the concrete bunkers and tank turrets or Sebastopol. which the Germans used can still be seen. From there, we will drive to the Anzio Day 7 – Overview. On our last morning Beachhead stopping to examine the US we will drive up to the Alban Hills and the Rangers’ attack on the Mussolini Canal and bijou village of Nemi where Lord Byron 3rd Inf Div’s bloody fght at Isola Bella and wrote Childe Harold. In 1944, though, it its bold assault on Cisterna in January 1944. was altogether a more sinister place as the Check in to our Nettuno hotel for two nights. Germans used it for their artillery observers. In this wonderful eyrie, Patrick will sum up Day 6 – Anzio. Our penultimate day will start the events of those crucial months below at Anzio, and the landings there, before we Rome. Return fight to London. drive inland to Campoleone to see how 46
The Monastery at Cassino as seen by 46 RTR War World Second the theme of the frst attempt to cross the rivers whilst under the eyes of Cassino, we will examine both the British failures and successes on the Lower Garigliano. First, 128 (Hampshire) Brigade’s doomed crossings near Rocco D’Evandro before we study 56 (London) Division’s storming success at Castleforte and the shocking fghting for Damiano Ridge where Pte Mitchell of 1st Bn London Scottish won a VC. The day will culminate at Minturno CWGC Cemetery near where 5 (Yorkshire) Div crossed the Garigliano and, as an added extra, the Bourbon Bridge and Count Bayard’s exploits in 1503. Day 4 - Battles for Cassino. Today is concentrated around Cassino. First, we will examine the decision to bomb the monastery whilst looking at its opulent replacement. The New Zealanders’ fghting for the town of Cassino will follow, then the Polish thrust for the heights above the town. To fnish the day, we will see the joint US and
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29 May – 4 June 2019 7 days with Col Patrick Mercer Activity Level 2
Now is your chance to visit the neglected battlefelds which made up Kesselring’s Actions on the Gothic Line last line of defence. If you have a grasp of Sicily, Salerno, Cassino and Anzio - or As Rome became the frst Axis capital to Burton’s gallantry which earned him the VC. perhaps you’ve already visited them - this fall in June 1944, the Germans pulled back The memorial to 11Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, tour makes the perfect epilogue to study towards the north, frst delaying the 5th and 1Bn Duke of Wellington’s and 2nd Sherwood those who dodged D Day! The coastal 8th Armies either side of Florence before Foresters will be looked at by those who want plain up which the Canadians and Poles scuttling into their bunkers and tank turrets a steep climb! The fght for Monte Grande will tried to thrust near Ancona soon gives from Pesaro to Pietrasanta. For the 5th Army, be examined in detail before we set of for the way to increasingly rugged foothills, each brilliant operations on the Giogo Pass and eastern sector of the Gothic Line which was guarded by rushing streams and rivers, all Mount Ceco were matched by the 8th army attacked by the British 8th Army. We check in of which required assault bridges to be put at Gemmano and Coriano Ridge, before the to our hotel near Rimini for two nights. in place and under fre. Germans began to crumble and fnally break Day 4 – 8th Army Operations. Today we will back towards their next outposts. The more The Germans battled toughly but elegantly walk over the four attacks at Gemmano and mobile warfare around Bologna and Faenza for every yard, killing and wounding Allied get an understanding of why it was known as led to punishing combat but it has got to be troops as they tried to grind northwards ‘The Cassino of the North’. You will be taken remembered that these were the same troops from Florence towards the Po Valley and to the spot where Brigadier Grenfell Smith- - the German Tenth Army - whom the Allies the dream of a break out. Dorrien was killed before we look at the had failed to nail as they left Sicily and then destruction of 168 Brigade around Croce. The Patrick Mercer’s father fought here and he allowed to escape near Rome. The guts and successful attacks around Tribio and Zollara is especially pleased to show his guests the daring of operations near Commachio make by 56 (London) Division will complete a busy supporting orders, maps and photographs a grand backdrop to this often forgotten and highly evocative day. which were used in this bitter fghting. He campaign. also had the chance to visit many of these Day 5 – 8th Army Operations. Our ffth Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Bologna and battlefelds with veterans in the 1970s day will continue with 8th Army’s operations drive through the Germans’ rear areas as we and recorded their stories. This makes a and those of Sir Richard Hull’s 1st Armoured approach the US 5th Army’s target sector of remarkable package, an unforgettable Division around Coriano. The attack by the the Gothic Line. Once we arrive at our Bologna tribute to the Yanks, Tommies and so many 9th Lancers on San Savino will be walked hotel, your home for the next two nights, your others who still lie out there. over and, using original documents, we will guide, Patrick, will introduce this phase of the see how it was fnally seized. Via the Gurkha Italian campaign and orient you to the ground victory at Passano, we will visit the Coriano over which we will be travelling. Ridge CWGC Cemetery before motoring on to Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Bologna and Faenza for one night. drive through the Germans’ rear areas as we Day 6 – Combined Operations. We will approach the US 5th Army’s target sector of Second World War now move to the pursuit of the Germans and the Gothic Line. Check in to our Bologna hotel combined operations by looking at two VC for two nights and an introductory lecture. actions. The frst is that of Capt JHC Brunt of Day 2 – 5th Army Operations. Today will 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment near Faenza. concentrate on the US 5th Army’s operations Via the Argenta Gap and General Mark Clark’s to break through the rocky collar of the attempt to storm through enemy resistance in Gothic Line north of Florence. The village of April 1945, we will look at operations by the Baragazza still bears the scars of war, whilst Special Boat Section on Lake Commachio to ESSENTIALS the US 85 and 91 Divisions’ achievements examine the actions that led to Anders Lassen Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, breaking through the narrow bottle necks being awarded the VC. Drive to Bologna and bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with of the Futa and Giogo Passes are remarkable check in to our hotel for the last night. things to see. Many of the German defences drinks each evening, all entrance fees Day 7 – Overview. We will visit the Bologna and expert guide throughout. are still there and we will examine both them Military Museum with its exhibitions on and the Divisional memorials. We end the day armour, the fghting for Bologna and the at the impressive yet sad German cemetery to Tour price: £2295 Gothic Line. To conclude the tour, we will which bodies are still being brought. Single supplement: £235 summarise the whole campaign in Italy, the Deposit: £225 Day 3 - 5th Army Operations. We start fnal stage on the Gothic Line and the last with the 1st (British) Infantry Division’s gasp of the enemy in Austria. Fly Bologna to Price without fights: £2145 breathtaking capture of Monte Ceco and Pte London.
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29 July – 2 August 2019 5 days with Dr Simon Trew
Activity Level 2
Our fve day visit examines carefully Juno Beach selected events from 6th – 9th June 1944 to create a ‘highlights’ in which we appreciate On the morning of Tuesday 6th June the follow the exploits of 69th Infantry Brigade the plight of the common soldier as he largest amphibious invasion in history and learn how the only D-Day Victoria Cross scrambled ashore amidst murderous breached the defences of the Atlantic Wall, was won. German fre, his generation fghting to opening the way for the Second Front and ensure the freedom that we enjoy today. Day 3 – The British and American Sectors. contributing to the fnal defeat of Hitler's Third What was it like to parachute into the night We visit the site of the US airborne landing at Reich. The fanks of ‘Operation Overlord’ were skies above Normandy or land by glider Ste-Mere-Eglise and the La Fiere causeway, secured by audacious airborne landings: in next to Pegasus Bridge at Ranville a few scene of a desperate four-day struggle to the west by the Americans around Ste-Mere- minutes after midnight? How did Colonel establish control over a critical crossing of Eglise, to the east by the British near the River Rudder's Rangers scale the clifs at Pointe the River Merderet. After a brief stop at Utah Orne. Between them, Allied troops landed on du Hoc? What was the experience of Beach we visit Port-en-Bessin, captured by 47 fve beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and American soldiers struggling through the RM Commando, and the German battery with Sword, with varying degrees of success. Some surf at Omaha Beach, alongside renowned its extant guns at Longues sur Mer. forces were able to thrust inland immediately, war photographer Robert Capa, or British others found themselves having to contend Day 4 - The American Sector. We visit the assault troops faced with devastating with withering German fre, a rising tide and German battery at Pointe Du Hoc, an area enemy fre at the eastern end of Gold an increasingly crowded beach. preserved as it was in 1944. Then on to several Beach? At the surviving German coastal sites at Omaha Beach before ending our day battery position at Longues Sur Mer, Day 1 - Outward travel. Depart London St at the American National Cemetery and we hear how terrifed German gunners Pancras by Eurostar to Paris and thence to memorial at St Laurent. duelled with fearsome warships from their Normandy by train. Check in to our hotel for emplacements in the ‘Atlantic Wall’. All of 4 nights. Welcome drinks and an introductory Day 5 - Bayeux. We visit the Commonwealth this in the company of leading Normandy talk before dinner. War Graves Commission Cemetery, the historian Dr Simon Trew. largest British cemetery in Normandy, and the Day 2 - The British Sector. To Pegasus Bridge, nearby war museum. Return train to Paris and the site of the British glider-borne assault, Eurostar to London. followed by the fght for the Merville Battery. Second World War World Second Continue to La Riviere and Gold Beach to
ESSENTIALS Standard Premier Eurostar, First class SNCF, 3 star hotel, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout
Tour price: £1650 Single supplement: £195 Deposit: £150 Price without train: £1550
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2 - 7 August 2019 6 days with Dr Simon Trew Activity Level 2
Battle of the Hedgerows This tour focuses on some of the most bitter and costly fghting of the entire Of all the D-Day amphibious assaults, Omaha the monument at Le Carrefour we see where north-west European campaign. It follows Beach was the most fercely contested. Poor an exhausted and ’green’ battalion of the the routes taken by American forces as navigation, powerful currents and a strong sea US 115th Infantry Regt was subjected to a they smashed through the German coastal swell cost many lives before a single American surprise German night attack. We end our defences at Omaha Beach and thrust foot was placed on the sand. Encountering day at the site of a ferociously-opposed river inland towards the key communications mines, beach obstacles and a deadly cross-fre crossing near Ste-Marguerite-D’Elle. centre of St-Lô. Special attention is paid to from German defences on and inland from the the achievements and experiences of the Day 4 - Battle of the Hedgerows. At Graignes coast, the Americans struggled for a hundred famous U.S. 29th Infantry Division (‘The we follow the gallant stand by stray elements hours to secure their D-Day objectives. Blue and the Gray’), which lost thousands of 82nd Airborne Division against the When on June 11, forces from Omaha and of men as it fought its way forward ruthless 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, Utah linked up near Isigny, the battle for through the hedgerows, orchards and and discuss the ensuing massacre of the Normandy moved into its second stage, as villages of Lower Normandy from 6 June wounded and civilians. Thence to the battles heavily depleted U.S. battalions grappled to 18 July 1944. But we will also examine west of the River Vire, in which the Americans with tenacious German defenders amidst some desperate battles fought by other had to overcome cunningly-emplaced the numerous hedgerows, sunken lanes U.S. units, and see the fghting from the defences in the hedgerows and farms of rural and fortifed villages of the Norman Bocage. German perspective as well as that of their Normandy, and repulse a series of violent Measuring their daily advance by the number opponents. The tour culminates in the city counter-attacks. We pay special attention of hedges and lanes crossed, this battle of of St-Lô, devastated by Allied air power and to battles involving the elite German Panzer attrition lasted over a month, culminating in a artillery in 1944, but now sympathetically Lehr Division on 11 July as it sought to drive savage battle for St-Lô, which fnally fell to the restored and a thriving centre of Norman the Americans back towards the coast. We American 29th Corps on 18 July. country life. end our day under the oak trees at La Cambe Day 1 - Depart. Travel by Eurostar to Paris cemetery, where more than 21,000 Germans Enjoy spending time in the charming and and from there by SNCF to Bayeux where we who died during the Normandy campaign interesting city of Bayeux, home of the check in to our hotel, our base throughout are interred. famous ‘Bayeux tapestry’ and one of the the tour. Welcome drinks and introductory few Norman towns of any size to have Day 5 - St-Lô. Today we look at how American talk. escaped the destruction visited across forces broke the back of German resistance so much of the region during the 1944 Day 2 - Omaha. We contextualise the near St-Lô. We begin at Hill 192, where the U.S. campaign. events of the next few days with a visit to 2nd Infantry Division delivered a stunning the excellent exhibition at Omaha Beach blow against some of the most determined visitors’ centre at Colleville-sur-Mer. On the and efective fghters deployed by the beach itself, we study the bloody battle to Germans anywhere in north-west Europe – establish a beachhead there on 6 June. As the fallschirmjäger of General Meindl’s 2nd
Second World War we approach Grandcamp, we will see where Parachute Corps. Then we follow the route T/Sgt Peregory won his Medal of Honor, along the Martinville Ridge taken by the U.S. before going on to explore the recently 29th Division as it slogged its way yard-by- discovered and excavated bunkers, tunnels yard towards its fnal objective. Finally, we and trenches at the nearby Maisy German head into St-Lô itself, telling the story of the coastal battery. Our day ends at Isigny, where American drive into the heart of the city, and U.S. forces from Utah and Omaha beaches visiting the church where the body of Major linked up on 11 June. Tom Howie – made famous across the world ESSENTIALS as ‘The Major of St-Lô’ – was laid in honour Return Standard Premier Eurostar from Day 3 - Exploitation. In the morning we shortly after the ruined city was liberated. London, 1st class SNCF from Paris, 3 star follow some of the exploits of the US 101st hotel, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner Airborne Division, visiting the site of the Day 6 - Respects. We return to Omaha to with drinks each evening, all entrance battery destroyed by Easy Company 506 PIR visit the beautiful but sombre American fees and expert guide throughout. at Brécourt Manor, the museum at ‘Dead cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer where we pay Man’s Corner’ and the causeway down which our respects to Major Howie and many other Tour price: £1895 the 101st attacked to capture Carentan on young Americans who died during these Single supplement: £240 11-12 June. Later we drive to the River Aure, desperate days of summer 1944. Return to Deposit: £175 where 29th Division performed an audacious London by train via Paris. assault across a wide fooded valley as it Price without train: £1795 thrust inland from Omaha Beach. Besides
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8 – 11 August 2019 4 days with Col Bob Kershaw
Activity Level 2
This ‘Soldiers’ Experience’ tour follows the Market Garden Corridor - 'Hell's Highway' to Arnhem, and describes what it was like to experience a German tank ambush on the road to Eindhoven at Valkensvaard, and the American parachute coup de Operation Market Garden main parachute assault on the Grave Bridge. The brutal fght for the massive road bridge across the Waal at Nijmegen In August 1944 Paris was liberated, symbolising is brought to life from the perspective of a signifcant milestone in ending the war. the SS defenders of the Nijmegen citadel. However there was no time to rest on laurels “Well organised, clearly Hear of the nail-biting river crossing by and the allies planned another huge airborne experienced and willing to go American paratroopers, under intense fre, ofensive into the heart of Holland. The with only plywood and canvas boats. Sgt ultimate aim was to capture the fve primary above and beyond to ensure a Robinson's daring Sherman tank rush at river crossing points that led to the Arnhem positive experience." the bridge, despite its obvious preparation road bridge across the Lower Rhine. Failure to for demolition, is described from the capture it denied the Allies entry to the German perspective of both sides. Finally we hear industrial heartland of the Ruhr and meant the the heroic story of British Paratroopers at war would not be over by Christmas. Arnhem and learn why it became a ‘bridge Day 1 – Joe’s Bridge. Leave London St too far’. Pancras for Brussels via Eurostar. Drive to Joe’s Airborne soldier-historian Robert Kershaw bridge on the Meuse-Escaut Canal to discuss is the leading UK authority for the battle the launch of ‘Garden’: the ground advance of Arnhem and internationally recognised through the Valkensvaard tank ambushes to as an expert for his books and research on Eindhoven. Check in to our hotel in Eindhoven D-Day, the Market Garden battles and the for one night. German Army in World War II and one of Day 2 – Hell’s Highway. We follow ‘Hell’s our most popular guides.
Highway’ from the 101st(US) Airborne ‘Market’ War World Second drop zones across the Son Bridge to the 82nd(US) Airborne seizure of the bridge at Grave. We analyse the assault river crossing of the massive Waal Bridge at Nijmegen and the tenacious defence of its citadel by the 10th SS. Continue to Arnhem and check in to our hotel for two nights. Day 3 – Arnhem: the assault. We explore the 1st airborne Division landings west of Arnhem and its attempts to reach the bridge across the lower Rhine. We examine and walk the capture and heroic defence of the Arnhem bridge by 2 Para, against overwhelming attacks by SS infantry and panzers. Day 4 – The Oosterbeek ‘Cauldron'. We ESSENTIALS Eurostar Standard Premier, 4 star hotels, visit the Hartenstein 1st Airborne Division bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with headquarters and Airborne Museum and drinks each evening, all entrance fees discuss the tenacious British defence of the and expert guide throughout. epic airborne perimeter. We then move down to the Lower Rhine to cover the forlorn hope of the Polish parachute landings at Driel and the Tour price: £1395 British evacuation across the river. After lunch Single supplement: £170 we drive to Brussels for our early evening return Deposit: £150 Eurostar to London St Pancras. Price without train: £1295
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5 - 9 December 2018 5 days with Dr Peter Schrijvers Activity Level 2
Based on his internationally acclaimed books on the Battle of the Bulge, Belgian academic historian Peter Schrijvers brings to life the decisions of commanders under extreme pressure and the experiences of soldiers and civilians in desperate circumstances. How did American Dragon’s teeth Ardennes infantrymen halt Wafen SS armour at Elsenborn Ridge? Why did Kampfgruppe In the summer of 1944, the Allied momentum the massive gap that opened up when von Peiper turn Baugnez into a killing feld for appeared unstoppable as troops broke out Manteufel’s Fifth Panzer Army surrounded POWs? What were the consequences of of Normandy, captured Paris, and raced the 106th Infantry Division and captured St. the fall of St. Vith and how did American through Belgium. In early autumn, however, Vith. Picnic lunch. We take a closer look at how and British troops halt the German tide? the advance lost steam when logistical lines American troops threw up dams in places like Why did the airborne Band of Brothers snapped and Operation Market Garden Parker’s Crossroads and British troops joined prevail in Bastogne and what happened to failed. Allied troops prepared for a hard the fght to push in the Bulge’s nose. Check in the civilians in this cauldron? slog at the Siegfried Line. Meanwhile, Hitler, to our hotel in Bastogne for two nights. While looking for answers, we will refect under pressure on two fronts, decided on also on the cost of Hitler’s last gamble at a last gamble in the west. On 16 December American, British, and German cemeteries. 1944, he launched a major counterofensive And we will conclude with a close look through the Ardennes, a forested area thinly at the traces of war in the Bastogne War held by exhausted American veterans and Museum. green troops. Hitler wanted to capture the crucial logistical hub of Antwerp and tear apart the seam between American and British forces. The Führer hoped that, combined, this would make the Western Front collapse, thus dramatically changing the course of the war at a time when all seemed lost for Nazi Germany. Day 1 – The Ultimate Price. Eurostar from London to Brussels and train to Liège. We drive to the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery on the northern shoulder of the Bulge to discuss the main German efort there and how “Probably the most informative American forces managed to block it. Check Day 4 – Those Who Hold Bastogne. We tour I have been on, thank you to in to our hotel near Malmedy for two nights. start the day at the Mardasson Memorial to Second World War sketch the outline of the siege and visit sites Day 2 – The Wafen SS Unleashed. We follow all involved.” like the iconic Band of Brothers’ Bois Jacques the trajectory of the Sixth Panzer Army’s to explain why the Germans failed to capture Wafen SS spearheads, discuss the massacre this crucial Belgian crossroads. After lunch, we of American POWs at Baugnez, and analyse walk the streets of Bastogne and then drive the destruction of Kampfgruppe Peiper at southward to Assenois to learn more about Stoumont and La Gleize. Return to our hotel how Patton’s Third Army fnally came to the in Malmedy. ESSENTIALS rescue. Return Standard Premier Eurostar, 3 and Day 3 – Into the Breach. We reconnoitre Day 5 – Retracing the Bulge. We visit the 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, 1 picnic lunch, 3-course dinner with drinks each Bastogne War Museum and retrace our evening, all entrance fees and expert steps through the Ardennes with a look at guide throughout. unique artefacts, rare photographs, and vivid dioramas that detail the campaign from mid- December 1944 to the elimination of the Tour price: £1545 Bulge by late January 1945. After lunch, we Single supplement: £145 drive to Liège and take the train to Brussels Deposit: £150 and the Eurostar to London. Price without train: £1395
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12 – 17 April 2019 6 days with Maj Nigel Dunkley Activity Level 2
The Battle for Berlin was the decisive action that eventually brought an end to the war in Europe. The tour will focus on the ferce and bitter action from the point when the Red Army crossed the Oder River into Germany to the eventual fall of Berlin. You will be based in the capital itself, a city that has arguably been through more than any other in Europe over the last 50 years. After crossing the Oder it took the Red Army the Gross Beeren forced labour camp. Finally, Virtually fattened during the Second just over three months to advance 100km we view the famous Tempelhof Airport, with World War and cruelly split in two during and take the city. ‘Fortress Berlin’ as Goebbels its imposing horseshoe shaped, Nazi era the Cold War, it has now become a vibrant, named it was to be defended at all costs. The building. bustling and culturally rich metropolis. frst line of defence at the Seelow Heights, Day 4 – Central Berlin. Explore the interior of Eight times bigger than Paris, the city is some 90km east of Berlin, took Zhukov’s army Berlin’s mighty defences at the Humbolthian home to endless galleries and museums, three days with heavy losses to break through, Flak towers and bunker, before exploring and displays a wide range of architecture, however once cleared it left the Red Army free the more recognisable sights of Berlin, like that can be explored to enrich your to encircle the city and prepare the coup de the Reichstag area, the Brandenburg Gate, experience of this magnifcent city. grace. Berlin was defended by roughly 45,000 the Tiergarten with its Soviet Memorial, the Importantly for this trip, in particular, the regular troops supplemented by the Police, site of the Fuhrer bunker, and numerous City doesn’t hold back in memorialising the Hitler Youth and Volkssturm (essentially examples of Third Reich architecture and and documenting its turbulent past, the German version of the Home Guard). government buildings. Visit the German leaving plenty to be discovered. The fghting began with a ferocious artillery Resistance Museum set in the Blender Block barrage, adding to the already devastating where Operation Valkyrie was plotted and destruction of the city. Although defended where Colonel Staufenburg was shot. On stoically, the continuous waves of Soviet to Plotzensee Prison where those who attacks, the Germans’ limited resources and resisted against the regime were imprisoned the brutal house to house fghting meant and subsequently executed. Both of these there was only going to be one outcome and museums expose the brutal and perverse
the city fnally surrendered on 2nd May 1945, War World Second nature of the Nazi justice system. nine days after the Russians had entered. The War in Europe was as good as over. Day 5 – Battle of Berlin. Follow the route of the battle for the Reichstag. It took the Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Berlin and Soviets three days to take the building and check in to our hotel for 5 nights. Evening talk raise the Red Flag. We cross the Moltke Bridge, on the battle of Berlin and welcome dinner. "Excellent tour. Extremely traverse the Konigsplatz and view impressive Day 2 – Crossing the Oder. Start by travelling Reichstag building. We then visit one of the knowledgeable and entertaining east to Kienitz the site of the Red Army largest war memorials in Europe: that to the expert guide. Visited some places bridgehead over the Oder commemorated soldiers of the Red Army at Treptow Park, and not generally seen by the public." with its T-34 tank memorial. Follow the visit the fascinating German Russian Museum Russian advance westwards, to the site of the on the site of the Wehrmacht’s surrender last defensive line outside Berlin at Seelow of the city. Our day ends at the immense Heights. The impressive museum documents Olympic Stadium, built for the 1936 Olympics the battle in detail, exhibiting a number of and arguably the best example of national examples of Russian armour and artillery socialist architecture in Berlin. and ofers great views of the battleground ESSENTIALS Day 6 – Potsdam. Visit the Cecilienhof Palace, Return fights from London, 4 star hotel, itself. Thence onto General Zhukov’s bunker host to the Potsdam Conference in 1945, bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with and a Russian Cemetery, before moving onto where the ‘big three’ met to decide the fate drinks each evening, all entrance fees, Falkenhagen, the eerie site of a subterranean of Germany and the post-war boundaries and expert guide throughout. bunker complex used in the production of the for the rest of war torn Europe. The meeting poisonous gas N-Stof. rooms have been fantastically preserved to Tour price: £1795 Day 3 – Approach Berlin. At Zossen, explore make you feel you’ve walked into the meeting Single supplement: £180 the vast bunker complex which served as yourself. Finally we visit Wannsee Villa where Deposit: £175 headquarters for the Wehrmacht from 1939. the ‘fnal solution’ was planned. Continue to Closer to the city we will visit the memorial to the airport for our return fights. Price without fight: £1695
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4 – 10 April 2019 with Dr Isabel Wollaston 4 – 10 September 2019 with Prof Tim Cole 16 – 22 October 2019 with Dr Waitmann Beorn 7 days Activity Level 2
In this seven-day tour to Poland we visit the sites of the former ghettos in Warsaw, Lublin and Krakow alongside four of the concentration and death camps – Treblinka, Majdanek, Belzec and Auschwitz-Birkenau - that played such a signifcant role in this genocide. We look at the struggle of both the Jews and the Poles against their oppressors, visiting the scenes of the Ghetto Uprising in 1943 and the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. You will see the shift from complete physical destruction of ghetto and camp to the actual remnants due to the rapid advance of the Soviets. However, the tour is not limited to the serious and emotive history of the Holocaust, with its clear message for future generations, we also enjoy expert guided tours of the historic cities of Some six million Poles died during the Warsaw and Krakow. We sample much of Second World War, half of whom were Jews the local culture and visit the world famous murdered in the forests in the east of the salt mine at Wieliczka. Each evening we country or the death camps set up after the will dine in a diferent local restaurant to German occupation of their country. By far enjoy a wealth of diverse local cuisine. the largest of these was Auschwitz-Birkenau which was the site of over one million deaths, mainly Jews brought here from all over Europe. The smaller, purpose built 'killing' camp of Treblinka where Warsaw’s Jews were taken, was said by its commandant SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Franz Stangl to be Second World War “All in all an incredibly enriching able to murder over 1,000 people per hour at its peak. With the positioning of the and moving experience” Majdanek camp on the outskirts of Lublin, the Germans made no efort to disguise the killings, its gas chambers and crematorium being plainly visible to passers-by. The overarching narrative of the tour is about the shift from Polish Jews to European Jews and ESSENTIALS the evolution of policy from concentration Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, camps to death camps. bufet breakfast, 3-course dinner with Day 1 - Fly London to Warsaw. Check in to drinks each evening, all entrance fees our hotel for two nights. Introductory talk. and expert guide throughout. Day 2 - Warsaw. Guided tour around Warsaw Tour price: £2225 including the Warsaw Rising monument, '44 Rising Museum, Nozyk Synagogue, and the Single supplement: £295 Jewish Cemetery. We walk the 'memorial Deposit: £200 route to the struggle & martyrdom of the Price without fights: £2100 Jews' in the site of the former ghetto.
88 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Day 3 - Treblinka & Lublin. Visit the death Day 7 - Krakow and Kazimierz. Before World Auschwitz camp of Treblinka before driving to Lublin, War Two, some 70,000 Jews lived in Krakow, with its castle/prison which served as a Nazi mostly in the suburb of Kazimierz. We explore processing centre. Check in to our hotel for this tiny area including the Old Synagogue one night. Museum and there will be an opportunity Day 4 - Belzec & Majdanek. Visit the for an optional unaccompanied visit to concentration camp of Majdanek, where the Oscar Schindler’s Factory. This afternoon we barracks, guard towers, the only remaining visit the awesome 700 year old salt mine at Wieliczka, its labyrinth of 300km of tunnels gas chamber that is completely intact and War World Second long lines of (formerly) electrifed double revealing chapels, underground lakes and a barbed wire remain just as they were over museum. After an early dinner, we take a late seventy years ago. Thence to Belzec, the night fight from Krakow to London. precise location of which was not identifed until the 1990s. Check in to our hotel in Zamosc for one night. Day 5 - Krakow. This morning we drive to Krakow – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – where we take a change of pace and emphasis with a guided tour of the Old Town with its wonderful architecture and busy street life. Check in to our hotel for three nights. Day 6 - Auschwitz and Birkenau. We travel out to the concentration and death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. To enter the camp of Auschwitz, one passes under the infamous inscription 'Arbeit Macht Frei' mounted upon its main gate, before visiting the exhibitions in the surviving prison blocks. In the afternoon we visit Birkenau, also known as Auschwitz II, the purpose-built camp that had hundreds of barracks and 4 massive gas chambers and functioned as the epicentre of Prof TIm Cole with group at Auschwitz the Holocaust during 1943 and 1944.
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12 – 21 September 2019 10 days with Prof Orlando Figes Activity Level 2
This tour take us on a wondrous journey through Russia’s rich cultural history, visiting the homes, palaces, estates and museums of the country’s greatest writers, poets and artists. The title of the tour comes from the eponymous book written by your guide, Orlando Figes, in which he provides a richly evocative exploration of Russia, its culture, people, and the often contradictory impulses and shared sensibilities that have given rise to one of the world's most dazzling cultures. We will stay in: St Petersburg, the former home of the Tsars, with its grand palaces in a variety of architectural styles; Moscow, the centre of Russian politics and its modern capital, where we will meet some of the country’s most famous and controversial writers and have the opportunity to experience the world renowned Bolshoi theatre; and Tula, a town that has long been at the centre of production, from Samovars in the 18th century to armaments during the Great Patriotic War. This tour provides a The importance and infuence of Russian art Day 2 – The Winter Palace. We spend a full smorgasbord of art and culture in one of and culture cannot be overstated. Its great day in the Hermitage Museum, the main the world’s most enigmatic and generally writers have produced some of the most building of which is the Winter Palace, the fascinating countries. Professor Figes will famous works in literature: Tolstoy’s ‘War former residence of the Russian Monarchy. discuss its infuence on the wider world and Peace’ and ‘Anna Karenina’; Dostoevsky’s Founded by Catherine the Great, embellished and analyse the efect that it has had on ‘Crime and Punishment’; and Turgenev’s by each of her successors, and then massively its people and their relationship with the ‘Fathers and Sons’; not forgetting Chekov, enriched by Bolshevik confscations and imperial and political hierarchy. Pushkin and Gorky, gaining an insight to their Red Army seizures in conquered Germany. professional and personal lives. The characters The collection not only displays a history of we meet on this tour are considered to be Russian art but is incredibly varied, ranging at the forefront of a number of movements from Greek antiquities to post-impressionist including Socialist Realism, Modernism and masterpieces. Equally impressive are the Satire, with a number of them cutting quite lavishly decorated State Rooms, testament to controversial fgures, especially during the the incredible wealth and extravagant tastes Soviet era. However, it’s not just literature of the Tsars. we will indulge in. In a number of Russia’s Day 3 – Pushkin and Dostoevsky. Today is largest and most important galleries we will dedicated to two of Russia’s most celebrated admire Russian art through the centuries from writers. First, we visit the former home of classical painting to Russian Avant-Garde and Cross Periods Dostoevsky who has become one of Russia’s Soviet art. Russia has also been at the forefront ESSENTIALS most highly regarded writers. His novella of classical music, producing composers such Return fights from London, train fares, ‘Notes from Underground’ is considered as Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninof, 4 star hotels, bufet breakfast, lunches, to be one of the frst works of existentialist and of ballet, with the Mariinsky and Bolshoi 3-course dinner with drinks each literature. The museum looks at both his theatres producing the likes of Anna Pavlova evening, all entrance fees and expert works and turbulent life which included guide throughout. and Vaslav Nijinsky. Siberian exile and a gambling addiction. We Tour price: £4750 Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to St Petersburg then head to the former home of Alexander and check in to our hotel for four nights. This Pushkin widely regarded as Russia’s greatest Single supplement: £475 evening your guide will give an introductory Poet and the founder of modern Russian Deposit: £350 lecture before a welcome dinner. literature. His most notable work is the play, Price without fights: £4500 Boris Godunov, which took over 30 years to
90 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 Russian museum’s collection contains over novels in history, ‘War and Peace’, in which The Winter Palace 400,000 exhibits covering all major periods, Natasha’s Dance actually takes place and schools and trends in the history of Russian ‘Anna Karenina’. This is the estate where art over more than a thousand years. It is also Tolstoy was born, spent most of his life, wrote located in one of St Petersburg’s grandest most of his works and also set up 13 schools areas surrounded by opulent buildings and for the local peasant children. At Spasskoe we regal gardens. This afternoon we catch the explore the world of Ivan Turgenev; writer, high-speed train to Moscow and check in to poet, playwright and translator. Particularly our hotel for three nights. During any one of popular in the west, Turgenev’s most notable our evenings in Moscow you will have the works include the collection of short stories ‘A opportunity to take in a show at the Bolshoi Sportsman's Sketches’, a milestone in Russian theatre, arguably the most renowned Opera realism, and the novel ‘Fathers and Sons’, and Ballet theatre in the world (ask for details perhaps his masterpiece. when booking). Day 10 – Departure. Return to Moscow for Day 6 – Art in Moscow. We start at the our return fight to London. Pushkin gallery, the largest collection of European art in Moscow and containing one Chekov of the fnest exhibits of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings in the world, as well as a fne collection of archaeological artefacts from the ancient civilisations. After lunch we explore the Tretyakov Gallery, which is the main depository for Russian art in the country. It houses a fne collection of Russian Icons as well as portraits and landscapes by leading Russian artists of both the 18th and 19th centuries. Day 7 – Literary Moscow. This morning we visit the Tolstoy Museum, home to thousands of artefacts, handwritten works and paintings depicting scenes from his novels. This afternoon we turn our attention to another giant of Russian literature and theatre, Anton Chekov. At his residence we learn of his most be approved by the censors. This evening, famous plays including ‘The Seagull’ and ‘The subject to availability, you have the chance to Cherry Orchard’ which made him a seminal attend a show at the world famous Maarinsky fgure in the birth of early modernism. He was theatre, which has hosted many of Russia’s also a medical doctor and would practise here. most prominent operas and ballets over the Chekov is said to have claimed "Medicine is years. my lawful wife and literature is my mistress." Day 4 – The Soviet Era. Writers in the Day 8 – Abrametsevo. Today we drive soviet era had to tread lightly around a strict out to the countryside north of Moscow regime and many attracted their fair share of to Abrametsevo. Owned in the 1840s by a controversy. We start at a museum dedicated well-connected Muscovite, Sergey Aksakov, to Anna Akhmatova, a 20th century poet his estate at Abramtsevo became known who was often under scrutiny by the regime, throughout the 19th century as a creative especially as her masterpiece ‘Requiem’ playground of the Russian arts, especially (1935-40) recounted the Stalinist terror. At the the Slavophile movement. Many well-known Periods Cross apartment of Mikhail Zoschenko, the author artists and writers would stay here and would and satirist known for his deadpan style, we engage a distinctly Russian artistic identity, will hear of his literary group known as the one which included a revival of interest in Serapion Brothers and how he was eventually traditional arts and crafts in a move away from silenced by his denunciation in the Zhdanov Western infuences. We return to Moscow, Doctrine. We end the day in the former home and visit the home of writer Maxim Gorky, of Sergey Kirov, a prominent early Bolshevik a political activist and founder of socialist and revolutionary. He would become head realism. Transfer to Tula by train and check in of the party organisation in Leningrad before to our hotel for two nights. his assassination in 1934. His apartment is Day 9 – The Writers’ Estates. Today we visit wonderfully preserved with original 20’s and the country estates of two of the country’s 30’s furniture and gives an insight into Soviet most infuential writers gaining an insight life at the time. not only into their work but their personal Day 5 – Russian Museum. Housed in the and private lives as well. Firstly, at Yasnaya grand former Mikhailovsky Palace, the Polyana, we immerse ourselves in the life of Leo Tolstoy, author of two of the most read
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16 – 28 November 2019 13 days with Maj Gordon Corrigan Activity Level 2
This unique and insightful tour explores the culture and geography of Nepal with an emphasis on the British Gurkha connection. Led by retired Gurkha ofcer Gordon Corrigan, a fuent Nepali speaker who is well known in the hills, we will tour the ancient capital of Bhaktapur, where buildings eight hundred years old survived the earthquake of 2015 while more recent constructions did not. We will climb up to the Darbar where the King of Gurkha who unifed Nepal was born and ruled, visit Gurkha hill villages, ride on elephants, visit British Gurkha centres for briefngs on the current Brigade of Gurkhas and Area Welfare Centres to see how the Brigade looks after its old soldiers and widows who have fallen on hard times. Nepal, landlocked between Tibet to the north and India to the south, was for a long time a country where the only means of travel of the main east west highway was by foot. This is no longer the case as in recent years the road network, while still not extensive, has improved enormously and it is now possible to explore this fascinating land without expending more than a reasonable amount of efort. Nepal has few raw materials and she is poor but The Nusseree Battalion, later the 1st Gurkha Rifes , 1857 nevertheless a proud land and the home of the Gurkhas. Wherever possible we Ethnic Mongolians entered and settled in the Day 2 - Travel. Arrive Kathmandu late work with ex-Gurkhas on this tour: some hills of Nepal in the distant past and eventually, afternoon and transfer to Hotel Shanker, an are assisting with logistics, others own under the King of Gorkha, unifed the plethora historic palace and former royal residence, for hotels and restaurants. Thus we stay in a of tiny statelets into the nation that we know two nights. Welcome drinks and introductory range hotels from the 5-star in Kathmandu today as Nepal. After an inconclusive war with talk before dinner. the British in 1814-1816 both sides came to the to the rustic but clean 3-star in Gorkha Day 3 - Kathmandu. Visit the imposing conclusion that they would much prefer to be and Pokhara. A donation to the Gurkha 6th Century Boudhanath, one of the largest friends rather than enemies with the result Welfare Trust will be made by The Cultural Buddhist stupas in the world; the UNESCO that Gurkhas have soldiered for the British Experience on behalf of every client temple complex at Pushupatinath, one of for over two hundred years, fghting in all of booked on the tour. the holiest Hindu sites in Asia; and explore Britain’s wars, as they still do, most recently in medieval Bhaktapur, the ancient capital of Afghanistan. She has never been colonised nor, Kathmandu. Late afternoon talk followed by despite a long connection with Britain, was she curry supper with serving ofcers and SNCOs Cross Periods ever part of the British Empire. Combining the at the British Gurkha Camp Kathmandu. culture of Hinduism, Buddhism and ancient Kirat and Bon beliefs, Nepal’s history is a rich ESSENTIALS Day 4 - Bandipur. Scenic drive through the kaleidoscope of conquest, expansion and war Trishuli valley with its imposing gorges and Return fights from London, 3, 4 and 5 combined with the magnifcent architecture of raging rapids, to Bandipur a delightful hill star hotels, all meals, all entrance fees the various rulers and stunning scenery, with village unchanged in centuries except for the and expert guide throughout. the Himalayas overlooking everything. For comfort of its excellent boutique heritage Tour price: £2995 long an absolute, albeit benevolent, monarchy, hotel, the Gaun Ghar, where we have dinner Nepal is now a republic and spend the night. Single supplement: £295 Deposit: £300 Day 1 - Depart. Late evening departure from Day 5 - Gorkha. Drive to Gorkha, where it all London for Kathmandu via Doha. Price without fights: £2545 began. Climb up to the Darbar, where Prithy
92 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 ofcers and SNCOs at British Gurkha Post and Day 11 - Elephants! This morning we visit an Kathmandu hear about the recruitment process. elephant breeding centre and if you are willing you have the opportunity to bathe or even Day 9 - Chitwan. We drive to Bachauli ride these magnifcent animals. This afternoon situated on the edge of the Chitwan National we see these majestic beasts in their natural Park. Here we enjoy a cultural show by Tharu habitat as we enjoy a further safari in the villagers (the Tharu are thought to be the National Park. original inhabitants of Nepal, before the arrival of the Gurkhas). Check in to the Jungle Day 12 - Kathmandu. We fy from Bharatpur Safari Lodge for three nights. back to Kathmandu and return to Hotel Shanker for our last night in Nepal. There will Day 10 - Jungle and Safari. We travel by be some free time for personal exploration canoe along the East Rapti River disembarking before we enjoy our farewell dinner at the for a walk through the jungle. This afternoon Bhojan Griha restaurant and experience an we drive in the National Park to experience a evening of Nepalese culture music and dance. jeep safari where we hope to fnd rhinoceroses and plentiful exotic birds, and if we are lucky, Day 13 - Home. Morning fight to London via we may even catch a glimpse of a tiger. Doha.
Chitwan National Park Traditional dance
Naryan Shahi, the founder of modern Nepal came to the throne in 1742, aged 21. We visit the Gurkha Area Welfare Centre for a briefng on the Welfare scheme. Check in to the Gorkha Gaun Resort hotel for two nights. Day 6 - Gorkha. A day away from road travelling as we relax and enjoy the
magnifcent Himalayan scenery that Periods Cross surrounds our hotel. Perhaps you might take a scenic mountain walk, or stroll in to the village to meet the locals, explore the nearby palace and visit the regional museum. Day 7 - Pokhara. Drive to Pokhara where we meet some Gurkha veterans to hear some of their stories at the Kaski Old Soldiers Home. Check in to the ex-Gurkha owned Hotel Meera for two nights. Day 8 - Gachok. We drive to this typical Gurkha village, populated by Gurungs and Puns and from where the British Army has obtained many recruits. Enjoy lunch in the village inn. Return to Pokhara to visit the Gurkha Museum, share a curry supper with
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18 - 25 October 2019 8 days with Dr Neil Faulkner Activity Level 2
Tunisia is a country steeped in Ancient and Modern History, the sites spanning centuries of archaeological and military importance. Immerse yourself in the art and images of cultures long since passed and explore the melting pot of infuences on this diverse and intriguing country. In the company of Military History Monthly editor and archaeologist Dr Neil Faulkner, traverse the richest parts of Tunisia’s history: the Roman occupation and the ferce fghting between the Allied and Axis forces during the Second World War. Discover the history of Carthage, walk through the ancient citiy of Dougga and marvel at the largest surviving amphitheatre in Africa. Follow in the footsteps of the 1st Army through the beautiful but blood soaked Madjerda Valley, stop at the damaged village of Takrouna, left as a stark reminder of the heroics and cost of war and visit the site of von Arnim’s momentous surrender of the Afrika Korps in 1943.
British Forces in Tunisia, 1943
Caught between the clashing infuences of country in Africa, but it has still experienced Africa and Europe, Tunisia has been a meeting exciting political change and unrest. point of cultures throughout history, with a Day 1 - Tunis. Fly London to Tunis and check geography as varied as its culture. From the in to our hotel for two nights. Numidian tribes in 3000BC to the Tunisian Revolution in December 2010, sparking the so Day 2 - Carthage. We explore the ancient called ‘Arab Spring’, Tunisia is a treasure trove of and bloody history of Carthage, steeped in ruins, ancient cities, architecture and artefacts. former grandeur and beauty. Clamber over The country has seen times of extreme the sprawling ruins of the town hall, the prosperity and decline under Phoenician and majestic amphitheatre and the Antonin baths, Roman rule, and the Arab Muslim Conquest, caught between the bustle of the modern city changing the language, customs and and the glimmering blue Mediterranean Sea. architectural landscape of the country from Fast forward two millennia with a visit to the Cross Periods ESSENTIALS towering, clean cut pillars to the beautiful and American War Cemetery to pay our respects imposing domed grand mosques found in to those who lost their lives on the battlefelds Return fights from London, 4 star hotels, every city. The strategic location of Tunisia has that we will discover throughout the tour. We bufet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course been exploited for centuries. It was a base for dinner with drinks each evening, end the day exploring Tunis itself, including all entrance fees and expert guide piratic raids on European shipping under the the stunning 9th century medina, the throughout. Ottoman Empire as the Axis Powers’ foothold soothing Zitouna Mosque and the ancient, in North Africa during WW2 until 1943, when transporting entrance to the medina, the Bab Tour price: £1995 they were overwhelmed by the superior El Bhar. Single supplement: £195 numbers and tactics of the Allied Forces. Since Day 3 - Takrouna and Sousse. We explore Deposit: £200 independence from France in 1956, Tunisia has been lauded as the most democratic the hilltop village of Takrouna, bitterly fought Price without fights: £1745 over the by New Zealand forces and a standing
94 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 monument to the devastation of the war in Day 6: Dougga. Spend the day at the North Africa. We stop at Sainte Marie du Zit, breathtaking ruins of Dougga, one of the the small, agricultural settlement where von most well-known, well preserved and Arnim was driven to surrender the Afrika Korps enthralling Roman archaeological sites in to the Allied Forces in 1943. This afternoon Africa. The UNCESCO World Heritage site sits we visit the Sousse Archaeological Museum proudly on a hillside, ofering spectacular with its vibrant mosaics and curious artefacts, views and enticing visitors to enter its baths, including the morbid, but fascinating funerary villas and amphitheatres as well as ramble collection and the famous ‘drunken women’ through its ancient streets and alley ways. terracotta fgurines. Continue to our hotel in Throughout the day we will discover what life Kairouan for two nights. was like in this arid landscape and how the Romans adapted and made their mark on the Day 4: Kairouan and EL Jem. We enjoy a landscape as well as on Tunisia’s complex and guided tour of the white washed streets of this fuid identity. ancient holy Muslim capital, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the trend-setting Day 7: Madjerda Valley. We follow the 1st Great Mosque, boasting the oldest minaret Army’s run for Tunis through the spectacular in the Muslim West. Take in the enormity of Madjerda Valley. Explore the eclectic the changes wrought by the Arab Conquest architecture of Beja before enjoying a scenic from their cultural and spiritual seat of power trip through the verdant, undulating valley in before traveling to the colossal Amphitheatre the foothills of the Aurès Mountains. We will of El Jem to witness one of the most iconic stop at the desolate Oued Zarga War Cemetery images of the Roman Empire and way of with the turquoise, mirage-like lake ofering a life that was overrun and forgotten to time. bleak backdrop to this poignant fnal resting We walk around this monument of extreme place. Finally, admire the sweeping views after violence, death and delight before returning a walk to the top of the infamous Longstop Hill to Kairouan for the second of two nights. to discuss the frst epic tank v tank battles at one of the last Axis defence lines before Tunis. Day 5: Raqqada. We explore the Museum of Islamic Art, set in an old presidential palace Day 8: Home. Return fight to London. whose treasures record the biggest cultural change in the history of Tunisia. We will admire the scale model of the Great Mosque minaret, the spectacular ceramics and elegant, elaborate stained glass windows, ofering a kaleidoscope view across the park. Thence to the crumbling remains of Roman Mustis, built "Te expertise was outstanding on land gifted to Roman army veterans and and the organisation of the group soldiers for their service. After exploring the led to a great group experience. " foundations of the villas, churches and forum of this simple community, we continue to Dougga and our hotel for the next two nights. The Great Mosque, Kairouan Cross Periods Cross
Dougga
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 95 FORTRESSXXX MALTA FXXXROM THE KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN TO WORLD WAR TWO
3 – 8 November 2018 6 days with Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck Activity Level 2
This is a wonderfully varied and scenic Valetta, 1942 tour of Malta – a tiny island with a warm welcome and proud military Malta has stood at the strategic crossroads of conclude our tour of the land defences and heritage including probably the greatest the Mediterranean for centuries, its history then start the story of the air defence of Malta concentration of military fortifcations shaped by successive incomers: ancient by visiting the beautiful domed church in in Europe. The Second World War siege Phoenicians, Romans and Arabians, the Mosta and learning about the ‘Mosta Miracle’ will be our main focus but we also Knights of St John, Napoleon and the British. It before travelling on to the evocative hill-top examine the indelible marks that other was the scene of two of the most cataclysmic old barracks and hospital at Imtafa. We tour cultures and events have left behind: the sieges in military history: the Great Siege the exquisite ancient town of Mdina where we unspoilt ancient walled city of Mdina, the of 1565 when the Knights of St John held take lunch. This afternoon we move to Ta’qali renaissance architecture of the Knights of out against vastly superior Ottoman forces; with its excellent air museum - epicentre of St John, the brief occupation by Napoleon and the Second World War siege of 1940- the Air Battle and ‘the most bombed airfeld and the extant Victorian fortifcations. 43 when British and Maltese forces and of WW2. Thence a drive along the dramatic We will enjoy coastal drives and boat civilians together held out against the might Dingli clifs to discuss their contribution. trips, visit superb palaces and fortresses, of Mussolini and Hitler, making a signifcant Day 5 - The Maritime War & The Home see underground shelters and secret contribution to the success of the land Front. This morning we take a relaxing boat command posts, and many other places campaign in North Africa, naval operations in trip around Valetta’s magnifcent harbours of interest on this wonderful and friendly the Mediterranean and, indeed, the outcome to see the site of the submarine base, discuss Mediterranean island. Throughout, we of the Second World War itself. There are the Italian navy raid, the fght to save aircraft will be based in a delightful fve-star hotel striking similarities between the two sieges; carrier HMS Illustrious and the heroic Santa situated within easy walking distance the spirit of The Knights’ earlier struggle Maria Convoy. Disembarking at Birgu wharf of the centre of historic Valetta with its inspired their 20th Century successors to fght for lunch, we spend the afternoon at the Malta heritage sites and excellent restaurants. on against seemingly impossible odds. at War Museum with its original underground Day 1 - Fly to Malta. We land at Luqa airport tunnels telling the story of how the civilian – the famous RAF Bomber Command airfeld population survived the siege. of WW2 – and check in to our elegant hotel Day 6 - Command & Control. A short walk and our base throughout the tour. We walk from our hotel we fnd the Lascaris War through the main city gate into the city centre Rooms, restored to give a fascinating glimpse for tea and orientation. Welcome drinks, of how the command bunker operated during introductory talk and meal in the hotel that the Battle for Malta and as the operational HQ evening. for the Invasion of Italy. We see the Noon Day Day 2 – The Great Siege. Drive to the furthest Gun fred, which is our signal to take an early " Ashley’s thorough homework tip of Valetta to visit St Elmo's Fort, the scene lunch, check-out of our hotel and drive to the of the epic defence of Valetta by the Knights airport for our return fight to London. and handouts were a huge of St John. Subject to local scheduling, enjoy component of the tour’s success. the colourful ‘In-Guardia’ parade followed by a visit to the National War Museum. We walk Tank you." up into the city for a light lunch, to visit the Grand Masters' Palace and take a guided tour through Valetta’s golden streets back to our hotel.
Cross Periods ESSENTIALS Day 3 – From the Knights to the Victorians. Return fights from London Gatwick, We drive along the scenic north coast via 5 star hotel, bufet breakfast, 3 course eponymous St Paul’s Bay, where the saint was dinner with drinks each evening, shipwrecked – and the scene of many historic all entrance fees and expert guide events since. We visit the Knights’ lookout at throughout. the Red Tower, high up on Marfa Ridge with splendid views out to Gozo island. Thence via the 19th century defences of Victoria Tour price: £1725 Lines to Fort Rinella, to see demonstrations of Single supplement: £295 Victorian soldiering, weapon fring and horse- Deposit: £175 riding. Price without fights: £1575 Day 4 - The Land/Air Defences. Today we
96 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 TAILOR-MADE TOURS
Besides scheduled expert led tours, The Cultural Experience operates tailor made or bespoke tours for many diferent types of groups. Such groups range from army units (such as The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps), school and university alumni, churches, local authorities and friends and family groups. Our professional reputation, travel expertise and worldwide network of travel contacts and resources means that any destination is possible and coupled with our inherent appreciation of military history and history per se we can prepare an itinerary that is suited perfectly to your requirements. You can specify your own tour content, duration, departure date, the type and quality of hotel, your meal requirements, style of transport and the level of expertise required from your guide.
There are a whole host of reasons why you might wish to use The Cultural Experience for your tailor-made tour, but here are just a few: • Our network of worldwide tried and trusted travel experts and tour guides understand the ethos and needs of historical and battlefeld tours. • We have access to a fantastic range of expert guides including academics, armed forces (serving and retired), historians, local and international specialists. • Not only do we know the historical sites and battlefelds intimately, but we are familiar with all the requisite tour logistics thus avoiding poor quality or badly situated hotels, unrealistic Newcastle High tour of Andalucía itineraries and rapacious, or worse, unreliable local operators and For more information visit www.tceschooltrips.co.uk coach companies. Rolica - 36 sqn 1 RSME on Delaborde's 2nd position • We can supply a complete or partial package, the elements of which can include fights, ferries, rail, car hire, coaches, hotels, restaurants, picnics, visa support, translators, tour managers and of course expert guides. • We are ATOL licensed members of The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT) and The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO)” • We can organise as much of the tour administration that you require: tour promotional literature, process bookings and take all forms of payment (including credit and debit cards except American Express).
For more information visit www.battlefeldstudies.co.uk
If you are thinking of a bespoke tour to anywhere in the world, call us on 0345 475 1815 or 1-877-381-2914 from the USA (toll-free) or email [email protected]
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 97 TOURS by DATE
Year Month Date Tour Days Expert Page 2018 October 5 Walking Waterloo 4 Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck 38 12 Napoleon in Italy 8 Dr Martin Boycott- Brown 36 14 Operation Mercury 7 Col Bob Kershaw 75 20 The Franco-Austrian War 6 Maj-Gen John Drewienkiewicz 60 November 3 The Indian Mutiny 13 Maj Gordon Corrigan 52 3 Fortress Malta 6 Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck 96 30 Austerlitz: Napoleon’s Masterpiece 4 Alan Rooney 37 December 5 Battle of the Bulge 5 Dr Peter Schrijvers 86 2019 March 5 The Zulu War 16. 14 Ian Knight 62 11 Lawrence of Arabia 8 Eamonn Gearon 72 19 American Civil War: Southern Heartland 15 Fred Hawthorne 58 21 The Battle of Verdun 5 Dr Bruce Cherry 69 April 3 Enigmatic Georgia 13 Dr Paul Wordsworth 22 4 The Holocaust 7 Dr Isabel Wollaston 88 8 Archaeological Delights of the Bay of Naples 7 Dr Andy Fear 12 12 The Battle for Berlin 6 Maj Nigel Dunkley 87 15 Roman Andalucía 8 Dr Andy Fear 14 23 Hundred Years War 8 Gordon and Imogen Corrigan 26 23 Operation Husky 1943 7 Col Patrick Mercer 78 30 Peninsular War in Southern Spain 7 Tim Clayton 44 May 4 Russia 1941-1943 11 Col Bob Kershaw 76 7 The Gallipoli Campaign 6 Dr Bruce Cherry 66 22 Wellington’s Eastern Front 7 Col Nick Lipscombe 42 22 Anzio & Cassino 1944 7 Col Patrick Mercer 80 29 The End in Italy 1945 7 Col Patrick Mercer 82 June 17 The Hundred Days 8 Tim Clayton & Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck 48 27 The Pale Horseman 4 Dr Ryan Lavelle 24 28 The Austro Prussian War 8 Maj-Gen John Drewienkiewicz 61 July 1 The English Civil War 6 Col Nick Lipscombe 30 7 The Wars of the Roses 6 Dr John Sadler 25 10 The Lost Legions 6 Tony Wilmott 20 13 Winning North America 14 Fred Hawthorne & Alan Rooney 34 15 Finland 1939 8 Col Bob Kershaw 74 21 Marlborough – The First Churchill 7 Dr John Sadler 32 26 Words, Music and Landscapes 4 Simon Jones 68 29 D-Day Operation Overlord 5 Dr Simon Trew 83 August 2 Norman Bocage 1944 6 Dr Simon Trew 84 4 The First World War in Poland 1914 -1915 7 Alan Wakefeld 70 8 Arnhem & Operation Market Garden 4 Col Bob Kershaw 85 12 The Gold of Thrace and Rome 9 Prof Andrew Poulter 18 20 First and Last Shots 4 Simon Jones 67 September 2 Archaeological Delights of the Bay of Naples 7 Prof Andrew Poulter 12 4 Wellington In Spain 8 Col Nick Lipscombe 46 4 The Holocaust 7 Tim Cole 88 6 In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great 10 Dr Andy Fear 10 12 Natasha’s Dance 10 Prof Orlando Figes 90 17 Frederick the Great 8 Maj-Gen John Drewienkiewicz 31 20 American Civil War: Eastern Theater 14 Fred Hawthorne 54 23 Wellington Over The Pyrenees 9 Col Nick Lipscombe 47 27 The Golden Journey to Samarkand 12 Katie Campbell 28 28 Walking Waterloo 4 Maj-Gen Ashley Truluck 38 October 14 Napoleon in Germany 8 Alan Rooney 39 16 The Holocaust 7 Dr Waitman Beorn 88 18 Tunisia 8 Dr Neil Faulkner 94 22 Archaeological Delights of the Bay of Naples 7 Amanda Pavlick 12 28 The Anglo-Boer Wars 10 Ian Knight 64 November 2 The Indian Mutiny 12 Maj Gordon Corrigan 52 16 Nepal and the Gurkhas 13 Maj Gordon Corrigan 62 2020 March 4 The Zulu War 14 Ian Knight 50 13 The Cast of a Die 13 Col Patrick Mercer 92 30 Archaeological Delights of the Bay of Naples 7 Dr Andy Fear 12 April 6 The Roman Province of Lusitania 8 Dr Andy Fear 16 11 American Civil War: Western Theater 13 Fred Hawthorne 56 26 Salonika 6 Alan Wakefeld 71 May 4 Russia 1941-1943 11 Col Bob Kershaw 76 June 13 The Retreat to Corunna 6 Col Nick Lipscombe 40 5 Wellington in Portugal 8 Col Nick Lipscombe 41
98 Visit www.theculturalexperience.com Call 0345 475 1815 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
bOOKING PROCEDURE When you buy an ATOL protected fight or fight inclusive holiday from us, you will receive an ATOL Certifcate. This lists what is fnancially protected, where 1) Telephone us on 0345 475 1815 or (from outside the United Kingdom) you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if +44 1722 340699 or 1-877-381-1914 (from the USA, toll-free) to discuss any things go wrong. tour, enquire about availability or reserve and pay for your holiday. Please ensure that you have your passport to hand and that you have familiarised The price of our ATOL-protected fight inclusive Packages includes the amount yourself with our booking conditions printed below. of £2.50 per person as part of the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. 2) Or fll out the booking form opposite for all members of your party, select your preferred form of payment for your non-refundable deposit and send We, or the suppliers identifed on your ATOL Certifcate or holiday itinerary, it to us. will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certifcate or itinerary (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are 3) If you are booking your tour less than 10 weeks prior to departure then able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder or supplier the full payment must be made with your booking. may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative 4) We will acknowledge your booking within 10 days of its receipt by way of (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the a confrmation invoice, and if applicable, an ATOL certifcate. alternative ATOL holder or supplier will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract bOOKING CONDITIONS to that alternative ATOL holder or supplier. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder or Please read these booking conditions carefully, as along with our Privacy supplier, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ABTOT Policy, they form the basis of the contract between you and Midas Combined scheme. Tours Limited trading as The Cultural Experience (TCE). An expanded If we, or the suppliers identifed on your ATOL certifcate or holiday itinerary, version of these booking conditions is available on our website are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through www.theculturalexperience.com an alternative ATOL holder, alternative supplier or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, ABTOT Limited may make a payment to (or confer a beneft on) bOOKING & PAyMENT you under the ABTOT Combined scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or beneft you assign absolutely to ABTOT Limited any claims All bookings must be secured by payment of the requisite non-refundable which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision deposit or the full price of the tour if booking less than 10 weeks prior to of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit departure. card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re- Payment can be made by credit card (excluding AMEX) debit card, cheque, assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed (payable to ‘The Cultural Experience’), international money order in Sterling under the ABTOT Combined scheme. (GBP), or bank transfer (in Sterling GBP only) net of all bank charges. For For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk or the bank transfers originating from bank accounts outside the United Kingdom ABTOT website at www.ABTOT.com an additional fee of £10 is payable. There is no charge levied against payments made by consumer debit and credit cards. All commercial / business payment cards will incur a 2.5% processing fee. FITNESS TO TRAVEL Upon receipt of your payment, we will issue a booking confrmation invoice All tours involve a fair amount of walking often over uneven cobbled streets, and, if applicable, an ATOL certifcate. At this point, a binding contract will hillsides or steps. Participants on all tours should be able to walk or stand for exist between you and TCE. Please let us know within 10 days of its issue if at least sixty minutes without aid or requiring a rest. Use our Activity Level any of these documents contain any errors, paying particular attention to Guide to measure your ability to join a tour. If you have any concerns in this ensure correct spelling of passenger name. regard, please contact us for advice. We will refuse to carry anyone who has The balance of the price is payable not less than 70 days prior to the failed to notify us of any disability requiring assistance during the period from departure date. If the balance has not been paid by 56 days prior to booking the tour to its departure. Subsequent to the tour’s departure anyone departure, we may cancel the booking and levy the cancellation charges who in TCE’s opinion cannot meet the criteria contained in our activity level set out below. guide may have their holiday terminated and we will impose any applicable cancellation charges. We may ask for a confrmation letter from your GP FINANCIAL PROTECTION certifying that you meet the activity level criteria prior to accepting you on a tour. You must be able to carry your own luggage as porterage is not provided. The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides fnancial protection under ABTOT Combined and The Package TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for The Cultural Experience, ABTOT number 5390, ATOL number 10153, and in the event of To participate in any of our tours you must ensure that you have adequate their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: holiday insurance to cover cancellation and curtailment up to the cost of the 1. non-fight packages; holiday for each participant, medical expenses, emergency repatriation, loss of luggage, travel delay plus loss of personal items and cash. We strongly 2. fight inclusive packages that commence outside of the EU, which are recommend that you and all members of your party be adequately insured at sold to customers outside of the EU; and. time of booking. You must let us have details of your insurance policy at least 3. fight inclusive packages, fight only and linked travel arrangements (LTAs four weeks prior to departure. ) sold as a principal under ABTOT Combined. ABTOT Combined cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet PASSPORTS & VISAS travelled or repatriation if you are abroad. Please note that bookings made outside the EU are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with For many countries, the passport needs to be valid for at least six months The Cultural Experience. beyond your date of return. The cost of visas is not included in the price of each tour. Approximately eight weeks prior to your departure we will mail In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our you the requisite supporting documentation for your visa application fnancial failure, please call their 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise together with the relevant embassy contact details and the name of a visa you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company. handling company. Some countries allow you to purchase your visa on entry. You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Of the countries we plan to visit in this programme presently, Turkey, Russia, Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/ Uzbekistan, Nepal, Jordan, and India require visas to be obtained in advance. contents/made The USA requires advance ESTA authorisation.
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 99 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Whilst we will provide up to date information and supporting documentation the choice of: i) accepting the changed arrangements, ii) having a refund of as required, general information concerning passport, visa and health all monies paid; or iii) accepting an ofer of alternative travel arrangements of requirements will vary between nationalities and are subject to change. comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price diference You are responsible for checking current requirements before departure, if the alternative is of a lower value). As we quote prices both with and without the application process ensuring you comply with all requirements, and fights or Eurostar, if you choose to book your own travel you are advised to taking all relevant documents on your holiday. TCE will not be liable for any check that the tour will run prior to doing so. failure by the Client to discharge these responsibilities and the Client will have to reimburse TCE for any costs they incur as a result of such failure on FORCE MAJEURE the part of the Client. Full cancellation terms will apply if you fail to secure a visa. Except where expressly stated elsewhere in these booking conditions we cannot accept liability where the performance of our obligations under our IF yOU CHANGE OR CANCEL contract with you is prevented or afected or you otherwise sufer any damage, loss or expense as a result of force majeure. Force Majeure means unusual If you or any other member of your party has to cancel your confrmed and unforeseeable circumstances beyond TCE's control, the consequences of booking, the following charges apply dependent upon the period of notice which neither TCE nor their suppliers could avoid, including but not limited that you give: to war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, fre, food, adverse weather conditions or the threat of any of these. Cancellation period Charge as a proportion of before departure total invoiced cost SPECIAL REQUESTS 71 days or more Deposit only Special requests should be indicated on the booking forms or requested 70 days to 49 days 50% in writing. We will try to arrange special requests to be met, but we cannot guarantee that they will be fulflled. Adding requests after booking may incur 48 days to 29 days 60% an amendment charge. We do not accept bookings that are dependent upon 28 days to 22 days 70% any special request being met. 21 days to 15 days 85% 14 days to 8 days 95% COMPLAINTS 7 days to 0 days 100% We make every efort to ensure that your tour arrangements run smoothly and that you are satisfed with every aspect of your holiday. If you do have Your cancellation takes efect from the date we receive your written a problem during your tour, please inform your Tour Manager immediately, confrmation. The balance of the cost of your arrangements is due no less who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, than 70 days prior to departure. If we do not receive this balance in full please contact our ofce on +44 1722 340699. If the problem still cannot be and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send formal written you in which case the cancellation charges above will become payable. If notice of your complaint to us within 28 days of the end of your stay. Ensuring you are forced to return home early, or choose to do so where you have no that your written complaint gives all relevant information and is concise and reasonable cause for complaint, we cannot refund the cost of any services to the point will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our you have not used or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. response to you. If, despite our best eforts and having followed the above If you wish to change any part of your booking arrangements after our procedure for reporting and resolving your complaint, you feel that it has not confrmation invoice has been issued, we will do our best to assist, but been satisfactorily settled, we recommend that it is referred for arbitration cannot make any guarantees. Where we can meet a request, all changes will under the ABTOT Travel Industry Arbitration Service. An Independent be subject to an administration fee of £50 per person, per change, as well Arbitrator will review the documents relating to any complaint and deliver as any applicable rate changes or extra costs incurred as well as any costs a binding decision to bring the matter to a close. Details of this scheme are incurred by ourselves and any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any available from The Travel Industry Arbitration Service, administered by Dispute of our suppliers. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish to Settlement Services Limited, 9 Savill Road, Lindfeld, Haywards Heath, West proceed with the original booking, we will treat this as a cancellation by Sussex, RH16 2NY. This scheme cannot however decide in cases where the you. sums claimed exceed £5,000 per person or £10,000 per booking form, or for claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the If you are prevented from travelling it may be possible to transfer your consequence thereof. booking to another suitable person provided that written notice is given and subject to an administration fee. PHOTOGRAPHS IF WE CHANGE OR CANCEL THE TOUR For details regarding photographs please view our privacy policy at: www. theculturalexperience.com/privacy-policy.php It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your travel arrangements, but we do plan arrangements many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do JURISDICTION so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of Your booking is with Midas Tours Limited trading as 'The Cultural Experience' them at the earliest possible date. All itineraries are correct at time of print (TCE). In these conditions "TCE" shall mean Midas Tours Limited (trading as The (August 2018). Occasionally, we may have to amend the prices of unsold Cultural Experience and registered in England and Wales, company number tours or correct errors in the prices of confrmed tours. Prices for future tours 05819354), The Cultural Experience at 8 Barnack Business Park, Blakey Road, included in previous brochures may also be subject to price increases. Salisbury, United Kingdom. (Tel 0345 475 1815 or +44 1722 340699 or 1-877- Up to 14 days before departure, TCE reserves the right to cancel a tour if 381-1914). The "Client" shall mean the signatory on the booking form and it receives low bookings. Low booking is where an insufcient number of everyone named in the booking or added subsequently. The singular shall people have booked a tour to make its operation possible in the advertised include the plural and vice versa. form. We will make every efort to modify tours to allow them to continue Information correct at time of print (August 2018). Up to date terms with low bookings. From the time Clients have agreed such modifcations, a and conditions, tour itineraries and prices can be found on our website: 100% cancellation charge will apply. www.theculturalexperience.com If we have to make a major change or cancel a tour, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will ofer you
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The Cultural Experience 8 Barnack Business Park Blakey Road Salisbury SP1 2LP United Kingdom CONTENTS WHAT yOU SAID
3. elcome 40. Retreat to Corunna 71. Salonika 4. hat to Expect 41. ellington in Portugal 72. Lawrence f Arabia “I have been on a number of trips with The Cultural SEC RL AR 5. Added alue 42. ellington s Eastern ront Experience and they have always been interesting, 6. ur uides 44. The apoleonic ar 74. inland 1939 well organised and good value for money. I am looking in Southern Spain EARL PERI S 75. peration ercury forward to booking more trips in the future” 10. Alexander the reat in Turkey 46. ellington in Spain 76. Russia 1941-1943 “The tour just concluded was all I had hoped for. Well organised, good transport, hotels and food. To visit 12. The Archaeological elights 47. ellington er The Pyrenees 78. peration usky the places we did was a highlight for me. I thoroughly of the Bay of aples 48. The undred ays 80. An io Cassino 1944 enjoyed and would recommend to anyone.” 14. Roman Andaluc a ICT RIA ERA 82. The End in Italy 1945 “Wonderful subject, wonderful guide & tour manager, 16. The Roman Pro ince of Lusitania 50. The Cast of a ie 83. - ay: peration erlord lovely scenery, what more could anyone ask for?” The aya Pass 18. The old of Thrace and Rome 52. The Indian utiny 84. Battling through “The expertise of the guides were outstanding and 20. The Lost Legions 54. The American Ci il ar: the orman Bocage the organization of the group led to a great group Eastern Theater 22. Enigmatic eorgia 85. Arnhem peration experience” 56. The American Ci il ar: arket arden 24. The Pale orseman “We were very pleased with the whole tour. The staff estern Theater 86. Battle of the Bulge were wonderful and we will definitely be going on 25. The ars of the Roses 58. The American Ci il ar: 87. Battle for Berlin another tour with the cultural experience. Trip of a 26. The undred ears ar Through The Southern eartland lifetime that we will recommend to family and friends. 88. The olocaust 28. The olden ourney to Samarkand 60. The ranco-Austrian ar Thank You” CR SS PERI S 17th 18th CE TUR 61. The Austro-Prussian ar 1866 “This was the best trip I have ever been on and 90. atasha s ance exceeded my high expectations. I felt safe and secure at 30. The English Ci il ar 62. The ulu ar 92. epal and the urkhas all times and for expertise on the subject matter it just 31. rederick the reat 64. The Anglo-Boer ars couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent” Almeida Portugal 94. Tunisia 32. arlborough: The irst Churchill IRST RL AR "I have travelled with other tour operators and I have 96. ortress alta 34. inning orth America 66. The allipoli Campaign to say that the standard of your product is excellent USE UL I R ATI AP LE IC PERI 67. irst and Last Shots and unequalled in my experience. I shall certainly be 97. Tailor ade Tours travelling with you again – Thank you" 36. apoleon in Italy 68. ords usic and Landscapes 98. Tours by ate "Highly professional company with a great tour 37. Austerlit : apoleon s asterpiece 69. Battle of erdun 99. Important Information guide, food and accommodation. An inclusive and 38. alking aterloo 70. The irst orld ar in Poland informative holiday" 1914-1915 101. Booking orm 39. apoleon in ermany "Overall, yet another really first-rate tour experience. 103. hat ou Said Very impressed & hugely satisfied from beginning to end" "This is my fourth trip with 'Cultural Experience'and it just keeps getting better Lunch in a yurt U bekistan
or more information on any of tours or to book your trip: I marvel at their attention to detail and their consideration of client welfair and the expert Call 0345 475 1815 knowledge of the guides" USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 "An extremely interesting trip very well organised with excellent guide lecturer and tour manager" Visit www.theculturalexperience.com "The experience really was first rate. Both guides Email [email protected] were very knowledgeable and personable and brought great enthusiasm as well as historical depth to their @CultExp discussions" /historicaltours "The hotel was superb and the choices of dining establishments were outstanding" /thecultural_experience Petersburg USA
USA (Toll-free) 1-877-381-2914 Email [email protected] 103
Midas2019_brochure_FINAL.indd Tours-Cover.indd 2 2 06/08/2018 12:18 2019_brochure_FINAL.indd 103 06/08/2018 14:5112:21 THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE CULTURAL CULTURAL THE THE
The Cultural Experience 8 Barnack Business Park THE Blakey Road THE Salisbury THE ARCHAEOLOGY SP1 2LP THE MILITARY HISTORY United Kingdom THE ARCHITECTURE THE UK: 0345 475 1815 BATTLEFIELDS International: +44 1722 340699 THE HISTORY USA (Toll-free): 1-877-381-2914 MUSIC ART BATTLEfIELdS, ARCHAEOLOgy & HISTORy [email protected] www.theculturalexperience.com @CultExp 2019/202019/20 /historicaltours 2019 TOURS thecultural_experience INCLUdINg LATE 2018 & EARLy 2020
2019_brochure_cover_FINAL.indd 2 06/08/2018 00:16:04 2019_brochure_cover_FINAL.indd 4 06/08/2018 00:16:22 Midas Tours-Cover.indd 1 06/08/2018 14:51