New Cultural Tours & Music Holidays from Kirker

From the Western Cape to the Russian Revolution

Kirker adds 24 new Cultural Tours & Music Holidays for 2017, including Barbados & Iceland

 As Kirker Holidays’ 30^th anniversary year draws to a close, the specialist tour operator for discerning travellers has put together a 2017 cultural tours and music holiday programme that is certainly worth celebrating. As well as familiar favourites such as Sicily, New York and Rome, Kirker has added 24 new itineraries ranging from music and opera indulgence in Prague and Hamburg to a sublime tour of South Africa that samples some of its finest wines and gardens. New, too, for 2017 is a fascinating visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg, timed to coincide with the centenary of the Russian Revolution… and a journey through four centuries of history on the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados.

Travelling in small companionable groups, each led by an expert tour lecturer, Kirker’s NEW Cultural Tours for 2017 include, in Europe:

IN DENMARK…

Entranced by ‘The Danish Girl’ at the cinema earlier this year? Experience its picturesque setting during Summer in Copenhagen, a six-night holiday that makes the most of the wonderful long days and light evenings at that time of year, with tours of the city itself as well as the palaces, castles, galleries and museums of the island of Zealand, linked to Sweden by the famous Oresund Bridge. Departing 30 July 2017, the price is from £1,997 pp*.

IN GREECE…

Journey from the spectacular volcanic island of Santorini (classical Thera) to the rugged landscape of Crete on a nine-night Minoan Crete & Santorini tour that encompasses some of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites. Departing 11 May & 21 September 2017, the price is from £2,688 pp*.

Ancient Greece is also on the agenda during a new 11-night holiday that uncovers the mysteries of the ancient world – including visits to Olympia, Delphi and Epidaurus – as well as the scenic Mani Peninsula. Departing 17 April & 6 October 2017, the price is from £2,988 pp*.

IN ICELAND…

Embrace Iceland’s dramatic landscapes and breath-taking natural phenomena on a five-night Glaciers, Geysers & The Golden Circle tour that explores its rugged attractions from the comfort of specially modified Land Rover Defenders. The holiday also includes a visit to the beautiful Harpa concert hall and the opportunity to meet members of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and hear them perform. Departing 14 May & 3 September 2017, the price is from £2,493 pp*.

IN ITALY…

A destination with which Kirker is so synonymous, Venice is the base for a six-night holiday, Venice & The Palladian Villas of the Veneto, that combines the city’s great galleries, museums and churches with visits to secret gardens not generally open to the public, and other lesser-known delights. Departing 15 May & 4 September 2017, the price is from £2,669 pp*.

Equally iconic amongst Italophiles, Siena & San Gimignano await discovery on a five-night holiday that examines the cultural treasures and rich historic past of the region, and visits the famous vineyards of Chianti. Departing 8 April & 4 November 2017, the price is from £1,449 pp*.

Still relatively off-the-radar in tourist terms, Turin offers Renaissance palaces and first-rate museums in a stunning setting, surrounded by the Alps and the vineyards of the Piedmont countryside. Discover the region on a five-night tour, Turin & Piedmont. Departing 26 May & 29 September 2017, the price is from £1,598 pp*.

Blending the buzz and cultural landmarks of Italy’s fashion capital with the serenity of its most famous lake, The Duchy of Milan with a visit to Lake Como is a six-night tour that ticks off La Scala, the Duomo and Leonardo’s The Last Supper as well as several private art collections. Departing 8 May & 2 October 2017, the price is from £2,098 pp*.

IN RUSSIA…

2017 marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution, and what better time to visit the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg in the company of expert guides? The Romanovs & Revolution is a seven-night tour retracing the momentous events which transformed a feudal aristocracy into the world’s first communist state. Departing 6 November 2017, the price for this tour is available on request.

Alternatively, delve into Art, Music & Literature in Moscow on a five-night holiday that takes in dazzling Orthodox cathedrals, imposing Soviet era monuments, important art collections and the impressive treasures of the Kremlin, as well as exploring Russia’s rich literary legacy. Departing 20 April, 14 September & 12 October 2017, the price is from £1,996 pp*.

For those who wish to combine the art and architecture of both Moscow and St. Petersburg, it is also possible to book an 11-night itinerary, departing 14 April, 8 September & 6 October 2017, including a six-night tour of St. Petersburg before joining this holiday for the next five nights. The price is from £3,698 pp*.

Further afield, Kirker introduces two tempting new cultural tours in Barbados and South Africa:

IN BARBADOS…

Planned in association with the National Trust of Barbados, Kirker’s new Caribbean tour takes a look at Barbados: Four Centuries of History, visiting the Mount Gay rum distillery and other famous landmarks such as The Garrison and Tyrel Cot, home of Sir Grantley Adams, as well as plantations, private gardens, the Flower Forest and the pretty Scotland District, to observe native plants and trees. Departing in November 2017, the price for this tour is available on request.

IN SOUTH AFRICA…

For winter sun, fascinating flora and delicious wines – as well as a forgiving time difference that keeps jet lag to a minimum – there can be few places more perfect than South Africa. Wines & Gardens of the Western Cape is a relaxing ten-night tour that does exactly what it says on the tin, visiting some of the country’s most notable vineyards and gardens, meeting local experts who will share their knowledge and talk about their work. Departing 15 November 2017, the price is from £3,890 pp*.

Music lovers are wonderfully accommodated in Kirker’s 2017 programme, too, with six NEW escorted holidays to leading music festivals and events across Europe. In Germany, these include The Dresden Music Festival (departing 17 May 2017, seven nights are from £2,725 pp*), Music & Opera in Hamburg (departing 4 February, 30 March & 26 June 2017, four nights are from £1,497 pp*) and Berlin’s fabled Easter Festtage (departing 10 April 2017, six nights are from £2,289 pp*).

Enjoy musical delights in Norway on a visit to Bergen & the Rosendal Chamber Music Festival (departing 7 August 2017, the price is from £2,546 pp*) or – if opera is your preference – choose from a five-night holiday in the beautifully preserved medieval city of Prague (departing 18 March, 11 May & 14 June 2017, the price is from £1,396 pp*) or four nights in the Eternal City of Rome (departing 1 March, 25 April, 17 October & 2 November 2017, the price is from £1,278 pp*).

Joining Kirker’s popular selection of Exclusive Music Festivals next year – each featuring a series of concerts (and themed talks) performed exclusively for Kirker clients – are two NEW UK events:

Staying in St. James’s at The Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL), The Kirker London Music & Art Festival is a five-night holiday featuring four private concerts in the ROSL’s Princess Alexandra Concert Hall as well as three major exhibitions (‘Portrait of the Artist’ at the Queen’s Gallery, ‘Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932’ at the Royal Academy of Arts, and ‘David Hockney at 80’ at Tate Britain) and a visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Departing 13 April, the price is from £1,486 pp*.

Promising sea air and superb private performances by the renowned Piatti Quartet, The Kirker Music Festival at the The Grand, Eastbourne is a three-night sojourn on the South Coast, staying at the five-star hotel which was once described by the 11^th Duke of Devonshire as “the jewel in Eastbourne’s splendid crown” and lists Debussy, Elgar and Dame Nellie Melba amongst its musical former guests. Departing 7 April, the price is from £989 pp*.

Also new for 2017 is The Kirker Music Festival in Leipzig – a six-night holiday that includes a performance by the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and pianist Tim Horten’s recital of the Goldberg Variations at Köthen Castle, plus a visit to Dresden. Departing 18 May, the price is from £2,179 pp*. Or take to the high seas on board Fred.Olsen’s Black Watch for a no-fly Exclusive Kirker Music Cruise of either The Fjords of Norway (departing 4 June, the price is from £1,670 pp*), The Scottish Islands (departing 11 June, the price is from £2,245 pp*) or Through the Baltic to St. Petersburg (departing 24 September, the price is from £1,970 pp*).

*Depending on the itinerary chosen, prices are based on two sharing and include return flights (London), transfers, accommodation with breakfast, some other meals, excursions/musical performances and the services of a tour lecturer and/or holiday escort. UK tours do not include travel to/from the destination. Single rooms available on request – supplement applies unless otherwise stated.

Kirker’s 2017 Cultural Tours & Music Holidays brochure contains over 40 cultural tours to destinations throughout Europe as well as the Caribbean, Japan and Southern Africa, 22 escorted itineraries to leading music festivals and events in Europe (plus one in the USA), and nine Exclusive Kirker Music Festivals on land plus three at sea, with more itineraries planned as the year progresses.

For further information on Kirker’s full programme of Cultural Tours & Music Holidays for 2017, or to book, call an expert at Kirker Holidays on 020 7593 2284, email culturaltours@kirkerholidays.com or visit www.kirkerholidays.com.