In 2015, our small ship cruises – on vessels catering for between 15 and 30 participants – will visit European rivers in Provence and Portugal, the turquoise coastal waters of Turkey, and Egypt's great Nile.

Our spectacular boats include Her Majesty's royal barge the Spirit of Chartwell, and a traditional teak and mulberry motor yacht with nearly 600 square yards of sail. 

Provence River Cruise

May 17–23, 2015; £2845

Art historian Peter Higginson leads this enchanting exploration into the cultural inheritance and artistic traditions of southern France through the inland waterways of Provence and the Camargue. Our route aboard the luxurious Phénicien – renowned across the Rhône for its refined ambience and superior cuisine – will take us to small Provençal villages and great centres of civilisation as we head towards Avignon, the immaculately preserved 14th century capital of Christendom. More: http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tourdetails/4261

Douro River Cruise on the Royal Barge

August 29 – September 5, 2015; £2520

Cruise along Portugal's 'River of Gold' aboard Her Majesty's royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell. We journey through the vineyards and historic towns of northern Portugal, with visits including the UNESCO World Heritage city of Salamanca and the mediaeval hill-top town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. Our specialist Tour Director is Martin Symington, of the famous Portuguese family that own the Graham's Port Lodge business. The cruise includes an exclusive tour and tasting at Graham's Port Lodge, an evening vintage port wine celebration, and a private visit to the Factory House (Association of Port Wine Shippers) in Oporto. http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tourdetails/4314

Lycian Cruise

September 12–26, 2015; £3130

Our voyage on board Sunworld VIII, a traditional Turkish gulet, explores the striking Classical cities along the coast of south-west Turkey, where the towering limestone cliffs have changed little since Classical times. As we sail we also look out for ruins beneath the clear waters of the eastern Mediterranean: the remains of Aperlae and the Byzantine town of Tersane, for example, are clearly visible to the naked eye. More: http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tourdetails/4344

Carian Cruise: Ephesus and the Cities of the Aegean

September 26 – October 10, 2015; £3260

In classical times the waters of the Carian coast witnessed the plying of Roman galleys, Greek triremes, Phoenician merchantmen and Egyptian dhows. These vessels navigated to and from some of the most famous cities of the ancient world, and we follow in their wake aboard the teak and mulberry Sunworld VIII to discover sites wonderfully preserved due to their inaccessibility by land, and best approached through the clear waters of the Turquoise Coast. More: http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tourdetails/4347

Nile Cruise: From Luxor to Aswan

November 16–23, 2015; £2790

This tour begins with a detailed investigation of Luxor and its environs, from the great necropolis of the Valley of the Kings to the sandstone Colossi of Memnon, before setting off on our leisurely cruise down the Nile. Our vessel is a faithful replica of a 19th century dahabiya fitted out in cherry wood and marble, a common sight on the Nile in the days of the aristocracy, when the sophisticated traveller would meander from temple to temple in a chartered yacht. More: http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tourdetails/4316

NOTES

Founded in 1958, ACE Cultural Tours is the UK's most experienced cultural tour operator. With a growing portfolio of over 1000 specially tailored tours for small groups, ACE offers over 200 departures every year. Every tour is led by a Tour Director – both a specialist in their field and a convivial host – and the tour groups regularly enjoy privileged access to private buildings, collections and special guests. Owned by the charitable organisation, the ACE Foundation, all tour profits are used to support educational projects in the UK and worldwide.

ACE Cultural Tours is a bonded tour operator, holding ATOL licence no 1204 and is also a member of AITO and ABTOT.

Visit the ACE Cultural Tours website here: www.aceculturaltours.co.uk

Visit the ACE Foundation website here: http://www.acefoundation.org.uk

Visit the Stapleford Granary website here: http://staplefordgranary.org.uk