COX & KINGS LAUNCHES 2014 PROGRAMME OF WORLDWIDE ART TOURS FOR THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

 

London – 7 October 2013

 

Cox & Kings is delighted to continue as the appointed travel partner for The Royal Academy of Arts for 2014. On behalf of the Friends of the Royal Academy, the luxury tour operator has created a collection of 31 expert-led art tours, 8 of which are new for 2014. All tours, open to anyone with a passion for the arts, are carefully designed by Cox & Kings’ experts in conjunction with the accompanying lecturers, appeal to the enthusiast and expert alike, with the aim of enriching the understanding of often complex subjects.

 

Many tours include access to artworks not normally accessible to the general public, or talks by curators of local exhibitions. A highlight on the 6-day tour to Istanbul, departing 31 March 2014 and priced from £1,445 per person, is an exclusive after-hours visit to the Hagia Sofia.

The lecturers are with the clients throughout the tour, making themselves available for informal discussions as well as occasional evening lectures and site-talks, which will supplement the local guides.

 

The tours below are a selection of the new art treasure tours departing in 2014:

 

Rome: Caravaggio & the Eternal City – 5 days from £1,625 per person

29 September – 3 October 2014 with Fenella Billington

This tour uses the paintings of Caravaggio as its theme, but gives a generous overview of the Eternal City, including its ancient monuments and fascinating history. Highlights include a private visit to see Jupiter, Mars & Pluto, Caravaggio’s only mural painting and the group has been invited to visit Beda College to have tea with the rector. 

 

Turkey: Classic Anatolia – 10 days from £1,675 per person

5 – 14 April and 3 – 13 October 2014 with Rowena Loverance

As well as a magnificent coastline, Turkey is home to some of the most fascinating remains and relics from antiquity. This tour includes some of Turkey’s finest historic and religious monuments and includes private talks from local experts including a curator from the Ephesus museum.

 

Jerusalem: The Golden City – 7 days from £1,795 per person

18 – 24 May and 12 – 18 October 2014 with Konstantine Politis

An archaeological tour rather than a pilgrimage, this tour will focus on the many layers of Jerusalem’s history. Taking in some of the most bizarre and bustling networks of alleys and the striking religious architectural landmarks, behind the scenes entry has been arranged at many sites, including exclusive access to the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

 

Tunisia: Crossroads of the Maghreb – 8 days from £1,445 per person

6 – 13 May 2013 with Neil Faulkner and 18 – 25 September with Rowena Loverance

Home to some of North Africa’s most impressive ruins, including eight Unesco world heritage sites, this tour visits many of the country’s most famous archaeological sites including the city of Carthage, the vast amphitheatre of El Djem and Bulla Regia and Kairouan in the relatively untouched interior. A highlight of the tour includes an exclusive meeting with the curator of the Bardo Museum.

 

Oman: Land of Frankincense – 9 days from £2,095 per person

9 – 17 November 2014 with Konstantine Politis

With more than 2,000km of coastline, high mountains, deserts and oases, Oman is perhaps the most beautiful country in Arabia. This tour heads off the beaten path to explore the vast golden sands of the ‘Empty Quarter’ desert and includes an exclusive visit to the prehistoric excavated archaeological site of Qalhat and a lecture at the Ra’s Al-Hadd excavation project where Dr Politis is director.

 

India: Mughal Art & Architecture – 12 days from £3,195 per person

1 – 12 November 2014 & 9 – 20 February 2015 with Diana Driscoll

This tour visits four fascinating cities of the Mughals: Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Lucknow, exploring the art, architecture and artefacts of the Mughal legacy. Highlights include an exclusive talk at the National Museum about its connection to the Royal Academy and a lecture at the Intach office about Mughal art by a local expert.

 

All tours include international flights, transfers, sightseeing escorted by English-speaking guides, accommodation with breakfast daily and other meals as specified and are accompanied throughout by an expert lecturer.

 

Cox & Kings will pay a fee to the Royal Academy for every booking on the arts tours programme and any booking on any Cox & Kings holiday from a Friend of the Royal Academy, which will contribute to the work of the Royal Academy and specifically its Learning Department.

 

For more information, please contact Katie Parsons on 020 7808 5694 or email katie.parsons@coxandkings.co.uk 

 

RESERVATIONS: 020 7873 5000 / www.coxandkings.co.uk

 

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  NOTE TO EDITORS

Cox & Kings is the world’s longest established travel company. Its history stretches back more than 250 years to 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed regimental agent to the Footguards (later the Grenadier Guards). The company’s fortunes grew hand in hand with the British empire and by the early 20th century the company was acting as agent and banker throughout the armed forces and as a shipping agent. In 1922 Cox & Co merged with the Henry S King bank, which had strong connections with India. The bank became part of Lloyds and the shipping agency grew separately, evolving into the modern travel company.

 

Today, built on the high quality service and attention to detail established by Richard Cox in the 18th century, the company continues to flourish as an independent tour operator, with operations in London, the US, Japan, Australia and throughout India. Cox & Kings organises escorted small-group tours and private tailor-made travel in the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, and the Caribbean.