Sir John Ure, former British Ambassador, acclaimed travel writer and expert on nomadic people, is to lead two special tours for Cox & Kings in 2004. He will give informal talks and offer fascinating insights on the group tours Mongolia: In Search of Nomads, departing on 23rd May, and Mali: In Search of Nomads, departing on 13th October. All bookers on the tours will receive a complimentary signed copy of Sir John's latest book, In Search of Nomads.

The Mongolia tour, which is 14 days / 12 nights and costs �1975 per person, will explore one of the world's least populated areas, where centuries-old nomadic traditions continue intact. In the setting of sand dunes, rocky mountains and seas of grassland, Sir John will offer insights into the roving nomadic horsemen of Central Asia, as well as the caravans of camels which have crossed the Gobi Desert since the time of Genghis Khan. Accommodation will include comfortable gers (felt tents) in the wilderness and there will be visits to nomadic families.

On the Mali tour, which is 11 days / 9 nights and costs �2295 per person, Sir John will focus on the nomadic Tuareg people, describing their dramatic history resisting intrusion into the Sahara by the French Foreign Legion and others. Highlights on this fascinating tour will include visits to the villages of the Dogon Escarpment, to see how the Dogon people have lived for centuries, and a camel ride into the desert to a Tuareg camp. The tour also visits the historic desert city of Timbuktu, and the intriguing mud houses of Djenne, including the Grand Mosque, the world's largest mud building. Accommodation is in the best available hotels in Mali.

Sir John Ure, who is speaking at the Royal Geographical Society on Monday 19th January about his new book, In Search of Nomads, said, "Having travelled myself with nomads in different parts of the world, I'm delighted to be able to share some of my experiences about these two particularly fascinating regions."

Images of Mongolia can be supplied upon request.

For further information, please contact Michael Pullman on 020 7873 5006, or at michael.pullman@coxandkings.co.uk