3 - 14 September 2013

This twelve day cruise takes you to many rewarding destinations in the Adriatic and Aegean, finishing in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, which are of interest from both an historical and medical point of view. The tour includes several private escorted shore visits, as well as enlightening talks from experienced lecturers, including Dr Simon Chaplin, Director of the Wellcome Library. Enjoy travelling on the intimate and elegant ms Serenissima cruise ship in the company of like-minded people.

We hold a limited number of cabins per grade and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

12 - 29 September 2013

Follow the ancient Trail of the Tea Horse from the little travelled province of Yunnan in China, an area of incredible cultural diversity and magnificent wild landscapes. Here you will find a China completely different to the one represented by Chinatowns all over the world. Continue into Tibet, perhaps the most spiritually and physically uplifting land in the world, situated high in the tallest mountains on earth. Dramatic landscapes,a culture where the devotional dominates the everyday and awe-inspiring devotional architecture make a deep and lasting impression on the visitor to Tibet.

14 - 17 September 2013

Istanbul’s history is richly layered and it is the only city in the world that spans two continents. Follow in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale and see her story come alive with visits to the Selimiye Barracks and the Florence Nightingale Museum and specialist talks. Visit the spectacular Blue Mosque and Aya Sophia and the opulent Topkapi Palace. Explore the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar and the fragrant spice bazaar.

15 - 27 September 2013

This fascinating study tour takes you to from Istanbul to Anatolia, an area rich in ancient history and culture that also lays claim to being the cradle of belief. Travel with Lavinia Byrne on a study tour to an area undiscovered by mass tourism that offers such gems of antiquity as the first site of worship in the world. Along the way you will experience a traditional society much more in tune with history than the modern day and enjoy the delicious cuisine of this country. Lavinia Byrne will give a series of specialist talks during the tour.

27 September - 11 October 2013

History, medicine and culture intertwine on this fascinating tour through Morocco and Andalucia in Spain. The tour is led by Professor John Pearn, a foremost clinician and medical historian who has published and lectured widely on the history of medicine and health, and was the founder of Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine.

5 -18 October 2013

Explore the ancient heart of Central Asia’s evocative Silk Road. The stunning architecture of Uzbekistan's ancient cities links the empires of China and Persia, with a series of talks and visits giving insight into aspects of contemporary society as well as focusing on some lesser known aspects of the region’s history. The tour is led by Jamie Veitch with talks provided by Lavinia Byrne, who accompanies the tour as speaker.

22 - 28 October 2013

Explore the Crimea, visiting Livadia Palace, where the Yalta Conference took place, the Swallow's Nest Castle and the Chekhov House Museum. Tour the Crimean War battlefields, visit the submarine base, the “British Hotel”, go wine tasting and learn of Florence Nightingale, Tolstoy, Churchill, Chekhov and Stalin. Visit Kiev, with its ornate traditional architecture and rich culture and history. There are a number of talks throughout the tour, which is run in association with the Army Medical Services Museum.

3 - 17 November 2013

Ethiopia has a unique and ancient heritage. It contains the oldest human bones ever discovered, the 3,000 year old city of Axum, the palace of the Queen of Sheba and the 12th century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, as well as the castles of Gondar. The mountainous landscapes of northern Ethiopia are breathtaking and the culture vibrant and eclectic. The tour is led by Dr Richard Marsh, an expert and author on the contemporary culture and history of Ethiopia.

10 - 26 January 2014

The tour begins in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi before we explore the surrounding Red River Delta and her rural culture. Then we take to Sapa on the overnight train on China's border. Central Vietnam offers a glimpse in to the country's regal past and trading prowess in the form of Hue and Hoi An. In the South, Ho Chi Minh City bristles with modernity and the noise of progress.

6 -18 February 2014

Burma is a beautiful and welcoming country with rich layers of culture and history, retaining many old traditions. Now is the time to visit a stunning country going through a period of momentous transition in its history. This tour is led by Dr Anne MacAlister.