Wander into a quiet corner of a blossom strewn garden and reflect on the world ... if you have a passion for gardens and all things botanical why not take a holiday to see some of the wonderful gardens around the world? If you are also interested in tours such as painting or photography please take a look at our specialist holidays page.
Throughout Europe there are plentiful chateaus and manor houses with historical gardens that reflect the culture of the countries surrounding them and further a...
Wander into a quiet corner of a blossom strewn garden and reflect on the world ... if you have a passion for gardens and all things botanical why not take a holiday to see some of the wonderful gardens around the world? If you are also interested in tours such as painting or photography please take a look at our specialist holidays page.
Throughout Europe there are plentiful chateaus and manor houses with historical gardens that reflect the culture of the countries surrounding them and further afield there are botanical gardens of all sizes to explore, most were created in the 16th and 17th centuries and used for medicinal purposes, but became collections for exotic species discovered around the globe. If you have a local gardening or botany club or group that would like a private escorted tour, please get in touch. Many cities of Europe have botanical gardens some of which can be pre-booked on a tailor made tour, such as an excursion from Paris to Monet's Garden.
Visits to gardens can easily be included in your choice of holiday destination, I will tailor your itinerary to suit what you want to see. There are lots of group escorted tours which are themed around gardens too. In the Spring, take a trip to The Netherlands to see the stunning fields of tulips and the Keukenhof Gardens which are one of the most beautiful spring gardens of the world in Amsterdam with over 1600 different types of daffodils, tulips and hyacinths consisting of more than 7 million bulbs!
The island of Madeira, belonging to Portugal in the Atlantic ocean is also know as the 'floating garden' and has wonderful botanical gardens. Titan offer an escorted tour timed to coincide with the island's annual Flower Festival where floats parade the streets of Funchal, scenting the air as they go, streets are carpeted and shop windows filled wit garlands. There are flower markets, exhibitions and open gardens to celebrate Madeira's colourful springtime.
Around Italy there are fabulous historic gardens and many tours available to visit them, from the formal gardens surrounding villas in the Italian Lakes to the classical lawns and water features of city gardens. Featured by Monty Don on TV, many of these gardens date back to medieval times and some were created around open air theatres through the more recent years of history.
Japan has many wonderful gardens and the best time to visit to include the cherry blossom too is in their Spring time. One of the greatest gardens in Japan is Kenroku-en-Garden in Kanazawa. Foiunded in the Edo period (1603-1868) the name means 'six attributes garden' these attributes being space, artifice, seclusion, antiquity, water-courses and panoramas. This gorgeous garden consists of hills, streams, large ponds, cottages, tea houses and stunning flowers.
Also in Asia, the Yu Garden in Shanghai - China is also known as the Yuyuan Garden, which means 'Garden of Happiness & Peace'. The garden was created the the Pan family through the Ming Dynasty of 1559 but fell to ruin through various wars! The garden has eventually been renovated by the Shanghai Government and re-opened to the public in 1961. The garden is divided up into 6 main areas - Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall Yuhua Hall, Inner Garden.
In Canada visit the Butchart Gardens which is now a National Historic Site of Canada, in Victoria. The area was transformed by the Butchart family from an abandoned limestone quarry which now has magnificent gardens with a wide range of plants to see year round including fragrant winter shrubs, spring and summer flowers and amazing colours of autumn.
In late August - September visit the carpets of spring flowers in Namaqualand in South Africa (though this of course is a 'natural garden'!), there are several places of natural beuaty along the Garden Route and visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain.
Here is a Garden Tour Calendar for 2015 (travelling with a small group specialist operator often visiting private gardens which are not open to the general public):
March
- Galicia - camellias and more
- Camellias and historic gardens of Northern Portugal
April
- Grand Tour - history and gardens of Turkey
- Grand Tour of Andalucia, Spain
- Gardens of Lake Como and Maggiore, Italy
May
- Patios and gardens of Seville, Carmona and Cordoba, Spain
- Barcelona, Costa Brava Gardens and Girona Flower Festival, Spain
June
- Madrid - gardens,palaces and tapas
- Lisbon - tiles, gardens and landscapes
September
- Gardens of Lake Como and Maggiore, Italy
October
- Madrid - gardens, palaces and tapas
November
