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Great destinations merit a proper journey – and luckily, there’s still time to book a last-minute adventure for 2026.
From the sandstone forts of Rajasthan looming over the Thar Desert to the sun-drenched, cliffside towns of southern Italy, we’ve rounded up small-group tours that go beyond the postcard view, unearthing hidden gems, layered histories, and landscapes that linger long after you’ve come home.
With over 265 years of experience, Cox & Kings is one of the world’s longest-established travel names, renowned for crafting immersive, expertly curated journeys. Their small-group tours combine knowledgeable local guides, carefully chosen accommodation, and thoughtfully designed itineraries – striking the balance between iconic highlights and authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences travellers won’t forget.
So, if you’re looking for a last-minute adventure, here are seven trails worth following this year.
1. Neapolitan Treasures: Caserta, Sorrento, and Amalfi
If you’re looking for a holiday where you can sample the many flavours of southern Italy, Cox & Kings’ Neapolitan Treasures: Caserta, Sorrento, & Amalfi might be for you. Picture cliffside towns cascading down to a twinkling Mediterranean Sea, ancient ruins buried beneath modern streets, and grand palaces rivalling the finest in Europe. Over eight days, this small-group tour weaves together the raw energy of Naples, the regal splendour of Caserta, the polished charm of Sorrento, and the dramatic beauty of the Amalfi Coast, all served with plenty of superb food along the way.
You’ll start by exploring the historic highlights of Naples, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world (and the birthplace of pizza!), where centuries of history flow into one another while the backdrop of Mount Vesuvius looms over the bay. And just a short drive away in the Italian city of Caserta, you can visit the magnificent, world-renowned Royal Palace, the largest former royal residence in the world. With its scenic 120-hectare park and impressive Graeco-Roman statues, it was once built for the kings of Naples.
For a seaside fix, you’ll also have the option to visit the quaint port village of Seiano – where pastel buildings crown a leafy headland, cobbled streets meander down to the harbour, and giant lemon groves scent the air – with stops at the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum along the way. But the coastal highlights don’t stop there, as you’ll also spend a full day exploring the famously scenic Amalfi Coast and nearby Villa Rufolo, a 13th-century hilltop house that gazes over the Gulf of Salerno.
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Caserta - Vico Equense - Naples
Italy | 8 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
2. The Golden Triangle and Shimla
India is, without a doubt, a top bucket-list destination, celebrated for its vibrant culture, mouthwatering cuisine, and endlessly captivating landscapes. To tick it off your list this year, why not book Cox & Kings’ Golden Triangle & Shimla small-group tour? Over 13 remarkable days, wind through the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi by rickshaw, marvel at the legendary Taj Mahal in Agra, spend three nights in Jaipur – the “Pink City,” famed for its opulent palaces and exquisite handicrafts – and discover Shimla, a hilltop retreat known for its colonial-era architecture, traffic-free shopping streets, and the UNESCO-listed Kalka-Shimla Railway.
The tour also includes a host of signature experiences that turn a great trip into a truly memorable one. Watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal’s marble domes from Mehtab Bagh gardens, ride the toy train to Shimla aboard air-conditioned Vistadome carriages, and enjoy a welcome dinner on the rooftop terrace of Haveli Dharampura, complete with a traditional dance performance and sweeping views of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.
If 13 days feels like too short a stay, you can extend your journey, for example, by spending two nights in the sacred city of Varanasi. This extension begins with a nightly aarti ceremony, when Hindu priests wave incense and bell chimes commingle with chants. Come morning, drift along the Ganges by boat for a waterside view of the city’s bustling banks, then lose yourself in Varanasi’s narrow lanes and vibrant bazaars. Round things off with a visit to the historic Kashi Vishwanath temple, a site of pilgrimage dating back to the 18th century.
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Cox & Kings The Golden Triangle & Shimla*
New Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Chandigarh - Shimla
India | 13 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
3. Splendours of Chile
Few countries pack in as much variety as Chile, stretching from the parched, otherworldly expanse of the Atacama Desert in the north to the glacier-carved wilderness of Patagonia in the south. So, if you’re keen to experience some of the most dramatic and varied scenery on Earth, why not consider Cox & Kings’ 15-day Splendours of Chile tour?
You’ll begin in Santiago, Chile’s cosmopolitan capital, set at the foothills of the Andes, staying two nights at the centrally located Plaza El Bosque Ebro Hotel. Tour the city’s historic centre and cathedral, and take in sweeping views from Sky Costanera – the tallest building in South America – before heading into the surrounding countryside to the Undurraga vineyard for a wine tasting.
From there, fly north for more highlights; watch the Valley of the Moon shift through a mesmerising range of colours at sunset, soak in the ethereal atmosphere at the Atacama salt flats – home to wild flamingos – and stop at the whitewashed village of Toconao before lunch at a traditional local farm.
Next, travel south to the Chilean Lake District, staying two nights in the lakeside town of Puerto Varas. Visit the thundering Petrohué Falls, cruise across Lake Todos los Santos by boat, and drive up the lower slopes of the Osorno Volcano for sweeping views over the surrounding peaks.
Later, the trip includes a fabulous drive across the wilds of Patagonia to Torres del Paine National Park – one of the world’s great wildernesses, home to jagged granite peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, and native wildlife including guanacos and condors. Before heading home, you’ll also round off your experience with a farewell lunch of typical quincho barbecue in Punta Arenas, Patagonia’s largest and most populous city.
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Cox & Kings Splendours of Chile*
Santiago de Chile - San Pedro de Atacama - Puerto Varas - Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas
Chile | 15 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
4. Grand Tour of Indochina
Indochina is the collective name for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia – three beautiful countries that once formed the French Colonial Empire in Southeast Asia. Across 17 days on Cox & Kings’ Grand Tour of Indochina, you can explore the very best of Vietnam and Cambodia, with the option to add a visit to Laos to the end of your trip. Cruise the shimmering, aquamarine waters of Vietnam’s world-famous Halong Bay, where moss-covered limestone karsts rise eerily from the sea, and soak up the pulsing energy of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, two cities steeped in deep and layered history.
Elsewhere, highlights include cycling through peaceful countryside and rural villages near Hoi An and getting a taste of daily life along the Mekong Delta by boat and on foot. In Cambodia’s vibrant capital, Phnom Penh, a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields offers a sobering yet powerful glimpse into the country’s history – one that will stay with you long after you return home. And no trip to Cambodia would be complete without the magnificent, UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat, set in the country’s second-largest city, Siem Reap.
Those with time to spare can choose to spend three additional nights in landlocked Laos, home to Buddhist temples, charming riverside towns, and breathtaking scenery. Based in the northern city of Luang Prabang, a guided tour visits the Royal Palace Museum, Heuan Chan Heritage House, Wat Xiengthong temple, and the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. You’ll also cruise along the Mekong at sunset, visit the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall, get an introduction to traditional silk weaving, and stop at the Bear Rescue Centre.
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Cox & Kings Grand Tour of Indochina*
Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hoi An - Hue - Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Vietnam & Cambodia | 17 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
5. Splendours of Andalucía
Spain has long been one of the UK’s most beloved holiday destinations, thanks to its easy accessibility and reliably sunny climate — but few people experience it in the same depth as a tour allows. With Cox & Kings, you can spend seven days exploring one of Spain’s most iconic regions on their Splendours of Andalucía 2026 tour, staying in well-located, characterful properties throughout.
In Seville, highlights include a visit to the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, also the burial place of Christopher Columbus, and a taverns-and-markets tour with a local food expert, before heading to Carmona for lunch. This hilltop town boasts white-washed houses, golden stone monuments, and over 3,000 years of history, and you’ll dine amid the atmospheric setting of a former 15th-century monastery.
Heading north, explore the city of Córdoba, once the capital of Moorish Spain and famed the world over for its Great Mosque and UNESCO-listed old town. With time to discover the city both independently and with a local guide, you’ll then transfer to Granada, where the majestic Alhambra Palace awaits, set against the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
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Cox & Kings Splendours of Andalucia*
Seville - Cordoba - Granada
Spain | 7 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
6. Highlights of South Africa
It’s difficult to convey just how geographically diverse South Africa is without taking you there to show you. But that’s exactly why it’s so well suited to a small-group tour, letting you see the very best the country has to offer without feeling like you’ve missed out.
On Cox & Kings’ 14-day Highlights of South Africa 2026 tour, indulge in a wonderful blend of wildlife, walks, and wine. Track the Big Five on safari through a private game reserve, take in sweeping views from the summit of Table Mountain via cable car, sip and savour your way through the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, and soak up the spectacular scenery unfolding along Route 62.
You’ll also explore Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront, visit the colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood (including dinner in a local home), rise early to spot meerkats at sunrise, and pay a visit to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Not ready to say goodbye yet? Extend your journey with a few extra days in Cape Town, go whale watching in Hermanus, fly to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, or unwind with a beach stay in Mauritius.
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Cox & Kings Highlights of South Africa*
Port Elizabeth - Kariega Private Game Reserve - Knysna - Oudtshoorn - Franschhoek - Cape Town
South Africa | 14 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
7. Passage through Rajasthan
Another take on India, this colourful adventure focuses on the princely state of Rajasthan, where medieval forts gaze across the Thar Desert, Bengal tigers roam forest reserves, and sandstone palaces reveal a regal legacy. On this 16-day Passage Through Rajasthan small-group tour, travel through the heart of India’s “Land of the Kings” for an immersive look at one of the country’s most captivating regions.
The journey begins in Mumbai (Bombay), where colonial-era architecture, bustling markets, and coastal energy offer a taste of India’s imperial past before heading inland. From there, wind through Rajasthan’s most storied cities and landscapes — picture hilltop fortresses guarding ancient trade routes, ornate havelis with intricately carved facades, and the golden dunes of the Thar Desert stretching toward the horizon.
On day 13, visit Ranthambore National Park in search of Bengal tigers prowling through protected forest reserves: a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will stay with you forever. The adventure draws to a close in Agra, home to the breathtaking Taj Mahal, a fitting finale to a tour steeped in architectural grandeur.
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Cox & Kings Passage Through Rajasthan*
Mumbai - Udaipur - Deogarh - Jodhpur - Bikaner - Jaipur - Rajasthan - Agra - New Delhi
India | 16 days | Accommodation Included
Includes taxes and fees
Final thoughts…
Whether you’re drawn to ancient temples, dramatic coastlines, or wildlife-rich reserves, these tours offer more than a holiday; they offer immersion and plenty of special moments.
With expertly crafted itineraries and unforgettable extensions on hand, there’s never been a better time to explore somewhere new. So, which journey will you say yes to in 2026?
To explore Cox & Kings’ full range of tours, head over to their website using the button below.