Travel for the Arts offers small escorted group tours to the world’s greatest opera houses and music festivals. Celebrate the 250th anniversary of L’Opera Royal at Versailles next June/July and save £100 when you quote Silver Travel Offer. The 4-night break includes Eurostar travel, a visit to Monet’s Garden, tickets for Rameau’s comedy ‘Platée’, a jewel of French baroque opera and more. From £1,950pp.

With boutique ships carrying just 700 passengers, overnight stays and calls at smaller, less-visited ports, Azamara invites you to step explore ashore as a travel insider. Using independent local operators, Azamara’s exclusive events and activities can immerse you in the arts, culture, history, and natural beauty of each destination. Tips, drinks, shuttles and AzAmazing evenings included.

Sit back in the comfort of a Shearings coach and enjoy the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The excellent local knowledge of your driver will enhance the tour which takes in Fort William, the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness and – a highlight for many – the Jacobite Steam train ride over the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter movies. Truly magical!

With a huge range of inn-to-inn walking and cycling tours across the UK and Europe, Sherpa Expeditions has a particularly tempting choice of coast-to-coast walks from St Bees, lapped by the Irish Sea, to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea coast. Overnighting in locally owned B&Bs, the guided walk covers the spectacular 195 miles in 17 days – or break it into more manageable chunks on a self-guided option, easily arranged.

Greatdays Day Trips have launched their exclusive Entertainment Lunch Breaks at a selection of key venues in the UK, ideal for groups but also available for individuals to book onto. With themes such as ‘Music Hall’, ‘Don’t Panic’, ‘Celebrating the Carpenters’, ‘Summer Holiday’ and their renowned Christmas Party lunches, which this year’s is a throwback to the 70s, there is something for everyone!

CroisiEurope hit the spot sailing to the castles and vineyards of the Rhine for this silver traveller – “Lafayette is a premium ship with just 43 cabins and 82 passengers. Best of all, our comfy double bed faced the large floor-to-ceiling picture windows and Juliet balcony and each morning we awoke to super views.” CroisiEurope is French but announcements are also made in English and a couple from Surrey shared the dinner table with our traveller.

Royal Clipper, the largest five masted fully-rigged sailing ship in the world – with no fewer than 42 sails – cuts quite a dash in the Med. Weighing anchor to the sound of Vangelis, this Star Clippers cruise creates a sense of the glory of being at sea under sail. Calling at some of sassiest spots on the French and Italian Rivieras, plus Corsica and Sardinia, the Cannes to Rome itinerary offers the chance to explore on foot as well as on tour.