Garden Tours

This has been an amazing holiday. It was very well organised. A wonderful very experienced guide, Kitty Weigert, and guest lecturer Anna Pavord, a world authority on tulips and an historian, made sure the whole trip ran smoothly and it was incredibly interesting. The flowers....tulips, daffodil and hyacinths were amazing and in full bloom. We went to some spectacular private and public gardens and museums and also the largest flower market in the world, Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, to name a few ...read more of the highlights. The fortnight ended with the triumph of Keukenhof, the spectacular spring park an absolute masterpiece of colour and beauty. Thank you also Georgie for your excellent and professional management of my booking. I will certainly be using Global Journeys again.

Fascinating country and people. Comfortable ship with a good crowd of passengers. Excellent crew. The cruise was well organised, combining the ship's cruise director and her deputy with the three botanical guides. However once we left the ship on the final day, with only the botanical guides to lead us, the trip fell apart to some degree. The shore excursions were a little disappointing as the Japanese guides tended to be hesitant, not fluent in English and often there was a tension between the ...read more Japanese guide, our botanical guide and the cruise director or deputy on the bus. Who was in charge? Attention to detail and special events - demonstrations / treats etc were appreciated. The welcome to port and farewell from port events were especially memorable. Would recommend Botanica to friends even though they may only have a passing interest in gardens as there were lots of other sights included in the cruise.

APT Botanica & Global Journeys are so reliable! I know that when I book through Yvonne - the hassles & worries of organising such a trip as this, are left in very capable hands. I loved the combination of gardens, culture & art. My fellow travellers were a great mix & I would recommend this trip for solo travellers. Fabulous!

The reason for my going oversea this year was to see Chelsea Show. The day we were taken to Chelsea was second last day. The crowds were not too big and it was easy to get around and take photos. The weather we were very fortunate with, it being a perfect day. Took heaps of photos. Our guide who lives is France was adequate but after the personality of our Italian indulgence guide was a little bland. However he did his best. The gardens and homes we visited were lovely but I think we needed free ...read more time to do your own thing, maybe a free afternoon or morning in an area were shops are available would be good. There were almost too many gardens. Don't get me wrong I loved the tour, but it was a little too concentrated of gardens.