Brightwater Holidays - Embark on a long-haul adventure

The cherry blossom of Japan, the colourful lupins of New Zealand, the carpet of Namaqualand’s springtime blooms: a host of treasures await in 2026 and 2027 for those who wish to travel beyond the UK and Europe. Our exciting range of long-haul holidays take in some of the world’s prettiest gardens, with meticulously planned itineraries and all the details taken care of. To capture these destinations at their most beautiful, these departures are often limited, which is why we always recommend booking early to secure your chosen date at the best possible price – then you can simply enjoy the countdown.

Many of these far-flung adventures offer the chance to visit destinations with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures than peak season, allowing for richer experiences, better value and a chance to slow down and (literally!) smell the flowers. Whether you’d like to soak up some winter sun amongst the horticultural gems of the Caribbean or delve into the archaeological highlights of North Africa, there’s something for everyone in our fantastic collection. Start your long-haul planning today and be rewarded with a hasslefree experience from the word go, sights that take your breath away and once-in-a-lifetime memories to cherish.

Seasonal Gardens of Japan

Heian Shrine’s pond

The origin of the Japanese garden lies in simple, gravel-covered forest clearings where the gods could manifest themselves. Over the centuries the gardens have evolved into an idealized reflection of the natural landscape through the careful use of stone and water features, trees, plants and moss. They are places of exquisite beauty, where the eye is led gently to perfectly framed views, often ‘borrowing’ a distant landscape as part of the picture being created. Trees and plants are carefully chosen for certain qualities of form, colour or texture, all of which combine to create an atmosphere of calm and contemplation. Autumn and spring foliage is particularly highly prized.  Many of the most notable gardens are in and around Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, and we will have three full days exploring both public and private gardens here. We have included a variety of different styles: landscape gardens, stroll gardens, pond-and-island, each with its own particular charm and beauty. One of the best known is Kinkaku-ji, with the three-tiered Golden Pavilion at its heart.

From Kyoto we travel by Bullet Train to Tokyo, where there will be further garden visits, including Hamarikyu. There is so much more to Japan than gardens, of course, and we have also included a wide range of other visits and excursions reflecting the unique culture of the country. Highlights include the historic town of Omi Hachiman, the Imperial Palace Garden in Tokyo and a cruise on Lake Ashi, beneath the snow–capped peak of Mount Fuji. We also offer an optional excursion to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Park. We spend our final full day in Kamakura, which includes a visit to the Great Buddha and Hase Temple and is rounded off with a farewell Japanese-style dinner at a local restaurant.

K ey H ighlights

The temples and gardens of Kyoto, arguably the finest in Japan

Riding the bullet train to Tokyo

The enormous Buddhas at Todaiji and Kamamura

Stunning scenery in Hakone, including the iconic Mount Fuji

14 DAYS from £6,895 £6,695 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £995

DEPARTURES: 10 - 23 Nov 2026 & 21 Mar - 3 Apr 2027

► 11 nights’ bed & breakfast; six at the 4-star ANA Hotel, Kyoto and five nights at the 4-star Grand Prince Hotel, New Takanawa, Tokyo (or similar)

► Dinner and welcome drink on first evening, a dinner with a Maiko, three lunches and a farewell dinner

► Flights from London to Osaka, returning from Tokyo

► London pre-flight Executive lounge access

► Comfortable coach travel and all ferry crossings

► Services of an expert tour manager and local guides (horticulturalist Sue Pomeroy in November)

Singapore Garden Festival

Singapore Garden Festival

The Singapore Garden Festival takes place every two years and is among the top flower and garden shows on the international calendar. It was the first event to bring together top international award-winning landscape and garden designers, florists and horticulturists from around the world, who are invited to the Festival to work alongside Singapore’s own talented horticulturalists. Singapore’s geographic location makes the Festival an ideal platform to showcase horticultural and gardening products and services from the northern and southern hemispheres, as well as from Asia and New World nations. A colourful and stimulating experience with a truly international flavour, the Festival is a treat for the senses.

In addition, a full day at the show, we take the opportunity to explore Singapore’s many attractions, including the spectacular Gardens by the Bay, whose illuminated Supertrees have gained iconic status. Other garden visits include Hort’s Park, Fort Cannings Spice Garden and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Further highlights include a city sightseeing tour, a river cruise and afternoon tea at Raffles, the famous Singaporean institution.

K ey H ighlights

The iconic Gardens by the Bay

Enjoy a full day at the Singapore Garden Festival

Experience afternoon tea at the iconic Raffles Hotel

10 DAYS from £4,895 £4,695 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £795

DEPARTURES: 5 - 14 Jul

► Seven nights bed and breakfast accommodation at a central 4-star hotel

► Five dinners and one lunch

► Afternoon tea at Raffles

► Return flights from London to Singapore

► London pre-flight Executive lounge access

► Visits include: A half day city tour, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanical Garden, Singapore Garden Festival, Hort Park and Fort Canning Spice Garden

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of horticulturalist Mike Nelhams as tour manager and local guides

Gardens of New Zealand

Milford Sound

New Zealand dazzles with snow-capped mountains, aquamarine lakes, geysers, fjords, tree ferns and glittering glaciers. We spend the first part of our tour on the North Island, meandering from Auckland to Rotorua, New Plymouth and Wellington before crossing the Cook Strait to the South Island, where we are welcomed by the otherworldly panoramas of Marlborough Sounds. Continuing our journey, we also discover Blenheim, the Waipara Valley wine district, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown, with an optional trip to the spectacular Milford Sound. In addition to viewing some of the incredible natural wonders along the way, we take a close look at the flora of the country at its peak beauty, both in its natural habitat and in a cross-section of some of the many wonderful private and public gardens with which Aotearoa is blessed. Look forward to uncovering spring flora, unique wildlife, Māori culture and superb wine in a land where 75% of flowering plants grow nowhere else.

K ey H ighlights

Discover a wide range of gardens at the peak of their summer flowering Sail from North to South Island across the Cook Strait, admiring the stunning scenery of Marlborough Sounds Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the steamer TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station and dine at the Colonel’s Homestead

19 DAYS from £6,995 £6,795 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £1,195

DEPARTURES: 10 - 28 Nov

► 15 nights bed & breakfast accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels; one night in Auckland; one night in Rotorua; two nights New Plymouth; two nights in Wellington; two nights in Marlborough; two nights in Christchurch; two nights in Dunedin and three nights in Queenstown

► Three dinners

► Flights from London to Auckland and Queenstown to London

► London pre-flight Executive lounge access

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of horticulturalist Colin Crosbie as tour manager

Spring Flowers of Namaqualand

Namaqua National Park

Namaqualand, in South Africa’s Northern Cape, is a place of rare and exquisite beauty, an unspoilt expanse of open spaces broken by ancient outcrops of granite, and a plant lover’s delight. With an intensity dependent on the winter rains, come spring, the barren ground bursts into a carpet of flowers, a vast tapestry of stunningly interwoven colour. In addition to this spectacular display, our tour includes coastal and mountain fynbos, succulent plants, bulbs and orchids, proteas and heaths, a game drive, a chance to go whale watching and of course a vineyard! We begin in Cape Town with visits to familiar destinations such as Kirstenbosch and Table Mountain, but as we head north, we move into less well-known territory, through the homelands of the San people with their distinctive clicking language and on into Namaqualand. A series of visits will bring us into close contact with swathes of colourful flowers for a truly memorable experience.

K ey H ighlights

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, one of the finest in the world

Tea tasting with the San people Botanising in the Namaqua National Park

Discover the Quiver Tree forest at the Vanrhyns Pass

Optional Whale Watching Excursion

15 DAYS from £5,295 £5,095 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £495

DEPARTURES: 29 Aug - 12 Sep

► 12 nights bed & breakfast basis: three at the 4-star Commodore Hotel, Cape Town; one night at the 3-star Saldanha Bay Hotel, Saldanha; three nights at the 3-star Letsatsi Lodge, Vanrhynsdorp; one night at the 3-star Clanwilliam Hotel, Clanwilliam; two nights at the 4-star De Zalze Lodge, Stellenbosch, two nights at the 3-star Windsor Hotel, Hermanus (or similar)

► Ten lunches and four dinners

► Return flights from London to Cape Town

► London pre-flight Executive lounge access

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of horticulturalist Colin Crosbie as tour manager and local guides

Gardens of Mauritius

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is only the size of the county of Surrey, yet it is blessed with a rich and diverse flora and fauna and is home to some of the rarest plants and creatures in the world. We discover once-lost trees, rare palms and the giant waterlilies of Pamplemousses Botanic Garden. At L’Ile aux Aigrettes we witness vital conservation, while Black River Gorges offers sweeping tropical views. There’s also plenty of time to enjoy the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters and soak up the local culture, with its European, Indian and African influences.

Gardens of Barbados

Barbados may be small, but it offers pure Caribbean bliss: radiant seas, palm-lined beaches and lush rainforest. Picture gazing across the sweeping vistas of Cherry Tree Hill, watching the lively monkeys of the Andromeda Botanical Garden and exploring the George Washington House, an important remnant of the island’s plantation past. At Hunte’s Garden, we are accompanied by the man himself, owner and creator Anthony Hunte, who introduces us to his multidimensional mix of native jungle and sunny open spaces, one of the island’s top destinations. There is also an optional cruise on a catamaran on offer during this laidback tour.

K ey H ighlights

Giant tortoises at La Vanille

Giant waterlillies at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan Botanic Garden

Rare trees and exotic birds in the Black River Gorges

A taste of local rum at Labourdonnais

Relaxing in a luxurious resort hotel and bathing in the wonderfully warm water of the Indian Ocean

12 DAYS from £4,295 £4,095 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £795

DEPARTURES: 10 - 21 Nov

► Nine nights dinner, bed & breakfast accommodation at the 4-star Anelia Resort and Spa

► One lunch

► Return flights from London to Mauritius

► London pre-flights Executive lounge access

► Visits include: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan Botanic Garden , Black River Gorges National Park and Curepipe Botanical Garden

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of horticulturalists Trevor Edwards as tour manager and local guide

K ey H ighlights

Explore Hunte’s Garden Visit George Washington House

Discover Harrison’s Cave and the Flower Forest

9 DAYS from £3,695 £3,495 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £795

DEPARTURE: 9 - 17 Nov 2026 & 4 - 12 Feb 2027

► Seven nights’ bed and breakfast in an Island View room at the 4-star Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, Christ Church, Barbados. All rooms have private facilities.

► Two dinners

► Return scheduled flights from London to Bridgetown, Barbados. (Regional flight connections and upgrades available on request)

► London pre-flight executive lounge access

► Visits include: Hunte’s Garden, George Washington House, Harrison’s Cave and the Flower Forest

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of an expert tour manager (horticulturalist David Hurrion in November)

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

An Archaeological Tour of Tunisia

K ey H ighlights

Explore the ruins of Carthage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Admire the Temple of the Sun at Dougga

Step inside the Great Mosque of Kairouan

Revel in the sights and sounds of a bustling medina

Join us on an extraordinary journey as we explore the archaeological wonders of Tunisia. We stay at four carefully selected hotels near key archaeological sites and visit Roman ruins, bustling medinas and museums. Our tour includes visits to magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the historic medina of Kairouan, the ancient ruins of Carthage and the impressive hilltop remains of Dougga. We uncover ancient Roman treasures too, including a well-preserved amphitheatre that stands spectacularly against the backdrop of the Tunisian landscape. Throughout our tour, we also visit several notable museums that house collections of Punic, Roman and Islamic treasures.

Gardens of Marrakech

The timeless city of Marrakech has an enduring appeal, with its low-rise pink and red buildings set against the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Its beating heart is the square of Jemaa El Fna, where musicians and storytellers and snake-charmers act out compelling scenes which have changed little over the centuries, and you will find yourself irresistibly drawn here. Highlights include the serene courtyards of El Bahia Palace, the dramatic ruins of El Badi, the Menara gardens and the vibrant Majorelle Garden. We also escape to the peaceful Ourika Valley in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to round off this tour.

9 DAYS from £2,195 £2,095

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

DEPARTURES: 16 - 24 Apr & 25 Sep - 3 Oct

► Eight nights dinner, bed & breakfast accommodation: two nights at the Regency Tunis Hotel, Gammarth, two nights at the Hotel Thugga, Dougga, two nights at the Hotel La Kasbahm, Kairouan and two nights at Le Royal Hotel, Hammamet

► Return flights from London to Tunis

► Visits include: The ruins of Carthage, the Bardo Museum and the archaeological site at Bulla Regia

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of archaeologist Clive Warsop as tour manager and local guides

K ey H ighlights

Faded glory at El Badi Palace

Bright colours and international glamour at La Majorelle

Delightful flavours and aromas in the Ourika Valley

5 DAYS from £1,795 £1,616 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £400

DEPARTURE: 20 - 24 Apr & 5 - 9 Oct

► Four nights bed and breakfast basis at the 5-star Es Saadi Gardens and Resort Palace Hotel in Marrakech ( or similar)

► Three dinners and one lunch

► Return flights from London to Marrakech

► Visits include: El Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, La Majorelle, Menara Garden, Le Jardin Secret and a a Saffron Plantation in the Ourika Valley

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of horticulturalists Trevor Edwards in April and David Hurrion in October as tour manager

Gardens & Temples of Ancient Egypt

Giza Pyramids

Over the millennia, countless civilisations have come and gone, risen and fallen, turned from towering citadels to piles of rubble and ash. Not so Ancient Egypt. Within 24 hours of landing in the modern country, we will find ourselves face to face with one of the most recognisable and iconic monuments anywhere in the world - the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. That is just the start of our journey along the Nile, the mighty river that sustained one of the greatest civilisations ever seen and whose legacy remains in such gloriously tangible form.

We also see the Step Pyramid, the first of its kind, built nearly 5,000 years ago; the Temple of Luxor and Karnak Temple; the Valley of Kings, filled with the funerary temples of one Pharaoh after another and the Edfu Temple, one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt, though a mere youngster at slightly more than 2,000 years old. Other highlights include the Al-Orman Garden, the Aswan Botanical Garden and the mighty Aswan Dam itself and the Montazah Palace Gardens in the historic and unmissable city of Alexandria. Not to mention a river cruise that will have you reaching for a certain Agatha Christie novel, though we are confident this holiday will have a much happier ending!

K ey H ighlights

The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza

The newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum

Stopover at the luxurious Sofitel Winter Palace

Four night Nile cruise on a full board basis

The unique Valley of the Kings

12 DAYS from £4,995 £4,795 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £1,195

DEPARTURES: 5 - 16 Nov 2026 & 4 - 15 Feb 2027

► Seven nights dinner, bed and breakfast: five nights at the five-star Ramses Hilton in Cairo, one night at five-star Jolie Ville Luxor, one night at five-star Mövenpick Aswan (or similar)

► Four nights at the five-star Nile Cruise MS Tulip, MS Nile Premium or MS Nile Style (or similar) on a full board basis

► 4 lunches and 1 Afternoon Tea

► Return flights from London to Cairo

► Comfortable coach travel throughout

► Services of an expert tour manager