COX & KINGS LAUNCHES 2014 EUROPE BROCHURE WITH FIVE NEW GROUP TOURS, EXTRA PRIVATE JOURNEYS AND ADDITIONAL TAILOR-MADE IDEAS

The world's longest established travel company, Cox & Kings, has seen its European travel programme steadily expand over the last few years and 2013 has seen passenger numbers increase by a further 10% compared with 2012. Its newly launched new Europe brochure for 2014, builds on this trend by featuring five new luxury group tours including Crete, Iceland and three in Italy. The lead-in tour, a 7-day escorted Northern Cyprus tour, is priced from £825 per person.

Cox & Kings' Europe Product Manager, Michael Fleetwood, says: "Cox & Kings' European programme continues to expand and diversify every year and I'm delighted that once again, Classic Russia is the company's bestselling tour. We are very excited to add new group tours to the portfolio as well developing our offering across the region with additional tailor-made suggestions."

RUSSIA: Cox & Kings' escorted tour to Russia remains the company's bestselling tour for the second year, and continues to grow: there has been a further 22% increase in passengers in 2013 compared to 2012. Russia is a safe destination, but the world-class museums and galleries are best explored with a guide, which encourages travellers to join a tour. Classic Russia is a comprehensive tour staying in 5-star hotels in both Moscow and St Petersburg.  For 2014, the 8-day tour will be priced from £1,345 for the superior tour and £1,985 to upgrade to the luxury alternative. Bookings on the private alternative of the tour have also increased dramatically in the past 12 months, as have short breaks to St Petersburg and Moscow, and cruises on the luxury Volga Dream river cruise.

NEW: ITALY GROUP TOURS: Bookings on the escorted tour of Sicily have risen steadily over the past two years, as well as private tours and short breaks across Italy. For 2014, Cox & Kings is introducing three new tours to Italy. Puglia & Basilicata is an 8-day tour to some of Italy's most remote coastline and rural countryside, in the heel of Italy, and is priced from £1,695 per person. Lake Maggiore is a 7-day tour visiting the islands and towns of the picturesque lake and includes a scenic rail journey into Switzerland on the Centovalli train. It is priced from £1,545 per person. Classic Tuscany is a 7-day tour of the highlights of this much loved region including Florence, Sienna, Pisa and Lucca as well as wine, cheese and olive oil tastings, and is priced from £1,595 per person. As well as new escorted tours, Cox & Kings has expanded its suggestions for private, self-drive and short break holidays to Italy.

Fleetwood says: 'These new tours showcase some of Italy's most scenic regions, staying in good quality and well located hotels throughout. We have the experience, knowledge and expertise both in our London office and on the ground to arrange an itinerary perfectly suited to clients' exact requirements. There's very little we can't arrange'.

NEW: CRETE Cox & Kings' escorted tour to Greece, which launched in 2012, has proved popular this year, so alongside this 7-day tour, the operator is introducing a Highlights of Crete tour. This will explore the magnificent scenic and cultural highlights of Crete, including the Palace of Knossos, said to be the site of the mythical Minotaur's labyrinth. The 8-day tour is priced from £1,295 per person and there are options to extend further on one of the nearby Greek islands. Alternatively, the tour can be arranged on a self-drive basis from £850 per person.

NEW: ICELAND: Cox & Kings has expanded its range of tours across Scandinavia to include a new 5-day / 4-night escorted tour, In search of the Northern Lights, which is based in Reykjavik, the world's most northerly capital city. The itinerary includes some of the country's most iconic attractions by day and goes in search of the magic of the Northern Lights in the evenings. Priced from £955 per person with departures from December to March, and includes a St. Valentine's Day departure. Home to stunning natural wonders and beautiful scenery, Iceland can also be visited during the summer when long hours of daylight allow for exploration of volcanos, glaciers, lakes and hot springs. A 7-day / 6-night self-drive tour, Nature's Power, is priced from £1,090 per person.

ESCORTED TOURS: Other European escorted tours that have seen particular growth in 2013 include Timeless Romania, a 9-day tour priced from £1,135 per person and Journey through the Baltic States, an 8-day tour priced from £1,095 per person, which includes two nights in Riga, the European Capital of Culture for 2014.

TAILOR-MADE SUGGESTIONS: With a 20% increase in tailor-made holidays to Europe in 2013, compared to 2012, Cox & Kings' new brochure includes additional suggestions for exploring regions in greater depth. There are suggestions for discovering the many scenic train journeys in Switzerland, using the comprehensive rail network to explore Europe or to visit the best of Norway.

Please see www.coxandkings.co.uk/europe for the full programme to Europe. All quoted prices include international flights from London, transfers, excursions and accommodation with breakfast daily unless otherwise specified.

For more information or images, or to request a copy of the brochure, please contact Katie Parsons on 020 7873 5006 or email katie.parsons@coxandkings.co.uk   

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NOTE TO EDITORS

Cox & Kings is the world's longest established travel company. Its history stretches back more than 250 years to 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed regimental agent to the Footguards (later the Grenadier Guards). The company's fortunes grew hand in hand with the British empire and by the early 20th century the company was acting as agent and banker throughout the armed forces and as a shipping agent. In 1922 Cox & Co merged with the Henry S King bank, which had strong connections with India. The bank became part of Lloyds and the shipping agency grew separately, evolving into the modern travel company.

Today, built on the high quality service and attention to detail established by Richard Cox in the 18th century, the company continues to flourish as an independent tour operator, with operations in London, the US, Japan, Australia and throughout India. Cox & Kings organises escorted small-group tours and private tailor-made travel in the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, and the Caribbean.