Cox & Kings

The curious history of travel and epic adventures

From seafaring merchants to sun-seeking tourists, the lust for travel is ingrained in our psyches. Helen Ochyra considers the human urge to roam

Key moments in the history of travel

Then and now...

The psychology of travel

How to quench your own intrepid travel thirst

Why do we travel? As human beings we have always made our way from one place to the next, but is the desire to explore hardwired into the psyche? Or have we been influenced by famous travellers past, from ancient explorers such as Marco Polo and more recent ones such as Captain James Cook and poet Lord Byron to modern-day travel writers such as Jan Morris and Bill Bryson?The must-see sights of earlier days – Rome, the Pyramids of Giza and Pompeii to name but a few – are still firm favourites today, and for very good reason, but they have now been joined by other emerging destinations that are also rich in history such as Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Tunisia.

Travel for pleasure could be said to have begun in the 18th century, when the so-called Grand Tour became incredibly popular, seeing young British aristocrats take a well-trodden route from London to Paris and on to Italy, many of them writing about it. Though two world wars put a temporary stop to leisure tourism in the first half of the 20th century, the advent of international air travel fuelled a love affair with holidaying abroad that shows no sign of waning.

“Some travellers seek comfort and familiarity, while others yearn for the extraordinary – those uncharted moments that ignite curiosity and inspire wonder. At its heart, travel is a quest for connection: with new cultures, histories, landscapes”

Geoffrey Kent, Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group

For more than 265 years, Cox & Kings has been taking travellers to the world’s most exciting places. Exploration exists on a spectrum, according to Geoffrey Kent, founder and chairman emeritus of AKTG, Cox & Kings’ parent company. “Some travellers seek comfort and familiarity, while others yearn for the extraordinary – those uncharted moments that ignite curiosity and inspire wonder. At its heart, travel is a quest for connection, with new cultures, histories, landscapes, and often, with our own sense of purpose,” says Kent.“As custodians of a legacy that spans centuries, we recognise that travel is not just about destinations, it’s about stories – stories that connect us to the past, inspire us in the present and shape who we become. Whether retracing ancestral roots or seeking out the thrill of the unknown, each journey is a testament to the enduring human desire to explore, to learn and to connect.”So, the real question is: why do you want to travel? Perhaps it’s to gain a change of scenery – or just a change in weather – or to take a break from your routine. Or perhaps it’s something more fundamental and deeper rooted, that beckons you onto a ship, a train or a plane and out into the world. Whatever your reason for departure, you can trust Cox & Kings to nurture your curiosity. All you need to do now is decide where you want to go.

Wanderlust

A lust for wandering. The word comes from German, in which ‘wandern’ means ‘to hike or roam about’, and ‘lust’ means ‘pleasure or delight’. Source: Cambridge Dictionary

Key moments in the history of travel

1271–1295

Venetian adventurer Marco Polo travels from Europe to Asia, spending the majority of his time in China and writing an account of his travels called Il Milione. This was considered the most important account of the world outside Europe for many years.

1799

The Rosetta Stone is discovered in Egypt by French officer Pierre-François Bouchard and later moved to the British Museum. As the key to deciphering Egyptian scripts, it sparks interest in travel to ancient sites.

1809

Lord Byron embarks on his Grand Tour, crossing Spain before sailing to Greece and Albania. Inspired by his travels, he publishes his enormously successful poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.

1825

The world’s first public steam railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, opens. Although mostly used for industry at first, this innovation launched the UK’s railway age and passenger trains soon followed.

1861

The first English-language Baedeker travel guidebook is published, offering travellers a reliable guide to the Rhine. Subsequent Baedeker guides included Switzerland in 1863 and Paris in 1867 and by 1914 there were 78 titles in print, diligently updated and with distinctive red covers.

1900

Albert Ballin launches the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, the world’s first purpose-built passenger cruise ship. It offered only first class across 120 staterooms and featured a library, a ballroom and a darkroom for photographers.

1903

Wilbur and Orville Wright invent the world’s first aeroplane, the 1903 Wright Flyer, and fly it at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with Orville as the pilot.

1919

The world’s first daily international scheduled passenger air service is launched by Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, a forerunner of British Airways, linking London and Paris.

1922

Howard Carter’s excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb at the Valley of the Kings in 1922 under the patronage of Lord Carnarvon captivated the world. The incredible treasures found, including the boy king’s 3,300-year-old funerary mask, stoked romantic interest in the treasures of ancient Egypt and archaeology.

Then and now…

Whether it’s the frescoes of Pompeii and temples of Luxor or the mosques of Central Asia and Roman ruins of North Africa, a lust for adventure and cultural connections remains a constant

Then

A visit to the ruins of Pompeii in Italy, which were discovered in the 16th century, was a popular stop for aristocrats on the Grand Tour and remains one of Italy’s most mesmerising archaeological sites CREDIT: Alamy

As Saudi Arabia opens to international tourists, so too does awareness of its incredible historic treasures. A tour of the rock-carved tombs of the stone city of Dadan in AlUla should be on every modern day traveller’s wish list CREDIT: Getty

Now

A steam boat trip tour along the River Nile in Egypt to view ancient temples and necropolises was the ultimate intrepid adventure in the 19th century and remains a romantic way to explore the country’s age-old sights CREDIT: Alamy

Then

Now

Then

Now

From craving new knowledge and experiences to wanting to escape and heal, there are many motivators to travelling, as travel writer Ash Bhardwaj uncovers in his book Why We Travel (Bedford Square Publishers). Here are the 12 motivations for travel he identified in the course of his research:

The psychology of travel

Curiosity

Inspiration

Happiness

Creativity

Serendipity

Hardship

Service

Healing

Wonder

Empathy

Eroticism

Hope

Travel has a long and fascinating history, and there remains so much still to discover, even today. With Cox & Kings you can set out on your own modern-day adventure, knowing that there are centuries of travel expertise behind you, and that you’ll be taken to the world’s most alluring destinations.

How to quench your own intrepid travel thirst

In India, for example, you can take a 16-night grand tour, through the ancient cities of Jodhpur and Jaipur, to seek out Bengal tigers and to stand in front of the Taj Mahal. You’ll also visit the waterfront ghats at Varanasi, a sacred place where nightly aarti rituals led by Hindu priests honour the holy Ganges river. Or head to Sri Lanka, to take high tea in the plantations at the island’s heart, and track leopards through the mountain forests of Horton Plains National Park on a 13-night tour.Alternatively, visit South America, where Cox & Kings offers tours to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru as part of its 14-night small group tour. You can also discover the lively city of Cusco and serene Lake Titicaca, while high in the Andes you’ll observe weavers creating shawls and woven belts from alpaca and llama wool.In Costa Rica the wildlife is the star, specifically the sea turtles that hatch on the beaches of Tortuguero. Join Cox & Kings’ nine-night tour and you can stay in a lodge there, spotting not only teeny turtles but monkeys, sloths and birds too, as well as visiting mist-covered volcanoes and pristine rainforests.In Chile, you can tour incredible landscapes, from the desolate Atacama Desert to the glacier fields of Patagonia, on a 12-night tour of this extraordinarily diverse country; while an eight-night tour of Argentina and Brazil takes in the birthplace of tango in Buenos Aires and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, as well as the awe-inspiring waterfalls of Iguazu.

Seeking something a bit different? Few modern travellers have been to Uzbekistan, yet this ancient country was once at the heart of the Silk Road and saw caravans of silk, tea and perfume passing through. Visit on an 11-night tour with Cox & Kings and you can gaze in wonder at the vast mosques and madrasas of Khiva and Bukhara, admire the Islamic architecture of Samarkand and tour the Soviet-style landmarks of capital city Tashkent.Vietnam is another destination that remains under the radar for many travellers – though this is rapidly changing. Visit now on a 14-night tour and see the country in style, staying for two nights on a luxury cruise ship in island-scattered Halong Bay and taking in the Imperial City of Hue, the mountain landscapes of Sapa and the wooden merchant houses of Hoi An.Only have a week to spare? Italy continues to captivate with its ancient wonders, la dolce vita ambience and delicious food. It’s also home to many distinct regional cultures. Take a seven-night tour of Sicily, the Italian island that is also the Mediterranean’s largest and you’ll find an eclectic mix of cultures, with everything from Greek temples to Roman mosaics, Norman architecture and Arab-inspired gardens. There’s Mount Etna smouldering here too, not to mention some of Italy’s best wines and some truly inventive street food. It’s time to tuck in.

Costa Rica’s biodiverse ecosystems are home to white-face capuchins and countless other creatures CREDIT: Getty

Is a small group tour or tailor-made holiday best for your adventure?

Travel is personal. With that in mind, Cox & Kings offers a wide variety of itineraries to suit all travellers, with a few different options on offer.Small-group tours allow you to leave all the details to someone else and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers. With average group sizes of 14, Cox & Kings escorted small-group tours see you accompanied every step of the way by a professional guide who specialises in the destination. If you’re looking for an even greater level of detail, consider Cox & Kings’ specialist-led tours. Guided by expert lecturers, these insightful itineraries offer unique access to cultural wonders, such as private visits not usually available to the public. Prefer to be independent? Cox & Kings also organises tailor-made holidays for individuals, couples, families and groups. An expert travel consultant will advise you on the details, but ultimately it’s all customised to suit your needs and tastes. You’ll travel at your own pace, stay in handpicked hotels and only do activities that suit your interests – whether you’re booking a short break or an extended multi-country, self-drive adventure.  Or why not enjoy the best of both worlds, adding on a few days either side of your small-group escorted tour to explore the destination at your leisure?

Curious?

Go to coxandkings.co.uk or call 0333 060 3239

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Follow India’s Golden Triangle between lively capital Delhi, the desert city of Jaipur, and Agra – home of the Taj Mahal CREDIT: Getty

The Silk Road and Central Asia has long fascinated travellers and it’s more accessible than ever as. A highlight is bound to be Samarkand in Uzbekistan, known for its ornate mosques and mausoleums and located on the ancient trading routes CREDIT: Getty

The ancient sites of Rome were the culmination of many travellers’ Grand Tour, its glamour heightened by the Romantic poets who wrote, lived and sometimes died in the Eternal City CREDIT: Getty

As tourism bounces back in Tunisia, travellers can once again enjoy the beauty of this North African nation, along with its historic wonders. The ancient city of Carthage and the Roman ruins of Dougga are visited on Cox & Kings’ new tailormade tour CREDIT: Getty

The sacred Hindu rituals in Varanasi, along Ganges River, are a highlight of the Indian grand tour CREDIT: Getty

The mountain forests of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka offer the chance of leopard spotting CREDIT: Getty

The bustling city of Cusco in Peru is full of the captivating wonders and gateway to relics of the Incan world CREDIT: Getty

Costa Rica’s biodiverse ecosystems are home to white-face capuchins and countless other creatures CREDIT: Getty

Few sights are as breathtaking as Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer CREDIT: Getty

Retrace the Silk Road to discover the timeless monuments of Khiva in Uzbekistan CREDIT: Getty

Stunning scenery and cultural marvels await in Sapa, Vietnam CREDIT: Getty

The Teatro Antico di Taormina embodies the ancient marvels found in Sicily CREDIT: Getty

Service

Healing

Wonder

Empathy

Eroticism

Hope

The ancient sites of Rome were the culmination of many travellers’ Grand Tour, its glamour heightened by the Romantic poets who wrote, lived and sometimes died in the Eternal City CREDIT: Getty

The sacred Hindu rituals in Varanasi, along Ganges River, are a highlight of the Indian grand tour REDIT: Alamy

The mountain forests of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka offer the chance of leopard spotting CREDIT: Getty

The sacred Hindu rituals in Varanasi, along Ganges River, are a highlight of the Indian grand tour REDIT: Alamy

Costa Rica’s biodiverse ecosystems are home to white-face capuchins and countless other creatures CREDIT: Getty

Few sights are as breathtaking as Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer CREDIT: Getty

Retrace the Silk Road to discover the timeless monuments of Khiva in Uzbekistan CREDIT: Getty

Stunning scenery and cultural marvels await in Sapa, Vietnam CREDIT: Getty