Honeymoon surprise

Take the chance to surprise your intended with the help of Bales Worldwide. It has introduced a series of honeymoon itineraries based on history's great lovers who conducted their affairs in far-flung places. So the Antony and Cleopatra trip follows the couple's footsteps around Egypt, while Shah Jahan's building of a resting place for his wife is the basis of a journey to the Taj Mahal. Brides and grooms who want to design their own itineraries to a destination of their choice, however, can do so through Bales' tailor-made department. All of this can be kept completely secret from the other partner as Bales will provide a personalised Mystery List to help with packing without giving away the destination, overcoming a perennial problem for would-be surprise holidaymakers. Prices start from £1,190 per person.

Call 01306 732 718.

On the trail of a queen

A tour around East Anglia can now be filled with heroism and adventure thanks to the British Museum Traveller's In the Footsteps of Boudicca trip. The guided tour leaves the British Museum on 22 September and is led by the museum's archaeology education officer, its curator of British and European Iron Age collections and a tour manager. A preparatory talk is given at the museum, along with a visit to the museum's Celtic and Roman galleries to set the scene before leaving London. The tour covers all the important sites associated with the queen who challenged the Roman army, including Iron Age settlements and the scenes of three battles. The lecturers hold casual talks before dinner each evening to outline what can be expected the following day. The four-day/three-night tour costs £350 and includes half-board at three-star hotels.

Call 020 7436 7575.

Taste of the Orient

A cookery course in Bali is certainly more expensive than a trip to your local Indonesian restaurant, but it will be warmer and the tips picked up will sustain dinner parties long after your return. Departing Heathrow on 16 September, Magic of the Orient's Balinese cookery course is based at the Serai Hotel, built in a coconut grove at Manggis near Candidasa. An Australian chef leads the proceedings. The course strikes a balance between exploration of local produce and its use in the kitchen; half of each day is spent in the local markets, villages, rice terraces and gardens and the other half at cookery lessons in the open-air kitchen. There are three special dinners to give participants a chance to see how the experts do it. The course is five days , costs £379 and is part of a nine-day holiday for £830 including flights, transfers, accommodation and half board.

Call 01293 537700.