Stroll through Cartagena’s fortified old town admiring cobbled alleys, historic churches and flower-bedecked balconies straight out of a García Marquez novel.

Don’t leave Colombia without sampling its magic beans. In the small towns of the Zona Cafetera, such as Salento, you can enjoy a private tour of a working coffee farm.

As the fourth largest country in South America, Colombia isn’t always the easiest place to get around. From the idyllic Caribbean coast to the extensive Amazon rainforest, and with a spine of the Andes mountains, the country has distinct natural regions. Our travel experts have first-hand experience of travelling in Latin America’s best-kept secret so we can create an itinerary packed full of opportunities for you to both chill and be thrilled.

Even if you’re feeling all museum-ed out, do visit Prinsengracht 263, the house where Anne Frank, her family and her famous diary hid for so long from the Nazis. The sobering journey takes you through a labyrinth of small rooms and staircases to the secret annex where the Franks spent two years. It is one of Amsterdam’s most moving experiences.

Amsterdam is a city of cyclists – bikes are how residents commute to work and meet friends – and two wheels are also a great way to discover the sights. If locals aren’t on a bicycle, they’re probably on a boat. We can arrange for you to hop on an unforgettable private cruise along the 17th-century canals and admire the city’s opulent gables.

To delve deeper into Greek culture, amble along Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, aka Museum Mile. Start at the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, an elegant edit of local arts through the ages. Close by lies the Museum of Cycladic Art, home to more than 3,000 artefacts of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot origin. Round off with religious art at the Byzantine and Christian Museum.

Get to grip with Athens’ sporting history at the horseshoe-shaped Panathenaic Stadium, home to the first modern Olympic games in 1896. We can arrange for you to jog around the stunning marble track, before discovering the origins of the Athens Marathon, courtesy of a local athlete. It’s a unique opportunity to gain Olympic insight through exercise.

A leisurely stroll in El Retiro park, which belonged to Spanish royals until the 19th century, is a time-honoured Madrid tradition. Alternatively, if you want to work off some of the tapas and cocido madrileño (a famous Madrid chickpea stew) you’ve been devouring, hire bikes or row a boat around the lake. Or just watch the world go by.

Shopping for vintage tea sets and antiques at El Rastro is an institution. Madrid’s biggest flea market takes place every Sunday in the traditional neighbourhood of La Latina, and we can take you to the best secret little stalls. Food more your thing? At Mercado de San Miguel, tuck into classic delights like Spanish stacks of Piquillo peppers and plump olives.

Hemmed in by the Amazon basin on one side and Cotopaxi volcano on the other, and perched sky-high in the Andes, Quito is – quite literally – breathtaking.

The Ecuadorian Amazon teems with life. Seeing sloths, snakes, monkeys and caiman is virtually guaranteed; you might also spot rarer species such as pink river dolphins and pumas.

Get an insight into South America’s best-kept secret with Cosa. We’ll help you discover remarkable Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, from the cobbled streets of Quito to those wildlife-filled remote islands. Barter for indigenous handicrafts in what is possibly Latin America’s best market before immersing yourself in the Amazon. Unlike its continental neighbours, Ecuador is relatively compact and so easy to explore. In essence, if Ecuador isn’t on your bucket list, it’s because you have already been.

Divided by the River Danube, Hungary’s handsome capital is a tale of two cities. Discover both historic Buda and hedonistic Pest for the complete picture.
Explore Budapest with Cosa

Lake Balaton, landlocked Hungary’s inland sea, is known as the national playground. Cosa can arrange almost any watery activity, or wine tasting in the lakeshore vineyards.

A landlocked nation in central Europe, Hungary is bordered by seven other countries, most of which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or Dual Monarchy. That collapsed in 1918, leaving Hungary as an independent state. Domestic travel is easy, with perhaps the most relaxed route being a cruise on gentle waters of the Danube, which runs right through the middle of the country. The biggest challenge might be the language: Hungarian is not related to any other major European languages.

Ghana is famed for its sun-drenched beaches that you’ll find hard to leave. One of our favourites is Cape Three Points, where you’ll share the sand with nesting turtles.

You haven’t really experienced Ghana until you’ve gone deep into throbbing Kejetia market, and Cosa can arrange a local guide to take you to the very best stalls.

Getting around Ghana is easy. Whether you choose to fly, and so avoid long overground journeys, or opt for trotros (small vans) for an authentic Ghanaian experience, you’ll be greeted with a welcome as warm as the sun from affable locals. And wherever you want to visit in this West African gem, Cosa can create a tailor-made tour that’s right for you. Flights from Switzerland to Accra, the Ghanaian capital, are usually not direct so can take a bit longer.

Samarkand is home to the imposing Registan, a monumental medieval square built by King Timur, while Khiva is a desert delight with fortified walls and tall minarets

In the capital, Tashkent, shiny skyscrapers are juxtaposed alongside sprawling bazaars, medieval mosques and Soviet relics such as the hypnotising Hotel Uzbekistan.

This is a country of vast and varied landscapes, from scorching deserts to wild mountains. While the sights and scenery may vary, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome from the Uzbeks for whom hospitality is a national obsession. In recent decades, Uzbekistan has opened its doors to travellers following regimes changes and a relaxation of visa rules. Distances between destinations can be big but Cosa can organise comfortable private transfers. We can also arrange expert local guides to show you the true character of this central Asian gem.

Every cabin is a suite, with a private verandah and rich furnishings in muted colours. That in itself is enough to warrant a trip with Scenic. Throw in plenty of storage space and great sound insulation, and you realise this is cruising at a whole new level of luxury. Public areas are equally swish, making us feel like we’d checked into a chic hotel that just happened to be afloat. Plus, much of the comfort is invisible, such as strong stabilisers to stop the ship rolling in high seas.

The cultural scene in Saanenland changed forever when Yehudi Menuhin moved to Gstaad in 1957. What started with two events in August that year grew to become one of the best classical music festivals in the world. Chamber music is still the core of this annual delight but has long been joined by symphony concerts. We love the custom-built festival tent as much as the intimate atmosphere of concerts in local churches. Not forgetting the inspiring scenery all around. For seven weeks each summer, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival lights up many lives so why not join them?

When: July to September
Where: Gstaad