Want to really get under the skin of a country? With packed itineraries, multiple stops and knowledgeable local guides, escorted touring holidays offer a richer experience than a week's all-inclusive. We've negotiated some great deals on tours, from Sicily to the Serengeti and beyond, with savings of up to 41%.

Here are some of our favourites. All include flights, transfers, most meals and the services of English-speaking expert guides:

• £599 Sicily experience... this tour of Italy's seductive southern island has it all: vineyard tours, ancient Greek temples and of course Mount Etna, where the "bleak lava wilderness around the summit is one of the most memorable landscapes Italy has to offer" (Rough Guides)
• £1349 Thailand cultural adventure, save £400... from the thronging streets of Bangkok to the serene boulevards, temples and tea plantations of Chiang Mai, this 12-night tour of northern Thailand hits a number of cultural hotspots along the route
• £1999 Tanzania safari holiday, save 41%... tour Tanzania's wild plains on a 6-night break that includes (deluxe) camping in the Serengeti, hippo-spotting at Lake Maynara and more
• £4995 Australia grand tour, save £700... this luxurious 23-night break packs in the best of Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and a seaplane ride over Sydney Harbour. Accommodation is 5-star, and there's even a 3-night stopover in Dubai or Singapore

Dates vary, but all are for travel in late 2017 and early 2018. Click the blue button below for full details and more deals on escorted tours, including Romania's Dracula country and Israel's Holy Land.