Nine unmissable gardens to tour in your lifetime

The annual wildflower displays of Namaqualand CREDIT: - Frank Schroeder
The annual wildflower displays of Namaqualand CREDIT: - Frank Schroeder

The change in the season, from mild to cold – when leaves turn from a golden green to a fiery red to a subdued brown – shouldn’t deter the lover of plants and flowers.

After all, there are plenty of splendid gardens to explore further afield in the world where the climate is more temperate, where purple orchids and orange bromeliads are in full bloom and where tropical trees such as yellow cow wood are plentiful.

Below is a selection of tours to destinations which offer horticultural delights and sunshine – or at least milder climes.

1. Floral Marrakesh 

The iconic electric-blue Jardin Majorelle is filled with coconut palms, bougainvilleas and 300 other plant species from all over the world. A six-day Marrakesh and Flowers of the Atlas Mountains tour from Brightwater Holidays takes in this magnificent garden, with visits to the new Le Jardin Secret, designed by the English landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith; the Nectarome aromatic garden; and Jnane Tamsna (or “big garden”), a private estate in the Palmeraie, where the tour is based for four nights.

From £2,595 including accommodation, most meals, flights, coach travel and garden visits. Brightwater Holidays (01334 657155; brightwaterholidays.com).

Jardin Majorelle - Credit: AP
Jardin Majorelle Credit: AP

2. Tantalising Tasmania

A seven-day Private Gardens, Art and Taste of Tasmania tour from Botanica World Discoveries offers access to private gardens not normally open to the public. Highlights include private visits to Old Wesleydale, an English garden in Mole Creek, and the cottage gardens in the historic towns of Oatlands, Richmond and Ross.

There are also stops at public gardens, such as Corinda House with its symmetrical parterres and box hedges; Epsom House, one of Australia’s oldest mansions with beautifully designed formal gardens; and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which has collections dedicated to various regions of the island-state.

It’s not all horticultural attractions, though. There is a musical soirée at Epsom House, a visit to Salamanca Market and a stop at Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park.

From £2,145 per person including accommodation, some meals and transfers. Excludes flights. Valid for departures between January 1 and November 30 2018. Botanica World Discoveries (0845 672 9501; botanicatours.com).

Flowers in Tasmania Botanical Gardens - Credit: AP
Flowers in Tasmania Botanical Gardens Credit: AP

3. California Dreams

Santa Barbara is often hailed as the American Riviera – and it’s easy to see why. Framed by the San Ynez mountains, this seaside city has been blessed with striking good looks as well as year-round sunshine. Thanks to its Mediterranean-style weather, many plants from around the world flourish here, from roses to cacti. The city is home to world-class gardens, including Lotusland and Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens.

Tauck is offering a 12-day California’s Gold Coast tour, which spends two days in Santa Barbara. While not strictly speaking a horticultural holiday, it provides ample time to explore the gardens on your own.

Other highlights include a walking tour with a naturalist in Morro Bay and a park stay at Yosemite.

From £3,990 including accommodation, most meals and transfers. Excludes flights. Departures between April and October 2018. Tauck (0800 810 8020; tauck.co.uk).

Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens - Credit: This content is subject to copyright./Ted Streshinsky Photographic Archive
Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens Credit: This content is subject to copyright./Ted Streshinsky Photographic Archive

4. Tropical Singapore

Set in a colonial-era landscape harking back to its inauguration as an ornamental park in 1859, Singapore Botanic Gardens now claims to be the most visited botanical garden in the world. A half-day Singapore Botanic Gardens tour from Viator starts at the Swan Lake to view its special feature: a large group of mighty Nibong palms (Oncosperma tigillarium).

Then it’s off to see the delectable Vanda “Miss Joaquim”, Singapore’s national flower, with time to marvel at the tropical rainforests, the palm valley and an orchid garden laid out in four colour zones.  

From £35.35 for a half-day guided tour, with several daily departures. Viator (020 3478 5933; viator.com).

Singapore Botanic Gardens - Credit: danhvc - Fotolia
Singapore Botanic Gardens Credit: danhvc - Fotolia

5. Wildflowers in South Africa

Led by Carol Klein, a broadcaster and gardener, this 14-night Wildflowers of South Africa trip from Telegraph Tours is timed to coincide with one of the natural wonders of the world, the annual wildflower displays of Namaqualand. There are visits to the West Coast National Park and Ramskop Nature Reserve.

But of course, the gardens remain the stars of the show, with private guided tours of Kirstenbosch, Harold Porter National Botanical Garden and Hantam garden, as well as the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, Babylonstoren and Kokerboom Nursery.

From £3,995 full-board including flights, garden tours and a private dinner. Departs August 14 2018. Telegraph Tours (0330 029 7023; telegraph.co.uk/tt-wildflowers).

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6. A floating garden in Madeira

The magnificent island of Madeira is a floral paradise, where native plants sit alongside cultivated ornamentals and crop plants. An eight-day Gardens and Plants of Madeira tour from HF Holidays takes in a mix of smaller as well as larger gardens, with a chance to see exotic flowers native to Madeira in the beautiful Quinta Palmeira. Other highlights include the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, the Flower Festival of Funchal and excursions to see plants in the countryside.

From £859 half-board, including flights and admission to gardens. Departs April 16 2018. HF Holidays (0345 470 8558; hfholidays.co.uk).

Green gardens at the Quinta Jardin do Lago in Madeira
Green gardens at the Quinta Jardin do Lago in Madeira

7. Cherry blossoms in Japan   

March and early April are arguably the best (though admittedly, busiest) times to visit Japan, when pale pink cherry blossoms come out in full bloom. A 13-day Cherry Blossom Festival trip from On the Go Tours visits Japan during sakura season and spends time taking in the nation’s wonderful gardens. First stop is Hamarikyu teien, a tranquil garden in the heart of Tokyo, not too far from Ginza shopping district.

After time in the capital and the mountain cities of Matsumoto and Takayama, the tour spends a few days in Kanazawa to visit Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most splendid gardens, lined with flowering trees, water features and teahouses. Other highlights include the farmhouses at Hida Folk Village and a chance to witness the spring geisha dances in Kyoto.

From £3,895 including accommodation, some meals and local transport. Excludes flights. Departures on March 24 and 31 in 2018. On the Go Tours (020 7371 1113; onthegotours.com).

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8. Gran Canaria’s mountain flowers

Based in a four-star beachfront hotel in Las Palmas, this eight-day Plants and Landscapes tour from Saga goes in search of mountain flowers in Gran Canaria. Days are spent exploring the island’s flora at delightful gardens, including a cactus garden, a botanical garden which cascades down terraced slopes, and the exotic Jardin de la Marquesa where a small lake is encircled by hibiscus, jasmine and dragon trees.

From £1,099 half-board including flights, two botanical talks and seven garden and wild flora visits. Departures in February 2019. Saga (0800 300500; travel.saga.co.uk).

Jardin de la Marquesa - Credit: Getty
Jardin de la Marquesa Credit: Getty

9. Sri Lanka’s new tropical bloom

Naturetrek is offering a 13-day celebration of Sri Lanka’s tropical flora and botanical gardens, featuring both endemic species as well as flora from all around the globe. Starting in Colombo, this Sri Lanka’s Tropical Flora tour heads to Sigiriya to the Sinharaja Forest via Kandy and then back to Colombo in search of orchids, spices and cloud forest ferns.

There is also a visit to the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens near Kandy, which spans 147 acres lined with coco de mer palms, scarlet poinsettias and an impressively huge Javan fig tree.

From £2,695 full-board including flights. Departures between March 17 and 29 in  2018. Naturetrek (01962 733051; naturetrek.co.uk).