For archaeology and history enthusiasts, there are many destinations around the world that offer fascinating glimpses into ancient life. From the legendary temples in Egypt to the sprawling site of Pompeii in Italy, there are many famous highlights that await discovery, but our role as an award-winning special interest tour operator is to use our expertise - both in-house as well as that of our esteemed Guide Lecturers - in order to offer something unique as well, which you may not find elsewhere or be able to arrange independently.
With this in mind, we are delighted to unveil our programme for 2024, which includes tours that can take you not only to the 'bucket list' archaeological sites, but also to those that might appeal to the adventurer within. Wander among the UNESCO-listed Roman site of Timgad in Algeria with its immaculate gridded plan, explore the extensive site of the Great Zimbabwe in the country of the same name, or discover the Inca fortress of Kuelap, built between 600 and 900 years before Machu Picchu, in Peru's lesser-visited north.
Among the following pages, you will also find over 15 brand new itineraries for next year, which will see you delve into the stories of the Samnites in central Italy, tour one of the oldest settlements in the world at Çatal Hüyük in Turkey and enjoy an in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds at the French sites of Chauvet and Cosquer.
As always, our tours offer excellent value, with most aspects included from return flights and entry to all sites, to tips and treats, and from most meals to all local travel, and each one is led by a charismatic Guide Lecturer, whose expertise on the theme or destination at hand will offer a truly enlightening, enriching and memorable experience.
To help get you on your way, we have a special offer available on selected departures within this brochure that could save you up to $420pp and we also have a number of single supplement-free departures for solo travellers. Here's to insightful, fulfilling and unforgettable travel in 2024, we can't wait to see you.
Best wishes,
Jackie Willis CEOSave up to $420pp on selected departures.
Here at Andante Travels, we do not believe that solo travellers should be disadvantaged for travelling alone and we try to minimise single supplements wherever possible. We have set aside additional places on selected tours with either no single supplement to pay or a 50% discount. Look out for these on the tour pages!
Make up for lost travel time and save up to $210pp when you book back-to-back tours.
If you book three or more tours in the same calendar year, you will receive $210pp off your third booking.
Terms & conditions: We reserve the right to withdraw special offers at any time.
SPECIAL OFFER DISCOUNTS: To take advantage of these special discounts, please book at the earliest opportunity as they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The maximum saving of $420 applies to our Northern Peru tour. ZERO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT or 50% DSICOUNT: There are limited numbers of zero single supplement places on each of the selected departures so when they’re gone, they’re gone. These places are subject to hotel availability.
BACK-TO-BACK TOURS DISCOUNT: If you book any of our back-to-back tour combinations in the same transaction, you will enjoy a discount of $210pp off your total. Minimum spend $1,500 per person. Deposit payable on each tour.
MULTI-TOUR DISCOUNT: If you book three or more tours in the same calendar year, you will receive $210pp off your third booking. To qualify for this discount, at least two of your three tour bookings must be for overseas destinations. The discount excludes Study Day bookings.
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From memorable experiences to special access, and from our renowned expert Guide Lecturers to hand-picked hotels, take a look at our broad range of award-winning tours on offer and choose your next ancient world adventure.
No one does archaeological touring quite like Andante, the first specialist UK operator to go beyond the surface of cultural travel, to dig deeper into the past and create unique explorations of some of the world’s most important sites From the relationships we have with local custodians to the way travelling with an expert enhances the experience, and from 24-hour support from our team while you’re on tour to the careful thought that goes into each itinerary, trust Andante for your next ancient world adventure and travel with the best�
We are fast approaching our 40th anniversary in travel and our longevity in the industry means that not only do we know the destinations and sites we visit inside and out, we have also fostered strong relationships with the people on the ground who help us bring our carefully curated itineraries to life. This, in turn, enables us to create the most in-depth, allencompassing and immersive tours possible for our guests. We know the best way to get you there, the most effective routes to travel around and how to make your visits as memorable as they can be.
When you choose an archaeological tour with Andante, rest assured that your time at sites both iconic and lesser known will be very well spent. We don’t cut corners, you won’t be rushed and your visits throughout will be at a pace that independent travellers aim for when they explore the ancient world.
During our tours, there doesn't tend to be too much down time. While our tours are still holidays, we understand that our guests want to explore the destination they have chosen and really get the most out of their time away. Our itineraries are designed to showcase the best of what’s on offer, travelling between archaeological sites and museums, restaurants and hotels, so that nothing worth experiencing is missed.
One of the advantages of choosing a tour led by an expert archaeologist is the access and insight they offer. For example, a number of our tours include visits to sites made possible only through the knowledge and connections of the Guide Lecturer at the helm.
In addition to travelling in the company of an expert Guide Lecturer, you will be accompanied by a Tour Manager throughout your trip, who will be on hand to manage the day-to-day aspects of the overall experience, leaving your Guide Lecturer free to focus on informing and entertaining.
Unlike local guides, travelling to an ancient world destination in the company of an expert Guide Lecturer means they can present the sites visited in a much wider historical context. You will also have many opportunities to ask questions throughout your tour, with direct access to someone who knows the sites and their stories incredibly well. Among our team of expert guides, you’ll find renowned historians, experience archaeologists, popular broadcasters and accomplished authors, so you will always be in fantastic hands on an Andante tour.
Our itineraries are designed by experts and led by them, too. We work closely with our Guide Lecturers from the early tour development stages and, thanks to their insight, our tours remain engaging and invigorating, as it’s in their warm and skilful presence that the past quickly springs to life. Our programme is diverse and exciting, with each itinerary delving deeper into the stories of an era, a particular civilisation or the life of a particular individual.
The price you pay for your Andante Travels tour represents excellent value for money. With most aspects of your tour included, from return flights and entry to all sites as per the itinerary, from tips to treats and –more often than not – wine with dinner. There is very little you will need to budget for on holiday except souvenirs and drinks at the bar.
Should you need any help with official form-filling or advice on what to pack, our friendly team is always ready to help here from the office. While you are on holiday, our Tour Manager is on hand to help, at the end of the phone or just a step or two away, should you need them. And with round the clock support from our operations team, we can provide practical assistance at every point of the tour.
In the Andante office, we make a point of reading every comment sent to us by returning guests and always take your feedback into consideration Below you will find a selection of recent reviews from travellers who we have taken to sites all over the ancient world, from remote rock art hotspots in Portugal to the legendary remains in Egypt and beyond
“Most enjoyable - our first tour with Andante, and the best experience with a tour company we’ve had so far. Good company, great hotel, brilliant lecturer, and delightful tour guide who could not have done more for us. We particularly liked the fact that so much was included, including wine with dinner!”
Guest, Romans on the Bay of Naples, Mar 2023
“It was an excellent and full experience: Tony O'Connor’s accounts of the sites were very accessible and informative, Mary Reynolds' care of everyone in the group was second to none, and the friendliness of Sami (our local guide) completed a highly satisfactory trip.”
Mrs Coulson, Tunisia - North & South, Feb 2023
“The tour was imaginatively planned to cover, for the most part, sites which the average tourist does not see, and to showcase significant recent archaeological discoveries. We were given all necessary background and enabled to make the best use of our time.”
Guest, Hidden Rome, Oct 2022
“A superb and highly knowledgeable tour leader whose ability to communicate on all aspects of what we saw and visited was excellent. Tour manager and driver were also excellent. The tour lived up in full to our expectations.”
Guest, Classical Sicily, Oct 2022
“Not only did we travel stress-free, completely looked after by our tour manager and excellent local guide, but we also had a really informative and interesting expert. By the end we felt we really had a good understanding of Jordan.”
Guest, Jordan - Petra & the Desert Fortresses, Mar 2023
“It was phenomenal. The guide had encyclopedic knowledge on the route, was very friendly, and had personally worked on the archaeology. The tour manager was kind, organised and engaged. My travel companions were wonderful. All in all, an exceptional holiday!”
Mr Seary, Walking Hadrians Wall, Jul 2022
“Excellent, on all levels. On information from Oliver Gilkes, on organisation by Sirah Bogani, on comfort of hotels, good food, good group, excellent local guide… and bluesky weather!”
Guest, Imperial Majesty in Ravenna & Venice, Nov 2022
“This was an amazing trip to a little-visited country. The sites visited were exceptional. Tony O’Connor was a brilliant Guide Lecturer, who brought the history of the sites to life, and Caron Fanshawe went out of her way to make the tour run smoothly, in sometimes trying situations. The two local guides were also excellent as was our driver.”
Mr West, Algeria, Oct 2022
The past year has been a tremendous one for us here at Andante. Not only did we win a Feefo 2023 Gold Trusted Service Award for excellence in customer service, but we also brought home two prizes at this year’s British Travel Awards. We won Gold for Best Travel Company for Special Interest Holidays and we also won Silver for Best Travel Company to Southern Europe/Canaries. Historically, we have also seen our tours included in National Geographic’s ‘Trips of a Lifetime’ feature and we won a Wanderlust World Guide Awards prize in 2019. Here’s to another successful year, watch this space for your chance to vote and support us, it’s almost time!
Many of you will already be familiar with our team members, but perhaps their voices rather than faces As you may know, we are a small team so you will quickly get used to speaking with our Specialist Sales Executives and, as a result, it will be easy to build a rapport with them� So, without further ado, we are delighted to offer a full introduction to our dedicated Specialist Sales Executives and tell you more about them�
Working in the travel industry was inevitable for Sam, who has previously lived in Australia and has family all over the world, from Malta to the shores of Lake Constance. She would count South Africa as her favourite holiday destination and Seville as her top pick for a city break, but has enjoyed trips to many countries on most continents over the years. She is still to visit Mexico and Cappadocia, but hopes to tick these off her wishlist soon.
After graduating with a first-class degree in American History in 2019, Harry joined our Sales Team to follow his passion for travel and history. He has travelled widely throughout Europe and the USA, with some of his favourite destinations including the Greek Islands and Amalfi Coast. Most recently, he joined Andante’s Guide Lecturer Lucia Gahlin on our Egypt – Off the Beaten Track tour, which he found fascinating and would highly recommend.
With a background in technology and computing, Gregg combined these skills with his passion for travelling when he joined the Andante team in 2018. He is especially fond of destinations in mainland Europe and can often be found on the walkways of Venice, enjoying the sights of northern Italy or holidaying on the southern coast of Spain with glorious views over the Alhambra.
Having worked in travel for most of her career, Rachael’s favourite destination to visit is Japan and she is currently learning to both read and write in this language. She experienced her first Andante Travels tour back in 2017 when she explored Pompeii and also accompanied one of our expert guides on a Japan tour, which fuelled her interest in the country’s history even further. Along with being a keen traveller, Rachael is also a semi-professional artist.
Having worked in travel for over 30 years, Natalie’s experience is extensive and she has encountered everything from taking care of an orphaned orangutan in Borneo to watching the sun rise over the Grand Canyon on 4th July. She counts Egypt, the Maldives, Thailand and Sri Lanka among her favourite worldwide destinations, and has ambitious personal travel plans for the next few years, which include Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Andante guests will know Debbie as the face of our Study Days, but she has also worked as a Tour Manager on over 25 tours across the 10 years she has been with us. Debbie named Iceland as the most memorable place she has visited so far, thanks to the northern lights, but her Andante favourites are Egypt and the local sites as visited on our Falco’s Britannia tour. She will be joining Oliver Gilkes in Albania later this year and is excited to explore the country.
GREGG
SAM
What makes an Andante Travels tour a cut above the rest? The simple answer is our expert Guide Lecturers They are not just guest speakers who rely on local guides to point the way Our outstanding team of engaging presenters will lead you through the sites you see, focusing on the detailed indicators of the past, explaining how things work and what a miracle of human ingenuity they represent� And they are your travelling companion, part of the group, there at all times to join in the laughter and chat, your expert on hand to converse with and put those all important questions to Guests who travel with us frequently tell us that is not only the high quality of guiding they receive but also the informality and easiness of travelling with an Andante lecturer which keeps them coming back Everyone has their favourites and we are delighted to share that we have a selection of brand new tours for 2024 led by familiar faces, should you wish to join them
An archaeologist of eclectic experience and one of our most popular among guests, Oliver will be at the helm of three brand new tours for next year. Join him on The Samnites p38, Ancient Epirus p72 and our Villas of Lazio tour, p26.
A previous Wanderlust World Guide Awards-winner, Dr Eireann Marshall is set to lead our new Archaeology in the Heart of Italy tour along with the September departure of our Lake Garda & Cities of the Veneto tour, p52.
With expertise in both archaeology and art history, native Athenian Rita leads a number of our best-selling Greek tours, and you can join her for a chance to follow in the footsteps of Herakles on our new Discover the Dodecanese tour, p64.
A specialist in the Roman Empire and an archaeologist with extensive field experience in countries that range from Libya to Algeria, find Tony as the expert Guide Lecturer on the April departure of our Lake Garda & Cities of the Veneto tour, p52.
Lecturer in archaeology at the University of Winchester and a Roman specialist, Professor Tony King will be leading our new eight-day Romans & Gauls tour, p80, which will see you travel from Alesia to Lugdunum.
Archaeological scientist Diana is currently working on a project in Pompeii at the Casa della Regina Carolina and will be the expert guide on our new Latium Countryside tour, p46, which delves into the retreats of the Roman rich.
DR EIREANN MARSHALL
OLIVER GILKES
DR RITA ROUSSOS
TONY O'CONNOR
PROFESSOR TONY KING
DIANA BLUMBERG
Travel takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste and try new things
It constantly challenges us, not only to adapt to and explore new surroundings, but also to engage with different people, to embrace adventures as they come and to share new and meaningful experiences It can be daunting when travelling alone but with Andante Travels, you are never alone unless you choose to be
Our tours are inclusive, informal and fun and Andante guests are some of the most interesting people you could care to meet. Travelling in a party of people who share your interests is an enriching experience. Friendships are quickly formed – and some last for decades with guests meeting up long after their tour has returned and arranging to travel together on future adventures.
As part of an Andante escorted tour, you will have the reassurance that our tour staff are very much part of the group. Unlike some guides who only engage when leading and make themselves scarce as soon as the opportunity arises, Andante staff are with you every step of the way, sharing the same experiences, enjoying the same meals (and often the same tipple at the bar), and laughing at the same absurdities that can happen on tour (a tortoise holding up the bus springs to mind!). Meal times are therefore never solitary, evenings are never dull and our tours are delightfully companionable. Regardless of whether you are travelling with friends, with a partner or solo, rest assured you’ll be at the heart of it all with Andante.
We may travel as a group but we always respect the individual. There is no badge-wearing, roll-calling, umbrella-waving or whistle-blowing on Andante tours. And, wherever possible, we build time into our site visits to allow our guests the freedom to explore and make discoveries of their own. So, if you want to spend some time sketching, writing, mediating on a mosaic or settling down for a chat and a coffee with new friends, we are the travel company for you.
Choose to explore incredible sites in the company of our expert guides and you’ll see that our tours are well suited to solos - not only are they inclusive, informal and fun, but your likeminded travellers are likely to be among some of the most interesting people you’ll meet.
Over half of our guests travel solo and many of them tell us that single supplements across the travel industry, including ours, are too high. They feel disadvantaged for travelling alone. We listened, and we negotiated hundreds of places on a selection of our tours in 2024 at zero single supplement*. As you might expect many of these places have already sold, but we have set aside additional places on selected tours with either no single supplement to pay or a 50% discount listed below*. We have also identified below for quick reference the tours in our programme that have low single supplements.
What’s more, we offer double rooms (for sole use) as standard for our solo travellers so you will never be stuck in a room with just a single bed in a distant corner of a hotel. And our Tour Managers are experts in supporting solo travellers on the road. This is all part of our commitment to become the very best special interest travel company for solo guests.
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania
Departing: Multiple dates in 2024 - p22
Romans on the Bay of Naples
Departing: Multiple dates in 2024 - p32
Crete & Santorini
Departing: Multiple dates in 2024 - p60
Cave Art of the Dordogne
Departing: 30th April & 27th May - p82
Pyrenees Rock Art
Departing: 3rd July - p83
Berlin - Beyond the Wall
Departing: 22nd August - p86
The Samnites
Departing: 14th October - p38
Hidden Rome
Departing: Multiple dates in 2024 - p28
Puglia & Basilicata
Departing: 12th April & 24th September - p36
Mongolia
Departing: 25th June - p136
Athens
Departing: 15th Feb - p56
The Ancient Argolid
Departing: 13th May & 30th Sep - p57
Lebanon
Departing: 3rd May & 7th Oct - p124
We are particularly excited for 2024 to come around because we have a grand total of 18 brand new itineraries on offer, which can take you from the wild plains of Thrace to the Neolithic site of Çatalhüyük, discovering everything from the history of the Samnites to the incredible caves in South Africa where the origins of humankind can be traced All of the tours are led by expert Guide Lecturers and we are delighted to be visiting some destinations that are new to our expanding portfolio�
Created for popes and princes, the glorious villas of Lazio embody the high art and the low political intrigues of Renaissance Italy, and our new seven-day tour takes you to some of the most impressive. During this trip, we will explore beautiful grounds that are home to extravagant water features and sculptures, we will admire the pristine blue waters of Lake Nemi and we will discover the stories behind the sites, which range from the 16th century Villa D’Este to Villa Lante. For more details, see page 26.
This seven-day tour of central Italy, led by popular Guide Lecturer Oliver Gilkes, explores war and peace in the ancient Apennines. Highlights on the itinerary, which shines a spotlight on the Samnites, include visits to the theatre and sanctuary at Pietrabbondante, the UNESCO-listed Carolingian Oratory of San Pellegrino with its striking frescoes and the historic site of Saepinum, where a market town was established to control the movement of flocks from the grasslands of Apulia north to Rome. For more details, see page 38
Discover Etruscans, Romans and cultural transformation in the beautiful Italian regions of Umbria and Lazio on this new eight-day tour led by Dr Eireann Marshall. Based in just one hotel throughout, our visits will take us from the Etruscan remains in the stunning city of Orvieto to the amphitheatre in Sutri and to the well-preserved site of Vulci, where we discover its Etruscan tombs, Roman monuments and medieval abbey. For more details, see page 40
Embark on a journey from the Romans to the Renaissance on this eight-day tour of northern Italy’s myriad highlights. Our departures take place in the spring and early autumn, offering a quieter time to explore the archaeology, history and culture to be found here. Highlights include wine tasting at the beautiful Villa della Torre, a day in Verona that showcases the core of the Roman town and amphitheatre, and the UNESCO-listed Villa Rotonda, among other sites. For more details, see page 52
Experience eight glorious days in the countryside south of Rome, where we will explore the stunning gardens of Ninfa, the extravagant villas at both Tivoli and Sperlonga, and the strategically situated site of Alba Fucens. This part of Italy is fundamental to our understanding of Roman culture and the itinerary offers a greater insight into it. Other visits across the tour include the archaeological site of Ostia Antica, the majestic Villa D’Este in Tivoli and the remains of the Roman town of Casinum. For more details, see page 46
Delve into the ancient origins of familiar Greek destinations Rhodes and Kos on this exciting nine-day tour led by Dr Rita Roussos. In addition to the glorious beaches that make them long beloved by tourists from all over the world, these islands in the Aegean Sea are home to Hellenistic sanctuaries, Roman villas, Cruader fortresses and more. Highlights include the Asklepieion, one of the pre-eminent healing centres of the world, and the stunning island of Kalymnos, where we discover the historic Castle of Chrysocheria. For more details, see page 64
East of Thessaloniki are the mountains and plains of Thrace, home to Byzantine, medieval and Ottoman monuments along with landmark archaeological sites – all of which we explore across nine packed days. This tour also includes a short trip across the Thracian Sea, where we visit the unspoilt islands of Thasos and Samothrace, and we explore the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, which was built around 1000 BCE to honour fertility deities. For more details, see page 70
This 10-day tour crosses from Greece to Albania and back again, in search of sites connected to ancient Epirus. Ours is an unusual itinerary of this unique area, which will see you discover the lovely lakeside town of Ionnina, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint and Nikopolis, which was constructed in celebration of the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE. Other visits range from the UNESCO-listed Gjirokastra to Corfu with its old town, and there’s also a special visit to the late Ottoman mansion, Zekate House. For more details, see page 72
The capital of France is a destination many of us will already be familiar with, but our new Hidden Paris tour offers an alternative view on this well-known city. Over the course of six days, we explore the secret archaeology tucked away among the bustling streets, from the Roman remains that lurk beneath the Musée de Cluny to the prison where Marie Antoinette was held. We also admire the architectural masterpiece that is Sainte Chapelle and venture below the surface at the ultimate hidden attraction – the atmospheric Paris Catacombs. For more details, see page 76
Join us in the gorgeous French region of Burgundy, where – aside from its gastronomic pedigree – we explore an array of fascinating sites that tell the stories of the Romans and the Gauls. In the town of Vienne, we visit the near complete Temple of Augustus and Livia; at the Musée Gallo-Roman in Lyon, we view its wonderful collections and gain deeper insight into this civilisation; and we also learn more about the Gauls through visits to various relevant sites. We will also indulge in a spot of wine tasting along the way. For more details, see page 80
Spend four days in the south of France on our new tour that offers an in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds – the caves of Cosquer, which were discovered in 1985, and the Chauvet cave, found in 1994 and now impressively simulated at the Caverne du Pont d’Arc. We will also visit the Cite de la Prehistoire, where the lifestyle of huntergatherers is examined, and and we enjoy one of the highlights of Provence, the majestic Palais de Papes in Avignon. For more details, see page 77
An idyllic peninsula famed for its ancient ruins and beautiful Venetian cities, Istria is an ideal destination for the archaeological enthusiast. This new tour visits Roman remains in the elegant city of Trieste, the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč with its magnificent shimmering mosaics, and the site of Vizula, where the remains of an opulent Roman villa can be observed. During this six-day tour, we will also visit Pula, which has some of the finest ruins anywhere outside of Italy, including the superb Temple of Augustus and a famous amphitheatre. For more details, see page 87
This seven-day tour led by Dr Paul Bahn offers a rare opportunity to visit rock art away from the typical tourist trail across the Spanish and Portuguese border region. Set among unspoilt countryside in the Côa Valley, we discover cave art without the caves as there are over a thousand rock art depictions here across more than 80 different sites. We will also enjoy a scenic rail trip along the valley of the Foz Coa on the MiraDuoro train, spend two nights in charming Porto and hop across the border to Spain and visit Siega Verde, where we explore many of the rock art sites, some of which date back twenty millennia. For more details, see page 88.
This nine-day tour journeys through ancient coastal cities and wild landscapes alike to showcase the archaeology and tell the stories of these three neighbouring countries. Highlights include visits to the excavations of the Roman city of Ulpiana and the incredible 13th and 14th century painted monasteries in Kosovo, as well as a voyage along the spectacular gorge of the Black Drin river to the dam at Fierze. For more details, see page 94
This week-long tour on the island of Malta packs a punch where historical sites are concerned. Our focus throughout the trip is on the earliest occupation, when this tiny archipelago was home to an astonishing culture that created elaborate stone temples and rock cut tombs. We will visit magnificent temple sites at Haġar-Qim and Mnajdra, the UNESCO-listed Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and, on neighbouring Gozo, the Xagħra Stone Circle and prehistoric megalithic complex of Gġantija. For more details, see page 98
Enjoy 14 memorable days on a kaleidoscopic journey through the heartlands of Turkey in the expert company of Terry Richardson, our Guide Lecturer for the tour. We will travel from Çatal Hüyük, arguably the earliest city in the world, to Göbekli Tepe, a remarkable early Neolithic complex in upper Mesopotamia, visiting an array of other sites in between that range from the UNESCO-listed site of Nemrut Dag to the incredible rock-cut churches in Cappadocia. For more details, see page 122
Trace our human origins in the African Savannah on this 16-day exploration, led by expert Guide Lecturer John MacNabb. Not only does this tour include a chance to spot the Big 5 during game drives at Kruger National Park, but we will take you from the famous Sterkfontein Caves to the relatively unknown archaeological treasures over the border in Zimbabwe, giving you a chance to tick some real wishlist-worthy sites off your must-visit list. For more details, see page 114
This new seven-day cruise travels from Paris to Rouen aboard the MS Renoir, offering many highlights that range from visits to an array of hidden gems in the magnificent capital city to a chance to wander the halls of the mighty Palace of Versailles. We will spend time in the pretty Normany port of Honfleur, we will explore the remains of Lillebonne's 3,000-seat amphitheatre and we will delve into the collections housed with the Musée des Antiquités in historic Rouen. For more details, see our cruise brochure.
If you are looking to get away for longer this year, we have some fantastic extended tours that are 13 days or more in duration, and we have also scheduled a number of our tours for 2024 so they can be enjoyed one after another – ideal for anyone wishing to make the most of their travels after recent years spent mostly in the same place Our range of back-to-back tours is vast, covering a number of continents and including an array of incredible sites, both legendary and lesser known�
To identify the tours that can be booked back-to-back, just look for a gold box on the relevant tour page� What's more, if you book any of our back-to-back tour combinations in the same transaction, you will enjoy a discount of $210pp off your total�
TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER, WE HAVE GROUPED TOGETHER ALL AVAILABLE BACK-TO-BACK TOURS DEPARTING IN 2024
Egypt – Highlights & Discoveries, departing 13th Feb, p110
Egypt – Off the Beaten Track, departing 25th Feb, p112
Jordan – Petra & the Desert Fortresses, departing 19th Feb, p128
Israel & Palestine, departing 29th Feb, p126
Imperial Majesty in Ravenna & Venice, departing 20th Mar, p48
Florence, departing 28th Mar, p29
Hidden Rome, departing 22nd Mar, p28
Florence, departing 28th Mar, p29
Ancient Epirus, departing 12th Apr, p72
Macedonia, departing 22nd Apr, p68
The Island of Sardinia, departing 16th Apr, p50
Sicilian Civilisation, departing 25th Apr, p34
Chauvet & Cosquer, departing 26th Apr, p77
Cave Art of the Dordogne, departing 30th Apr, p82
Crete & Santorini, departing 13th May, p60
The Peloponnese, departing 20th May, p58
Sicilian Civilisation, departing 15th May, p34
Latium Countryside, departing 27th May, p46
Sicilian Civilisation, departing 15th May, p34
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania, departing 27th May, p22
Along the Appian Way, departing 16th May, p42
Rome to Ravenna, departing 24th May, p44
Latium Countryside, departing 27th May, p46
The Villas of Lazio, departing 3rd Jun, p26
Pyrenees Rock Art, departing 3rd Jul, p83
Chauvet & Cosquer, departing 9th Jul, p77
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania, departing 16th Sep, p22
The Etruscans, departing 23rd Sep, p30
The Etruscans, departing 23rd Sep, p30
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania, departing 30th Sep, p22
The Samnites, departing 14th Oct, p38
Romans on the Bay of Naples, departing 21st Oct, p32
Carthage & Roman Tunisia, departing 17th Oct, p108
Algeria, departing 27th Oct, p104
Romans on the Bay of Naples, departing 21st Oct, p32
Imperial Majesty in Ravenna & Venice, departing 29th Oct, p48
Find out more: andantetravels.co.uk/back-to-back-tours
It is not an exaggeration to say that the peninsula of Italy, shaped as it is by its vast history, is crawling with world-class sites and monuments� Here, we find the haunting site of Pompeii, the Valley of the Temples, the phenomenal remains in the city of Rome and much, much more Our Italy portfolio has expanded over the years, and we are proud to present our full – and possibly largest –collection of itineraries that can take you there in 2024�
What is staggering about Italy’s cultural remains is not just the sheer number of them – 53 cultural World Heritage Sites and 31 tentative World Heritage Sites – but the wonderful variety From the white-tipped peaks of the Dolomites to the orange groves at the foot of Mount Etna, this destination offers a unique insight into our cultural past, not just because it is the homeland of the Eternal City but because it hosts such a rich collection of archaeological sites, including the world-famous, utterly breathtaking Vesuvian towns�
Southern Italy, called Magna Graecia by the Romans, was once one of the most affluent parts of ancient Greece, conquered by the Normans and later ruled by an Islamic Caliphate As a result, it is home to some of the most awesome Greek Temples and impressive Norman castles in the world� Sardinia and Sicily, two of the largest islands in Mediterranean, traded with and were colonised by peoples from all over southern Europe and North Africa, and are blessed with a plethora of extraordinary Neolithic and Bronze Age sites as well as Phoenician settlements, giving rise to the culturally rich havens that they are today
Moreover, Italy has been indelibly influenced by that city on the Tiber, which was the epicentre of an empire that encompassed all of the Mediterranean, as well as a third of the world’s population at the time� For its centrality to Christianity, Rome can still lay claim being called the caput mundi and nowhere is this more felt than in Italian cities, which were nearly all shaped in the Roman period and reinvigorated in the Medieval and Renaissance, which sought, above all, to emulate Rome� It is for the splendour of its medieval cityscapes and richness of its Renaissance architecture that central and northern Italy is justly famous It is here that artists, trying to go back to Roman aesthetics, produced those uniquely exquisite frescoes that adorn churches and palazzi, as well as canvases that grace a multitude of museums
Exclusive access to the off-site theatre of Herculaneum
8 DAYS
From $3,605pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing January to October
Nowhere in the world gives deeper insight into Roman life than the dramatic seaside towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum Before the cataclysmic eruption of Vesuvius these were thriving, lively seaside towns
Pompeii, a trading town equipped with many bars, shops and brothels, while neighbouring Herculaneum was an affluent and elegant town All this came to an abrupt halt, however, one autumnal day in AD 79, when Vesuvius - which had done little more than rumble for years - erupted with incredible force
Two thousand years later, the sites of the Bay of Naples confront the modern visitor with a vivid, haunting immediacy like nothing else in the ancient world In some cases we even know the names, professions and personal histories of the people who owned the villas and shops we visit The preservation of Herculaneum, Pompeii and its surrounding sites is remarkable and the archaeology beyond compare, which is why we have been leading tours here for over 30 years And this is an exciting time for visitors as new discoveries are being made and new houses opened Walk with us as the Romans did, from amphitheatre to baths to forum, as our Guide Lecturer conjures an evocative picture of the everyday life of these prosperous Roman towns
• Special access to Villa Sora in Torre del Greco
• Enjoy visits to off the beaten track villas at Stabiae
• Private access to the Cave of Sejanus (Grotta di Seiano) and the adjoining Villa of Pausilypon with its dramatic coastal views
• Explore the newly excavated House of Leda in Regio V
This tour’s 27th May departure can be booked back-to-back with the May departure of our Sicilian Civilisation tour (p34). Our 16th September departure or the 30th September departure can both be booked back-to-back with the September departure of our The Etruscans tour (p30). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
To book a tour today visit andantetravels.com or call 800 637 3035 23
Today we meet for the first time as a group at our hotel near Naples.
Our day begins with a visit to the fascinating site at Paestum, ancient Poseidonia. Long before the Romans came, this was a thriving Greek city that was part of greater Greece from the 6th century BC. After lunch, we visit the Paestum Museum, famed for its archaic metopes and its painted tombs. We will also be able to visit the magnificent Store Rooms of Paestum after almost a two-year closure due to the pandemic.
We devote the entire day to Pompeii. No other site compares in revealing details of daily life in a Roman town. We visit some of the most well-preserved buildings as well as an amphitheatre, theatre, forum, bath-houses, bars and even brothels. Fountains in the street are worn from where countless people rested their hands to take a drink and Roman graffiti can still be seen on the walls. Travelling via the best routes to avoid the crowds, we visit some houses that are newly reopened to the public.
Our first visit of the day is to the fabulous National Archaeological Museum in Naples, home to exceptional collections of artefacts. After lunch, we move on to Pozzuoli and visit one of the world’s most impressive amphitheatres. Later, we are granted private access to the Cave of Sejanus, an impressive tunnel dating to the age of Augustus, which gives access to the lovely seaside villa of Pausilypon. D1uring our visit here, we can see a theatre and odeon, built at a later date.
Go off the beaten track today to the villas of Stabiae, an exclusive Roman resort for the very wealthy. The vast Villa San Marco, with its swimming pool and bath complex, is one of the most opulent along this coast and it remains very impressive in its scale. Subject to renovations being completed, we hope to visit the Villa Arianna, with its wonderful frescoes and fabulous views over the Bay of Naples. After lunch we visit the Archaeological Museum of Castellammare di Stabia Libero D’Orsi which opened in September 2020 specifically for the exhibition of the many important items found in the region of Stabia. There are a large number of finds on display, some never before exhibited in Italy, including frescoes, inlaid floors, stuccoes, sculptures and tableware.
This morning we travel to Villa Sora in Torre del Greco, where we have special access to a fine residence once thought to be owned by a member of the Julio Claudian Family. Later, we head to Herculaneum, which perfectly complements a visit to Pompeii. This seaside city was buried to a significantly greater depth than Pompeii — under 23 metres of pyroclastic to be exact — perfectly preserving every-day objects as well as houses up to their rooftops. In addition to the site, we explore the Antiquarium, newly opened after 44 years, and which houses precious articles found along Herculaneum’s sea front, including a well-preserved boat.
Today, we ascend to the great volcanic crater of Vesuvius. The majority of our journey will be by bus, but the final part requires a short walk, which will be well worth the effort. The walk starts at Monte Somma, the crater of the AD 79 eruption, where we grasp the scale of it. After the ascent and peering into the crater being forged since the ancient eruption, you will see fumaroles and the layers of previous eruptions, while walking around the perimeter of the crater affords magnificent views over the Bay of Naples. On good days, you can even make out Pompeii. After lunch, we will continue on to the impressive villa at Oplontis, which boasts sumptuous frescoes, a bath complex, an enormous swimming pool, and interesting slave quarters. This villa was supposedly owned by Emperor Nero and was both destroyed and subsequently preserved by Vesuvius’ eruption.
After breakfast, our tour ends and we make our independent journeys home.
Pompeii is an archaeological site with enduring appeal With new discoveries constantly being made and new houses frequently opened up, it offers the visitor a promise of something new if they were to return
We have been taking groups of curious guests to Pompeii for decades now and no two tours are rarely the same - and this year is no exception Our itinerary includes everything you could possibly want from an exploration of Pompeii and its surrounding areas, but we have updated it as a result of new openings and we hope you will find our new inclusions most fascinating
Following a 20-year restoration, the House of the Vettii has now been opened to the public and we can take you there Home to colourful (and risqué) frescoes, it is named after its owners - Aulus Vettius Restitutus and Aulus Vettius Conviva - who were former slaves According to experts, the pair rose through the ranks as merchants, selling wine, and reached the peak of social status, albeit economically The House of the Vettii was extravagant and its opulent architecture, bronze and marble statues, and courtyard garden are astounding to witness, even today
Additionally, a new exhibit has opened up at the Reggia di Portici entitled 'The Wood that Didn’t Burn', which consists of wooden artefacts found in Herculaneum that were preserved by virtue of the more than 20-metre deep pyroclastic flow that hermetically sealed the seaside city, delicately preserving its organic objects Speaking about the exhibit, which we visit on this tour, Dr Eireann Marshall said: "The survival of these wooden objects is due to the unsung heroes of the exhibit, namely the restorers and archaeologists who have developed new techniques for preserving ancient wood, which have involved bathing objects in increasingly concentrated solutions of hydrogenated sugars, which crystallise in the wood, when it is dried, reinforcing it� The exhibit is unmissable for anyone with a passion for the ancient world and goes to the heart of what makes Herculaneum special�"
Another new visit on this, our flagship tour, is to the Villa Sora in Torre del Greco, where we have special access to a fine residence once thought to be owned by a member of the Julio Claudian family� The excavations here are opened exclusively for our group�
Finally, we will also take you to the newly excavated houses of Orion and The Garden, where you will get to see the charcoal graffiti that may be evidence for the eruption of Vesuvius being later in the year than originally thought�
Guided by John Shepherd
Join John on our 15th January & 9th September departures.
Guided by Tony Wilmott
Join Tony on our 18th March departure.
Guided by Dr Doru Bogdan
Join Doru on our 22nd April departure.
Guided by Dr Eireann Marshall
Join Eireann on our 6th May departure.
Guided by Tony O’Connor
Join Tony on our 27th May departure.
Guided by Dr Gillian Shepherd
Join Gillian on our 16th September departure.
Guided by Diana Blumberg
Join Diana on our 30th September departure.
Guided by Dr Jamie Sewell
Join Jamie on our 28th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Scapolatiello or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
15th - 22nd Jan $3,745 $3,605 $0
18th - 25th Mar $3,795 $3,655 $0
22nd - 29th Apr $3,795 $3,655 $0
6th - 13th May $3,890 $3,750 $0
27th May - 3rd Jun $3,965 $3,825 $0
9th - 16th Sep $3,965 $3,825 $0
16th - 23rd Sep $3,965 $3,825 $0
30th Sep - 7th Oct $3,890 $3,750 $0
28th Oct - 4th Nov $3,795 $3,655 $0
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/apom
From $4,075pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing June Activity Level
Fantastically elaborate, brimming with sculpture and symbology, the villas of Lazio embody the high art and low political intrigues of Renaissance Italy Built for popes and princes, these villas hark back to a much older tradition when Roman emperors would retreat to their palaces in the Sabine Hills Oliver Gilkes, an archaeologist who has excavated extensively in Italy, explores the ‘villa’ in all its many and various forms From the rustic farms of antiquity, beloved of Roman poets, to the vast complexes of later eras, villas reflected their owners’ wealth and status whether modest farms or palaces Iconic sites set in the rolling hills of central Italy: they are the setting for hothouse politics and veritable treasures of architecture and art
• Discover the evocative countryside of South Etruria and the Sabine and Alban Hills, forests, hills and mountains
• Explore fabulous gardens and admire an extravaganza of water features, fantastical sculptures and rustic ruins
• Admire the pristine blue waters of Lake Nemi, inspiration for artists and writers undertaking their grand tour
We meet at our hotel in Frascati.
We drive into the beautiful Sabine Hills, the retreat of Renaissance princes and Roman emperors. Here we discover the little valley of Licenza and the Villa of Horace. The villa was once a modest farm estate, which underwent later aggrandisement with a suite of baths, latrine, a vivarium, or ornamental pool, with niches cut into the walls for the breeding of fish. We continue to Arcinazzo Romano where we view the sprawling remains of Emperor Trajan’s villa and hunting lodge. No doubt providing the emperor with some ‘R and R’ after a hard campaign subduing the edges of Empire. In the afternoon, we visit Subiaco, Sacro Speco, St. Benedict’s first abbey founded near the ruins of Nero’s villa.
This morning we explore the Barberini Gardens, laid out over the remains of a grand villa of Emperor Domitian. The gardens are attached to the Papal
Villa at Castel Gandolfo. We continue to Lake Nemi, where excavations recovered the remains of two ‘floating’ villa ships, built by Caligula. Having survived the end of Rome, the ships were sadly destroyed in WWII, but a museum tells their story. The Antonine emperors owned several villas in the vicinity, including one near Genzano at Lake Nemi, where a small amphitheatre seems to have been added at the time of Emperor Commodus, perhaps for him to practice? After lunch, we continue to Frascati and the baroque Villa Aldobrandini, with extensive gardens and 17th century ‘water theatre’.
We visit Hadrian’s Villa, which sprawls across the rolling countryside at the foot of the hills below the town of Tivoli. Beginning around AD 117, Hadrian took a small family villa owned by his wife and added on a whole series of grand pavilions, many of them modelled after places he had seen on his travels around the empire. The complex ended up larger than most Roman cities. We visit the town this afternoon and pay a visit to the great 16th century Villa D’Este. It was built by Cardinal Ippolito
D’Este, the son of Lucrezia Borgia and a major figure in the church politics of the era.
We spend the morning at Caprarola to visit the staggering conception of the Villa Farnese built by Alexander Farnese, nephew of Pope Paul III, to an elaborate architectural scheme of the architect Giacomo Vignola. The mannerist and ‘wild’ gardens conceal a ‘secret garden’ and smaller villa. Then on to the Orsini/Odescalchi castle by Lake Bracciano. One of the largest strongholds in Italy, in the 15th century the Orsini family managed to repel
attempts by Pope Alexander VI and the notorious Cesare Borgia to capture it. The castle was rebuilt as a luxurious fortified retreat and houses a museum.
We enjoy a day of gardens today. The famous mannerist gardens of Villa Lante at Bagnaia are our first stop. They consist of an extravaganza of 16th century hydraulic engineering, which has created cascades and the famous outdoor water dining table. We later visit the enigmatic Park of Wonders (Park of Monsters) at Bomarzo conceived by a wealthy mercenary general. The extraordinary
sculptures scattered about the park include the heads of monsters, which served as exotic dining rooms.
Day Seven | Frascati
We make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
Oliver has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Albania and Italy.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Frascati
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
3rd – 9th Jun $4,215 $4,075 $455
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/alrv
7 DAYS
From $4,260pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing February to October
Rome is the pivotal city of Europe, a capital that has dominated the history of the last two millennia This tour will take you to some of Rome’s greatest monuments and also to some of its most secret, from catacombs to tombs and from temples to villas It offers a rare chance to see the Imperial City from a whole new point of view – one that most visitors will never get to see
Tour Highlights
• Explore the underground ruins of Nero’s infamous Golden House, a revolution in architecture and luxurious design
• Pay a visit to the wonderfully preserved port city of Ostia Antica, which kept the capital of an Empire both fed and supplied
• Drive along the Appian Way, visiting the Villa of the Quintili and also the Circus of Maxentius
Meet as a group at our hotel, which is located in the heart of the city.
Today we admire two hidden gems of Rome’s underground. We start at the Domus Romane of Palazzo Valentini, where we admire and relive, thanks to multimedia and computer graphics, the rooms, baths and decorations of the Imperial Rome. We will then head to visit Vicus Caprarius - the Water City, which showcases the remains of an aqueduct and Roman House.
This morning we visit the legendary Golden House Built by Emperor Nero after the great fire of Rome, it included artificial lakes, fountains and vineyards. More underground surprises will follow at the church of San Clemente, and then an afternoon visit to the Colosseum
This morning we walk through part of the Field of Mars, visiting well-known sites that include the Pantheon. We will also visit the Ara Pacis, an altar commissioned by the Roman Senate to honour the return of Augustus after his campaigns in Gaul.
Our day begins on the Via Nomentana at Santa Constanza, built as a mausoleum for the sister of Constantine the Great. Later we will visit the early Christian catacombs that lie below the adjacent church of San Agnese. We then head to visit the Forum Boarium, to see the temples of Portunus and Hercules, and visit the churches of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and San Giorgio in Velabro
After lunch we go to the Mithraeum of the Circus Maximus and later, we ascend the Aventine Hill to visit Santa Sabina
Today we visit some of the villas on the Appian Way
We see the vast suburban estate of the Quintili, so sumptuous that the emperor Commodus executed its owners and confiscated it. We proceed to the equally extensive Villa of the Emperor Maxentius built in order to be a dynastic centre for his family. In the afternoon we visit the Baths of Caracalla
A morning drive brings us to Ostia Antica, which was Rome’s great harbour centre. Its level of preservation is comparable to Pompeii. In the afternoon, we make our independent onward journeys.
“It was brilliant. It was lovely to visit off the beaten track sites. The weather was lovely, the guide and tour manager were outstanding, the group was congenial and the food interesting. What’s not to like?”
Guest, October 2022
This tour’s March departure can be booked back-to-back with our Florence tour (p29). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Activity Level
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
Join Oliver on our 23rd February & 22nd March departures.
Guided by Dr Andy Souter
Join Andy on our 26th April departure.
Guided by Prof. Valerie Higgins
Join Valerie on our 19th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in The Albergo Santa Chiara or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 4 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine and tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person Date
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/ahro
From £3,710pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing March
Discover how Florence, a small Roman settlement prone to annual flooding, became the powerhouse of the Renaissance and the greatest city in Europe Join us as we trace the development of this unique city, admire its exquisite art and architecture, including the Medici chapel, Baptistery and the wonderful Basilica of Santa Croce�
Tour Highlights
• Explore the Etruscan Temple, Roman theatre and bath complex at Fiesole
• Visit the National Archaeological Museum, renowned for its significant Etruscan collection
• Discover world class art at Florence’s incomparable musea, including the Uffizzi and Accademia with pre booked entrance times to avoid the queues
We meet as a group at our hotel in Florence. We then head to Fiesole to visit the excavated sanctuary in the archaeological park, the 4th century Etruscan Temple, Roman theatre and bath complex.
Today we explore the glories of Florence on foot, walking from the Ponte Vecchio and making our way to the Piazza della Signoria, dominated by a copy of Michelangelo’s David in its original location and the Loggia della Signoria. We continue to the Bapitistery, the San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel. Finally, we visit the Basilica of Santa Croce, home to Donatello’s wooden Crucifix
We spend the morning at the National Archaeological Museum, one of the oldest and most important museums in Italy. This afternoon is spent in the world class Uffizzi Gallery. Immerse yourself in the glories of Renaissance masterpieces such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Spring. We regroup for our pre-booked visit to the Accademia where you can admire Michelangelo’s David and his Slaves.
This morning there will be a leisurely start and a gentle walk to the Palazzo Strozzi in the heart of Florence, one of the unquestioned masterpieces of Renaissance. We continue to the Santa Maria Novella, the 13th-15th century church which is the first of the great basilicas in Florence. Later, we visit the Palazzo Vecchio, the symbolic monument of the city and, for over seven centuries, the seat of its government. Palazzo Vecchio bears extraordinary testimonies of all the salient phases of the history and art of Florence.
Today we visit two extraordinary museums, the Palazzo Pitti and the Bargello National Museum, where we admire such masterpieces as Michelangelo’s Bacchus and Donatello’s David, famous as the first freestanding nude male since antiquity. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore this magnificent city on your own.
We transfer to either Florence or Pisa airport and make our independent onward journeys.
Looking for a longer break?
This tour can be booked back-to-back with the March departure of our Hidden Rome tour (p28) or it can be booked back-to-back with the March departure of our Imperial Majesty in Ravenna and Venice tour (p48). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Activity Level
Guided by Dr Eireann Marshall An Honorary Research Fellow for the Open University, Eireann is bilingual and has led many tours for Andante.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation at Hotel Berchielli or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 5 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
28th Mar - 2nd Apr $3,850 $3,710 $835
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aflo
Guest, April 2023
8 DAYS
From $4,365pp SAVE UP TO $140
This tour’s September departure can be booked back-to-back with either the 16th September or the 30th September departure to Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania (p22). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Departing April & September Activity Level
Before the rise of Rome, the Etruscans dominated much of central Italy Their cities today are either abandoned or lost beneath the area’s iconic medieval and renaissance towns, but traces of their existence remains� Discover hilltop settlements, spectacular finds, lavish painted tombs and even veritable cities of the dead on this alternative tour of Classical Italy�
• See the remarkable Banditaccia cemetery at Cerveteri, a real city of the dead
• View the unique painted tombs of Tarquinia, the earliest fresco cycle in western art
• Explore the dramatic medieval city of Orvieto and visit its great cathedral
• Admire incomparable collections of Etruscan artefacts in Rome’s Villa Giulia
Meet the group at our hotel.
We spend our first day in Volterra located on windswept, dramatic hills. Here we visit the Guarnacci Museum, famed for its cinerary urns carved from the local alabaster. After lunch, we walk through the town viewing Etruscan temple foundations, the ancient city gate, the Porta all’Arco and a well-preserved Roman theatre.
This morning we drive to Florence to visit its Archaeological Museum. The afternoon is free for us to explore at leisure.
Volterra Colle di Val d'Elsa Orvieto
Chiusi Rome
We spend the day at Chiusi, the key inland city of northern Etruria. The collections in the excellent museum are drawn from the area, and include finely carved cinerary chests and tomb markers in local sandstone. From here we will make the short drive to Sarteano where, after lunch, we have arranged a special visit to the Tomba della Quadriga Infernale
The tomb was a rare find in 2003 and is decorated with an extraordinary pictorial cycle in excellent condition. We will also have a chance to explore the excellent archaeological museum, housed in the 16th century Palazzo Gabrelli. Here we will see numerous artefacts from the area dating from the 9th century to the 1st century BCE including splendid human-shaped canopic jars.
“The tour contained all of the ingredients we have come to expect from Andante. Interesting visits, knowledgeable experts, well organised manager, good food and drink and special treatment.”
We spend the morning visiting the remarkable Banditaccia cemetery at Cerveteri, a truly extraordinary Etruscan site famed for its necropolis. This is a real ‘city of the dead’ with rock-cut tombs under tumuli or arranged in rows along streets. Many interiors are carved to imitate houses and temples. One tomb even has painted relief depictions of armour, household goods, furniture, and the family dog. This afternoon, we drive east to visit the Villa Giulia Museum in Rome, which houses one of the world’s best collections of Etruscan art and artefacts including the masterpiece Apollo of Veii from Portonaccio Temple.
We visit Tarquinia to see the Archaeological Museum and exquisitely painted subterranean chamber tombs. The museum has a fine collection of grave goods, including the remarkable terracotta winged horses from the Ara della Regina Temple. Over 6000 tombs have been discovered at the
Monterozzi cemetery, which we visit next, making this one of the largest burial grounds of the ancient world. We see a selection, with depictions of banquets and funerary games.
Today we have an opportunity to explore Orvieto, or ancient Velzna, which the Etruscans presumably established because of the excellent defensive opportunities offered by the spectacular volcanic citadel. You will have free time to explore in the town including two archaeological museums, ‘underground Orvieto’, and the magnificent Renaissance cathedral. In the afternoon we visit the Belvedere Temple Podium, and the small Etruscan cemetery of Crocifisso del Tufo, where family names are carved above the entrance to each tomb.
Before we make our indepenedent journeys home, we will visit the Archaeological Park of Sutri, one of the southernmost Etruscan cities and Rome’s first
colony. The amphitheatre, cut out of the rock in the Etruscan style, is the perhaps the earliest in Italy. We will also visit part of the necropolis, where one of the tombs were converted first into a Mithraeum and then into a church.
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
Join Oliver on our 1st April departure.
Guided by Prof. Tony King
Join Tony on our 23rd September departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Palazzo Pacini & Hotel Relais Falisco or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person Date
1st - 8th Apr $4,505 $4,365 $945 23rd - 30th Sep $4,505 $4,365 $945
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aetr
From $3,645pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing March, October & November
The extraordinary Roman sites in the Bay of Naples have undergone an incredible regeneration in recent years� This beautiful stretch of coast, which was developed in the Roman era by elites and emperors in search of leisure, has witnessed exciting new archaeological activities, as well as an unprecedented number of newly opened sites� While much attention has been given to the wonderful new excavations of Pompeii, much less has been said about the opening of new sections of Herculaneum, the opening of Roman sites in Positano and Boscoreale, and the excavations taking place in Terzigno and Somma Vesuviana This tour offers a fresh take of Romans in the Bay of Naples, taking into consideration these new discoveries and sites, and offering an up-to-date examination of this prosperous and beautiful part of the ancient world There has never been a better time to visit the towns in the shadow of Vesuvius with the advantage of it being a less crowded time of year
Tour Highlights
• Examine the newly opened Regio V in Pompeii
• Explore the newly opened Roman Villa at Positano, with its wonderful fresçoes
• Visit the newly opened Museum at Terzigno, which houses incredible remains of newly excavated villas
• A private visit to the Villa Augustea in Somma Vesuviana, which was destroyed in the eruption of AD 472 and is still being excavated
We meet at our hotel in the hills in the Monti Lattari above Salerno.
This morning we drive to Positano, where we visit the Roman Villa and museum, with its dazzling frescoes. Discovered under the church of Santa Maria Assunta, this villa maritima, one of many opulent coastal villas built along the Bay of Naples, may have been owned by the gladiator Posides who was a slave freed by the emperor Claudius. After a period of restoration, the villa has only recently been opened to the public. After lunch, we travel down the Amalfi Coast to Amalfi to explore the Cathedral of St. Andrew first built in the 9th century and which is a mixture of different styles from its Arabic-Norman beginnings to the Renaissance and Baroque. The cathedral has magnificent bronze doors from the 11th century, the earliest in Italy after the Roman period, and a
This tour’s October departure can be booked back-to-back with the October departure of our Imperial Majesty of Ravenna & Venice tour (p48) or tour of The Samnites (p38). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
wonderful Romanesque campanile decorated with Majolica tiles and interlacing arches. We proceed to the Arabic style 13th century Cloister of Paradise which has a wonderful peristyle, as well as 13th century frescoes.
The poignant site of Pompeii richly rewards a full day of exploration, walking the streets of a once-bustling Roman town, its houses, institutions, shops, bars and brothels inundated by volcanic material. The focus of today’s visit is the new discoveries at the city. We will be visiting the Regio V to see the House of Leda and the Swan, as well as the antiquarium to see the coin which confirmed the date of the eruption. We will also be visiting newly opened sites such as the House of the Fruit Orchard and the Praedia of Julia Felix
We start the day with a visit to the fabulous Museum of Archaeology in Naples, which exhibits the precious frescoes and mosaics discovered in the Vesuvian towns, including the Alexander Mosaic and the paintings of Sappho and the Pompeii riot. The western wing has recently re-opened following a decades long renovation project and showcases hundreds of previously stored finds from key sites
in Campania. After lunch we explore two fascinating sites in Naples. Our first visit is to the church of Santa Chiara, burial place of the Angevin kings, and Bourbon dynasty where we admire the cloisters with their magnificent 18th century majolica tiles. Next, we visit San Lorenzo Maggiore founded in the late 13th century as a Franciscan church on the site of the site of the basilica (covered hall) of the Roman Forum.
We enjoy a morning of Roman waterworks, beginning with a visit to the amazing Piscina Mirabilis - a huge cistern which stored water for the fleet stationed in the harbour at Misenum. We continue to Baia, terraced into the side of an extinct volcanic crater, and developed entirely in the Roman period to cater to the desires of the super-rich who built enormous villas in order to take advantage of thermal springs. We visit the Archaeological Park where the imperial family built an enormous thermal and palatial complex. After lunch, we venture to the Flavian amphitheatre in Pozzuoli, one of the largest amphitheatres in the ancient world. Here we will explore the best-preserved service rooms of any extant amphitheatre.
Today we visit Herculaneum, sealed by 23 metres of pyroclastic flow from the same eruption which buried Pompeii. The nature of the eruption has meant that organic materials have survived, making this a more poignant site than Pompeii: here we see a wonderfully preserved wine shop, the stunning House of the Stags with its pergola overlooking the sea and many fragments which
attest to the everyday life in this upmarket city. There has never been a better time to visit the site, as two new museums have recently opened, as well as the House of the Bicentenary opened for the first time after decades. After an included lunch in Herculaneum, we visit Boscoreale where we visit the Villa Regina, discovered in the late 20th century while digging for the foundations of council housing. In contrast to the opulent villas we have seen on other days, this is a modest small holding which provides us with evidence of how ordinary people lived. We then head to the Museum of Archaeology at Terzigno, which houses precious remains and frescoes of 3 ancient farms destroyed by the AD 79 earthquake and excavated only recently.
This morning we travel to the Villa Sora in Torre del Greco, where we have special access to a fine residence once thought to be owned by a member of the Julio Claudian Family. After lunch we make our way to Somma Vesuviana where the Villa Augustea will be opened especially for us. This unique site, which is still being excavated, was destroyed not by AD 79 eruption but by one in AD 472, giving us precious evidence of the regeneration of the area after the famous eruption which destroyed Pompeii.
We end our tour with one final private visit to the extraordinary archives of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity at Cava de Tirreni, which contains 15,000 parchments dating as early as the 8th century. We then make our independent onward journeys.
“A fantastic experience, this tour exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend and am looking forward to booking my next adventure with Andante in 2023.”
Guest, November 2022
Guided by John Shepherd
Join John on our 4th March & 21st October departures.
Guided by Tony Wilmott
Join Tony on our 4th November departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Scapolatiello or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date
4th - 11th Mar $3,885 $3,745 $0
21st - 28th Oct $3,885 $3,745 $0
4th - 11th Nov $3,785 $3,645 $0
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/arbn
Rich archaeological sites and impressive artistic achievements
12 DAYS
This tour’s April departure can be booked back-to-back with our The Island of Sardinia tour (p50). This tour’s May departure can be booked back-to-back with our Latium Countryside tour (p46) or with the 27th May departure to Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania (p22). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
From $6,230pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April to October Activity Level
Some of the richest archaeological sites and the most impressive artistic achievements of European culture are to be found in Sicily, the largest island in a sea which was itself thought to lie at the centre of the ancient world, the Mediterranean Controlling the trade routes between east and west and the pivot of power between the ‘superpowers’ of antiquity, Sicily was fought over and repeatedly won throughout the history of western civilisation As part of Magna Graecia, the city of Syracuse was second only to Athens and Carthaginians wrestled with Rome for control here during the first Punic War This tour presents an extraordinary panorama of changing identities – Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Norman
• Admire truly exceptional mosaics at the Villa Romana, Piazza Armerina
• Discover the unique landscape around Marsala with its shallow water, windmills and glistening pyramids of salt
• Discover the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Enjoy a special access evening visit to view the stunning mosaics at Cappella Palatina
Arrive in Catania before transferring to Palermo.
After breakfast, we drive out to the rolling hills, where we find the ancient Greek city of Segesta, home to an elegant but unfinished 5th century BC Doric temple and the remains of an impressive hilltop theatre. This afternoon we make our way to Monreale, the former hunting ground of the Norman kings of Sicily. Here, we discover an opulent Norman-Byzantine cathedral and abbey, founded by King William II in 1174. The site recently achieved UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to its stunning construction and mosaic work – a brilliant testament to the former opulence of Norman rule.
Today is ours to explore the wonders of Palermo. We start at the Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the most significant collections
of Punic and Ancient Greek art in all of Italy. Here, we find famous metopes from the Selinus temples, as well as a fascinating array of artefacts discovered underwater. Later, we visit the beautifully decorated church of La Martorana and the neighbouring Chiesa di San Cataldo. After lunch, we visit Palermo Cathedral, a 12th century construction that replaced a Moorish mosque and which houses the tombs of some of the Norman Kings. This evening we enjoy a special private visit to the Cappella Palatina, an extravagant chapel, glittering with mosaics and gold leaf.
Today we visit the charming little port of Cefalù. It derives its name from the Greek cephaloedium, the term used to describe the head-shaped rock which dominates the town below. In 1131 Roger II founded a cathedral here, ostensibly as a thanksgiving for refuge on Cefalù's safe beach in a storm. Inside, reused Roman columns and capitals support gothic arches and the presbytery and apse are decorated
with stunning mosaics. In the afternoon we visit the archaeological park at Himara, site of the legendary battle between the Greeks and Carthaginians in 480 BCE. Excavations which took place in recent years have revealed an ancient necropolis with more than 12,000 almost untouched burials, an incredibly rare find in the ancient Greek world.
This morning we drive to Marsala, Carthaginian Lilybaeum, and visit the museum with its remains of a Carthaginian warship sank in the first Punic war, along with fascinating Punic funerary stelai. After lunch, we cross by boat to the island of Motya, a stronghold of the Phoenicians, sacked in 397 BC by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysius the Elder. While on Motya we visit the Archaeological Museum, taking time to admire its world-renowned statue of the charioteer, a striking sculpture from the early 5th century BC.
We start the day at the quarries of the Cave di Cusa, used by Selinus for their titanic temples. Their heavy work was abandoned in 409 BC when Carthaginians mercilessly sacked their city, a common refrain in the violent history of Sicily. We can still see the remnants of columns on site,
Agrigento Palermo Catania Noto Syracuse Ortygia Marsala Selinunte Morgantinasadly destined to remain both unfinished and in situ. We then travel on to Selinus itself to see the temples of the eastern sanctuary, including the incredible Temple G, one of the largest temples of the Greek world. We finish the day at the Acropolis of Selinus, dramatically positioned on plains overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Here we not only see remains of ancient temples, but of Punic housing inhabited by Carthaginians who took over the site after the sacking.
We spend a whole day exploring the magnificent remains of Agrigento today, the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas. We take in the Valley of the Temples, a World Heritage Site of seven Doric sanctuaries, including the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Concord, with its elegant walls and columns. We also view the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, another gigantic, Sicilian temple, with an unusual layout characterised by enormous telemons.
Our journey takes us through central Sicily, stopping at the magnificent Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina. This late antique villa is noted for its superb collection of mosaics – the largest in the world – which can now be viewed from a newly installed network of raised walkways. Here we find the famous depiction of the “Bikini Girls”, as well as lively images of hunting and ancient games. We proceed to Morgantina, a city founded by the native Sikels under their leader Ducetius. The last of the Sicilian towns to succumb to Roman rule, the city was later captured by slaves in the First Servile War in the Roman period. Morgantina has been the focus of intensive excavations in recent decades, and research here is still ongoing. We find an exciting collection of remains, including a bouleuterion – an ancient Greek political chamber – a theatre, kilns and houses complete with mosaics.
Today is all about Syracuse, which Cicero described as “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful
of them all”. We discover traces of Syracuse’s glorious past in the exceptional Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum, where we will explore a staggering array of vases and statues, along with a unique treasury containing a collection of jewels and coins from the area. Later, we make our way to the Neapolis Archaeological Park, home to the Great Theatre where Aeschylus’ tragedies were once performed in the playwright’s presence. In the afternoon we walk around Ortygia, the oldest part of the ancient city, and the site of the remarkable 5th century BC Temple of Athena, which has been converted into the Cathedral of Our Lady’s Nativity.
Enjoy some free time exploring the wonderful island of Ortygia this morning. Later, we proceed to Noto, a baroque fantasy of a city that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We explore the city with its elaborate balconies and dramatically placed churches. This afternoon we visit the late Roman villa at Tellaro, which contains fine mosaics depicting scenes such as the ransom of Hector’s body, and a hunting scene reminiscent of those seen in Piazza Armerina.
This morning we drive to Catania and the Piazza del Duomo, Catania's principal square and a UNESCO World heritage site. The Duomo itself is one of Catania's grandest sights. The facade dates from the Baroque rebuilding of the town, although some of the earlier church did survive the earthquake of 1693. We will also visit the Roman theatre and Odeon. After lunch we drive to Taormina to visit the superbly situated Roman theatre.
We return to Catania for our independent onward journeys.
“For us the tour was a 'holiday of a lifetime' it enabled us to access sites across Sicily that we could never have reached on our own. In addition, we had the expertise of Tony O'Connor which helped to bring alive the sites we visited with his unlimited knowledge of the history. We enjoyed every moment of the trip.”
Guest, September 2022
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
Join Oliver on our 25th April departure.
Guided by Tony O’Connor
Join Tony on our 15th May departure.
Guided by Dr Gillian Shepherd
Join Gillian on our 24th September departure.
Guided by Dr Jamie Sewell
Join Jamie on our 15th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Palermo, Marsala, Agrigento, Ortygia, Taormina
Culinary inclusions
• 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 9 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date
Share SS
25th Apr - 6th May $6,370 $6,230 $960
15th - 26th May $6,370 $6,230 $960
24th Sep - 5th Oct $6,370 $6,230 $960
15th - 26th Oct $6,370 $6,230 $960
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/ascy
Discover the extraordinary Sassi di Matera
9 DAYS
“My wife and I have been on several Andante tours before so we knew what to expect and got it: a well-programmed, very interesting tour, with comfortable accommodation, excellent meals, smooth travel arrangements, and above all superb 'shepherding' from our tour manager Lois and expert guide Tony O'Connor.”
Guest, September 2022
From $5,350pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April & September Activity Level
Both geographically and culturally, the southernmost ‘heel’ of Italy offers a diversity unmatched elsewhere in the south� This sunny, dry region, dotted with dazzling white villages, was once fought over by the Greeks, Romans, Normans, Swabians and Angevins, all of whom lives and prospered here and left the marks of their passing upon the landscape forever
Tour Highlights
• Discover the charming white-washed trulli of UNESCO-listed Alberobello
• Tour ancient Matera, setting for Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ and 2019’s European Capital of Culture
• Experience the wonderful Baroque city of Lecce and its many historic sites
• Pay a visit to Castel del Monte, the most spectacular castle in all of southern Italy
Meet the group at our hotel in Lecce. Time permitting, we will have an introductory stroll around the city.
We begin our day in Lecce, visiting some of the churches and the amphitheatre of the Roman city of Lupiae. When Lecce became part of the Kingdom of Naples, it took on a new cultural identity, becoming the ‘Apulian Athens’. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, this fostered the development of the ‘Lecce Baroque’ style, characterised by exuberant carving. We proceed to an off-the-beaten-track private visit to the Roca Vecchia Archaeological Park. We then visit the beautiful seaside city of Otranto, which was violently besieged by the Ottomans in 1480. Here, we visit the cathedral and the Byzantine Church of San Pietro
Today we drive to the ancient site of Egnatia, a Messapian city that was also a strategic trading centre in the Roman period. We move on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello before enjoying some free time to explore this city with its unique architecture at our own pace.
We spend all day in Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Carlo Levi, author of Christ Stopped at Eboli, gave a heartbreaking account of the desperate poverty he witnessed during his years of exile in Matera in the 1940s. We begin with an exploration of the extraordinary Sassi di Matera, a network of rock-cut cave dwellings and frescoed Byzantine churches. In the afternoon we have some free time for independent wandering.
Today we drive to Massafra to explore this lesserknown city, which is home to cave dwellings and wonderful Byzantine churches replete with frescoes. From here we continue to Taranto and explore the outstanding National Archaeological Museum, one of the most important in all of Italy.
This morning we head to Metapontum, one of the most opulent cities in Magna Graecia. We visit the Temple of Hera before continuing on to Gioia del Colle to see the wonderful castle rebuilt by Frederick II. As well as visiting the castle itself, we will also explore the National Archaeological Museum housed within it.
We start with a visit to Castel del Monte to see the spectacular 13th century hunting lodge of the Emperor Frederick II. We spend the afternoon in Trani, where we visit the exquisite cathedral that is located on the seafront. Afterwards, there will be free time to explore at our leisure.
We travel to Venosa to visit the 12th century Abbey of the Holy Trinity, which houses an important Norman tomb. Next, we explore the Roman site of Venusia before continuing to Melfi to visit an impressive Norman castle, which is home to the National Archaeological Museum. During our visit here, we find a priceless Bronze Age statuette and the Roman sarcophagus of Rapolla.
After breakfast this morning we make our independent onward journeys.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in The Grand Hotel di Lecce, Hotel San Domenico al Piano di Matera and the Giardino degli Ulivi Resort & Spa or the Hotel San Paolo or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 8 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
12th - 20th Apr $5,490 $5,350 $580 24th Sep - 2nd Oct $5,490 $5,350 $580
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/abap
Images7 DAYS
From $3,350pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing October
For three hundred years the hardy peoples of central Italy were Rome’s bitterest enemies Rome fought three wars against the tenacious mountaineers who had a habit of humiliating Roman generals The Samnite Wars were fundamental for establishing Rome’s control over the Italian peninsula, as well as developing Roman warfare As an indication of this, the Via Appia was created because of the Samnite Wars, in order to facilitate troop movements In later centuries, the homeland of the Samnites was vital for feeding the great cities of the north and south Set amongst spectacular mountains, ancient cities, castles and abbeys, this tour reaches to the heart of Italy and considers early Italians who were so important for establishing and maintaining the might of Rome
Tour Highlights
• Visit the theatre and sanctuary at Pietrabbondante, the Samnite religious and political centre in the mountains of Molise
• Explore the ancient site of Saepinum with an impressive theatre, which was developed to pasture flocks sent to Rome, something still done to this day
• Admire the massive abbey at San Vincenzo al Volturno, established by Charlemagne
• Examine the stunning UNESCO-listed Carolingian Oratory of San Pellegrino with its priceless frescoes
We meet in Rome and travel to the ancient site of Venafro on the River Volturno, famous for its olive groves. Created as a Samnite sanctuary, Venafro was refounded as an Augustan colony at the end of the civil wars to guard the road into the mountains. Here, in the centre of the town, we explore the remains of its amphitheatre, which once held 15,000 spectators but was later reused as stables and storage for agricultural equipment.
The day starts with a visit to the Santa Chiara National Archaeological Museum, which houses finds from Venafrum, as well as other important sites, including the abbey of San Vincenzo. Here alongside imperial statues, we see the so-called Venus of Venafrum. We proceed to the Pandone Castle, originally built in the 10th century on the remains of earlier fortifications and redecorated in the Renaissance. We proceed along the River Volturno, where, at the headwaters of the river, we
This tour can be booked back-to-back with the October departure of our Romans on the Bay of Naples tour (p32). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Activity Level
visit San Vincenzo al Volturno. Here we explore the excavations, partly conducted by your Guide Lecturer, which have revealed the great 9th century Carolingian Abbey and its painted crypt. This was a major centre of culture in the Medieval period - a light in the so-called Dark Ages.
This morning we explore Isernia, which was a strategic Samnite city that dominated the roads across Italy. Renamed Aesernia after its seizure by Rome, the city proved its worth in the war against Hannibal. Our first visit is to the National Museum of the Palaeolithic, which displays the amazing Palaeolithic finds from the area; we continue to the excavations under the Cathedral and the Civic Museum of the Memory and History. We drive onwards to Saepinum where a market town was established to control the movement of flocks from the grasslands of Apulia north to Rome, as is attested in an inscription found on the site.
We drive to Agnone famed for its bronze casting tradition and the location of a Papal bell foundry and has been making bells for generations. The Oscan table, found here in the 19th century, is the most important inscription in the region and gives us priceless information about Oscan, the language spoken by Samnites. We move onto Pietrabbondante where we explore the excavated remains of the ritual sanctuary of the Pentri tribe. Used for major religious events, the huge temple and theatre were the seat of discussions regarding peace and war. It was destroyed by Cornelius Sulla in the Social War. In the afternoon we drive to Schiavi di Abruzzo were we see another mountain sanctuary which boasts two well preserved and reconstructed temples.
Today we venture into the Abruzzi mountains to Iuvanum, a market town established for the ancient
shepherds of the uplands, which includes a sizeable forum designed as an ancient market for the buying and selling of livestock, as well as temples and a small theatre. We proceed across the Sangro River to the Rocca Scalegna, where we visit the Angevin castle, which was built during its conflict with the Aragonese and which is dramatically set, clinging to an overhanging rock. Afterwards, we head to Chieti to visit the National Museum Villa Frigerj whose highlights include the extraordinary Capestrano Warrior, and an inscription found in Penna Sant’Andrea which is written in Paleosabellic, an ancient Italian language.
The days starts in the wide valley of Sulmona were we visit the sanctuary of Hercules Curino, one of the most important ancient shrines of Abruzzo, dedicated to a deity venerated by travellers and sailors. The sanctuary is laid out on a number of terraces, the oldest of which is on the highest level; on the middle level there is a shrine which
preserves a polychromatic mosaic and frescoes. We proceed to the UNESCO-listed Oratory of San Pellegrino in Bominaco, a Benedictine Carolingian chapel that preserves priceless frescoes, as well as the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Assunta After lunch we visit Fossa, where a unique Samnite tumulus cemetery is criss-crossed with rows of standing stones.
On our last day, we pay a quick visit to L’Aquila. Here, we visit the famous fountain of the 99 spouts, gifted to the city by Emperor Frederick II. Then on to Aminternum, a substantial Roman city whose remains include a theatre and amphitheatre. After lunch we proceed to Rome for our independent journeys home.
Oliver has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Albania and Italy.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Venafro, Castelpetroso, Silvi Marina, L’Aqulia
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date
Share SS
14th - 20th Oct $3,490 $3,350 $0
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/asmn
8 DAYS
From $3,695pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May Activity Level
On this tour, we explore the historical wonders of Umbria and Lazio, in what is geographically and historically the heart of Italy Based in one hotel, in the beautiful city of Viterbo, we explore famous sites, as well as those that are lesser-known and considered off the beaten track In this epicentre of Italy, we will explore the different peoples who lived here and how they were transformed first by Etruscans and later by Romans who dominated them culturally We will be exploring Latin and Faliscan sites, such as Sutri and Falerii Novii, which first came under the influence of Etruscans and were later transformed by Rome Likewise, we will be exploring Etruscan sites at Vulci and Volsinii, today’s Orvieto, which metamorphosed in the period of Roman dominance At many of the sites, we will also be exploring the evolution of the cities after the Roman period, when ancient monuments were used to build medieval abbeys and churches By mapping the historical changes which occurred in these precious archaeological sites, we are exploring the heart of what it was to be Roman or Etruscan In asking these questions, our visits will take us to indescribably beautiful hilltop cities, such as Orvieto and Narni, with their medieval cores and Renaissance treasures
• Explore the well-preserved site of Vulci, with its Etruscan tombs, Roman monuments and medieval abbey
• Examine Sutri with its amphitheatre, unique mithraeum and medieval Templar church, built amidst the ruins of the ancient city
• Consider the important Etruscan remains in the beautiful city of Orvieto with its precious medieval cathedral
• Visit the important National Etruscan Archaeological Museum and the Palace of Popes in the amazing city of Viterbo
We meet in the lovely city of Viterbo, once Etruscan and transformed in the medieval period when it became the resident of popes. Time permitting, we will have an orientation walk around the city when we arrive.
Today we spend the day in Viterbo, the city with Etruscan origins which became home of the popes in the 13th century when they were fleeing the hostility of the Roman populace. We start at the National Etruscan Museum, which is housed in the Rocca Albornoz, where we see precious remains of Etruscan housing and a well-preserved cart. We proceed to the medieval Palace of the Popes,
including the atmospheric audience hall, which held the longest conclave in history, and the beautiful loggia of the benedictions. We end the day with a visit to the 12th century Cathedral of Saint Laurence, whose Romanesque character is retained in its cosmatesque floors and austere nave.
We set off this morning to visit the famous Etruscan city of Vulci, once a known leading member of the Etruscan league. We start with the archaeological park, which contains a wonderful Mithraeum, as well as a domus with a stunning cryptoporticus, and a good forum area. We continue to the atmospheric Etruscan tombs, which date from the 7th century onwards and include the famous Francois tomb. In the afternoon, we consider the so-called bridge of the devil, an intact 20-metre-tall Roman bridge, which leads us to the Abbey Castle, built on the site of Vulci, reusing its materials. Once a Cistercian abbey which offered accommodation to pilgrims including Knights Templar, it is today a museum which houses important remains from Vulci, which highlight the prosperity of the ancient city.
This morning we explore the site of Falerii Novi, so named because Rome forced the original inhabitants of this Faliscan city to move to the current site as it was more accessible and controllable. Here we see the gloriously wellpreserved city walls, including the wonderful Jove Gate, which is one of the earliest arches in the regions. Here we see the remains of a theatre, houses and a temple, as well as an 11th century Benedictine abbey church, built on the site, reusing ancient materials. After lunch, we proceed to the superb archaeological site of Sutri, where we can see an amphitheatre cut out of the tuff rock, as well as a cavernous mithraeum which was Christianised in the 4th century AD and restructured in the 13th century into the Church of Santa Maria del Parto. On the site of Sutri, we also visit the 13th century Church of Santa Maria del Tempio, which once belonged to the Knights Templar, and which preserves frescoes from different periods.
Today we visit two picturesque towns to explore underground excavations which offer precious
glimpses into the cities’ past. We start with the pretty Umbrian hill-side town of Narni, first settled by the ancient Umbri. Here we start with a visit to the Church of Saint Francis, built shortly after his death in commemoration of the time he spent in Narni; the Romanesque church is noted for its rich cycle of 14th century frescoes. We proceed to explore a series of buildings only recently discovered under the ground, including a 12th church replete with frescoes, a Roman domus and parts of the Roman aqueduct. After lunch, we travel to the small town of Orte in Lazio to see further subterranean excavations that allow us to understand the water management systems of the ancient city from the 5th century to its Roman conquest.
The tour takes us this morning to Lucus Feroniae, a city which developed around a lucus, or sacred grove, dedicated to the goddess Feronia who was worshipped, above all, by freedmen. Although it was an ancient religious sanctuary important to Faliscans and Sabines, as well, perhaps, to Etruscans, the site that we visit today was developed in the Roman period, bearing all the hallmarks of a Roman city. Here we visit a forum area, an amphitheatre and an insulae of houses. After visiting the antiquarium, which has interesting remains of a funerary monument depicting gladiators, we walk a very short distance to the Villa of the Volusii, an incredibly opulent late republican elite dwelling constructed for an elite Roman family as a getaway from the city. Several rooms of the villa have been excavated, some of which have intact mosaics. After lunch, we make our way to the archaeological site of Ferento, which flourished in the early imperial period and was the home of both the Emperor Otho and the wife of Vespasian, Domitilla Flavia Maior. Here we will see the remains of a fine theatre, as well as a bath complex and forum area.
On our last full day, we will explore the world-renowned city of Orvieto, ancient Volsinii, whose Etruscan roots are evident in its wonderful musea, as well as its important sites. We start with a visit to one of the few surviving Etruscan temples
and continue to the Museo Claudio Faina, which houses important artefacts from the Necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo, as well as characteristic Etruscan sarcophagi and important Greek red and black figure vessels, which were so prized by Etruscans. After an independent lunch, we have the choice of either visiting the extraordinary cathedral of Orvieto, made famous by the Signorelli frescoes in the San Brizio chapel, or visiting the adjacent National Archaeological Museum. We end the day with a visit to the spectacular Necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo, which hosts Etruscan tombs that mainly date from the 6th-5th centuries BC and are arranged in orthogonal streets. Inscriptions above the lintels of some of the burials give the names of the deceased, a detail which brings these ancient Etruscans closer to us.
Today we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided
An Honorary Research Fellow for the Open University, Eireann is bilingual and has led many tours for Andante.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Viterbo
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
20th - 27th May $3,835 $3,695 $470
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/auml
8 DAYS
From $4,380pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May Activity Level
Dubbed the regina viarum, the Via Appia was Rome’s first major road artery and remains its most famous� The journey along this route from Benevento to Rome offers a rare glimpse into the ways in which Rome first subdued and then united Italy through roads, while taking us to a selection of spectacular sites en route such as the amphitheatre of Capua and spectacular Sant’Angelo in Formis�
Tour Highlights
• Visit the superbly preserved underground sanctuary Mithras of Capua with its intact frescoes and shrine
• Explore Minturnae, a little-known archaeological site that contains a section of the Via Appia
• Walk down the Via Appia in Rome, seeing ancient remains such as the Porta San Sebastiano
Meet the group at our hotel in Benevento and have an evening stroll if there’s time.
Today we begin with the remains of a 60m long Roman cryptoporticus, a covered walkway that may have been an emporium, and we continue to the Ponte Leproso, a Roman bridge that linked the Via Appia to Benevento, as well as to the impressive remains of the Roman theatre, originally built under Hadrian and with seating for 10,000 spectators. We end the morning with a visit to the spectacular Arch of Trajan, built in 114 in order to mark the entrance to the city from the Via Traiana, an extension of the Via Appia. After lunch, we visit the Museo del Sannio, which houses important artefacts from the Samnite cities of Telesia and Caudium, as well as remains from the city’s Temple of Isis built under Domitian. Nearby we find the UNESCO-listed exquisite 8th century church of Santa Sofia, which was the most important church for the Lombards after their defeat at the hands of the Franks. This fascinating day ends with a visit to the cathedral, which was built using Roman spolia and notable for its fine 12th century bronze doors.
We leave Benevento and journey up the Via Appia to Capua, where we visit a host of diverse and important sites. The first of these is the amphitheatre of Capua, which dates to the 1st century AD and was preceded by an earlier structure which was utilised by the famous gladiatorial school that produced Spartacus. We proceed to the amazing nearby Mithraeum, one of the most complete shrines of this Persian god in Italy, which includes a stunning ancient fresco and intricate stucco work. After lunch we visit the 11th century church of Sant’Angelo in Formis, built on top of an ancient temple of Diana and which contains a precious cycle of frescoes painted by Byzantine masters and their Italian pupils. Our last visit in Capua is to the Museo Provinciale Campano, which has a uniquely important collection of statues depicting the Mater Matuta, the goddess of the dawn and beginnings. We then drive to our hotel in Gaeta, seeing the Ponte Romano, which carried the Appian Way en route.
We proceed along the Appian Way to Minturnae, originally a city belonging to the ancient Italian people known as the Ausones, whose Roman remains include a theatre and aqueduct as well as a Capitolium. Here we also see one of the best preserved sections of the Appian Way. We continue to Formiae, famed for being the locus where Cicero was killed in 43 BC. Here we visit the Archaeological Museum, which contains a good collection of imperial statuary as well as artefacts and frescoes from some of the sumptuous Roman villas that dotted the coast. The day ends with a visit to one of the largest Roman cisterns in Italy, the so-called Cisternone, whose capacity was 7000 cubic metres and which was only discovered in the year 2000.
The odyssey proceeds with a morning’s visit to splendid Terracina, a city that seamlessly blends its ancient remains within its medieval layout. We start with a visit to the Temple of Jupiter Anxur, the city’s tutelary deity whose sanctuary was placed on a nearby hill. Venturing to the city, we explore the ruins of the forum, which remains the city’s main piazza and whose ancient slabs are still visible, with an entrance is marked by a quadrifrons arch under which are remains of the Via Appia. We proceed to the remains of a Capitolium and to the cathedral,
where we note the remains of the ancient Temple of Roma and Augustus. We end the morning with a visit to the remains of the Roman theatre. After lunch, we visit Ariccia to see parts of the Via Appia as well as the Catacombs of San Senatore, an erstwhile tufo quarry transformed into catacombs in the 3rd century, which preserve a number of frescoes. We end the day in Rome.
The road has led us to Rome and in the caput mundi we explore some of the most impressive sections of any ancient road anywhere in the Roman Empire. The day starts with the Porta San Sebastiano, the largest and one of the best preserved gates of the Aurelian Walls, where the Via Appia entered Rome. We visit the Museum of the Walls, which explores the Aurelian Walls built in the 3rd century AD to protect the city in the less certain times of the late antique period and which gives access to a stretch of the Aurelian Walls that we can walk along. We continue to the
church of Dominus Quo Vadis and proceed to another part of the Via Appia, which includes the late 3rd century AD Circus of Maxentius, the most complete Circus in Rome, the late republican Tomb of Caecilia Metella and the Capo di Bove complex, the thermal baths of the once sumptuous villa once owned by Herodes Atticus.
The Appian Way was a conduit to Rome and today we visit Trajan’s Market, the commercial centre built by Apollodorus of Damascus as part of Trajan’s Forum. We explore the museum of the Forum and the remains of once splendid shops, taverns and offices. We continue to the Imperial Fora to consider the end point for goods along the Via Appia. Free time in Rome follows after.
Time permitting, we will have one final walk around Rome before making our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Jamie Sewell
Jamie has 15 years’ experience supervising excavations in Britain, Germany, Romania and Italy, including Pompeii.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel President, Hotel Mirasol & Hotel Universo or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
16th - 23rd May $4,520 $4,380 $855
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/avap
10 DAYS
From $5,385pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May
The Via Flaminia, traversing the Apennines, remains the best way to navigate through central Italy Built in the 3rd century BC in order to facilitate the transport of grain to Rome, the Via Flaminia crosses through some of the most breathtaking parts of the country, from Rome to the heart of Umbria and into Rimini Visits on this tour include Spello’s Villa of the Mosaics, Tiberius’ Bridge and the Aula Isiaca
Tour Highlights
• Enjoy a private visit to the extraordinary Hypogeum of the Volumni, a tomb on the outskirts of Perugia
• Tour Assisi with its spectacular Basilica of San Francis and enjoy private visits to both the amazing Domus del Larario and the Domus di Properzio
• Examine the rare Iguvine, rare bronze inscriptions that give evidence about ancient Umbrian religious rites
We meet in Rimini where, time permitting, we have an evening stroll.
This morning we explore ancient Ariminum. We start with the remains of the amphitheatre and continue to Augustus’ Triumphal Arch, the oldest surviving Roman arch which marks the end of the Via Flaminia. Walking through the ancient forum, we make our way to the Domus of the Surgeon, a wellpreserved house that provides precious evidence of the city’s prosperity. We end our morning with Tiberius’ Bridge, which brought the Via Flaminia to the city and is still in. After lunch, we make our way to Pesaro and explore the Archaeological Area of the Via dell’Abbondanza, which includes the remains of an elite house from the 1st century AD replete with mosaics, and the cathedral with its mosaics dating from the 4th and 6th centuries that are rich in symbolism.
Our journey down the Via Flaminia continues towards Umbria. We stop briefly to admire Roman bridges at Fossombone and Cagli, which bore the Via Flaminia and highlight the incredible engineering
skills of the Romans. The road takes us to Gubbio, ancient Iguvium, where we explore the Palazzo Priori – home to the unique Iguvine Tablets, written from the 3rd to the 1st centuries in both Umbrian – a language written in Etruscan script –and Latin, which give truly priceless evidence of ancient Italian rituals. We continue to the sizeable remains of the Roman theatre built in the 1st century BC and which seated 6,000. We end the day in the wonderful city of Perugia.
The ancient city of Perugia, Etruscan in origin, is a fine blend of ancient and renaissance remains. We visit some of its most spectacular remains, starting with a private visit to the Hypogeum of the Volumni, an Etruscan tomb that includes four chambers and a number of very well-preserved urns. We proceed to the superb archaeological museum, which houses priceless Etruscan remains, such as the tomb of cai cutu and the Cipuus Perusinus, one of the longest inscriptions in Etruscan. The morning ends with a walk through the Rocca Paolina, the medieval part of the city buried by Paul III out of vengeance to the Etruscan Arch at its entrance. A free afternoon awaits and we can explore this Renaissance city at leisure.
“As usual on Andante tours, we visited fantastic sites every day, several of which would not have been accessible otherwise. The Hypogeum of the Volumni at Perugia and Domus di Properzio at Assisi were particularly spectacular.”
Dr Bromley, May 2022
Looking
This
Level
Bologna
Rimini
Pesaro
Fossombrone
Gubbio
Perugia
Carsulae
Assisi
Spello
Spoleto
Otricoli
Rome
This morning we travel to Assisi, ancient Assisium and the birthplace of the Roman poet Propertius along with the even more famous Saint Francis. We start with an exploration of the Roman heart of the city, including private visits to the Domus del Larario, a superbly preserved 1st century AD house replete with mosaics and frescoes that was found in 2001, and the Domus di Properzio, a house built at the same time that has fabulous opus sectile floors and frescoes. We continue to the ancient forum and the Temple of Minerva before venturing to the UNESCO-listed Basilica of San Francesco with its priceless Giotto and Cimabue frescoes. There will be free time to explore the city in the afternoon.
We journey to Spello to see the Villa of the Mosaics, a house complete with mosaics found only recently and opened after meticulous restoration. Our exploration of ancient Hispellum continues with a visit to the Roman arch before proceeding to the UNESCO-listed Temple of Clitumnus, built in the 7-8th centuries AD and containing fine frescoes. Continuing on the Via Flaminia, we make our way to Spoleto and see remains of the Triumphal Arch, built in honour of Drusus and Germanicus, as well as the Roman theatre, built in the 1st century BC, and the Domus of Vespasia Polla, a house with lovely mosaics once owned by the Emperor Vespasian’s mother. We end our day at the Romanesque Cathedral of Spoleto, known for its Fra Filippo Lippi apsidal fresco.
We travel to the site of Carsulae, which became wealthy because of the Via Flaminia and also drew in ancient tourists wanting respite from the hustle and bustle of Rome. The ancient town was despoiled in the intervening years, though it has a fine section of the Via Flaminia framed by the Arch
of St. Damian. After lunch we venture to the site of Ocriculum, modern Otricoli, which has a number of remains including a bath complex, theatre and basilica as well as an amphitheatre. Next, we journey to Rome, stopping to consider the famous Milvian Bridge, which was the site of the famous battle between Constantine and Maxentius.
We venture to the Roman Forum, where all Roman roads started and where the master itinerarium was stored. Here we see newly opened sites such as the Aula Isiaca, a 1st century subterranean room found underneath the so-called basilica of the Domus Flavia, and Domitian’s Ramp, the monumentalised entrance to Domitian’s Palace on the Palatine. In the forum, we also see the Umbilicus Urbis Romae which marked the centre of Rome and the starting point of all roads leaving from Rome. We end the day at the Palatine where we see remains of Nero’s Domus Transitoria, opened to the public only since 2019, as well as the Domus Flavia and Augustana, built by Domitian. After lunch, we explore the Arch of Constantine and the Imperial Fora
On our last full day, we venture to the Campus Martius to explore the route of the Via Flaminia. We start with a visit to the Pantheon, the Hadrianic masterpiece that is covered by what remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Nearby we venture to Domitian’s stadium, today’s Piazza Navona complete with Bernini’s wonderful Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, and we continue until we reach the Porta del Popolo, a gate of the Aurelian Walls where the Via Flaminia entered Rome. We walk down the Via Flaminia to the Ara Pacis, the superb altar built to celebrate the peace instituted by Augustus, and to the Mausoleum of Augustus, which has been undergoing restorations in recent years. We have free time in the afternoon.
We start the day with a visit to Ostia Antica, the wonderfully preserved port of Rome where highlights include the Piazzale delle Corporazioni, the Caserma dei Vigili as well as several Mithraea and wonderfully preserved latrines in the Forum baths. After lunch, we make our independent onward journeys..
Guided by Prof. Tony King Tony is a Lecturer in archaeology at the University of Winchester. He has excavated both in Britain and abroad. He is a specialist in Roman archaeology and an expert in bone analysis.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Villa Adriatica, Hotel La Rosetta & Hotel Universo or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
24th May - 2nd Jun $5,525 $5,385 $805
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/avfl
8 DAYS
From $4,380pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May
The countryside south of Rome, stretching from the rugged high Apennines to the Mediterranean coast, is idyllically beautiful and provides a bucolic contrast to the city of Rome The picturesque Sabine Hills made the ideal retreat for the great and good of Imperial Rome who came to escape the oppressive summer heat of the Eternal City Two emperors had villas in this area – Hadrian and Tiberius Hadrian built a villa complex here in the beautiful setting of Tivoli and his opulent and extravagant creation is one of the ‘blockbuster’ sites on this tour Tiberius favoured Sperlonga, and the remains of his summer retreat with its huge garden grotto sit close to the sea This area is fundamental to our understanding of Roman culture and includes surviving stretches of the Via Appia, oracular and healing sanctuaries, palatial villas and towns
Tour Highlights
• Enjoy the indescribably beautiful gardens of Ninfa in full bloom in late May
• Discover a hidden gem in the spectacularly situated site of Alba Fucens
• Explore the sprawling and extravagant villas at Tivoli and Sperlonga
This tour can be booked back-to-back with the May departure of our Sicilian Civilisation tour (p34) or The Villas of Lazio tour (p26). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Activity Level
We arrive in Rome and transfer to our hotel near Gaeta.
We begin in Terracina, an important Roman town on the Via Appia main roadway to the rich southern lands of Campania. This still runs through the centre of the modern town, and the forum survives under the Piazza del Municipio. The ancient remains of the hilltop sanctuary of Jupiter Anxur overlooks the walls and town, and there are wonderful coastal views from here. We continue to the remains of the amazing seashore villa built for Emperor Tiberius in the beautiful seaside town of Sperlonga. Its most remarkable feature is an outdoor dining room located at the mouth of a cave filled with gigantic sculptures of mythological scenes.
We visit the famous gardens at Ninfa, which overlie a former medieval town. The ruins were landscaped into botanical gardens in the 1920s. They are now recognised as some of Europe’s finest gardens
and this magical place is a joy to explore with ruins romantically draped with rambling roses and wisteria. In the afternoon we follow the road which climbs from the Pontine plain to the Latin town and Roman colony at Norba which sits perched on the edge of a cliff in the Lepini Mountains. The views over the Pontine Marshes are magnificent.
This morning we visit the remains of the Roman town of Casinum. The site is situated on the slope of a substantial hill, at the top of which now sits the famous monastery of Monte Cassino, in ancient times an acropolis with a temple to Apollo. The Roman town seems to have been in decline when St. Benedict of Nursia chose the acropolis for his new monastery, which we will visit later this morning. This beautiful abbey is an outstanding example of restoration work following its almost total destruction by bombardment in 1944.
We visit Hadrian’s Villa, which sprawls across the rolling countryside at the foot of the hills below the town of Tivoli. Beginning around AD 117, Hadrian took a small family villa owned by his wife and added on a whole series of grand pavilions, many of them modelled after places he had seen on his travels around the empire. The complex ended up larger than most Roman cities. We visit the town this afternoon and pay a visit to the great 16th century Villa D’Este. It was built by Cardinal Ippolito D’Este, the son of Lucrezia Borgia and a major figure in the church politics of the era. Here we will have some free time to explore at our own pace.
We drive into the Alban Hills to Tusculum, a significant Roman city destroyed in the 12th century after conflict between the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. The stones of the walls were seized as spoils of war by Rome. After its destruction, the land became woodland and pasture lands. Tusculum was Cicero’s local town, and his suburban villa could be found nearby. We continue to Palestrina, ancient Praeneste, once dominated by a magnificent Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, the first example of ‘dynastic’ architecture in Roman
Italy. It is most famous for a huge mosaic depicting scenes of life beside and on the Nile in the 17th century, removed from the site and now housed in the nearby Palestrina Museum.
We ascend the mountains to Alba Fucens where we will spend the day. Its importance for the Romans lay in the fact that it lies on Via Valeria (which links Rome with the Adriatic) thus controlling a strategic part of the route. The large site stretches over a hill with three spurs. This spectacularly situated city is often mentioned as a highlight by guests on this tour.
We finish our tour with a visit to Ostia Antica, the harbour city at the mouth of the Tiber - a classic site to rival even Pompeii. Huge structures such as multi-storey accommodation blocks and the headquarters of various trade consortia have been preserved by the encroaching river silt.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Gaeta, Frascati
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
27th May - 3rd Jun $4,520 $4,380 $475
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/alat
$5,020pp SAVE UP TO $140
The last capital of the western Roman Empire, Ravenna was reconquered by Justinian and became the seat of an Exarchate, which also included Venice, whose connection to the east made it powerful The result was an unparalleled collection of Byzantine art, with its unique domed architecture and shimmering mosaics
• Enjoy two exclusive private evening visits to the Byzantine Basilicas of San Vitale and San Marco
• An exclusive private visit to the Biblioteca Marciana, famed for its collection of Byzantine manuscripts
• Explore the unique Basilicas of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello and Santa Maria e Donato in Murano
This tour’s March departure can be booked back-to-back with our Florence tour (p29). This tour’s October departure can be booked back-to-back with the October departure of our Romans on the Bay of Naples tour (p32). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
We meet as a group in Ravenna, where we will have an orientation walk, time permitting.
Today we start our exploration of Ravenna with a series of incredible monuments, including the Arian Baptistery, constructed by the Ostrogoth Theodoric and the Neonian Baptistery, the 5th century baptistery converted from a Roman bath. We continue to the Ravenna Cathedral, and to the Archbishop’s Palace with its museum and private chapel of Saint Andrew. In the afternoon we visit the 4th century Church of San Giovanni Evangelista first founded by Galla Placidia in the 4th century and now containing mosaics depicting the 4th crusade which was so disastrous for Constantinople and the Byzantine empire.
We start the day with a visit to the TAMO Museum and proceed to the adjacent Basilica di Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Theodoric’s palatine chapel which was altered in the Byzantine period. A short walk away, we continue to the Basilica di
San Francesco, the parish church of Dante who is buried there. In the afternoon we explore the late antique house, the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra, replete with mosaics. We end the day at the National Museum, with its important collection of archaeological material from Ravenna and its environs. This evening we plan to have our exclusive private visit to the Basilica di San Vitale, with its uniquely important Byzantine mosaics, as well as the late antique Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
We drive a little outside the city to visit the extraordinary Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Ostrogothic King who ruled from Ravenna after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the manner of a Roman emperor. After the Byzantine conquest of the city, Theodoric’s bones were removed from his tomb, leaving his wonderful porphyritic sarcophagus. This will be followed by an exploration of the archaeological site of Classe, Ravenna’s ancient port, which was hugely important for being the base of Rome’s fleet. In the afternoon, we continue to the Basilica di Sant’ Apollinare in Classe with its stunning apse depicting the Transfiguration.
Today we travel by coach to the lagoon city, Venice, which was immersed in Byzantine culture long after the Exarchate of Ravenna collapsed because of the special trading rights it was given by Constantinople, making it the gateway of the east. Venice also gave refuge to emigres escaping Constantinople after its fall in 1453. In the afternoon, we explore hidden gems in the extraordinary Piazza San Marco, dubbed the drawing room of Europe by Napoleon and dominated by the very Eastern looking Basilica di San Marco, a masterpiece of Byzantine
architecture which underscores the city’s close ties to Constantinople. We will end our day at the Icon Museum
Today we explore the beginnings of Venice in the Northern Lagoon, starting with island of Torcello, where the earliest settlers from the terra firma found their homes after escaping Hunnic raids in the 5th century. Here we see the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta with its stunning Byzantine mosaics, notably the Last Judgement on the counter-façade. After lunch, we pay a short visit to Burano, the island famed for its lace and colourful houses, from whence some might also choose to venture to the adjacent island of Mazzorbo. We end the day with a visit to Murano, famed for its glass making and also for its Byzantine Basilica di Santa Maria e Donato
Today we visit the Greek Orthodox Chiesa di San Giorgio dei Greci erected by emigres from Constantinople. We continue to with an exclusive, private visit to the Biblioteca Marciana, established in the 15th century in order to house the Classical manuscripts collected by Cardinal Bessarion after the fall of Constantinople. After lunch, we have a guided tour of the Secret Itineraries of the Palace followed by a private tour of the Doge Palace. In the evening we have an exclusive private visit to the stupendous Basilica of San Marco whose mosaics and architecture were inspired by Byzantium.
This morning we make our way to Venice airport by water taxi, bidding farewell to the lagoon and its Byzantine heritage.
Guided by Tony O’Connor Join Tony on our 20th March departure.
Guided by Oliver Gilkes Join Oliver on our 29th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Ravenna & Venice
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 4 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner Dates
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/arvv
“Very enjoyable, with excellent guidance from Oliver and similarly from local guides. Very efficient organisation by Sirah. Well chosen, central, hotels, and restaurants providing very good food. The members of the group, most of whom had travelled with Andante in the past, gelled well.”
Mr Cornish, November 2022
9 DAYS
From $5,255pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April
Sardinia offers one of the richest and most fascinating standing archaeological repertoires in Europe Known to the Greeks as Sandaliotis (“Sandal”, due to its shape), or Ichnoussa (“Stepping stone”), the island has seen Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs and Catalonians come and go Before them, the mysterious Nuraghi people left an astonishing plethora of wonderful archaeology�
Tour Highlights
• Visit the highest Bronze Age structure in the Mediterranean at the Nuragic site of Su Nuraxi at Barumini
• Travel in 4x4s to visit off the beaten track sites such as the megalithic chamber tomb at S’Ena e Thomes and the Nuragic complex of Sa Sedda ‘e Sos Carros
• Examine the island’s Phoenician past at Tharros and Sulcis, including mysterious tophets, children’s cemeteries
Meet the group in the wonderful Catalan city of Alghero, colonised in antiquity by Phoenicians who grew wealthy from trade with Etruscans. In the modern period, Alghero was ruled by the Genoese before being taken over by the Aragonese. After settling down in the hotel, if there is time, we will have an orientation walk around the city before dinner.
This morning we make our way to one of the oldest and most interesting sites in our tour, the pyramid complex at Monte d’Accoddi, which was built over two millennia by people who predated the Nuragic culture. Discovered in the 1950s, the first structure, built in the 5th millennium by the Ozieri culture, appears to either have been an altar or the platform for a pyramid, while the second, built in the Copper Age in the 3rd millennium, resembles a Mesopotamian ziggurat. After lunch, we explore Palmavera, the first of our Nuragic sites built by a culture which thrived in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Here at Palmavera, we see several intertwined nuraghi, truncated towers with vaulted interiors.
“Thiswas a fantastic tour, with wonderful archaeological sites and a great group of people” Guest, April 2023
We leave Alghero this morning and head east towards Oliena, stopping during the morning at Santu Antine, a complex of nuraghi built from the 19th to 15th centuries BC. Constructed from sizeable blocks of basalt, the central tower is three storeys high and uses sophisticated, dry mortar corbelling. We proceed off the beaten track to Romanzesu-Poddi Arvu, another Bronze Age Nuragic site which is notable for its hundredodd huts and public structures and includes a mysterious labyrinthine edifice and temples. For our last site of the day, we explore the little- known National Archaeological Museum Giorgio Asprone in Nuoro, where we look at artefacts dating from the Paleolithic to Roman periods, including artefacts from the village of Sa Sedda ‘e Sos Carros, which we visit tomorrow.
Today we venture off the beaten track in 4x4s to visit breathtaking sites which shed insights into the extraordinary Sardinian Bronze Age. We start with the monumental Giants’ graves of S’Ena e Thomes, a funerary site comprising a dolmen and a funeral hall made of enormous slabs of such scale that it was believed to be superhuman by later Sardinians. Proceeding to Su Tempiesu, we examine a late Bronze Age/Iron Age shrine to a sacred spring constructed with impeccable ashlar masonry and whose structure has an extraordinary double sloped roof. For our final site, we venture to Middle Bronze settlement of Sa Sedda ‘e Sos Carros where we see well preserved stone huts and workshops, as well as a circular sanctuary. After an adventurous day, we return to our picturesque hotel.
This morning we travel west to the 4th millennium necropolis at Sas Concas where we see a cluster of twenty Domus de janas, or “fairies’ houses”tombs carved out of the rock to resemble their houses, affording us glimpses into everyday life in pre-Nuragic Sardinia. We proceed to the Bronze Age Nuragic complex of Tamuli, an important archaeological site which comprises a nuraghe, as well as a group of huts and a necropolis which has six mysterious betyls, sacred stones which were
seen to be imbue with life. We end the day at another tantalizing religious site, the sacred well at Santa Cristina, which is very well preserved with staggeringly precise ashlar masonry walls leading to a subterranean chamber with a corbelled roof which contained water, seemingly used for religious rites.
Traversing the enchanting Sardinian landscape, we make our way south to Tharros, first inhabited in the late Bronze Age and later colonised by Phoenicians in the 8th century when they had an important presence in Sardinia and Corsica, jostling for trade with Etruscans and later Phocaean Greeks. At Tharros, we explore the Tophet and consider whether Phoenicians these necropoleis only included children’s burials because children were seen differently, or whether children were sacrificed. This discussion will continue with our visit to the Civic Archaeological Museum “Giovanni Marongiu” of Cabras, where we see artefacts from Tharros. We end the day with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum at Cagliari to further explore the Phoenicians and their skilful goldsmithing; here we also see the Nora Stone, an 8th century inscription which may be referring to a Phoenician victory against Sardinians.
Waking up in delightful Nora, we spend the morning exploring the archaeological site of Nora where we see well preserved remains of buildings we would typically see in a town from the Roman period, including a bath complex, a theatre and macellum. The site also preserves the remains of a Phoenician site, including a Tophet, demonstrating the city’s Semitic roots. In the afternoon, we have free time in Nora to unwind on the beach or relax in the hotel.
Our final full day is dedicated to Phoenician sites near Nora, starting with the ancient necropolis at Monte Sirai, first inhabited in the 8th century and enlarged in the 6th century, where we see another Tophet. In the afternoon, we visit the Phoenician/ Roman site of Sulky or Sulcis on the beautiful island
of Sant’Antioco, founded in the 8th century, where we explore the remains of housing and a republican Roman temple with an attractive opus signinum floor, as well as a series of rock-cut tombs, some of which are painted. We close the day with a visit to the Ferruccio Barreca Archaeological Museum which sheds light on this important site, including its delicate jewellery and pottery. On our last night, we will have a celebratory dinner at our lovely hotel.
Time permitting, we may have a final walk along the beach before we return home, setting off from Nora to Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari, from where we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Farès K Moussa
Farès has researched and published on Phoenician, Carthaginian and ancient Amazigh cultures in North Africa.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Alghero, Su Gologone, Oristano and Baia di Nora
Culinary inclusions
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 8 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
16th - 24th Apr $5,395 $5,255 $835
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/asdn
Romans to the Renaissance
From $3,735pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April & September Activity Level
From Roman Province to Doge Republic, the Veneto has a long and illustrious history We take a closer look at the intriguing area around Lake Garda and explore a truly unique mix of archaeology, art and architecture From a prehistoric cave site adjacent to a 15th century ‘Roman’ villa, to a medieval monastery perched on the steps of an ancient Roman theatre, there is a great deal to unpick here Visiting in the quieter months of spring and early autumn, we enjoy the undulating landscapes of vineyards and olive groves which surround the southern shores of Lake Garda and explore the pretty piazzas, medieval market places and tangled streets of Verona, Vicenza, Mantua and Padua We’re sure this tour will hold your imagination and, to cap it all, we will be in the region of the Valpolicella wine villas – noted for their products and histories
Tour Highlights
• Discover the extraordinary cave site of Fumane, one of the major prehistoric archaeological sites in Europe
• Enjoy the picture-perfect setting and cobalt blue waters of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake
• Explore the beautiful cities of Verona and Vicenza, Padua and Mantua and their plethora of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Meet the group at our hotel in Sirmione, a picturesque medieval town perched on the tip of a narrow peninsula at the edge of Lake Garda.
In the morning, we travel to the Desenzano Roman Villa, a once large and sumptuous property which enjoys stunning views of the lake. Here we discover a rich group of coloured figurative mosaic floors depicting various scenes of cupids, maenads and satyrs; wild beasts and images of the four seasons. We return to Sirmione by ferry and, after lunch, we take the small train up the hill to the Villa Catullus, the largest and most complete Roman villa in northern Italy. The villa was constructed with long porticoes and terraces to maximise the views over the lake and at its centre was an extensive garden.
Today is devoted to Verona, a city immortalised by Shakespeare and blessed with an abundance of Roman and medieval remains reflecting the evolution
of this fortified town over its 2,000-year history. We shall explore the core of the Roman town, its city gate, Porta Borsari, the Arco dei Gavi, the Roman theatre, and the magnificent amphitheatre, the third-largest in the Roman world, and we will admire many of its medieval structures. We will also pay a visit to the Archaeological Museum housed in an deconsecrated monastery which was literally built on top of the Roman theatre.
We spend our day today in Mantua, a gem of Italian art and architecture often overlooked by unenlightened visitors to the region. Once home to many literary figures of the late 1st century BCE Augustan age, it is also full of Renaissance wonders and contains the Palazzo Ducale, the largest residence in Italy after the Vatican. For 400 years this was the home of the Gonzaga family, the dukes of Mantua who ruled until 1707. We will explore this labyrinth which includes a castle, basilica, courtyards, sumptuous galleries and gardens.
Vicenza Verona Sirmione Fumane Padua MantuaWe take a step further back into the past this morning when we visit the cave site of Fumane The cave contains traces of Neanderthal man and evidence of habitation by modern Homo sapiens, including sharpened flints, bones and decorations made from sea shells. The finds provide a crucial link in the history of human life on Earth as well as a first glimpse of the creative instinct that inspired Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo in a later age. Afterwards we visit nearby Villa della Torre, a beautiful villa by architect Giulio Romano, where we enjoy a wine-tasting and lunch before returning to Sirmione for some free time.
We spend our day in Vicenza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and almost archetypical ideal of the Renaissance and Baroque era. Vicenza was a Roman settlement, which came under the sway of the Scaligeri family from Verona and was passed between Napoleon’s empire, Austria and Venice several times in its history. This jewel of a place is full of galleries, palaces and churches, and is noted for the works of the great architect Andrea Palladio. We will visit his amazing villa at La Rotunda
Our final visit of the tour is to Padua, which according to tradition going back at least to Virgil’s Aeneid, was founded in 1183 BCE by the Trojan prince, Antenor. This university town was home to some of the greatest philosophers, scientists, and artists in Western culture: Dante, Galileo, Giotto, Donatello and Copernicus, and the city is one of Europe’s great cultural and artistic destinations. Our visits will include the Scrovegni chapel, with its priceless frescoes by Giotto, the Civic museum, located in the cloister of the former Eremitani monastery, the Palazza del Bo and the Basilica of St. Anthony and baptistry.
We make our independent journeys home.
Guided by Tony O’Connor
Join Tony on our 1st April departure.
Guided by Dr Eireann Marshall
Join Eireann on our 16th September departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Sirmione
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner Dates &
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/alga
Images top to bottom: Bridge Ponte Pietra & Prato della ValleHome to sun-bleached ruins and renowned for being the setting for legendary myths known the world over, Greece is perhaps the ultimate destination for the archaeological traveller�
While it may be a familiar destination to many, we offer unique and innovative itineraries that are often imitated but never matched Choose one of the tours among the following pages and you will learn that this country is, to some extent, a product of its environment and geology� Throughout its vast and rich history, its vertiginous mountain ranges and mysterious landscapes were imbued with the divine, from the Vale of Tempe, associated with Apollo and the Muses, to Dodona and Delphi, dedicated to Zeus and Apollo respectively, just as Meteora became home to hermit monks who made their home in these isolated mountains to feel closer to God
This country is also home to several famously beautiful island groups, including the Dodecanese and the Cyclades, whose importance lies far beyond their stunning sun-kissed seascapes Located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia Minor, as well as Africa and the Near East, it was through the Aegean islands that prosperity and cultural development was brought to Greece, starting with the Bronze Age Cycladic culture, as well as the staggering Minoan culture in Crete, which can justly be called the first significant culture in Europe�
The Hellenic rebirth in the Archaic period, instigated through its contact with Egypt and the Phoenicians, gave rise to a Greece which can justly be called the cradle of Europe, because so much of what defined Rome, and from thence Europe, was first developed here Surveying the magnificent Classical sites found in Athens, Olympia and Corinth becomes a kind of pilgrimage in which the pages of Herodotus and Thucydides come to life, and we arrive at an understanding of where we have come from
Guest, February 2023
From $2,055pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing February
An informed, in-depth visit to this ancient capital awaits In winter, the city belongs to the locals The queues for the Parthenon melt away, there is space to gaze at museums’ treasures and the paths through the Agora grow greenery again Wrap up warm and explore the city where democracy, architecture, classical art and literature both germinated and flourished
• Ascend the Acropolis to the Parthenon, the universal symbol of the classical world and the quintessential classical ruin
• Explore two fabulous world-class museums, housing between them some of the greatest collections of antiquities in the world
• Soak up the atmosphere of ancient Athens, exploring the quieter corners and monuments which have survived here for 2,500 years
We meet at our hotel in Athens.
Our first full day will be dedicated to the Acropolis and its museum. We will walk through ancient Athens and then climb to the incomparable Acropolis, which still dominates the city with a complex of religious sanctuaries, most famous of which is the Parthenon – ‘Chamber of the Maiden’ built in the 5th century to house a colossal statue of Athena, patron goddess of the city. The views from here are stunning. After lunch in the Plaka, we visit the fabulous Acropolis Museum, which is consistently rated as one of the best museums in the world.
We continue our exploration of Athens, visiting its ancient economic centre, the Agora, where a wide range of goods were shipped in from the nearby port of Piraeus and members of the elected democracy assembled to discuss affairs of state. Next, we visit Kerameikos, named in ancient times after the hero Keramos, son of Dionysus and Ariadne, where an extensive cemetery was
excavated during the 19th and early 20th centuries. After lunch we visit the National Museum of Athens. Now somewhat overlooked by visitors flocking to the Acropolis Museum, it is worth remembering that this older museum is still home to one of the greatest collections of antiquities in the world.
In the morning, we travel to Piraeus which once consisted of three separate harbours - Kantharos, Zea, and Munichia. All three harbours are still used today but since the sea level has risen two metres since antiquity many of the ancient installations of Piraeus are now underwater. Excavations still continue, however, and notable finds have included several bronze statues, perhaps the most famous being of Apollo now in the Piraeus Archaeological Museum. Later today we make our independent onward journeys.
Activity Level
Guided by Dr Rita Roussos
A native Athenian, Rita taught archaeology and art history at the American University of Athens.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites & museums
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation at the Herodian Hotel or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 3 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
15th - 18th Feb $2,195 $2,055 $215
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/asat
“Very well-designed programme, with excellent Guide Lecturer and a very competent and friendly tour manager. The location and standard of the hotel was very good. I came away from the tour with a hugely better understanding and appreciation of Greek culture - ancient and modern!”
An archaeological treasure house Activity Level
From $3,625pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May & September
Enjoy a relaxed exploration of the lives and landscapes of Greeks, gods and heroes, in the place where myth and archaeology meet� Join us and discover the Argolid in the eastern Peloponnese� Our fascinating tour ends in Athens at the National Museum, where we see artefacts that once furnished and graced the sites we visit across the previous days, and which belonged to the victors who once walked those hills of the Argolid
• Explore the land of Homer’s heroes and the great bronze citadels from which they came
• Visit the lesser known, quieter sites of the Argolid as well as the big-ticket names
• Enjoy a prolonged stay in Nafplion, one of the prettiest harbour towns in Greece
We meet at our hotel in Nafplion.
Our day begins at the Archaeological Museum in Nafplion, where we see artefacts from regional excavations that include extraordinary Mesolithic finds and objects from Bronze Age settlements, as well as later Classical and Hellenistic items. We drive to Tiryns, whose cyclopean walls made it one of the most notable fortresses of Mycenaean Greece, reputedly the birthplace of Heracles. We continue to the ruins at Asine, mentioned by Homer as part of the kingdom of Diomedes, King of Argos. We also visit the 16th century Palmidi Fort, perched on a crag 200ft above the Argolic Gulf.
Today we drive to the ancient Mycenaean citadel and palace at Prossymna and walk along the original road to the citadel at Mycenae. This is the centre of the mighty Helladic Bronze Age civilisation of Greece, according to legend the capital of King Agamemnon. Visit the museum, the famous shaft and Tholos tombs, including the treasury of Atreus.
We explore Lerna, which in antiquity was a region of water springs and one of the entrances to the underworld. We round off the morning with a visit
to the Argos Museum with collections from the region. This afternoon will be spent at leisure.
Our morning starts at Midea, considered one the three most important Bronze Age fortresses in the region alongside Mycenae and Tiryns. We continue to Dendra, which appears to have been associated with the site, and we visit the cemetery and Tholos tomb here. We explore the Argive Heraion, an evocative site where we easily imagine the processions described by ancient authors traversing the vast tracts of surrounding countryside. We drive to Nemea, where Heracles slew the Nemean lion.
We start our journey north, stopping to see the extraordinary Mycenaean road bridge at Ligortino
We also visit Epidaurus, home to the sanctuary of Asklepios – its core is formed by the finest theatre in all of Greece. We complete our visits at Troezen, the birthplace of Theseus, before proceeding to the Island of Poros for lunch. After lunch we take the fast ferry to Pireaus and transfer to our hotel.
We visit the National Archaeological Museum in Athens to see its fine collections before transferring to the airport for our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Rita Roussos
Join Rita on our 30th September departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Nafplion & Athens
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 4 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/apes
12
This tour’s May departure can be booked back-to-back with the 13th May departure to Crete & Santorini (p60). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
From $5,690pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May & October Activity Level
Embark on a modern-day odyssey to the sites of ancient Greece Beginning in Athens, journey into the Peloponnesian hills, joining our expert Guide Lecturer as we trace the story of Greece from the Bronze Age to Classical glory This will be a memorable trip for anyone who has ever dreamed of standing at the starting line of the Olympics, debating with Socrates or following in the footsteps of Hercules
Tour Highlights
• Explore the well-preserved Mycenaean Palace of Nestor
• Visit the famous Acropolis of Athens with its unique masterpieces of ancient architecture
• Gaze upon the National Archaeological Museum of Athens’ galleries, which house the most important collection of ancient Greek art
• Wander around the renowned citadel of Mycenae and see the Lion Gate, the grave circles and the Treasure of Atreus
Meet the group at our hotel after arriving into Athens independently.
We spend an entire day on foot in ancient Athens
According to legend the city was founded by King Theseus, best known for his Minotaur slaying heroics in Crete. We climb up to the Acropolis to visit the Parthenon, Theatre of Dionysus and Temple of Athena. The most important structures visible today derive from the Golden Age of Pericles. The afternoon is spent at the Acropolis Museum, which was built to house every artefact found at the Acropolis.
We continue our exploration of Athens with a walk through the sites of the Agora, the political and commercial heart of ancient Athens, where Socrates stood trial and where free-born male Athenian citizens could come to cast their vote. We view finds from the area in the Museum of the Ancient Agora, housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos. After lunch, we enjoy our first drive through the Peloponnesian hills to our hotel at Delphi.
Spend a day at the Panhellenic Sanctuary at Delphi. The oracle was given by a priestess called the Pythia, who sat on a tripod over a chasm in the inner sanctum and, inhaling the vapours that came from it, subsequently uttered prophecies in a trance. We leave in the early afternoon, crossing the Rion-Antirion bridge, and we travel to the Peloponnese peninsula at Olympia.
This morning we explore Olympia, home of the first and greatest Panhellenic Games and the most important religious centre in the 8th century BC. Here we find the ruins of the ancient stadium, and temples such as the Pelopion, once the alleged tomb of Pelops, the mythical chariot-racing king who gave this region its name. The major festivals here provided opportunities for the meeting of representatives from the Greek states.
Today starts with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Chora, which houses finds from Pylos. We head on to the Palace of Nestor, mentioned in Homer’s writings as home of the oldest and
wisest among the Greeks fighting at Troy. The palace here is the best preserved Mycenaean palatial structure excavated and includes reception areas, baths, store rooms and workshops. Enjoy a free afternoon in Pylos with an optional boat trip in the bay (not included).
We spend the morning in Messene, one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Greece. Pausanias visited the city between 155 and 160 AD and described it in his ‘Guide to Greece’. Excavations in the city have continued for over a century, revealing a well-preserved stadium, odeon and many other buildings. We view a great array of finds from the area in the Archaeological Museum of ancient Messene. After lunch, we make our way towards Nafplion.
This morning we journey to the lovely town of Nafplion, where we visit the Archaeological Museum. Before lunch we continue with a visit to the ancient site of Epidaurus, a celebrated centre of healing in the ancient world. Perched on the slopes of a hill, the town has both some
of the finest examples of 14th and 15th century architecture in Greece, and some of the finest views. The afternoon is free to spend at your own leisure in Nafplion.
Day Nine | Nafplion - Mycenae
We explore the great Bronze Age hilltop site of Mycenae, another major hub of Greek civilisation, and, according to Greek tradition, capital of legendary King Agamemnon. Excavations support Homer’s claim of a city ‘well built and rich in gold’. We wander into the city with its Cyclopean walls through the famous Lion Gate and we view the archaeological remains of the acropolis, including
the palace and the grave circles, where the socalled mask of Agamemnon was found.
This morning, we visit the site of Nemea where, according to legend, Heracles fought the Nemean Lion. We see the Temple of Zeus. After lunch we will continue to the archaeological site of Tiryns, a Mycenaean hillfort said to have been the mythical birthplace of Heracles. We will see the citadel with its Cyclopean walls as well as the palace remains.
We drive to Corinth, which owed its prosperity to the isthmus that joins the Peloponnese
to the mainland. One of the great cities of classical Greece, it was founded by Corinthos, a descendent of the god Helios, according to Hellenic myth. Upon arrival in Athens, we will view the National Archaeological Museum in Athens with its fantastic collections.
Our Peloponnesian odyssey comes to an end. We bid farewell to the city of Athens and make our independent onward journeys.
Guided Dr Christina Hatzimichael-Whitley
Join Christina on our 7th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Delphi, Olympia, Pylos, Nafplion & Athens
Culinary inclusions
• 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 10 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person Date
20th - 31st May $5,830 $5,690 $835 7th - 18th Oct $5,830 $5,690 $835
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/apel
“The tour was perfect. The staff were the best I've ever travelled with, and the food was great.” Mr Collette, September 2022
From $4,000pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April to October
The Minoans are known for their incredible labyrinthine palaces - the greatest of which is at Knossos, where Theseus defeated the Minotaur Our journey across these two beautiful islands will showcase the architectural and artistic skills of this Bronze Age civilisation, whose writing, ambition and organisation profoundly influenced ancient Greece’s development�
Tour Highlights
• Tick the mighty Palace of Knossos off your archaeological wish-list
• Explore the city of Akrotiri – the “Pompeii of the Aegean” – and admire the fascinating frescoes on display in the museum
• Take a boat trip to the island of Spinalonga, a leper colony that was in use right up until the 60s, where we will explore the abandoned buildings and its history
• Visit the vast Archaeological Museum in Heraklion and view its fascinating collections
Meet the group at our hotel in Santorini, where we stay for the next two nights.
Our first full day begins at the Prehistoric Museum in Fira, home to dazzling wall paintings from the Minoan buildings at Akrotiri, as well as a large number of artefacts found in various island excavations. Don’t miss jugs depicting elegant birds, dating from the middle Cycladic period of 1800 to 2000 BC, and the statue of the golden goat, discovered in Akrotiri in 1999. This afternoon we continue to Akrotiri itself. Destroyed by a catastrophic volcanic eruption in around 1500 BC and buried in ash, the city is reminiscent of Pompeii, and it has retained some impressively well-preserved houses. The drainage systems and complex buildings indicate a once prosperous society with many successful trade links. We stop to admire the delightful ‘Fresco of the Monkeys’ as well as the ‘House of the Ladies’, with its striking central light well.
After breakfast we journey up winding roads to the ancient city of Thera, located on a ridge of Mesa Vouno mountain, some 360 metres above sea level. The site has been under excavation since 1904, and findings from the city have contributed immensely to our understanding of Minoan culture and history. We imagine the people whose lives were centred around Thera’s 800-metre long main street, who attended performances in the city’s enormous theatre and who worshipped Hermes and Heracles within the walls of the sacred grotto. This afternoon we visit Panagia Episkopi, a Byzantine cathedral containing many beautiful frescoes, before a ferry takes us to our next destination of historic Heraklion. We arrive in Crete’s largest city in time for dinner.
The fourth day of our holiday begins with a trip to the world-renowned Palace of Knossos, a majestic complex erected in Greece’s Bronze Age, and the largest Bronze Age site in the country. The intricate, multi-storeyed layout of the palace has led to its connection with numerous myths and legends, including that of the Minotaur and
the labyrinth. We take in the royal quarters, with their decorated Throne Room, as well as noting the axe stands within the House of the High Priest. We continue on to the Minoan country house and outbuildings of Vathypetro, the surviving remnants of a settlement that stretched across three hills. Here we observe an elaborate shrine as well as a wonderfully preserved wine press – one of the oldest in the world. Following this we return to Heraklion to spend time at the exceptional Heraklion Museum, with its exquisite jewellery and brightly-coloured wall paintings. Within this peerless collection of artefacts from the Minoan age is the iconic bull’s head ‘rhyton’, or ceremonial drinking vessel, which was brought here from the Palace of Knossos.
We enjoy a morning at the columns and courtyards of Phaistos to visit Ayia Triada, a grand but ruinous Bronze Age villa that has yielded more examples of Linear A tablets than any other site of its kind. After this we travel to the magnificent Palace of Phaistos. Famous finds here include thousands of documents, some inscribed with the earliest known occurrence of the still undeciphered writing of
“It was wonderful. We had a good group of people with positive attitudes and being able to enjoy the scenery and the sites and all the delicious food made for a wonderful trip.”
Mrs Baraklilis, October 2022
the Minoans – a script also known as ‘Linear A’. We resume our adventures at the important GrecoRoman site of Gortyn in the verdant Messara Valley, a gem of the archaeological world since its discovery in 1884. Thought to have once been populated by over 300,000 people, the site is best known for its collection of 5th century stone blocks, inscribed with the law codes of classical Greece – the oldest and most complete example of coded ancient Greek laws ever found.
Our day starts with a trip to the Palace of Malia, a huge Minoan complex just north of the Lasithi Mountains, significant not only for its size, but also its strategic port and grand façades. We then proceed to the well-preserved late Minoan town of Gournia, one of the few sites in the region to have been fully excavated. The remains of Gournia cluster around cobbled streets on the side of a hill and are crowned by the now-ruined palace. Traces of some 50 houses are in evidence here, as well as a court and cemetery. This afternoon we have the option of a boat trip to the haunting and evocative island of Spinalonga, the location of a former leper colony that was still in use right up until 1962. It is believed that the island was cut off from
the mainland by occupying Venetians in the 16th century in order to strengthen their defences.
This morning, if the weather permits, we have the option to journey by fishing boat across the turquoise Gulf of Mirabello to the tiny island of Mochlos, on which an important Minoan town once stood – a hub of trade and industry. A number of pit graves and tombs have been unearthed here, and the excavations, begun in 1908, continue to this day. This afternoon is free for us to enjoy our spectacular surroundings at our leisure. Stroll along the splendid coastline, doze in the sunshine or plunge into the warm and welcoming waters near our hotel – the choice is yours.
This may well be our last morning in Crete, but the discoveries aren’t over yet. Before we make our journey to the airport, we drive to stunning Sissi to visit the excavations on Kephali Hill, where evidence of Early Minoan mortuary activity has been found near Crete’s latest Minoan palace to be discovered. Alas, it is now time to say goodbye to the Minoan world and to our fabulous group as we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Rita Roussos
Join Rita in on our 23rd April, 17th September & 7th October departures.
Guided Dr Christina Hatzimichael-Whitley
Join Christina on our 13th May departures.
Guided by Dr Sandy MacGillivray
Join Sandy on our 21st May & 10th September departures.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Santorini, Heraklion & Elounda
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
23rd - 30th Apr $4,140 $4,000 $485
13th - 20th May $4,355 $4,215 $555
21st - 28th May $4,355 $4,215 $555
10th - 17th Sep $4,355 $4,215 $555
17th - 24th Sep $4,355 $4,215 $555
7th - 14th Oct $4,140 $4,000 $485
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/acre
Images top to bottom: Gournia, Mochlos & Phaistos disc
Chania to Sitia
10 DAYS
From $4,800pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing September Activity
Crete is defined by the breadth of its history, from the labyrinthine palaces of the Minoans, through Venetian control and to wartime resistance We follow the coastline, exploring world-class archaeological sites and getting to grips with local history and culture as we enjoy the food, wine and dramatic landscapes of this beautiful island
Tour Highlights
• Travel to stunning Sissi to visit the excavations on Kephali Hill
• Discover the lesser-known archaeological remains of Vathypetro and Mochlos, as well as the famous Minoan palaces
• Explore Aptera, the mythological setting for the battle between the Sirens and the Muses
Meet the group for the first time at our hotel in Chania.
Today we delight in the lovely harbour town of Chania, with its charming Venetian architecture. We start with the Archaeological Museum, where we see a plethora of remains dating from the Neolithic to the Roman periods. Highlights of this museum include Minoan ceramics and terracotta figures of bird-faced women, as well as a 3rd century mosaic dating from the Roman period. In the afternoon, we will have a walking tour of its pretty Venetian quarter, including the narrow alleys of the Kastelli region and the wider streets of the Jewish district which dates to the 16th century when Jews, exiled from Spain and Southern Italy, made their home here.
Today begins at Kissamos Archaeological Museum, housed in a Venetian building called the Dioikitirio, which displays artefacts from the Neolithic period to late Antiquity. Highlights include stunning mosaics from the Roman period, as well as a Hellenistic tomb. We continue to the ancient city of Polyrhenia, whose acropolis looking out over the
Cretan sea is dominated by an imposing Byzantine fortification. We end the day at the Hellenistic town of Phalasarna, where see impressive remains of fortifications built to protect the harbour, including five towers and a curtain wall.
Leaving Chania, we visit Aptera, whose stunning and strategic positioning ensured it was powerful from the Minoan to the Hellenistic periods. Here, we see remains of a 12th century monastery dedicated to St. John Theologos, as well as the remains of a Classical temple and an impressive Roman cistern. We continue to Heraklion, stopping en route to explore the excellent new Museum of Eleutherna in Rethymnon, which displays finds from Eleutherna, including an archaic statue – the Lady of Eleutherna – reminiscent of the statue of Demeter, known as the Lady of Auxerre in the Louvre, and grave goods from the Bronze Age.
This morning we visit the world-famous site of Knossos, which boasted a population of 100,000 at its height in the 18th century BC and which was settled from as early as the 7th millennium. The palace, controversially reconstructed by Arthur Evans, was the civic and religious centre of the
settlement, as well as the residence of the King. We continue to the Minoan site at Vathypetro, a 16th century BC complex that includes a wine press and farmhouse. We return to Heraklion and visit the Archaeological Museum, where exhibits include brightly coloured wall paintings from the Minoan palaces.
We start at the important Graeco-Roman site of Gortyn, which contains a number of impressive ruins, including a praetorium that housed the governor of Crete and Cyrene and an odeon. It is justly famous for being the locus of the oldest and most complete Classical law code, inscribed on stones reused in the Trajanic period and now on display on site – though parts are in the Louvre. We proceed to Phaistos, inhabited from the 5th millennium BC, it is the site of two palaces from different periods that were abandoned by the Mycenaean period. Mentioned by Homer, Phaistos is described in artefacts with Linear A inscriptions found on the site. We end at Ayia Triadha, a Middle Minoan – 16th century – small palace that has preserved a number of Linear A tablets.
This morning we explore the well-preserved late Minoan town of Gournia, whose strategic position made it the most important trading centre in Minoan Crete. Here we see impressive remains of 60 houses, a so-called palace as well as a cemetery, all of which were linked by a road that still survives today. After lunch we go by boat to the tiny island of Mochlos, which may have been connected to the island in the Minoan period. Here we see remains that date from the Minoan era up to the Hellenistic period and beyond. Notable are the hoards of metal found on the islands, as well as a Minoan necropolis.
Today we visit the nearby site of Sissi, which has been excavated for the last 10 years, revealing settlements from the early and middle Minoan periods, including graves with rich finds. The afternoon is free for us to relax in Elounda, where we can simply unwind or take a boat trip to the evocative former leper colony on Spinalonga island.
We travel east to the seaside town of Sitia, where we visit the Archaeological Museum. It houses important finds from Eastern Crete, including a beautiful gold and ivory Minoan statuette found in Palaikastro, along with Linear A tablets and enormous ceramic pots from the palace of Kato Zakros. We proceed to the nearby site of Petras, excavated as part of ongoing research to establish the Minoan settlement patterns in this area. Here, a sizeable building once two storeys high has been found, along with Linear A tablets and even a drainage system.
This morning we visit the Palace of Malia, one of the largest Minoan sites, which included a late Minoan palace that has a large central courtyard as well as impressive monumental façades. We then continue to Heraklion airport, for independent onward journeys.
“It was wonderful. The Bronze Age sites were fascinating, and our guide and lecturer were engaging and informative. The days were well planned and we went to some brilliant restaurants.” Guest, September 2022
Guided by Dr Sandy MacGillivray Sandy is an archaeologist who specialises in the Aegean Bronze Age as well as the civilisations of Crete, the Cyclades and mainland Greece during this period.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Chania, Heraklion & Elounda
Culinary inclusions
• 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 9 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS 24th Sep - 3rd Oct $4,940 $4,800 $825
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/acrn
Images top to bottom: Gortyn, Phaistos palace & Aptera9 DAYS
From $4,850pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing September
See another side of the lovely islands of Rhodes and Kos and rediscover their ancient origins Long beloved by British travellers, there is more to appreciate here than their lovely beaches and sheltered bays Hugging the coastline in the south-eastern corner of the Aegean, these islands were in the midst of a crucial sea lane in antiquity and served as a bridge between east and west during their long and eventful history From Hellenistic sanctuaries, Roman villas and Crusader fortresses to Byzantine churches and stylish Italian architecture, characteristics of both worlds can be found here And venturing inland, the landscape swiftly changes from urban dwellings to juniper and thyme-clad hills where broom, myrtle and laurel grow in profusion
• Enjoy a day spent on the lovely island of Kalymnos, where we discover the Castle of Chrysocheria
• Admire the fabulous collection of statuary at Rhodes Archaeological Museum
• Soak up the stunning views at Lindos and Kalavarda
• Discover the Asklepieion, one of the pre-eminent healing centres in the ancient world
We meet at our hotel in Rhodes..
Today we explore Rhodes, occupied by the Knights of the Order of St. John for over two centuries and one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. We walk through its beautiful medieval centre down the Avenue of the Knights to the Archaeological Museum, housed in the former hospital of the Knights. This fantastic Gothic building contains some remarkable finds from the island including an exquisite marble statue of Aphrodite and extraordinary Hellenistic pebble mosaics. In the afternoon we visit the Acropolis and its precipitous terraces on the slopes of Agis Stefanos Hill.
This morning we visit the small village of Lindos which was founded by the Dorians in the 10th century BCE. The dramatic natural landscape here is enhanced by the picturesque quality of the more
modern town with the Acropolis rising dominantly behind it. The stunning views from the top are worth the 250 steps it takes to reach it and here we see Temple of Athena lodged within the ruins of a medieval castle. In the afternoon we travel on to Kalavarda, a well-preserved Hellenistic and Roman city with superb views of the ocean.
Today we drive along the northwest coast of the island to ancient Kamiros, built amphitheatrically overlooking the sea. Together with Lindos and Ialyssos, it was one of the three most powerful cities in Rhodes which reached their peak in the 6th – 7th centuries BCE. Kamiros was the smallest of the three and relied more heavily on its agriculture in the production of wine, olive oil and the cultivation of fig trees. In the afternoon we explore Ialyssos which lies at the highest point of the Filerimos hill, overlooking Rhodes.
We take the early morning ferry to the island of Kos famed throughout the ancient world
for its sanctuary dedicated to the healing god Asclepios. Arriving mid-morning, we head to the Archaeological Museum. Housed in one of the last major public buildings constructed during Italian occupation, the collections here include artefacts found in the Sanctuary of Kos. Later we explore the substantial ruins of Nerazia Castle, a 14th century construction bult by the Order of St. John. The fortress is situated at the entrance of Kos harbour and faces Halikarnassos Castle just opposite on the Turkish coast with which it collaborated to control this strategic body of water. In the ancient world this strait was a great maritime crossroad for ships from Egypt, Rome, Syria and Persia.
We travel along the cypress-lined road to the Asklepieion, a healing sanctuary dedicated to the god Asclepios, built in the 4th century BC. Formed along tree terraces, the sanctuary is situated on the
slopes of Mount Dikeos and is set among natural springs and pine woods. Overlooking the narrow straits to Bodrum we find wonderful views here across the sea and coast. We continue to the Castle of Antimachia, the target of Turkish assault in the Middle Ages - with only one entrance and exit, doubly fortified, it was able to withstand many attacks. Finally, we stop at the ruins of the Early Christian basilica Agios Stephanos
We enjoy a day trip to the beautiful island of Kalymnos, described as ‘rich in honey’ by Homer. We explore the Castle of Chrysocheria, built in the 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller and also discover some of the beautiful white Byzantine churches which dot the hills. In the afternoon we visit Kalymnos Archaeological Museum where we discover a fine collection of marble statues found in 2001 off the coast, along with the splendid bronze
We spend our last day in Kos. There are many Graeco-Roman ruins scattered through the town to enjoy, including streets and houses, the agora and the Pandemos Aphrodite Sanctuary. In the afternoon we will see the Western Excavation area, which includes a Roman Odeon, Casa Romana, and the Baptistry of St. John Prodromos.
Our tour comes to an end and we make our independent onward journeys.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Rhodes, Kos
Culinary inclusions
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 8 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS 7th - 15th Sep $4,990 $4,850 $870
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/adod
Images top to bottom: Asklepieion & Chrysocheria Castle Guided by Dr Rita Roussos A native Athenian, Rita taught archaeology and art history at the American University of Athens. figure of the ‘Lady of Kalymnos’ pulled from the seabed by a Kalymnian fisherman in 1995.“Loved the tour of the Cyclades. Saw so much and learnt the history of islands I barely knew about before. We even had some time to swim in the sea!”
Guest, October 2022
From $6,140pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May Activity Level
Of all the Greek islands scattered over the Aegean Sea, the Cyclades have the most evocative mythology Travelling by land and crossing by ferry, discover atmospheric archaeological sites on these fascinating islands from beautiful Delos, the legendary birthplace of Apollo, to unassuming Tinos, well off the tourist radar
Tour Highlights
• Sail by private charter to Delos and spend the day exploring one of the most important sites in Greece
• Visit the spectacular prehistoric settlement of Skarkos and ‘Homer’s’ tomb on the delightful island of Ios
• Admire the sleeping giants of Naxos, the Flerio Kourous, scattered throughout this beautiful Aegean landscape
Meet the group at our hotel in Santorini.
We visit ancient Thera, the classical city built after the catastrophic eruption that ended the Bronze Age prosperity of the island. Public buildings, markets, theatre, baths, temples, private residences, and one complete road network with sewage system constitutes the city’s picture. After lunch, we visit the Prehistoric Museum, where finds from the area are on display, including some vibrant Bronze Age frescoes found at Akrotiri. We end the day with a visit to Akrotiri, the once wellconnected Minoan port town with trading links throughout the eastern Mediterranean.
We take the morning ferry to the hilly island of Ios. In antiquity, the island prospered because it lay at the junction of key trading routes that linked the Cyclades with mainland Greece, Crete and Asia Minor. Occupied since the early Cycladic period, there is archaeology here from all the major periods of this region’s history – Minoan, Mycenean, Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine. We start our exploration at the small Archaeological Museum, which displays artefacts found during excavations on
the island over the last 30 years. After lunch we will check in to our hotel for some free time to relax.
Today we explore this rugged, hilly island, starting with a visit to Skarkos. Situated in Kambos, one of the most fertile areas of the island, the middle Early Bronze Age settlement is one of the oldest and best-preserved Cycladic prehistoric sites in Greece. After lunch, we continue to the remains of the Paleokastro built by the Venetians in the 15th century. Now very ruinous, this was once a substantial fort and there are spectacular views over the seas to neighbouring islands. We end the day at Homer’s tomb, allegedly one of three grave sites on the northern edge of the island.
Taking to the sea once more we cross to Naxos, the largest island in the archipelago, where we arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon, we drive to the Flerio area, where ancient marbles quarries were situated. Here we see the two oversized but incomplete stone figures of young men (Kourai) dating to the early 6th century BC. Probably damaged during their creation, these marble statues, each weighing between 7 and 8 tonnes, were abandoned on the mountainside.
Spending the day on Naxos, we drive to the south of the island and the fertile valley of Livadi to visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and Demeter at Sangri to see the remains of the all-marble temple constructed in the late 6th century. After lunch, we continue to the ruins of the Sanctuary of Iria, dedicated to the god Dionysus. Its importance is attested not only by splendid architectural finds but also the numerous votive offerings found here. A limited sample of the movable finds can be seen in the small on-site museum.
Today we take our private boat to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos. Now ‘an isle of ghosts, uninhabited since antiquity’ (John Freely), it was once one of the most sacred places of ancient Greece and one of the most robust trade centres. Its claim as the birthplace of Apollo gave Delos a strong religious identity that lasted for hundreds of years. Excavations began in 1872 and are still in progress, having unearthed the Sanctuary and a good part of the Hellenistic town, and the findings are in the on-site museum. We explore the temples,
houses and agorae of this sacred island.
Day
We visit the Archaeological Museum in Naxos. Situated in the central square leading to the Kastro, it is housed in a 17th century Venetian house, spread over several storeys. Its collection of early Cycladic marble figurines is second only to that of Athens’ National Museum. In the afternoon we catch our ferry to Tinos. This unsophisticated, mountainous island is famous for its marble and distinctive architecture – Tinian dovecotes, a legacy of the Venetians, are scattered across the landscape.
Today we visit the Archaeological Museum, which includes finds from the Sanctuary of Poseidon Afterwards, we visit the sanctuary itself, situated opposite the beach of Kionia. Tinos was the only island in the Cyclades that dedicated an entire
temple to Poseidon. Worshippers came here to cleanse and purify before travelling to the sacred island of Delos. We end the day at the Pyrgos Museum, which is dedicated to the local history of marble and explains the quarrying and sculpting techniques used on the island since antiquity.
Day Ten | Tinos - Athens
We take the ferry to Rafina and from there we travel to Sounion, where we visit the beautiful Temple of Poseidon. Later we transfer to Athens for our final night in Greece.
Day Eleven | Athens
We transfer to Athens airport for our independent onward journeys.
Guided Dr Christina Hatzimichael-Whitley
A tutor in Greek archaeology at the Cardiff Center for Lifelong Learning, Christina specialises in Minoan Crete and is Co-Director of the Praisos Survey.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Santorini, Ios, Naxos, Tinos & Athens
Culinary inclusions
• 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 10 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
23rd May - 2nd Jun $6,280 $6,140 $785
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aicy
8 DAYS
From $4,075pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing April & September Activity Level
This tour of Northern Greece is full of fantastic archaeological sites, marked over the centuries by a cornucopia of peoples and cultures from the Macedonians, Thracians and Slavs to the Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Ottomans We follow in the footsteps of conquerors and travel through landscapes dotted with canyons, lakes, waterfalls rand rivers in an area thick with history We discover famous sanctuaries and monuments to victory, palaces, painted tombs and exquisite pebble mosaics which survive at the Macedonian cities of Verghina and Pella From the beautiful lakeside town of Kastoria , a town largely undiscovered by tourists, to Thessaloniki, a city whose historical importance and legacy which can be said to rival that of Constantinople
Tour Highlights
• Admire the remarkable frescos which decorate the Byzantine churches of Kastoria
• Discover the waterfalls at Edessa, a city defined by water
• Enjoy the richest ancient burial ever found in Europe – the tomb of Philip II – and its extraordinary museum
• Explore ancient Pella, the capital of Macedonia and famous birthplace of Alexander the Great
Meet the group at Thessaloniki Airport or in Kastoria, a beautiful lakeside town situated on a rocky isthmus on the shores of Lake Orestiada.
Aside from its picturesque charms, extraordinarily Kastoria boasts more than 70 Byzantine and postByzantine churches dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries scattered around the town. Many are sadly in poor state of repair but distinguished by the frescoes which decorate them. The quality of the artwork is astonishing, and we will visit a small selection at Agios Stephanos, Taxiarchis Oikonomou and Archangel Michael, each concealing something unique behind their intricate brickwork. Later we visit Aigos Orestiko Archaeological Museum which displays important finds from excavations in the region and we explore Dispilio, the site of a large neolithic settlement that once stood on stilts in the lake.
Today we travel to Edessa, a city defined by the water which flows into it from the Pindus Mountains to the west. The waterfalls of Edessa are a striking natural wonder noted from the Roman Empire to the travel writing of Edward Lear. We admire their thundering beauty before we follow the road over the Ottoman bridge that carried the Via Egnatia across the river and explore the remnants of the ancient city. Later we continue to Mezia and visit the Nymphaeum where Aristotle instructed the pupils of the Macedonian elite, Alexander the Great among them, in political discourse and philosophy.
This morning we explore Pella, Macedonia’s administrative capital and the birthplace of both Philip II and Alexander the Great. We see the monumental agora, and houses and the exceptional mosaics made from carefully selected natural pebbles, now on display in the museum.
We continue to Verghina (ancient Aigai), the capital of the Macedonian kingdom before its move to Pella in the 4th century BCE. We see the remarkable painted tombs, displayed in the excellent site museum under the recreated mound which originally covered the burials. After our site visit, we continue to Thessaloniki for our first night in this fascinating city.
Today is devoted to Thessaloniki, founded by King Cassander as a new capital city. In the morning we explore the city on foot taking in the Agora and Roman forum before heading to the Late Roman palace complex of Galerius to view the Rotunda and the Triumphal Arch of the emperor. We will take a short walk along the promenade to see the White Tower, before stopping for lunch nearby. In the afternoon, we visit
the Archaeological Museum with extraordinary finds from the city and its region, including the stunning Derveni bronze crater.
We travel south following the curve of the coastline to Dion at the foot of Mount Olympus, the religious capital of Macedonia. An evocative site with a magical setting, surrounded by trees in which nightingales sing and crisscrossed with a labyrinth of springs and streams. It is here that both Philip II and Alexander used to celebrate their victories at by holding Olympic Games and magnificent receptions and where Alexander conducted sacrifices before his campaign into Asia in 334 BCE. We will also visit the small Archaeological Museum nearby.
This morning we pay a visit to one of the city’s oldest churches, Aghios Dimitrios and Aghia Sophia, before we head to the Byzantine, UNESCO World Heritage listed, Walls of Thessaloniki, or Kastra as they are known to those that live in the city. Over half of these fortifications which once protected the city, are still standing today. Afterwards, a visit to the adjacent and equally superb Byzantine Museum which completes our survey of the archaeology of the region.
We make our independent onward journeys.
Guided Dr Christina Hatzimichael-Whitley
Join Christina on our 22nd Apr departure.
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
Join Oliver in on our 12th September departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Kastoria, Edessa, Thessaloniki
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
$4,215 $4,075 $635
12th – 19th Sep $4,380 $4,240 $635
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/amcd
Images top to bottom: Walls of Thessaloniki & PellaDiscover ancient kingdoms across this region
9 DAYS
From $4,105pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing September
East of Thessaloniki are the mountains and plains of Thrace Its ancient kingdoms were alternately at war and allied to Persians, Greeks and Macedonians Discover the strategic cities that grew up in the wake of passing conquerors Phillipi, Mesembria with its Romano-Thracian chariot burials, and catch a glimpse of the city of Amphipolis Thrace’s landmark archaeological sites and Byzantine, Medieval and Ottoman monuments add to its rich cultural heritage This wild land is notable for the peaceful coexistence of Christian and Muslim traditions
Tour Highlights
• Discover the traces of Roman, Medieval and Ottoman history which remain across the region
• Take a short trip across the Thracian sea to the lovely unspoiled islands of Thasos and Samothrace
• Explore the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, built to honour fertility deities around 1000 BCE
This morning we meet in Thessaloniki and drive to Kavala visiting en route the great Athenian colony of Amphipolis, site of a battle between Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian war where we explore remains of a necropolis, a gymnasium and houses dating from the Roman period.
Today we explore the Archaeological Museum in Kavala which houses remains from Amphipolis and other ancient sites found nearby. We proceed to an important UNESCO-listed site on the Via Egnatia, the Macedonian and Roman colony of Philippi, named after Philip II, who conquered it, and which is famed for the decisive battle between Octavian, Antony and the Conspirators who killed Caesar. Here we explore the forum, heroon and well-preserved theatre, as well as impressive Byzantine monuments. We end the day with a visit to Kavala where we see the Byzantine Castle
Activity Level
We travel by ferry to the Island of Thasos, the most northerly of all Greek islands surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. Here we visit the remains of the classical city. This was originally a Parian colony, enriched by its gold and silver mines. Marble was the island’s other commodity, and some of its beaches are composed of marble sand. After lunch we make a stop at the Limenas Museum before returning to the mainland.
We spend the day exploring the site of ancient Abdera which had strong links with Phoenicians and produced a number of important scholars including the Sophist Protagoras and historian Hecataeus. The city, which became prosperous in the Classical period through its trade with Thrace, has left important remains, including a number of houses from the Roman period and later Byzantine churches. We journey afterwards to Xanthi, a major trading town in Byzantine and Ottoman eras. The city is well known in Greece for its distinctive period architecture.
The journey this morning takes us to Komotini, whose history was tied to the Via Egnatia down to the late antique period when Theodosius fortified the road here. We move on to Alexandroupolis, which became important in the Byzantine period because of its proximity to Constantinople and became a fishing village in Ottoman period when it was connected by rail to Constantinople. We take time to see the Byzantine and Ottoman buildings in this beautiful seaside city, which lies in the crossroads between east and west, on the borders between Bulgaria and Turkey. From here we catch a ferry to the lovely island of Samothrace.
We spend the morning exploring the famous Classical sanctuary. This was one of the most important religious complexes in Greece, set up
in honour of the ‘Great Gods’ before the arrival of the Greek colonists. We also visit Chora village set high up on Mount Saos and its citadel built by the Galluzi family in the 14th century when Venice controlled large parts of the Aegean. There are lovely views over the town, where flowers spill from window boxes and trees form canopies over restaurants and cafés. Later today we return to the mainland and our hotel in Alexandroupolis.
Today we visit the border fortress of Didymoteicho whose idiosyncratic name might derive from its two sets of walls built in the 6th century under Justinian. Here we visit some of the Byzantine monuments, including the castle. We proceed to the aristocratic Thracian tumulus cemetery at Mikri Doxipara Zoni, built in the
2nd century AD for four family members buried with a rich assortment of elite goods, including bronze and glass goods, as well as carriages and horses buried with the deceased.
Day Eight | Mesembria & Maroneia
We explore the ruins at Mesembria, beautifully situated on the coast near the mouth of the stream Shabla Dere, now identified as the ancient Greek polis of Zone. Remains here include a small sanctuary of Demeter and a temple of Apollo. In the afternoon we visit the Alexandropoulis
Archaeological Museum
Day Nine | Thessaloniki
Our tour comes to an end today and we make our independent journeys home.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Kavala, Samothrace, Alexandroupolis
Culinary inclusions
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
3rd - 11th Sep $4,245 $4,105 $540
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/athr
Images top to bottom: Philippi & Kavala10 DAYS
From $5,850pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April
Crossing from Greece to Albania and back again we explore the ancient Kingdom and later republic of Epirus, nestled between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea On the periphery of ancient Greece, it was the Molossian King Pyrrhus who brought the kingdom centre stage with his campaigns against Rome in the 3rd century Pyrrhus was the cousin of Alexander the Great and he inherited his energy and ambition Epirus became a favourite resort of wealthy Romans and the arena for Rome’s civil wars Later still, Epirus was a crucial Byzantine province and centre of a breakaway medieval empire that rivalled that
An unusual tour of this unique area, we trace the course of the kingdom’s failures and successes with the exploration of a cornucopia of archaeological remains
Tour Highlights
• Enjoy two nights on Corfu, an island rich in natural beauty
• Explore Nikopolis constructed by Augustus in celebration of the Battle of Actium
• Discover the lovely lakeside town of Ioannina on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis
• Spend a full day at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint on the shores of the Ionian Sea
We meet at our hotel in Corfu. Day
We explore Corfu’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we find a tangle of narrow streets occupied by an eclectic mix of boutiques, tavernas, Italianate churches and neo-classical architecture. We visit the Venetian Fortress to discover the island’s more modern history and its role as a buttress against the might of the Ottoman empire. After lunch, we will visit the ancient origins of Corfu at Paleopolis and the Archaeological Museum. Here we see the finds from this great Corinthian colony, originally founded by Phoenicians and later absorbed into the Hellenic sphere. In the museum, we see the important archaic Gorgon pediment of the Temple of Artemis, as well as the cenotaph of Menecrates.
This morning we take the ferry across the Ionian Sea to Saranda in Albania, and continue overland to Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 and Albania’s best known archaeological site. It is one of the most striking in the Mediterranean, with splendid ruins in a breathtaking setting on the shores of the Ionian Sea. Our Guide Lecturer Oliver Gilkes has directed excavations here for many years, which have revealed some remarkable monuments of all periods. After lunch, we visit the museum before continuing to our hotel in Saranda.
We leave Saranda this morning and visit Antigonea near the village of Saraqinishtë in the Drino valley. This lovely hillside site sits in peaceful countryside about 600m above sea level. Founded in the 3rd century BCE by King Pyrrhus, it was named after his wife, Antigone, the stepdaughter of King Ptolemy of Egypt, a former general of Alexander the Great.
Activity Level
In the afternoon we visit Hadrianopolis, which, like Antigonae, was also once an expansive city built on a grid plan, before continuing to our hotel in Gjirokastra
Today we explore the amazing Ottoman city of Gjirokastra, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we shall have the chance to visit the Gjirokastra Museum, the medieval Fortress and the National Museum of Arms. This afternoon we enjoy a special visit to the late Ottoman mansion, Zekate House. Built in 1812, Zekate is widely considered to be one of the grandest examples of its kind, providing us with amazing an insight into the upper echelons of Ottoman life. We then leave Gjirokastra and cross the mountains to arrive in Ioannina.
This morning we get to know Ioannina, one of the loveliest towns of Greece. This was the medieval town and the heart of the realm of the Vezir, Ali
of Tepelena whom Byron included in his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. We take a walking tour of the Castro, and we visit the Archaeological Museum, where the finds from Dodona can be seen, including pilgrims' questions and answers! In the afternoon we explore Dodona itself, the oldest oracle in Greece, to view the shrine and oracles of Zeus, where the god spoke to supplicants via the rustling of leaves in an oak tree. It was the location of huge festivals.
Today is dedicated to Nikopolis, ‘Victory City’, constructed by Augustus in celebration of the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE and a means to secure Roman military control over Western Greece. Nikopolis was not only a colony of veteran Roman soldiers but also a settlement populated by the inhabitants of surrounding towns (like Kassope) who were forcibly removed from their homes. Here, we visit the Actian sanctuary, with its altar, theatre and
stadium, the museum and parts of the ancient city centre including its walls and basilicas. Returning to Ioannina in the afternoon, we stop at the Haigos Giorgios aqueduct which once carried water over 30 to the Nymphaeum complex at Nikopolis.
We drive southwards to Arta, on the Ambracian Gulf. The capital of Pyrrhus of Epirus it was also an important Byzantine centre, and we will visit the Archaeological Museum, the remarkable Church of Panagia Parigoritissia and the famous bridge. We return to Ioannina via the small Hellenistic fortified centre of Orraon, an Epirote-Molossian city, with very well-preserved houses. With massive fortification walls reinforced with towers in places and a cistern for collecting water, this city-fortress was located in a strategic position, guarding the passage from the Amvrakikos Gulf to the Ioannina basin, the territory of Molossoi.
This morning we explore the Hellenistic city of Kassope. Situated high in the hills it has spectacular views of the plain below and is a model city, with agora, theatre, and a regular street grid. Kassope was abandoned along with other settlements to provide the population for the new city of Nicopolis. In the afternoon, we visit the Nekromanteion of the Acheron on the Ionian coast. This is a controversial site, which might be part of the oracle of the dead known from classical sources.
This morning, we make our independent onward journeys.
Oliver has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Albania and Italy.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Corfu, Saranda, Gjirokastra, Ioannina
Culinary inclusions
• 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 9 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
12th - 21st Apr $5,990 $5,850 $975
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aepi
Images top to bottom: Nikopolis aqueduct & Gjirokastra
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
With its vast history, Europe offers some of the most varied sites in the world and, archaeologically speaking, is particularly important for its unique collection of Palaeolithic and Neolithic remains in addition to its fine Roman sites We have a broad range of European tours on offer for next year, which explore fascinating sites in Germany, France and Spain, along with itineraries in lesservisited destinations such as Serbia and Albania
Where Palaeolithic cave art is concerned, there is a marked concentration of sites in France and Spain, many of which showcase some of the finest art that has ever been produced� Scholars debate, for example, why it is that humans depicted such skilful art in the deepest parts of caves, where there was no light and where it is unlikely that they were often viewed Then again there are the questions about why humans felt a compulsion to stencil handprints, while not wanting to depict themselves, or whether the geometric symbols seen in many of the caves have specific meanings
Europe also produces fine archaeological sites dating to the Roman period� As is clear from the wondrous sites in the south of France, the archaeology found in frontier areas and the fabulous remains nestled among the Illyrian coast, Europe has been defined by the brilliant period of prosperity which existed in the time of the Roman empire�
Peek beyond the famous landmarks and explore the secret archaeology
From $3,845pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April Activity Level
The tree-lined boulevards, elegant architecture and cobbled riverbanks along the silvery Seine have made Paris one of the most recognisable and romantic cities in Europe First-time visitors are understandably impressed by its historic monuments, but peek beyond the famous landmarks and you will see another side of Paris to which only the most curious are privy
Tour Highlights
• Explore the Conciergerie, formerly part of the palace complex but repurposed during the Revolution as tribunal and prison
• Admire the architectural masterpiece of Sainte Chapelle, one of the greatest examples of Gothic art
• Enjoy the ultimate hidden attraction – the subterranean Catacombes de Paris
After meeting the group at our hotel in Paris, we gather for an exploration of the historic Marais district, where a 12th century fortress remains tucked away among its streets.
This morning we visit the Île de la Cité. This area of Paris is home to many famous sites, but our goal is the infamous Palais de Justice and hidden within it, Sainte Chapelle. This architectural masterpiece was built to accommodate holy relics acquired by Louis IX in 1239 and it ranks as one of the greatest examples of Gothic art in France alongside the cathedrals of Notre Dame and Chartres. We continue to the Conciergerie, formerly part of the palace complex but repurposed during the Revolution as tribunal and prison. We end the day at the Musée de Louvre
We make an unusual visit to the Egouts, a complex network of tunnels which mirror the city streets. The sewers have long been an unusual attraction for visitors and guided tours were conducted by boat or wagon as early as the 19th century. Later, we head to the leafy suburbs of Saint-Germain-enLaye, and the National Archaeological Museum
We head to Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement. This hilltop right bank neighbourhood with its narrow alleys and cobbled lanes retains some of the famous village atmosphere that appealed so much to the artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Here we visit the snow-white confection of Sacré Coeur and the nearby unsung gem, the Church of St. Pierre. There is a Roman temple to Mars tucked away within its holy grounds and we admire the spolia repurposed within the church. We end the day at the Musée
Montmartre
We explore the city’s Romano-Gallic origins with a visit to the Arènes de Lutèce, site of the Roman amphitheatre. Built in the 2nd century AD, it was designed to seat up to 15,000 people. In the afternoon we visit the Musée de Cluny where we visit the Roman baths that lurk beneath the museum. We end the day with a visit to the Catacombes de Paris. After several years of modernisation and accessibility work, the museum reopened in May 2022 with a brand new museography.
We make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by John Shepherd
A specialist in the study of ancient glass, John has worked extensively in the field in Europe as an archaeologist, including France, Italy and Bulgaria.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Paris
Culinary inclusions
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 5 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
9th - 14th Apr $3,985 $3,845 $875
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/ahpa
4 DAYS
From $2,840pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing April & July
Palaeolithic cave painting and engravings are mankind’s first recognisable artistic expression, but they mean more even than that� They show creatures which were extant during the Ice Age, shed light on hunter-gatherer culture thousands of years old and many archaeologists believe that the art is a highly sophisticated way of expressing complex beliefs about the supernatural world The story of mankind is a constantly changing jigsaw puzzle in which many pieces are missing or even change shape as improvements in scientific dating methods and new discoveries redefine them yet again
Join us for an in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds in the company of Dr Paul Bahn, worldwide expert on rock art and fabulous exponent of popular and accessible archaeology
Tour Highlights
• An in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds in the company of Dr Paul Bahn
• Visit to Grotte Chauvet II to explore this unique facility
• See the state-of-the-art facsimile of La Grotte Cosquer
We meet at our hotel in Avignon. There will be an evening lecture before dinner.
Lessons learned at Lascaux, where the cave suffered irreparable damage before its closure in 1963, the Chauvet cave has never been opened to the public since its discovery in 1994. Restrictions imposed by the French Ministry of Culture bar all but scientists and other researchers from the fragile environment of the cave itself. However, recognising that an international audience was clamouring to view the cave, a $62.5 million facsimile, called the Grotte Chauvet II was created and we will explore this unique facility. The simulated cavern is not only a stunning real-life recreation of the cave but also a celebration of its discovery when three weekend cavers tunnelled their way through a narrow passage, and descended into a world frozen in time - its main entrance blocked off by a massive rock slide perhaps 21,000 years ago. In the afternoon we will drive to Aven D’Ornac where we visit the Cite de la Prehistoire. The exhibitions here take us on a journey from the Middle Paleolithic to the first
Iron Age covering a period of 350,000 years from Neanderthal to Homo Sapiens.
We spend our morning at Cosquer Mediterranee, to see the state-of-the-art facsimile of La Grotte Cosquer. Six years in the making, this new museum opened its doors in June 2022, and it is evident that the technical skill used to create the facsimile at Lascaux and Chauvet has shown dividends here. The entire scale of the 2,300m2 cave system has been faithfully replicated with meticulous attention to detail. As you are conveyed through the tunnels, skilful lighting reveals more than 500 images which unfold just as you travel deeper into the facsimile. In the afternoon we will explore the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, second in France only to the Louvre, which occupies part of the imposing old monastery, the Centre de la Vieille Charité. The Mediterranean Basin and Near East department offers a very rich ceramic and lapidary collection, some of which are unique.
We make our independent onward journeys.
This tour’s April departure can be booked back-to-back with the April departure of our Cave Art of the Dordogne tour (p82). This tour’s July departure can be booked back-to-back with the July departure of our Pyrenees Rock Art tour (p83). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
The world’s leading archaeologist on prehistoric rock art, Paul is one of our bestknown Guide Lecturers.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Avignon area
Culinary inclusions
• 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/acha
Marseille Cosquer Avignon ChauvetEncounter the world’s largest assemblage of megalithic sites
7 DAYS
From $4,025pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing September
Brittany offers a prehistoric landscape filled with some of the world’s best megalithic monuments, from standing stones to chambered tombs A whole day is rightly dedicated to Carnac, where stone rows stud the heather-clad countryside, and we explore passage graves with depictions of weaponry that mark the resting places of a selected few of the wider Neolithic population
Tour Highlights
• Come face-to-face with a selection of fascinating passage graves, chambered tombs and polished axes
• Devote an entire day to the stunning monuments of historic Carnac
• Take a ferry to the island of Gavrinis to visit its famous and elaborately decorated passage tomb
Arrive in France and meet the group at our hotel in Carnac.
Two
A morning in and around the fishing village of Locmariaquer awaits us. Monuments in the area include the Mané-Lud Carnac mound, a large and prominent passage tomb with a central burial at the entrance to the village, the passage-tomb of Mané Rutuel and the fallen stone known as the Grand Menhir Brisé. When intact, the latter stone was over 20 metres high and weighed an incredible 280 tonnes. We end the day at the Table des Marchands, a passage grave with an exceptionally high burial chamber, capped with a huge, partly decorated stone.
“A delightful tour! Nick was a scholarly and friendly expert, always happy to answer our questions and discuss the subject. Our tour manager Yamina was charming, efficient and thoughtful. The trip was packed with very many interesting sites all expertly explained by Nick. The food was delicious and our hotel very comfortable. I thoroughly recommend this tour with Andante.” Mrs Davies, May 2022
Activity Level
We travel by boat to the island of Gavrinis in the Gulf of Morbihan, where we visit a large and important passage grave that was constructed around 3500. The stones of the passage and capstone of the tomb are decorated with symbolic and abstract designs in a virtuoso display of prehistoric art. In the distance, we see the stone circle of Er-Lannic on its islet before we return to Lamor Baden. One circle marches into the sea and the second has long since vanished beneath the waves. We end the day at the Archaeological Museum in Vannes before returning to our hotel.
We visit various sites between Plouharnel and Erdeven, including Mané-Kerioned, a group of three
dolmens, the impressive dolmen at Crucuno that is partly incorporated into a farmhouse, and also the passage graves of Mané-Groh and Rondossec. We continue to Carnac Prehistory Museum, the richest in the world for Megalithic culture and founded by the Scottish antiquary James Milns, who was the first (and last) to excavate extensively at Carnac. This museum contains a wonderful array of artefacts, including Alpine jade axes, some of the best-preserved jewellery and exquisitely knapped arrowheads.
Day
Today is spent exploring the megalithic sites of Carnac. The fantastic rows of stones, over 3,000 of them, run for over three kilometres across the Breton countryside. They are accompanied by tombs in the form of tumuli and dolmens (eroded
stone-built tombs with capstones). There are four groups of alignments, three of which may once have formed a single conglomeration. We visit the rows at Le Menec and view the alignments of Kermario. After lunch, we explore the passage grave at Kercado and visit the menhir known as Le Géant du Manio. Along a forest trail, we find this giant in a clearing, standing over six metres high.
We delve into the Le Rocher passage tomb and then we explore the Arzon peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Morbihan, where we visit the Petit Mont Cairn. This extraordinary cairn has been much reconstructed, but is still a very impressive construction of about 4600 BC, with several phases of burial chambers. It was commandeered in 1943 to have a bunker – part
of the Atlantic Wall – built into it. Ironically, the damage created revealed the very first dolmen chamber.
Our tour comes to an end today as we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Nick Thorpe
Nick is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Winchester.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hôtel Les Salines de Thalazur Carnac or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 4 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
2nd - 8th Sep $4,165 $4,025 $775
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/abri
8 DAYS
From $5,005pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing June
Join us in Burgundy, the gorgeous French region served by the conjoining Rhône and Saône This is a region where two great French passions collide - wine and food Aside from its gastronomic pedigree, however, amidst its mustard field-dotted rolling green hills, we find cobbled Medieval streets, glorious Gallo-Roman and Celtic antiquity, and some of the most important Western churches and monasteries of the Middle Ages This territory was right in the heart of Gaul, and it is here at Alesia that Julius Caesar finally conquered his Gallic opponents A statue of Vercingetorix, the Celts’ supreme commander, symbolises the extinction of the Celts’ independence and marks the place where France was born, or at least conceived
Tour Highlights
• Discover the hidden gems of Autun and Vienne including the best-preserved Roman temple in France
• View the wonderful collections of the Museé Gallo Roman in Lyon
• Gain new understanding of one of Rome’s formidable adversaries, the Gauls
Activity Level
Meet the group at our hotel in Dijon.
This morning we visit the Museé du Pays Châtillonnais in the pretty town of Châtillon-sur-Seine. Its collections cover the entire history of the region and include the astonishing Vix krater, a 6th century BC Greek bronze vessel discovered at the burial mound nearby. We continue to Alésia, the battle site of Caesar’s final Gallic victory, and its museum. We also view the Vercingetorix statue and then on to the Muséopark Museum and reconstructions.
We travel to Autun in the Saône Valley in the hill country of the Morvans, an unsung but lovely part of France. The mottled greys and pinks of local granite often featured in the work of artist Pierre Bonnard. Autun was one of the wealthiest towns in Roman Gaul and we will visit the Musée Rolin, the impressive theatre, town walls and gates, together with fascinating remains of a large Romano-Celtic temple. We continue to Bibracte in the afternoon. One of the largest and most important hillforts
of Gaul and site of Caesar’s defeat at the hands of the Helvetii tribe the climax of his first campaign in Gaul.
We begin the day at Dijon Museum, housed in the former abbey of Sainte Bénigne. Here we see the display of wooden Gallo-Roman statues found at Sources-de-la-Seine, a sanctuary associated with healing cult. The many wooden, bronze and stone ex-votos they placed there represent the parts of the human or animal body affected by disease. Leaving the city, we travel through the Burgundy vineyards, with a spot of wine tasting on the way, to Nuits-St-Georges. Here, we visit the Roman town and temple site and the museum.
We travel south to Lyon today stopping on the way at the charming riverside town of
Chalon-sur-Saône. Once a busy Roman port, we visit the Musée Denon with its finds recovered from the River Saône. Next we visit the small town of Cluny, where, in the 10th century, monastic reform developed and took wing, extending throughout Europe. We visit the impressive remains of the Abbey, mother house of the Cluniac Order. We continue to Lyon where we will stay for the remainder of our tour.
Today is dedicated to Lyon. In antiquity its position at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône placed it on an important axis linking the Mediterranean to the future interior provinces. Here we discover the capital of the Three Gauls (Gallia Celtica, Belgica, and Aquitania) in the Gallo-Roman Museum, and the adjacent theatre and odeon. Early Christian churches and cathedral baptistery give us an insight into the importance of Lugdunum in late
Roman times. The afternoon is spent exploring the aqueducts of the city, unique in the western Roman Empire for their complexity and engineering.
Day Seven | Vienne & St. Romain-en-Gal
We spend the morning in Vienne, visiting the near complete Temple of Augustus and Livia, the theatre and other remains of this wealthy Roman town on the banks of the river Rhône. In the afternoon, we cross the river to St. Romain-enGal, a suburb that has seen extensive excavation, and now has a rich display of houses and mosaics on display in situ and in the new Gallo-Roman museum
Day Eight | Lyon
We make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Prof. Tony King Lecturer in archaeology at the University of Winchester, Tony has excavated both in Britain and abroad and is a specialist in Roman archaeology.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Dijon, Lyon
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
11th - 18th Jun $5,145 $5,005 $825
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/arrs
7 DAYS
From $4,715pp
Departing April & May
The beauty of the Dordogne is undisputed – lush walnut groves and mellow limestone, dramatic chateaux and sinuous rivers blend harmoniously in one of France’s best loved regions For Andante guests, however, its greatest beauty lies in the greatest concentration of decorated caves in Europe
Our Guide Lecturers tell the story of the art, its discovery and what is known of the people who created it – the first true ‘old masters’, caught in the extreme cold of the last Ice Age
Tour Highlights
• Discover images from the world-famous painted cave of Lascaux at the Interpretation Centre, Lascaux IV
• Enjoy an extended itinerary taking in verdant landscapes and limestone plateaux of the Dordogne
• Gain insights from renowned experts in rock art and the archaeology of the last Ice Age
• View the extraordinary UNESCO-listed cave system at Grotte de Rouffignac
Meet the group in Bordeaux, then we drive to the village of Angles-sur-l’Anglin where we will see Rocaux-Sorciers
Day Two | Poitiers - Les Eyzies
This morning we head to Les Eyzies making some important stops along the way. Our first is to the excellent Museum of Prehistory at Lussac-les-Chateau dedicated to the local prehistory. We continue to Roc-de-Sers and La Chaire à Calvin, a rock shelter decorated with monumental parietal sculptures.
Day Three | Cap Blanc & Font de Gaume
We begin at the rock shelter of Cap Blanc, a rare example of Ice Age sculpted bas-reliefs and the best still in situ which are open to the public. After lunch we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Font de Gaume, the Musée de la Préhistoire and finally the Musée de l’Abri de Cro-Magnon
Day Four | Le Thot & Lascaux IV centre and Lascaux II cave
This morning we visit the Lascaux IV centre and then its on to the park of Le Thot. We have an independent lunch in Montignac, before
dedicating the afternoon to the Lascaux II cave Lascaux is the most famous and spectacular of all decorated caves, with hundreds of paintings and 1,500 engravings, best known for its awe-inspiring depictions of aurochs, horses and deer.
Day Five | Grotte de Rouffignac & Abri du Poisson
We travel by electric train into the cave system of Rouffignac. Known as the Cave of the Hundred Mammoths, about one-third of all mammoth depictions known are found in this cave. Our next stop will be to the fascinating site of Laugerie Haute before ending our day at the small rock shelter known as Abri du Poisson
Our first visit is to Cougnac, two caves are found here which contain the claw-marks of cave bears and fascinating stalactite and stalagmite formations. We continue to Pech Merle, with painted black outlines of aurochs, mammoth, spotted-horses, geometric shapes and handprints.
We make our way to Bordeaux airport for our independent onward journeys.
“Excellent. My first Andante tour and it was great. The tour manager and lecturer were wonderful, itinerary impressive, hotel, food, and transportation were all great.”
Guest, May 2022
This tour’s April departure can be booked back-to-back with the April departure of our Chauvet & Cosquer tour (p76). Save £150pp when booking tours togethr.
Guided by Dr Paul Bahn
Join Paul on our 30th April departure.
Guided by Dr Rob Dinnis
Join Rob on our 27th May departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Poitiers, Les Eyzies
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Cave visits may vary according to seasonal opening hours.
Activity Level Dates
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/adgn
Poitiers Pech Merle Cougnac Lascaux Le Thot Les Eyzies Grotte de Rou gnac Bordeaux
6 DAYS
From $3,595pp
Departing July
Created by our ancestors around 35-10,000 years ago, at a time when Europe lay in the grip of an Ice Age, cave art provides one of the most direct connections possible with our distant past The astonishing feature of rock art is that, preserved by the temperature of its environment, these ancient images have remained both intact and in situ for millennia
Tour Highlights
• Visit the area’s key sites of prehistoric cave art, from Niaux to Mas d’Azil
• Follow in the footsteps of the artists who created these early masterpieces
• Gain fascinating insights into both the creation of cave art along with the lives of those who produced it
We meet at our hotel, which is located in the peaceful village of Oust.
Day Two | Grotte de Bédeilhac
The day begins at the Parc de la Préhistoire
Primarily important for its facsimiles of the main decorated chamber of Niaux, it shows the figures as they would originally have looked. Here, we also find representations of parts of the cave that are not accessible to the public. Later, we visit the Grotte de Bédeilhac. Occupation here dates back at least 15,000 years, with a variety of cave art, drawings, engravings and even clay moldings among the striking rock formations.
This morning, we take a drive out to the Grottes de Gargas, where we find cave art consisting of two
different elements – both created in the Upper Palaeolithic period of approximately 25000 BC. One is a collection of animal engravings and paintings, including fine depictions of horses, ibex and mammoths. The other is a dazzling group of some 200 hands stencilled in black, red, brown, ochre and white. Next, we enjoy a visit to the rich Roman site of Lugdunum Convenarum, located at the foot of St. Bertrand de Comminges. Here, we visit the great church of St. Bertrand and make a stop at the beautiful Basilique de St. Just
Today we view the famous Niaux Cave itself – one of the greatest and most powerful collections of Ice Age drawings that can still be visited today.
We visit the cave of Le Mas d’Azil, where evidence of human occupation dates back 30,000 years, and also explore the site’s fantastic museum. Our afternoon is spent at leisure in this fascinating area and a farewell dinner will follow later.
After breakfast, our tour comes to an end and we make our independent onward journeys..
“Full of learning about decorated caves from an expert who loves his field, and interactions with the other tour members. Delicious food, good hotel, lovely scenery and a comfortable bus helped to make us more comfortable. A dream come true.” –Mr Walker, June 2022
Activity Level
Toulouse St-Betrand-de-Comminges
Mas d’Azil Grottes de Gargas
Grotte de Bédeilhac
Niaux
Guided by Dr Paul Bahn
The world’s leading archaeologist on prehistoric rock art, Paul is one of our best-known Guide Lecturers.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hostellerie de la Poste or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 5 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Cave visits may vary according to seasonal opening hours.
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
3rd - 8th Jul $3,595 $355
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/apyr
Images top to bottom: Bison rock art & Lugdunum Convenarum10 DAYS
From $5,005pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing September
In AD 9, the largest army of the Roman Empire suffered unprecedented defeat at the Teutoburg Forest where Publius Quinctilius Varus famously lost three legions along with accompanying auxiliary troops This episode – long remembered in Rome and etched in Augustus’ memory – brought about a change in Roman strategies in Germany Rome by and large abandoned further expansion in Germany and, instead, constructed the limes Germanicus, a defence system of bank, ditch, wall and forts which developed over time This involved a massive concentration of the army in this area and, with that, the acculturation of the native populations as troops interacted with locals For this reason, there is a plethora of Roman archaeological sites, both domestic and military, along the limes In this beautiful part of Europe often overlooked by tourists, we will explore extraordinary museums, such as the Romano-Germanic museum in Cologne and the Museum fur Antike Sciffahrt in Mainz, stunning houses such as the Ahrweiler Villa and the Villa Nennig, along with the limes itself and Rome’s strategies for controlling its borders We end with the Aachen, the stunning capital of the Holy Roman empire with its unique cathedral
Tour Highlights
• Explore the remains of the fort and reconstructed watchtower at the UNESCO site of Saarburg
• Admire the richly illustrated gladiatorial mosaic at the Villa Nennig, one of the most important Roman artefacts north of the Alps
• Visit the Museum fur Antike Sciffahrt in Mainz for an unparalleled exploration in the ancient art of seafaring
• Explore the impressive Roman remains the UNESCO listed Trier, including the Porta Nigra
We meet at our hotel in Cologne. Time permitting, there will be an evening walk where we might admire the skyline dominated by Cologne’s famous cathedral.
Heading north, we arrive at Xanten where the Roman town of Colonia Ulpia Traiana has been reconstructed. The city was constructed by the army in order to service the legion and the auxiliary troops stationed here; the latest incarnation was built ex novo in the Trajanic period – after the previous city was destroyed in the revolt of the Batavi. The result was one of the largest colonia in the Roman empire and included all the amenities associated with a Roman city, including baths and an amphitheatre. The archaeological park at Xanten
today is a recreation of this colonia on the site of the archaeological site; though somewhat controversial, it offers us the chance to experience Roman buildings as they must have been.
Today, we explore the impressive remains of Cologne, the erstwhile Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. Despite the Romano-Germanic Museum will be closed for some time, we will be abele to visit a new display of it in the Belgian House. We continue on to the impressive burial chamber at Koln-weiden, and the remains beneath the churches of Gross St Martin and St Severin
After lunch we visit the hidden gems dating from the Roman period, including the renowned Ubier monument.
Activity Level
Today we visit the extensive Ahrweiler villa which was built in the 1st century AD at the height of the empire and transformed in the crisis ridden late antique period into a smelting plant. The imposing remains, which have survived thanks to a 5th century AD landslide preserving the villa, are testament to the wealth of the German elites in the early imperial period, as well as the struggle they faced from the 3rd century onwards. We explore the ruins as well as the excellent museum which preserves artefacts from the site. Then on to Boppard, a UNESCO listed town lying in the picturesque Rhine Gorge, with a Medieval core. From here we travel by boat on a beautiful part of the Rhine to our next hotel in Braubach.
We reach the limes – the 500km boundary fortified with great banks and ditches overlooked by 900 watchtowers and patrolled from 60 forts. We start with an exploration of the remains of a fort in Zugmantel built in the Flavian period as part of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes and today located in an atmospheric edge of a wood. Next to the fort, which has been reconstructed, is a vicus, a settlement which grew next to the fort, a spill over
from the fort which may have included locals who lived near the army to provide support for it. We proceed to the UNESCO listed site Saalburg, where we explore a spectacularly reconstructed cohort fort, as well as an excellent museum. We end the day at the limes in Feldberg which preserves remain of a bath house, granary and praetorium.
A drive along the Rhine, takes us to Mainz, ancient Mogontiacum, the founded at the end of the 1st century BC by Drusus as a military fortress and capital of Germania Superior. We start the day at the world class Museum fur Antike Sciffahrt established in order to display the remains of 6 remarkably well-preserved ships found in the Rhine in 1981, two which have been reconstructed. Four of the ships, are a type known as the navis lusoria, a nimble, shallow draft ship used for transport troops previously only known from written sources. In the museum, we see other artefacts from the classis Germanica, the Rhine fleet. After lunch, we visit the Temple of Isis in Mainz, which shows how cosmopolitan the province was in the Roman period. Afterwards, we have free time where you might visit the Gutenberg Museum before we head to Trier.
Today is the first of our days in Imperial Trier, the erstwhile Augusta Treverorum which became prosperous in the 4th century when it was made capital of the Prefecture of Gaul. The city is a UNESCO listed site for its spectacular Roman remains, the most significant in German. Trier also has wonderful Gothic remains, some of which we will explore in the Museum am Dom, which is UNESCO listed for its wonderful collection of early art and illuminated manuscripts. We proceed to the Rheinisches Landesmuseum, which contains one of the best collections of ancient artefacts in Germany, including the Trassem gold hoard from 1600 BC. In the afternoon, we view Constantine’s Basilica, built by the emperor Constantine as part of a palace complex and which remains the largest extant ancient hall.
This morning we spend the morning in Trier, visiting the famous Porta Nigra whose remarkable preservation is due to its transformation into two superimposed churches, as well as the Kaiserthermen Baths whose impressive remains were built in the 4th century. We proceed to the funerary monument of Igel, decorated with remarkable detail of wool merchant’s lives before driving to the Villa Nennig where see the remarkably well-preserved gladiatorial mosaic –the most important north of the Alps – which belonged to the atrium of a Roman villa built in the end of the 2nd century. We end the day with a visit to the and the impressive reconstruction of the Villa Borg, a villa rustica whose pars dominica and pars rustica both survive.
We drive to Aachen, where Charlemagne was crowned in 800 and his preferred residence. A city redolent of Germanic identity, it is where the Holy Roman Emperors were crowned from the 9th to the 16th centuries. In a tour which started with the imperial period, continued to the late antique period, it is fitting that it ends with the Holy Roman empire. In the morning we take a walking tour of the city and visit the Treasury, richly endowed by Holy Roman emperors, including Charlemagne himself. It includes the Aachen Gospels and a diptych of Christ from the Carolingian period, as well as the Lothar cross from the time of Otto III. We end the day at the incredible UNESCO listed Cathedral of Aachen, built at the order of Charlemagne to resemble the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna and to challenge the Basilica of San Giovanni in Lateran in splendour. Richly decorated with marbles taken from Rome and Ravenna, this cathedral, one of the oldest in Europe is a fitting way to (almost) end the tour.
Before making our independent onwards journeys, time permitting we visit the 14th century Gothic Rathaus or town hall whose coronation hall contains 19th century frescoes of Charlemagne.
Guided by Tony Wilmott
Senior Archaeologist at Historic England, Tony has directed a number of excavations, among which include an impressive 23 seasons of work on the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and the ruined Whitby Abbey.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Cologne, Braubach, Trier, Aachen
Culinary inclusions
• 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 9 dinners
• Water with all meals, Wine & tea or coffee with dinner
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/ager
From $2,795pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing August
Enjoy the rich flavour of the region’s past and present, from its royal Prussian palaces to its place in Nazi fantasies, and explore its role as a hub of both socialist cultures and radical counter cultures Berlin has been the nexus for so many pivotal moments in European history and its stories are simply fascinating Join our expert Guide Lecturer on visits to the city’s most significant and historic sites and museums�
Tour Highlights
• Explore the city with a long-term resident and experienced archaeologist
• Pay a visit to Sanssouci, Frederick the Great’s Rococo summer palace
• See Berlin’s iconic sites, including as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie
• World-class museums await discovery, which are home to amazing artefacts from the ancient world
We meet at our hotel in Berlin. In the evening we take a stroll through the heart of Berlin to explore the Prussian city shaped in large part by Frederick the Great. We take in the Opera House, Humboldt University – founded by Frederick William III in the 19th century – and the Memorial at Bebelplatz.
We spend the morning at Museum Island, the cultural heart of imperial Berlin where we explore innumerable treasures, including the reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate and the Babylonian Processional Way at the Pergamon Museum, as well as the famous bust of Nefertiti at the Neues Museum
After lunch we visit the Jewish Quarter, where we see memorials such as the Stumbling Stones and Deserted Room. The remainder of our afternoon is free to explore at leisure.
We spend the day in Potsdam and visit Sanssouci, Frederick the Great’s Rococo private residence that was built in the mid 18th century. We proceed to Cecilienhof, a very different royal palace built by the Hohenzollern during World War I, ironically in the form of an English Tudor manor house.
We journey to Wittenberg today to visit a number of World Heritage Sites associated with Luther, including the Lutherhaus – originally part of the University of Wittenberg, it became Martin Luther’s residence and is where he wrote his 95 theses. We also visit the Castle Church, or rather All Saints’ Church, where he allegedly nailed his 95 theses to the door and where he is buried. In this town steeped in the reformation, we visit the houses of other figures important to the movement, such as Melanchthon and the painter Cranach.
This morning we explore Berlin’s famous sites, including the Reischstag. Its glass dome, designed by Norman Foster, has transformed the building into a symbol of German unity as well as civic transparency. We also visit Brandenburg Gate, modelled on the Propylaeum of the Athenian Acropolis and one of the most iconic sites in Berlin. We complete the morning with a visit to ‘Checkpoint Charlie’, the infamous crossing point between East and West so redolent of the city’s Cold War period. Our tour will end this afternoon and we make our independent onward journeys.
“Provided a comprehensive introduction to a city I didn't know much about. Nick provided an excellent commentary on the influence of its past history on its present and future.”
Guest, June 2022
Activity Level
Guided by Nick Jackson
Nick is an archaeologist with wide-ranging excavation experience. He has lived and worked in Berlin for over 20 years and has an in-depth knowledge of his home city.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Berlin
Culinary inclusions
• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 4 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
22nd - 26th Aug $2,935 $2,795 $0
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/asbb
Wittenberg Cecilienhof Potsdam Berlin5 DAYS
From $2,725pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing August
The idyllic peninsula of Istria, with its staggeringly beautiful coastline, has a rich history linking it to the Veneti and is now famed for its wonderful ancient ruins as well as its beautiful Venetian cities This tour brings different layers of history to life, exploring the sites in the comfort of one hotel based in the gorgeous Poreč
Tour Highlights
• View the Roman ruins in the elegant city of Trieste, including a stunning theatre and the remains of a forum
• Visit Pula with its staggering collection of Roman ruins, including its impressive amphitheatre and stunning Temple of Augustus
• Examine the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, a stunning early Byzantine church with a magnificent array of shimmering mosaics
• Explore the beautifully located archaeological park of Vizula, which contains the remains of an opulent Roman luxury villa
Meet the group at our hotel in Pula.
Today we explore the wonderful remains of Pula
Most prominent among these is the stunning amphitheatre, which preserves the underground service rooms, as well as the four outer towers. We proceed to the Roman forum where we see the Temple of Augustus, one of the best-preserved Roman temples outside of the Italian peninsula. Nearby is the Gate of Hercules, recognisable from the high relief sculpture of the hero’s bearded head, together with his club, and the Roman theatre
Later, we take a short drive to the charming fishing village of Medulin for lunch after which we head to Vizula Archaeological Park. One of the most striking sites is an Imperial villa, whose large size and rich decorations underlines the prosperity of some of the city’s inhabitants. We round the day at Nesactium whose Roman remains were built upon the original Histrian town destroyed by the Romans in 177 B.C.
We begin at the Bronze Age hill fort at
Monkodonja. It was discovered in 1953 and has given much evidence of the lives led there. We return to Poreč for lunch before exploring the town itself, including the Marafor Square, site of the Roman forum, the Romanesque House and the Kanonika, which still has its original stone portal. Here, we see the pediment of the Temple of Neptune, once the largest in Istria. Finally, we visit the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian
Today we explore the archaeological remains of the city of Trieste. We start with the Paleochristian Basilica and then continue to the Cattedrale di San Giusto. Just outside the cathedral, we explore the remains of the Roman forum. The afternoon is spent exploring more Roman remains, including the Arco di Riccardo and the well-preserved Roman theatre.
We spend our final morning at the pretty town of Vodnjan for a guided walk. From here, we make our independent onward journeys.
Activity Level
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Pula & Trieste
Culinary inclusions
• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aris
Cave art without the caves
7 DAYS
From $3,725pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May
As an immense open-air gallery, the Côa Valley is blessed with more than a thousand rock art depictions, identified in more than 80 different sites, with predominance of Palaeolithic engravings, executed around 30,000 years ago This is a rare opportunity to visit rock art away from the beaten tourist trail, across the Spanish/Portuguese border region, in unspoiled countryside Set within the peaceful valley of the Côa river, surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards, the engravings were only discovered 20 years ago when they were about to be drowned as part of a huge dam project An international outcry saved the rock art for prosperity It is not only the largest outdoor collection of Palaeolithic images, but also, the only known place where rock art from the Upper Palaeolithic (c2400 BCE) through to historical times is found together There is an interesting comparison with the Spanish site at Siega Verde just across the border
Tour Highlights
• Explore the most remarkable open-air ensemble of Palaeolithic art on the Iberian Peninsula
• Stay two nights in Porto, enjoying its old-world charm and UNESCO heritage status
• Enjoy a lovely rail trip along the valley of the Foz Coa on the MiraDuoro train
Meet the group at our hotel in Porto.
We make the most of our time in the lovely town of Porto this morning with a guided walk through the key parts of the city, which have helped to make the town into the UNESCO heritage site it is today. We might visit the cathedral, or the Casa do Infante. After an early lunch, we board a train on a
scenic journey along the green and pleasant Douro river valley towards Foz Côa and Pocinho. From here we will transfer to our hotel in preparation of our first rock art sites tomorrow morning.
We begin appropriately, at Canada do Inferno, where the first petroglyphs were discovered in 1991. The chronology of rock art here encompasses all phases of Palaeolithic art and the tradition of
engraving continued during the Neolithic period. This afternoon we visit Fariseu, a site so unique that for a long time its authenticity remained the subject of hot debate and later in the early evening, we will take a trip up to Penascosa. By visiting in the evening with artificial light, we are able to see details in the artwork that cannot easily be picked out during daylight.
We return to the Côa Valley again today, this time venturing further to the Ribeira de Piscos. Some of the best known of all the region's images are to be found here including the ‘Man of Piscos’, a rare human figure etched into the rocks. After lunch we visit the Foz Côa Museum, housed in a beautiful contemporary building with plenty of space and light to view the displays. The museum tells the story not only of the art itself, but also its discovery and the fight to preserve the heritage of the region. Afterwards, we return to the Penascosa site to view it in daylight.
We take another lovely drive through rolling countryside to Siega Verde where we will explore many of the rock art sites, some of which date back
twenty millennia. The site boasts a menagerie of prehistoric wildlife, from goat to bison and reindeer to woolly rhinoceros. Before returning to our hotel we stop at Castelo Rodrigo, a fortified medieval town with a well-preserved Gothic castle. We will have some time to explore its winding streets at leisure before we head back to Foz Côa.
Before our return to Porto this afternoon, we make one final visit to the Foz Côa Museum, where we can explore at our own pace. After lunch we will make our way back to the station and board our train for our second trip along the river valley back to Porto.
We make our independent journeys home.
The world’s leading archaeologist on prehistoric rock art, Paul is one of our best-known Guide Lecturers.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Porto, Foz Côa
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
20th - 26th May $3,865 $3,725 $475
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/apor
Pay a memorable visit to the legendary Alhambra Palace
From $4,520pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April & October Activity Level
Southern Spain, rich in precious metals, wine and olive oil, has attracted the attention of many would-be conquerors over the centuries From North Africa came the Carthaginians, then came the Romans and then followed the Visigoths, who were vanquished by the Moors From prehistory to the Renaissance, this tour progresses through the myriad ages of the region
Tour Highlights
• Follow the scenic route of the Roman Via Augusta, an ancient road built to link Spain with Italy
• Tour the ruined Moorish palace of Medina Azahara, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Explore vibrant Seville, Moorish Córdoba and historic Granada – cities that offer unique insight into life in this Spanish region
• Indulge in the traditional flavours of the country at each stop and see how the cuisine changes as we travel around
Meet the group at our hotel in Seville.
Our day begins at the Palacio le Lebrija, housing an Archaeological Museum famous for its Roman mosaics. Next, we visit the Seville Archaeological Museum, the most important museum of its kind in Andalucia, housing artefacts from the Neolithic period to the time of the Moors. After lunch, we explore the Cathedral of St. Mary of the See, the largest Gothic church in the world, and the Real Alcázar, the oldest European royal palace still in use today.
Drive north to Itálica, birthplace of Roman Emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Founded by General Scipio in the 3rd century BC, Italica is home to many Roman remains, ancient cobbled streets and one of the largest amphitheatres in the Empire. On our return to Seville, we visit the Metropol Parasol, the iconic wooden structure locals refer to as Las Setas, where we explore the archaeological remains found underneath it.
This morning we travel to Carmona to explore the ruins of the ancient city, the fortress, as well as the necropolis, famed for its extensive rock-cut tombs. The most important finds on display among the collections in the Carmona Museum are the Tartessian and Roman remains, which we also see. In the afternoon, we drive to Córdoba, where we visit the archaeological museum, whose collection of artefacts spans the breadth of early Andalucian history and includes the Lion of Nueva Carteya.
After breakfast, we venture out of the city to explore the ruined Moorish palace of Medina Azahara. Upon our return to Córdoba, we explore a city colonised by Muslims in the 8th century. We explore the Mezquita, a peerless mosque that transformed into an elaborate gilt cathedral in the 16th century. Lastly, we explore the atmospheric Jewish Quarter
Visit the archaeological park of Torreparedones, an important Ibero-Roman site where we see a market and forum. Later, we visit the Baena Archaeological Museum to view the artefacts recovered from the site and the larger region dating from Prehistory to the Middle Ages.
Today is spent in Granada, exploring first the city and then the Granada Archaeological Museum, set in a 16th century palace The highlight, however, is the Alhambra, with its enchanting blend of Arabic and Renaissance architecture. Described by Muslim poets as a pearl set in emeralds, there are fewer places more famous than this.
We drive to Málaga and make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Andy Fear
Join Andy in Spain on our 29th April departure.
Guided by Dr Doru Bogdan
Join Doru in Spain on our 1st October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Seville, Córdoba & Granada
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Please note, the order of visits may vary due to seasonal ferias and opening times.
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
29th Apr - 6th May $4,660 $4,520 $1,105
1st - 8th Oct $4,660 $4,520 $1,105
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/avis
Images top to bottom: Mezquita & Carmona8 DAYS
From $4,525pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing June & September
Decorated 35-15,000 years ago, the caves of Altamira still display some of humankind’s first great artistic achievements This is a unique chance to view the vivid images of horse, bison and deer that have come to epitomise Palaeolithic art� A visit to this area’s Ice Age caves is a genuine privilege� Where else can you gaze upon masterpieces of such antiquity in situ?
Tour Highlights
• Examine the contrast between ancient art seen in the caves themselves and the modern art on display at the renowned Guggenheim in vibrant Bilbao
• Visit the spectacular cave at Tito Bustillo and stand before its awe-inspiring images, which are both painted and engraved
• Pay a memorable visit to the celebrated Altamira Cave facsimile, widely regarded as the Sistine Chapel of cave art
“Excellent. Our Guide Lecturer loves his subject and we gained much insight from him. Our tour manager also went out of her way to provide service that was above and beyond.”
Guest, September 2022
Activity Level
Tito Bustillo Candamo
Altamira Las Monedas
Bilbao
Ekainberri Covalanas
Teverga
We meet at our hotel in Bilbao.
This morning we drive out to see the facsimile of the painted cave discovered in 1969 at Ekain in the Basque country, home to some of the most realistic colourful depictions of horse and bison. We leave the prehistoric era behind at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Note the stark contrast between ancient and modern art.
A scenic drive through the mountains brings us to the small cave of Covalanas, decorated with
Images top to bottom: Palaeolithic Bison art in the Altamira caves & Guggenheim Bilbaodeer that are drawn entirely in red dotted outlines. After lunch, we visit the cave of El Pendo, which contains a panel of painted animals 8.8 metres in length. Interestingly, portable art made from bone and antler was also found here in tremendous quantities.
The famous site of Altamira awaits, where we see the superb facsimile of the cave and the museum. Continue along the coast to El Pindal, a cave set into the cliffs above the sea – one of the most beautiful and spectacular locations of all the decorated caves. Here, we find a series of geometric signs and a variety of animal figures, including bison, deer, a fish, and also an unusual painting of a mammoth.
Travel to the south of Santillana del Mar, the site of several decorated caves, two of which we will visit. Firstly, we explore Las Monedas, a large, labyrinthine cave in which bear bones were also found. The art here is extremely homogeneous and it is considered likely that it was produced by just one person. The art at our second visit – the cave of El Castillo –clearly belongs to a number of different phases and recently produced some of the earliest dates for cave art in the world – more than 40,000 years. There are hundreds of animal figures and 50 red hand stencils to be observed here.
This afternoon, there is time to explore the town of Santillana del Mar.
We head west into the mountainous region of Asturias to La Loja – a cave with some fine engravings, which stand out clearly in white against the dark rock. This afternoon, we see the cave of Tito Bustillo, which was discovered in 1968. The cave is famed for its frieze of horses and reindeer.
We visit Candamo, where the most famous engraving is a big stag turning its head, pierced by many spears. We also view many other fine figures, some in surprising locations. Our final visit of the tour is to the prehistoric park at Teverga, where we are treated to a superb final overview of the caves and their myriad discoveries.
Today, we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Paul Bahn
Join Paul on our 15th June departure.
Guided by Dr Rob Dinnis
Join Rob on our 2nd September departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Bilbao, Santillana del Mar & Oviedo
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Cave visits may vary according to seasonal opening hours.
Dates & prices per person
Date
15th - 22nd Jun $4,665 $4,525 $835
2nd - 9th Sep $4,665 $4,525 $835
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aalt
9 DAYS
From $4,245pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing September
Travel from the shores of the Adriatic high up into the Albanian mountains, through soaring Montenegro and on into the plains of Kosovo Journey through ancient coastal cities, and wild landscapes, to discover Ottoman mosques jostling for space along the narrow streets� The region hosts a swathe of little-known archaeological sites that will delight even the worldliest of travellers� Join us as we trace the diverse civilisations who have left their mark, from Illyrians, to Romans, Ottomans and the Albanians
Tour Highlights
• Visit the excavations of the Roman city of Ulpiana
• See the stunning painted monasteries in Kosovo, the creation of the great Serbian kings of the 13th and 14th centuries
• Witness the sublime Bay of Kotor with the towering castle of St. John, and the idyllic Adriatic coast
• Enjoy a spectacular voyage along the Black Drin, one of the great river journeys of the world
Either meet the group at Tirana Airport or at our hotel in Shkodra. Here, we spend the night within the comfort of our first hotel.
This morning will be spent exploring Shkodra. After lunch we visit one of Albania’s largest defences - the legendary Rozafa Castle. From its imposing position, we are treated to spectacular views of the Albanian Alps. We will cross the border into Montenegro and drive to Budva.
We drive to Cetinje, the old Montenegrin royal capital, cradled by limestone mountains. Founded in the 15th century, it became a hub of culture, and a centre for the country's Orthodox faith. We have the chance to explore Kotor, a Medieval warren of cobbled streets, Venetian fortifications, and ancient walls.
A morning visit to Budva Archaeological Museum, before heading on to the site of Doclea, once the Roman capital of Prevalitana. Next, we travel
Activity Level
into the mountains, along the River Moraca, with its Serbian Orthodox monastery. Despite being burned by the Ottomans in the 16th Century, its 13th century frescoes remain remarkably wellpreserved.
Descend into the plains of Kosovo. Along our route, we stop at the Patriarchal Monastery of Peja, holiest centre of the Serbian Orthodoxy, and Decan, site of Kosovo's biggest and best-preserved Medieval monastery, home to superb Byzantine frescoes and to the shrine of King Stefan Uros III.
Today we visit the Shiroku tumulus group, Iron Age Illyrian burial mounds. We continue to the excavations at Ulpiana. The focus of the Roman province of Dardania, once a thriving hub of commerce and culture. We make a final stop at the magnificent Gracanica Monastery, before we return to Prizren.
An early start as we drive to Koman, where we catch a ferry to take us along the spectacular gorge of the Black Drin River to the dam at Fierze. Soaring mountains surround the lake, which was created by
the Albanian communists to feed the ‘Light of the Party’ hydro-electric combine in the 1980s.
Our day begins with a drive to Lezhe. An Illyrian city, Lezhe was a colony of the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse and became the capital of the Illyrian King Gentius. Later it was the nerve centre of the realm of Skanderbeg, the medieval Albanian hero who was buried in the cathedral.
We transfer to Tirana airport for our independent onward journeys.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Shkodra, Budva, Kolasin, Prizren, Kruja
Culinary inclusions
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 8 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Cave visits may vary according to seasonal opening hours.
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
26th Sep - 4th Oct $4,385 $4,245 $635
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aakm
From $4,545pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing May
The wide lands of the Danube were the homelands to two great European peoples, the Illyrians and the Serbs The Illyrians provided Rome with a series of martial emperors who collectively saved the Roman world, while the Serbian Kings established the shape of the medieval Balkans This tour is a little off the beaten track, but the legacy of these two European peoples and the wealth of archaeological sites are not to be missed
Tour Highlights
• Explore Vinca, the Danube-side cradle of Neolithic civilisation
• Visit extraordinary Gamzigrad, Emperor Galerius’ retirement home
• Visit Golubac and other fortresses on the banks of the mighty Danube
• See the medieval new town of Krusevac, built by the heroic but doomed Prince Lazar
• Tour the old town at Nis, a typical medieval trading city of the Balkans
Meet the group at our hotel in Belgrade..
A day of imperial connections awaits. We drive to Sirmium, one of the lost capital cities of Europe. Three emperors, namely Galerius, Severus II and Licinius, used it as their convenient base on the Danube to intercept barbarian raids and to dominate the road network. In the afternoon we cross the river to Novi Sad and visit the Petrovaradin Fortress, a vast edifice built by the Austrian emperors against the Turks, but never used. Owing to its size, thick walls and 400 cannons, it was considered unconquerable and earned the name of ‘Gibraltar on the Danube’. It was demilitarised in the 20th century.
We make our way out of the city today to Vinca This was one of the most important sites of European prehistory and occupation here from the Neolithic era, c. 5700 BC, produced one of the first great settled farming communities, which saw an explosion in both human population and settlement. We visit the riverbank site, one of only
“Outstanding. So many details about Serbia and world history I learned through the tour, and Oliver's comments and information were enlightening. The food we had was also delightful!” Guest, May 2022
two prehistoric ‘tells’ in Europe. Back in Belgrade, we visit the Serbian National and Historical Museum with its archaeological collections.
We have an early start with a drive along the Danube. We stop first at Viminacium, a huge Roman site, both provincial capital and legionary fortress, used as a campaign base by numerous emperors. Onwards to Golubac Fortress, the beginning of the Iron Gates, where a medieval and Turkish fortress cascades down the river gorge. We continue along the Danube gorge, stopping at Lepenski Vir, the extraordinary Mesolithic riverside village. The culture of Lepenski Vir is around 8,000 years old and one of the largest and most significant prehistoric archaeological sites from the Stone Age. Located on the right bank of the Danube in the Djerdap Gorge, the site was found during the preparatory work for the Danube dam project. Finally, we drive on to Kladovo, the site of the dam and location of our overnight stay.
This morning we make a quick stop to see the remains of Trajan’s bridge. Built in AD 105, the great bridge across the Danube (1135m long) was intended
to link the new provinces of Dacia, north of the river, with the Roman heartlands to the south. We continue south to Zajecar, where we see the finds from Gamzigrad that include some fine mosaics, famous inscriptions, sculptures from the temples and a magnificent series of imperial projects. We drive on to Felix Romuliana, where Emperor Galerius built himself a retirement villa, much like that of his mentor Diocletian at Split. Set in rolling countryside, a walled enclosure once contained this majestic country villa, but its ruins are just as impressive. We drive on to the town of Nis, claimed to be one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and the gateway between the east and west.
This morning we set out into the hills to Caricin Grad, where we discover another emperor’s dream. We visit the ruins and archaeological site of Justiniana Prima. In an attempt by Emperor Justinian the Great to reduce the power of the
archbishop of Thessaloniki, this city was created as a new ecclesiastical centre in the Balkans. After discovering the story here, we return to Nis to explore the Archaeological Museum
Day Seven | Nis - Belgrade
Constantine the Great was born at Nis and elements of the city of his time still remain here. We pay a visit to the Turkish fortress in the heart of the old city to find them. In the outskirts we find the large Constantinian Roman villa at Mediana, with mosaics and a series of massive warehouses. We head back towards Belgrade stopping at Krusevac. Here, we visit the church, the first of the Byzantine Moravan style.
Day Eight | Belgrade
We bid farewell to marvellous Serbia and make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Oliver Gilkes
Oliver has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Albania and Italy.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Kopernikus Prag, Hotel Aquastar Danube, New City Hotel or similar Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
15th - 22nd May $4,685 $4,545 $485
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aser
Images top to bottom: Caricin Grad, Lazarica Church & Gamzigrad
7 DAYS
From $5,340pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April
The island of Malta might be small but it certainly packs a big punch in historical terms In the struggle for dominion of the Mediterranean it has played a key role in centuries of sparring between the east and west Enduring occupation from the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Hospitallers, French, and British, it has a colourful and complex heritage Our focus, however, is on its earliest and most extraordinary occupation when some 5,000 years ago this tiny archipelago was home to an astonishing culture, that created elaborate stone temples and rock-cut tombs A thousand years before the Great Pyramid at Giza was erected, people on the tiny island of Malta were moving stones that weighed up to 50 tonnes to make huge temples Among the oldest ritual structures in the world, the number of them is astounding and in their complexity must have required considerable planning and organisation� Join us as we explore some of the island’s most extraordinary archaeology of a sophistication, character and quantity unparalleled elsewhere�
Tour Highlights
• Discover the extraordinary prehistoric culture, whose stone monuments predate the pyramids by over 1,000 years
• Explore the cave and associated museum at Ghar Dalam Cave, the lowest layers of which are over 500,000 years old
• Enjoy the timeless atmosphere of Valletta, Malta’s charming UNESCO World Heritage capital city
We meet at our hotel in Valletta for our first dinner together as a group.
Beginning in the town of Mġarr, we visit the two conjoined temples of Ta’ Haġrat and Mġarr built during the 4th millennium BC. We continue to the village site of Skorba,which has made a significant contribution to our understanding of early Maltese prehistory providing a stratigraphy from c5000 to 1500BC. We spend the afternoon in Mdina – The Silent City – which served as the island capital from antiquity through to the Medieval period and end the day seeing some of the renowned ‘cart ruts’ in the hillside at Buskett – features that occur on both Malta and Gozo and are comprised of parallel grooves which have been worn into the bedrock, sometimes for long distances.
A day spent exploring Valletta on foot. Founded by the Knights Hospitallers following the Great Siege of 1565, this UNESCO World Heritage Site occupies a commandeering position over two
harbours. We begin with the exceptional array of artefacts from Malta’s unique prehistoric periods in the Archaeological Museum, from man’s first arrival on the island up to the end of the Bronze Age. We also visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master’s Palace with façades of some of the many Auberges of the Knights.
Today we visit the magnificent temple sites at Haġar-Qim and Mnajdra, megalithic structures which sit clustered close together at the top of a promontory with superb views over the sea. The internal arrangement of Haġar Qim is highly complex involving what are probably many building and reconstruction phases and the lower temple at Mnajdra is astronomically aligned. Their use of as religious or ceremonial places have been determined through the on-site discoveries of animal bones, sacrificial flint, knives and rope holes, possibly used to hold sacrificial animals. In the afternoon, access permitting, we explore the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and funerary complex, a vast subterranean complex, outstandingly presented. It seems that the monument was in use for most of the
4th millennium BC. Nearby, we will visit Tarxien megalithic site, one of the most elaborate of all the Megalithic temples on the island which has undergone extensive excavation and restoration.
This morning we visit Għar Dalam, the oldest of Malta’s monuments. This water worn tunnel is approximately 15.5m above sea level and 45m deep, and is accessible for about 80m on foot. Here, large quantities of Pleistocene faunal remains (including dwarf hippos and elephants) were found, together with evidence for earliest known human activity on the island. In the afternoon we will explore Xemxija where we will walk along the heritage trail and seek out some of the rock-cut tombs dotted around the hillside. Here we will also see the RomanoPunic apiaries built into a natural cave recess. The honeycombs would have hung in vertical panels in their small chambers within easy reach of the bee keepers.
We take the short crossing by ferry to Gozo, associated by locals with Homer as the island home of Calypso, Odysseus’ temptress and captor.
The pace of life is slower here and the landscape greener. We spend all day on the island where we see Gġantija, a prehistoric megalithic complex of exceptional grandeur; the Xagħra Stone Circle, a significant funerary complex; and the ruins Santa Verna, a megalithic site left to the ravages of time. We will also visit the town of Victoria and the Archaeology Museum, which provides a small but important window onto the earliest cultures of Gozo up to the arrival of the Knights of St. John.
We make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Jeremy Bennett
A British archaeologist, Jeremy was awarded his PhD at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His research focuses on the development of agrarian landscapes of Malta and Gozo.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Valletta
Culinary inclusions
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
22nd – 28th April $5,480 $5,340 $1,345
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/amal
The sites in North Africa are vital for shedding light on other ancient peoples, notably the Phoenicians/Carthaginians, as well as the Numidians and Romans Visiting Punic sites in Africa not only sheds light on the complexity of Carthaginian urban infrastructures but poses questions about the city’s enmity with Rome and what would have happened had the Punic wars not be won by Rome� The wonder of North African archaeological sites is their fabulous state of preservation; cities such as Timgad, Dougga and Volubilis can scarce be found in Europe, whose sites have been encroached upon over succeeding millennia� At the same time, North African sites - abounding with olive oil presses, magnificent mosaics, temples and baths - pay homage to the region’s prosperity in the Roman period, when it was the bread basket of the empire
Our expanding portfolio includes a fabulous variety of tours that explore Africa, from Algeria and Sudan to Egypt and Tunisia, and we now have a brand new itinerary that will see you discover human origins in the African Savannah, taking in sites in both South Africa and Zimbabwe while offering a chance to spot the Big Five on game drives in national parks�
Egypt is also likely to be an incredibly popular destination for archaeological travellers in 2024, what with the highly anticipated opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the horizon The incredible age and audacious size of the Egyptian sites, which were seen as ancient to those living in Classical Antiquity, astonish us still today The seemingly impossible Great Pyramids of Giza, as well as the breathtaking temple complex at Karnak, underscore the prosperity and vitality of Egyptian culture over an enormous period� Perhaps more than anything, it is the longevity of Egyptian history that strains belief From the Pyramids of Meroë in Sudan's Nile Valley to the extensive and important site of the Great Zimbabwe, find your African adventure with Andante
18 DAYS
From $8,480pp SAVE UP TO $280
Departing February & October Activity Level
Separated by only a narrow body of water, Morocco and Andalucía have exchanged peoples and cultural ideas for millennia On this tour of a lifetime, you will explore the nexus between Africa and Europe, starting in the Roman period and continuing to the expulsion of Muslims and Jews in the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella
Tour Highlights
• Explore the extensive ruins of Volubilis, one of the most important archaeological sites in North Africa
• Visit Fez with its UNESCO-listed Medina, its historic buildings and its fine medieval museum
• Examine the site of Gadir, which includes remains from both the Phoenician and Roman periods
• View the extraordinary sites of Granada, the last bastion of Muslim culture in Andalucía
Meet the group at our hotel in Marrakech, and time permitting have a brief walk around the Kutubiyya Minaret and Jeema el fna Square.
We start our exploration of Marrakech with the 16th century Saadian Tombs and Baddi Palace
Later on we visit the Bahia Palace, an elaborately decorated 19th Century palace which was amongst the first to use stained glass decoratively.
This morning we visit the Mayorelle Garden and the Museum of Berber Art. Later on we travel to Rabat and on arrival visit the Hassan Tower
Founded by the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century, our exploration of Rabat this morning includes the Museum of History and Civilisation and the UNESCO listed Kasbah of Rabat. On arrival in Meknes we will visit the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and see the Bab el Mansour
We spend most of the day in the most famous archaeological site in Morocco, Volubilis. The ancient city developed from the 3rd century
BC, but really came to its own in the 1st century AD when it became capital of the kingdom of Mauretania.
In Fez we start at the UNESCO listed Medina, whose twisting streets are dotted with historic monuments and mosques. These include the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Andalusian Mosque and the Qarawiyyin University. We will also visit the 12th century tannery which is still in use.
Today we visit the little visited archaeological site of Banasa, known in antiquity as Colonia Iulia Valentia. Leaving behind the city, this is a very quiet site. We then move north towards Tangiers
We venture to the scenic town of Lixus whose material remains suggest it may have originally been a Carthaginian site. Afterwards we transfer to Tangiers and visit the Kasbah Museum.
We start the day at Tetouan where we will admire the Andalucian flavour of this city in the UNESCO-listed Medina
This morning we cross the strait of Gibraltar on a ferry and make our way to Cadiz. We spend the afternoon at the archaeological site of Baelo Claudia, Bolonia
Cadiz has been settled since at least the 2nd millennium, and we are going to explore the panoply of this city’s history. We begin with the Cadiz Museum and continue to the archaeological site of Gadir. After lunch, we explore the Roman Theatre, and Cathedral then travel on to Seville.
This morning we explore the city’s famously rich history. We start with the Metropole Parasol and its Antiquarium then proceed to the Palacio de Lebrija, which contains an important collection of Roman mosaics. After lunch we visit the wonderful Seville Cathedral then end the day at the Real Alcazar
Today we explore the most important and impressive archaeological site in Spain, Italica, the birthplace of Trajan, Hadrian and Theodosius. After lunch, we continue to Ronda to explore the city’s
melange of architecture, including the Puerta de Almocabar, the Iglesia del Espiritu Santo and the Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor
Day Fourteen | Ronda - Málaga
Ronda awaits this morning. We visit the Mondragon Palace Museum, then continue to La Casa del Rey Moro, a 14th century residence, and then the Arabic Baths. After lunch we travel to Antequera, our base for the last few nights, and visit the City Museum.
Day Fifteen | Málaga
We explore Málaga, first founded by Phoenicians and described by Ibn Battuta as one of the most beautiful cities in Al-Andalus. Our visits include the Málaga Museum, the Roman Theatre, the Church of Santiago Apostol, and the famous Alcazaba
Day Sixteen | Málaga - Córdoba - Granada
We spend the day in extraordinary Córdoba, which exemplifies perhaps more than any other city the blend of cultures found in Andalucía. We start with the Medina Azahara then continue to the Alcázar
de los Reyes Cristianos, ending our exploration with the stunning Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral Afterwards we travel to Granada where we stay for the last two nights of the tour.
Day Seventeen | Granada
Granada, Muslim until its defeat in 1485, was the last bastion of Moorish history and culture in Andalucía. Our visits here include the Cathedral built in the century of the old Muslim Medina and El Banuelo, the site of Arabic baths dating from the 11th century. A visit to the extraordinary Alhambra is a fitting end to this day.
Day Eighteen | Granada - Málaga
After the tour of a lifetime exploring the wonders of Morocco and Spain, we make our way to Málaga airport for our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Eireann Marshall in Morocco
An Honorary Research Fellow for the Open University, Eireann is bilingual and she has led many Andante tours.
Guided by Dr Doru Bogdan in Andalucia
A specialist in Roman archaeology, Doru has supervised an array of fascinating excavations.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Marrakech, Rabat, Meknes, Tangiers, Cádiz, Seville, Ronda & Málaga
Culinary inclusions
• 17 breakfasts, 16 lunch & 15 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date
11th
29th
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/amas
Roman Mauretania
10 DAYS
From $6,010pp SAVE UP TO $280
Departing February & October
Algeria is still one of the least-visited countries in the world, but access to its ruinous Classical cities is now easier than it has been for some years The sites are a palimpsest of Numidian, Roman and Byzantine remains, and include probably the best-preserved colonia anywhere in the Empire – Timgad
• Wander the perfectly preserved streets at the UNESCO-listed sites of Roman Djémila and Timgad
• In Sétif, gaze upon one of the most exquisite mosaics in all the Roman world – the fantastic ‘Triumph of Dionysus’
• Explore the Roman ‘City of Bridges’ – Constantine – and visit the evocative ruins of Hippo Regius
Meet the group in Algiers and transfer to our hotel stopping en route to admire the Makam Echahid, one of the most striking landmarks in the city and memorial to those who lost their lives during Algeria’s hard-won war for independence. After lunch we will explore the Kasbah, built on the ruins of old Icosium, a Phoenician commercial outpost later overtaken by the Romans. Little remains of its ancient past but having survived bombardment and civil war, the Casbah of Algiers remains the largest old walled city or ‘citadel’ in North Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We spend the whole of today along Mediterranean west of Algiers. Driving west we reach Cherchell, Phoenician Iol and Roman Caesarea, which was once the capital of the Numidian client King Juba II and his wife Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. Our afternoon is spent at the Roman city of Tipasa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the sea, with impressive remains both of the high Roman Empire, and of the early Christian period. We also stop at the huge cylindrical tomb, variously called the ‘Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania’ or the ‘Tomb of the Christian Woman’.
This tour’s October departure can be booked back-to-back with the October departure of our Carthage & Roman Tunisia tour (p108). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Activity Level
This morning we have time to visit the Bardo Museum, housed in a neo–Moorish Villa and the Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts, before transferring to the airport for our flight to Annaba. We arrive in Annaba in time for a late lunch and an afternoon visit to Hippo Regius. The great North African churchman later known as St. Augustine ended his days here in AD430, and we visit the remains of this once splendid city a mile to the south of modern Annaba. It was once a port, situated on an inlet which has since silted over, leaving the ruins isolated and complete, and now dominated by the basilica of St Augustine which was built on a nearby hill during the 19th century. We visit the basilica as well as the site.
We depart early this morning to visit the theatre and museum at Guelma. The Numidian Jugurtha won an important battle against the Romans here. We continue south to Khemissa, this relatively little-known or visited site was certainly a significant Numidian settlement from at least the second century AD. This huge ancient city is set in glorious surroundings, and among the ruins we find an old forum built on an artificial terrace on the north slope of the hill with shops and adjoining temples,
Batna Annaba Sétif Tiddis Timgadas well as a Basilica dating probably to the second century AD. We then head west to Constantine, making one final stop to see the tomb of Massinissa and the site at El Khroub
Our morning is spent at the beautifully situated ruined city of Tiddis, an authentic Berber site modified by Roman civilization. The site has been occupied a least since the Neolithic period and several circular ‘bazina’ burial monuments from the pre-Roman Numidian period are visible at the site. We return to Constantine for lunch and later explore this extraordinary city, dramatically situated on a plateau by a deep ravine. Here we’ll see its museum, kasbah, suspension bridge and the Palace of Ahmed Bey, one of the finest Ottomanera buildings in the country.
We journey west to the site of Djémila situated on a narrow triangular plateau, 900m above sea level and described as ‘one of the most perfect expressions of the meeting of Roman power and African beauty’. The town here is thought to have been founded by either Emperor Nerva or Trajan between AD 96 – 117 initially as a military garrison. Despite the challenging topography of the undulating landscape, its builders tried to conform, largely unsuccessfully, to Roman grid planning standards. It is partly owing to the consequent interesting layout and linear urban expansion and its good state of preservation that the site was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1982. In the afternoon we drive to Setif and end the day at the Setif Archaeological Museum, home to some unusual artefacts, but also some exceptional Roman mosaics including the ‘Triumph of Dionysus’.
An early start this morning as we make the long journey south to Timgad, the Roman city founded in AD 100 by Emperor Trajan, principally as a colony for veterans of the Legio III Augusta. This huge site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982 and is famed for its formal orthogonal grid layout of the original town plan, measuring some 355m on each side, and for the good preservation of some
of its monuments. Still visible is a rare example of a Roman Library and no less than eight bath complexes scatter the site.
Continuing south, our first stop today is at Lambaesis. This was the main military base of the Third Legion Augusta. The Legion may have numbered up to 25,000 men, recruited initially from Gaul, but later also from other Roman provinces and North Africa. The site is now rather forlorn, but parts of it, such as the amphitheatre and the four-sided arch in the military camp, are still quite substantial and worthy of some exploration. From here we drive through the spectacular scenery of the Aurès Mountains to the Biskra province which lies on the northern edge of the Sahara. We will stop on the way in the area of the gorges of Tighanimine and the breathtaking canyon of Rhouffi and we will visit the Balconies of Ghoufi where the cliffs cascade in naturally formed balconies and were used centuries ago to carve out cave dwellings from the sandstone.
We enjoy a relaxing morning visiting the Oasis of Biskra and the Palmerie at Tolga. For centuries, inhabitants of the Ziban mountain range have carefully planted and pollinated their precious date palms here – the local adage being ‘give to the date palm and she will return the favour’. There are more than 100 cultivars of dates produced from four million trees in Biskra, ensuring agriculture remains the lifeblood of the region’s economy. After lunch at the Palmerie, we transfer to Biskra airport for our flight to Algiers, arriving in time for dinner.
We transfer to Algiers airport for our independent onward journeys.
Please note that due to the unpredictable nature of local arrangements, some elements of our itinerary may be subject to change. In these circumstances, we will ensure that the integrity of our archaeological programme is not compromised but a certain degree of flexibility is required when travelling in this challenging but stunningly beautiful country.
“This was an amazing trip to a little visited Country. The sites visited were exceptional. Tony O’Connor was a brilliant Guide Lecturer who brought the history of the sites to life.”
Mr West, October 2022
Guided by Tony O’Connor Join Tony on our 27th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Lamarz Arts Hotel, Sheraton Annaba Hotel, Protea Hotel by Marriott Constantine, Novotel Setif, Hotel MessouadiBatna, Hotel Nail Zakaria - Biskra or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 9 breakfasts, 8 lunch & 9 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
25th Feb - 5th Mar $6,290 $6,010 $880
27th Oct - 5th Nov $6,290 $6,010 $880
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aalg
15 DAYS
“It was an excellent and full experience: Tony's accounts of the sites were very accessible and informative, Mary's care of everyone in the group was second to none, and the friendliness of Sami (our local guide) completed a highly satisfactory trip.”
Guest, February 2023
From $5,910pp SAVE UP TO $280 Departing February Activity Level
Tunisia has some of the best preserved Roman cities in the world and many retain the romance of ruins in the countryside unspoiled by mass tourism Starting with Carthage, we travel south through ruined towns of the high Roman Empire before continuing to the landscapes of the salt chotts, palm oases and dunes of the south
Tour Highlights
• Explore Tunisia’s historical sites from Carthage and Rome to fortified Berber villages
• Traverse the vivid white landscape of the chotts, its salt structures shaped by the desert wind
• View the mosques and medinas of Kairouan’s rich architectural and historical heritage
• Discover a treasure trove of Roman mosaics remarkable for the intricate beauty of their design
We meet at our hotel in Tunis.
Today we explore what remains of that once great Phoenician city, Carthage. We start at the Byrsa Hill site, where Dido is said to have first founded her city, and we continue to the site of the Tophet, where the cremated remains of thousands of children were found. Later we visit the Cothon, the Punic harbour and the impressive Antonine Baths, ending our day at the amphitheatre.
Travelling south, we stop en route to examine a section of the longest aqueducts built in the Roman Empire. A short drive takes us Oudna, where we explore the remains of its substantial public buildings, before continuing to Thuburbo Majus, originally a Numidian settlement in the midst of rich farming country.
We journey to Dougga via Testour, a small town characterised by its unique blend of Spanish and local influences. Later, we visit the magnificent site of Dougga, perched high on the hill above olive groves. One of the oldest towns in Tunisia, Dougga
began life as a Numidian walled citadel and was built over by the Romans.
This morning we visit the ancient site of Musti Once a town of some importance, the site has been neglected and is still largely unexcavated. We continue north to Bulla Regia to explore its superbly preserved, subterranean Roman houses. After our visit here we start the long journey south to Kairouan.
We spend the day in Kairouan, the fourth holiest city of Islam. We visit the Aghlabid pools, reservoirs built on the outskirts of the city in the 9th century, the Barber Mosque and also the Great Mosque – one of the major monuments of Islam and an architectural masterpiece. In the afternoon we explore the Medina with its network of winding streets, shops and courtyard houses.
We depart early this morning for our long drive south to Tozeur. We will stop en route to see the extraordinary wall at Bir Oum Ali. Reaching Tozeur around lunchtime, we will take a walk through the old town in the afternoon.
Tozeur
Teboursouk
Dougga
Tunis
Carthage
Oudna
Thuburbo
Majus
Kairouan
Kerkouane
Nabeul
Sousse
El Djem
A day to relax or explore. Walk among the date palms, visit the rock formation of of Ong Jemal where Star Wars was filmed or choose to visit the oases of Chebika and Tamerza (pre-bookable, payable locally).
Today we cross the vast salt flats known as the chotts. A layer of superficial water can occasionally be seen during winter, but for most of the year the area is desiccated by the sun, leaving a residual film of salt. After lunch we visit Tamezret, a traditional village of the indigenous Amazigh people.
During our last day on the fringes of the Sahara, we explore some of the unusual architecture of the region. We visit one of the troglodyte houses, which are scattered in and around Matmata, and we will also see a ksar, a form of fortified village, which is common in southern Tunisia.
Its an early departure this morning for our long return journey to the north. We will break our journey with a visit to El Djem, where we explore the massive amphitheatre – the sixth largest in the world. Afterwards we visit the museum, which houses some of the most impressive mosaics in Tunisia, and outside in the museum gardens, the foundations of some large Roman townhouses –some with mosaics still in situ.
A rather more leisurely start awaits us this morning, with time to relax before we visit Sousse and its museum, housed in part of the Kasbah. The displays here include an exceptionally fine series of mosaics. Many are arranged on the floors and walls of the patio, and in a group of rooms beyond the garden. We continue to the coast and our hotel near Hammamet.
Today we travel along the beautiful coastline of the Cap Bon peninsula to Kerkouane, considered to be the best preserved Punic town in Africa. After lunch we continue to Nabeul to see its small museum before visiting the site of ancient Neapolis, a city founded by Greek immigrants in the 5th century BC.
This morning we visit the world-famous Bardo Museum, which ranks alongside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo as one of the two great museums in North Africa. In the afternoon we will take a walk through the narrow streets of the 9th century medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before returning to our hotel in Hammamet for some free time.
Our tour comes to an end and we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Tony O’Connor
A specialist in the Roman Empire, Tony has excavated widely across Britain, Europe and North Africa.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Dar Said, Hotel Thugga, Hotel Kasbah, Hotel Dar Horchani, a hotel in Douz & Hotel Sindbad or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 14 breakfasts, 13 lunch & 14 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
19th Feb - 4th Mar $6,190 $5,910 $835
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/anst
Stand before the mighty ancient amphitheatre of El Djem
10 DAYS
From $3,945pp SAVE UP TO $280
Departing April & October
A land where dramatic events shaped ancient history – the superpowers of Carthage and Rome clashed in three Punic Wars, which determined the course of Western history Lasting over 100 years, this conflict resulted in the destruction of Carthage and assured Roman ascendancy Superb sites and changing landscapes, from rolling hills and olive groves to sparkling sea, makes this an excellent tour
Tour Highlights
• Visit the incredible El Djem amphitheatre, Africa’s largest and best preserved
• Gaze upon some of the world’s most impressive mosaics at the Bardo, Sousse and El Djem museums
• Tour a selection of little-known sites, including Mustis and Ain Tounga as well as the Bulla Regia
• Explore the UNESCO-listed sites of Dougga and Kairouan, and the beautifully preserved site of Kerkouane
Activity Level
We meet at our hotel in Tunis.
Today is devoted to Carthage, now a wealthy suburb of Tunis, but scattered with the remains of this once great Phoenician city. We start our day at Byrsa Hill, once the citadel and a central feature of the Punic settlement. There are fantastic views over the modern city from here. Next we continue to the disquieting Salambo Tophet, a cemetery which contained the remains of children who were sacrificed to Tanit, after they were already dead, or, more likely, as live victims. We also visit the Cothon, or harbour, testament to Carthage’s famous maritime might; the Roman Antonine Baths, one of the largest in the whole of the Roman empire and the huge cisterns which supplied them.
This morning we begin with a visit to the famous Bardo Museum, situated in an old Beylical palace. It houses one of the most important collections of mosaics anywhere in the world. Highlights include the Virgil Mosaic and the Odysseus Mosaic, as well as many depicting beast hunts. There is a wonderful collection of Carthaginian artefacts and Paleo Christian baptisteries. In the afternoon we study a
section of the Carthage aqueduct at Jebel Oust, before exploring nearby Oudna, a city established by Emperor Augustus for retired soldiers of the Third Legion.
We drive west to Dougga, one of the best preserved and most famous ancient sites in North Africa. Here, we visit the theatre and famous Capitolium. We also explore bath complexes, houses and sanctuaries, all in the kind of peace no longer found at European sites. Dougga is one of the Roman world’s best sites and a visit here is always a memorable one.
We start at the ancient site of Musti, once a town of some importance but still largely unexcavated before continuing north to Bulla Regia. The city was made the Numidian capital by Massinissa and here we will explore a bath complex, as well as a series of houses, replete with mosaics, which have underground rooms, offering their elite owners protection from the African heat. These houses include the impressive House of the Hunt and the House of Amphitrite. From here, we continue north to Hammamet.
We journey south to the delightful and little visited site of Thuburbo Majus. Originally Punic (though it has a characteristic Th sound associated with Numidian cities), the city was later re-founded as a Roman veteran colony in the Augustan period. Here we will explore the forum, dominated by the Capitolium, before moving on to the Winter Baths
and Summer Baths. In between the two, there is the well-preserved Palaestra of Petronius, which belonged to the Summer Baths, and a memorable latrine. We walk up to view some temples with a Punic flavour: the Temple of Baalit and Temple of Caelestis, both Romanised names of Punic goddesses. Later this afternoon, we travel to Kairouan, Tunisia’s most important religious city, founded by the Umayyads in the 7th century AD.
Today we make our way southeast to El Djem. Originally a Numidian city called Thysdrus, El Djem was particularly wealthy in the 2nd century AD and into the late antique period when it was an olive oil production centre. On the back of this wealth, the city built several amphitheatres, the most important of which was built in the 3rd century AD and is one of the largest in the empire. We will explore this huge structure – visible for miles – and continue to the museum of El Djem, which has a wonderful collection of mosaics, as well as in situ houses, which provide glimpses of the city’s wealth. This afternoon we return to Kairouan to visit the Great Mosque, which has a plethora of reused Roman pillars and lintels and explore the city’s medina.
We travel to Sousse to visit its museum, located in the city’s 12th century kasbah and which has the second largest collection of mosaics in the world, after the Bardo. The earliest artefacts in the museum date from the city’s Punic period, when it was called Hadrumetus. The most splendid, however, date from the prosperous Roman period, when the citizens of Hadrumetum, made rich from trade, could afford the best mosaics in the Roman empire. Here we will see mosaics which testify to this maritime background, the most famous of which is the large mosaic of Neptune on his chariot. From here we continue north to Hammamet.
Today we drive along the Cap Bon Peninsula, the point of Tunisia that is closest to Sicily. Our morning will be spent at Kerkouane, a UNESCO-listed site overlooking the sea. It was inhabited from the 7th
to 3rd century BC and it was abandoned after the first Punic War, making it the only purely Punic site in Africa. The highlights of this site are the houses that typically contain bathtubs waterproofed with a pinkish mortar. We visit the site museum, which has interesting remains from the nearby necropolis. We have a picnic on site here before travelling to Nabeul – today famed for its ceramics but in antiquity a trading port founded by Cyrene. On arrival, we visit the museum to view its mosaics and to read about the production of garum in the area.
We transfer to Tunis airport for our independent onward journeys.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Dar Said, La Kasbah Hotel, The Sindbad & Hotel Thugga or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 8 breakfasts, 7 lunch & 8 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner Dates
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/acrt
From $8,895pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing February & September
The archaeology of ancient Egypt is one of the most instantly recognisable of all the great civilisations This is a narrative of power, vision and ambition� The monuments of Egypt are much more than dry and dusty stones – through the expertise of our Guide Lecturers, we get to ‘meet’ the real ancient Egyptians
• Experience the delights of cruising the famous River Nile
• Discover the impressive temple site of Abu Simbel
• See the grand gallery as well as the royal burial chamber of the Great Pyramid of Khufu
• Explore the enigmatic Valleys of the Kings and Queens, and pay a visit to the exceptionally well-preserved tomb of Nefertari
Meet the group in Cairo – this buzzing, energetic metropolis that is Egypt’s extraordinary capital – a city that Egyptians admiringly refer to as ‘the Mother of the World’.
We start our day with a visit to Saqqara, a vast necropolis to the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. We discover the incredible Step Pyramid of Djoser, the smooth-sided Pyramids of Unas and the Mastaba of Mereruka. After lunch we visit Memphis and its open-air museum, its highlight being the extraordinary fallen colossus of Ramesses II.
This morning, we pay a visit to the pyramid complex on the Giza Plateau, including the Great Pyramid –a true wonder of ancient world, where atmospheric passageways lead to the breathtaking grand gallery and royal burial chamber. We also explore the Valley Temple of Khafra and the enigmatic Great Sphinx. In the afternoon, we enjoy a visit to the new Grand Egyptian Museum*, where the world’s most extensive exhibition in pharaonic artefacts
can be seen. Among the treasures on display are the solid gold mask of Tutankhamun and the Narmer Palette. The new museum is also now home to King Khufu’s Solar Boat
We fly from Cairo to Luxor. Later we take a boat across the river to have lunch and then afterwards proceed to the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, a stunning collection of shrines that have been largely restored to their former glory.
This morning we lose ourselves in the captivating complex of Karnak. Here, we encounter the cult temple of Amun-Ra, chief of the deities of the New Kingdom. This is a spectacular multi-period location with a wealth of religious and historical inscriptions at every turn. In the afternoon, we visit the famous Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank at Thebes. These two enormous statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III stand at a towering 18-metres high, and were erected to guard the entrance of the pharaoh’s memorial temple. Afterwards, we visit the Qurna tombs of Ramose, Userhet and Khaemhet
The Valley of the Kings awaits us today. This was the final resting place of royals and nobility for almost 500 years, with excavations dating the site back as far as the 16th century BC. Its most notable occupant is, of course, King Tutankhamun, so famously discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, and since returned to his original burial place where he now lies undisturbed. After lunch, we visit the Valley of the Queens, which includes the exceptionally preserved Tomb of Nefertari, who was the wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II.
Our first visit today is at the Ramesseum, with its fallen colossus of Ramesses II, an astounding testament to the Pharaoh’s reign. Afterwards, we make our way to Medinet Habu, arguably the bestpreserved temple of the New Kingdom. On the East Bank we check in to our Nile cruise boat. After lunch on board, we explore Luxor Temple, with its avenue of sphinxes, military reliefs and gorgeous
papyrus columns. Our afternoon continues with a visit to the best and oldest – Aboudi’s Bookshop, the world’s best English language Egyptological bookshop.
The fantastic Luxor Museum is a real treat - a masterfully arranged collection of archaeological artefacts and home to celebrated works of art, including the famous statue of Tuthmosis III, an extraordinary figure carved from greywacke. We return to our boat and enjoy lunch before we set sail to Edfu
We make our way to the temples of the gods of Upper Egypt, starting with the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Towering at a jaw-dropping 37 metres, it’s decorated with vivid scenes of King Ptolemy VIII destroying his enemies before Horus. The complex even houses an Nilometer, a structure made to measure the depth and clarity of flooding Nile water. This afternoon, we explore the Temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder at Kom Ombo and the site’s Crocodile Museum.
Today we make our way to ancient Egypt’s southern border and visit the impressive Temple of Isis in Philae. The flooding of Lake Nasser caused the whole complex to be moved from its original location. After a stop at Aswan (High) Dam, we visit the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry. After lunch on the boat, time permitting we will visit the Nubian Museum.
It’s an early morning start as we disembark the MS Tulip and transfer to Aswan Airport and fly to Abu Simbel. Here, we make the most of our last day exploring what is considered to be Egypt’s most impressive temple site, home to temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari. After lunch, we fly to Cairo, where a farewell dinner awaits this evening.
Today we make our independent onward journeys..
“Well organised, full itinerary and excellent guides, every care taken of each member of the group, a very enjoyable experience.”
Guest, September 2022
A specialist in the archaeology of ancient Egypt, Lucia has been leading tours to this country for over 20 years.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes (including port taxes) & gratuities Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel, Pavillon Winter Luxor Hotel, 4 nights aboard MS Tulip & Le Meridien Cairo Airport or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 10 dinners (plus 1 snack in hotel room due to late arrival)
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner (all other drinks in the hotels and on board the ship are payable locally)
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
13th - 24th Feb $9,035 $8,895 $1,520
24th Sep - 5th Oct $9,035 $8,895 $1,520
*subject to the new museum being open
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aegh
Guided by Lucia GahlinLooking for a longer break?
An archaeological road trip from Cairo to Aswan
From $8,320pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing February
The monuments of ancient Egypt are unmissable, but the best known can be teeming with visitors This tour goes off the beaten track to rarely visited sites� Still spectacular, these sites are of the utmost archaeological importance Geographically, culturally and historically comprehensive, this tour travels all the way from Cairo to Aswan
Tour Highlights
• Discover two new fabulous Museums - the Grand Egyptian Museum* and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation
• A rarely taken road trip, stopping off at fascinating sites such as Tuna el-Gebel, El-Tod and Gebel el-Silsila
• Visit the remains of the ancient capital city of the intriguing ‘heretic’ Pharaoh Akhenaten at Amarna
• Discover the finest art of ancient Egypt, created during the reign of Seti I, which is showcased in his temples and glorious tomb
Day Two | Cairo
Day Three | Saqqara - Abusir
temple tombs of Tutankhamun’s treasurer Maya and general Horemheb. We also visit the Serapeum, catacombs for the sacred Apis bulls. After lunch, we have a special permit to visit Abusir, the pyramids of the 5th dynasty pharaohs, and the tomb of Ptahshepses. Tonight, there is an optional Sound & Light Show at the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza.
Day Four | Cairo - Minya
Day Five | Tell el-Amarna
Day Six | Minya - Abydos
We also visit the vast catacombs for ibis and baboons, associated with the god Thoth, and impressive tombs such as that of a High Priest of Thoth c300 BC – Petosiris, whose reliefs combine Greek and Egyptian styles. After a picnic lunch, we drive south to Abydos.
Day Seven | Abydos - Luxor
Day Eight | Luxor
special visit to the Tomb of Seti I, regarded as the area’s most impressive. After lunch, we complement our visit to the tomb of Seti I with a visit to his memorial temple (the ‘Qurna Temple’). Before heading back, we visit two of the Tombs of the Nobles – the vibrantly painted burial chamber of Sennefer and the intricately decorated funerary chapel of Rekhmire.
A visit to Luxor would not be complete without exploring Karnak. Here, we discover the lesservisited parts of this vast site, including the Open Air Museum and Temple of Mut. After lunch we visit El Tod, where we find the remains of the rarely visited Temple of Montu – the falcon-headed god of warfare.
Today we take a drive south to Aswan, stopping at two sites en route. In the morning, we visit the nobles’ tombs at El Kab, including that of Ahmose, son of Abana, whose tomb inscription is the key primary source for the Theban expulsion of the Hyksos from Egypt in c1550 BC. We eat our picnic lunch en route to Gebel el-Silsila, a site rich in tombs and shrines, and evidence for ancient quarrying. The highlight here is a rock-cut temple known as the ‘Speos of Horemheb’.
We explore the lives of ancient inhabitants of this frontier town, their houses, temples and tombs. In the morning, we visit the rock-cut tombs at
Qubbet el-Hawa. The important local inhabitants buried here include Harkhuf, who was so proud of a letter sent to him by the boy-king Pepi II that he had it inscribed on the façade of his tomb. After lunch, we visit the site of Elephantine. This evening, there is an optional Sound & Light Show at the Temple of Philae.
We bid farewell to Egypt and make our independent onward journeys.
“Lucia and Galal are a class act - they should go on leading tours together in Egypt for ever! It was all a wonderful experience and I learned so much from both our leaders including, of course, a respect for such an advanced culture so long ago.”
Guest, October 2022
Guided by Lucia Gahlin
A specialist in the archaeology of ancient Egypt, Lucia has been leading tours to this country for over 20 years.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Le Méridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa, Nefertiti Hotel, House of Life Abydos Hotel, Pavillon Winter Luxor Hotel & Mövenpick Hotel Aswan or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 10 dinners (plus 1 snack in hotel room due to late arrival)
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Not included in the price
• Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids of Giza
• Sound and Light Show at the Temple of Philae
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
25th Feb - 7th Mar $8,460 $8,320 $1,660
*subject to the new museum being open
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aebt
Discover the capital of the Ptolemies, one of the greatest cities of the Hellenistic and Roman world. To find out how to add this extension to your tour and what is included, please contact our Specialist Sales Executives.
14 DAYS
From $12,195pp
Departing March
Southern Africa’s vast and open expanses hide a wealth of archaeology – from some of the earliest evidence of human ancestors who left behind stone tools and skeletons to kingdoms who traded gold and ivory beyond China There are thousands of Stone Age sites in the wild, caves and rock shelters, inland and along the coast, that have recorded the way of life and history of people in the region over nearly two million years From the famous Sterkfontein Caves to the relatively unknown archaeological treasures over the border in Zimbabwe, this is a fabulous opportunity to explore the far depths of the human past in the company of an expert in human origins while revelling in the magnificent Savannah landscapes in which humankind developed
• Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Cradle of Humankind and Great Zimbabwe
• Adventure into the bush on a walking rock art safari at Berg en Dal
• Admire the paintings depicted at Koaxa’s Shelter, opening up the hidden world of the ancient San people
• Explore Mapungubwe, one of the glories of South African archaeology
On arrival in Johannesburg, we continue to Maropeng where we start our introduction to human origins with a visit to the Maropeng Visitor Centre. Later, we transfer to our hotel and check in.
Continuing our exploration of the Cradle of Humankind, we start today with the Sterkfontein Caves. Finds here included the 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull, and “Little Foot”, an almost complete skeleton more than three million years old. In the afternoon we visit nearby Swartkrans, rich in archaeological material and a prominent fossil site. There is evidence which suggests that more than one species of hominin lived in the region at the same time.
We visit two important museums today. First, the Origins Centre in Braamfontein. The centre displays an extensive collection of rock art from the Rock Art Research Institute at Wits University and follows the path of hominin innovation that began
over two million years ago. Offering a stark contrast to the morning, we visit the Apartheid Museum in the afternoon, a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience. The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, filmmakers, historians and designers. The Apartheid Museum is critical to our understanding of this beautiful and troubled country.
This morning we journey north to Polokwane in Limpopo, stopping en route at Arend Dieperink Museum to set the scene for tomorrow’s explorations. The museum charts the history of the town and its surroundings from the discoveries at Makapan’s Cave right through to the Anglo-Boer War. Here we will take a step back in time to look at the cultural heritage of the Afrikaans people, particularly in what is now Limpopo province, but was once Transvaal, one of the three Boer Republics.
Activity Level
Nalatale
Bulawayo
Polokwane
Johannesburg
Berg en Dal
Great Zimbabwe
Mapungubwe NP
Tzaneen
Kruger NP
Maropeng
Swartkrans
Transferring to 4x4s, we travel to Makapansegat, an important Palaeolithic site that is littered with caves. At Makapansgat we will gain insight into one of the most famous hominin sites in the world – the Limeworks Cave, the oldest cave within the complex. Searches here revealed remains of about 40 individuals of Australopithecus africanus a species of hominin dating from 2.5 to 3 million years ago or more. Moving on in time we will also visit the Cave of Hearths which will show us something of how hand axe makers lived half a million years ago and the importance of their surrounding landscape to their survival.
We make our way to Mapungubwe National Park, an expansive Savannah landscape which was once a large kingdom before its abandonment in the 14th century. Situated in the far north of South Africa, where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet, it is geologically rich, scenically beautiful and has an impressive biodiversity. We explore the bush
land and climb up to the site’s lost city on the Mapungubwe Hill. Mapungubwe is one of the glories of South African archaeology. A little earlier than its more famous neighbour Great Zimbabwe, this city was connected through its trading links to an Indian Ocean-sized trading web, which reached to India and the great imperial court of far off China. This magical place is a must see.
Today we drive to Koaxa’s Shelter in our search for rock art. The paintings depicted here will take your breath away and open up the hidden world of the ancient San people. You can almost hear them conversing in their klick language as they painted their experiences and beliefs. These 200 images of fine detail, depicting at least 16 animal species including lion, hyena, mongoose and locusts are almost as bright and moving as the day they were painted.
We continue south to Kruger National Park today, one of the prime game-watching destinations in the world. This area has an incredibly diverse ecosystem and is home to an impressive array of wildlife: lions, cheetah, rhinos and buffalo wander a 20,000km square expanse of parkland. We arrive in time for lunch and a late afternoon game drive.
An adventure today at Berg en Dal, where we walk through the bush on the hunt for rock art scattered on boulders across the landscape. The sites here bring us face-to-face with the modern difficulties of preservation. The beauty and fragility of the rock art scattered amongst the bush will stay with you. We have some free time today to relax and rest before our return to Johannesburg.
After an optional early morning game drive, we make the journey back to Johannesburg where will stay before our onward travel to Zimbabwe tomorrow.
We take a flight from Johannesburg to Bulawayo this morning arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon we journey to Great Zimbabwe, known locally as “Dzimba Dzamabwe” meaning the house of stone or stone buildings. We will overnight nearby ready for our site visit tomorrow.
We dedicate most of our day to the extensive site of the Great Zimbabwe, the largest and most important capital of the vast Shona Kingdom which at its peak controlled 100,000 km² between the Zambesi and Limpopo rivers. We will examine its extraordinary stonework and the fascinating architecture of its Great Enclosure as well as the finds from the site displayed at its museum. There will be some free time in the afternoon to spend relaxing or you could choose an optional game drive in the Lake Mutirikwi Recreational Park.
We make our way back to Bulawayo stopping en route at the Madzimbabwe of Nalatale, in the remote Somabula Flats in central Zimbabwe. Nalatale was once the capital of the Butua Kingdom, which rose to prominence following the decline of Great Zimbabwe. The ruins are unique for their intricate herringbone, chevron and chequer-patterned stone walls.
We make our last site visit this morning and take a short trip to Khami on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Continuously inhabited for 40,000 years, Khami was the court of the Rozvi’s Mombo dynasty and later an important spiritual shrine of the Ndebele. This afternoon we take our return flight to Johannesburg for our independent onward journeys.
Guided by John MacNabb
Senior Lecturer in Palaeolithic Archaeology at Southampton University since 2010, John has researched widely within South Africa including Makapansgat.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Johannesburg, Polokwane, Mapungubwe National Park, Tzaneen, Kruger National Park, Great Zimbabwe & Bulawayo
Culinary inclusions
• 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches & 13 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
31st Mar - 13th Apr $12,195 $1,100
The deposit payable on this tour is $1,500pp
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/asaz
With a range of tours that can take you from Saudi Arabia to Turkey and from Jordan to Israel, and from sites that include the rock-cut city of Petra and the ancient city of Tel Megiddo or 'Armageddon', the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are truly astounding places to explore from an archaeological perspective
Anatolia and the Levant were central to the development of permanent settlements and to the agricultural revolution
The domestication of crops in the beginning of the Holocene, which saw a transformation in the natural environment with the introduction of irrigation and deforestation, was later accompanied by the domestication of animals and, later, by the development of pottery� This fundamental change in the lifestyles of humans is hotly debated as scholars contest a variety of questions, including whether permanent settlements gave rise to the development of farming or whether the advent of farming gave rise to static habitations� For these questions, Göbekli Tepe in Turkey is instrumental The site, which dates to the 10th millennium, houses several monumental circular buildings which appear to have a religious aspect to them, and which may have serviced peoples coming from a wide area� What is interesting is that dwellings and evidence of cultivation haven’t yet been found, which may give clues to the development of permanent settlements Turkey is also home to Çatalhöyük, dating from the 8th to the 6th millennium BC, which provides invaluable evidence for the development of this agricultural revolution a few millennia after Göbekli Tepe
Both Anatolia and the Levant also prospered in Classical Antiquity, as is clear from the proliferation of such outstanding archaeological sites as the Lebanese site of Baalbek with its enormous Temple of Bacchus, as well as the Anatolian sites of Ephesus, Pergamum and Aphrodisias with their stunning collection of monuments What is, perhaps, not emphasised enough is how multicultural this part of the world is, as is particularly evident with the Nabateans who produced the stunning rock cut buildings, such as the Monastery and Treasury in Petra, as well as those found in the Saudi Arabian city of Hegra The Levant also houses a number of impressive castles, notably Kerak, erected in the medieval period and instrumental in understanding the crusades and concomitant Christian attempts to regain the Holy Land
11 DAYS
From $5,110pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April & October
The ruined cities of the famously beautiful Aegean coast of Turkey were once some of the most powerful in the ancient world From, if Homer is to be believed, the site of the legendary conflict between Greeks and Trojans, Troy, to the World Heritage Site of Hierapolis The remains of these splendid cities are set in a breath-taking landscape of rugged limestone peaks, plunging valleys, olive groves, pine forests and flower-dotted meadows, with the glittering blue waters of the Aegean Sea as a constant backdrop We travel widely along the littoral of the Aegean and occasionally towards the interior in search of these evocative sites Our journey ranges through time, too, reaching back to the early Bronze Age kingdoms, the time of the Hittite Empire and the Homeric period
• Gaze upon the mighty walls of Troy as everyone from Achilles to Alexander the Great has desired to do
• Explore remarkably well-preserved classical cities such as Pergamon, Miletus and Aphrodisias, and discover a range of evocative lesser-known ruins
• Discover the Hagia Sophia, one of the most remarkable ancient structures in the world
We meet at our hotel in the historic district of Sultanhamet.
Istanbul is kaleidoscopic and every street yields a different refraction. We explore some of its major sites today including the magnificent Hagia Sophia, Yerbatan Sarayi a cavernous and palatial Byzantine underground water cistern, the Hippodrome with its Egyptian obelisk and the Blue Mosque with its richly decorated interior.
We make the long journey around the sea of Marmara to Çannakale where we take the ferry across the Dardanelles and continue to Troy. This is a place to quicken the senses and it is tantalising to imagine the Greek army ranged across the landscape while Paris paced the walls of the city and Hector duelled with Achilles. Its first excavator, Heinrich Schliemann dug between 1871 and 1879 cutting through nine later levels to get to the second, which he thought was ‘Homeric’ Troy.
Following later excavations, we now know that the sixth level (1750-1300 BC) is most likely Homer’s city.
This morning, we drive from sea level up to the site of Assos, one of the most beautifully situated sites in Turkey, perched on a prominent hilltop overlooking the Aegean and Sappho’s island of Lesbos. The city was founded by colonists from the island around 900 BCE and it enjoyed is peak in the 4th century when students came to attend its school of philosophy; Aristotle was one of them. The site has a fine set of city walls, magnificent theatre and the famous Doric Temple of Athena situated on the east side of the acropolis. From here it could easily be seen by approaching ships and its position is as striking today as it must have been in antiquity. This afternoon we continue to Ayvalik.
We spend the day at the Hellenistic city of Pergamon, one of the greatest ancient cities in Turkey, whose extensive remains range across
Activity Level
a dramatic rocky outcrop reached by cable car. Our explorations include the Acropolis and the extraordinary precipitous theatre, more landscape architecture than public building. After lunch we visit Pergamon Museum and the Aesclepium. This was the shrine of the healing God Asclepius whose cult became one of the most popular in the ancient world. Pilgrims would visit the shrine, take part in rituals and then be visited by the god in their sleep to be healed. Equally revived, we continue to Izmir.
Our first visit of the day is to the Agora of Smyrna, located in the Mezarlıkbası neighbourhood of Izmir. Built during the reign of Alexander the Great, it served as a commercial, judicial, and political centre of the ancient city. Recent excavations here have promoted a tentative World Heritage listing as part of the historic port of Izmir. We continue inland to Sardis, a city that has always functioned as a centre of Power. We see its massive gymnasium and bathhouse, and the finely preserved Temple of Artemis We continue to Pamukkale, the limestone ‘cotton castle’ of calcite pools with warm thermal
Pamukkale Istanbul Kusadasi Assos Ayvalik Izmirsprings. Located in the River Menderes Valley, the Roman ruins here remain remarkably wellpreserved.
Today we explore ancient Hierapolis, which benefited hugely from the nearby thermal springs, with its extensive tombs and the oracular Temple of Apollo. Adjacent to the temple lies the Plutonium, a shrine of the lord of the underworld. It conceals a vent which does still release noxious fumes. This would have been used to induce trance like states and is the source of the oracular powers of the temple. The limescale formations with cascading pools and hot springs make this site very picturesque. In the afternoon we visit Laodicea, a site largely unknown until 2003 when excavations revealed its history dates to 5,500 BCE, with the city’s peak occurring between the first and third centuries AD. With a population estimated at around 80,000 at that time, Laodicea was far larger than Hierapolis.
We travel east up the long valley of the Menderes River, through magnificent scenery to Aphrodisias
The river appears in Homer’s Iliad and was noted in antiquity for the winding course it struck through the hills. We get our own word Meander, for a winding river, from this ancient original. Aphrodisias was capital of the Roman province of Caria and the mountains surrounding this idyllic site produce very fine white Carian marble. The city became famous for its sculptors and traces of their work can be seen everywhere.
We spend the morning at Priene, which is set on a peaceful wooded hillside beneath a towering limestone peak. The Temple of Athena stands as a substantial ruin. The city was never large and was forced to shift its lotion due to the silting of its harbour by the Menderes River. From here we follow in the footsteps of the Greeks to Didyma
Originally a Carian city it became an Ionian Greek settlement with a huge temple that housed a shrine and oracle of Apollo, famed for its religious festival, the Didymea. A number of significant personalities
participated in the festivals including Alexander the Great and in AD 129 Emperor Hadrian. We end the day at Miletus, well built with its regular street grid on a peninsula. This was the home of Hippodamus of Miletus, among others, who is credited as inventing regular city organisation, the origin of town planning no less!
Our tour culminates at Ephesus, one of western Turkey’s highlights. This was one of the richest cities in Asia Minor and continued to thrive through the Roman period. Ephesus was famed for its gigantic temple and sanctuary of Diana/Artemis, built in around 550 BC it was reckoned one of the wonders of the ancient world and a major example of Ionic architecture. A single column now marks its sad remains. Images of the famous cult statue were extensively copied in the ancient world, the goddess draped with sacrificial remains. The city is full of fine architecture, including the restored but harmonious library of Celsius. After exploring the city, we visit the museum that houses treasures from the site. We end the day at the fortifications and Basilica of St. John at Selçuk
We drive to Izmir, where the tour ends, and make our independent onward journeys.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Istanbul, Assos, Ayvalik, Izmir, Pamukkale, Kusadasi
Culinary inclusions
• 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 10 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
15th - 25th Apr $5,250 $5,110 $1,000
26th Oct - 5th Nov $5,250 $5,110 $1,000
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aaeg
11 DAYS
From $6,385pp SAVE UP TO $140
Departing July
Join us on an exceptionally beautiful journey into a part of Turkey seldom penetrated by mainstream tourism Travelling through dramatic landscapes between the Black Sea and Lake Van, we explore the Kingdom of the Uratu which, for around 3 centuries, rivalled the mighty Assyrian Empire to the south We learn more about these intriguing people and explore some of the many evocative sites which litter this frontier land from summit forts, spectacularly situated castles, exquisite medieval churches, ruined palaces and caravanserai We end our journey at the glorious Lake Van, one of Turkey’s best kept secrets Fringed by tawny-hued peaks soaring to 13000 foot, this glittering, placid inland sea once sat aside a major branch of the Silk Road
Tour Highlights
• Learn more about the history of these little-visited parts of Turkey in the company of an expert
• Explore the remote kingdom of Urartu and the ruined medieval Armenian city of Ani
• Discover the Greek Orthodox Sumela Monastery, which is built into the side of a sheer cliff in a remote mountain valley
• Admire spectacular scenery - a tour to this part of the world is picturesque and surprising in equal parts
Meet the group in Trabzon, located on the historic Silk Road, and we check into our hotel upon arrival.
Today, we tour Trabzon, once an important Greek colony on the Black Sea. We view the outside of the 13th century Church of Hagia Sophia, with its unusual late-Byzantine relief carvings, and the impressive citadel built on a spur of land sloping down towards the Black Sea. We then travel up into the lower reaches of the Pontic Alps to visit as much as is possible of the Sumela Monastery Spectacularly built into a sheer cliff it dates from the 6th century and it boasts some fine fresçoes. We then drive over the dramatic Zigana Pass and follow the old Silk Road to Erzurum, the highest city in the country.
We walk around the historic city of Erzurum, visiting a number of atmospheric buildings left by the Saltukid and other Islamic dynasties. These
Guest, June 2022
Activity Level
include the 13th century Çifte Minare Medrese (Double-minaret religious school), the glazed-tile adorned Yakutiye Medrese, a number of elegant tombs with conical roofs, and the Ulu Cami (Friday Mosque), notable for its wooden dome. The afternoon journey onto Kars is beautiful, taking us through remote country where rivers have cut deep gorges through the mountainous landscape.
Today we head out east from Kars to the frontier with the modern Republic of Armenia. Here lies the medieval ‘ghost’ town of Ani, a once powerful, church-filled settlement astride a branch of the Silk Route. We admire the fresçoes within the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, before returning to Kars in the afternoon. Here, we visit the impressive crag-top citadel, the 10th century Armenian Church of the Holy Apostles (now a mosque) and some fine late 19th century Russian houses and administrative buildings.
“We had an excellent, well-chosen itinerary, and superb staff looking after us. This was the best Andante tour I have taken.”
This morning we drive to Doğubayazit. Our main focus here is the romantic 17th century Ishak Pasha Palace, a wonderfully ornate and architecturally intricate palace dramatically situated on a limestone ridge with superb views over the Ararat Plain below. Weather permitting, the views to Mount Ararat from Doğubeyazit are superb.
We drive over the near 10,000 feet high Tendurek Pass, past frozen lava flows, and get our first tantalising glimpses of Lake Van, a startlingly blue high-altitude soda lake seven times larger than Lake Geneva. Navigating the northern shore of the lake, we pass beneath towering Mount Suphan to the medieval city of Ahlat, famed for its monumental tombs and elaborately carved gravestones.
Today we visit Nemrut Dag (Mt Nemrut), located on the southwest shores of Lake Van. This dormant volcano, over 9,500ft in height, has three lakes within its massive crater, and was an obsidian source in Neolithic times. After lunch we drive south to the former caravan town of Bitlis, then continue to Por where we visit a Kurdish village once inhabited by Armenian Christians. Here you will visit a small
7th century church, used as a barn by a village family, and the best collection of khachtkars (Armenian stelae) left in Turkey.
We depart Tatvan for Van, following the beautiful southern shores of Lake Van. A twenty-minute boat ride off shore is the spectacular island of Akdamar, home to the small but delightful tenth-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross. We continue to the city of Van on the eastern shores of the lake and visit the impressive Van Archaeological Museum, home to a fabulous collection of Urartian artefacts.
Today we explore the mighty Rock of Van, a natural limestone outcrop topped by Urartian and later-era fortifications and other structures. For those with a head for heights, we view the burial chambers of the Urartian King Argishti, set high in the sheer south face of the citadel rock. We descend to explore the atmospheric remains of the walled city that once stood at the foot of the ‘rock’, completely destroyed bar a couple of well-restored Ottoman mosques, and several ruined buildings including an Armenian church. In the afternoon, we head north to the Urartian fortress of Ayanis,
perched on the shore of the lake, which contains an impressive temple dedicated to the chief god of the Urartian pantheon, Haldi. The site is still under excavation.
We drive south into the heart of the mountains to visit the fairy tale fortress of Hosap, which was built by a Kurdish chieftan in the 17th century. Our final visit today will be to the fortified-palace of Çavuştepe, built on a mountain spur snaking out into a wide valley. Constructed relatively late in the Urartian period the site is notable for its beautifully-carved basalt masonry, blind windows, cisterns and twin temples.
Our tour ends and we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Terry Richardson
Terry Richardson has a university background in ancient history and classical civilisation. Terry is the author of numerous renowned guide books on the country, including Rough Guide Istanbul, Pocket Rough Guide Istanbul and Rough Guide Turkey.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport Accommodation
• Accommodation in Trabzon, Erzurum, Kars, Doğubayazit, Tatvan, Van
• 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 10 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
7th - 17th Jul $6,525 $6,385 $1,255
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/anet
14 DAYS
From $7,565pp SAVE UP TO $140 Departing April & October
Join us on a kaleidoscopic journey through the heartlands of Turkey from Çatal Hüyük, arguably the earliest city in the world, to Göbekli Tepe, a remarkable early Neolithic complex in upper Mesopotamia We discover the otherworldly geology of Cappadocia, a bizarrely beautiful landscape matched by its unique archaeology, underground cities and vividly frescoed churches, and the elaborate ritual sites of the ancient kingdoms in South East Turkey We travel through The Fertile Crescent, arcing around the flat lands of Mesopotamia, which saw the birth of agriculture and the first domestication of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, and we see the spectacular Roman mosaics in Gaziantep, rescued from the flood waters of a dam on the nearby Euphrates Our journey includes an astonishing array of world-class sites, four of them UNESCO-listed, as we chart the civilisations which rose and fell here over the millennia�
Tour Highlights
• Discover one of the oldest settlements in the world at Çatal Hüyük
• View the extraordinary volcanic landscapes, underground cities and rock-cut churches in Cappadocia
• Visit the excavations at Göbekli Tepe, with megaliths predating Stonehenge by an impressive 7,500 years
• Walk up to the World Heritage Site of Nemrut Dag, where huge statues of syncretised Greek-Persian gods and the kings of Commagene gaze imposingly from the summit of a remote peak
Arrive independently into Konya and meet the group at the hotel.
We begin with one of the oldest settlements anywhere in the world: Çatal Hüyük, which comprises two tells rising 20m up from the plain. One of the largest and most distinctive sites of the Neolithic period, dating 7500-6500 BC, it is exceptional in its layout of closely packed houses with roof access into the buildings. In the afternoon we explore the remote early Byzantine site of Binbir Kilise, complete with Syriac style churches, monasteries and houses.
Before we leave Konya, we visit the Mevlana Museum, former tekke (dervish hall) and mausoleum of the famous Sufi mystic Rumi, the Karatay Madrasa, an excellent example of Selçuk Turkish architecture, and the Alaeddin Mosque
with its typically Selçuk ’forest’ of columns and very early ebony prayer platform. After lunch we make the long journey to Göreme.
Engaging with the regional culture this morning we visit a local co-operative which produces Anatolian rugs, a tradition which has integrated different motifs and practices introduced by the Armenians and Caucasian and Kurdish tribes. Afterwards we head out to the Sarıhan Caravansary, one of the many which once serviced the Selçuk trade route from Konya to Kayseri. After lunch we continue to our main visit of the day at Göreme Open Air Museum. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a fairytale landscape of eroded volcanic tuffs, full of rock-cut churches of the mid-Byzantine period, which bear witness to the faith, fervour and tenacity of devout Christian communities, beset both by Arab raiders and the persecutions of the Iconoclastic movement.
Activity Level
We start our explorations of Cappadocia with a visit to the Ihlara Valley, a beautiful, verdant gorge occupied by a fast-flowing river. The gorge is believed to have contained more than four thousand dwellings and a hundred churches cut into the rocks, used for worship by early Christian communities. We will explore some of these churches this morning before moving on to visit Aşıklı Hüyük, an impressive settlement mound comprised of layers dated between 9000 and 7400 BC, and which developed in part owing to its proximity to an important obsidian source.
Today we head south, stopping en route at the extraordinary underground city of Derinkuyu. This is one of the largest and most accessible of many such Byzantine settlements. Little is known of their true function, however, with such a geology at their disposal, it may almost have been as easy to dig down as build up. We continue our journey south
across the Anatolian plateau before crossing the formidable Taurus range and dropping down to the fertile Cilician Plain to overnight at Adana.
This morning we visit Adana Archaeology Museum, which houses a fine collection of Hittite artefacts. We continue east and rise into wooded mountains to visit the 8th century BC fortress palace of Karatepe, now located in an archaeological park. A bilingual text inscribed on the gate here reveals the name of the neo-Hittite ruler who build the fortress: “I am indeed Azatiwatas, The Blessed of the Sun, the servant of the Storm-God, whom Awarikus exalted, king of Adanawa…”. The twin gateways of the fortress palace are lined with relief-carved figurative slabs.
Our main focus this morning is the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which contains the very fine Roman mosaics from Zeugma, a city which stood on a crossing of the Euphrates river, and which has now been largely flooded by the construction of the Birecik Dam. We also visit the town of Halfeti, itself partially submerged as a result of the same project. Here we can see houses and minarets emerging from the water, and further up the river the monumental bulk of the largely Medieval fortress Rumkale
We start the day today with a walk around historic Gaziantep and explore the citadel, largely built by Turkish Mamluks in the 13th – 16th centuries. The citadel itself lies on top of existing Roman walls and a Neolithic tell. The bazaars are full of copper ware, dried pepper flakes and pistachio nuts, and the mosques betray the influence of the Arab lands to the south. Indeed, Gaziantep is reminiscent of Aleppo, some 50 miles away in Syria. In the afternoon we take the long but scenic road north to overnight at Adiyaman, at the foot of 7,000 ft high Mount Nemrut.
Day Ten | Mount Nemrut & Adiyaman
We spend the day with the rulers and monuments of the Commagenian kingdom today – beginning at the Roman bridge at Cendere, built by the
Legio XVI Flavia Firma in the reign of Septimius Severus around AD 200, and the Karakuş (Black Bird) Tumulus, probably built to cover the burials of the mother, sister and niece of Antiochus’ son and successor. After lunch we continue to the remote hilltop site of Mount Nemrut (UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Antiochus I had a monumental sanctuary constructed to promote his rule, comprising the world’s largest tumulus and a collection of huge statues of the gods and of himself.
This morning we journey to Şanlıurfa where we visit Şanlıurfa Museum, a huge complex completed in 2015 and home to a treasure trove of finds. Its exhibition halls contain a remarkable series of finds from the Neolithic sites around Şanlıurfa, as well as a life-sized reconstruction of one of the stone circles at Gobekli Tepe, along with Assyrian, Babylonian, Hittite, Neolithic, and Bronze Age artefacts. Adjoining the main museum another large structure houses a superb collection of in-situ lateRoman/early Byzantine mosaics, once part of the palace of the rulers of the kingdom of Osroene.
Our morning is dedicated to the excavations at Göbekli Tepe, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018. Situated on top of a rounded hill in the anti-Taurus mountains a few miles northeast of Şanlıurfa, this spectacular early Neolithic complex, an extraordinary series of structures centred on carved megaliths up to 5 metres in height, has challenged the conventional view that only settled societies could produce monumental architecture. In the afternoon we continue further east and south to the remote site of Karahan Tepe, where a series of circular enclosures and T-shaped monoliths (250 of them) have been uncovered. The 10-hectare site, along with Göbekli Tepe, forms one of the so called Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) sites in the region.
Today we explore more of Şanlıurfa. We view the Pools of Abraham, filled with sacred carp. It was
here that Muslim teachings tell how Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod, but upon landing in the fire, the flames were turned into water and the logs into fish. Şanlıurfa is Turkey’s most Middle Eastern city, and we continue our exploration of this bustling place with a foray into the labyrinthine bazaar, a glass of tea in the courtyard of an Ottoman caravanserai and ascent of the rocky citadel for splendid views of the old city.
Day Fourteen | Şanlıurfa
After breakfast we make ouor independent onward journeys.
Guided by Terry Richardson Terry Richardson has a university background in ancient history and classical civilisation. Terry is the author of numerous renowned guide books on the country, including Rough Guide Istanbul, Pocket Rough Guide Istanbul and Rough Guide Turkey.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Konya, Göreme, Adana, Gazientep, Adiyaman, Sanliurfa
Culinary inclusions
• 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches & 13 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
29th Apr – 12th May $7,705 $7,565 $1,930
14th - 27th Oct $7,810 $7,670 $1,930
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/acse
Karatepe - Gaziantep Images top to bottom: Gobekli TepeFrom $5,110pp SAVE UP TO $280 Departing May & October Activity Level
A small country dominated by great mountain ranges, Lebanon’s impact on the history of the Mediterranean is out of all proportion to its size, for here is a rich archaeological history to explore This is the homeland of the Canaanites/Phoenicians, whose great coastal trading supplied the known world with luxuries, including cedarwood, spices and metals
Tour Highlights
• Explore Byblos, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
• Visit the great Temple of Jupiter Heliopolis in Baalbek and of Eshmoun in Sidon
• Admire the Roman remains at Tyre, including the Hippodrome and monumental streets
• View the sarcophagus of Ahiram with the earliest Phoenician inscription in the National Archaeological Museum
Meet at our hotel in Beirut and enjoy dinner together as a group.
Byblos awaits today, site of one of the great trading cities of the early Bronze Age and arguably the oldest continuously inhabited site in the world. Through its trading contacts with the Greek world, Byblos exported the alphabet to the West. Our morning includes visits to the citadel and St. John’s Church, and in the afternoon we visit the archaeological park as well as monuments from the Crusader period. We’ll also stop to view the inscriptions left by ancient armies at the Nahr-elkalb (the Dog River), between Byblos and Beirut.
We spend all day in Beirut. The rebuilding programme that followed the civil war (1975 -1990) gave a unique opportunity for an archaeological study of the city. The earliest occupation dates to the Palaeolithic period, but the first urban phase belongs to the Middle Bronze Age (c. 3000BC). The Roman city of Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berytus was famous in the 3rd century for its law school. The major surviving monuments also date from this period, including a large bath complex and
one of the main thoroughfares lined with shops, luxury houses and a laundry. We visit the National Museum with excellent collections of Lebanon’s cultural heritage, the reconstructed heart of the city and the central archaeological zone, which is home to the remains of Roman Berytus. Afterwards, we make our way to Zahle.
We explore the great temple complex of Baalbek in the heart of the Bekka Valley today.. It includes the vast Temple of Jupiter Heliopolis, once the largest in the world (22.9 m high), with peristyles and hexagonal courts. To the side lies the Temple of Bacchus and the remarkable state of preservation of these temples – particularly the latter – show fine detail of their devotional purpose. We also visit the nearby quarries, which contain some of the largest monoliths ever quarried.
Following the Arab conquest in the 7th century, the first Islamic dynasty of the Umayyads saw themselves as heirs of Rome and Byzantium, and used the architectural and artistic language of those earlier powers to express their own ideas. This fusion between East and West is nowhere more evident than at the planned city of Anjar. In the afternoon we visit the temples of the Roman period at Niha. The chief temple here is wellrestored and dedicated to the god Hadaranes.
We start our day with a visit to the palace at Beit Eddine. Built by the Emir Bechir at the end of the 18th century in an opulent oriental style, today it also contains a museum of Byzantine mosaics. We visit the town of Deir El Qamar and the Archaeological Museum of the American University before heading back to Beirut.
Sidon grew wealthy from the production of glass and textiles, and held a favoured position with the great King of Persia. In their wars with the Greeks, the Persians relied on Sidon’s navy. We visit the Temple of Eshmoun, patron god of Sidon, and see evidence of the Crusader past with a visit to the Sea Castle. Tyre: “Say to Tyre, that city standing on the edge of the sea, doing business with the nations in innumerable islands” – this was Ezekiel’s description of Iron Age Tyre, one of the great cities of the ancient Near East. Its wealth, through trade and manufacture, particularly of purple dye from the murex, was the benchmark from which all others were measured, and the influence of the city’s colonies spread right across the Mediterranean. We also visit the two archaeological parks, which show the wealth of Tyre in the Roman period.
Our tour ends in Beirut and we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Nick Jackson
Join Nick in Lebanon on our 3rd May departure.
Guided by Tony O’Connor
Join Tony in Lebanon on our 7th October departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Four Points Sheraton, Grand Hotel Kadri & Gefinor Rotana or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunch & 6 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
3rd - 10th May $5,390 $5,110 $695
7th - 14th Oct $5,390 $5,110 $695
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aleb
11 DAYS
From $7,725pp SAVE UP TO $280 Departing February & November
There are few places on earth that can boast such a rich, varied and important archaeological heritage as both Israel and Palestine Over the millennia, this ancient land has felt the tread of conquerors and settlers: Canaanites, Israelites, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans and Imperial Britons, all of whom have left their signature
Tour Highlights
• Pay a visit to one of the world’s oldest cities at Jericho, where archaeologists unearthed evidence of settlement as far back as 9000 BC
• Discover Armageddon – or Tel Megiddo – a city of great strategic importance in the ancient world and the scene of many significant battles
• Ascend to Masada by cable car and explore this spectacular archaeological site while enjoying the views
Meet the group at our hotel located in northern Israel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We have a welcome night’s rest before starting our adventure tomorrow.
We spend our first morning in Israel exploring the Roman and Byzantine city of Beth She’an, thought to have been occupied since the 6th to the 5th millennia BC. The city flourished under the Pax Romana, and continues to thrive thanks to its location as a junction between the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. We pay a visit to the 6th century synagogue of Beth Alpha, which was discovered in the 1920s and features colourful wall panels depicting scenes such as the Binding of Isaac, and a beautiful Greco-Roman zodiac. After lunch, we delve into Jezreel Valley, a fertile “land of milk and honey”. Here we explore the ancient city of Tel Megiddo, better known as Armageddon. Its location, on a narrow pass along a vital trade route, led to Tel Megiddo being of great strategic importance in the ancient world, and the site of many significant battles. Recent excavations have unearthed no less than 26 layers of ruins.
We begin the day at the archaeological site of Tel Dan, the most northerly Israelite city, where a remarkable Bronze Age mud-brick gateway still stands in place, surrounded by verdant countryside. We continue to Tel Hazor, once the largest fortified
“This was a very interesting tour and it was also very well led by Nick Jackson.” Guest, November 2022
This tour’s February departure can be booked back-to-back with the February departure of our Jordan – Petra & the Desert Fortresses tour (p128). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
city in the country. Its surviving ramparts are considered to be the foremost examples of their type in the region. After lunch by the Sea of Galilee, we continue to Belvoir Crusader Fortress, one of the best preserved Crusader Fortresses in Israel. This site was a bastion of the Knights Hospitallers until it was eventually besieged and captured by Saladin’s forces in 1189. Lastly but by no means least, we view the ‘Jesus Boat’ in the grounds of the Nof Ginosar Hotel. This recovered fishing boat dates from the 1st century AD, and this is the type of vessel that Jesus and his disciples may have used.
This morning we drive to Tzipori, a fortified city perched on a mound in the Netofah Valley. Thanks to extensive excavations in the area we are able to view an ancient synagogue, Jewish homes lining a cobbled street, a Roman villa, and a number of intricate 5th century mosaics, depicting images such as the famous “Mona Lisa of Galilee”. In the afternoon we continue to Akko, or Acre, on the sunny shores of Haifa Bay. Akko features in Egyptian, Biblical, Greek and Persian mythology, and is the holiest city of the Baha’i faith. We discover striking Ottoman aqueducts, Medieval churches, and city walls established by Crusaders.
Today we explore the national park and Roman harbour city of Caesarea Maritima, constructed by Herod the Great. The city was described by 1st century historian Josephus as: “adorned with the most magnificent palaces”. Among the many remnants here are a well-preserved theatre, a double aqueduct, and a limestone block on which the name of “Pontius Pilatus” is inscribed. We spend the afternoon at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the largest museum in the country. It is here that we encounter the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical and extra-Biblical manuscripts known to man, which were discovered in caves on the west bank of the River Jordan in the late 1940s. A thrilling glimpse into Israel’s holy past.
We spend a full day today exploring many of the highlights of the old city of Jerusalem, starting with an early morning visit to the Temple Mount and continuing to the City of David, the oldest part of Jerusalem settled during the Canaanite period. Here we explore the ancient water system discovered by Sir Charles Warren, the British engineer who rediscovered it in 1867, and the Pool of Siloam After lunch we visit the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum and spend some time in the Old City walking along the Via Dolorosa.
We drive to Jericho this morning, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Here we explore the remains of the settlement of Tel es Sultan, site of Katherine Kenyon’s excavations, Hisham’s Palace, an early Islamic construction and the Herodian Winter Palace complex. In the afternoon, we visit the Herodium, the palace-like fortress built by King Herod; the combination of fortress and palace is a uniquely Herodian innovation, which he repeated on several other sites, including Masada. It is here that after 35 years of archaeological research, Ehud Netzer announced he had found Herod’s tomb and resting place. The news made headlines worldwide.
Today we begin with an ascent to Masada, a rugged Herodian fortress high up on the isolated cliffs of the Judaean Desert. According to ancient sources, the defenders of this fortress committed mass suicide rather than surrender to the Romans in AD 73. This incredible site is one of Israel’s foremost attractions, and achieved World Heritage status in 2001. After a short visit to En Gedi National Park for a taste of this beautiful oasis – the biggest in Israel, we round off our day with a visit to the remote desert caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, before returning to Jerusalem.
After a hearty breakfast we travel to the archaeological site of Tel Lachish, a huge Near East city with commanding views over the hills and coastal plains. Tel Lachish features in the Book of Joshua and the ground here has yielded scores of LMLK seals, ancient Hebrew seals dating from the reign of King Hezekiah. We continue to the walled city of Tel Beer Sheba, where we enjoy a picnic lunch amid the ruins of the national park. The most important discovery here was a horned animal altar, the first unearthed in Israel. We stop at the mysterious prehistoric site of Tel Arad, with its altars and standing stones, before continuing to the glittering Dead Sea where, if we have time, we may “swim” atop its famous hyper-saline waters.
Today we are joined by Dr Avi Solomon, a leading Israeli archaeologist. Beginning with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it is believed that this church is the site of Jesus’s crucifixion, as well as his empty tomb, which is now encased within an 18th century shrine. After, Dr Solomon will give us a private behind the scenes tour of the excavations at the Western Wall tunnels and the Roman Odeon. After lunch, we enter Palestine for a visit to Bethlehem, where we take a short tour that includes a stop at the Church of the Nativity.
We make our way from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv airport for our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Nick Jackson
A graduate of the Institute of Archaeology at UCL, Nick is an archaeologist and historian with over 20 years of excavation experience.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem & the Dead Sea
Culinary inclusions
• 10 breakfasts, 9 lunch & 10 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
29th Feb - 10th Mar $8,005 $7,725 $2,030 12th - 22nd Nov $8,005 $7,725 $2,030
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aisr
Spend two days in the evocative rock-cut city of Petra
10 DAYS
From $5,465pp SAVE UP TO $280
This tour’s February departure can be booked back-to-back with the February departure of our Israel & Palestine’s tour (p126). Save £150pp when booking tours together.
Departing February & October Activity Level
Nothing can prepare you for Petra - the scale, the colours and the grandeur Lively, cosmopolitan and rich, with goods from every corner of the world, ancient Petra was an extraordinary city Its streets were swathed in a fusion of Nabataean and Classical architecture - elaborate tombs, colonnaded streets and temples carved into the rose-red rock�
Tour Highlights
• Admire the almost lunar-like desert scenery of Wadi Rum
• Discover the mighty crusader castle at Kerak, built in the 12th century
• Visit Jerash, the best preserved (and Jordan’s largest) Roman town in the east, a site that is home to the Oval Plaza and the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis
Meet at our hotel in Amman before we have dinner together as a group for the first time.
After a leisurely start, we head to the valley of Wadi Seer. Here we find the remains of Qasr-al-Abd, a well-preserved Hasmonean and rare Hellenistic period Palace. Hyrcanus of Jerusalem built the palace around 200 BC as part of a much larger estate, that is now covered by the village of Iraq alEmir. We then spend time both at and in the Dead Sea. The lowest place on earth is also the deepest hyper-saline lake in the world, over nine times saltier than the ocean. This salinity has created a harsh environment so it is unsuitable for any plants of wildlife, hence its name. It is however, a unique experience to be able to ‘float’ on the Dead Sea, so we make the most of this opportunity. After our time here, we return to Amman.
We explore two Roman Decapolis cities today as our adventure continues. We start off at the ancient city of Gadara (known today as Umm Qais), which offers views over the Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee. After lunch we continue to Jerash (ancient Gerasa) for the afternoon, which is set in
the pine valleys of the biblical land of Gilead, and is one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the east. The architecture is particularly fine, and includes the impressive 2nd century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis and the Oval Plaza - framed by a magnificent colonnade - a unique feature of the Forum.
The morning is spent in Jordan’s modern capital Amman. Here we visit the Archaeological Museum and the citadel. The museum is home to artefacts from archaeological sites from across the country, including the Dead Sea bronze scroll written in Aramaic characters. The citadel is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, and we visit the ruins of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the palace of the Omayyad Caliphs Before lunch we visit the Memorial Church at Mount Nebo. In the afternoon, we make a short drive to the early Byzantine Church of St. George in Madaba, where we view the amazing 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land depicting biblical sites of the Middle East from Egypt to Palestine. Afterwards, we spend a little time in the Madaba Archaeological Park before heading back to our hotel.
Today we head into the eastern desert to explore the dramatic basalt city at Umm al-Jimal, even the doors are made of huge black slabs and some of them still operate! After lunch we travel on to the desert castles, Qasr Azraq, Amra and al-Kharanah, with far-reaching views over the surrounding landscape. Jordan’s desert castles were so called due to their imposing stature, but they served mainly as agriculture and trade centres, and caravan stations.
We visit the church and spectacular mosaics at Umm al-Rasas. A Roman and Byzantine site, the mosaics of the churches have fine depictions of the principal cities of the region. Before lunch, we have a stop at a viewpoint at Wadi Mujib. On next to the mighty crusader castle of Kerak, one of the largest in the Levantine region. Overlooking the Dead Sea, it was built in 1132 as the first line of defence for the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem. Its position gave control of important trade routes between Damascus, Egypt and Mecca, and of the region’s Bedouin herders.
Today is the first of two full days in Petra, and with the archaeological park spread across 200 square kilometres, we will easily fill our time spent here as there is much to explore. Located among mountains and rugged desert canyons, this ancient capital of the Nabatean Arabs is carved directly into a mixture of sandstone cliff face, its colours a mixture of red, white and pink hence it is also known as the “Rose City”. We walk into the site each day, both for the sense of discovery, and to experience the famous entrance to the ravine site, the Siq. As we wander along the colonnaded streets, we take in some of the ancient city’s most significant structures, such as the world-renowned “Treasury” (Al-Khazneh), a temple over 40 metres in height with a truly impressive ornate façade. The Nabateans, though essential nomadic, developed a sophisticated water technology, the remains of which we will also see here during our extensive
Guest, October 2022
visit. Led by our expert guide, there are optional climbs on both days to Nabatean ‘Monastery’ and the ‘High Place’.
This morning we will visit the Neolithic site of Beidha, where 8th millennium BC houses can still be seen, and the painted tomb at “Little Petra” (Siq alBahrid). Thought to have been an important suburb of Petra, the site includes temples, tombs, water channels and cisterns carved out of rock. We drive to Wadi Rum, home of the largest Roman copper mine in the empire. Here we take 4x4s through spectacular scenery, made famous by the filming of “Lawrence of Arabia”. There are also several rock art sites to be explored here. Afterwards, we head back to Amman for a farewell group dinner.
Day
Our tour ends in Amman and we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Nick Jackson
A graduate of the Institute of Archaeology at UCL, Nick is an archaeologist and historian with over 20 years of excavation experience.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Amman, Petra & the Dead Sea
Culinary inclusions
• 9 breakfasts, 8 lunch & 9 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
19th - 28th Feb $5,745 $5,465 $1,135
1st - 10th Oct $5,745 $5,465 $1,135
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/ajor
“Very interesting - a part of the world that I knew very little about. Some of the scenery was fascinatingall of it was memorable.”
The range of archaeological heritage across Asia is as vast as the continent itself, from megacities to nomadic camps, from mountain forts to complex monasteries, from tombs and tells, to complex mausoleums and highly decorated madrasas Much of it is undocumented and understudied and much of it can be found in remote desert, mountain, or lush Steppe landscapes� Exploring these sites brings an element of discovery and adventure, travelling to places far off the beaten track – indeed in some cases where there is no track at all!
We have three exciting programmes which explore the archaeology of this extraordinary region� The first discovers the ancient kingdoms of not one but two little known countries that once supported the trade routes along the Silk Road: Armenia & Georgia The second circles the legendary cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara, once great cities that supplied the ports that punctuated the trade routes in what is now Uzbekistan And our third is the most adventurous of them all, as we traverse the length, and a good chunk of the breadth, of Mongolia
Aside from the fact that the Mongolian Empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history with its capital city at Karakorum in the 13th century, there is also much to discover about the Bronze Age in Mongolia This was a period when pastoralism, mobility and interaction between regional communities increased dramatically and recent archaeological research in Mongolia is transforming our knowledge of this key region of north-eastern Asia Mongolia’s ancient nomadic societies reveals a great deal about humankind
The importance of the relationship between settlements and their surrounding areas is a theme we explore elsewhere� At the extraordinary site of Shengavit in Armenia, for example, a settlement that spans the 5th to the 3rd millennium BCE, we discover the extent to which urban centres fed populations who lived in the hinterlands� And archaeological sites across the continent are also important to our understanding of cultural transmissions between East and West The Silk route, which has fascinated travellers for centuries, facilitated the passage not only of trade but of cultural exchange over vast distances� The city sites in Uzbekistan provide evidence of the trade of slaves, spices, and silk as well as its concomitant exchange of ideas Alongside the conquest of Alexander the Great, the silk route enabled the introduction of Hellenistic culture to cities in central Asia, particularly in Samarkand In this way East really can meet West Join us next year to discover the dazzling blue tiled cities in Uzbekistan, the remote and untouched landscapes of the Steppes, the staggering beauty of two countries little known to Western tourists in Armenia and Georgia or on an adventure through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes on earth in Mongolia These are once in a lifetime adventures, you will never forget
“Most informative and enjoyable with a good crowd of people and knowledgeable guides.”
Mr Mercer, June 2022
15 DAYS
From $7,405pp SAVE UP TO $280
Between Europe and Asia, the Caspian and the Black Sea, and on the ancient Silk Roads and the Scythian invasion routes stand the republicas — ancient kingdoms — of Armenia and Georgia Their location between great civilisations guaranteed them a pivotal role in world history Yet, their varied landscapes are reason enough to visit
Tour Highlights
• See exquisite metalwork and jewellery from the Bronze Age
• Discover the captivating history that created both Tbilisi’s and Yerevan’s urban centres
• Enjoy the country’s dramatic landscapes, from its lush sub-tropics to the semi-desert steppes
• Learn about the ancient Georgian wine-making tradition, which involves fermenting grapes in earthenware and has now been recognised by UNESCO
We meet at our hotel in the midst of the bustling city. There will be ample time to relax after our flight.
This morning we visit the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin and the striking ruins of Zvartnots, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, we pay a visit to the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Manuscripts and its Matenadaran Museum, which commemorates the creation of the Armenian alphabet.
Today we drive east into the Gegham mountains to visit the World Heritage Site of Geghard. This 12th and 13th century monastery is carved out of the living rock. Nearby, perched above the gorge of the Azat, stands the fortress and summer palace of Garni with its Graeco-Roman temple. In the afternoon, we explore Yerevan’s History Museum, a national treasure-house of archaeological artefacts that tell the story of Armenia’s long history.
We begin at Shengavit, a settlement that spans the Chalcolithic to the Bronze Age. We continue to the museum and fortress of Erebuni, the ancient Urartian capital in the Araxes valley in the first half of the 1st millennium BC. This afternoon we have free time to explore Yerevan at our own leisure, or instead choose to pay an optional visit to the moving Genocide Museum and memorial at Tsitsernakaberd.
This morning we travel towards Ararat. Beneath the mountain stands the monastery of Khor Virap Here, King Artaxias I founded one of Armenia’s ancient capitals, Artashat. Further south we visit Areni Cave, a fascinating archaeological site that has preserved organic materials from the 5th millennium BC, including an ancient winery and the world’s oldest shoe. We have lunch at the medieval monastery of Noravank, an architectural gem in a stunning valley setting. Our day ends with a drive to our hotel in Dilijan, Armenia’s ‘Little Switzerland’.
Yerevan Dilijan Borjomi Tbilisi Kutaisi Nokalakevi BatumiToday we visit some of Armenia’s finest and best preserved monastic complexes. The 10th-13th century Haghartsin is hidden at the head of the wooded valley outside Dilijan, and we then travel to the impressive 12th-13th century Goshavank monastery in the scenic village of Gosh, which houses one of the world’s finest examples of an Armenian cross-stone.
This morning we start with a walking tour of Old Tbilisi, taking in the Metekhi Church, the Narikala Fortress, the Baths district, the Great Synagogue, the Sioni Cathedral, and the 6th century Anchiskhati Basilica. After lunch, we visit the Georgian National Museum with its spectacular gold rooms.
We travel to Kakheti, the most important of Georgia’s wine-growing regions. The monastery of Iqalto, was founded in the late 6th century, and in the 12th century David IV ‘the Rebuilder’ founded an Academy here. We continue with a visit to Tsinandali, the 19th century summer palace of the princely Chavchavadze family. Over lunch at a local winery, we sample the local wines and learn about the ancient Georgian ‘Qvevri’ wine-making tradition, which creates its unique taste.
Today is our last day in Tbilisi and we start with a visit to the Open Air Ethnographic House Museum. This attractive museum preserves type examples of traditional architecture from Georgia’s many regions. We continue to the National Gallery, which displays the largest Pirosmani collection in the world by famous Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani. It also exhibits collections of Georgian work from the 4th century onwards.
We start our day at Mtskheta, Georgia’s ancient capital and religious centre. After visiting the 6th century Jvari Church, we explore the excavations of Armazistsikhe. We finish at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. After lunch, we visit Gori for the ancient
rock-cut city of Uplistsikhe and the Stalin Museum
The latter preserves the museum erected by Stalin’s murderous Caucasian viceroy Beria, making it a relic of the cult of Stalin and the counterpoint to the exhibition on the Soviet Occupation in Tbilisi’s National Museum.
Day Eleven | Borjomi
This morning we drive past the fortress of Khertvisi, where we have a brief photo stop, to the medieval cave monastery of Vardzia. Renowned as a mustering point of Queen Tamar’s armies in her wars against the Turks, the monastery is also famous for its cycle of frescoes, including a famous depiction of Queen Tamar herself. This afternoon we return to Borjomi via Akhaltsikhe and the Rabati fortress, a centre for Ottoman slaving at late as the 1820s.
Day Twelve | Borjomi - Kutaisi
We drive to Kutaisi this morning, Georgia’s second city and historic capital of Imereti. Here, we visit the royal monastery and UNESCO-listed site of Gelati After lunch, we have free time to explore the city.
Day Thirteen | Kutaisi - Batumi
Today we visit our Guide Lecturer’s site of Nokalakevi. The extensive ruins of a large Byzantine-period fortress stand atop earlier archaeological levels going back through the 1st millennium BC to at least the 3rd millennium. After a tour of the site and the small museum, we have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we drive through the Colchian lowlands towards the Black Sea coast, arriving at Batumi.
Day Fourteen | Batumi
We start with a walking tour of Batumi, before visiting the Roman playing-card fort at Apsarus, with its small museum. After lunch, we enjoy some free time.
Day Fifteen | Batumi
Our tour ends today and we make our independent onward journeys.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Yerevan, Dilijan, Tbilisi, Borjomi, Kutaisi & Batumi
Culinary inclusions
• 14 breakfasts, 13 lunch & 13 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
Dates
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/agaa
Guided by Ian Colvin Ian is a researcher and historian who specialises in the Roman and Byzantine history of the Caucasus regions.“I
Visit the UNESCO-listed sites of Bukhara and Samarkand
14 DAYS
From $6,715pp SAVE UP TO $280
Guest, September 2022
Departing April & September Activity Level
Follow in the footsteps of history as we explore the sites and cities of the Silk Road, which once ran from China to Europe, with Uzbekistan right as its heart The steppes, deserts, mountains and blue-tiled cities all tell stories of trade and conquest, and this is a journey across the country that traces the paths of those who’ve passed by for thousands of years
Tour Highlights
• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Shakhrisyabz
• Get a taste of the avant-garde at the renowned Savitsky Art Museum, home to the world’s second-largest collection of Russian art pieces
• Travel to the ancient trade routes, where caravans of silk, spice and textiles once crossed the landscape
• Enter the magnificent Bibi-Khanym Mosque and admire the many ornate palaces in the mesmerising Silk Road city of Khiva
Days One | Tashkent
Meet at our hotel in Tashkent. In the afternoon, we visit the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan. Highlights here include the remains of a prehistoric man dating from 1.5 million years BC as well as significant statues and reliefs from the country’s Buddhist period. This evening, we enjoy a group dinner together.
Day Two | Tashkent
We spend the day in Tashkent and enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town, exploring ancient mausoleums and beautiful mosques, including Tillya Sheikh. We will also take in remnants of the city’s Soviet past.
Day Three | Tashkent - Nukus
Fly to Nukus, located in the Karakalpakstan Republic. Upon arrival, we head to Gyaur Kala, the “Fortress of Infidels”, a settlement established at the time of the First Persian Empire. After lunch, we continue to the medieval city of Mizdakhan, site of Uzbekistan’s oldest necropolis, first founded some 2,000 years ago. Still a place of pilgrimage and mysticism, the legends surrounding this settlement include that of the “World Clock”, a building that is said to shed just one brick a year. According to
legend, when the last brick falls, the end of the world begins.
Our day starts at the world-renowned Savitsky Art Museum, which hosts the world’s secondlargest collection of Russian avant-garde art that hangs alongside that of Socialist Realism. There are also archaeological and ethnographic objects on display. Next we travel south along the Amu River to the remote ruined tepe of Chilpik Dakhma, a Zoroastrian “Tower of Silence” used in funerary “sky burial” rituals until the Arab invasion of the 7th century AD. Our final destination for the day is Khiva, an important Silk Road city famous for its role as a slave trading post.
We begin with an excursion to the mighty fortresses of Ayaz Kala. Dramatically situated on a hilltop overlooking the Kyzylkum Desert, and erected to protect local inhabitants against nomadic attacks, these ancient strongholds were largely destroyed at the time of the Arab invasions. We continue to the abandoned city of Toprak Kala, a complex built by the slave-owning Khorezm, with an extended line of crumbling walls
that is visible for miles around. Built in the 3rd century AD, its remains include the residences of Khorezm governors, workshops which formerly manufactured bows, and a palace with three imposing towers.
Today we step into a world of “Arabian Nights”, spending a whole day exploring Khiva on foot to enjoy its narrow alleys, graceful minarets and thriving markets. Although it was virtually destroyed by Genghis Khan, much of what was subsequently rebuilt is impressive. The first of Uzbekistan’s sites to achieve World Heritage status, the city still boasts its original defensive walls and gates, as well as a wealth of ornate mosques and mausoleums.
We take a long drive through the Karakum Desert, with a brief stop en route at the widest expanse of the Amu Darya (River Oxus) to see how its waters have been diverted by the Soviets, causing the Aral Sea to dramatically recede. We arrive at Bukhara mid-afternoon, allowing time to visit the beautifully located Samani and Chashma Ayub mausoleums, and the Bolo Khauz Mosque
Wander brilliant Bukhara, long a great oasis of Central Asia. Formerly part of the Persian Empire, the city was seized by the Samanids in AD 903 and went on to become a significant centre for intellectualism in the Islamic world. As part of our
tour, we visit the Po-i-Kalyan religious complex, an impressive collection of sacred buildings, so transcendent that not even Ghengis Khan could not bring himself to destroy it. Tonight we enjoy a traditional folk show before having dinner.
We visit the site of one of Bukhara’s predecessors today — the ruined city of Poykent. After a picnic lunch at the Poykent Museum, we return to Bukhara to visit the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani, a fine example of Samanid architecture, and the Bolo Haus Mosque, as well as other places of interest.
Today we follow the Silk Road route to Samarkand, on a drive east across the scenic plains of central Uzbekistan. En route, we stop at Rabat-i Malik, an 11th century caravanserai with a Persian façade matching those found on palace walls at Persepolis.
After breakfast, we head out for a day of discoveries in Samarkand. Highlights include the Ulugh Beg Observatory, the necropolis at Shah i Zinda, Uzbekistan’s oldest archaeological site at Afrasiyab, and finally the renowned Registan Square
Switching to smaller vehicles, we travel to the turquoise-domed city of Shakhrisyabz, ancient birthplace of Amir Temur (Tamerlane). Here, we find
the remains of the 14th century Ak-Saray Palace and the Dorus Saodat, an outstanding example of Khwarezmian architecture.
Day Thirteen | Samarkand - Taskhent
Our last full day begins in central Samarkand, visiting the restored Gur-i-Amir Mausoleum complex where Tamerlane was buried. We then visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, with its magnificent columns, portals and minarets. After lunch, we return to Tashkent by high-speed train.
Day Fourteen | Tashkent
Our tour ends in Tashkent and we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Francois Desset
Join Francois on our 12th April departure.
Guided by Katie Campbell
Join Katie on our 14th September departure.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara & Samarkand
Culinary inclusions
• 13 breakfasts, 13 lunch & 13 dinners
• Water with all meals, wine & tea or coffee with dinner
$0
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/auzb
16 DAYS
From $9,680pp SAVE UP TO $280 Departing June Activity Level
Mongolia was once the largest land empire the world has ever known and we follow its history across the open steppe to the Gobi desert This extensive tour offers a true adventure through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes on earth
Tour Highlights
• Visit the historic sights of Ulaanbaatar, including the National Museum of Mongolia, and discover the artefacts of the country’s history, from the Neolithic to the present day
• Explore the ancient capital of the Mongol and the Northern Yuan at Karakorum
• Discover an array of Bronze Age Mongolian deer stones
We meet at our hotel in Ulaanbaatar, which is within walking distance of museums and shops. After lunch we walk to the Choijin Lama Temple, an impressive historical site in the heart of the modern city, and Sukhbaatar Square.
This morning we explore the Winter Palace complex, where Mongolia’s last king and eighth living Buddha resided, before discovering the Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts. After lunch we drive out of Ulaanbaatar to the Chinggis Khan Statue complex and on our return we visit the atmospheric Tonyukuk monument, one of the most important archaeological sites of the early Turks in all of Mongolia.
We fly to Moron and visit its Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, which is home to an interesting collection of the traditional dress of Mongolian ethnic groups. After lunch we see the Hyadagin deer stones, some of which are an imposing nine-feet tall. We end today’s exploration at the Achmag deer stones and tonight we enjoy our first night in a traditional ger camp.
We complete our study of the region’s deer stones at Uushigiin. Of the many deer stone collections in the Hovsgol Province, those found at Uushigiin are a highlight. We explore the monuments here before embarking on a long drive to Jargalant
This morning we explore the region of Jargalant. We visit the ruins of the Ariin Huree Monastery, which include remnants of a staircase that leads to a hilltop shrine. We then travel to our next ger camp on the shores of Terkhin Tsagaan Lake.
Arkhangai Province is home to hundreds of ancient square burial mounds, deer stones, monuments and petroglyphs. After crossing over Tsagaan Burgasnii Davaa Pass, we encounter decorated deer stones at Shivertin and Tsatssiin. In the afternoon we visit the Tsetserleg Museum, which is housed within the picturesque Zayayn Gegeenii Temple. We also visit the 19th century “Maidar” Buddha statue, located high above the town and valley.
This morning we visit the site of Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. The on-site museum of Mongol and Gokturk artefacts includes those discovered during recent archaeological work that has taken place at the site, now completed. We then explore the expansive complex of Erdene Zuu
After a beautiful morning drive, we leave our vehicles and hike to the spectacular Tovkhon Khiid Monastery. The monastery has numerous places of spiritual importance, and its spectacular rocky location provides expansive views of the surrounding steppe and mountains. Free time at our ger camp follows later.
This morning is spent exploring the ruins of the ancient citadel of Khar Balgas. Next, we drive northwest to Hoton Village – the site of this journey’s first deer stone. After lunch we visit the museum built to house the important stelae of early Turkic leaders Kultegin and Bilge Khagan, erected in the 8th century during the Second Turkic Empire.
We begin the day exploring the expansive ruins of Har Buh Fortress and our afternoon is spent in Hustai National Park, a reserve built to protect wildlife such as Przwalski horses, red deer, and marmot, and one that is also rich in bird life.
In the morning we visit the Turkic Ongot graves
On return to Ulaanbaatar we visit the Hunnu Mall’s dinosaur exhibit and then it’s on to the Zaisan Soviet era memorial for a stop here that affords excellent views over the city.
We begin the day with a visit to Gandan Monastery, the most important centre of Buddhism in Mongolia. Strolling through the monastery grounds, hear the low tones of the horns used to call the lamas to the temple and observe their daily rituals, including the reading of sutras – the teachings of the Buddha. Our afternoon is at leisure.
This morning we fly to Dalanzadgad and then drive to our ger camp. After free time to rest, we make our way to the Moltsog sand dune
Our first visit of the day is to the ancient Khavsgait petroglyphs, located high up on a rocky ridge above the Gobi. After lunch we drive on to the spectacular Yolyn Am gorge. We first visit the entrance museum and then walk into the gorge for spectacular views of rocky cliffs and dramatic canyons.
This morning we fly back to Ulaanbaatar. In the afternoon we walk to the National Museum of Mongolia to explore its displays of implements from daily nomadic life. In the evening we come together for our farewell group dinner.
Day Sixteen | Ulaanbaatar
Today we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Prof. Jean-Luc Houle Jean-Luc Houle is an associate professor of anthropology (archaeology) in the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
Encounter one of Mongolia’s most traditional expressions of nomadic culture. To find out how to add this extension to your tour and what is included, please contact our Specialist Sales Executives. From £795pp
• Accommodation in the Bayangol Hotel, Harganat Lodge, Jargal Jiguur Ger Camp, Maikhan Tolgoi Ger Camp, Asa Land Ger Camp, Ugii Ger Camp, Hustai Ger Camp & Dream Gobi Ger Camp or similar. Please note: at most of the ger camps the bathroom facilities are shared, but separate for male and female.
• 15 breakfasts, 14 lunch & 14 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
26th Jun - 11th Jul $9,960 $9,680 $845
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/amgo
Naadam Festival 2-night ExtensionThe two continents that make up the Americas are well worth a visit for any archaeological enthusiast Here we find incredible sites nestled among truly awe-inspiring and often otherworldly landscapes, from the dramatic ruins of Machu Picchu that sit atop a mountain ridge to the sprawling Atacama Desert with its curious geoglyphs - and not forgetting the maoi-studded hills that cover the volcanic Easter Island
To put this part of our world into context, the Americas are home to a vast array of pre-Columbian sites produced by peoples who were, in many ways, as sophisticated as their European counterparts Although Incas famously didn’t have wheels or an alphabet, they were able to conquer vast tracks of the continent and to produce sites as wondrous as Machu Picchu, and then the central American peoples, principally the Maya, constructed impressive cities such as the vast Chichen Itza, which had a series of fine buildings, including temples and ball courts
South America, meanwhile, is home to wonderful rock art, notably the Nazca lines and the geoglyphs in Chile� The former was produced in the Nazca desert in the 1,000 years between 500 BC and AD 500 and include simple lines as well as figurative depictions of a variety of animals, including monkeys, lizards and humans
Although less famous than the Nazca lines, 5,000 geoglyphs have been found in the Atacama Desert, including geoglyphs produced between AD 500-1450 in the Cerros Pintados, as well as those found in Yerbas Buena and finally the famous Atacama Giant We are thrilled to offer a selection of expert-led tours that explore an array of sites across the Americas next year, which you’ll find over the coming pages
15 DAYS
From $14,125pp
Departing March
An adventure awaits, travelling across the globe with an international expert to see some of the most enigmatic rock art in the world – situated in vast and often remote landscapes Venture down the coast of northern Chile into the Atacama Desert before flying back over the Pacific to the iconic site of Easter Island to discover places seldom visited by tourists
Tour Highlights
• Discover extraordinary geoglyphs and petroglyphs among truly unforgettable and often lunar-like landscapes
• Explore Easter Island, the most remote piece of land inhabited on the planet, and visit an array of sites where the curious moai can be seen in situ
• Visit a selection of fascinating regional museums, which house exhibitions that showcase the likes of wooden carvings and the Chichorro Mummies
• Journey through the striking Atacama Desert, declared the world’s driest by NASA after a series of in-depth studies
Meet the group at our hotel in Santiago. After lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is free to relax and recover from our flight, or we can join a guided walk around Santiago, Chile’s capital city since the Colonial era. During the orientation tour, we will visit the Museo de Arte Precolombino, which houses a world-class collection of Latin American antiquities
We catch an early flight to Arica, a seaside port and town in northern Chile, a few miles south of the Peruvian border. Here, we visit the San Miguel Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Chinchorro Mummies, preserved for several millennia by the dry heat of the desert. Astonishingly, the oldest body pre-dates the Egyptian mummies by some 3,000 years. Later, we cross the Azapa Valley to see rock art visible on the hillsides — an assortment of human figures and animals.
This morning, our journey takes us through the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world according to NASA. We stop at Chiza and Tiliviche to see the sprawling human and llama geoglyphs, thought to have been created as a guide to caravans descending from the mountains to the coast. We also visit the Cerro Rosita and Ex Aura geoglyphs Finally, we travel to our hotel in Iquique, stopping to see El Gigante del Atacama, the world’s largest prehistoric depiction of a human.
Our day begins with a boat trip into the Pacific from Iquique harbour, with the opportunity to spot pelicans, sea-lions and endangered Humboldt penguins. After lunch, there is an atmospheric tour of the ‘ghost town’ of Humberstone, a former saltpetre mining town that was abandoned in 1960 and has since been declared a UNESCO Site. This is a unique opportunity to peer back through the sands of time.
Activity Level
Arica
Iquique
Santiago
After breakfast, we drive to Cerros Pintados to view geoglyphs scattered for miles on the hillsides. Over 450 figures have been discovered here, the largest collection of its kind in South America. We continue to San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis village surrounded by volcanic scenery – and one of Chile’s most beloved destinations.
Today we drive to the petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas. More than 1,000 images are visible here, all left by the Altacameno people. Free time follows, but we can join an optional excursion, such as the Atacama salt flat tour. Taking us through natural landscapes, including part of the largest salt flat in Chile, we will see native fauna and flora, visit the Flamencos National Reserve, Lake Chaxa and Toconao village.
Our morning is spent among the lunar landscapes of the Valle de la Luna, which is a colourful and textured valley that contains unusual wind-carved formations and dry lakes that gleam with salt. This afternoon, we catch a flight back to Santiago.
We make our way over to Viña del Mar to visit the Museo de Arqueología e Historia Francisco Fonck. The museum boasts a collection of wooden carvings and striking displays of archaeological material from other parts of Chile. After lunch, we embark on an informative walking tour of Valparaiso, a quirky city famed for its maze-like streets, vibrant Colonial architecture and richly artistic heritage. This lively place has earned itself the nickname of the ‘Jewel of the Pacific’.
The next part of our adventure begins today as we fly over the ocean to enigmatic Easter Island, one of the most isolated locations on the planet. Our explorations start with a walk around Hanga Roa, the island’s capital and harbour. This calm and compact settlement is home to most of the islands 5,000 inhabitants.
Our first full day on Easter Island begins with a trip to see our first moai at Ahu Tahai, where these monolithic human figures stand – one with its giant coral eyes replaced. Three ceremonial platforms remain on this site, which were restored by the late American archaeologist, Dr. William Mulloy. We continue on to the nearby Museo Antropologico Sebastian Englert to learn the story behind the moai and their discoverers. Here, we see the only female moai to have been discovered, as well as an original moai eye. This afternoon is spent at leisure.
After breakfast we visit the quarry at Rano Raraku, where many unfinished moai stand in situ. The site was in use until the 18th century, supplying stone for around 97% of the island’s moai over a time frame of approximately 500 years. The biggest moai in existence lies here incomplete and measures a staggering 21.6 metres from end to end. Following this, we visit the longest line of standing statues at Tongariki, where we find the world’s heaviest re-erected moai, weighing in at 86 tons. After lunch,
our day ends with a viewing of the rock carvings at Papa Vaka. Here, we see marine petroglyphs carved into the basalt, including a remarkable depiction of a squid.
We continue to explore further moai sites today. There is Ahu Vaihu, where the moai lie face down with broken necks; Akahanga, an unrestored platform near which the island’s first king is said to be buried; Hanga Tetenga, where tumbled statues rest among scattered rocks; Te Pito te Kura, the site of a bizarre magnetic stone as well as the largest moai to be transported from Rano Raraku; and, finally, the carved figures of the royal platform of Ahu Nau Nau. After a barbecue lunch, we make our way to Anakena Beach with its white coral sands, with time to relax.
Discover restored moai in the harbour of Hanga Piko and then move on to Ana Kai Tangata (‘cannibal cave’) on the seafront. We continue to Rano Kau, a wide volcano within which lies a crater lake. Here, we visit the Orongo ceremonial village, perched on the crater’s edge, beside a sheer 300-metre cliff. We then head out to the ruined platforms of Vinapu, which feature the finest stonework on the island. After lunch, we visit the lava cave at Te Pahu and move on to Ahu Akivi, whose seven identical statues seem to have been placed to mark spring and autumn equinoxes. Next, we visit Ahu Huri a Urenga, an inland platform with an astronomical orientation and a single moai with four hands. We visit the quarry at Puna Pau, an extinct volcano and source of the huge red cylindrical stone top-knots seen on the heads of many maoi.
After free time in the morning, we transfer to the airport and catch our return flight to Santiago.
After breakfast, we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Paul Bahn
The world’s leading archaeologist on prehistoric rock art, Paul is one of our best-known Guide Lecturers.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hotel Boutique Le Reve, Antay Hotel & Spa, Terrado Cavancha Iquique Hotel, Hotel Poblado Kimal, Hotel Pullman, Holiday Inn Santiago & Hotel O’tai or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches & 13 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
21st Mar - 4th Apr $14,125 $1,505
The deposit payable on this tour is $1,500pp
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/achi
Images top to bottom: Valle de la Luna & Hummingbird in the Azapa valley
Guest, December 2022
15 DAYS
From $7,995pp SAVE UP TO $280
Departing November
Of all the Mesoamerican civilisations, the Maya have enjoyed the most enduring hold on the imagination For years, their jungle-clad ruins remained intriguing, yet shrouded in mystery An adventurous trip, this tour starts with museums in Mexico City, travels via the uplands of Chiapas, along the river of Usumacinta and on to the Yucatán peninsula�
Tour Highlights
• View the Aztec Templo Mayor
• Encounter enduring Maya traditions among the Chiapas communities
• Discover Palenque, considered the most beautiful of all the Maya cities
• Travel in 4x4s and then by motor-launch boat to the remote site of Yaxchilán, famous for its architecture
• Explore the ball court, observatory, sacred well and the great pyramid of Kukulcan at the awe-inspiring city of Chichén Itzá
Meet the group at our hotel in Mexico City, where dinner awaits us later.
Our day begins with an exploration of the remains of the Templo Mayor, once the sacred heart of Tenochtitlan – the Aztec capital. We also combine this with a visit to the excellent museum. In the afternoon, we walk to the National Palace, where we can stand before Diego Rivera’s magnificent murals.
The majority of our day will be spent at the National Museum of Anthropology, with collections spanning every era of Mexico’s richlytextured past. Lunch will be at the museum, which allows us to get the most out of our visit here. Later in the afternoon, we return to the hotel with free time to relax ahead of our group dinner.
Today we fly south to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, on the edge of the Chiapas Highlands. We visit the
Activity Level
Mexico City Campeche
Uxmal Mérida Cancun Tulum Chichén-Itzá Palenque Toniná
Bonampak San Cristóbal de las Casas
archaeological site of Chiapa de Corzo on arrival and have lunch in the town. This afternoon we drive on to San Cristóbal de las Casas – the great centre of traditional Maya culture.
Our full day of visits begins with Chamula, one of the most fiercely independent of all Maya towns. Here, the local community have famously been left to largely run their own affairs. The use of the Church of San Juan is a symbol of this – the Catholic clergy are absent most of the year and, instead, traditional Maya priests or shamans minister to the local population. On most days, the church’s interior is filled with chanting priests and their clients. Candles flicker, pine needles coat the floor and, on occasion, a chicken is sacrificed. We return to San Cristóbal for lunch with free time to enter Santo Domingo Church, stroll along the cobbled streets of the local market or visit the new museum devoted to Maya textiles. In the evening, we visit the museum at Casa Na Bolom and have dinner.
We drive east to Toniná, located in the hills above the fertile Ocosingo Valley. On the periphery of
“We thoroughly enjoyed this tour, which was led by a really excellent archaeologist, Elizabeth Baquedano. Her enthusiasm and specialist knowledge, which was generously shared, as well as her friendly approach to everyone really made the trip.”
the Maya area, it seems to have been one of the longest lasting Maya cities, possessing the very latest Maya ‘Long Count’ date known, from 15th January 909 AD. Other hieroglyphic evidence points to Toniná having engaged in sporadic warfare with Palenque, some 100 kilometres to the north.
A full day among the ruins of Palenque awaits, positioned on the lower slopes of a range of jungleclad hills and with broad views across the floodplain of the Usumacinta River. The city possesses art and architecture of remarkable quality, most famously in the well-preserved ‘Palace’ complex and the ‘Temple of the Inscriptions’, where Palenque’s greatest king – Pacal – lies buried in a huge sarcophagus. Hieroglyphic texts here have been crucial in piecing together the story of Palenque’s rulers – a dynasty that lasted from c. 430 to 800 AD.
This morning, we travel in 4x4s first to the famous Maya site of Bonampak, known for the remarkable preservation of its vividly painted murals. From Bonampak, we continue to the Usumacinta River and journey by motor-launch downriver to the jungle site of Yaxchilán, constructed within a horseshoe bend in the river. It is a remote, atmospheric place, with many of the buildings being well-preserved though devoid of some of the famous carved lintels. A number of these were removed by the British explorer Alfred Maudslay in the 1880s and can now be seen on display in the ‘Mexican Gallery’ of the British Museum in London.
A drive north brings us to the coastal city of Campeche, founded by Spanish settlers in 1540 and with a fine Colonial centre that we explore later.
Our day begins at the remote site of Edzná, which has a grand plaza, a five-storey main temple complex or acropolis, and it also originally possessed a system of dams and canals that were constructed as early as 150 BC. The next stop is Sayil, a ruined late Classic city, whose population peaked at around 12,000 during the city’s height
around 850 AD. Before travelling on to Uxmal, we end the day at Kabah – a small site known for its ‘House of the Masks’.
We devote our morning to Uxmal, renowned for the elegance of its architecture and the exceptional state of preservation its buildings show. The tallest structure is the Pyramid of the Magician, built in five separate stages. Later, we continue to Mérida, Yucatán’s cultural capital, where free time awaits.
Remaining in Mérida, we visit the new Mundo Maya Museum, which covers the history of the Yucatán, from the earliest times to the Colonial period. Later, we head to Izamal and visit the Franciscan Monastery, which is built on top of a Maya pyramid.
Today we encounter one of the most visited and impressive of all Maya cities – Chichén Itzá
Entering early in the day, we tour the immense Ball Court and Temple Pyramid. After lunch, we visit the lesser-known walled city of Ek Balam and can climb the steps of its largest pyramid for views of the jungle.
Our morning is spent at the ruins of Cobá, where over 30 carved stelae have been found. Next, we make our way to the small coastal site of Tulum
Day
Our tour comes to an end and we make our independent onward journeys.
Guided by Dr Elizabeth Baquedano
A Mesoamerican specialist, Elizabeth is Senior Honorary Lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City, Hotel Casa Mexicana, Hotel Villa Mercedes, Hotel Plaza Campeche, Hotel Hacienda Uxmal, Gamma Mérida El Castellano, Hotel Villas Arqueologicas Chichén Itzá & Hotel Dreams Tulum or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches & 14 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
18th Nov - 2nd Dec $8,275 $7,995 $1,220
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/amex
The Incas and their ancestors
17 DAYS
From $10,225pp SAVE UP TO $280
Machu Picchu, Cuzco, the Colonial jewel of Arequipa and the enigmatic Nazca Lines – this is a tour of Peru’s major archaeological and cultural attractions Explore world-famous Inca sites and the intriguing remains of both their lesser-known predecessors and immediate descendants, as we move from the Pacific to the ancient heartland of the Inca Empire�
Tour Highlights
• Experience the world-renowned Machu Picchu after the crowds start to disperse and again at daybreak, before it gets busy
• Discover the Inca heartland around their capital of Cuzco, a location that is also home to the Incas’ most sacred shrine – the Temple of the Sun
• Grasp the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a thrilling flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines*
We will meet at our hotel this evening for our first meal together as a group.
Our day is spent in Lima, starting in the National Museum of the Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru. After lunch we have a walking tour of some of the highlights of the Spanish Colonial capital.
Departing from Lima, we drive south along the desert coast to the city of Ica. Here, we tour the Regional Museum, which is home to a wealth of ancient coastal artefacts – notably some fine pots from both the Paracas and Nazca cultures. Ica is a fertile agricultural area and it produces some of Peru’s best wine. Later in the afternoon, we continue south to the modern town of Nazca
Nazca
Puerto Inka
A drive across the desert to the extensive Nazca ceremonial centre of Cahuachi is how our day begins. Featuring some 40 mounds that originally formed the bases to mudbrick structures, Cahuachi is thought to have been a pilgrimage site, maintained by a small, permanent population, but visited at ritually important times of the year by people from throughout the Nazca area. After lunch in town, we visit the Antonini Archaeological Museum, home to an extensive collection of Nazca material that includes pots, intriguing architectural models and mummies.
First thing this morning, we have a chance to fly over the Nazca Lines in a small plane. This optional activity is pre-bookable with the price available on request. It is a truly remarkable experience and the best way to gain an appreciation of both the scale and extent of these pre-Columbian geoglyphs. Breakfast follows at the hotel and then we head to the coastal site of Puerto Inka, a little-visited yet extensive ancient port, from where products in the Inca times were shipped to Cuzco along a road that is still visible heading off into the interior.
Lima Machu Picchu Cuzco Arequipa“Ihad
an amazing time. I am a solo traveller, but never felt alone.”
With scenic stops along the way, we drive on further south and then inland to the city of Arequipa, at a height of 2,300m and dramatically surrounded by volcanoes. Arequipa’s Spanish Colonial centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and not only is there much to see here, it also possesses a famous regional cuisine.
Our day in Arequipa begins with viewing the well-preserved Santa Catalina Monastery, which has long been Arequipa’s most famous attraction. Founded in 1575, the convent is a small town within a city, enclosed by lofty protective walls. It has its own streets, tiny individual houses, kitchens, storerooms, a refectory, cloisters and a number of chapels – most of the fabrics of all these structures are vividly painted. We continue to the ‘Museo Santuarios Andinos’. The museum houses archaeological material from the region, but it is most famously home to some well-preserved mummies of the Inca period, found among the glaciers of nearby mountains. After, there is time to explore other parts of Colonial Arequipa, to visit the Jesuit and other churches, and some of the impressive Colonial houses.
In the morning, we fly to Cuzco. Upon arrival, there is time to relax and acclimatise to the altitude before taking an optional walk through the Inca capital.
We start out with a walking tour of Cuzco, during which we see the Coricancha – or Temple of the Sun – the Incas’ most sacred shrine. After this, we make our way to the extensive Inca Museum, very close to Cuzco’s main plaza. This afternoon, we explore the great fortress of Sacsayhuaman, its massive walls constructed from huge blocks of limestone that were dragged from nearby quarries by thousands of workers, paying their labour tax to the Inca state. From Sacsayhuaman, we travel a short distance to the site of Q’enqo, built of comparably worked stone, but a smaller, sacred site from where observations of planets and stars were made.
We make our way to Tipon to see this beautifully positioned archaeological site, which has Inca terrace systems. After lunch, we see the Temple of Viracocha at Raqchi, built largely from mudbrick on stone foundations. This is Inca in date, but is surrounded by other structures, notably a large series of storehouses that have recently been discovered to be much earlier.
In the morning, we travel to Chinchero. Originally the private estate of the ruler Topa Inca, it possesses carved rock outcrops, sweeping Inca terraces and a painted early Colonial church that incorporates a large Inca hall. We also make a specially arranged visit to a local family to witness a demonstration of traditional weaving
We continue to Moray with its extraordinary circular terrace systems. Here, we have a boxed lunch before visiting the Urubamba Valley and Ollantaytambo, where we walk through more finely constructed Inca terracing.
Today we explore the Ollantaytambo ruins, which enjoy views across the Urubamba Valley to the ancient quarry site. From here, we drive up through the Patacancha Valley past a number of settlements to the Inca site and Colonial church located at Marcacocha. Here, we have a picnic lunch before returning to Ollantaytambo, where we visit other parts of this uniquely well-preserved Inca town.
We board the train in Ollantaytambo for Machu Picchu and travel along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, we catch a bus up to the legendary site to spend the rest of our day here.
We set off early this morning to finish touring Machu Picchu before returning to Aguas Calientes Later, we return by train to Poroy and on to Cuzco.
A further day to explore Cuzco. We take a walking tour that visits the cathedral, the church of San Blas, the Casa Cabrera and the Plaza Nazarenas. After lunch, we visit the Casa Concha Machu Picchu Museum. The rest of the day is left for us to spend as we wish.
We return to Lima this morning and visit the impressive Larco Herrera Museum. The collection here has objects from all the ancient cultures we have seen on this tour.
We make our independent journeys home.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Casa Andina Standard Nazca, Hotel Puerto Inka, Casa Andina Premium Arequipa, Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Hotel Pakaritampu & El Mapi Hotel or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 16 breakfasts, 16 lunches & 16 dinners
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
12th - 28th Sep $10,505 $10,225 $1,680
*Nazca Lines flight is optional. Pre-bookable on request, at a supplement
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/asam
Guided by Prof. John Rick Associate Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, John focuses on South American archaeology and the lost city of the Incas.
17 DAYS
From $9,295pp SAVE UP TO $420 Departing May
A special tour with an opportunity to see the landscape as an early explorer might have done, we will visit a selection of sites way off the beaten track Explore a side of Peru that most visitors miss, crisscrossing the Andes from the coast to mountain peaks, following the cordilleras, discovering fortresses, adobe-brick cities and pyramids
Tour Highlights
• Visit Kuélap, known as the Machu Picchu of the North but just at the beginning of its renown
• Travel to lesser-visited sites, such as the Tucume pyramids and the Leymebamba Museum
• Explore Chan Chan, capital of a powerful desert empire before the Incas
• Discover the site of Chavín de Huántar with John Rick, its excavator for more than 25 years
Meet the group at our hotel in Lima.
Today we visit Pachacamac Archaeological Site, the religious pilgrimage centre of coastal Peru for nearly 1,200 years, and the newly-opened world-class National Museum, where we pore over the top artefacts from around the region.
We fly to Jaen and then drive up to Chachapoyas, following the Utcubamba river valley. It’s a long drive on winding, twisting roads as we ascend to 2350m (7700 ft – low by Andean standards!) into the cloud forests. Chachapoyas is described by many as ‘Peru’s best kept secret’ and is a laid back, understated town. We rest here this afternoon to acclimatise to the altitude.
Nicknamed the Machu Picchu of the North, Kuélap is our first destination today. The fortress perches on the side of a steep ravine, surrounded by a
colossal wall 600m (2000 ft) long and 20m (65ft) tall. Within the wall there are numerous houses with circular designs and decorative friezes. After lunch we return to Chachapoyas itself for a walk in this charming provincial capital.
Day
We travel to Leymebamba to visit the community museum notable for its collection of preserved Chachapoyas mummies. There are over 200 here alongside various objects, including ceramics, textiles, feathers and ‘quipuas’ – an Inca recording system using knotted string.
A long drive is ahead of us as we leave the mountains and return to the coast. Throughout the journey, we watch the landscape change from cloud-draped mountains to desert, while crossing the Porculla Pass - the lowest in the Andes.
Starting at the Huaca Rajada (fissured pyramid) we discover the royal tombs of the Sipán branch of the Moche. Discovered in 1987 by a local archaeologist, a succession of high-ranking warrior-priests was buried here along with ritual objects and attendants. Later we visit the stunning Royal Tombs Museum, where we can see the dazzling gold, silver, copper, ceramic and shell finds from the site.
We visit the sprawling Túcume site, which contains no less than 25 pyramids. Next, we head to the tropical thorn forest of Pomac, location of the Sicán Archaeological Complex, whose pyramids contained gold-laden burials of pre-Inca rulers. Finally, we head to the Sicán National Museum to see some of these dazzling treasures.
Heading south to Trujillo, we stop at the El Brujo Pyramid site. From here, we will view other major mounds of the complex, including Huaca Prieta. After exploring the Brujo Museum we will continue on to Trujillo.
We spend all day discovering the magnificent site of Moche, paying visits to the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon as well as its highly didactic museum.
Today we visit Chan Chan, capital city of the AD 1100-1400 Chimu Empire. This mighty place was one of the largest Pre-Colombian cities in South America, covering many square kilometres. This afternoon we will explore the centre of Trujillo
Another long but beautiful drive awaits as we head back into the mountains. Stop at the early site of Cerro Sechín (about 2000 BC) to enjoy the extraordinary yet macabre artwork on the temple walls, then continue to the regional capital of Huaraz.
Day Thirteen | Huaraz
Today is gentle one as we acclimatise to the altitude of 3100m (10,200 ft) below the peaks of the alpinist’s beloved Cordillera Blanca. We visit Wilcahuaín, a mortuary and ritual centre from the first few centuries AD and later the Ancash Museum in Huaraz
Day Fourteen | Huaraz – Chavín de Huántar
Today we cross another mountain chain to Chavín de Huántar, stopping at the glacial Lake Querococha. Professor John Rick has been excavating this site for 27 years, exploring its mysterious underground passageways and canals,
and discovering more of its fantastic art in stone, bone, and pottery. Later, we visit the Chavin National Museum, loaded with art and artefacts that few are privileged to see.
We spend part of this morning finishing our visit to the site, before we begin our travel over the cordilleras and down to sea level again. This evening we will stay overnight in La Esperanza.
It’s the final leg of travelling today and we return along the coast to Lima. We visit Caral, argued by some to have been the New World’s oldest city, and remains here include pyramids, temples and altars distributed over a coastal desert landscape. After, we head to Lima for our last evening together.
This morning, we make our independent journeys home.
Guided by Prof. John Rick Associate Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, John focuses on South American archaeology and the lost city of the Incas.
Price includes
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager
• Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
• Field notes
• All taxes & gratuities
Included travel
• All local transport
Accommodation
• Accommodation in the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Casa Hacienda Achamaqui, Casa Andina Select, Costa Del Sol Trujillo Centro, Andino Club Hotel, Hostal Chavin Turistico, La Empedrada Lodge, Costa Del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport or similar
Culinary inclusions
• 16 breakfasts, 15 lunches & 15 dinners (plus a snack in hotel room due to late arrival)
• Water with all meals, tea or coffee with dinner
Dates & prices per person
Date Twin/Dbl Share SS
19th May - 4th Jun $9,715 $9,295 $1,295
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/anpp
These are our esteemed guides for 2024 and we feel both proud and privileged to be working with them. They are among the most respected in their chosen field of expertise, be it archaeology, history, art history or local culture.
For more information, please visit: andantetravels.co.uk/guides
Dr Paul Bahn
Dr Paul Bahn is the leading expert on prehistoric rock art worldwide, and is certainly one of our best-known archaeologists. Paul led the team that discovered the first Ice Age cave art in Britain in 2003. He is not only a leading academic but a great exponent of popular and accessible archaeology, and he has been leading tours for Andante Travels since 2000, inspiring and enthusing our travellers in the famous caves of France and Spain, in open-air rock shelters in Portugal, and in Chile and Easter Island. His most recent publication, Images of the Ice Age, was awarded Book of the Year in the Current Archaeology Awards.
Join Paul on Chauvet & Cosquer p77, Cave Art of the Dordogne p82, Pyrenees Rock Art p83, Rock Art of Portugal & Spain p88, Rock Art of Altamira p92 & Chile & Easter Island p140
Dr Jeremy Bennett
A British archaeologist, Jeremy was awarded his PhD at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His research focuses on the development of agrarian landscapes of Malta and Gozo.
Join Jeremy on Prehistoric Malta & Gozo p98
Dr Elizabeth Baquedano
A specialist in the Archaeology of Mesoamerica, Elizabeth is a Senior Honorary Lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, where she is the Coordinator of Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory.
Join Elizabeth on Mexico p142
Diana Blumberg
Diana Blumberg is an archaeological scientist who specialises in the analysis of archaeological materials. She has worked on archaeological field schools in both Pompeii and Portus (the latter being one of the harbours of ancient Rome), and also has excavation experiences in the United Kingdom.
Join Diana on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22 & Latium Countryside p46
Dr Doru Bogdan
A researcher and lecturer at the University of Alba Iulia in Romania, Doru is a specialist in Roman archaeology and has also supervised an array of fascinating excavations.
Join Doru on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22, Romans, Visigoths & Viziers p90, Morocco & Andalucia p102 & Moorish Wonders of the Guadalquivir & Guardiana in the Cruise Brochure
Katie Campbell
Katie has worked as an archaeologist for the past decade throughout Central Asia and the Middle East, and is now completing a doctorate at the University of Oxford looking at the impact of the Mongol Conquests on the cities of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Join Katie on Uzbekistan p134
Ian Colvin
A researcher and historian at the University of Cambridge, Ian specialises in the late Roman and Byzantine history of the Caucasus regions. He has also excavated at the site of Nokalakevi in West Georgia.
Join Ian on Armenia & Georgia p132
Francois Desset
A French archaeologist specialising in Near Eastern archaeology, Francois obtained his PhD from the Sorbonne. He works at Tehran University on Bronze Age of Iran and as of yet undeciphered Iranian writing systems.
Join Francois on Uzbekistan p134
Dr Rob Dinnis
An expert on the Palaeolithic and archaeology of the last Ice Age, Rob has published on human dispersals, Palaeolithic material culture and Ice Age environments in which people lived.
Join Robert on Dordogne Cave Art p82 & Rock Art of Altamira p92
Andrew Farrington
After a career of teaching Classics, Ancient Greek, and Roman history, Andrew is now Assistant Professor in Ancient Greek History in the Department of History and Ethnology at the Democritus University of Thrace.
Join Andrew on Wild Thrace p70
Dr Andy Fear
Andy is a Lecturer in Classics at the University of Manchester. He is primarily interested in Roman history and has authored books on the archaeology of both Cheshire and Staffordshire.
Join Andy on Romans, Visigoths & Viziers p90
Lucia
GahlinSpecialising in ancient Egyptian archaeology, Lucia worked at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and is an Honorary Research Associate at UCL’s Institute of Archaeology. Her areas of special interest are ancient Egypt’s social history, settlement archaeology, and also the rituals and beliefs of daily life.
Join Lucia on Egypt - Highlights & Discoveries p110 & Egypt - Off the Beaten Track p112
Oliver Gilkes
One of our longest-standing Guide Lecturers, Oliver has worked as a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Albania and Italy. He has also worked at the UNESCO Site of Butrint and in the medieval city of Gjirokastra. Oliver is still involved in projects in Albania and is considered one of just a handful of experts on Albanian archaeology in the UK.
Join Oliver on The Villas of Lazio p26, Hidden Rome p28, The Etruscans p30, Sicilian Civilisation p34, The Samnites p38, Imperial Majesty in Ravenna & Venice p48, Macedonia p68, Ancient Epirus p72, Albania, Kosovo & Montenegro p94 & Serbia p96 & Ancient & Medieval Gems of the Adriatic in our Cruise Brochure
Nick Jackson
A graduate of the Institute of Archaeology at UCL, Nick is an archaeologist and historian with over 20 years of excavation and guiding experience for Andante in the eastern Mediterranean. His varied archaeological excavations in the Middle East saw him excavate the oldest Nabatean house ever found, but have focused primarily on the late Bronze Age, specifically the developments in the region at the end of 2nd Millennium BCE. His current study projects include the cultural evolution of the prepottery Neolithic.
Join Nick on Berlin - Beyond the Wall p86, Lebanon p124, Israel & Palestine p126 & Jordan - Petra & the Desert Fortresses p128 & The Wealth & Wonders of the Hanseatic Cities in our Cruise Brochure
Prof. Tony King
Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Winchester, Tony has excavated both in Britain and abroad. He is also a specialist in Roman archaeology and an expert in animal bone analysis.
Join Tony on The Etruscans p30 & Rome to Ravenna p44 & Romans & Gauls p80
Dr Sandy MacGillivray
Dr John Mcnabb
Senior Lecturer in Palaeolithic Archaeology at Southampton University since 2010, John has researched widely within South Africa including Makapansgat. He is also involved in projects in Tanzania.
Join John on South Africa & Tanzania p114
Farès K Moussa
Specialising in religious art and artistic practice, Farès has both written and researched on Romans and Phoenicians in Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Sardinia, as well as on the subject of prehistoric rock art.
Join Farès on The Island of Sardinia p50 & Algeria p104
Tony O’Connor
Formerly a curator for Epping Forest Museum and a specialist in the Roman Empire, Tony has excavated widely across Britain, Europe and North Africa. Having excavated in Libya, he is passionate about Roman North Africa and is also deeply interested in the study of Roman coinage and in numismatics more widely, putting his skills in coin analysis to use in his current role as a museum archaeologist. He first led a tour for Andante over 10 years ago and he just gets better and better!
Dr
Christina Hatzimichael-WhitleyA tutor in Greek archaeology at the Cardiff Center for Lifelong Learning, Christina specialises in Minoan Crete and is Co-Director of the Praisos Survey.
Join Christina on The Peloponnese p58, Crete & Santorini p60, The Cyclades p66 & Macedonia p68
Associate Professor of Archaeology and Program Director for Sustainable Cultural Heritage at The American University of Rome, Valerie’s research includes the heritage of Rome, antiquities crime, cultural heritage in conflict and post-conflict areas, and community heritage.
Join Valerie on Hidden Rome p28
Jean-Luc Houle is an associate professor of anthropology (archaeology) in the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University.
Join Jean-Luc on Mongolia p136
An archaeologist specialising in the Aegean Bronze Age, Sandy has excavated at Sparta and Knossos. He is interested in the relationship between Greece, the Cyclades and Crete.
Join Sandy on The Ancient Argolid p57, Crete & Santorini p60 & Crete - From West to East p62
Dr Eireann Marshall
An Honorary Research Fellow for the Open University, Eireann has led many Andante tours. She won the Top History and Culture Guide prize at Wanderlust magazine’s 2019 World Guide Awards, and has also published a variety of articles on Roman North Africa.
Join Eireann on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22, Florence p29, Puglia & Basilicata p36, Archaeology in the Heart of Italy p40, Lake Garda & the Cities of Veneto p52, The Archaeology of Roman Istria p87, Morocco & Andalucia p102 & Carthage & Roman Tunisia p108 & Cruising the extraordinary Island of Corsica in the Cruise Brochure
Join Tony on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22, Sicilian Civilisation p34, Imperial Majesty in Ravenna & Venice p48, Lake Garda & the Cities of Veneto p52, Algeria p104, Tunisia - North & South p106, Carthage & Roman Tunisia p108 & Lebanon p124
Terry Richardson
Terry has a university background in Ancient History and Classical Civilisations. He first traveled to Turkey as an undergraduate in 1997 and he has been back countless times since. He is the author of Rough Guide Istanbul, Pocket Rough Guide Istanbul, and the main author of Rough Guide Turkey. Terry has also written about Turkey and Istanbul for Wanderlust, the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.
Join Terry on North East Turkey p120 & Turkey: From Catal Huyuk to Gobekli Tepe p122
Prof. John Rick
Associate Professor Emeritus and former Chair of Anthropological Sciences at Stanford University, John is also previous Curator of Anthropological Collections and past Director of Stanford’s Archaeology Center.
Join John on Southern Peru p144 & Northern Peru p146
Dr Rita Roussos
A native Athenian, Rita taught Archaeology and Art History at the American University of Athens. She is particularly interested in the place of women in ancient Greece and Rome.
Join Rita on Athens p56, The Ancient Argolid p57, The Peloponnese p58, Crete & Santorini p60 & The Dodecanese p64
Dr Jamie Sewell
An author of books and articles on the archaeology of towns in Hellenistic Italy, Jamie has 15 years worth of experience supervising excavations in Britain, Germany, Italy and Romania.
Join Jamie on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22, Sicilian Civilisation p34, Puglia & Basilicata p36 & Along the Appian Way p42
Dr Gillian Shepherd
Director of the Trendall Center for Ancient Mediterranean Studies at La Trobe in Australia, Gillian specialises in the Greek colonisation of Italy and Sicily. She is especially interested in the historiography of colonisation.
Join Gillian on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22 & Sicilian Civilisation p34
John Shepherd
A specialist in the study of ancient glass, John has worked extensively in the field in Europe as an archaeologist, including France, Italy and Bulgaria. Much of John’s career has been focused upon Roman provincial archaeology, working at the Museum of London for over 20 years.
Join John on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22, Romans on the Bay of Naples p32 & Hidden Paris p76 , Cruising the Seine, Cruising Ancient Dalmatia & Exploring the Archaeology of the Rhône in the Cruise Brochure
Isabella Sjöström
An archaeologist with a particular interest in Anatolia and North Africa, Isabella works as a pottery specialist with the Sudan Archaeological Research Society.
Join Isabella on Classical Turkey - The Aegean Coast p118
Dr Andy Souter
A lecturer at the University of Reading and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Andy is particularly interested in the architecture of ancient Rome and he completed his PhD thesis on the rural economy of Roman Portugal.
Join Andy on Hidden Rome p28
Dr Nick Thorpe
Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Winchester, Nick has published books and articles on prehistoric Wessex, Britain and Europe, on burial practices, and on the origins of agriculture and the archaeological fringe.
Join Nick on Brittany - Carnac & Beyond p78
Tony Wilmott
Senior Archaeologist with Historic England, Tony has directed many excavations, including 23 seasons of work at Hadrian’s Wall, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site. He has also excavated at Whitby Abbey, Richborough Roman fort and on the amphitheater at Chester. Tony has published several books and many articles in archaeological journals and conference proceedings. He specializes in the Roman periods, with a particular interest in the Roman military.
Join Tony on Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania p22 & Romans on the Bay of Naples p32 & Roman Germany p84
Yes, of course. All of our tours are fully bonded and protected via the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL scheme (flight-based holidays) or through ABTOT (for holidays that don’t include flights).
We work hard to ensure that our visits have a positive and respectful impact on the ancient places we go to. Our brochures and packing materials are made from recycled and sustainable sources, and we’re always striving to improve on this where we can. We always buy local for treats and picnic lunches, and do our best to avoid single-use plastics on our tours where possible.
We include as much as possible, from return flights and accommodation to entry to all sites mentioned in the itinerary as well as meals listed and tips throughout. If your chosen itinerary does include independent meals, any free time or optional excursions, you may consider bringing currency or an approved card.
All you need in order to enjoy a tour with Andante is a passion for travel and a curiosity for the past. These are itineraries that everyone can enjoy, are accessible for all interest levels.
While we always recommend that you book as early as possible, we do understand that sometimes the spirit of adventure is too strong to ignore and often do take late bookings! Our Specialist Sales Executives are happy to help with late availability, should you require their assistance. It is, however, worth bearing in mind that the best prices will only ever be available to early bookers, so it does pay to plan ahead.
Sometimes our guests want to add little extras to their tours to make their time away a bit more special, and we have a range of options available that our Specialist Sales Executives can help with. If you wish to fly out early or stay for a few extra days after your tour ends, we can book your flights accordingly or arrange local flights where possible for an additional fee. You may also wish to upgrade your room or add on a door-to-door transfer, just call us to discuss.
Absolutely. When you travel with us, you are looked after round the clock. In the event of an emergency, our team members will help you both on tour and from our UK office. We are experts in dealing with the unexpected and we are on call 24 hours a day to support you and the tour staff accompanying your trip.
Over the past 37 years, our groups have contained people of all ages and from all walks of life. Parties are a mixture of solo travellers and those holidaying with partners or friends. The majority are people whose families have grown up, leaving them with time to pursue their own interests, but there is usually a spread of ages. The atmosphere on our tours is easygoing, informal and, of course, fun.
We have a simple grading system from one to five in place, which should help you decide whether or not a tour is suitable. You’ll find this featured at the top of each tour page.
Yes, we have a duty of care for all of our guests and we must ensure that you are covered for any necessary medical issues or repatriation needs as we will not be able cover these costs or access your personal funds. Your insurance will also need to cover you in the event that you have to cancel your trip.
No, but should you require a letter of invitation from the country you are planning on visiting, we will organise this for you and provide instructions on how to apply for the visa. As most visa applications require either biometric data or personal information, it will be your responsibility to organise any required visas.
We have designed a grading system to help you understand how strenuous or relaxed your tour is likely to be. The levels are determined by components that make up a tour, such as distance and terrain walked, the driving distances covered and each day’s length – from the moment you leave the hotel to your return.
Level 1 - Gentle
Level 2 - Light
Level 3 - Moderate
Look out for this panel on all our tour pages
A tour that is determined as gentle will have a relaxed pace, with little walking and less exertion where travel and day length are concerned.
On light tours, anticipate mild walking with a mostly relaxed pace. There will be more visits and travelling than on our gentle tours, but not by much.
A decent level of fitness is required for our moderate tours. There could be walking between sites, more standing and more travelling to encounter.
Level 4 - Active If you choose an active tour, come prepared for longer days – and ones that fit more in. More walking, bigger distances covered and more energy!
Level 5 - Challenging For challenging tours, you’ll need to be physically fit. Days could include long drives, hikes and multiple visits, meaning they’ll be lengthy and tiring.
Your package holiday booking is with Andante Travels, The Clock Tower, 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT. Telephone: 01722 713800 email: tours@andantetravels.com
Historical Trips is a trading name of Andante Travels Ltd
These Booking Conditions set out the terms on which you contract with us, and this contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions, which are governed by English Law, and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. If you reside in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose the applicable law and jurisdiction if you wish to do so.
In these booking conditions, “you” and “your” includes all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date). “We”, “us” and “our” means Andante Travels. Andante Travels is a subsidiary of Specialist Tours Limited (company number 08395250). Except where otherwise stated, these booking conditions only apply to holiday arrangements which you book with us and which we agree to make, provide, or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract with you. All references in these booking conditions to “holiday”, “booking”, “contract” or “arrangements” mean such holiday arrangements unless otherwise stated.
You enter into a booking with us when we issue our booking confirmation/ invoice. If you then cancel, there will be cancellation charges. Initially as a minimum this may only be a deposit but can go up to 100%. In certain circumstances you may be able to make changes to your booking however charges will apply. We can change and cancel your booking. We’ll pay you compensation in certain circumstances. It is a condition of booking that all travellers are covered by comprehensive travel insurance. We are responsible to you for providing your holiday but there are legal limits.
ANDANTE TRAVELS holds ATOL number 3552 issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. For all other packages, The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
All information provided in the brochure/website is, to the best of our knowledge or belief, correct at the time of publication. We will advise you of any changes that are fundamental to the contract, or which we believe will affect your enjoyment of the holiday. Please advise us if there is any requirement, which you believe is fundamental to your holiday so that we can give you the latest information at time of booking.
When you ask us to proceed with a booking you will be required to make a (minimum) deposit payment which will vary dependent on the specific holiday you are booking. This will be advised at the time of booking and confirmed in your booking confirmation. It may also be necessary to collect payment at the time of booking for other (non-refundable) costs e.g. flight tickets, transfers etc. In the case of bookings made after the balance due date, we will require full payment for the holiday.
You must be at least 18 years old to make a booking and you guarantee that you have the authority to accept, and do accept, these terms and conditions for all members of the party (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date), and in particular payment for all the persons on the booking. We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to refuse to accept any booking without necessarily specifying a reason.
A contract is made when we accept your booking and issue our written booking confirmation/invoice. If we cannot accept or confirm the booking, any money paid will be promptly refunded. On receipt of the booking confirmation/invoice it is important to check the details and if there is any inaccuracy this must be notified to us immediately. It may not be possible to make changes or corrections later, or additional costs may be incurred which we will have to pass on to you.
Many of our holidays are based on specially negotiated airfares booked in a specific airline booking class. At the time of booking if these fares are not available, we will endeavour to secure an alternative air fare and advise you of any additional cost. Please note that most special air fares are non-refundable and non-changeable.
We hold your deposit (and any additional payment required at the time of booking) towards the full cost of the holiday. The balance must be received by us no later than the final payment due date shown on your booking confirmation/invoice, as appropriate to your holiday. If you do not pay the full cost within the time specified, we may treat your holiday as cancelled by you in which case the cancellation charges shown in point 4 - Cancellation by You, will apply.
Deposit Payments (per person):
UK Guests: £250 for tours up to £1,000, £500 for tours £1,001 to £2,500, £750 for tours £2,501-£5,000 and £1,000 for tours £5,000+
US Guests: $250 for tours up to $1,000, $500 for tours $1,001 to $2,500, $750 for tours $2,501-$5,000 and $1,000 for tours $5,000+
The deposit payable for a small selection of tours differs from the amounts above and are specified on the brochure and website price panels.
Final Balance payment: 12 weeks prior to tour departure date
If we are booking bespoke flight arrangements for you or deviating from the group flights, we will charge you any difference in cost and payment will be taken in full when the flights are booked.
Ways to Pay - we accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, cheque, or bank transfer for which no levy is charged by us. Your bank or credit card provider may charge an additional financial processing charge and we cannot be responsible for any such charges.
Please Note: if you are paying from an overseas bank account, you have to accept all bank charges incurred by us. A surcharge of 2.5% will be applied for card payments made with cards registered outside the EEA and USA.
a) Prior to booking you will receive a verbal quote based on your specific holiday requirements and travel dates.
b) We reserve the right to notify you of any alteration in the advertised or quoted price and any changes in holiday arrangements before accepting your booking.
Note: We make every effort to ensure that the most up to date and correct prices are shown on our website, but we reserve the right to correct pricing errors at any time. We operate a pricing policy which means that the earlier you book the cheaper the holiday will be. Our very best prices are reserved for those who book early. We also commit that we will not offer the same holiday at a lower price to anyone that has booked after you (or we will refund you the difference between your price and the price they pay). If you do not wish to accept the corrected and actual price of the holiday, we will cancel the booking and provide a full refund of any monies you have already paid. Alternatively, you may amend your booking or select an alternative holiday at the applicable and correct price.
c) Subject to these conditions, once we have confirmed your booking, the price is fully guaranteed and will not be subject to any additional ‘surcharges’, which means any increase due to changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties, including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at port and airports or exchange rates.
d) Prices in our brochures and/or on our website are calculated on rates of exchange linked to those available to us; either based on rates previously secured or our view of currency exchange rates applicable at the time payments are due.
Single supplements are payable for sole occupancy of a twin/double room. A ‘double’ bed is often two single beds pushed together, sometimes with double bed base linen (although it is not unusual for single duvets to be provided in some hotels for doubles), or a bed that is slightly smaller than a standard UK size double bed, but still larger than a single bed.
Expert Guide Lecturer & Professional Tour Manager (as specified by tour)
2–5* Accommodation
Meals as per the itinerary, tea or coffee with dinner
Entries to all sites and local transport as per the itinerary
All taxes & gratuities (as specified by tour)
4. CANCELLATION & VARIATION BY YOU
Cancellation by You
If you or any member of your party wish to cancel your holiday, or if you fail to pay the full cost of the holiday within the specified time you will be liable, as a minimum, to pay the charges detailed below up to the point of cancellation, in addition to any non-refundable items*. Or in the case of failure to pay, at the date that we deem your booking to have been cancelled. Notification from the person who made the booking must be received at our offices. This can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter. The cancellation charge will be calculated according to the date this is received, or the date upon which your cancellation is treated as occurring because of non-payment.
*Non-refundable holiday costs charged including upgraded air tickets, hotel upgrades, extensions, extra nights, transfers etc., will be charged at 100% and the charges shown below will then apply to the remainder of the holiday cost and any amendment charges are not refundable. Additional accommodation costs for reduced occupancy or other components, may be payable in the event that one or more passengers cancels but where remaining passengers still wish to travel.
Group Bookings - cancellation charges will apply to any guests in the group who may wish to cancel in the unlikely event of cancellation by the lead passenger.
Note: If your cancellation falls within the provisions of your travel insurance policy you may be able to make a claim which must be made direct to your insurance company.
Tours: Up to 84 days: deposit | 83-64 days: deposit and 35% of the balance | 63-46 days: deposit and 55% of the balance | 45-31 days: deposit and 75% of the balance | From 30 days to departure: deposit and 100% of the balance
We will observe travel advice provided by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Should circumstances dictate, you can cancel your booking without paying cancellation charges if the performance of your holiday, or the carriage of passengers to your destination, is significantly affected by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. In such circumstances, we will arrange for your booking to be cancelled and for you to receive a full refund.
Booking alterations: If, after our booking confirmation/invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes (subject to agreement by our suppliers) but it may not always be possible. Any associated costs of the changes imposed by our suppliers and any extra arrangements will be payable by you and are nonrefundable. Quotes normally have a 24-hour time frame before they expire, and the price is therefore subject to change. You should be aware that these costs could increase as the departure dates becomes closer and you should contact us as soon as possible.
Booking transfer to another person: You can transfer your existing booking to another person suggested by you (subject to agreement by our suppliers)*. Notice must be received at our offices, this can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter from the person who made the booking at least 25 days before departure. The replacement traveller must satisfy and fulfil any conditions that apply to the holiday, and all costs of the original booking. Both you and the new traveller are responsible for paying all costs we incur before the transfer can be made by us. The cost of the transfer will consist of both an administration charge of £50 and any costs which our suppliers impose*.
Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be transferable after a reservation has been made, for example, some airlines may require payment of 100% cancellation charges and the cost of a new ticket for ANY variation that is made, and changes to other arrangements may incur a cancellation charge of up to 100%.
* If you are unable to travel, you may wish to check whether cover is provided for your cancellation within the terms of your travel insurance policy as this may incur less cost to you.
Booking transfer to an alternative holiday: It may be possible at our discretion for you to transfer to another holiday, however this is subject to availability and time frame of departure. You must transfer within 7 days of notifying Andante Travels and the new departure must be within 1 year of notification. Any price difference between what you paid for your original tour and the price of the new tour will be payable. An administration fee of £50 per person applies to any transfer.
While on holiday: If you decide to cut short your holiday for your own reasons, or not stay at accommodation that has been booked for you, take any pre-booked meals, excursions, or other holiday components, then we are unable to offer you any refund or cover any costs. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for such curtailment, so we suggest that you check the conditions and requirements of your policy.
We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed or cancel confirmed bookings, events, or activities. Holidays to remote and in some cases, underdeveloped parts of the world carry the risk that parts of the holiday may be subject to alterations beyond our control, sometimes at short notice. While we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so.
We reserve the right to cancel your booking. We will not cancel your confirmed booking after the final ‘balance due’ payment date, except for unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (see point 6) or failure by you to pay the final balance of your holiday.
Minimum Numbers - some of our holidays require a minimum number of participants to enable us to operate them. If the minimum number of bookings required for a particular holiday or flight have not been achieved, we are entitled to cancel it and will notify you prior to the final ‘balance due’ payment date, or in exceptional circumstances following the final ‘balance due’ payment date. Please note that in such cases we are not able to accept responsibility for any costs you may have incurred, including costs of other travel arrangements made in association with the cancelled holiday, unless booked through Andante Travels. We are happy to give you an indication at any time of the current number of passengers booked on a trip, but this should not be taken as any guarantee whether the holiday will or will not go ahead as booking numbers can fluctuate. There may be certain circumstances when a holiday may operate with less than the minimum number than the advertised group size.
If your holiday is cancelled, you can either have a refund of all monies paid or accept an alternative holiday of comparable standard from us if we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).
In the event a refund is paid to you, we will compensate you for reasonable, non-refundable costs (e.g. flight tickets) which you have incurred, to be mutually agreed on a case-by-case basis.
If it becomes necessary to cancel your tour as a result of global travel disruption, we reserve the right to refund the cost of your tour in the form of credit for a limited amount of time, to be used against any other tour in the Specialist Journeys portfolio. If you do not use this credit within that time, a refund would be payable. This change to the standard booking conditions would only apply if approved by the UK Government and enshrined in the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations (PTRs) as an emergency measure to support tour operators in extraordinary circumstances such as the 2020 Covid-19 outbreak. The exact credit terms and timeframe would be defined by the PTRs. Furthermore, at times of global travel disruption, when we may have thousands of guests to reimburse, refunds may take as long as 12-14 weeks to process.
It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure that you are notified about it. Examples of insignificant changes include a change of airline or aircraft type, alteration of your outward/return flights by less than 12 hours, change of airports and/or local connecting transport, tour staff and changes to supplementary arrangements such as site visit, or change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard.
Occasionally, we may have to make a significant change. If we are constrained by circumstances beyond our control to significantly alter any of the main characterises of the travel services that make up your package, you will have rights set out below.
• We will contact you and you will have the choice of accepting the change or having a refund of all monies paid. You can also accept an alternative holiday, where we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of lower value) or purchase an alternative holiday subject to availability and applicable cost. We will tell you the procedure for making your choice. Please read any notification of changes carefully and respond promptly as if you do not respond to us within the timescale given, your booking may be cancelled.
• If you choose to accept a refund, we will compensate you for reasonable, non-refundable costs (e.g. flight tickets) which you have incurred, to be mutually agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Very rarely, we may be forced by ‘circumstances beyond our control’ (see point 6) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away. This is extremely rare, if this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain these from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result.
We do not control the day-to-day management of your accommodation, and in exceptional cases it is possible that we may be advised that the reserved accommodation has been overbooked. If this happens before your departure or on arrival in a location, we will endeavour to provide accommodation of at least the same standard in the same area. If only accommodation of a lower standard is available, we will refund the difference of the holiday price between the accommodation booked and that available and will pay up to £50 per person for any inconvenience.
If under any circumstances a refund Is applicable, this will be made to the lead passenger who made the original booking and to the payment method used for that booking.
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation, reimburse expenses, or cover losses where the performance of our obligations under our contract with you is prevented or affected by, or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of ‘circumstances beyond our control’. In these booking conditions, ‘circumstances beyond our control’ means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include actual or threatened war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity and its consequences (including suspected terrorist activity and all action taken during any “terror alert”), industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, epidemics and pandemics, unavoidable technical problems with transport, airport or airspace closures, as well as other air traffic management decisions (that may result in long or overnight delays or cancellations), fire, concert/event changes or cancellation and all similar events outside our control. This list is not exhaustive.
Group based holidays and activities - worldwide weather patterns are becoming ever more erratic and unpredictable. If it is not possible to operate certain excursions for this reason, we will endeavour to offer alternatives if this is possible. Such circumstances are totally beyond our control, and you therefore should proceed with your booking on this basis.
Public Holidays, Sporting & Local Events - in addition to public holidays, many countries host other national or international events or there may be local festivals, which may impact on local/tourist services or travel arrangements, including the reduction or closure of facilities, route diversions etc. during your visit. We have no control over these events, and as dates and details of arrangements are often changeable year on year, it is not possible for us to guarantee to forewarn you of specific details that may be relevant to your holiday or accept any responsibility for disruption that may be caused. During public holidays, shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions may also be closed.
Third-Party Information & Websites - your booking is based on the information supplied to you by Andante Travels. We understand you may conduct additional research into your holiday through other third parties and associated websites, but as we have no control over such information this does not form any basis of our contract with you.
Wi-Fi - where the provision of Wi-Fi may be indicated in a property description, no guarantee is given or implied that it will be operative during your holiday and its availability is outside our control. Some properties may charge for this service and the areas where it is available may be limited and
not necessarily available in guest rooms. In all cases, no compensation or refund will be paid in the event that it is not available for whatever reason.
Dietary Requests & Allergies - even nowadays, in some destinations, basic well-known dietary requirements (such as vegetarian, gluten free etc.) are often misunderstood and seldom catered for adequately, despite the best intentions and assurances from hoteliers and restaurateurs. While we are happy to pass on any such requests, we cannot guarantee choice or availability - especially with any airline meal options. We cannot accept detailed lists of specific dietary or food preparation requests and are unable to accept any other requests (eg. personal preferences) that are not for medical or religious reasons. Note: Whilst on tour it is your responsibility to double check and reconfirm any allergy or dietary requirements directly with the various holiday suppliers.
Other Hotel Guests - it is not unusual for hotels or other accommodation to receive group bookings (sometimes with large numbers) from guests participating in conventions and conferences or other gatherings. At certain times of the year, there may be an influx of groups such as students on organised educational visits (popular during school holidays), associations or clubs. This may result in hotel facilities being much busier than usual or additional demands on hotel staff and services, but we are unable to accept any responsibility for any inconvenience caused by such groups or their activities.
Guides - we reserve the right to substitute any named guide, guest lecturer or other escort with an alternative qualified person and this will not be deemed as any significant change to your arrangements.
Flights - if you have booked a flight upgrade and there is a change of airline prior to departure as a result of circumstances beyond our control, it may not be possible to offer an equivalent upgrade, or an addition cost may apply.
a) Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements including, inoculations and health certificates are your responsibility, and you should confirm these for all countries to, or through which you are intending to travel and cover all costs for this. Requirements should be checked well in advance of travel, and we do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.
b) Essential information for British citizens (only), including health, passport, and visa requirements along with up-to-date Foreign Office travel, safety and security advice can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/travelaware. We also strongly recommend that you sign up for the latest email updates as travel and safety information can change at any point without notice.
c) If you or any member of your party is not a British citizen or holds a nonBritish passport, you must check passport and visa requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country or countries to, or through which, you are intending to travel and consult the relevant authority for the latest travel and safety advice for the destinations you are visiting.
d) We recommend that you consult your doctor well in advance of travel for the latest advice on inoculations and health certificates. You can also obtain the latest health information ahead of travel by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNac) website https://www. travelhealthpro.org.uk.
Our holidays are not designed for party members to undertake special projects or research whether in connection with study, employment or otherwise. We cannot accept any liability for any losses or damages arising out of such use or planned use nor for any loss or damage which has special financial consequences. Please note if you do intend to use one of our holidays for such purposes you should obtain adequate insurance in respect of it and any special equipment you decide to bring with you on such holidays.
9. HOLIDAY PARTICIPATION
It is a condition of participation on our holidays that you agree to accept the authority and decisions of our employees, tour leaders and agents while on holiday with us. If in the opinion of such a person your health or conduct at any time, before or after departure, appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable, or happy progress of a holiday, you may be excluded from all or part of the holiday and/or we may terminate your holiday, and any additional costs incurred by you as a result of such exclusion will be your responsibility. In the case of ill health, we may make such arrangements as we see fit and recover any resulting costs from you .
Note: While there are no age limits or health requirements on our holidays, please note that for certain destinations require a degree of mobility and fitness to get the most out of the holiday and need to keep up with the group. Should you have any concerns or your mobility changes as your holiday gets closer, please contact us to discuss further.
We make every effort to ensure that the holiday arrangements we have agreed to provide as part of our contract with you are delivered with reasonable skill and care. It is the laws and regulations of the country in which the services are actually provided which apply to your holiday arrangements and not those of the UK or your home country and any resulting complaint or claim will be judged on this basis. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as being properly provided. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care have not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers). Also bear in mind that standards of, for example, safety, hygiene, and quality may vary and services and transport your holiday involves may differ to the stringent standards we are accustomed to in the UK or your home country. Including for example, the absence of seatbelts on coaches contracted outside the UK as this is not always a legal requirement elsewhere.
Certain holidays involve risks and hazards of travel to and in remote and/or uninhabited areas where injury, illness, death, delay, or unanticipated events may occur as a result of forces of nature, wildlife, and adverse weather conditions. Medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible in some parts, and the medical facilities that do exist could be of inferior quality compared to what is available at home. In remote regions risks may include but are not limited to: mechanical breakdown of expedition vehicle(s); becoming stranded in remote and/or uninhabited areas; being subjected to rugged terrain and a harsh climate; encounters with wild animals, insects and pests, and the possibility of illness, injury or death therefrom; the uncontrollable and unpredictable behaviour of wild animals in their natural habitat; the possibility of not seeing certain animals; and dangerous weather and climate conditions.
You must inform us without undue delay of any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services included in this package. If any of the travel services included in your package are not performed in accordance with the contract, or improperly performed, by us or the travel service suppliers, and this has affected the enjoyment of your travel arrangements, you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction or compensation or both. We will not be liable where any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services is due to you or another member of your party; or a third party unconnected with the provision of the travel services in the package and is unforeseeable or unavoidable.
Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury, or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of three times the cost of your travel arrangements (excluding amendment charges). Our liability (if we are found liable to you on any basis) will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to:
a) The contractual terms of the companies that provide the travel services that made up your package.
These terms are incorporated into this booking contract; and
b) Any relevant international convention, for example the Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne Convention in respect of travel by rail and the Paris Convention in respect of the provision of accommodation, which limit the amount of and conditions under which compensation can be claimed for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage (there are strict Conditions of Carriage obligations for making claims for missing or damaged baggage that must be followed). We are regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of the extent of or the conditions under which compensation is to be paid under these or any conventions.
You can ask for copies of the travel service contractual terms, or the international conventions from Andante Travels. Where a carrier or hotelier would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable international convention or regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. Under EU law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation, or delay to flights – see point 11 below.
If it is impossible to ensure your return as scheduled due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, we will bear the cost of necessary accommodation, if possible, of equivalent category, for a maximum of three nights if this is not provided by your airline, in accordance with Regulation 261/2004. The limit doesn’t apply to persons with reduced mobility and any person accompanying them, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, or persons in need of specific medical assistance, provided that you notified us of these needs at least 48 hours before the start of your holiday.
Note: this entire clause does not apply to any services which do not form part of your contract with us i.e. ‘own arrangements’. This includes for example, any additional services, including excursions, that you organise independently, or services which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where these are not organised by us as part of our contract with you. We recommend that sufficient and appropriate insurance is taken out. In addition, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees, or where we are responsible for them, our suppliers or (3) arises out of use of our services for special projects or research whether in connection with study, employment or otherwise or (4) is connected with any business. We further advise you, and you agree that in the event of any claim against us, that such claim shall be governed by English Law and Jurisdiction shall lie in any Court of Competent Jurisdiction in the United Kingdom and you further acknowledge these requirements and waive any objection(s) thereto.
Should delays due to weather conditions disrupt your itinerary, additional costs may be incurred, and these would be the responsibility of you, the client. You will be assisted by the airlines in accordance with the airlines’ policy on delay. We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in point 6 of these booking conditions (which includes the behaviour of any passenger(s) on the flight who, for example, fails to check in or board a flight on time).
Under EU law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation, or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However, reimbursement in such cases will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. Your right to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in these booking conditions. If any payments to you are due from us, any payment made to you by the airline will be deducted from this amount. You are required to make any claim under this regulation directly with the airline, but if your airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Civil Aviation Authority on 0207 453 6424 https://www.caa.co.uk.
Where long flight delays result in lost holiday time, we are unable to offer any refunds for unused accommodation or other services as reimbursement will not be made by our suppliers in these circumstances, and hotel rooms are held for delayed arrivals and not re-let. We strongly recommend you have adequate insurance provisions in place to fully cover such eventualities.
We are unable to guarantee that all parties will be seated together. With some airlines it is possible to request, or in some cases, reserve certain preferred seats on the aircraft (most airlines will make an additional charge for this). We are happy to assist with this, but this is an additional service over and above your contractual arrangement for ‘carriage by air’ with the airline. Airlines reserve the right to make changes to any specific seat numbers for operational or safety reasons either before, or on the day of departure and you will be notified of any such change upon check-in. Where applicable, any additional charge made for pre-booking specific seats, will be refunded.
In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005 Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of air carriers who are subject to an operating ban within the EU. The Community list is available for inspection at https://ec.europa.eu/transport/ modes/air/safety/air- ban_en.
In accordance with EU Regulations, we are required to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if the actual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. If the carrier with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/the carrier are unable to offer you a
suitable alternative, the provisions of point 5, “Cancellation and Variation by us” will apply.
We are not always in a position at the time of booking to confirm the flight timings, which will be used in connection with your flight. The flight timings shown in our brochure, on our website and/or detailed on your booking confirmation/invoice are for guidance only and are subject to alteration. Flight timings are outside our control. They are set by airlines and are subject to various factors including air traffic control restrictions, weather conditions, potential technical problems, and the ability of passengers to check in on time. Specific instructions relating to departure and travel arrangements will be sent with your air or other travel tickets approximately 2 weeks before departure. You must check your tickets very carefully immediately on receipt to ensure you have the correct and up to date flight times. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been despatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. Any change in the identity of the carrier, flight timings, and/or aircraft type (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions. We advise that you keep check on your flight’s departure information on the day of departure in case of any late flight changes.
In accordance with EU legislation, we are required to draw your attention to restrictions concerning the import of food items which cannot be brought into the EU (including the UK), from outside the EU. For details, please see http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/personal-imports/ or contact this office.
12. INSURANCE
It is a condition of booking with us that you and all members of your party obtain travel insurance for all overseas Andante holidays, and highly recommended for all UK Andante holidays. It should include cover for COVID-19 cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, and quarantine. We also strongly recommend that you do not travel against medical advice. The cost of repatriation, medical and other treatment overseas can be high, and we are unable to assist in meeting those costs. You should organise it immediately when you book to ensure you have cover against possible cancellation charges, medical treatment, and repatriation. Should you have your travel insurance in place we will need to know the details of your policy 6 weeks before departure at the latest. It is a requirement of booking that you provide us with an emergency contact number while you are on holiday stating your relationship (e.g. family member, neighbour, workplace). This is purely for your benefit in the unlikely event of you becoming ill or incapacitated on tour.
If you or any member of your party have any special requests, you must advise us at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your booking confirmation/invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing that a special request will be provided (where it is possible to give this) where it is important to you.
We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as “standard” bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests.
If you or any member of your party has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or has any special requirements as a result of any medical condition or disability (including any which affect the booking process), you must tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or making the booking. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or disability occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops or worsens after your booking has been confirmed.
Andante Travels cannot provide individual assistance with boarding coaches or other forms of transport, baggage handling, walking or other personal requirements, etc. and guests should be confident that they can do these tasks unaided. We are happy to give advice and assistance with the choice of your holiday which will be dependent upon the nature of any disability. Our brochures also give a simple guide per tour regarding how active the tour is.
In order to ensure your enjoyment of the holiday, we ask all clients to provide full details of any disability or special requirements at the time of booking. Some suppliers such as airlines and cruise lines may request certification from your GP to confirm that you are fit to travel. We regret that we cannot be held liable for any costs you may incur as a result. You are urged to contact our Sales department for further information if you have any difficulty in walking or mobility problems and they will be pleased to advise you on the suitability of any particular holiday.
14. CLIENT BEHAVIOUR
When you book a holiday with Andante Travels you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of you and your party. Andante Travels reserves the right in its reasonable discretion to terminate the holiday of any member of your party whose conduct is disruptive or detrimental to the enjoyment of other clients, or whose conduct may prejudice the reputation of Andante Travels with our suppliers or hotel owners. In that situation Andante Travels shall have no further responsibility or liability to you. The departure of a coach, ship train, plane or other modes of transport will not be delayed for passengers who are not on board by the stated boarding time.
15. COMPLAINTS & ASSISTANCE ON HOLIDAY
If you have any reason to be unhappy with any element of your holiday, we would ask you first to bring this to the attention of the person in charge of the relevant service, on the spot. If this is not possible, please either contact our local representative or our UK office, using the number provided with your travel documents. It is essential that you do this to enable us to try and put matters right where possible. If a problem remains unresolved during your holiday you should make a complaint which must be received at our offices within 28 days of the completion of your holiday giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. This can be or in writing, either by email or letter from the person who made the booking. We will reply to you within 28 days of receipt of your complaint. Please keep your complaint concise and to the point. If you fail to follow the requirement to report your complaint while on holiday, we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify it and this may affect your rights under this booking. If you’re in difficulty while on holiday and ask us to help, we will provide appropriate assistance, in particular by providing information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance; and helping you to find alternative arrangements and any necessary phone calls/emails. You must pay any costs we incur if the difficulty is your fault.
The terms of this contract are exclusively governed by English Law and the jurisdiction of the English Courts.
16.
We provide full financial protection for our package holidays.
Flight inclusive tours: we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the CAA (ATOL No. 3552) which provides for your protection in the event of Andante Travels Ltd insolvency. The price of your air holiday packages includes the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme as explained below.
Tours without flights arranged by us:
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Andante Travels Ltd - Member 5249, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:
Non-flight packages
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Andante Travels Ltd.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/ contents/made
To process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements we need to use the information you provide. Depending on what’s required, the personal data we collect may include names and contact details, credit/debit card or other payment information and special requirements such as those relating to any disability or medical condition which may affect holiday arrangements and any dietary restrictions which may disclose your religious beliefs.
The person who makes the booking is responsible for ensuring that other members of your party are aware of our booking conditions and this privacy policy and that they consent to your acting on their behalf in your dealings with us.
Any such personal data that you provide will be held securely and for the purpose you have provided it, in accordance with both UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. We take appropriate technical and organisational measures which are intended to prevent unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.
We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies, etc. We will not however, pass any information on to any person not responsible for part of your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. In making a booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons only.
We may need to disclose personal data to a third party within countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) for the purpose of providing your holiday. Controls on data protection in your destination may not be as stringent as in the UK. In addition, your data may be disclosed to regulatory bodies or public authorities such as customs or immigration for the purposes of monitoring and/or enforcing compliance with any regulatory rules/codes.
We will only send you information about special offers, brochures, new holidays and competitions if you have ‘opted in’ to receive marketing emails from Andante Travels Ltd. If at any time you do not wish to receive this information you can use the ‘unsubscribe’ function at the bottom of any marketing email or call us.
For full details of how we may use your personal information and your rights in relation to your personal information, please see our Privacy Policy on our website: https://andantetravels.com/privacy. By booking online, or over the phone, you are stating that you have read and agreed to our Privacy Policy.
We are ANDANTE TRAVELS LTD, registered limited company no. 1969761. Registered offices: The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT.
The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT Tel: 01722 713 800 | Email: tours@andantetravels.com www.andantetravels.co.uk
