Andante Travels - 2018 Priced Tour Preview Brochure

Journ e ys into the

An c ient World 2018 priced preview

arranged by andante travelsÂ

expert-led archaeological and cultural tours since 1985

club class door to door service If you believe in starting your holiday as soon as you step out your front door, you’ll love our new transfer service. Club Class Chaffeurs take you to the airport, collect you from arrivals when you fly back, and drive you home. Complimentary bottled water included on journeys that take over 2.5 hours.

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If you would like to add our door-todoor service to your upcoming holiday, please contact our friendly team for a quote today on 01722 713800 or email us at tours@andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

WELCOME Dear Traveller, It is with great pride that we share with you the Andante priced preview brochure for 2018. Whether you are seeking the secrets of Ancient Persia in North-Western Iran, traversing Japan by bullet train, or unearthing lava tunnels in Chile, our tours sate even the most adventurous of souls. World-class food, drink, history & culture are yours for the taking...

As always, we aspire to bring the past to life for our loyal guests, as well as welcoming new friends to the Andante family. Happy Travels!

Ian Finlay, Director Andante Travels

Contents Travelling with Andante.........4 Special Access...........................6 New Tours for 2018..................7 Guide Lecturers........................8 Tours By Country...................10 Guide Lecturers......................88 Calendar..................................92 Christmas..............................100

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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travelling with Andante

Award-winning archaeological tours that everyone can enjoy We’ve been running expert-led holidays since 1985 and have introduced thousands of people to the wonders of the ancient world. We’ve built up the expertise and networks to keep our itineraries fresh and exhilarating, enticing travellers to return, year after year. Are you ready to embark on an active, adventurous journey with us? Then read on...

• Hand-picked hotels & good food • Tours led by archaeologists & academics • Proud to be affiliated with both the Council for British Archaeology & Current World Archaeology

Privileged access to sites throughout the ancient world With a host of diverse destinations we have holidays to suit every type of traveller - all you need is a little curiosity, and you can leave the rest to us. Each of our tours feature exclusive access to some of the world’s greatest sites: delve into live excavations, visit famous museums out of hours, and meet the people at the forefront of archaeology today.

• Tours suitable for travellers of all ages • Easy and informal atmosphere • Enjoy holidays with like-minded people • Maximum group size from 14-25 guests • New club class door to door service available

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“B

eing in our mid-70s we were a little apprehensive about coping, but surprised ourselves and returned home feeling fitter! We did some 30 miles walking and I managed the summit of Vesuvius” - Traveller to Pompeii, 2016

single travellers Travelling solo? You’re always welcome with us. We keep our single supplements to a minimum - some of our trips are even supplement free - so you won’t be paying over the odds to join in the adventure.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Hand-picked hotels and fabulous food Our travellers may be intrepid, but we never expect them to rough it. The vast majority of our hotels are 4*, with a few excellent 3* and great value 5* here and there. Expect topclass meals and drinks at every opportunity - from picnics served in Biblical cities to wines uncorked in the vineyard.

“A

ll lovely hotels. Our room at the Carmine was breathtaking” - Traveller to Sicily, 2016

“T

he trip was just grand. I’m sure we’ll be booking a couple of journeys for next year” - Traveller with Andante, Spring 2017

an all-inclusive experience Unless otherwise stated, meals, wine and tips are included on all of our trips as well as: • Flights and transfers • Local travel connections • Entry to all sites • Detailed field notes • Services of Guide Lecturer and Tour Manager

“I

t is unusual for me to give such high grades, but I have absolutely no criticisms.

The sites were all well worth visiting” Traveller with Andante, Summer 2016

Full Financial Protection All our holidays are fully bonded and protected. The air holiday packages in this brochure are ATOL Protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3552. ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services in this brochure. Holidays without flights are protected by ABTOT. This means that in the unlikely event of our insolvency, your holiday would be completed or refunded.

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for further advice, information and to book Our outstanding customer service team is on hand Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

1-888-331-3476 tours@andantetravels.com UK: 01722 713800 Australia: 02 9191 2623

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special access Exclusive access to world famous sites is the hallmark of Andante Travels...

Want to discover secret places a world away from the tourist trail? Then you’ll love the Special Access elements of our tours. We offer guests privileged, private access to some of the truly great sites, monuments and museums.

• Beat the crowds with backstage passes • Exclusive performances and recitals • Access landmark sites out-of-hours • Private tours of world-renowned museums

sissi archaeological project We are treated to a special guided tour of this large Bronze Age urban centre, on the Kefali hill. We see the excavations of a cemetery, a settlement of Minoan houses and a complex of 30 rooms placed around a shrine.

Crete & Santorini on page 36...

cappella palatina We enjoy a specially arranged visit to the Cappella Palatina of Roger II. Located at the Palazzo Reale in Palermo, this glittering jewel of Norman architecture was the royal chapel of Sicilian kings and took 8 years to build.

Ancient Wonders of Sicily on page 56...

the murals of bonampak Known to locals as ‘Vulture Hill’, we are granted exclusive insights into this ancient Maya archaeological site, not far from the Guatemalan border. The murals and carved stelae of Bonampak are very well preserved.

Mexico | The Maya on page 75...

Special Access is offered on every single tour. These examples illustrate the range and type available.

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Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

new for 2018 Here are the top five desirable destinations, as voted for by our loyal guests. They are, of course, simply a snapshot of all the new tours in store for next year.

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north-western iran Your top voted destination for 2018! Our second tour to Iran takes in its lesser-known north-west, where we examine Ancient Persia’s great empires from the very beginning. Travel with us from Tabriz to Tehran, seeing rock reliefs & famous excavation sites along the way.

Find out more on page 47...

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prehistoric ireland Experience the fascinating prehistory of Ireland for yourself, as we travel through its rugged landscape with one of the leading experts in Irish Archaeology, Dr Kelli Ann Malone. This is more than just a tour for prehistoric purists come marvel with us at mystical Celtic remains.

Find out more on page 48...

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the celts in germany & luxembourg Discover the Celts and their world through the remarkable remains found throughout southwest Germany and Luxembourg, and the sites from which they hail. We wonder at priceless artefacts including grave goods & ritual objects from oppida, cemeteries & other sacred areas.

Find out more on page 31...

4.

corfu & islands by gulet Take a meandering route along the northern coast of Greece, and explore the legacy of the incomparable Ionian islands: one of Homeric legend, Venetian majesty and much more. What better way to enjoy the Greek islands than by gulet? Luminous turquoise seas beckon us ...

Find out more on page 42...

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vienna at christmas Spend Christmas in Austria’s splendid capital where, in addition to enjoying some superb architecture, we browse the famous festive markets as well as Habsburg dynasty treasures. A glass or two of Glühwein, cross your fingers & who knows - will it snow?

Find out more on page 16...

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guide lecturers We have dozens of expert lecturers working with Andante - the most highly qualified archaeological team in Britain today

Your favourite guide lecturers Our exceptional guides accompany you on every single Andante Travels tour, honing their expertise into bespoke narratives to suit your curiosity.

denise allen Travel alongside Denise on a host of 2018 tours, including; Relaxed Provence and Pompeii.

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9.4/10

9.7/10

9.7/10

oliver gilkes

john shepherd

You can accompany Oliver on many of our 2018 tours, including; Albania and the Etruscans.

Join John on a number of 2018 tours, including; Classical Sicily and Naples New Year.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Exclusive holidays led and developed by experts Our guide lecturers do much more than holidays: they are respected archaeologists, historians, authors, broadcasters and world experts in their fields. We work closely with our guides from the early tour development stages. It’s thanks to their knowledge that our tours remain unique and engaging: in their warm and skilful presence the past quickly springs to life.

• Affiliated with archaeological bodies • The most specialist team in the industry • Lecturers rated by previous travellers • Tours continually reviewed and updated • Insider knowledge of recent finds

“T

he lecturer was a real treat! He was very informative, constantly plying us with facts and theories, and interested in our alternative viewpoint” - Traveller to Crete & Santorini, 2016

“I

enjoyed our guide’s company very much and appreciated the depth and breadth of her knowledge as we looked around each site. She was delightful and witty” - Traveller to Orkney & Shetland, 2016

“O

liver Gilkes was the most knowledgable and enthusiastic lecturer I have ever met” - Traveller to Albania, 2017

View our full list of Guide Lecturers on page 88...

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tours by country

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ALBANIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

Land of the Eagles .......................... 14

Prehistoric Czech Republic ........... 22

Albania, Montenegro & Kosovo... 15

DENMARK

The Via Egnatia .............................. 15

Vikings in the North ...................... 22

AUSTRIA

EGYPT

Vienna at Christmas....................... 16

Land of the Pharaohs ..................... 23

BULGARIA

Queens & Nobles............................ 24

Thracians & Churches ................... 16

FRANCE

CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Côte d’Azur | Via Julia Augusta ..25

Cambodia & Vietnam .................... 17

The Dordogne | Cave Art .............26

CHILE

Relaxed Provence ...........................27

Chile & Easter Island ......................... 18

Romans on the RhÔne & SaÔne ....28

CHINA

Pyrenees Rock Art ..........................28

China ................................................ 19

Languedoc .......................................29

CROATIA

GEORGIA

Dalmatia & Dubrovnik .................. 20

Georgia ............................................30

Relaxed Split ................................... 20

GERMANY

CYPRUS

Roman Germany ............................30

The North: Road to Salamis .......... 21

The Celts ..........................................31

The South ........................................ 21

Walking the Roman Limes ............32

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

GERMANY

ITALY

Hallstatt to La Tène ........................33

Pompeii & Herculaneum............... 52

Hidden Berlin .................................33

Classical Sicily................................. 54

Short Break in Berlin ......................34

Ancient Wonders of Sicily ............. 56

GREECE

Meet the Romans ............................ 57

Thessaloniki ....................................34

The Etruscans.................................. 58

The Peloponnese.............................35

Hidden Rome .................................. 59

Crete & Santorini ............................36

Campania | Beyond Pompeii ....... 60

Ancient Macedonia & Epirus .......38

Sardinia ............................................ 61

Meet the Greeks..............................39

The Ice Man & His World ............. 61

The Cyclades by Gulet ...................40

Relaxed Tuscany ............................. 62

Corfu & Islands by Gulet ..............42

Roman Capri ................................... 63

Crete Revisited................................44

Rome & the Sistine Chapel ........... 63

GUATEMALA

Pompeii & Amalfi ........................... 64

Guatemala & Belize .......................45

Conquest of Sicily ........................... 65

IRAN

Basilicata & Calabria ...................... 66

Iran | Kings, Shahs & Gardens ....46

Western Sicily & Food.................... 66

North-Western Iran ........................47

Relaxed Lake Garda ....................... 67

IRELAND

Relaxed Siracusa ............................. 67

Prehistoric Ireland .......................... 48

Ravenna & Aquileia ....................... 68

ISRAEL

Bologna Festive Food .....................69

Israel & Palestine ............................49

Naples New Year ............................69

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JAPAN

TURKEY

Japan ................................................70

North East Turkey ..........................82

JORDAN

The Aegean Coast of Turkey .........83

Petra & the Desert Fortresses ........71

UK

KAZAKHSTAN

Walking Hadrian’s Wall ................84

Kazakhstan ......................................72

Orkney & Shetland.........................85

MALTA

The Story of Wessex .......................86

Malta & Gozo ..................................73

UZBEKISTAN

MEXICO

The Silk Road ..................................87

Oaxaca & Beyond ...........................74 The Maya .........................................75

PERU Northern Peru .................................76

SPAIN & PORTUGAL Romans, Visigoths & Viziers ........77 Roman Lusitania.............................78 Phoenicians in Spain ......................80 Rock Art in Altamira......................81 Foz CÔa | Rock Art of Portugal ...81

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new for 2018 relaxed breaks joint tours

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

different ways to explore There’s more than one way to enjoy the ancient world. Everyone is different — that’s why we offer three different ways to travel:

STUDY DAYS

TRAVELS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

RELAXED BREAKS

Rare insights into the world of working archaeology. Our Study Days are the first step into Andante Travels. We take you on a mixture of lectures, practical demonstrations, guided tours and walks. All of our days are designed to give you the best of British Archaeology.

Our classic tours. All-inclusive journeys into the distant past. Join us as we push the boundaries of cultural travel and visit sites often out of reach of mainstream tourism. Each tour is accompanied by an Expert Guide, and features special access across the ancient world.

Very civilised explorations of the ancient world. Relaxed Breaks are real holidays, introduced by Expert Guides, with time to digest the sites and stories. Between discovering historic treasures, why not take in some local culture or spectacular landscapes?

• Receive exclusive access to museums, sites and galleries

Holidays everyone can enjoy all you need is an inquiring mind

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Cultural excursions to wineries, private views and boat trips

• Enjoy the company of like minded people

Receive Special Access on every one of our tours

•

Plenty of free time to explore at your own pace

• Travel with an Expert Guide Lecturer throughout the day

Travel with an Expert Guide Lecturer throughout the tour

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Travel with an Expert Guide Lecturer throughout the tour

• • •

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Highlights • Two thousand years of untouched archaeological heritage – from Classical cities to Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques • We travel to the mountain stronghold of Gjirokastra, dramatically set amidst the limestone peaks. Here we visit the medieval fortress • Includes a full day at the World Heritage Site of Butrint, where Guide Lecturer Oliver Gilkes directed excavations for many years

albania | land of the eagles with Oliver Gilkes

Albania is like no other country in Europe. This is a place where pristine ruins still stand in splendid isolation, shrouded in woodland, or grandly guarding mountain peaks. In Classical times, the Greeks and Romans built cities overlooking the sparkling waters of the Ionian sea; centuries later, Byzantine Christians and Ottoman Turks fought over dramatic mountain strongholds.

Oliver Gilkes has directed excavations in Albania for over 20 years and brings with him an encyclopaedic knowledge of Albanian archaeology and culture. Discover Albania’s past and present, from Illyrian strongholds and Greek colonies to communist bunkers.

What’s Included

Apr & Oct: £2,350 (sgl supp £195; without flights £2,050) 14

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Tirana and drive to our hotel in the heart of the city.

Day Two Today, we tour the National Historical Museum, the 19th century Ethem Bey Mosque, and the National Gallery.

Day Three A scenic drive takes us past the ‘Mountains of Thunder’ on the Ionian coast. We explore ancient Apollonia, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Day Four We spend the day at Butrint, Albania’s best-known site. Our Guide Lecturer, Oliver Gilkes, has directed excavations here for many years.

Thu 19th Apr - Fri 27th Apr Sun 7th Oct - Mon 15th Oct 9 Days

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Special access to the Tirana Archaeological Museum and Zekate House, Ottoman Mansion in Gjirokastra, high in the mountains.

Day Five Travelling over the mountains brings us to Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, we visit the medieval fortress.

Day Six We steep ourselves in Homerian legend at the ruined city of Byllis, said to have been founded by warriors led by the son of Achilles, returning from the Trojan wars.

Day Seven Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques are waiting for us in the Medieval town of Berat. We also discover the Onufri Museum, which is situated in the old cathedral church.

Day Eight We find ourselves in Durres, starting point of the Via Egnatia. We tour the 2nd century amphitheatre, and 5th century walls. This afternoon we continue to Kruja, explore the Skanderbeg Museum and wander through the Ottoman bazaar.

Day Nine We transfer to Tirana, for our flight home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

albania | montenegro & kosovo with Oliver Gilkes Travel from the shores of the Adriatic high up into the Albanian mountains, into Montenegro, ‘the pearl of the Mediterranean’ and the wide plains of Kosovo. This is the land of the Illyrians and their successors. Journey through the ancient coastal cities, Greek and Roman colonies, explore Medieval towns, where Ottoman mosques jostle for space with frescoed Byzantine churches.

Join us as we trace the many civilisations who have left their Highlights mark on these lands.

This region hosts little-known archaeological sites that will delight even the worldliest of travellers; whilst the abundant natural beauty, mountains, plains and dramatic gorges, will capture your imagination.

Special Access

We visit Ulpiana, the Roman hub of communications in Kosovo. See the site in the company of archaeologists who have excavated here.

• Explore the Kosovar Roman city of Ulpiana • Admire the beautiful Adriatic coast and the sublime Bay of Kotor

• Enjoy a spectacular voyage along the valley of the Black Drin Thu 27th Sep - Fri 5th Oct 9 Days Sep: £2,495 (sgl supp £195; without flights £2,175)

albania & macedonia | the via egnatia with Oliver Gilkes A journey through time and civilisations, across the dramatic landscapes of southeast Europe. Albania, Macedonia and the Balkans represent one vast patchwork of cultures and civilisations. Our tour takes in the Greek cities of the Adriatic, the tombs and treasures of Philip of Macedon, the late-imperial glories of Thessaloniki and the beautiful Byzantine churches on the shores of Lake Ohrid.

Divided by mountains, the Balkans are united by roads which kept the disparate states and Empires in contact, and conflict. Join us to discover the greatest: the Via Egnatia, used by the Romans to speed their conquest of Illyria and Macedonia.

Highlights

• Lake Ohrid, a World Heritage Site dotted with Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman sites • View the golden treasures of King Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great

Special Access

We tour the normally closed Jeni Mosque in Bitola, a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, built on the remains of a Byzantine church.

Sun 14th Oct - Mon 22nd Oct 9 Days Oct: £2,595 (sgl supp £215; without flights £2,250)

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austria | vienna at christmas with Dr Kelli Ann Malone Austria at Christmas time feels like one of the most magical places in the world. Feast your senses on a festival of food, drink, culture, and history. Who knows, if you’re lucky, there may even be snow!

Wander in the footsteps of Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, across Baroque streetscapes and past imperial palaces; and discover the echoes of artistic and musical masterpieces waiting around Highlights every corner. Take a tour of the • Come face-to-face Naturhistorisches Museum to with impressive finds, marvel the Venus of Willendorf. including the Venus of Of course, at Christmas we’d Willendorf be remiss not to sip a Glühwein and take a stroll through the • Get a glimpse of the many wonderful Christmas former imperial city at markets.

the palace of Hofburg

Special Access

Explore the Crypt of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and enjoy a delicious dining experience on Christmas Day.

Sat 22nd Dec - Thu 27th Dec 6 Days Dec: £2,495 (sgl supp £285; without flights £2,250)

bulgaria | thracians & churches with Dr Katya Melamed Bulgaria is, in archaeological terms, one of the richest countries in Europe. A golden age of archaeology is currently taking place here – with spectacular sites and priceless finds coming to light. Hidden in the hills and forests are some of Europe’s oldest Neolithic settlements, Thracian tombs, replete with grave goods and exuberantly painted Medieval churches. In ancient times, Bulgaria was located at the apex of great civilisations. From Highlights the south and west Philip of • Spectacularly varied Macedon and Roman Emperor history and landscapes Trajan founded cities here.

From the east came Byzantine • From the Neolithic traders and Ottoman raiders. houses of Stara Zagora, Discover the many ages of to painted churches high Bulgaria, from the Black Sea to in the Rila mountains the Rila Mountains, from the • Visits to six UNESCO Neolithic to the Iron Curtain.

World Heritage Sites

Special Access

We hope once again for special permission to enter the Kazanlak tomb. The superb tomb is decorated with beautiful frescoes.

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Sat 6th Oct - Tue 16th Oct 11 Days Oct: £2,595 (sgl supp £250; without flights £2,350)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Discover Angkor Wat – the great legacy of the Khmer kings of Angkor • Explore Beng Mealea – a 12th century temple that has been reclaimed by the Cambodian jungle • Tour Ta Prohm – an atmospheric 13th century templemonastery; and the fortified city of Angkor Thom, dominated by giant heads of the Buddha • Discover the World Heritage Site of Hoi An

cambodia | cambodia & vietnam Guide Lecturer TBC - see our website for latest updates

Cambodia presents a thrilling balance of mysterious cities, deep forests and colonial grandeur. Archaeologically, the country is best-known as the home of the vast and magnificent temple complex of Angkor Wat - a captivating testament to human ingenuity, and to the ravages of time. Of course, Angkor isn’t our only highlight, many other temples and cities, deep in the forests are constantly being uncovered.

In Vietnam, we explore the lands of Champa, a maritime kingdom which flourished from the 7th to the 10th century, with lavish monuments and temples. Our tour culminates in Angkor, where we pause and marvel that such a metropolis could be lost and swallowed back into the jungle.

Itinerary Day One & Two We travel from London to Hanoi.

Day Three Today, we visit the One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s house and tomb. After lunch we fly south to Hue. Day Four This morning we travel by boat to Thien Mu Pagoda. Back on land, we enter the Imperial Forbidden City, at Hue. Day Five We head to Da Nang and visit the Cham Museum. We later continue to the World Heritage Site of Hoi An.

What’s Included

Tue 6th Nov - Sun 18th Nov 13 Days Nov: £4,295

(sgl supp £600; without flights £3,545)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We receive special access at Angkor Wat and receive a unique introduction to the site, and the latest discoveries which are being made here.

Day Six We spend a full day in My Son, the religious centre of the Cham people.

Day Seven Enjoy free time in Hoi An to browse the shops before flying to Siem Reap.

Day Eight Our introduction to the Khmer Kings begins at the Roluos group. We continue to the remote temple complex of Banteay Srei.

Day Nine We drive north to Koh Ker and visit the Beng Mealea Temple complex, amid the jungle.

Day Ten We visit the smaller temples of Ta Som, Preah Khan and Baray Reach Dak, rarely visited by Western tourists.

This afternoon, we explore Siem Reap Museum.

Day Eleven Enjoy a free day in Angkor Wat at your own leisure.

Day Twelve Today, we discover lesser known temples and venture through the fortified city of Angkor Thom.

Day Thirteen We fly home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights

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• Extraordinary rock art amid the lunarlike landscapes of the Atacama Desert • Discover the giant imposing, enigmatic Moai statues on Easter Island • Enjoy a memorable tour led by Paul Bahn, renowned expert on prehistoric rock art • Explore Ana Kaitangata.

The legends and paintings here make it one of the most attractive caves to visit

chile | chile & easter island with Dr Paul Bahn

This is an adventure indeed, travelling across the globe with an international expert to see some of the strangest rock art in the world in vast and remote landscapes. Doing so involves travelling down the coast of northern Chile and into the Atacama desert before flying over the Pacific to a tiny speck of land — the iconic Easter Island.

Discover places seldom visited which our ancestors chose to decorate with huge earth pictures and complex rock art.

Some of the sites we see are simply extraordinary — their gigantic scale, forms evident only from far away, makes us ask why and for whom such things were created.

Itinerary Day One & Two We fly overnight to Santiago.

Day Three We see Chinchorro mummies in the San Miguel Museum.

Day Four Take in Chiza and Tiliviche as we traverse Atacama desert.

Day Five We tour the atmospheric ‘ghost town’ of Humberstone.

Day Six We drive to Cerros Pintados to view the hillside geoglyphs.

Day Seven Going off-road, we visit the petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas.

Mon 12th Mar - Wed 28th Mar Mon 12th Nov - Wed 28th Nov 17 Days Mar & Nov: £6,995 (sgl supp £665; without flights £6,095) 18

Special Access

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

What’s Included

Day Eight We spend our day visiting preInca sites.

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Nine To Vina del Mar to visit the Museo Fonck. This afternoon we walk through Valparaiso.

Day Ten Fly to Easter Island and enjoy a stroll in Hanga Roa town.

Day Eleven On our first day on Easter Island, we view moai at Ahu Tahai.

Day Twelve We tour Rano Raraku quarry.

Day Thirteen Time for us to see Moai sites and relax on Anakena Beach.

Day Fourteen Discover lava tunnels of Te Pahu and Aku Akivi.

Day Fifteen Today we visit Ana Kaitangata.

We also see the offshore rock, Motu Island.

Day Sixteen & Seventeen This morning, we spend time in Santiago and visit the Museo de Arte Precolombino.

We fly home this evening arriving on day seventeen.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • See some of China’s most famous sites in the company of a guide lecturer who will weave them into a narrative of China’s history • Come face to face with the serried ranks of famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by local farmers in 1974, and eternally guarding their emperor • Discover China’s remarkable prehistoric archaeology at sites such as Jinsha and Banpo

Special Access

china | china

We view a collection of objects which reveal the most recent history of communist China at the Shanghai Propoganda Poster Art Centre.

with Malcolm McNeill

China has a remarkable history, spanning back over 10,000 years and remnants of its glorious past can be seen at every turn. We journey from Beijing to Shanghai, through vast and varied landscapes and archaeology. From Buddhist temples, to the gargantuan monuments of imperial ambition, to lesserknown prehistoric settlements, this is the story of not one but many Chinas through the ages – encompassing Chinese art and archaeology. During our 17 day tour, we will put the great sites we see into their true historical context. We see the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and Ming Tombs not just as grand relics, but as products of the time, people and places that led to their creation.

Itinerary Day One & Two We fly overnight to Beijing.

Army and explore the Neolithic village of Banpo.

Day Three We head to the Forbidden City and visit the Temple of Heaven this afternoon.

Day Ten We tour Famensi Temple,

Day Four At Summer Palace, we wander round the lakes and gardens.

Day Five Today, we see the Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, and come faceto-face with the Great Wall.

Day Six After flying to Luoyang, we tour some Neolithic ritual sites.

Day Seven We discover the Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple.

Thu 12th Apr - Sat 28th Apr 17 Days

What’s Included

Apr: £4,795 (sgl supp £650; without flights £4,095)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Eight Train travel takes us to Xi’an, one of the oldest cities in China.

Day Nine We marvel at the Terracotta

home to relics of the Buddah.

Day Eleven We fly to Chengdu and view the Jinsha settlement.

Day Twelve The Taoist temple of Qingyang Palace is our destination today.

Day Thirteen We fly to Suzhou.

Day Fourteen We contemplate Nirvana at the Buddhist Shizi Lin Lion Forest Garden and Tiger Hill.

Day Fifteen We sail along the Bund River, lined with 19th century houses.

Day Sixteen We see the Shanghai museum.

Day Seventeen We fly home from Shanghai.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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croatia | dalmatia & dubrovnik with Dr Ffiona Gilmore-Eaves Explore the spectacular archaeology of Croatia, from Zagreb to Zadar, Split to Dubrovnik. Against the backdrop of the breathtakingly beautiful Adriatic and its islands, we visit villas, pagan temples, early Christian churches and palaces. Part of the Illyrian kingdom, the region succumbed to Roman rule around 32 BC. ‘Dalmatia’ acquired the characteristic trappings of a Roman province: military camps, towns and roads. The province Highlights furnished Rome with many emperors, including Diocletian, • View Roman cities, redroofed walled Medieval who famously returned towns and the sparkling in retirement and built a clear blue waters of the magnificent palace at Split.

Adriatic Take a leisurely tour through 2,000 years of fascinating • Two days in the walled Croatian archaeology and city of Dubrovnik, history.

absorbing its rich history

Special Access

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Enjoy special access to Zagreb Archaeological Museum - the curator will take us on a tour of the museum and deliver a talk.

May: £2,695 (sgl supp £435; without flights £2,450)

croatia | relaxed split with John Shepherd In AD305, the erstwhile autocrat, Emperor Diocletian, built a vast palace befitting his status and achievements. Join us as we go ‘underground and over ground’ exploring Europe’s most complete Roman palace. Descend below the modern city to see just how much of the medieval and modern town is supported by Roman foundations still standing strong after 1700 years. There is also time on this relaxed tour to take in the Roman city Highlights of Salona, Diocletian’s birth • Explore the immense place, and examine the remains palace of Emperor of baths and early Christian Diocletian churches – and also to visit the amphitheatre, the place of the • A special tasting of local execution of many Christians wines – which have been

by Diocletian and his co-rulers, produced in southern a less than pleasing feature of Croatia for over 2500 his rule. years

Special Access

We enjoy an exclusive viewing of the museum in the charming convent on Trogir, to view the famous Greek Kairos relief.

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Wed 23rd May - Wed 30th May 8 Days

Sat 14th Apr - Sat 21st Apr Sat 13th Oct - Sat 20th Oct 8 Days Apr & Oct: £2,795 (sgl supp £275; without flights £2,535)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

w th hy es n e ot to u lin rs k ?

north cyprus | road to salamis with Terry Richardson Cyprus offers a beautiful setting for archaeological discovery.

Amidst the unspoiled natural landscape of this sun-blanched land, on our journey through the northern part of the island we find an array of Medieval castles, expansive classical sites, and gentle villages. Meet with a local archaeologist who offers a real insight into the ongoing excavations on the island.

Salamis is, of course, a highlight of our tour. The ancient city Highlights covers a small stretch of land • Vast archaeological sites along the Cypriot shore, and of mighty classical cities is among the country’s best archaeological sites. Discover • Breath-taking the fully restored Roman views from Kyrenia amphitheatre, a gymnasium Mountains across the with marble baths, and a Mediterranean fascinating collection of mosaics.

• Byzantine castles and

Ottoman mosques

Special Access

Receive special access to the ongoing excavations at the fascinating Neolithic settlement of Akanthou.

Thu 12th Apr - Thu 19th Apr 8 Days month: Apr: £2,495 £? (sgl (sgl supp supp £;£295; without without flights flights £) £2,250)

cyprus | the south with Dr Paul Croft This beautiful Mediterranean island has a rich Prehistoric, Classical and Medieval past. Recent research has pushed back the dates for the earliest occupation of Cyprus to over 10,000 BC, and over millennia the people of Cyprus developed their own distinctive artefacts, buildings, art and culture. From a Bronze Age olive oil ‘factory’, to Roman tombs, to vineyards once tended by crusaders, the remains of ancient Cyprus each tell Highlights a story. Journey through the • Fabulous, diverse land famed as Aphrodite’s archaeology from birthplace. Dr Paul Croft has Neolithic houses, to the devoted his career to Cypriot mosaics at Paphos archaeology, and leads us from mountain churches to • Journey into the unspoilt Prehistoric and Classical sites, Troodos Mountains with overlooking the clear blue villages and spectacular waters of the Mediterranean.

Byzantine churches

Special Access

Receive privileged access to the Lemba Archaeological Research Centre – where guide lecturer, Dr Paul Croft is the manager of the facility.

Thu 19th Apr - Wed 25th Apr 7 Days Apr: £2,395 (sgl supp £350; without flights £2,095)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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czech republic | prehistoric czech republic with Alex Pryor Thinking of the Czech Republic, Soviet struggles and Prague’s Gothic spires most likely spring to mind. Yet this beautiful country’s history goes back thousands more years to the Upper Palaeolithic period, when the landscape was covered in forests, and hunter gatherers fashioned stone tools to hunt their prey.

Discover what life may have been like for our ancestors who traversed these lands. The Czech Republic still has Highlights a wondrous prehistoric • Visit DolnÍ Věstonice, landscape, littered with caves famous for its prehistoric and sites that have unveiled a art, carvings, ornaments treasure trove of remains. From and engravings Dolní Věstonice, a site dating back 28,000 years, to the earliest • Travel through almost settlement of Mladeč found in primordial landscapes in Europe, this tour is a must for search of the lives of our Prehistory enthusiasts.

distant forebears

Special Access

We are introduced to the Moravian Museum in Brno by local archaeologists, who discuss their work and the latest developments.

Thu 30th Aug - Thu 6th Sep 8 Days Aug: £2,295 (sgl supp £395; without flights £2,075)

denmark, sweden | vikings in the north with Brian Ayers The Vikings were great seafarers, raiders and traders of the Early Middle Ages. Far from being a race of barbarians, they presided over an extensive trading network. They fought with swords of Afghan steel, wore imported silk from China, and reached the coast of North America. Following in the Vikings’ footsteps, we make our own epic voyage across their northern world. From Denmark to Sweden we follow in the wake of their longships.

Highlights We seek out trading towns, treasure, kings and longships.

Join Viking expert Brian Ayers, and trace the rise of this great civilisation – whose ruthless skill has inspired enduring awe and terror throughout Northern Europe and beyond.

Special Access

We visit Roskilde Ship Museum where you have the opportunity to try out as a Viking raider and have the chance to sail a longship!

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• Explore an epic sweep through the Baltic lands • Discover every aspect of this great Northern European people • Visit runestones, kingly burials and the great trading ports Fri 6th Jul - Tue 17th Jul 12 Days Jul: £3,925 (sgl supp £690; without flights £3,795)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Tour the great civilisations of the Nile, from Cairo to Aswan.

A chance to follow in the footsteps of the great explorers and marvel at the world that enraptured early archaeologists • The Valley of the Kings, where the lords of Egypt expected to sleep for all eternity • Led by seasoned Egyptologist, Lucia Gahlin, who has excavated extensively throughout Egypt

egypt | land of the pharaohs with Lucia Gahlin

Pyramids, tombs and mummies — 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 so much more than dry and dusty stones — through the real expertise of the Guide Lecturer and seasoned Egyptologist, Lucia Gahlin, we ‘meet’ the real ancient Egyptians, from the legendary pharaohs to the humble workers who laboured to build their tombs and palaces. We have also arranged special access inside the Great Pyramid and an out-of-hours visit at Cairo Museum. Join us for a very privileged introduction to the long-vanished kingdoms along the Nile.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Cairo.

Day Two Our first stop is Saqqara, where we tour the Imhotep museum, the Step Pyramid of Djoser and a mastaba tomb. On to the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur, which are thought to be the earliest pyramids in Egypt.

Day Three Today in Giza we take time to marvel at the Great Pyramids Solar Boat Museum, and, of course, the Sphinx.

Fri 23rd Feb - Mon 5th Mar Fri 23rd Nov - Mon 3rd Dec 11 Days

What’s Included

Feb & Nov: £3,395 (sgl supp £495; without flights £2,925)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Enter the inner chambers of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. At the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, we avoid the crowds when seeing the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Day Four En route to Minya, we stop at the early pyramid complex of Meidum. Driving south to Beni Hasan, we discover tombs cut high into the desert cliffs.

Day Five We have the chance to explore Tell el-Amarna, the most significant surviving city site from ancient Egypt.

Day Six We visit the temple of Seti I at Abydos and see the Temple of Hathor in Dendera. Behind the temple is an unusual monument, designed to mimic the mythical tomb of Osiris.

Day Seven We are left awestruck by the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings, including the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Day Eight Today we see Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum. We also take a felucca ride on the Nile.

Day Nine This morning we visit Karnak, the cult temple of Amun-Ra, and Luxor Museum.

Day Ten We take an early morning drive out to discover the temples at the sites of El Kab and Edfu.

Day Eleven We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Visit the tombs at Saqqara, the final resting place of many Nobles • We take a boat trip around Lake Nasser and visit New Kalabsha Island.

• Venture through the Karnak Temple, visiting areas that are not normally explored • Travel to Elephantine Island, one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt

SpecialAccess

egypt | queens & nobles

We drink in Nefertari’s Tomb in the Valley of the Queens, where the colours on the walls are still as fresh and vivid as the day they were first painted.

with Lucia Gahlin

Twelve days of richly decorated tombs and awe-inspiring temples are waiting for you to discover. We start from Cairo and journey to Saqqara to pause in wonder at the Serapeum and its sacred bull catacombs. We enjoy the rare luxury of viewing the tombs at Abu Ghurab sun temple in splendid isolation. We continue to one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt, Elephantine Island. Here we go back to the beginnings of Pharaonic history, with an introduction to the temples of the ram-headed god Khnum, and his consort Satet. We sail away to world-renowned destinations along the Nile and Lake Nasser. We explore the ‘jewels of the desert cliffs’, the Tombs of the Nobles.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Cairo.

Day Two In Saqqara we discover Tutankhamun’s final resting place. We also tour the tombs of his treasurer, his wet nurse and Tia, sister of Rameses II. Day Three We view the fourth dynasty pyramid at Abu Roash, the fifth dynasty pyramids at Abusir, and the unique sun temple at Abu Ghurab.

Day Four Today, we will fly to the granite cataract region of Aswan.

Thu 27th Sep - Mon 8th Oct 12 Days

What’s Included

Sep: £3,750 (sgl supp £535; without flights £3,280) 24

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Five At Kitchener’s Island, we explore the Old and New Kingdom Tombs of the Nobles.

Day Six We see rock-cut inscriptions including the ‘Famine Stela’ at Sehel Island, and St. Simeon’s Monastery in the desert.

Day Seven We sail on Lake Nasser to visit New Kalabsha Island. Several of the temples have been moved and re-erected to save them from being lost forever.

Day Eight Today, we discover the tomb of Ankhtify at Mo’alla and go on to tour impressive sandstone quarries at Gebel el-Silsila.

Day Nine We escape the crowds at Karnak Temple, visiting areas not usually explored. We also view the stunning Mosque of Abu el-Haggag.

Day Ten As well as taking in the Valley of the Kings, we will visit Howard Carter’s House.

Day Eleven Marvel with us at Tombs of the Nobles and the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri.

Day Twelve We fly back to London.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

france | cote d’a zur - the via julia augusta with John Shepherd Over seven days, we explore the Roman sites and cities along the great road called the Via Julia Augusta. The road began in Arles, one of the foremost Roman provincial cities in the region, then ran south across France into Italy. Our journey features mighty works of Roman engineering, and the sites of earlier Iron Age tribes and Greek settlers. Indulge in a panoramic exploration of Roman and Gallic life in the South of France. John Shepherd Highlights explores the Roman origins • Follow the Romanof the sparkling Côte d’Azur. forged route in southern Much more than a playground Gaul, along the French for the rich, the area is profuse coast towards Italy with archaeology. March is the perfect time to explore here • Extraordinarily well– pleasant temperatures and preserved Roman spring fill the air, well before monuments amid the the peak tourist season arrives.

glorious Côte d’Azur

Special Access

Local specialists take us to see remains including recently excavated monumental Roman cisterns and fish tanks.

Sat 24th Mar - Fri 30th Mar 7 Days Mar: £2,295 (sgl supp £325; without flights £2,095)

CLUB CLASS DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE Why not take the stress out of transfers by opting for our new luxury chauffeur service?

At Andante Travels, we believe that your holiday should start as soon as you close the front door. Forget about dashing to the airport and worrying about parking payments. Our exclusive door to door service will allow you to relax and enjoy the ride.

• Club Class Chauffeurs collect you from your home address and carry your bags to the vehicle • Journeys over 2.5 hours will include comfort breaks and complimentary bottled water • Upon your return journey, Club Class Chauffeurs wait for you in arrivals with a placard (up to one hour) and drive you home • Prices start from £75 per person

Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • An itinerary taking in both the verdant landscapes and limestone plateaux of the Dordogne and Poitiers • Travel by electric train into the cave system of Rouffignac, more than five miles long • We drive to Fontde-Gaume, the only decorated cave in France with multi-coloured paintings which remains open to the public • Neanderthal burial site Le Moustier

france | the dordogne | cave art with Dr Paul Bahn & Dr Iain Morley

The caves of the Dordogne Valley are home to one of the earliest, and most extraordinary, displays of human creativity. Wild animals and human figures, some up to 30,000 years old, are vividly brought to life - created in ochre and charcoal and also etched on cave walls. Experts in rock art and the archaeology of the last Ice Age Dr Paul Bahn (June) and Dr Iain Morley (September) 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. We will visit some of the worldfamous rock art sites - taking you as close as possible to the lives of our remotest Ice-Age ancestors.

What’s Included

Apr & Oct: £2,495 (sgl supp £295; without flights £2,295) 26

Itinerary Day One

We travel by train to Poitiers.

Day Two We start our day at the Museum of Prehistory, La Sabline Lussac and then make our way to Les Eyzies. En route, we stop at La Chaire à Calvin, a rock shelter with frieze dating back around 15,000 years. Evidence of rhinoceros, bone and stone tools have been found here.

Day Three We drive to the fascinating site of Laugerie Haute, with remains of occupation dating from the Upper Palaeolithic period. Returning to Les Eyzies we visit the excavations at Abri Pataud and the rock shelter at Cap Blanc, a rare example of

Tue 24th Apr - Mon 30th Apr Tue 18th Sep - Mon 24th Sep 7 Days

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Travel to the world famous painted cave at Lascaux, long since closed to the public. Paintings and engravings can still be seen with the naked eye.

Ice Age sculpted bas-reliefs and the best still in situ.

Day Four Lascaux is the most famous and spectacular of all decorated caves. It’s best

known for paintings and engravings of aurochs, horses and deer. We continue to Le Thot, where animals which would have been kept in the Ice Age are bred.

Day Five We travel by electric train into the cave system of Rouffignac, more than five miles long.

One third of all mammoth depictions known from cave art, come from here. We take a short drive to Font de Gaume, the only decorated cave in France with multicoloured paintings which remains open to the public.

Day Six Our first visit is to Cougnac which contains the claw marks of cave bears. We continue to Pech Merle, with painted black outline aurochs, mammoth, spotted-horses, geometric shapes and handprints.

Day Seven We head home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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• See the beautiful Pont du Gard, a remarkable feat of Roman engineering. You can even take an optional swim beneath the famous arches • Take some free time to absorb the atmosphere and epicurean lifestyle of the fascinating area at your own pace • Enjoy the Roman architecture of Nîmes, including the white marble baths and the perfectly preserved Maison Carrée

Special Access

france | relaxed provence

Guided tour at the very top of the aqueduct at Pont du Gard. Private wine tasting and lunch at Vergers des Papes in the Châteauneuf du Pape region.

with Dr Denise Allen & Prof. Tony King

The idyllic landscapes of Provence are home to some of Europe’s finest Roman remains. Triumphal arches, amphitheatres, theatres and aqueducts, at once feats of engineering and a clear demonstration of power to the local Gallic tribes. Many of these monuments remain remarkably complete, from the amphitheatres at Arles and Nîmes to the ruins of Glanum, an abandoned Roman town dramatically sited in a cleft in the hills. Expert Romanists and archaeologists tell the story of the Romans in Provence. Hannibal marched his troops across the Provençal hills en-route to cross the Alps; Marius defeated Germanic tribes here; Julius Caesar settled his veterans in the region.

Mon 14th May - Sun 20th May Mon 17th Sep - Sun 23rd Sep 7 Days May & Sep: £2,395 (sgl supp £325; without flights £2,225)

What’s Included Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Marseille and transfer to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Day Two We begin in Nîmes, once a thriving Roman town. Visits include the Arena of Nîmes — the former amphitheatre remodelled as a bullring in the 19th century — and the Maison Carrée, a beautifully preserved temple façade. We also see the original spring of Nemausus, around which the pre-Roman settlement grew up, now landscaped into a lovely park.

Day Three Enjoy a free morning in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a charming village where the Provençal way of life is alive and well. We visit Glanum this afternoon. Just outside the town is a triumphal arch and a funerary monument, known as Les Antiques.

Day Four We begin today by visiting Orange, home to a famous

Roman theatre and triumphal arch. Afterwards, we enjoy a special wine tasting and lunch in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, before taking some free time to enjoy at our leisure.

Day Five Today, we explore the Roman past of Arles. We witness the amphitheatre which is still in use for bullfighting, a theatre, baths and cryptoporticus tunnels under the forum. We also get the chance to visit the Archaeological museum which vividly tells the story of Roman Arelate.

Day Six We spend the morning visiting the spectacular stretch of aqueduct that once fed Nîmes: the Pont du Gard. We enjoy a private tour, which includes the opportunity to walk along the water channel. We have lunch beside the aqueduct, before a free afternoon here.

Day Seven We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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france | romans on the rhône & saône with Prof. Tony King Realising the importance of this region in their ambitions for Gaul, the Romans conquered the Rhône valley in 121 BC, and under Julius Caesar continued north into Burgundy during his Gallic War, 58–51 BC. Join us in Burgundy, the gorgeous French region served by the conjoining Rhône and Saône. Amidst its rolling green hills, we find cobbled Medieval streets, glorious Gallo-Roman and Celtic antiquity and some of the most Highlights important Western churches • Explore the temple of and monasteries of the Middle Augustus and Livia Ages. Aside from historical at Vienne: the best pedigree, this is a region where preserved Roman two great French passions temple in France collide: wine and food. Examine Burgundy’s viticulture history • View the wonderful during a relaxed vineyard visit collections of the Musée and tasting session.

Gallo-Romain

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We spend the morning in Vienne, visiting the near-complete Temple of Augustus and other remains of the wealthy Roman town.

Jun: £2,495 (sgl supp £345; without flights £2,315)

france | pyrenees rock art with Dr Paul Bahn Created by our ancestors around 35,000 to 10,000 years ago, at a time when Europe lay in the grip of an Ice Age and creatures now long-extinct roamed the countryside, cave art provides one of the most direct connections with our distant past. The truly astonishing feature of rock art is that it remains precisely where the artist intended. We, the modern visitors, may well view the art as we stand upon the exact spot the artist stood. Preserved Highlights by the constant temperature • The best possible access of their environment, these to the caves and rock drawings and paintings have shelters of this beautiful remained intact for millennia, region deep in the caves of the Pyrenees. Dr Bahn has devoted • Based in a single hotel his career to the study of rock - a comfortable former art and is able to provide coaching inn in St unique insights into the past.

Girons

Special Access

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

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Tue 12th Jun - Tue 19th Jun 8 Days

Tue 16th Oct - Sun 21st Oct 6 Days Oct: £2,095 (sgl supp £150; without flights £1,895)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights

Joint Tour with

• Ruined castles and deserted villages atop craggy hills, in beautiful green rolling landscapes • Heretics and Holy War, the struggle for hearts and minds in Medieval France • Stay within the walls of Carcassonne and in a restored 16th century castle in Couiza • Visit to Rennes-leChâteau, associated in legend with the Holy Grail, and a tour of the Château Comtal

france languedoc - cathars & crusaders with Dr Sophie Ambler

Languedoc was once a thriving province in south-west France and the home of Catharism – an ascetic Christian sect that eschewed and threatened the power of Rome. In 1209 Pope Innocent III launched the Albigensian Crusade to eliminate the ‘heretics’ of Languedoc. Twenty years of fighting followed, leaving behind spectacular castles and abbeys, and fundamentally altering the religious landscapes of Medieval Europe. We explore Cathar cities and Catholic abbeys; grand ruinous castles perched on craggy hilltops, and the polished turrets of Carcassonne.

Andante Travels have joined forces with Historical Trips to offer a series of History & Archaeology tours.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Toulouse.

Day Two We travel to the Cathar refuge of Cordes-sur-Ciel and explore its 13th and 14th century townhouses. Later we visit Albi’s colossal red-brick cathedral and Berbie palace, a fortified residence of the town’s bishops.

Day Three We explore Lastours, the Cathar stronghold besieged

by Simon de Montfort, before we depart for Carcassonne.

We visit the Château Comtal, and discover the culture of troubadours. Finally, stop at the grand basilica of St Nazaire.

Mon 3rd Sep - Mon 10th Sep 8 Days

What’s Included

Sep: £2,595 (sgl supp £450; without flights £2,395)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Enjoy the musical stylings of Carys Lowry-Carter. The talented singer-songwriter will join us for a one night performance, showcasing the music of Languedoc.

Day Four We visit beautiful Minerve, where residents were burnt as heretics in a 1210 siege. Then on to Béziers, where in 1167, citizens rose up and killed their lord. This afternoon we explore the town of Narbonne and the Gothic Cathédral St-Nazaire.

Day Five We visit unspoilt Lagrasse’s Benedictine abbey, and the Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide. A major power during the 13th century, it now produces its own wines which we enjoy over lunch.

Day Six We begin our morning with a visit to Rennes-le-Château, associated in legend with the Holy Grail. We head to Arques, and the castle at Peyrepertuse, located high in the Pyrénées.

Day Seven We visit Puivert, centre of troubadour culture, and Vals’ rock-carved church. On to Château de Foix, a counts’ stronghold. This evening we enjoy a special performance by a trobairitz, a female troubador.

Day Eight We explore Toulouse’s basilica and Jacobin church, former seat of the Dominican order. We return home this afternoon.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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georgia | georgia with Ian Colvin Rarely visited by modern tourists, the region was well-known to the ancient Greeks. Indeed, legend has it that Jason travelled to Georgia to seek out the Golden Fleece. Like us, the Argonauts would surely have marvelled at its snow-capped mountain peaks and forested river valleys. Georgia has an impressive archaeological record, rich in prehistoric monuments, Roman remains and monasteries of the Middle Ages. As well as Highlights Classical sites, we also discover • Classical cities, royal Tbilisi, the ‘city of light’, citadels, vertiginous dramatically-set mountain monasteries and some churches, and the sobering of the world’s oldest birthplace of Stalin. Ian Colvin wineries. has worked extensively in Georgia and shares his intimate • The Black Sea coast: knowledge of the history and dramatic mountain culture of the Caucasus.

scenery, fertile rivers

Special Access

We have special access to Ian Colvin’s excavations at Nokalakevi - including the 6th century fortress and Hellenistic necropolis.

Mon 4th Jun - Tue 12th Jun 9 Days Jun: £2,795 (sgl supp £420; without flights £2,370)

germany | roman germany with Tony Wilmott In AD 9 the largest army of the Roman Empire was amassed along the Rhine frontier, preparing to march into what the historian Tacitus described as ‘the bristling forests and foul swamps’ of Germany. They suffered a huge and unprecedented defeat. In response, the Limes was constructed - a defence system of bank, ditch, wall, towers and forts built along the Rhine and Danube.

Safe behind this border, Roman cities prospered. Left Highlights behind are grand villas and • Military history at its exquisite mosaics. This is a most exciting, from delightful tour in a beautiful beautiful countryside to and accessible part of Europe German cities often overlooked by tourists.

Meet military history at its • Follow the story of early most exciting, in unexpectedly Roman pioneers through beautiful countryside and to the creation of an handsome German cities.

Imperial capital at Trier

Special Access

We visit the Museum für Antike Schiffahrt for a special guided tour of the excavated ships and their reconstructions.

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Sun 27th May - Tue 5th Jun Sun 16th Sep - Tue 25th Sep 10 Days May & Sep: £2,595 (sgl supp £380; without flights £2,450)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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• The Landesmuseum Württemberg possesses one of the most outstanding collections of Celtic finds throughout Europe • Visit Glauberg, one of the most important centres among the Celtic oppida with its fortified settlement and burial mounds where the “Prince of Glauberg” statue was discovered.

• Reconstructed burial chamber of a Celtic ruler in the museum at Hochdorf

germany & luxembourg the celts in germany and luxembourg with Prof. John Collis

Discover the Celts and their world with one of Britain’s leading experts, Prof John Collis. You will be introduced to the remarkable Celtic remains in southwest Germany and Luxembourg. During the tour we view the major collections of Celtic finds of this region and explore many sites from which they derive. The collections we visit display a broad range of artefacts from everyday life to grave goods and ritual objects, perfectly suited to provide the archaeological background to the on-site visits. These include oppida, cemeteries and other sacred areas. Much effort has been put into the reconstruction and maintenance of the major sites such as Glauberg and Belginum to give you a glimpse into the past.

Itinerary Day One We fly from London to Stuttgart, our first destination.

Day Two We begin at Landesmuseum Württemberg home to one of Europe’s best collections of Celtic artefacts. We travel to nearby Eberdingen to visit the museum with the reconstructed burial chamber of Hochdorf.

Day Three We travel to Hohenasperg to explore the burial mound “Kleinaspergle”. Afterwards, we travel to our next destination, Mainz. On the way we stop in Mannheim to pay a visit to the museum.

Mon 14th May - Mon 21st May 8 Days May: £2,495 (sgl supp £375; without flights £2,320)

What’s Included Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We will enjoy special access at Glauberg, where we will meet with local archaeologists and receive firsthand information on the project.

Day Four We stop at another museum today, Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz. We travel to Glauberg with its museum and archaeological park, famous for the discovery of the lifesize sandstone ‘Prince of Glauberg’ statue.

Day Five En-route to Trier, we stop at the Altenburg, a Celtic Castellum.

We continue to Belginum to visit the Celtic-Roman archaeological park. We have some free time in Trier this afternoon to spend as we wish.

Day Six This morning will be spent at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier, which includes impressive artefacts from burial mounds.

Afterwards, we head on to the Archaeological Park Martberg, where the Treverer, a Celtic tribe, established an Oppidum.

Day Seven Today is spent in Luxembourg.

Here, we pay a visit to the National Museum, which houses finds from across all prehistoric periods. The last major site we visit on our tour is the huge 1st century BC oppidum, Titelberg.

Day Eight We fly back to London.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Forts, watch-towers, bath-houses and more: immerse yourself in life on the Roman frontier • A visit to the Limes Info-Zentrum to see how far we’ve travelled • A real walking holiday, passing through forests, green hills and streams of the Rhineland • In Idstein, enjoy the medieval Altstadt with its timber-framed buildings, a short rest from the rigours of frontier life

germany | walking the roman limes with Tony Wilmott

Built to separate the outskirts of the Roman Empire from the ‘free’ Germanic tribes, the mighty Germany Limes represent the longest ancient defensive system Europe has ever seen.

Stretching for 350 miles, from the Rhine to the Danube, the border bristled with forts and watchtowers, manned by legions and auxiliaries. The ultimate protector of the civilised Roman world from the hordes of Teutonic barbarian outside... Tread the paths which once separated two vastly different cultures. Today, the route is characterised by rolling hills, forests and streams. Led by a Roman military expert this is a wonderful follow-up to our Walking Hadrian’s Wall tour and a unique expedition in the footsteps of the Romans.

Itinerary Day One We fly from London to Frankfurt.

Day Two We begin our walk with an introductory hike from Rheinbrohl to Kastell Niederbieber, through rolling hills past the remains of excavated defences.

Day Three We leave the safety of the fort behind as we head east towards the frontier. We view a wide range of Roman remains before descending into Sayn.

Sun 17th Jun - Wed 27th Jun 11 Days

What’s Included

Jun: £2,850 (sgl supp £325; without flights £2,650) 32

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

Day Four Spend the day gently climbing through forested hills east of Sayn, up to the Limes Pavillon Hillscheid. We also visit the fort at Kleinkastell Hillscheid.

Day Five We begin with a climb to the Stefansturm reconstructed watchtower. Later, we continue our journey to Bad Ems.

Day Six We walk south away from the Rhine, climbing upto the oldest of the reconstructed Roman watchtowers. Enjoy views of open countryside before reaching Limeskastell Pohl.

Day Seven We pass from one fortlet to another as we travel to Kastell Holzhausen. After lunch we travel by coach to Idstein.

Day Eight We start at Kleinkastell Kemel, before crossing the river to Adolfseck.

Day Nine We travel from Eschenhahn to the fort of Kleinkastell Maisel, shrouded in forest.

Day Ten On our final day, we visit the Kastell Feldburg and Kastell Saalburg.

Day Eleven Fly from Frankfurt to London.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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germany & austria | hallstatt to la tène with Prof. John Collis Our tour of the European Iron Age takes us through some of the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes in the world: huge lakes, craggy peaks, green forests and pretty Alpine towns. This fertile land attracted prehistoric settlers, and gave trade routes through the mountains for vital commodities such as salt, amber, and eventually, iron. Early Iron Age Hallstatt culture became wealthy from salt, building huge settlements and leaving behind Highlights rich burials. The later La Tène • Iconic Iron Age culture, on Lac Neuchatel in archaeology introduced Switzerland, is characterised by by leading authority intricate metalwork, very well Professor John Collis preserved. Led by Professor John Collis, an authority on • Fantastic finds, from the Iron Age, we delve into this waterlogged remains time of traders and tribes in to vivid ‘Celtic’ art and Austria and Switzerland.

metal work

Special Access

Sun 9th Sep - Sun 16th Sep 8 Days Sep: £2,995 (sgl supp £490; without flights £2,755)

germany | hidden berlin with Nick Jackson

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We have arranged special access to excavations at the Hallstatt Salt Mines, accompanied by the Director of Hallstatt Museum.

Home to stunning monuments, architecture and museums, Berlin is an icon of 20th century history. Yet beyond the tourist hotspots, there is an even more intriguing Berlin to explore. Join us in uncovering a lesser known past: take a private tour of the sprawling Hohenschönhausen Jail; and discover the full story behind the iconic Berlin Wall.

Archaeologist and Berlin resident, Nick Jackson, leads this exclusive tour as we explore the highs and lows of a city torn apart... and pieced back together again. This tour is a must for those wishing to get at the heart of Berlin’s dynamic and hidden history as well as its finest gastronomic delights.

Special Access

Specially arranged tour of Berlin Wall, private tour of the Stasi HQ & a local expert takes us round the State Archaeological Museum.

Highlights • Uncover sites behind Berlin’s imperial facade, such as Tempelhof airport • Enjoy a special evening meal on top of the Reichstag building • 5* hotel in central Berlin Mon 4th Jun - Sat 9th Jun 6 Days Jun: £2,695 (sgl supp £365; without flights £2,495)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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germany | short break in berlin with Nick Jackson Nowhere are the forces and pressures of Europe’s past, present and future, more vividly on display than in Berlin. At the heart of the continent, the city has often been caught at the nexus of world-events, with sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic consequences. Trace the development of the city over 600 years: from Prussian capital and leading cultural light of Northern Europe during the Enlightenment, to the most Highlights modern town in the world • Beyond the Berlin Wall during the 1920s. Nick Jackson, - from proud capital to an archaeologist and long-term years of division as the Berlin-resident, also introduces Iron Curtain descended the darker days of the 20th century, with the rise of Nazism • Grand parks and iconic and division under the Berlin palaces - we visit the Wall. The highs and lows of a World Heritage Site of city divided and reunited.

Potsdam

Special Access

We have organised a special presentation of Germany’s Versaille, Sanssouci – the summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia.

Thu 23rd Aug - Mon 27th Aug 5 Days Aug: £1,750 (sgl supp £185; without flights £1,595)

greece | thessaloniki with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley Founded in 315 BC, Thessaloniki is a city whose historical importance and legacy can rival even that of Athens. The monuments of its illustrious past are all around the palace and mausoleum of Emperor Galerius, Byzantine walls, ancient Orthodox churches, and Ottoman mosques. Venture beyond the city walls to ancient Dion and the Enipeas Ravine, at the foot of Mount Olympus. Ancient and modern worlds happily coexist Highlights here: the Arch of Galerius • Discover vibrant overlooks busy boutiques; Byzantine churches and whilst the famous White Tower, a historic old town anchors a waterfront of inviting cafés. During our captivating • Visit Dion, extensively tour, we also enjoy special excavated and site of a access to the Macedonian tombs temple to Zeus found along the road which • Stay in one of the best once led from Pella to Mieza.

hotels in the city

Special Access

We have special access to the remarkable Macedonian painted tombs; and view the gold and precious grave goods, in the site museum.

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Tue 10th Apr - Sun 15th Apr 6 Days Apr: £2,250 (sgl supp £275; without flights £1,995)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • The land of Homer’s heroes and the great Bronze Age citadels from which they came • The ‘big names’ of Classical Greece: Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Corinth • Explore the imposing and well-preserved tholos tombs of Mycenae, ascribed by pioneering archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann to the mythical king Agamemnon and other literary characters

Special Access

greece | the peloponnese

We will enjoy a specially arranged talk delivered by the Curator of the Corinth Museum.

with Dr Rita Roussos

This is an odyssey through the great sites of Ancient Greece: set across the backdrop of a rich and varied natural landscape.

Beginning in Athens, we walk amongst the Acropolis and the Agora - where merchants were, we admire the monuments of Pericles and much more. We then journey as the ancients did, to seek the advice of the great oracle at Delphi, before continuing into the ruggedly beautiful Peloponnesian hills.

Join our Expert Guide, Dr Rita Roussos, as she traces the story of Ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to Classical glory. The holiday for anyone who has ever dreamed of standing at the starting line of the ancient Olympics, debating with Socrates, or following in the footsteps of Hercules.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Athens.

one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Greece.

Day Two Our first full day is spent on foot exploring ancient Athens.

We climb to the Acropolis to visit the iconic Parthenon, Theatre of Dionysus and Temple of Athena.

Day Seven We visit the ruins of the Byzantine town of Mystras and the site of Epidaurus, home to the ruins of the ancient Greek polis by the same name.

Day Three We continue our exploration of Athens with a walk through the sites of the Agora, before journeying into the Peloponnesian hills.

Day Four We spend an entire day at the Panhellenic Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, famous as the seat of the oracle.

Tue 17th Apr - Fri 27th Apr Tue 11th Sep - Fri 21st Sep 11 Days

What’s Included

Apr & Sep: £2,895 (sgl supp £335; without flights £2,665)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Five

We wander through Olympia, home of the first and greatest Panhellenic Games.

Day Six

Today, we explore Messene,

Day Eight We tour the site of Nemea, alleged site of Heracles’ slaying of the Nemean Lion, in the company of its former director.

Day Nine We explore the great Bronze Age hilltop site of Mycenae.

We continue to the lovely town of Nafplion.

Day Ten We travel to Corinth, which owed its prosperity to the isthmus which joins the Peloponnese to the mainland.

Day Eleven We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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greece | crete & santorini with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley & Dr Sandy MacGillivray

The Minoans are best known for their huge labyrinthine ‘palaces’ - the greatest of which, at Knossos, was supposedly where Theseus slew the Minotaur. Knossos and all of the sites we visit have their own unique and characteristic charm and elegance, demonstrated in a lively and free artistic expression, and an obvious delight in impressive decoration. Begin on the beautiful, small island of Santorini, ‘Pompeii of the Aegean’, buried suddenly during the cataclysmic eruption of Thera - which signalled the ‘beginning of the end’ of Minoan civilization. In Crete we continue to trace the story of the Minoans, whose writing, organisation and ambition had a profound influence on the development of ancient Greece, and thus the western world.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Santorini.

Day Two We begin our first full day on the island of Santorini and the Prehistoric Museum in Fira, which houses the wall-paintings from the Minoan mansion at Akrotiri.

We continue to Akrotiri, destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1500BC. The city is reminiscent of Pompeii, with impressively wellpreserved three story houses.

Day Three We visit the ancient city of Thera, built 360m 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. In the afternoon, we visit Panagia Episkopi, before travelling by catamaran to Heraklion, where we arrive in time for dinner.

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Day Four We visit the palace of Knossos, a pivotal site of Bronze Age Greece.

Excavations have been overseen by the British School at Athens for many years.

We continue to the Minoan house at Vathypetro with its elaborate shrine and well preserved wine press. We return to Heraklion and visit the museum, with its exquisite jewellery and brightlycoloured wall paintings.

Day Five We enjoy our morning at the important Graeco-Roman site of Gortyn, best known for its

collection of 5th century stone blocks, inscribed with the law codes of classical Greece.

We return to the Minoan era at the elegant ‘palace’ at Phaistos, which dominates

the fertile plain of Mesara.

This afternoon, we continue to Ayia Triadha, a grand but ruinous Bronze Age villa.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Explore the Minoan palace complex of Malia, with its great courtyards, crypts and circular granaries • Wander through the recently re-opened city of Akrotiri • Elegant sites, wildflowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean

Special Access

We have special access to the excavations at the Sissi Archaeological Project.

These include an Early to Middle Minoan (ca. 22001700 BCE) cemetery with house tombs.

Day Six Our day begins with a special visit to the palace of Malia, a huge Minoan complex.

We visit the well-preserved Minoan town of Gournia on the northern coast. The majority of houses here are on the east slope, built up against each other along paved and stepped streets.

This afternoon, you are able to spend some free time exploring the city of Heraklion.

Day Seven Today we will see the beautifully situated ruins of Chamaizi. Afterwards, we have the option to visit the tiny island of Mochlos, before returning to the hotel for a free afternoon.

Day Eight Before we make our way to the airport, we drive to Sissi to visit the excavations on Kephali hill.

What’s Included • Flights - London to Santorini; Heraklion to London • Guide Lecturer • Tour Manager • Local Travel - Private a/c coach, boat & catamaran • All meals included (wine with dinner) • Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme & tips • Hotels - 2 nights in Santorini, 5 in Heraklion • Field Notes

Guide Lecturers Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley is a Tutor in Greek Archaeology at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. She specialises in Minoan Crete, and is codirector of the Praisos survey.

Dr Sandy MacGillivray Dr Sandy MacGillivray is an archaeologist specialising in the Aegean Bronze Age, and the civilizations of Crete, the Cyclades and mainland Greece. He has excavated at Sparta, Paros and Kythnos.

Dates Tue 17th Apr - Tue 24th Apr Tue 8th May - Tue 15th May Tue 11th Sep - Tue 18th Sep Tue 25th Sep - Tue 2nd Oct Tue 9th Oct - Tue 16th Oct 8 Days All dates: £2,495 (sgl supp £295; without flights £2,195)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Vast historical range: from Homeric sanctuaries at Dodona to remote 14th century monasteries • The Greek agora, Roman palaces and Byzantine churches of Thessaloniki, capital of Northern Greece, whose centre is a World Heritage site with outstanding museums • The vertiginous monasteries at Meteora, perched high in spectacular mountain landscapes

greece | ancient macedonia & epirus with Oliver Gilkes

We follow in the footsteps of conquerors and cross the mountainous landscape of mainland Greece, rugged, dramatic landscapes once home to the two of the greatest rulers of the ancient world – Philip II and Alexander the Great. Palaces, houses, painted tombs and exquisite pebble mosaics from this time survive at the Macedonian cities of Verghina and Pella. We travel to towering Meteora deep in the Pindos Mountains, where sky-scraping medieval monasteries perch on pinnacles of rock – built as a way of withdrawing from the world. An unusual tour of this unique area of Greece full of fantastic archaeological sites, marked over the centuries, by a cornucopia of peoples and cultures.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Thessaloniki.

Day Two We drive to Nikopolis, where we visit the sanctuary of the Actian games and the city centre’s walls and basilicas. In the afternoon, we take a trip to Nekromanteion, the oracle of the dead on the river Acheron.

Day Three We journey to the shrine and oracles of Zeus at Dodona.

Later, we continue to Orraon, an Epirote-Molossian city with impressive remains and a stroll round the city of Arta.

Sat 28th Apr - Mon 7th May 10 Days

What’s Included

Apr: £2,850 (sgl supp £360; without flights £2,595) 38

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

Day Four Explore the castrum of Ioannina, the fortress of Ali of Tepelena, with its mosques walls and typical Ottoman buildings. We have the afternoon at leisure.

Day Five Today, we spend time at the spectacular, and vertiginous monasteries of Meteora.

Day Six We travel to the Vale of Tempe, a renowned ancient beauty spot. Today, we also visit the Schwartz Mansion and explore the great city of Dion.

Day Seven We continue our trail of royalty and visit Verghina, where you will find the burial place of Kings. We continue to Pella, Macedonia’s administrative capital.

Day Eight We spend the day in Thessaloniki. We examine the remains of the great Roman imperial palace and visit the Archaeological Museum.

Day Nine We take a trip to the Byzantine fortress of Rendina, which guarded the Via Egnatia. This afternoon we venture through the Agora and Forum of Thessaloniki.

Day Ten We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

greece | meet the greeks with Dr Rita Roussos The ‘Greatest Hits’ of the Greek world: gods, heroes, monsters and kings. The stories and legends, customs and politics of the Greek world continue to echo through the ages. From Achilles’ heel to Herculean struggles, election voting to frequenting the theatre. How did a rowdy group of rival kingdoms dominate the ancient Aegean for so many centuries? Our journey begins in the Peloponnesian hills, dramatic landscapes where myth and Highlights legend endured for millennia: • From the heroic exploits where the hero Hercules of Hercules, to the began his twelve tasks, and Trojan Wars, to the King Agamemnon set out to Golden age of Classical rescue Helen and capture Troy.

Athens Continue to Classical Athens, a city whose Golden Age led • The perfect introduction to astonishing advances in art, to 2000 years of Western philosophy, science and politics.

civilisation

Special Access

We visit the ruins of ancient Corinth, occupied from as early as 6500 BC. We receive a special talk from the retired site director.

Wed 16th May - Wed 23rd May 8 Days month: £?

May: £2,695 (sgl without flights £) £2,395) (sglsupp supp£;£350; without flights

CAN’T WAIT FOR 2018?

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2017 There are still spaces available on a number of our 2017 departures, so why wait a year to discover more of the ancient world when you could join one of our most popular tours?

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania – Could anywhere in the world offer us a deeper insight into Roman life than these dramatic seaside towns?

Classical Sicily – From columns to cathedrals, explore honey-coloured Greek temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics...

Crete & Santorini – Elegant sites, beautiful wildflowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean Croatia | Dalmatia & Dubrovnik – Explore spectacular archaeology against the backdrop of the breathtakingly beautiful Adriatic.

Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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greece | the cyclades by gulet with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley & Dr Sandy MacGillivray

Join us as we take a meandering route around the Cyclades island by gulet. Discover atmospheric archaeological sites, amidst rugged, sun-drenched outcrops of rock, which stand within sparkling azure seas. Travel to the sacred island of Delos, mythical birthplace of twins Apollo and Artemis.

Standing amongst this sprawling ruin, we can easily imagine the magnificent city that once was. Santorini’s multicoloured cliffs are certain to capture your imagination, as will the fascinating Minoan site of Akrotiri. Aside from our archaeological pursuits, we make sure to reserve time for a dip in the beautiful azure sea. Gulet cruising allows you to experience a completely different side to the Cyclades Islands.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Santorini, where we board our gulet.

Day Two Our day begins with breakfast overlooking the Caldera. We visit the ancient city of Thera.

We continue to Akrotiri, which was destroyed by a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 1,500 BC. After lunch, you can enjoy a free afternoon in Santorini, where you will have the option to visit the local museums.

Day Three We spend the day at the hilly island of Ios. We visit the Roman Aqueduct and Homer’s tomb. We sail to Koufonisia for a late afternoon swim in the beautiful turquoise waters and then continue to Naxos.

Day Four We enjoy the day in Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades where we visit the

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Archaeological Museum. We also examine the two giant unfinished Kouroi lying near quarries close to the villages of Melanes and Apollonas.

Day Five We continue exploring Naxos.

A number of ancient sanctuaries still survive here.

We continue to the never finished Temple of Apollo, and Archaeological Museum.

We set sail for Paros.

Day Six Upon arrival at Delos we wander the Maritime Quarter and the Theatre District and pay a visit to the local Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon you will have free time on Delos.

Day Seven We spend another morning on Delos. We explore the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Lion District. This evening, we continue our journey, sailing on via Rhenia to Syros.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Enjoy Special Access with Andante

Highlights

We sail to Cape Sounion, to enjoy a wonderful dinner overlooking the Illuminated Temple. Soak up the magical atmosphere - first lit by the colours of the sunset and then by the spotlights.

• Explore the Terrace of the Lions, dedicated to Apollo; and visit the ancient and mysterious Castle of Andros

The Boat

• Relax over dinner overlooking the illuminated temple of Cape Sounion

Gulet tours are unlike any other cruise experiences.

The vessels are designed to offer total relaxation; making them the perfect partner to an Andante Travels tour. Enjoy beautiful food, and plenty of swimming opportunities, alongside our fascinating archaeological excursions.

• Enjoy a friendly and informal atmosphere on board our gulet

Enjoy single sittings during on-board dinners; ample space for sunbathing on deck, and plenty of shaded areas to relax in too. The comfort extends to your cabin too: all are air conditioned, with en-suite bathrooms.

What’s Included

Historically, gulets were used as transport and fishing vessels along the southern coasts of Turkey. Today they are designed with full comfort and not trade in mind which you will see as soon as you come aboard...

• Guide Lecturer

• Flights - London to Santorini; Athens to London

• Tour Manager • Local Travel - Private a/c coach • All meals included (wine with dinner) • Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme & tips

Day Eight On Syros, we visit the local Archaeological Museum and the Early Cycladic cemetery.

We continue to Andros, where we will have a walking tour around the village before dinner.

Day Nine We spend the day on Andros to take in the Archaeological Museum. It houses an interesting collection of artefacts from the area. The highlight is Praxitiles’ statue of Hermes.

Day Ten We enjoy the last full day of our journey on Kea. The charming island is characterised by rocky spires, verdant orchard filled valleys, and olive groves. We then sail to Cape Sounion to explore the Temple of Poseidon.

• Hotels - On this particular trip, our hotel is a gulet.

• Field Notes

Guide Lecturers

Dates

Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley

Fri 11th May - Mon 21st May Sat 9th Jun - Tue 19th Jun 11 Days

Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley is a Tutor in Greek Archaeology at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning.

She specialises in Minoan Crete, and is co-director of the Praisos survey.

May & Jun: £4,395 (sgl supp £2,795; without flights £4,045)

Dr Sandy MacGillivray Dr Sandy MacGillivray is an archaeologist specialising in the Aegean Bronze Age, and the civilizations of Crete, the Cyclades and mainland Greece. He has excavated at Sparta, Paros and Kythnos.

Day Eleven We fly home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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r u to n ew

greece | corfu & islands by gulet with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley & Oliver Gilkes

The seven islands of the Ionian Sea are Greece’s ‘other’ archipelago. As deeply embedded in the Hellenic past as the better known Cyclades the Ionian Islands have a history and mythology that encompasses Homeric legend, the homeland of Odysseus, ancient Greek history, Roman grandeur, and Venetian majesty. Corfu was the only Grecian land that never fell to the Turks and was a wellspring of ideas for a national renaissance. From craggy fortresses, to the deserted metropolis of the ancient world the beautiful blue Ionian hides a host of secret places. What better way to enjoy the Greek islands than by gulet? Join us on a marvellous trip along the northern coast of Greece exploring the archaeology of the Ionian islands.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Corfu and take an afternoon stroll around the Old Town, taking in the scenic views before we board the gulet for the evening.

Day Two We explore Corfu Town.

Originally a Corinthian Greek colony Corfu Town is one of the most attractive towns in Greece, an extraordinary fusion of Ionian Greek, Venetian and British styles, with elegant boulevards and buildings alongside the winding streets of the Old Town; all dominated by the great Venetian fortresses.

We visit the archaeological museum, Old and New Fortress.

Day Three We visit the ruins of once mighty Nikopolis. A huge Roman ‘new town’ project, founded in honour of Augustus’ victory over Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at

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Actium. We visit the late Roman walls and basilicas, the impressive theatre and Odeon, and the emperor’s victory monument built where his command tent had stood during the battle. We continue with an overnight cruise to the picturesque island of Ithaca.

Day Four On to Ithaca, the island of Odysseus and the culminating locus of Homer’s poem and the location of his famous ‘school’. We shall visit a 9th century BC shrine at Aetos, and the famous Arethusa spring where Odysseus was directed by Athena to meet Eumaios, his loyal swineherd. Modern geoarchaeology has led to clarification of the Homeric geography of the Island.

We continue our journey by sailing to the small but elegant town of Poros, located in the southeast region of Kefalonia.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Enjoy Special Access with Andante

Highlights

Prof. Kostas Zachos, former Ephor of antiquities of Epirus, will give us a special tour of Nicopolis, where he has undertaken years of groundbreaking research.

• Travel to Ithaca, and explore the significant sanctuary at Aetos

The Boat

• Marvel at the mosaics of the 3rd century AD Roman Villa in Skala on Kefalonia

Gulet tours are unlike any other cruise experiences.

The vessels are designed to offer total relaxation; making them the perfect partner to an Andante Travels tour. Enjoy beautiful food, and plenty of swimming opportunities, alongside our fascinating archaeological excursions.

Enjoy single sittings during on-board dinners; ample space for sunbathing on deck, and plenty of shaded areas in which to relax. The comfort extends to your cabin, which is air conditioned, with en-suite bathrooms.

Historically, gulets were used as transport and fishing vessels along the southern coasts of Turkey. Today they are designed with full comfort and not trade in mind which you will see as soon as you come aboard...

• Visit Corfu’s Archaeological Museum which houses the most important finds from the island

What’s Included • Return flights - London to Corfu • Guide Lecturer • Tour Manager • Local Travel - Private a/c coach • All meals included (wine with dinner) • Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme & tips

Day Five Kefalonia is one of the largest of the Ionian Islands and from the attractive town of Poros we discover some of the island’s archaeology. We will explore the Mycenaean tholos tomb, the Scala Roman Villa, and the acropolis of ancient Sami.

Day Six Upon arrival in Argostoli, we spend the morning at the Stavros museum with finds from all over Kefalonia and then we set sail for Paxos with time to swim upon arrival.

Day Seven We return to Corfu Town in time lunch. This afternoon, we take ourselves to the craggy Byzantine fortress of Angelokastron and the monastery at Paleokastrisa.

Day Eight We return home today.

• Hotels - On this particular trip, our hotel is a gulet.

• Field Notes

Guide Lecturers Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley is a Tutor in Greek Archaeology at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning.

She specialises in Minoan Crete, and is co-director of the Praisos survey.

Dates Wed 23rd May - Wed 30th May Thu 31st May - Thu 7th Jun 8 Days May: £3,795 (sgl supp £1,695; without flights £3,445)

Oliver Gilkes Oliver is one of the UK’s foremost experts on Albanian archaeology. He has been a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Italy, Albania and Libya. Amongst other works, he is the author of ‘Albania: an archaeological guide’.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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greece | crete revisited with Dr Sandy MacGillivray The largest and most populous of the Greek islands, Crete is a well trodden destination... but it still has secrets and surprises waiting to be uncovered. Join us as we explore the famous Minoan “Palaces” and settlements; trace the fortunes of the island through the Classical Greek and Roman periods; and gain a deeper understanding of the glorious west of the island.

As we journey through the Cretan landscape, we witness it unfold in an undeniably artistic way: a magical tapestry of beaches, ancient treasures, vibrant cities and enigmatic villages. The natural beauty we find, is surpassed only by the richness of its history.

Special Access

Discover more about recent research which has been undertaken in Western Crete, during special talks from local archaeologists.

Highlights • Explore the beautiful Mediterranean island and its lesser-known archaeological remains • Wander through Armeni, where 200 chamber tombs have been discovered

Mon 15th Oct - Mon 22nd Oct 8 Days Oct: £2,450 (sgl supp £295; without flights £2,195)

CAN’T WAIT FOR 2018?

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2017 There are still spaces available on a number of our 2017 departures, so why wait a year to discover more of the ancient world when you could join one of our most popular tours?

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania – Could anywhere in the world offer us a deeper insight into Roman life than these dramatic seaside towns?

Classical Sicily – From columns to cathedrals, explore honey-coloured Greek temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics...

Crete & Santorini – Elegant sites, beautiful wildflowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean Croatia | Dalmatia & Dubrovnik – Explore spectacular archaeology against the backdrop of the breathtakingly beautiful Adriatic.

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Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Jungle treks, mangrove swamps, ancient lagoons and more • The tallest pyramid in Belize, the ‘Canaa’ or ‘Sky Palace’ in the impressive Maya city of Caracol • Incredible wildlife — brilliant macaws, swinging spider monkeys, and eagles above the rainforest • The extraordinary Mask Temple at the remote city of Lamanai, the ruins spreading along the shore of the lagoon

guatemala | guatemala, belize & honduras with David Drew

Uncover the mysteries of a magnificent civilisation which arose from the jungles of Central America. This exciting tour takes us in search of the Maya in Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

We journey to great and ancient cities such as Copán and Tikal and to more remote outposts in the jungle, often by boat across lakes and along rivers that were the arteries for trade and communication across the Maya world. The still mysterious demise of most of the tropical forest Maya meant that by the 11th century AD many of their major cities had been reclaimed by the jungle. We may dine with brilliant macaws in the branches above and drop off to sleep to the roar of howler monkeys deep in the surrounding forest.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Guatemala.

Day Two We spend the day discovering the beautiful and vibrant colonial city of Antigua.

Day Three We visit the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.

Day Four We explore the ruined city of Copàn in Honduras.

Day Five

We begin at the city of

Quirigua, best-known for its carved stelae.

Tue 13th Feb - Mon 26th Feb 14 Days

Feb: £4,995 (sgl supp £740; without flights £4,295)

What’s Included Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We enjoy a special lecture and dinner with archaeologist David Sedat, who has worked at the site of Copán for many years.

Day Six We spend all day in the incomparable Maya metropolis of Tikal.

Day Seven See the jungle come to life as we climb the highest temples at daybreak.

Day Eight We go by boat to the city of Yaxhá and continue into Belize.

Day Nine We view the Maya city of Caracol, including the ‘Sky Palace’.

Day Ten We travel to the classic period site of Cahal Pech, by the banks of the Macal River.

Day Eleven We start at Altun Ha before heading to our eco-jungle lodges, where we spend our night amidst jungle wildlife.

Day Twelve All day amongst the jungle remains of Lamanai, the ruins spreading along the shore of the lagoon. We view the extraordinary Mask Temple.

Days Thirteen & Fourteen Return by boat from Lamanai and drive to Belize City. Then we make our journey home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Visit ancient Persian majesty at Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rostam, and Pasargadae, and trace the mysterious Zoroastrians • Uncover old-style Iranian hammams, stunning architecture, and the finest example of a Persian Garden in the world • Venture through Shiraz, taking in the glorious views of the Naranjestan Palace and its gardens

iran | great kings, shahs & gardens with Francois Desset & Carolyn Perry

A land of mystery, and unparalleled hospitality, Iran is rich in antiquities. The country is intricately decorated, whilst its monumental legacy bears witness to the sweep of its epic history. We will explore the Persian Kingdom - one of the greatest powers of the ancient world, and walk in the footsteps of Cyrus the Great, Darius, and Xerxes at their palaces. In Shiraz and Esfahan we view splendid Islamic architecture which rival the great cities of the Silk Road. We are delighted to be able to return to Iran, and very lucky to have the unrivalled expertise of our Guide Lecturers to introduce the grand arc of Persian history and archaeology.

This tour sold out fast in 2016 and 2017 - don’t miss your chance to secure a place!

Itinerary Days One & Two We arrive in Shiraz and spend our first day exploring Naranjestan Palace.

Day Three

Upon arrival in Firuzabad, we visit the Sassanid Palace.

Day Four

We view the UNESCO site of Persepolis and the rock reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam.

Day Five

We explore the palace of Pasagardae and enjoy the Eram Gardens in Shiraz.

Day Six

We spend the day in Kerman.

Day Seven

Thu 5th Apr - Fri 20th Apr Thu 18th Oct - Fri 2nd Nov 16 Days Apr & Oct: £4,995 (sgl supp £740; without flights £4,425) 46

Special Access

Enjoy a specially arranged tour of the National Museum in Tehran, carried out by one of Iran’s leading archaeologists.

What’s Included

We journey to Mahen to see the

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Eight

Shah Nematollah Vali Shrine.

We drive to Yazd and visit the Atash Behram fire temple.

Day Nine

We view the Towers of Silence and the Jameh Mosque.

Day Ten

We drive to Esfahan.

Days Eleven & Twelve

We spend two full days in Esfahan and visit numerous sites including Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Chehel Sotoun Palace and the Armenian Quarter.

Day Thirteen

We start our journey to Tehran, Iran’s modern capital. We stop at Natanz and Kashan, famous for its Fin Garden.

Days Fourteen & Fifteen

We explore Tehran, including Tehran’s National Museum and the Golestan Palace.

Day Sixteen

On our final day we visit Niavaran Palace, before flying home this evening.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights

n ew

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• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Bazaar of Tabriz • Visit Hasanlu Tepe, one of the most famous archaeological sites of the region, once a major local trading centre • Visit Takht-e Soleiman, another great UNESCO World Heritage site • Marvel at the famous rock reliefs of the region, including those at Bisotun of Darius the Great and the Sassanid examples at Taq-e Bostan

Special Access

iran | north-western iran

Enjoy a specially arranged tour of the National Museum in Tehran, carried out by one of Iran’s leading archaeologists.

with Dr Mehreen Chida-Razvi

Iran, the second largest country in the Middle East, is steeped in history. Our second tour in this country will take you to the lesser known, but no less fascinating north-western region.

Travel with us from Tabriz, once an important trading centre of the Silk Road, south via Takab and Sanandaj to Kermanshah and then east to Tehran, the capital. On our journey through the country we will visit the most important modern cities, explore famous excavation sites such as Takht-e Soleiman and marvel at Achaemenid and Sassanid rock reliefs at sites such as Bisotun and Taq-e Bostan (to name just two!) This tour takes you through the ages of Ancient Persia from the earliest beginnings up to great empires once ruling these vast lands.

Itinerary Days One & Two We fly from London to Tabriz.

Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and have time to relax.

Before dinner, there will be a leisurely stroll through the city.

Day Three We spend a full day in Tabriz, visiting the local Azerbaijan Museum and taking in the historic bazaar complex, once one of the most important trade centres on the Silk Road.

Day Four We take a trip around Lake Urmieh, where we see the rock relief at Salmas. On to Hasanlu, famous for its wellpreserved remains.

Thu 8th Nov - Mon 19th Nov 12 Days

What’s Included

Nov: £3,995 (sgl supp £540; without flights £3,435)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Five At Maragheh we marvel at the observatory, built in 1259 AD, which attracted scholars from as far as China. The city is also famous for its funerary towers.

Day Six From Takab, we journey to Takht-e Soleiman. This

UNESCO site includes the walls of the former fortified settlement.

Day Seven In Sanandaj, we visit the local museum housing finds from the Kurdestan province. We stroll through the bazaar before continuing on to Kermanshah.

At Taq-e Bostan we view the Sassanid rock reliefs.

Day Eight We drive out to Mount Behistun to see the famous rock relief of Darius the Great.

Day Nine Upon arrival in Hamadan, we make our way to Hegmataneh Hill, the Median capital of the late 8th century.

Days Ten & Eleven We spend two days in Tehran.

We explore the National Museum, and the newly refurbished Islamic Museum.

Day Twelve We travel back to London.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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u

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Highlights

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• Admire the major sacred artefacts of Celtic Ireland and the collection of prehistoric gold objects in the National Museum in Dublin • Take a ferry to Inis Mor and explore the Island’s archaeological sites - home to over 50 different monuments of mythological heritage.

• View the Book of Kells from the 9th century – a must-see artefact for all interested in the Irish culture

ireland | prehistoric ireland with Dr Kelli Ann Malone

Experience the fascinating Prehistory of Ireland. Travel through the rugged landscape with one of the leading experts in Irish Archaeology, Dr Kelli Ann Malone. The monumental passage tomb of Newgrange – with its widely known stone carvings – is but one of the highlights on a tour that takes in Dublin, the Boyne Valley, Carrowmore, mystical Galway, and the island of Inis Mor. Particularly famous for its Celtic remains, Ireland has so much to offer archaeological enthusiasts. This is more than just a tour for the Prehistoric purists. Join us to discover impressive burial monuments and captivating archaeological sites of earliest Ireland... scattered across this most verdant of isles.

What’s Included

Jul & Aug: £2,295 (sgl supp £395; without flights £2,145) 48

Itinerary Day One We fly from London to Dublin. This afternoon we spend time in the National Museum, home to a broad range of artefacts as well as a reconstructed passage tomb.

Day Two We discover more of Dublin today. At the Old Library of Trinity College we view the Book of Kells, the famous gospel manuscript from the 9th century. We continue to St Patrick´s Cathedral.

Day Three We explore the area north of Dublin, including Newgrange Neolithic burial mount. On to the site of Knowth’s complex of grave structures; and finally the Hill of Tara.

Sun 24th Jun - Sun 1st Jul Sun 5th Aug - Sun 12th Aug 8 Days

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Exclusive visit to an experimental archaeology group affiliated to the University College of Dublin.

Day Four We travel north-west to Sligo.

We stop at Fourknocks and Boyne Valley to view further burial monument complexes of the area. At Loughcrew, we

visit a group of cairns, some of which bear engravings.

Day Five We explore the area around Sligo. Carrowmore is home to one of the most comprehensive burial complexes in Ireland; whilst Creevykeel holds one of the best examples of an Irish court tomb.

Day Six We spend the day in Galway.

We visit the City Museum, which houses archaeological finds from Prehistory to medieval times.

Day Seven The day is dedicated to Inis Mor. We stop at Dun Aengus, the most famous Prehistoric hill fort on the Aran Island; and Dun Duchathair set on the steep cliffs above the sea.

Day Eight Before we make our way home, we experience the rough karst landscape of the Burren.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Walk the streets of one of the world’s oldest cities - Jericho, founded over 10,000 years ago and occupied ever since • An abundance of iconic ancient sites - from the spectacular, but tragic, fortress at Masada to the coastal Crusader town of Akko (Acre) • Spend three days in Jerusalem - with special access to excavations and museums, and dinner with leading local archaeologists

Special Access

israel & palestine Guide Lecturer TBC - see our website for latest updates

There are few places on earth that can boast such a rich and varied archaeological heritage as Israel and Palestine. Over the millennia, this ancient land has felt the tread of a varied cast of conquerors and settlers: Canaanites, Israelites, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans and Imperial Britons. Each one of these civilisations has left their signature on the areas we visit today.

Of course religion is an intrinsic part of these lands. Join us as we discover the archaeology embedded in the most holy of cities, Jerusalem; the tragedy of Masada; and visit one of the oldest cities in the world, Jericho.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Tel Aviv and transfer to our hotel on the shores of Lake Tiberias.

Day Two We spend our first morning at the Roman and Byzantine city of Beth She’an and the 6th century synagogue of Beth Alpha today. We continue to the beautiful Jezreel Valley.

Day Three We visit Tel Dan, with its remarkable Bronze Age mudbrick gateway; and visit Belvoir Crusader Fortress.

Day Four Today, we travel to Tzipori, a fortified city perched on a mound in the Netofah Valley.

We continue to Akko.

Tue 24th Apr - Fri 4th May Tue 30th Oct - Fri 9th Nov 11 Days

What’s Included

Apr & Oct: £3,695 (sgl supp £735; without flights £3,295)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

We spend the day in Jerusalem with a leading Israeli archaeologist – and visit Lion Gate and the Bethseda Pool with them.

Day Five We venture through the Roman harbour city of Caesarea Maritima. We also visit the Israel Museum, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Day Six Spend a day in Jerusalem with a leading archaeologist. We end the day at the Tower of David Museum.

Day Seven We travel to Jericho for the Herodian Winter Palace complex and the Monastery of the Mount of Temptation.

Day Eight We wander through Jerusalem, visiting the City of David, Warren’s Shaft, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more.

Day Nine We explore the huge city of Tel Lachish; and we may stop for a ‘float’ in the Dead Sea. Day Ten We ascend to the isolated fortress of Masada, and visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Day Eleven We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

ITALY

Call: Call: 01722 01722 713800 713800 | email: | email: tours@andantetravels.com tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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italy| pompeii, herculaneum & classical campania Uncover everyday life in a Roman town...

Nowhere in the world could give a deeper insight into Roman life than the dramatic seaside towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Before the eruption of Vesuvius these were thriving, lively seaside towns! Bars, shops and brothels did a roaring trade and Pompeii was well-equipped to entertain the passing traveller with amphitheatre, baths and theatre.

All this came to an abrupt halt, in AD 79 - when Vesuvius which had done little more than rumble for years - erupted with cataclysmic 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.

Lose yourself in the past, walking the ancient streets in the footsteps of gladiators, slaves, senators and citizens...

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Itinerary Day One We arrive in Naples and transfer to our hotel.

Day Two We drive south to explore the temples, site and museum at Paestum. Wander among the three mighty temples, some of the best preserved anywhere in the Greek world.

We visit Paestum Museum which houses the unique painted ‘Tomb of the Diver’, dated to round 480 BC.

Day Four We marvel at the exceptional collections of artefacts at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. We continue to Pozzuoli to see the best-preserved basements of any amphitheatre in the world and explore the passages where gladiators and wild animals would have once awaited their fate. We receive special access to the cavernous Piscina Mirabilis at Misenum.

Day Three We devote a whole day to Pompeii. No other site can compare in revealing the scale and proportions of a Roman town. We visit some of the best-preserved buildings, as well as an amphitheatre, theatre, forum, bathhouses, bars and brothels. Many of our Guide Lecturers have excavated at Pompeii and will introduce the very latest research that is shedding light on this extraordinary site.

Day Five We go off the beaten track to the villas of Stabiae, an exclusive Roman resort for the very wealthy. The vast Villa San Marco is one of the most opulent along this coast, and remains very impressive in its scale. The Villa Arianna gives wonderful views over the Bay of Naples and is rarely visited. This afternoon we can explore more of Pompeii, or, take time to relax at your own leisure.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Access to new, rarelyvisited villas in Pompeii • Led by expert guides – all specialists in Roman Archaeology or Ancient History • Discover the ancient ruins and mosaics in Herculaneum

Special Access

We have special access to the cavernous Piscina Mirabilis at Misenum, usually closed to the public.

This gigantic cistern stored water for the Roman fleet and fed the towns of the Bay of Naples.

Day Six We visit Herculaneum, which perfectly complements a visit to Pompeii. We visit another ‘hidden gem’ of the Bay of Naples this afternoon, the modest farm-house discovered at Boscoreale, named the Villa Regina, and also visit the fine small museum alongside it.

Day Seven On our final full day, we ascend the great volcanic crater of Vesuvius, where we will be rewarded with amazing views both down into the crater and out across the bay of Naples. We spend the afternoon at the villa at Oplontis, also buried and preserved by the eruption.

It is grander than those at Stabiae – its amazing wall paintings are still intact and in their original positions.

What’s Included What’s Included • Return flights - London • Ecae quibus, sollici to Naples assimagnist intia tiusciatqui • dolupta Guide Lecturer • Tour doloraeped • Manager moluptasped expeles • Local Travel erescium non- Private natia a/c coach quam utatemp orenimi, omnistius dendit, si • All mealsasincluded natesciis rententem (wine at dinner, except at Pompeii) • lunch nihillisquam fuga.

Occupta speriae • Entries & Tips Entry to consequae sita -cum all sites in programme fuga. Xeribusant a & tips vellautemque none • - 7etnights • Hotels doluptin es duntem accommodation quam, quiassitatiintea hand-picked hotel antemquunt aut re • Notespreperunt • Field Adi omnis am quibus exeruptatur

Guide Lecturers Mon 2nd Apr - Mon 9th Apr TBC Mon 9th Apr - Mon 16th Apr Doru Bogdan Mon 16th Apr - Mon 23rd Apr Dr Eireann Marshall Mon 30th Apr - Mon 7th May Dr Neil Faulkner Mon 7th May - Mon 14th May Doru Bogdan Mon 14th May - Mon 21st May Doru Bogdan Mon 21st May - Mon 28th May Dr Eireann Marshall Mon 10th Sep - Mon 17th Sep Oliver Gilkes

Tue 11th Sep - Tue 18th Sep John Shepherd Mon 17th Sep - Mon 24th Sep Dr Neil Faulkner Mon 24th Sep - Mon 1st Oct TBC Tue 25th Sep - Tue 2nd Oct Tony Wilmott Mon 1st Oct - Mon 8th Oct Dr Denise Allen Mon 8th Oct - Mon 15th Oct TBC Tue 9th Oct - Tue 16th Oct TBC Mon 15th Oct - Mon 22nd Oct Dr Eireann Marshall

8 Days All dates: £1,995 (sgl supp £185; without flights £1,795)

Day Eight We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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italy | classical sicily The whole story of Sicilia Antiqua...

Islands in the Mediterranean are inevitably influenced by all passing trades and peoples. Sicily is perhaps the ultimate example of this. First came Bronze Age traders, followed by the Greeks and Romans, leaving behind a rich legacy of temples to their gods, graceful monuments which often still stand among the beautiful flower-strewn hills. Later, Normans used Byzantine and Arab artists and craftsmen to create glowing gold-in-glass mosaics in ornate cathedrals and palaces. This tour will leave memories of beautiful bays and ruinous ancient cities; honey coloured columns against a clear blue sky. Of exquisite Roman and Norman mosaics, mighty Mount Etna (fabled home of Cyclops), and of strolling in the wild Sicilian countryside.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Catania and travel across Sicily to Palermo.

Day Two Our journey begins at the famous unfinished Doric temple at Segesta, set amongst rolling hills. There is also a fine theatre on the hilltop above. We continue to the magnificent Norman cathedral and abbey at Monreale, found by the Norman King William II. Day Three We spend all day in Palermo, where we visit the Archaeological Museum, the mosaic decorated church of La Martorana and the extraordinary Palermo Cathedral. This evening we have a special private visit to the Cappella Palatina.

Day Four Today we take a boat across the shallow salt lagoon to the Phoenician island

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stronghold of Motya. The site is the source of the beautiful Motya Charioteer sculpture, discovered in 1979.

Day Five We continue on to the ancient quarries at Cave di Cusa, from which came the stone for the temples at Selinunte — unfinished column drums still lie abandoned here. We head to the site of Selinunte, strewn with wild flowers.

Day Six We spend all day among the magnificent Greek temples of Agrigento, imposingly ranked along the southern ridge of the ancient city - built to impress those approaching.

Day Seven We start the day in opulent Roman style, at the palatial Roman villa with exceptionally fine mosaics at Piazza Armerina. We continue to Morgantina, an ancient city of the interior.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Exceptionally fine mosaics at Piazza Armerina, a palatial Roman villa, reopened after extensive refurbishment • From columns to cathedrals – explore honey-coloured Greek Highlights temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics

Special Access

We have a specially arranged early evening visit to the Cappella Palatina of Roger II, a glittering jewel of Norman architecture.

Day Eight We spend all day discovering the ancient city of Syracuse.

We see the exquisite artefacts in the Archaeological Museum. Take an afternoon walk around the island of Ortygia to look at the Piazza del Duomo and the remains of the Temple of Athena.

Day Nine Free time in Syracuse. We continue to Noto, now a Unesco World Heritage Site. On to the Roman villa at Tellaro, found beneath a traditional farmhouse, with exceptionally fine mosaics.

Day Ten Our last morning is spent exploring Euryalus Castle, the lynchpin of the defences of Syracuse. This afternoon we visit Greek and Roman remains in Catania.

What’s Included

Guide Lecturers

• Flights - London to Palermo; Catania to London

Thu 29th Mar - Sun 8th Apr Oliver Gilkes

Thu 20th Sep - Sun 30th Sep Guide Lecturer TBC

Thu 19th Apr - Sun 29th Apr Dr Denise Allen

Thu 27th Sep - Sun 7th Oct John Shepherd

Thu 10th May - Sun 20th May Dr Eireann Marshall

Thu 4th Oct - Sun 14th Oct Guide Lecturer TBC

• Guide Lecturer • Tour Manager • Local Travel - Private a/c coach • All meals included (wine with dinner)

Thu 17th May - Sun 27th May Oliver Gilkes

• Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme & tips • Hotels - 3 nights in Palermo, 1 in Marsala, 2 in Agrigento, and 4 in Ortygia • Field Notes

11 Days All dates: £2,795 (sgl supp £420; without flights £2,495)

Day Eleven We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • See one of the greatest extant examples of Norman architecture in the world — the cathedral of Monreale • Enjoy a private introduction to the glittering Cappella Palatina on an exclusive early-evening tour • Revel in the beautiful landscapes where Greek and Roman occupiers left their mark, overlooking sunlit valleys and lucid seas

italy | ancient wonders of sicily with Oliver Gilkes & Dr Denise Allen

Let us introduce you to Sicily: seductively beautiful and perfectly placed in the heart of the Mediterranean. Discover this fertile prize, coveted by countless cultures, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Normans.

The island is home to wonderfully well-preserved Greek temples, Roman villas and Norman cathedrals — many filled with glorious mosaics — and its dramatic scenery once provided the backdrop for ancient battles. On this week-long tour we introduce the very best of Sicily’s archaeological sites. Those who wish to delve a little deeper into the island’s past should turn to our ten-day Sicilia Antiqua tour.

Tue 20th Mar - Mon 26th Mar Tue 11th Sep - Mon 17th Sep 7 Days

What’s Included

Mar & Sep: £1,995 (sgl supp £285; without flights £1,750) 56

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We have a specially arranged early evening visit to the Cappella Palatina of Roger II, a glittering jewel of Norman architecture.

Itinerary Day One We fly from London to Palermo, Sicily’s glittering capital.

Day Two On our first full day, we visit the mosaic-encrusted Norman cathedral of Monreale before spending the afternoon in the city at our own leisure.

In the early evening we have a special, private visit to the extraordinary Cappella Palatina, covered in glittering gold mosaics, marble flooring and a wooden ceiling.

Day Three Our morning is spent at the temple and theatre of ancient Segesta. The iconic fifth-century Doric temple here, set against a beautiful sunlit valley, is one of the best-preserved in the world.

We travel to Selinunte by the sea in the afternoon to see its Greek temples. Later, we make our way to the hilltop city of Agrigento.

Day Four We spend a full day exploring mighty Agrigento, once a rival to Syracuse. Explore its excellent museum, and then the splendid temples arranged along the rocky edge of the city.

Day Five We continue our journey to the fascinating art city of Piazza Armerina where we shall see the extraordinary Late Roman villa with its wealth of fantastic figured mosaics. This afternoon, we take a scenic drive to Syracuse.

Day Six This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse, before being drawn in by the exhibits of the Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum.

After lunch, we see the ruined Euryalus Castle, the great Greek fortress that was the cornerstone of Syracuse’s walls.

We fly home this evening.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

italy | meet the romans with John Shepherd Blood-thirsty imperialists of the greatest civilisation the world has ever known ... At its peak, the Roman empire covered a vast territory, ruled by powerful, often capricious Emperors. This tour offers a wonderful introduction to the Roman world, with the opportunity to visit both Rome and Pompeii. Taken together, these two cities allow us to explore both the mighty monuments and feats of emperors, and the more humble, but no less fascinating Highlights world ordinary Roman citizens.

The tour will be led by an expert in Roman archaeology and civilisation, and include special access and visits to sites including the Imperial Fora, Ostia, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Pompeii and Tivoli.

Special Access

To Horti Sallustani, Roman landscaped pleasure gardens developed by Roman historian Sallust in the 1st century BC.

• Visit both Rome and Pompeii

• Includes iconic Roman sites throughout - Tivoli, Herculaneum and more • Stay in two excellent hand-picked 4* hotels

Mon 2nd Apr - Tue 10th Apr 9 Days month: £?

Apr: £2,695 (sgl without flights £) £2,475) (sgl supp supp £;£420; without flights

CAN’T WAIT FOR 2018?

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2017 There are still spaces available on a number of our 2017 departures, so why wait a year to discover more of the ancient world when you could join one of our most popular tours?

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania – Could anywhere in the world offer us a deeper insight into Roman life than these dramatic seaside towns?

Classical Sicily – From columns to cathedrals, explore honey-coloured Greek temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics...

Crete & Santorini – Elegant sites, beautiful wildflowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean Croatia | Dalmatia & Dubrovnik – Explore spectacular archaeology against the backdrop of the breathtakingly beautiful Adriatic.

Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Discover an Italy before Rome, the Mediterranean spanning world of the Etruscans, their wild, savage Gods, extraordinary art, and eclectic taste • Explore every aspect of Etruscan life and culture from great cities to beautiful artefacts and everyday objects • Beautiful scenery with sites spread across rolling Tuscan Hills, many of which later developed into Medieval towns

Special Access

italy | the etruscans

We have special access to some characteristic Etruscan painted tombs including the Tomb of the Lion and the Pellegrina Tomb.

with Oliver Gilkes & Dr Tom Rasmussen

Before the rise of Rome, the Etruscans dominated much of Italy. At the height of their power and prosperity during the 6th century BC, Etruscan power, influence and ambition rivalled the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians. In their homeland in the Tuscan hills, they built cities, vast cemeteries monumental tombs and a startling abundance of finely crafted objects. This is a beautiful and rural part of Italy, and we stay in just two hotels: a converted convent, and a 17th century palazzo. Our Guide Lecturer introduces hilltop cities, spectacular finds and lavish painted tombs. Life before the Romans: a fascinating alternative view of classical Italy.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Pisa.

Day Two We spend our first day in Volterra, located on windswept, dramatic hills.

Here, we visit the Guarnacci Museum. After lunch, we walk through the town viewing its Etruscan and Roman remains.

Day Three We explore Vetulonia, with views to the Tyrrhenian Sea. We travel to the littlevisited tombs and see a rare example of Etruscan domestic architecture. After a picnic lunch we continue to the coastal site of Populonia this afternoon.

Sun 8th Apr - Sun 15th Apr Sun 23rd Sep - Sun 30th Sep 8 Days

What’s Included

Apr & Sep: £2,395 (sgl supp £295; without flights £2,195) 58

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Four We visit the key inland city of northern Etruria - Chiusi.

This afternoon we have special access to some of the characteristic Etruscan painted tombs, including the Tomb of the Lion and the Pellegrina Tomb.

Day Five We visit Veii this morning.

We explore the remains of the Portonaccio Temple, dedicated to Apollo. We visit the Villa Giulia Museum in Rome this afternoon.

Day Six We visit Tarquinia to see the archaeological museum and exquisitely painted subterranean chamber tombs.

Over 6000 tombs have been discovered at the Monterozzi cemetery, which we visit next.

Day Seven We explore Orvieto – there is much to see in the town including two archaeological museums. We continue to the Belvedere Temple Podium, and the Etruscan cemetery of Crocifisso del Tufo.

Day Eight Our tour culminates at the remarkable Banditaccia cemetery at Cerveteri, a truly extraordinary Etruscan site. We return home afterwards.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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• An insider’s guide to ancient Rome • Out-of-hours access to the world-famous Capitoline Museum, home of the iconic bronze statues of Marcus Aurelius and the Capitoline Wolf • We engage with the labyrinthine complex of ruins below the city streets and hunt out hidden gems amongst the alleys; the theatre of Pompey the great, and Borromini’s baroque surprise

Special Access

italy | hidden rome

We enjoy a private visit to the Capitoline Museum.

Secrets are also revealed when we visit the Secret Archives of the Vatican.

with Dr Eireann Marshall

Rome is much more than you see on the surface. Behind the grand Renaissance architecture and medieval churches, the city is laid out on ancient Roman lines. Elegant facades hide crumbling ancient masonry and to truly appreciate this legacy, you have to delve beyond the usual marble monuments and beneath the modern streets. During our tour, we explore a hidden world of buried houses, underground temples, and secret catacombs normally difficult to access. A truly exclusive break, Hidden Rome takes care of all your needs; enjoy a 5* hotel in the heart of the ancient city, and a spectacular Michelin starred meal in one of Rome’s finest restaurants.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Rome.

Day Two Our first day begins with a trip up the Aventine Hill, to visit the elegant Santa Sabina.

We continue to the Forum Boarium, an ancient market where the boats unloaded their cargoes. We also visit the titanic Baths of Caracalla, and the Tomb of Scipios.

Day Three We travel to Via Nomentana, one of the great consular roads leading away from Rome. We visit Santa Constanza, and the Church of S. Agnese with its catacombs. We travel to the Appian Way to see the Villa of the senatorial Quintilli.

Mon 23rd Apr - Sat 28th Apr Mon 8th Oct - Sat 13th Oct 6 Days

What’s Included

Apr & Oct: £2,995 (sgl supp £535; without flights £2,825)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Four Our first stop is the exquisite 12th century church of San Clemente, with its wonderful apse mosaic. We then walk up to the Caelian Hill. We finish with a visit to Palazzo

Valentini, an excavated Roman house complex beneath a Renaissance palace. This evening, we enjoy dinner at La Pergola with splendid views over the Eternal City.

Day Five We begin the day at the Pantheon, and visit the Cripta Balbi. Strolling through Medieval and Renaissance Rome, we drop in at the Palazzo Spada to view Borromini’s intriguing corridor.

Day Six We walk through Rome to see the ancient world’s largest sundial, the Meridian of Augustus. Finally, we travel to Portus, once the port of Rome but now wrapped in ivy. We return home this afternoon.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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• Descend underground into the catacombs and remnants of the ancient city below the streets of Naples • Travel by boat to lovely Ischia and the first Ancient Greek settlement in the region • Explore the ancient city of Capua, once known as ‘the second Rome’ by Cicero • Feel the heat and smell the sulphur as we explore the volcanic landscapes of Solfatara

italy | campania beyond pompeii with John Shepherd

Pompeii has fascinated us for centuries, but archaeological interest isn’t confined to this one area... go beyond and discover more. Explore the hinterland of Vesuvius, a countryside pocked with semi-active volcano craters and one of the entrances to the underworld. It was a land of myth and legend, and, paradoxically, a land of luxury and wealth dotted with the vast villas of senators where the city of Pozzuoli was a ‘second Rome’ in the summer season. The excesses of fine living here were satirized in the Satyricon of Petronius. The tour is based for a whole week in just one comfortable hotel, and includes a trip to the island of Ischia where Greeks established their first trading post in the west.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Naples and drive to our hotel.

Day Two We begin with a ferry trip to the island of Ischia. Here, we view the remains of Greek buildings beneath the Church of Santa Restituta.

Day Three We begin at Santa Maria Capua Vetere to view the marvellous Iron Age collection in its museum, temple and amphitheatre which was built in the time of Augustus. We also visit the medieval town of Capua.

Tue 15th May - Mon 21st May Tue 18th Sep - Mon 24th May 7 Days

What’s Included

May & Sep: £2,375 (sgl supp £360; without flights £2,150) 60

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Visit the remains of Roman shops and houses, and a massive temple, beneath the streets of the medieval district of Rione Terra.

Day Four Our first day in Naples, we visit the foundations of the theatre as well as the streets and shops beneath the Church of San Lorenzo di Maggiore.

A visit to the cloister of Santa Chiara will reveal the wellpreserved fresco paintings and remains of a Roman bathhouse.

Day Five We explore the exotic Roman resort of Baia, terraced into the side of an extinct volcano and the nearby museum. En route to Cumae, we visit Solfatara,

the now-dormant volcano which was once the home of Vulcan - according to Roman mythology.

Day Six We travel to Pozzuoli. Here we visit a mighty amphitheatre, the third largest in Italy. Next, we continue to Rione Terra to witness the remains of the multilayered buildings beneath the medieval city. We also view tomb remains in Pozzuoli.

Day Seven We continue in Naples, with a visit to the incredible Archaeological Museum and we explore the spectacular Catacombs of St Januarius, which date back to the 2nd century AD. After we have drunk our fill of history, we transfer to the airport.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

italy | sardinia with Dr Tertia Barnett Sardinia’s archaeology tells the story of rich Prehistoric and Classical cultures regularly in contact with the wider Mediterranean world. Their greatest period of prosperity and architectural splendour was during the Bronze Age, when the inhabitants built thousands of Nuraghi - fortified stone towers, some surrounded by villages. Our tour takes you on an exploration of a variety of sites, building up a picture of this Highlights intriguing island society, before • Conquest and invasion we move on to later Phoenician at the Phoenician colonies and the coming of stronghold of Sulcis, the Romans. Discover tombs, perched on an isthmus temples, traders and invaders at the edge of the island on the rugged shores of this endlessly beautiful, culturally • Explore landscapes, with and archaeologically unique richly varied flowers and Mediterranean island.

wildlife

Special Access

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We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

Tue 15th May - Wed 23rd May 9 Days month: £?

May: £2,595 (sgl without flights £) £2,395) (sglsupp supp£;£330; without flights

place||the italy tour icetitle man and his world with Craig GuideAlexander ....

The Alpine valleys of Val Camonica hold one of the largest collections of Prehistoric rock art in the world - Italy’s first World Heritage Site. The images depict every facet of life from Neolithic to Roman times. Each depiction is unique, creating a varied and concentrated gallery of prehistoric life: there are animals, humans, boats, carts, huts - an almost overwhelming profusion of detail. Having set the scene, Highlights we venture into the mountains to visit the ice-man ‘Ötzi’ - an • Discover the Prehistoric emissary from 5000 years ago. gallery of 100,000 rock Hikers stumbled across Ötzi in art depictions in the Val 1991, and for over two decades Camonica national park analysis of his body, and the extraordinary Prehistoric tool • Waterlogged wooden kit he carried, has given us structures and everyday a glimpse into the Ice Man’s items preserved in mud world... at Lake Ledro

Special Access

We will enjoy a specially arranged tour at SeradinaBedolina lead by the park’s Scientific Director.

Sat 2nd Jun - Thu 7th Jun 6 Days Jun: £1,895 (sgl supp £130; without flights £1,750)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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• Discover the Palazzo communale in Siena and its breathtaking bell tower • Explore Cortona, the art and architecture city with a ‘diadem of towers’ • Journey through the rolling countryside of Tuscany, punctuated with villas and avenues of cypress trees with free time to explore • We enjoy the culinary delights of Tuscany at Michelin-starred restaurants

Special Access

italy | relaxed tuscany

We enjoy a special visit to the impressive Etruscan tumuli of Sodo Melone below Cortona, the burial place of the city’s ancient aristocrats.

with Dr Oren Margolis

A wealth of archaeological sites is hidden amongst the rolling hills and golden landscapes of Tuscany. The region has seduced countless civilisations for centuries. It all began with the Etruscans, but the Romans, medieval Christians, British aristocrats, and plundering Napoleon all share a space in the region’s fascinating history. Our visually stimulating tour is set in the rolling Tuscan countryside - a gorgeous land of villas and vineyards. Based in a single hotel in the centre of Sienna, we enjoy a combination of expert-led archaeological visits and free time to explore. Highlights of the tour include visits to the hill towns of Arezzo and Cortona, and the imposing Medici stronghold of Poggibonsi.

Mon 3rd Sep - Sat 8th Sep 6 Days

What’s Included

Sep: £2,295 (sgl supp £325; without flights £2,075) 62

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Italy and drive to our hotel in Siena.

Day Two This morning we explore Siena, the last town to hold out against the rise of the Medici. We take plenty of time to explore and savour the marvellous Palazzo Comunale, and perhaps ascend its bell tower for the exceptional view over the city’s rooftops. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to spend at our leisure.

Day Three We travel to Arezzo, another proud city state. Here, we explore the life and work of Giorgio Vasari, court architect to Cosimo I and biographer of the great artists. We then move to the Duomo, thought to be located on the site of the ancient city’s acropolis.

There is an option to enjoy some free time - or visit the Archaeological Museum alongside your guide lecturer.

Day Four Today we enjoy a full day in Cortona. A small charming town in Arezzo’s Chiana valley, seated on the skirts of the mountains, with narrow cobbled streets and terracotta roofs. We discover the Accademia Etrusca and visit the Diocesan Museum, holding works by Fra Angelico.

Day Five We drive to Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Pope Pius II. This afternoon, we enjoy a visit to a local Tuscan winery to sample the vintages – Tuscan wines are, justifiably, celebrated, with a rich history of viticulture – providing a refreshing and relaxing end to the day.

Day Six We enjoy a final visit to the great Medici fortress at Poggibonsi, relied upon by the Florentine Empire of Cosimo Medici. We transfer to the airport for our return home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

italy | roman capri with John Shepherd Beguiling Capri has charmed Roman emperors, Russian revolutionaries and Hollywood stars alike. The legendary idyll presents the perfect microcosm of Mediterranean appeal.

Inhabited from the Palaeolithic period, Capri was briefly occupied by the Greeks, before it became the private playground of Emperor Augustus and retirement home of Tiberius. Explore a rugged landscape, peppered with relaxing beaches and Highlights picturesque villages overlook • Stroll through the most the deep blue waters that magnificent and best lap into secluded coves and conserved of all island mysterious grottoes.

residences, Villa Jovis

Take in all that Capri has to offer, with a balance of archaeologcal visits and free time to explore.

Special Access

Enjoy an after-hours guided tour of Museum of Villa San Michele, followed by aperitifs on the terrace of Café Casa Olive.

• Enjoy the stunning panoramic view from the summit of Monte Solaro

Mon 3rd Sep - Sun 9th Sep 7 Days May: £2,895 (sgl supp £470; without flights £2,650)

italy | rome & the sistine chapel with Oliver Gilkes Rome is an exhilarating and intimate destination where the glories of its ancient past, the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon exist beside museums, art-soaked churches and medieval piazzas: evidence of Rome’s continued power when its empire was no more. This is the perfect introduction to the ‘Eternal City’ led by our expert archaeologists who brings to life triumphs, tragedies and political intrigue that characterised the Roman Highlights empire and its sucessors.

• On foot through the We have special access to the glories of the Eternal Colosseum and the glorious City from Trajan’s Sistine. Follow in the footsteps column to the Vatican of slaves and Caesars; saints and sinners in this unique • Stay in one charming exploration of over 2000 years hotel, perfectly placed of Roman history. just behind the Pantheon

Special Access

We see where the gladiators awaited their fate at the Colosseum and receive a private evening visit to the Sistine Chapel.

Mon 17th Sep - Sat 22nd Sep 6 Days

Sep: £2,595 (sgl supp £345; without flights £2,395)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights Joint Tour with

• Enjoy wine tastings in local family-run vineyards, plus cooking classes and delicious local dishes.

Wine Tours

• See Pompeii, Herculaneum and lesser-known sites with archaeologists who bring these ancient sites to life • Enjoy the best of both worlds: an irresistible combination of worldfamous archaeological sites and mouthwatering wines

italy pompeii & amalfi - wine & archaeology with Diana Blumberg

Southern Italy is an incredibly rich region, its abundant archaeology perfectly complemented by its equally historic 4000-year-old wine legacy. Explore rock-cut abbeys, fascinating museums, magnificent temples and the astonishing remnants of ancient towns and villas devastated (and preserved) by Vesuvius. Wine is the life blood of the region – it was named ‘land of wine’ by the Greeks. The wines were adored by the Romans and it’s not hard to see why – bold, full-bodied, and supremely satisfying…but don’t take our word for it.

Andante Travels have joined forces with Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours to offer a series of Wine & Archaeology tours.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in time for a light lunch at a local Osteria, in Amalfi. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before heading to our hotel in Ravello.

Day Two We begin the day with a visit to Tenuta San Francesco, in the beautiful, remote Lattari valley.

After a light lunch, we take part in an afternoon cookery demonstration of local recipes at our hotel.

Day Three We travel to Corpo Di Cava dei Tirreni, a rock-cut abbey in the Finestre Hills. We have special access to the library and its archives before continuing to Santa Maria for a wine tasting.

Sat 22nd Sep - Sat 29th Sep 8 Days

What’s Included

Sep: £2,995 (sgl supp £395; without flights £2,725) 64

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

SpecialAccees

We have special access to the library of the abbey at Corpo Di Cava dei Tirreni, and its rich archives of public and private documents.

Day Four We visit Paestum to wander among its mighty temples, then on to Velia, a beautiful ancient city of Magna Graecia.

We continue to Sangiovanni, a splendid estate.

Day Five We devote a whole day to Pompeii. No other site can compare in revealing the scale and proportions of a Roman town. We visit some of the best preserved buildings and several villas which have only recently re-opened to the public.

Day Six We start our day at Herculaneum, which perfectly complements a visit to Pompeii. We enjoy lunch at a local wine bar, before continuing to Naples, to visit the archaeological Museum.

Day Seven This morning, we have the chance to explore Sta Maria Capua Vetere, an excellent Archaeological Museum. We continue to the adjacent second century Mithraeum; and visit the Gladiator Museum.

Day Eight We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights

Joint Tour with

• Follow the path of the Norman Conquest across this island • Trace the remains of the Byzantine empire before it fell to the Muslims • Explore a kingdom that was like no other in Europe - a multifaith, multilingual and multicultural state • Discover towns, palaces, churches, castles and landscapes of Sicily, which was once the richest and most densely populated region of the medieval period.

italy | the conquest of sicily with Dr Alex Metcalfe

Historians and explorers are irrestibly drawn to Sicily, a beguiling melting pot of cultures. Ruling over its diverse peoples, the Norman conquerors formed a lasting frontier between Christian Europe and Muslim Africa. The result was a breathtaking hybrid of art and architecture from Islamic, Byzantine and Romanesque models. Thus, Western-style basilicas, Greek mosaics and elaborately carved Arabic interiors became fused for eternity. Perhaps Sicily’s best illustration of this is the astonishing Cappella Palatina, where glittering mosaics evoke Biblical scenes and the great ceiling depicts everyday Arab life. Palermo is the old Arab capital from which we explore Sicily’s people, power, art and faith.

Itinerary Day One We fly to Catania and drive to Enna. We are treated to a welcome lecture before dinner.

Monreale is an opportunity to be awed at one of the greatest surviving monuments of medieval Christendom.

Day Two In Agira, we view the Norman church, Troina, the cathedral of Nicosia and Sperlinga, a splendid Norman castle.

Day Six We journey through the origins of the Arab baths and castle at Cefala Diana, which are still cloaked in mystery despite the best efforts of academics and researchers. Returning to Palermo, we stroll around the vibrant market, Cathedral and Martorana church, ablaze with Byzantine-style decor.

Day Three Before driving to Palermo, we explore Enna in the morning.

Day Four Our chance to discover the magnificent Zisa Palace and the Catacombs. We pick our way through the ruins of San Giovanni degli Eremiti.

We visit the incomparable Cappella Palatina, built for King Roger II during the 1140s.

Mon 24th Sep - Mon 1st Oct 8 Days

What’s Included

Sep: £2,295 (sgl supp £175; without flights £1,995)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Exclusive access to Cappella Palatina grants us expert insights and the luxury of space and peace to reflect on this crown jewel of Norman architecture.

Day Five This morning is dedicated to Cefalù, standing in the shadow of a vast cliff face towering 900 feet tall. Our afternoon tour of the Cathedral of nearby

Day Seven We examine the excavations at the Greek temple of Segesta, which have unearthed a Muslim necropolis and a mosque from the 12th century, next to a Norman castle. We also visit San Giuseppe Jato, which is the last stronghold of the Muslims in Sicily.

Day Eight We transfer to the airport in Palmermo and fly home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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italy | basilicata & calabria with Dr Sophy Downes A wonderful introduction to the unspoilt mountains and hills of the ‘toe and instep’ of Southern Italy - much favoured by ancient colonists though little-visited by tourists today. Journeying along the coast, we travel through more than 2000 years of an immemorial story. Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman and Spanish invaders not only ‘came and conquered’ but stayed – producing cities, castles and churches from the Classical Highlights period onwards. This abundance of sites includes: the • Matera: a maze of rockcut cave dwellings and Codex Purpureus at Rossano, churches occupied for the Byzantine church at Stilo up to 9000 years and the 5th century BC Greek bronze warriors rescued from • Travel through the the sea at Riace – two of the Byzantine Stilo and finest bronze sculptures to have Venosa, the birthplace of survived from the Greek world.

the poet Horace

Special Access

Enjoy a special booked and timed visit to the famous Riace Bronzes, wonderfully restored at Reggio di Calabria.

Sat 22nd Sep - Sun 30th Sep 9 Days Sep: £2,595 (sgl supp £250; without flights £2,345)

italy | western sicily & Food with Rosetta Ferrari & Tony O’Connor Discover a feast of gastronomic and cultural delights in Palermo and Marsala. Forage for ingredients at Vucciria’s vibrant food markets before learning how to rustle up local dishes in cookery classes. Head for the coast of Trapani, where salt has been extracted for centuries, and visit the salt pans and museum.

Lunch at an agriturismo which produces organic olive oil and cheese. Dine in style after a tour of Marsala and Zibibbo Highlights wineries and cellars. Sail across • Salinas Archaeological the shallow salt lagoon to the Museum, with its Phoenician island stronghold impressive Punic and of Motya. Examine graffiti Greek collections and paintings dating back 12,000 years at the Grotta • Ancient quarries at Cave del Genovese. Visit La Zisa, di Cusa, from which a summer residence built by came the stone for the Arab architects. temples at Selinunte

Special Access

Private visit to the Cappella Palatina, demonstration on making marzipan fruits and a tour of the old Tuna factory on Favignana.

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Sun 30th Sep - Sun 7th Oct 8 Days Sep: £2,295 (sgl supp £175; without flights £2,045)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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italy | relaxed lake garda with Tony O’Connor The region around the Lake is surrounded by mountains and linked to beautiful historic towns by rivers and canals. It is an intriguing area – with prehistoric and Celtic sites adjacent to wonderful Roman remains. All set in a landscape including villas and towns of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. We’re sure this tour – offering a truly unique mix of archaeology, art and architecture – will hold your imagination. The Highlights imposing Roman villas, and • Visit an imposing the Renaissance villas and Roman villa on the very buildings, associated with banks of Lake Garda, the famous architect Andrea said to have been the Palladio are just some of the home of Catullus wonders of this tour. To cap it all, we will be in the region of • Immerse yourself in the the Valpolicella wine villas – stunning architecture of noted for their products and the Renaissance histories.

Special Access

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We are delighted to have secured private tours of the Palladian villas of Vicenza, usually out of bounds to the general public.

Tue 2nd Oct - Mon 8th Oct 7 Days Oct: £2,595 (sgl supp £275; without flights £2,425)

italy | relaxed siracusa with Tony O’Connor With a history stretching back almost 3000 years, the city of Syracuse has the rare accolade of being classed as a World Heritage Site in its entirety. At the heart of the ancient city is Ortygia, painstakingly and dazzlingly restored. We follow in the footsteps of the Greeks, Romans and much later civilisations who landed upon these shores. More than two thousand years later, we can still gaze out over the same harbour and imagine Highlights the cool blue waters heaving • Historic Ortygia, with its with triremes, Athenian glorious piazzas and sea arrows singing through the air. views Discover not only Ortygia, but surrounding sites including • Verdant Pantalica, the Greek Castle of Euryalus, wonderfully alive with the Roman Villa at Tellaro native bird and plant life and the lovely Pantalica hills, • A relaxed approach to honeycombed with ancient discovering Syracuse tombs.

Special Access

We have special access to the Catacombs of San Giovanni – truly a necropolis since whole streets of tombs run off under the city above.

Mon 8th Oct - Sat 13th Oct 6 Days Oct: £2,295 (sgl supp £315; without flights £1,995)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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italy | ravenna & aquileia with Prof. Tony King In AD 402 the Roman Imperial court fled from Rome to Ravenna, and for a period was the political centre of the Western Empire.

The result? An astonishing flowering of art and architecture created in the dying days of an empire. The city’s numerous churches, palaces and mausolea remain resplendent with shimmering mosaics... Our journey begins in Aquileia, one of the great cities of the late Roman Empire, which played host to Highlights emperors and archbishops. We • An astonishing continue to Ravenna, one of the flowering of decorative ‘must-see’ archaeological cities arts and architecture with unparalleled mosaics.

Marvel at the artistry and • Heaven for mosaic explore the stories behind the lovers: the finest glittering tiles: the struggles late-Roman mosaics, of a dying empire and the culminating in glorious growing power of Christianity.

collections at Ravenna

Special Access

We have arranged a special evening visit to the Church of San Vitale to permit you to look at the mosaics in tranquillity.

Mon 22nd Oct - Mon 29th Oct 8 Days Oct: £2,495 (sgl supp £265; without flights £2,270)

CLUB CLASS DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE Why not take the stress out of transfers by opting for our new luxury chauffeur service?

At Andante Travels, we believe that your holiday should start as soon as you close the front door. Forget about dashing to the airport and worrying about parking payments. Our exclusive door to door service will allow you to relax and enjoy the ride.

• Club Class Chauffeurs collect you from your home address and carry your bags to the vehicle • Journeys over 2.5 hours will include comfort breaks and complimentary bottled water • Upon your return journey, Club Class Chauffeurs wait for you in arrivals with a placard (up to one hour) and drive you home • Prices start from £75 per person

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Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

italy | bologna festive food with Rosetta Ferrari & Tony O’Connor Discover the home of tagliatelle, tortellini, mortadella, ragù and more. This unique tour will satisfy even the most voracious of appetites for food and for history! What better time could you find to taste the millennial fruits of culinary evolution than during this festive season? The Emilian menu includes some of Italy’s most famous products such as Mortadella and Parmesan cheese which have been made for over 2000 years. This is an unusual Highlights Andante tour - exploring both • Explore the many glories the archaeological remains and of ‘La Grassa’, the Fat gastronomic history of Bologna.

City of Italy Along the way we hunt for truffles, visit some fascinating • Visit some of the best museums and enjoy some museums in Italy with sumptuous meals that would ancient river boats, have satisfied even an Etruscan intricate gold-working appetite!

and fine sculptures

Special Access

We enjoy a private rendezvous with a local tartufaio – who will introduce us to the secrets of truffle hunting.

Fri 28th Dec - Thu 3rd Jan 2019 7 Days Dec: £2,695 (sgl supp £260; without flights £2,450)

italy | naples new year with John Shepherd Naples’ streets and buildings are packed with life - festooned with washing and, at this time of year, decorated with the elaborate cribs of the Neapolitan tradition. Explore the city - its wonderful churches and museums, and the astonishing remnants of the ancient city. On top of this, travel to Sant Maria Capua Vetere, the slave home of Spartacus, to visit one of the best- preserved temples to the God Mithras.

Highlights Then later in the tour, to the incomparable Pompeii – • See out the old year with destroyed, yet preserved, by a day in Pompeii when Vesuvius in AD79. This will it is almost devoid of also be the time to experience tourists a Neapolitan New Year – an unforgettable occasion • Travel to the Piscina residents literally throwing Mirabilis - the Roman away the old year... This is one cistern that fed the of the best places to enjoy New Roman Fleet at Misenum Year’s Eve!

Special Access

Visit the temple of Mithras at Santa Maria Capua Vetere with John Shepherd - a specialist in Roman religion.

Fri 28th Dec - Thu 3rd Jan 2019 7 Days Dec: £2,695 (sgl supp £450; without flights £2,475)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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• Tour an ancient civilisation, closed off from the outside world for centuries • Travel by bullet trains to Himeji castle and Hachinohe • Atomic bomb museum in Nagasaki • November is one of the best times to visit: with wonderful autumn colours in full display • The Shakado Jomon site – and perhaps a glimpse of Mount Fuji

Special Access

japan | japan

Receive special access to sites and museums all over the island, with the chance to meet many local archaeologists.

with Ilona Bausch

On the far side of the world, the closed society of pre-19th century Japan was the last major civilisation to engage with the rest of the world. Nevertheless, Japanese culture and history have had an extraordinary influence on the progress of the modern world. The archaeological sites of Japan are still difficult to visit, especially as an independent traveller.

We are lucky to have an expert in Japanese archaeology leading this tour, giving us access to remarkable monuments from the fiery ceramics of the Jomon Neolithic to temples and castles of the Shoguns. We traverse the astonishingly diverse landscapes by bullet train in search of the unique archaeology, history and culture of Japan.

Itinerary Days One & Two Fly from London to Tokoyo and relax at the hotel.

Day Three We start our day at the Fukagawa Museum.

Day Four We visit the Jomon period site of Sannai Maruyama.

Day Five We drive across the volcanic landscape to the Oyu stone circles.

Day Six Today, we view the Umataka Site Museum to see Jomon ‘Flame Pottery’.

Fri 6th Apr - Sat 21st Apr Fri 9th Nov - Sat 24th Nov 16 Days Apr & Nov: £6,995

What’s Included

(sgl supp £1,430; without flights £6,295)

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Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Seven We take a drive down the Shinano River, taking in sites along the way.

Day Eight

We explore the site of Shakado Jomon. Over 1,100 figurines are now exhibited in the local museum.

Day Nine We return to the railway for another scenic ride, this time through the Southern Alps to Nara, the ancient Heian capital.

Day Ten Visit Osaka Castle and the ancient tumulus clusters of Mozu-furuichi.

Day Eleven We spend today at Nijojo Palace and have time to explore Kyoto at leisure.

Day Twelve Explore Kinkaku-ji, Tenryuji Temple and bamboo grove.

Day Thirteen We travel by bullet train to the classic Himeji Castle.

Day Fourteen Venture through Imari, to see Japan’s porcelain production.

Days Fifteen & Sixteen We spend our last full day in Nagasaki before starting our journey home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Spend two full days in the monumental city of Petra, home of the Nabataeans.

• Discover the mighty crusader castle at Kerak, one of the best preserved in the Middle East.

• Take 4x4s through the desert in Wadi Rum, made famous by the filming of ‘Lawrence or Arabia’ • View remarkable wall paintings at the hunting lodge, Qasr Amra

jordan | petra & the desert fortresses with Nick Jackson

Nothing can prepare you for the rose-red city of Petra: only by visiting and standing there can you fully appreciate its scale, its colours and its grandeur. Lively, cosmopolitan and rich, with goods from every corner of the known 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 rose-red rock — yet Petra is only a fraction of Jordan’s story. Discover the land of the Old Testament, where Bible stories and the Bronze Age meet. We explore traces of Biblical tribes, Roman legions, Christian crusaders and Islamic caliphates in this promised land of archaeology.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Amman.

Day Two We begin at the remains of a well preserved Greek Palace that lie in a remote valley at Qasr-al-Abd. This afternoon, we spend time at the Dead Sea, with the opportunity to swim in the salt-saturated waters.

Day Three We start the day at Umm Qais, offering views over the Sea of Galilee. Later, we travel to Jerash.

Day Four We spend time in the city of Umm al-Jimal before moving onto desert castles, including Azraq, Amra and Qasr.

Tue 27th Mar - Thu 5th Apr Tue 9th Oct - Thu 18th Oct 10 Days

What’s Included

Mar & Oct: £2,995 (sgl supp £400; without flights £2,450)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Enjoy a special introduction and tour of the British Institute in Amman, either by the director herself or a member of the institute.

Day Five This morning we explore Jordans capital, Amman, where we visit the Archaeological Museum and Citadel. This afternoon we have the chance to marvel at Mount Nebo.

Day Six We visit the Roman and Byzantine site of Umm alRasas and the mighty crusader castle of Kerak.

Day Seven & Eight We spend two full days in Petra. We walk into the site, both for the sense of discovery and to experience the famous entrance ravine. The city and its tombs cover a huge area, all built into the richly coloured rock - it is called the ‘Rose City’ for good reason. We also have the option to climb to the Nabatean ‘High Places’ offering incredible views.

Day Nine

Today we visit the site of Beidha and drive to Wadi Rum where we take 4x4s through spectacular desert scenery, made famous by the filming of ‘Lawrence of Arabia.’

Day Ten

We fly home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Discover the blue tiled wonder of the Mausuoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi • View the thousands of petroglyphs decorating the rocks at Tamgaly • Explore the dead city of Sauran, a former hub of the Silk Road, which now stands alone amidst the Kazakh Steppe • Reach for the stars at Baikonur cosmodrome and explore the archaeology of space

Special Access

kazakhstan | kazakhstan

Our Guide Lecturer is actively excavating at the abandoned city of Otrar, and will take us on a special tour of the site and his work.

with Dr Gai Jorayev

Beyond the limits of the known world, Kazakhstan was the land of the Saka and nomad tribes – home of glittering cities and nomadic empires, and the scene of continent-spanning wars. This land lay at the junction of Silk Roads, and hosted a multitude of cultures. Its archaeology covers all eras: from the burial mound cemeteries of nomad raiders, through the great cities of the Silk Road, to the modern day. Kazakhstan presents a majestic landscape - high mountains, green valleys, lake-dotted steppe, western deserts and remote underground mosques... and affluent cities. Join us on a varied and unique journey - and tour wild steppes where nomads lived cheek by jowl with nature.

Thu 10th May - Fri 25th May 16 Days

What’s Included

May: £4,075 (sgl supp £565; without flights £3,575) 72

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Itinerary Days One & Two We arrive in Almaty and spend our first full day visiting the Boraldy Necropolis and Panfilov Park.

Day Eight We enjoy a special tour of the abandoned Silk Road city of Otrar, where our Guide Lecturer is excavating.

Day Three Today, we venture through Altyn-Emel National Park and Tamgaly-Tas, an open air Buddhist sanctuary.

Day Nine We spend the day in Turkistan, visiting the museum and huge blue-domed mausoleum.

Day Four We admire Chimbulak’s alpine scenery; before visiting the Central State Museum.

Day Ten Off into the vast steppe to the remains of Sauran. In the afternoon we visit Sygnac’s desert-bound ruins.

Day Five We spend the morning at Tamgaly World Heritage Site.

We continue on to Taraz.

Days Eleven & Twelve We explore space archaeology in Baikonur; and visit Russia by entering the Cosmodrome

Day Six We travel to the striking Akyrtas ruins and visit the 2,000 year old town of Taraz.

Days Thirteen & Fourteen We travel to Astana and explore many sites, including the Hezret Sultan Mosque and the National Museum.

Day Seven We visit Shymkent museum and the 12th century Aysha Bibi mausoleum.

Days Fifteen & Sixteen After some free time, we return home, arriving on Day Sixteen.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

malta | malta & gozo with Dr Nick Vella & Jeremy Bennett A thousand years before the Great Pyramid at Giza was constructed, people on the tiny island of Malta were moving stones weighing up to 50 tonnes. At 5,500 years old, the megalithic temples of Malta and Gozo are among the oldest ritual structures in the world - decorated with some of the most extraordinary art to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean. Led by an archaeologist specialising in Maltese history, we explore the Highlights many ages of Malta: from those ancient temples through Roman • Discover extraordinary prehistoric culture rule and into the Medieval predating the Great period. We also spend a day Pyramid at Giza in Valletta, the 2018 European Capital of Culture, built by the • A strategic gem, coveted crusading Knights Hospitaller, by empires throughout who defeated the Ottoman the ages – from the Turks in the great siege of 1565.

Romans to the British

Special Access

We receive special access to Ta’ Cenc prehistoric temple, with its dolmens and passage graves.

Mon 16th Apr - Sun 22nd Apr Mon 1st Oct - Sun 7th Oct 7 Days month: £? £2,395 Apr & Oct: (sgl without flights £) £2,175) (sgl supp supp £;£395; without flights

CAN’T WAIT FOR 2018?

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2017 There are still spaces available on a number of our 2017 departures, so why wait a year to discover more of the ancient world when you could join one of our most popular tours?

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania – Could anywhere in the world offer us a deeper insight into Roman life than these dramatic seaside towns?

Classical Sicily – From columns to cathedrals, explore honey-coloured Greek temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics...

Crete & Santorini – Elegant sites, beautiful wildflowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean Croatia | Dalmatia & Dubrovnik – Explore spectacular archaeology against the backdrop of the breathtakingly beautiful Adriatic.

Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Go beyond the Aztecs discovering the peoples of ancient Mexico • Vast hilltop city of Monte Alban, recently named ‘World’s Best UNESCO Heritage Site’

by Which? Magazine • We visit Museo Tamayo Rufino to view the extensive collection of pre- Columbian art once owned by the artist • From the jungles of Veracruz to the uplands of Oaxaca - superlative sites and some of the world’s finest museums

Special Access

mexico | oaxaca & beyond

We enjoy special access, with local archaeologists, to the ritual heart of the Aztec empire, the Templo Mayor.

with David Drew

The varied landscapes of Mexico were the homeland of many distinctive cultures. Journeying from Mexico City to the Oaxaca highlands, we explore the legacy not only of the Aztecs and Teotihuacan but many other fascinating peoples: the Totonacs, Toltecs, Cholulans, Zapotecs and Mixtecs. Sometimes allies, sometimes enemies, they all shared the same calendar systems and worshipped many of the same gods. Yet they produced an array of strikingly individual styles of architecture and of art, many examples of which we see displayed in some marvelous local museums. From the jungles of Veracruz to the uplands of Oaxaca - discover superlative sites and some of the world’s finest museums.

Itinerary Day One & Two We arrive in Mexico City and have time to explore.

Day Ten We travel north to Tula, capital of the fearsome Toltecs.

Day Three We journey to the vast metropolis of Teotihuacan.

Day Eleven Enjoy a boat trip on the canals of Xochimilco.

Day Four We visit El Tajin and the Costa Esmeralda.

Day Twelve We fly to Oaxaca and visit the Santo Domingo Church, decorated in sheets of gold leaf.

Day Five Venture through the Totonacs tombs at Quiahuitzlan.

Day Six We spend time in Xalapa and Puebla.

Day Seven Visit the ritual landscapes in Cholula, Mesoamerica.

Mon 15th Oct - Tue 30th Oct 16 Days

What’s Included

Oct: £4,495 (sgl supp £660; without flights £3,795) 74

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Eight We explore the spawling palace of Cacaxtla.

Day Nine We start the day viewing rock carvings at Chalcatzingo.

Day Thirteen We journey from Oaxaca to Mitla, a famous site with unique stone mosaic designs.

Day Fourteen We continue into the highlands to Monte Alban, the first truly urban centre in ancient Mexico.

Day Fifteen We visit Museo Tamayo Rufino to view the extensive collection of pre- Columbian art, once owned by the artist.

Day Sixteen Arrive back in the UK.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Travel by plane, 4x4 and motor-launch to sites deep in the jungles of the Maya, and up in the pine-clad highlands • Exciting archaeology lost cities, spectacular temples, and vibrant art • World-class museums hold a cornucopia of artefacts from every Mexican civilisation...

• We visit Mexico city’s artisan quarter to see Frida Kahlo’s house • Weavers’ wares at San Cristóbal

Special Access

mexico | the maya

We visit both the wonderful murals of Bonampak and sail by motor launch to the dramatic, still jungle-clad ruins of Yaxchilan on the river Usumacinta.

with David Drew

Of all Mesoamerican civilisations, the Maya have enjoyed the most enduring hold on the popular imagination. For a long time, the jungle-clad ruins remained intriguing, yet shrouded in mystery. Recent progress in deciphering Maya writing has unlocked many of their secrets, revealing a society as complex as their art and architecture previously suggested. This is one of Andante’s most adventurous trips, starting with the superb museums of Mexico City, then travelling via the uplands of Chiapas, into the jungle and the great river Usumacinta, before driving up the Yucatan peninsula. A thrilling journey through the rich and colourful landscapes of Mexico to see some of the greatest of the Maya cities.

Itinerary Day One Fly to Mexico City and transfer to our hotel.

Day Nine Drive north to the coastal city of Campeche.

Day Two We explore the remains of the Aztec Templo Mayor.

Day Ten Today, we visit the remote site Edzná. We continue to K’abah, famous for its ‘Palace of the Masks.’

Day Three View the National Museum of Anthropology.

Day Four Fly to the Chiapas Highlands and drive to San Cristóbal.

Day Five Visit the Mayan town of Chamula.

Day Six Drive east to Toniná, in the lush, fertile Ocosingo valley.

Mon 12th Nov - Tues 27th Nov 16 Days

Nov: £4,450 (sgl supp £625; without flights £3,750)

What’s Included Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Seven Spend the day in Palenque.

Day Eight See murals and stelae at Bonampak. Sail to the jungle site of Yaxchilán.

Day Eleven We reach Uxmal, famed for its elegant architecture.

Day Twelve Visit the new Mundo Maya Museum and the Franciscan Monastery at Izamal.

Day Thirteen Explore vast Chichén Itzá, the most famous of all Maya sites, and the walled city of Ek Balam.

Day Fourteen Cobá ruins, where intriguing figures of the “diving god” adorn the highest pyramid.

Day Fifteen We fly home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Drive into the mountains of the Chachapoyas region – ‘land of the Cloud People’ • See the imposing mud brick cities of the Moche and Chimu people and the fantastic recently discovered riches of their rulers’ tombs.

• Visit the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Lima • Explore the Ransom Room at Cajamarca

Special Access

peru | northern peru

Meet the ‘mummies of Leymebamba’, 200 wellpreserved Chachapoya mummies found at the Lake of the Condors.

with David Drew

Travel through spectacular mountain scenery, on the trail of some of the greatest of Andean cultures – the Moche, Chimu and the mysterious Chachapoya, ‘the people of the cloud forest’, warriors and traders who initially resisted Inca conquest and whose city of Kuelap towers magnificently above the Utcubamba Valley. A highlight of our tour is special access to the ‘mummies of Leymebamba’, found in tiny houses on a cliff face above the remote ‘Lake of the Condors’. Led by David Drew, this unique tour reveals the glories of Peru beyond Machu Picchu. See temples, pyramids and abandoned mud brick cities as we step into a lost world of Andean archaeology.

Itinerary Day One & Two We fly to Lima and spend our first full day exploring the city.

Day Nine Receive special access to the Leymebamba Museum.

Day Three

We fly to Trujillio to visit Huaca del Dragon.

Day Ten We explore the huge stone fortress at Kuelap.

Day Four We visit the multilayered Temples of the Sun and Moon.

Day Eleven We visit the mysterious sarcophagi of Karajia.

Day Five We travel north to explore the El Brujo complex, with temples and burial mounds of the Moche people.

Day Twelve We have a long but beautiful drive to Chiclayo.

Day Six We drive into the highlands to the ruins of Kuntur Wasi.

Mon 7th May - Wed 23rd May 17 Days

What’s Included

May: £5,495 (sgl supp £915; without flights £4,850) 76

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Seven This morning, we explore Cajamarca and have some free time

this afternoon.

Day Eight

We spend the day in the Chachapoyas region.

Day Thirteen We explore Sipan Museum.

Day Fourteen Travel to Ventarron and the vast pyramids at Tucume.

Day Fifteen Visit the 16th century chapel San Pedro Morrope.

Day Sixteen & Seventeen Spend time at Larco Herrera Museum in Lima before we make our journey home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • See vibrant Seville, Moorish Córdoba and Granada • Follow the route of the Via Augusta discovering little-known sites • Special access to the ancient city of Castulo, scene of a major Carhaginian victory against the Romans in 213 BC • Enjoy Alhambra Palace in all it’s glory and the stunning views it has to offer

spain | romans, visigoths & viziers with Doru Bogdan

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, superseded by the Romans who (true to form) built cities and criss-crossed the plains with 1000s of miles of roads.

Then the Visigoths, fresh from sacking the city of Rome, built churches until they too were vanquished by the Moors.

As Europe entered ‘the Dark Ages’ Al-Andalus flourished under its Moorish rulers who fashioned marvellous palaces, that still grace Córdoba and Granada. From prehistory to the Renaissance, our tour progresses through the many ages of this vibrant, beautiful and fascinating region.

Itinerary Day One We fly into Seville and travel to Itálica, birthplace of the Roman Emperor Trajan, and home to one of the largest amphitheatres in the Empire.

Day Two We enjoy special access to the Centro de Interpretación del Patrimonio Arqueológico. We have an afternoon exploring Seville, including the Alcázar Royal Palace, which was built in the mid 14th century.

Day Three After visiting Seville’s Archaeological Museum, we travel onto Córdoba via Roman Carmona, an ancient city and fortress famed for its extensive rock cut tombs.

Sun 1st Apr - Sun 8th Apr 8 Days

What’s Included

Apr: £2,295 (sgl supp £335; without flights £2,050)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

SpecialAccees

Enjoy a private visit to El Palacio de Lebriga, a sixteenth century palace known for its stunning collection of Roman mosaics.

Day Four This morning we travel to the ruined Moorish palace of Medina Azahara. Once back in Córdoba, we explore the Mezquita, Jewish Quarter and the Archaeological Museum.

Day Five We visit the archaeological park of Torreparedones, one of the most important sites in the region. After lunch, we enjoy special access to an after hours visit to Baena Archaeological Museum.

Day Six We start our day in the city of Jaén - considered to be the world capital of olive oil and see the museum which houses some wonderful Iberian sculptures. We have special access to Castulo, a ruinous and important Iberian city.

Day Seven

We begin our last full day at the magnificent Alhambra Palace, a Moorish and Renaissance fantasy set against the backdrop of Sierra Morena. We have free time this afternoon to explore Granada before our final dinner.

Day Eight We return home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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spain & portugal | roman lusitania with Prof. Tony King

Mérida, the capital of Roman Lusitania was founded in 25BC by the victorious army of the Emperor Augustus. During its imperial glory days, a plethora of grand Roman monuments were erected; many, including the Forum, triumphal arch and amphitheatre, dominate the town to this day.

Itinerary

Whilst the superb evidence of Romanisation here is the focus of our programme, it is enhanced by some spectacular prehistoric and Medieval sites along the way. Our journey takes us from the coast at Lisbon through beautiful countryside; we see prehistoric tombs, Roman towns, and the sites of the 19th century Peninsular War.

Day Two We travel by ferry to the site of Tróia, the largest fish-sauce production centre known from the Roman world.

We spend the afternoon exploring Évora, a former Roman town, and now a World Heritage Site. It still has Roman remains and was once a favourite haunt of Portuguese monarchs.

Day One We fly to Lisbon and drive to our Pousada hotel in Palmela.

Day Three We travel to São Cucufate, a Roman villa that was rebuilt on a grand scale with gardens and a small temple.

We glimpse the pre-Roman past at the major prehistoric site of Os Almendres, the largest group of megaliths in Portugal. Finally, we visit Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, the largest prehistoric burial chamber in the Iberian peninsula.

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Day Four Today, we drive to the border town of Badajoz, a town with a Moorish past, famously besieged by the British in 1812 during the Peninsular War. We visit the Alcazaba Museum, with its major collection of warrior stelae, we then continue to Mérida (Roman Emerita Augusta) named after the veterans who were settled here by Augustus.

Day Five We spend the day exploring Roman Mérida, a simple Spanish provincial town still dominated by the remnants of its Roman past. It was important through the Roman period and beyond. The remains are outstanding, notably the bridge over the River Guadiana, the large amphitheatre, a fine circus and the ‘Temple of Diana’.

The Archaeological Museum has fine displays of objects, including mosaics.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Discover glorious Roman monuments and amazing feats of engineering in Spain and Portugal • Enjoy a unique programme, taking in prehistoric and medieval sites from the coast at Lisbon into Spanish Extremadura

Special Access

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

Day Six We travel to Alcántara, home of one of Spain’s orders of crusading knights, and with a remarkable Roman bridge.

Continue to the old town of Cáceres, a perfectly preserved example of a Medieval town.

We return to Mérida.

Day Seven We briefly leave the Romans behind to visit the castle at Medellín. This afternoon we return to Mérida to view the Visigothic basilica of Sta. Eulalia, and the nearby Roman circus. We also marvel at the Roman dam of La Proserpina.

Day Eight We visit the huge arches of the aqueduct known as Los Milagros, which once bourght water from the dam to the city. We drive to Lisbon via the fortress town of Elvas, before our return home today.

What’s Included • Return Flights - London to Lisbon • Guide Lecturer • Tour Manager • Local Travel - Private a/c coach • All meals included (wine with dinner)

Guide Lecturer Professor Tony King Professor Tony King is a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Winchester and a specialist in Roman archaeology. He has excavated extensively in Britain and abroad. Tony is also an expert in animal bone analysis, and has analysed remains from a wide variety of sites across the Roman Empire, including assemblages from Pompeii.

• Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme & tips • Hotels - 1 night in Palmela, 2 in Évora, 4 in Merida • Field Notes

Dates Sun 15th Apr - Sun 22nd Apr Sun 2nd Sep - Sun 9th Sep Sun 7th Oct - Sun 14th Oct 8 Days All dates: £2,395 (sgl supp £395; without flights £2,175)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Journey through the scenic coastal landscape of Andalucía • Discover former trading settlement, Carteia • A boat trip of Cartagena Bay to understand the meaning of the harbour during Antiquity • Phoenician sarcophagi and other important artefacts at Cadiz Archaeological Museum • See another side of Ibiza, home to El Puig des Molins necropolis

spain | phoenicians in spain with Dr Fernando López Sánchez

Join us in travelling across Andalucía and the scenic coastal landscape of southern Spain and the western Mediterranean. Almost a synonym for ancient Spain as a whole, Andalucia has long been immortalised in art and music. The Phoenicians of Lebanon were one of the greatest trading powers in the ancient Mediterranean, and in Spain’s glittering metal mines they saw the potential for fabulous wealth. From Phoenician towns to Bronze Age Ibiza and sanctuaries in the Bay of Cádiz, discover the ancient cultures of southern Spain. We also explore ancient Cartagena, stronghold of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca — still considered one of the greatest military commanders in history.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Seville this evening.

Day Two This morning, we explore the Castles of San Sebastian and Santa Catalina in Cadiz. After lunch we pay a visit to the Archaeological Museum.

Day Three We visit El Castillo de Dona Blanca, and San Fernando, plus Baelo.

Day Four We head to Malaga and learn about the role that the PunicRoman city of Carteia played in the wars between Rome and Carthage.

Mon 21st May - Thu 31st May Mon 1st Oct - Thu 11th Oct 11 Days

What’s Included

May & Oct: £2,895 (sgl supp £470; without flights £2,650) 80

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

A special talk from the Museum Director at El Castillo de Doña Blanca.

Plus a specially arranged tour of El Puig des Molins by a local archaeologist.

Day Five A full day exploring Malaga. We will view the Phoenician collections of the Archaeological Museum as well as the Phoenician ruins underneath the Picasso Museum.

Day Six Discover the ancient Phoenician necropolis at Almunecar. In the Botanical Park El Majuelo we will tour the remains of the Roman fish salting factory.

Day Seven Explore La Bastida de Totana, the country’s most unique archaeological park. We continue to Los Cipreses.

Day Eight A full day exploring the archaeological remains of Cartagena, plus a boat trip round the Bay. Day Nine Guardamar del Segura museum and archaeological site. Ferry to Ibiza.

Day Ten Visit to El Puig des Molins and Sa Caleta.

Day Eleven Free time in Eivissa, fly home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

p u g ro al l sm

spain | rock art altamira with Dr Paul Bahn Decorated 15-35,000 years ago, the cave of Altamira still displays 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. We stay in historic towns in the hills of Northern Spain. A visit to an Ice Age cave really is a tremendous privilege; where else could you approach original masterpieces of such immense antiquity in situ?

Highlights Led by rock art expert Dr Paul Bahn, the UK’s foremost specialist on Ice Age art, we visit numerous caves and rock art sites. View the images precisely where they were created, standing or crouching exactly as the original artists did.

Special Access

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Visit sites that are difficult to gain access to, and view some of the world’s oldest artistic efforts alongside an expert in the field.

• A uniquely close encounter with our Stone Age antecedents • See the juxtaposition of the most ancient art and the most contemporary with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum

Mon 11th Jun - Mon 18th Jun 8 Days Jun: £2,395 (sgl supp £460; without flights £2,250)

spain & portugal | foz côa | rock art of portugal Guide Lecturer TBC - see our website for latest updates This is a rare opportunity to visit rock art sites away from the beaten tourist trail, across the Spanish/Portuguese border region, in unspoiled countryside. The engravings in the Portuguese Valley were only discovered twenty years ago when they were about to be flooded as part of a huge dam project. An international outcry saved the rock art for posterity.

It is not only the largest outdoor collection of Palaeolithic images, but also the only known place where rock art from the Upper Palaeolithic (c 24,000 BC) through to historical times is found together. There is an interesting comparison with the Spanish site at Siega Verde, just across the border.

Highlights • A gallery of rock art over thousands of years, spread over 17 km of river valleys far from the tourist trail • Free time to explore Porto, handsome city on the mouth of the Douro

Special Access

Enjoy special lectures by archaeologists, conservators and researchers, who will give insights into their work to protect local heritage.

Mon 21st May - Sun 27th May 7 Days May: £2,095 (sgl supp £160; without flights £1,915)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • Explore the town, castle and the semi-ruined Ishak Pasha Palace at Doğubeyazit, which offers incredible views of the Mount Ararat Rock relief.

• Walk through the ruined Armenian city of Ani and see the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, located in the province of Kars • View the ancient fortifications in the old town of Sinop, including the Temple of Serapis

Special Access

north-east turkey

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

with Terry Richardson

Byzantine treasures of the Black Sea coast are studded around this lush, mountainous region. The vast dome of Hagia Sophia dominates the landscape, whilst the imposing Sumela monastery, hewn out of the cliffside, keeps eternal watch over the Altindere Valley.

Itinerary

Step back in time at a wealth of museums dedicated to preserving the stories of Anatolian archaeology and culture.

Temples, churches, castles and palaces abound on this 11 day tour. Trabzon (formerly known as Trebizond) traces the path of the ancient Silk Road. One of our last views of Turkey is a glimpse of snow-capped Mount Ararat - a fitting farewell.

Day Two Today we start at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. The vast collections cover all periods of Anatolia rom the early Palaeolithic up to Classical times.

Day One We arrive in Ankara and transfer to our hotel.

Day Three We spend the day in Amasya, exploring the old town and the local museum, where we view the rock-carved Tomb of the Kings of Pontus.

Wed 3rd Oct - Sat 13th Oct 11 Days

What’s Included

Oct: £3,250 (sgl supp £515; without flights £2,995) 82

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Four This morning we drive up to the coast of Sinop. Upon arrival, we visit the ancient remains of the city, including the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Serapis.

Day Five We make our way to Trabzon and venture through the city this afternoon before dinner.

Day Six We visit the citadel of Trabzon including the Hagia Sofia and the Sumela Monastery.

Day Seven We start our day travelling to Erzurum. Here we discover the Archaeological Museum and Cifte Minareli Medrese.

Day Eight We drive to Kars. As we tour the city on foot we witness the great Castle of Kars and churches the city has to offer.

Day Nine We explore the ruined Medieval Armenian city of Ani this morning before having the afternoon to relax.

Day Ten On our last full day, we travel to Doğubeyazit. We view Mount Ararat and the semi-ruined Ishak Pasha Palace.

Day Eleven We fly home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Gaze upon the mighty walls of Troy, as everyone has desired to do from Achilles, to Alexander the Great, Constantine the Great and Schliemann.

• Explore great and famous Classical cities, as well as evocative but lesser-known ruins • Beautiful landscapes of the Aegean Coast: blue sea, rugged hills and traditional villages to be found away from the resorts

turkey | the aegean coast of turkey with Terry Richardson

The ruined cities of Turkey’s Aegean coast 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, to the World Heritage Site of Hierapolis.

Roman and Greek remains abound, in beautiful countryside, amid the ruins of cavernous temples, and in superb museums.

The star of our tour is special access to the Roman terraced houses of Ephesus, where painted walls and mosaics have been beautifully restored. All this, in a landscape that offers rugged hills, sparkling glassy ocean, and traditional villages, on a journey that takes us from city to sea, makes for an unforgettable getaway.

Itinerary Day One We arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.

Day Two We travel to Çanakkale and continue to the ancient site of Troy.

Day Three This morning we take a scenic drive into the hills to the site of Assos, one of the most beautifully situated ancient sites in the world. We explore the well-preserved Doric Temple of Athena. We have a free afternoon.

Day Four We explore the ruins of Alexandra Troas. The ancient city is home to an extensive array of Roman remains.

Sat 15th Sep - Tue 25th Sep 11 Days

What’s Included

Sep: £2,650 (sgl supp £575; without flights £2,350)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

Receive a talk from the curator or the Roman terraced houses of Ephesus, with painted walls and mosaics now beautifully restored.

Day Five We spend the day at the Greek city of Pergamon. We view the acropolis, temple, altar of Zeus and the Pergamon museum.

Day Six Today, we venture to the Karabel rock relief, then drive inland to Sardis to view the Temple of Artemis.

Day Seven We wander through the extensive tombs at Hierapolis before enjoying some free time this afternoon.

Day Eight We drive east up the valley of the Maeander river, through some magnificent scenery to the site of Aphrodisias.

Day Nine We spend the morning at the magical site of Priene before ending the day at Miletus.

Day Ten Our final full day is dedicated to Ephesus. We explore the city and museum which houses treasures from the site.

Day Eleven We fly home today.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Highlights • We travel coast to coast along Hadrian’s ambitious frontier, on foot - as the Romans would have done • We venture through the turrets and forts which began in AD 122 • To the south, we explore the lands of the Pax Romana. To the north, we discover the subdued Iron Age tribes • Walking the wall in the company of a specialist in Roman Military archaeology

uk | walking hadrian’s wall with Mark Corney

The Hadrian’s Wall footpath crosses wild and beautiful terrain, its route covering the shortest distance coast to coast across the country, following Hadrian’s frontier. This is a real walking holiday (up to 13 miles per day) – a wonderful way to chart the entire length of the frontier, on foot – as the Romans would have done. Pass forts, mile castles and some fine museums, as we walk west to west. We start along the shore of the Solway Firth and end at the excavated fort and reconstructed bath-house at Segedunum. Crossing the remote Northumbrian and Cumbrian fells, one can easily imagine the Roman soldiers, far from Syria or Spain, as they patrolled the farthest flung corner of the Empire.

Itinerary Day One After checking into our hotel we receive an evening lecture.

Day Two Our walk begins at Bownesson-Solway with views across the border to Scotland. This afternoon we go by coach to the Tullie House Museum Carlisle, which has been open since 1893.

Day Three Today we follow the line of the wall from Crosby-onEden, to fort and museum at Birdoswald. The fort is one of the best preserved along the wall.

Mon 25th Jun - Tue 3rd Jul 9 Days

What’s Included

Jun: £1,995 (sgl supp £320; without flights £1,995) 84

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Special Access

We are still putting the finishing touches to our 2018 tour. Please visit our website for a full itinerary and the latest tour updates.

Day Four Coach to Birdoswald, walk to Carvoran, then on to Steel Rigg, where you will have the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife.

Day Five We head to the fort of Vindolanda. Continue by

coach to Steel Rigg and walk along the crags to Housesteads Fort and Carrawburgh this afternoon.

Day Six We journey to the fort and mithraeum at Carrawburgh, on to Chesters on the bank of the North Tyne river.

Day Seven We continue our walk to Brunton turret, across Dere Street and then on to Harlow Hill.

Day Eight Onto Heddon-on-the-Wall.

We view surviving wall stretch around Denton. Continue to the temple of Antenociticus in Benwell.

Day Nine Walk to the remains of the fort at Newcastle. By metro to the Great North Museum, and then to Wallsend site and museum. We finish at South Shields.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • Visit the most northerly and remote outposts of the British Isles, with an extraordinarily complex Neolithic culture and outstanding wildlife • Explore the World Heritage sites of Skara Brae, Maes Howe and the Ring of Brodgar - uniquely rich and evocative ancient places • We wander through Orkney’s capital, Kirkwall, visiting both the Bishops Palace & St Magnus Cathedral

Special Access

uk | orkney & shetland

We have special access to excavations at the Ness of Brodgar - where archaeologists are uncovering a Neolithic settlement.

with Dr Val Turner

The islands beyond the northernmost tip of Scotland glory in some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes in the world. For more than five thousand years they have been home to farmers and fishermen, who left monuments so impressive that this has been called an archaeologists’ paradise. During the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, the people of Orkney and Shetland were among the first in Britain to begin building megalithic chamber tombs and later henge monuments. The islands are also blessed with an extraordinary natural beauty.

Wild flowers bloom throughout the summer, covering the green cliffs with colour and the exquisite scent of heather.

Itinerary Day One We meet in Kirkwall, Orkney.

Day Two Today, we explore the the Bishop’s Palace and St Magnus Cathedral.

Day Three We visit the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar at Maes Howe.

Day Four Explore Midhowe chambered tomb on the Island of Rousay.

See the Iron Age structure of Midhowe Broch.

Sat 14th Jul - Tue 24th Jul Mon 8th Oct - Thu 18th Oct 11 Days

What’s Included

Jul & Oct: £2,795 (sgl supp £465; without flights £2,795)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Five We begin our day at the Neolithic village Skara Brae, which was occupied for over 600 years. After lunch we visit Gurness Broch.

Day Six

We visit the Tomb of the Eagles at Isbister, a stalled cairn built before 3,000 BC and view Burnt Mound at Liddle.

Day Seven Upon arrival in Lerwick, we sail to Mousa Broch, the tallest Iron Age tower structure surviving in Scotland.

Day Eight We visit Stanydale Temple and the Scord of Brouster.

Continue to Shetland Museum and Clickhimin Broch.

Day Nine On to Scatness, an extensive settlement site. See the amazing site of Jarlshof, built

by Neolithic farmers. Continue to Scalloway Museum and Castle.

Day Ten At Unst, we view Viking houses and the replica Viking ship at Brookpoint. We spend the afternoon at Skaw, and visit the Castle at Muness.

Day Eleven We have time for further exploring before we end our tour in Lerwick.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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uk | the story of wessex with Mark Corney The chalk downs of the ancient kingdom of Wessex have been a focus for monumental building and funerary ritual over more than five millennia. Henges, burial mounds of all shapes and sizes, causewayed camps, early field systems and ‘cursus’ monuments are scattered everywhere, forming a landscape full of clues and interest. This was the very first Andante Tour, and our experts have been introducing people to these monuments Highlights for several decades now. This • Enjoy a private visit very privileged tour includes inside the stones at private access inside the Stonehenge in the early stones at Stonehenge in the morning early morning. Extraordinary access to Britain’s best-known • Receive special access to archaeological site, whose Devizes Museum, with monumental bluestones have a guided tour by the graced the landscape for Museum director thousands of years.

Special Access

We have special access to Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes, which houses collections of gold work from around Stonehenge.

Fri 7th Sep - Sun 9th Sep 3 Days Sep: £695 (sgl supp £0; without flights £695)

CAN’T WAIT FOR 2018?

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2017 There are still spaces available on a number of our 2017 departures, so why wait a year to discover more of the ancient world when you could join one of our most popular tours?

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania – Could anywhere in the world offer us a deeper insight into Roman life than these dramatic seaside towns?

Classical Sicily – From columns to cathedrals, explore honey-coloured Greek temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics...

Crete & Santorini – Elegant sites, beautiful wildflowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean Croatia | Dalmatia & Dubrovnik – Explore spectacular archaeology against the backdrop of the breathtakingly beautiful Adriatic.

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Book your place now! Call 01722 713800, email tours@andantetravels.com, or visit us online at www.andantetravels.com

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

Highlights • We visit no fewer than three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Samarkand, Shahrisabz, and Bukhara • Explore the winding streets of the great Silk Road cities, dazzling blue-tiled domes, mosques, and centres of learning • Travel the ancient trade routes, where caravans of silk, spice, and textiles once crossed the landscape

Special Access

uzbekistan | the silk road

We have a chance to visit Paykend – the predecessor of Bukhara – a vast abandoned city, normally difficult to access.

with Paul Wordsworth

Come along to hear the footsteps of history as we explore the sites and cities of the Silk Road, which once ran all the way from China to Europe, with Uzbekistan right at its heart. The steppes, deserts, mountains and gleaming blue-tiled cities tell a story of trade and conquest. Join us in 2018 on the road to Khiva, Bukhara and fabulous Samarkand; cities built to dazzle the travellers who have passed by for thousands of years. For centuries — if not millennia — this is where not only goods, but knowledge, ideas, and cultures crossed from East to West.

We journey in the footsteps of those ancient caravans, from grassy plain to desert voyaging from city to city, crossing Uzbekistan in an unforgettable journey.

Itinerary Day One & Two We fly over night and spend our first full day in Tashkent, with an afternoon visit to the History Museum.

Day Three We visit Shahrukhiyah, a city hidden in a verdant mound.

Day Four We visit Gyaur Kala, in Nukus; and medieval Mizdakhkan.

Day Five We visit Savitsky Museum, which contains one of the most suprising collections in Central Asia. We travel onto Khiva and visit Chilpik Dakhma.

Fri 6th Apr - Fri 20th Apr 15 Days

What’s Included

Apr: £3,595 (sgl supp £395; without flights £2,995)

Flights, hotels, expert guide lecturer, tour manager, all meals, local transport, site entry and tips.

Day Six We visit the fortresses at Ayaz Kala; and the abandoned city of Toprak Kala.

Day Seven We spend a day in the Arabian Nights city of Khiva, full of narrow alleys, graceful minarets and markets.

Day Eight We travel across the Karakum desert to Bukhara.

Day Nine We spend a whole day in the evocative city of Bukhara.

Day Ten Special access to excavations at the ruined city of Paykent.

Day Eleven We travel to Samarkand, stopping at Ribat-i Malik.

Day Twelve We enjoy a full day in fabulous Samarkand.

Day Thirteen We travel to Shahrisabz, to see the stupendous White Palace.

Day Fourteen We spend a final day exploring central Samarkand.

Day Fifteen We visit the Timur museum, before our flights home.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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expert Guide Lecturers Archaeologists, writers, broadcasters and historians, a constellation of expert guides able to bring the past to life.

We are extremely proud of our Guide Lecturers, who are amongst the most exciting and respected archaeologists and academics in Britain today. No other travel firm can boast a more highly qualified or specialised team. Our Guide Lecturers accompany you from morning until night (and possibly even for a drink in the bar). As well as being your academic host, whose role it is to enlighten and inspire you, they are closely involved in the creation of new tours from the beginning.

They do all of this with a light touch and a ready sense of humour.

“O

ur guide was a joy to be with and to learn from.

His knowledge of the material was encyclopaedic... knows his stuff and considerate of listeners.”

e is a very interesting and well-spoken person. I enjoyed his company. A delightful and warm person and wonderful presence.”

dr sophie thérèse ambler

brian ayers

craig alexander

dr paul bahn

is a historian of the Middle Ages. She has taught on the Crusades and British Medieval History at King’s College, London and the University of East Anglia.

Craig studied at Cambridge following his boyhood passion for archaeology. He’s helped build a 3D rock art scanner and has two active research programmes in Italy.

dr denise allen

is an eminent specialist in Roman glass, with over 100 publications related to her name. She has excavated all over the UK, including Stonehenge, and overseas.

She began her archaeological career as a full-time digger before going on to study archaeology at Cardiff. After a year spent plotting air photographs in the Buckinghamshire County Museum, she returned to Cardiff to complete her PhD. She led our first tours to Tunisia and Sicily.

“O

ur guide was extremely knowledgeable, passionate and always happy to help.” Guest in 2016

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“H

is an archaeologist and Honorary Lecturer at the University of East Anglia. He specialises in Viking towns on the North Sea and has excavated widely.

is a global expert in prehistoric rock art and one of Andante Travels’ best-known archaeologists. He has authored many books and led the team which discovered the UK’s only confirmed example of Palaeolithic cave art at Creswell Crags. Dr. Bahn leads tours exploring the enigmas of Easter Island in Chile. He also makes Ice Age cave art popular and accessible in our tours across France and Spain, as well as the open air rock shelters in Portugal.

dr tertia barnett

is an Honorary Fellow at Edinburgh University and specialist in rock art. She has immense passion for her subject and has worked in Europe, Africa and the UK.

ilona bausch

is a Lecturer in East Asian archaeology at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands.

She has lived and worked in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

“S

he was everything we could have hoped for. Great knowledge. MADE THE TOUR.”

dr paul croft

is an expert in Cypriot prehistory who lives and works on the island, managing the Lemba Archaeological Centre. He has many contacts with local archaeologists.

jeremy bennett

francois desset

diana blumberg

dr sophy downes

is a British archaeologist. He is currently studying for his PhD examining Maltese agricultural terraces at Cambridge University.

is an archaeological scientist specialising in the analysis of materials. She has worked on field schools in Pompeii and Portus and has excavated in the UK.

doru bogdan

is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Alba Iulia, in Romania. He specialises in Roman archaeology; and has supervised excavations at a number of European sites including Carnuntum (Austria), Pompeii (Italy), Catalhöyük (Turkey) and Birdoswald (UK). He has also directed numerous archaeological excavations and research projects in Transylvania and the Lower Danube and Black Sea area of Dobrudja, in Bulgaria.

dr mehreen chida-razvi

is a highly qualified specialist in the history of Islamic art and material culture.

She is also an editor of the International Journal of Islamic Architecture.

is a French archaeologist specialising in Near Eastern Archaeology. He obtained his PhD from the Sorbonne. He speaks fluent Persian and English.

is an archaeologist whose research interests combine two worlds, in particular the interaction of the classical and Hellenic west and Persian east.

david drew

is a writer, archaeologist and broadcaster specialising in ancient Latin America.

He studied at Oxford and UCL and has led numerous tours to Mexico and Peru, where he excavated for many years. He has made several BBC documentaries and is the author of ‘The Lost Chronicles of the Maya Kings’. More recently he has been involved with a British NGO, the Cusichaca Trust, working with Andean communities to improve their agriculture.

dr neil faulkner

is a Research Fellow at Bristol University.

A specialist in military history and Roman archaeology, he is the author of works including Rome - Empire of the Eagles.

prof john collis

rosetta ferrari

John Collis PhD FSA MIFA is a leading expert on the European Iron Age, who has excavated widely and published major books on the period.

lived in Italy for many years and speaks Italian. She has a great interest in food and culture and is a member of the exclusive Italian Society of Cheese Tasters.

ian colvin

lucia gahlin

is a specialist in Late Roman and Byzantine history of the Caucasus regions.

He trained at Oxford, and is now a researcher at Cambridge University.

lectures in Egyptology for University College London, Bristol and Exeter. She has also worked at the archaeological site of Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt.

mark corney

is an Honorary Research Fellow at Bristol University. He was also a frequent contributor to Channel 4’s popular series ‘Time Team’.

“T

en out of ten! Our guide lecturer was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.”

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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expert Guide Lecturers “A

delightful person who arranged some first class meals for us at unusual places. We found her very interesting.”

oliver gilkes

is one of the UK’s foremost experts on Albanian archaeology. He has been a field and museum archaeologist in the UK, Italy, Albania and Libya. Amongst other works, he is the author of ‘Albania: an archaeological guide’. He has worked at the world Heritage Site of Butrint and the evocative medieval city of Gijrokastra. A true Renaissance man, he also worked at the British School at Rome for many years.

He is still involved in projects in Albania.

dr ffiona gilmore-eaves

read archaeology at Cambridge, before undertaking her PhD at Nottingham. She has worked in life-long learning and adult education, especially for the WEA.

dr christina hatzimichael whitley

is a tutor in Greek Bronze Age Archaeology at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. She specialises in Minoan Crete, and is co-director of the Praisos Excavation Project in Crete.

She is Greek, but lives with her family in Cardiff, so she speaks English very fluently. Her interests and research lie in the adminstration in prehistoric societies, literacy, state formation and gender.

nicholas jackson

is an archaeologist with several strings to his bow: he is a specialist in both the history of Berlin (where he lives) and the archaeology of the Middle East. He specialises in the Bronze Age and has supervised excavations in Jordan, Syria and Turkey. The 2018 Andante Travels tours he is leading include Jordan: Petra and the Desert Fortresses. He also runs two excursions in Germany - ‘Hidden Berlin’ as well as ‘A Short Break in Berlin.’

dr gai jorayev

is a researcher at the Archaeological Institute, UCL. He is Deputy Director of the Ancient Merv Project, investigating every aspect of Merv’s Silk Road history.

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prof. tony king

lectures in archaeology at the University of Winchester, specialising in Roman archaeology, with a special emphasis on the analysis of animal remains. This has enabled him to glean and publish unique insights into diet in the Roman world.

He has excavated extensively in Britain (Hayling Island and Meonstoke). He has also analysed remains from assemblages in Pompeii as well as Leptis Magna (Libya) and Volubilis (Morocco).

dr eireann marshall

was raised in a 15th century villa in Vicenza, so was born to history! She lectures and researches in Classical Civilisation in Italy and North Africa.

dr fernando lÓpez sÁnchez

studied history at the University of Zaragoza. He conducted post-doctoral research in Oxford University as member of Wolfson College.

malcolm mcneill

is a lecturer for SOAS, University of London. He has also worked at the British Museum and lectured for Asia House, Christies, and the V&A.

dr sandy macgillivray

is a specialist in Minoan Crete. He worked at Knossos for over 20 years and now lives just outside Athens. He has excavated at Sparta, Paros, Kythno as well as on Crete. He co-directed excavations at Palaikastro and is particularly interested in the relationship between Greece, the Cyclandes and Crete and the cultures of Turkey and the Levant. He is the author of ‘Minotaur, Sir Arthur Evans and the Archaeology of the Minoan Myth’.

dr kelli ann malone

is an archaeologist and lecturer in Irish History and Archaeology. She has over 20 years experience in the heritage and tourism industry.

“O

pen minded, sociable, humble & humourous. All of which describe our GL perfectly.” Guest in 2016

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

“W

e have travelled with Andante on numerous occasions and each time we have had an exquisite lecturer. They are great within the field and make us feel welcome.” Guest in 2016

dr oren margolis

is a historian of the Italian Renaissance.

Oren’s research has taken him to a number of Italian cities, including Florence, Venice, Naples, and Rome.

dr katya melamed

works at the Bulgarian National Institute of Archaeology and has directed many excavations, especially at Bulgaria’s many fascinating ‘lost’ medieval churches.

dr alex metcalfe

is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at Lancaster university, where his research spans the wider Mediterranean basin and the Middle East.

dr iain morley

is a lecturer at the University of Oxford, where he teaches human evolution and Paleolithic archaeology. He has excavated in Britain, Libya and much of Europe.

tony o’connor

has excavated widely in Britain, Italy and Africa, and is now a museum archaeologist and expert at coin analysis.

He is one of our most popular guides for Pompeii and Tunisia, having led his first tours for Andante Travels 10 years ago, to Libya, Egypt and Provence. He specialises in the Roman Empire and is passionate about Roman North Africa. He is also deeply interested in the study of Roman coinage, and in numismatics as a whole.

carolyn perry

is an archaeologist with extensive experience in the Mediterranean. She is currently a lecturer in Greek History and Mythology at the University of London.

alex pryor

is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southampton. He completed his PhD in Palaeolithic archaeology at the University of Cambridge.

DR TOM RASMUSSEN

has conducted fieldwork in Italy and France, and travelled much of the Mediterranean. He completed his PhD at Cambridge University.

terry richardson

has a background in Ancient History and Classical Civilisation and lived in Turkey.

He is the author of the Rough Guides to Turkey and Istanbul.

dr rita roussos

taught Archaeology and Art History at the American University of Athens. She has worked on many archaeological projects in her native Greece, including Isthmia, Kato Lossous and Mantinea. Her research interests include the place of women in Ancient Greece and Rome as well as fourth century sculpture from Greece. She leads four tours for Andante Travels across the Peloponnese and the Cyclades.

john shepherd

is an archaeologist who has excavated all over Europe and the UK. He was a curator at the Museum of London for many years, setting up their Roman galleries. Now Director of Archaeology for Andante Travels, he is a specialist in the study of ancient glass. He published Professor W F Grimes’s post war excavations on the London Temple of Mithras and the Cripplegate Roman Fort.

dr val turner

has been Shetland’s Regional Archaeologist since the post was created in 1986. She has managed large-scale excavation projects all across Scotland.

dr nicholas vella

is Head of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta. He is the author of many works and papers on the archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean.

tony wilmott

is a Senior Archaeologist with English Heritage. He has directed numerous excavations and was Current Archaeology Archaeologist of the Year in 2012. He specialises in the Roman and medieval periods, with interests in frontiers and military architecture. He has travelled widely across Syria and the Middle East.

He is also one of the leading authorities on Hadrian’s Wall and the amphitheatres of Roman Britain.

paul wordsworth

is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Oriental Studies. His research interests include early Islamic and landscape archaeology.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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2018 calendar

new

relaxed breaks

joint tours

february Guatemala, Belize & Honduras Tues 13th - Mon 26th with David Drew

Guatemala

45

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 9th - Mon 16th with Doru Bogdan

Italy

52

Land of the Pharaohs Fri 23rd - Mon 5th Mar with Lucia Gahlin

Egypt

23

Thessaloniki Tue 10th - Sun 15th with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley

Greece

34

North Cyprus | Road to Salamis Thu 12th - Thu 19th with Terry Richardson

Cyprus

21

China Thu 12th - Sat 28th with Malcolm McNeill

China

19

march Chile & Easter Island Mon 12th - Wed 28th with Dr Paul Bahn

Chile

18

Relaxed Split Sat 14th - Sat 21st with John Shepherd

Croatia

20

Ancient Wonders of Sicily Tue 20th - Mon 26th with Oliver Gilkes

Italy

56

Spain & Portugal | Roman Lusitania Sun 15th - Sun 22nd with Prof. Tony King

Spain & Portugal

78

Côte d’Azur | The Via Julia Augusta Sat 24th - Fri 30th with John Shepherd

France

25

Malta & Gozo Mon 16th - Sun 22nd with Dr Nick Vella

Malta

73

Jordan | Petra & the Desert Fortresses Tue 27th - Thu 5th Apr with Nick Jackson

Jordan

71

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 16th - Mon 23rd with Dr Eireann Marshall

Italy

52

Classical Sicily Thu 29th - Sun 8th Apr with Oliver Gilkes

Italy

54

Crete & Santorini Tue 17th - Tue 24th with Dr Sandy MacGillivray

Greece

36

The Peloponnese Tue 17th - Fri 27th with Dr Rita Roussos

Greece

35

Cyprus | The South Thu 19th - Wed 25th with Dr Paul Croft

Cyprus

21

april Romans, Visigoths & Viziers Sun 1st - Sun 8th with Doru Bogdan

Spain

77

Land of the Eagles Thu 19th - Fri 27th with Oliver Gilkes

Albania

14

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 2nd - Mon 9th Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

52

Classical Sicily Thu 19th - Sun 29th with Dr Denise Allen

Italy

54

Meet the Romans Mon 2nd - Tue 10th with John Shepherd

Italy

57

Hidden Rome Mon 23rd - Sat 28th with Dr Eireann Marshall

Italy

59

Iran | Great Kings, Shahs & Gardens Thu 5th - Fri 20th with Francois Desset

Iran

46

Dordogne | Cave Art Tue 24th - Mon 30th with Dr Paul Bahn

France

26

Uzbekistan | The Silk Road Fri 6th - Fri 20th with Paul Wordsworth

Uzbekistan 87

Israel & Palestine Tue 24th - Fri 4th May Guide Lecturer TBC

Israel

49

Japan Fri 6th - Sat 21st with Ilona Bausch

Japan

70

Ancient Macedonia & Epirus Sat 28th - Mon 7th May with Oliver Gilkes

Greece

38

The Etruscans Sun 8th - Sun 15th with Oliver Gilkes

Italy

58

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 30th - Mon 7th May with Dr Neil Faulkner

Italy

52

92

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

may Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 7th - Mon 14th with Doru Bogdan

Italy

52

Roman Germany Sun 27th - Tue 5th Jun with Tony Wilmott

Germany

30

Northern Peru Mon 7th - Wed 23rd with David Drew

Peru

76

Corfu & Islands by Gulet Thu 31st - Thu 7th July Guide Lecturer TBC

Greece

42

Crete & Santorini Tue 8th - Tue 15th with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley

Greece

36

Classical Sicily Thu 10th - Sun 20th with Dr Eireann Marshall

Italy

54

Kazakhstan Thu 10th - Fri 25th with Dr Gai Jorayev

Kazakhstan

72

The Ice Man & his World Sat 2nd - Thu 7th with Craig Alexander

Italy

61

The Cyclades by Gulet Fri 11th - Mon 21st Guide Lecturer TBC

Greece

40

Hidden Berlin Mon 4th - Sat 9th with Nick Jackson

Germany

33

Relaxed Provence Mon 14th - Sun 20th with Dr Denise Allen

France

27

Georgia Mon 4th - Tue 12th with Ian Colvin

Georgia

30

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 14th - Mon 21st with Doru Bogdan

Italy

52

The Cyclades by Gulet Sat 9th - Tue 19th Guide Lecturer TBC

Greece

40

The Celts in Germany & Luxembourg Mon 14th - Mon 21st with Prof. John Collis

Germany & Luxembourg

31

Rock Art of Altamira Mon 11th - Mon 18th with Dr Paul Bahn

Spain

81

Campania beyond Pompeii Tue 15th - Mon 21st with John Shepherd

Italy

60

Romans on the Rhône & Saône Tue 12th - Tue 19th with Prof. Tony King

France

28

Sardinia Tue 15th - Wed 23rd with Dr Tertia Barnett

Italy

61

Walking the Roman Limes Sun 17th - Wed 27th with Tony Wilmott

Germany

32

Meet the Greeks Wed 16th - Wed 23rd with Dr Rita Roussos

Greece

39

Prehistoric Ireland Sun 24th - Sun 1st Jul with Dr Kelli Ann Malone

Ireland

48

Classical Sicily Thu 17th - Sun 27th with Oliver Gilkes

Italy

54

Walking Hadrian’s Wall Mon 25th - Tue 3rd Jul with Mark Corney

UK

84

Foz Côa | Rock Art of Portugal Mon 21st - Sun 27th Guide Lecturer TBC

Portugal

81

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 21st - Mon 28th with Dr Eireann Marshall

Italy

52

Phoenicians in Spain Mon 21st - Thu 31st with Dr Fernando López Sánchez

Spain

80

Vikings in the North Fri 6th - Tue 17th with Brian Ayers

Denmark & Sweden

22

Dalmatia & Dubrovnik Wed 23rd - Wed 30th with Dr Ffiona Gilmore-Eaves

Croatia

20

Orkney & Shetland Sat 14th - Tue 24th with Dr Val Turner

UK

85

Corfu & Islands by Gulet Wed 23rd - Wed 30th Guide Lecturer TBC

Greece

42

june

july

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august Prehistoric Ireland Sun 5th - Sun 12th with Dr Kelli Ann Malone

Ireland

48

Rome with the Sistine Chapel Mon 17th - Sat 22nd with Oliver Gilkes

Italy

63

Short Break in Berlin Thu 23rd - Mon 27th with Nick Jackson

Germany

34

Relaxed Provence Mon 17th - Sun 23rd with Prof. Tony King

France

27

Prehistoric Czech Republic Thu 30th - Thu 6th Sep with Alex Pryor

Czech Republic

22

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 17th - Mon 24th with Dr Neil Faulkner

Italy

52

Dordogne | Cave Art Tue 18th - Mon 24th with Dr Iain Morley

France

26

Campania Beyond Pompeii Tue 18th - Mon 24th with John Shepherd

Italy

60

september Spain & Portugal | Roman Lusitania Sun 2nd - Sun 9th with Prof. Tony King

Spain & Portugal

78

Classical Sicily Thu 20th - Sun 30th Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

54

Relaxed Tuscany Mon 3rd - Sat 8th with Dr Oren Margolis

Italy

62

Pompeii & Amalfi | Wine & Archaeology Sat 22nd - Sat 29th with Diana Blumberg

Italy

64

Roman Capri Mon 3rd - Sun 9th with John Shepherd

Italy

63

Basilicata & Calabria Sat 22nd - Sun 30th with Dr Sophy Downes

Italy

66

Languedoc | Cathars & Crusaders Mon 3rd - Mon 10th with Dr Sophie Ambler

France

29

The Etruscans Sun 23rd - Sun 30th Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

58

The Story of Wessex Fri 7th - Sun 9th with Mark Corney

UK

86

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 24th - Mon 1st Oct Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

52

Hallstatt to La Tène Sun 9th - Sun 16th with Prof. John Collis

Germany & Austria

33

The Conquest of Sicily Mon 24th - Mon 1st Oct with Dr Alex Metcalfe

Italy

65

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 10th - Mon 17th with Oliver Gilkes

Italy

52

Crete & Santorini Tue 25th - Tue 2nd Oct with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley

Greece

36

Ancient Wonders of Sicily Tue 11th - Mon 17th with Dr Denise Allen

Italy

56

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Tue 25th Oct - Tue 2nd Oct with Tony Wilmott

Italy

52

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Tue 11th - Tue 18th with John Shepherd

Italy

52

Albania, Montenegro & Kosovo Thu 27th - Fri 5th Oct with Oliver Gilkes

Albania, Montenegro & Kosovo

15

Crete & Santorini Tue 11th - Tue 18th with Dr Sandy MacGillivray

Greece

36

Classical Sicily Thu 27th - Sun 7th Oct with John Shepherd

Italy

54

The Peloponnese Tue 11th - Fri 21st with Dr Rita Roussos

Greece

35

Queens & Nobles Thu 27th - Mon 8th Oct with Lucia Gahlin

Egypt

24

The Aegean Coast of Turkey Sat 15th - Tue 25th with Terry Richardson

Turkey

83

Western Sicily | Food & Archaeology Sun 30th - Sun 7th Oct with Rosetta Ferrari & Tony O’Connor

Italy

66

Roman Germany Sun 16th - Tue 25th with Tony Wilmott

Germany

30

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Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

october Malta & Gozo Mon 1st - Sun 7th Oct with Jeremy Bennett

Malta

73

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 15th - Mon 22nd with Dr Eireann Marshall

Italy

52

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 1st - Mon 8th with Dr Denise Allen

Italy

52

Mexico | Oaxaca & Beyond Mon 15th - Tue 30th with David Drew

Mexico

74

Phoenicians in Spain Mon 1st - Thu 11th with Dr Fernando López Sánchez

Spain

80

Pyrenees Rock Art Tue 16th - Sun 21st with Dr Paul Bahn

France

28

Relaxed Lake Garda Tue 2nd - Mon 8th with Tony O’Connor

Italy

67

Iran | Great Kings, Shahs & Gardens Thu 18th - Fri 2nd Nov with Carolyn Perry

Iran

46

North-East Turkey Wed 3rd - Sat 13th with Terry Richardson

Turkey

82

Ravenna & Aquileia Mon 22nd - Mon 29th with Prof. Tony King

Italy

68

Classical Sicily Thu 4th - Sun 14th Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

54

Israel & Palestine Tue 30th - Fri 9th Nov Guide Lecturer TBC

Israel

49

Thracians & Churches Sat 6th - Tue 16th with Dr Katya Melamed

Bulgaria

16

Spain & Portugal | Roman Lusitania Sun 7th - Sun 14th Guide Lecturer TBC

Spain & Portugal

78

Land of the Eagles Fri 7th - Mon 15th with Oliver Gilkes

Albania

14

Cambodia & Vietnam Tue 6th - Sun 18th Guide Lecturer TBC

Cambodia & Vietnam

17

Hidden Rome Mon 8th - Sat 13th with Dr Eireann Marshall

Italy

59

North-Western Iran Thu 8th - Mon 19th with Dr Mehreen Chida-Razvi

Iran

47

Relaxed Siracusa Mon 8th - Sat 13th with Tony O’Connor

Italy

67

Japan Fri 9th - Sat 24th with Ilona Bausch

Japan

70

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Mon 8th - Mon 15th Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

52

Mexico | The Maya Mon 12th - Tue 27th with David Drew

Mexico

75

Orkney & Shetland Mon 8th - Thu 18th Guide Lecturer TBC

UK

85

Chile & Easter Island Mon 12th - Wed 28th with Dr Paul Bahn

Chile

18

Crete & Santorini Tue 9th - Tue 16th Guide Lecturer TBC

Greece

36

Land of the Pharaohs Fri 23rd - Mon 3rd Dec with Lucia Gahlin

Egypt

23

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Campania Tue 9th - Tue 16th Guide Lecturer TBC

Italy

52

Jordan | Petra & the Desert Fortresses Tue 9th - Thu 18th with Nick Jackson

Jordan

71

december

Relaxed Split Sat 13th - Sat 20th with John Shepherd

Croatia

20

Vienna at Christmas Sat 22nd - Thu 27th with Dr Kelli Ann Malone

Austria

16

The Via Egnatia Sun 14th - Mon 22nd with Oliver Gilkes

Albania & Macedonia

15

Bologna Festive Food Fri 28th - Thu 3rd Jan 2019 with Rosetta Ferrari & Tony O’Connor

Italy

69

Crete Revisited Mon 15th - Mon 22nd with Dr Sandy MacGillivray

Greece

44

Naples New Year Fri 28th - Thu 3rd Jan 2019 with John Shepherd

Italy

69

november

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essential booking info 2018 Priced Tours Booking Information

Useful information to guide you through the booking process.

Please note that bookings with Andante Travels Ltd are accepted only in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in our full booking conditions, which can be found on our website or are available on request.

cancellation by us If we have to cancel your holiday before the date of departure, you will have the choice of taking an alternative holiday (and paying or receiving a refund/credit in respect of any price difference) or accepting a full refund of all monies paid.

insurance We strongly recommend that all travellers are covered by comprehensive travel insurance and do not travel against medical advice. You should organise it immediately when you book, to ensure you have cover against possible cancellation charges, medical treatment and repatriation. We will need to know the details of your policy 4 weeks before departure at the very latest.

financial protection - 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’s 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. 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.

deposits and final payments £300 for tours costing up to £2000 | £400 for tours costing between £2001 and £3000 | £450 for tours costing between £3001 and £4000 | £500 for tours costing over £4000 balance payment Balance payments will be requested 10 weeks before you depart for all tours and we will then send you practical information regarding the tour, flights, hotel and joining instructions.

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Andante Travels, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following:

cancellation by you Cancellation charges payable to Andante Travels are calculated on time prior to departure as follows: Up to 70 days: Deposit* / 69 - 41 days: 35% of tour cost / 40 - 29 days: 55% of tour cost / 28 - 8 days: 75% of tour cost / 7 days to date of departure: 100% of tour cost | *plus any invoiced flight costs.

1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK; and 3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland, which are sold to customers outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland.

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Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK and Republic of Ireland are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Andante Travels. aito quality charter Andante Travels is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. Andante Travels abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.com. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

changes and amendments Please note that planning for some of these tours is still in progress and some details (e.g. sites, hotels, dates) may change over the coming months. We work hard with our expert guides to create the best possible archaeological tours, and will always consider including a site at a later date if we think it will improve or add greater insight to our journeys. We are ANDANTE TRAVELS LTD, registered limited company no.

1969761. Registered offices: The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Wiltshire SP5 3HT.

The information listed in this brochure is correct as of May 2017.

whats included We include as much as possible in the tour price: Expert Guide Lecturer Tour Manager (with all groups of 15+) Scheduled flights unless otherwise stated Accommodation Meals with water, and wine where stated; meals are not provided on travelling days Field notes, tips, entrance to all sites in the program committed to sustainable tourism We work hard to ensure our visits have a positive impact on the ancient places we go to and have been awarded the top 5 star rating by AITO in recognition of our excellence when it comes to sustainable travel.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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Here at Andante Travels, we are extremely proud to be part of the Specialist Journeys family. This group includes some of the world’s finest niche touring companies.

And all of us aspire to provide truly unique and magical holidays for our guests.

Allow us to briefly introduce you to our sister organisations, all of which cater to every interest, from archaeology to adventure and gardening to gastronomy. So read on, and we wish you happy travels, wherever you may wander!

• • • • • • • •

Andante Travels Archaeological Tours Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours Brightwater Holidays Action for Charity Dream Challenges Historical Trips Authentic Adventures

Each of our companies has its own area of expertise, so whether your interest lies in wine or walking, art or archaeology, we’ve got you covered. You can organise your private tour in conjunction with any of the operators mentioned in these pages, so get in touch, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Find out more at www.specialistjourneys.com

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After more than 3 decades in the industry, Andante Travels is now one of the world’s leading providers of archaeological holidays. From Albania to Zanzibar, there are few wonders of the world left unexplored by our intrepid guests.

archaeological tours Led by noted scholars | superb itineraries | unsurpassed service

For insights into the ancient world, it really doesn’t come much better than an Archaeological Tours holiday. Expert scholars and in-depth itineraries leaving no stone unturned are par for the course.

Wine Tours

Arblaster & Clarke pioneered the concept of wine travel and continue to lead the world in product quality and innovation across the Old and New Worlds, whether that’s through Champagne short breaks or epic adventures in the Antipodes.

Brightwater Holidays specialise in garden and special interest tours all over the world. With a good balance between famous properties and private gardens, these are great tours for green fingers!

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

ction for charity lifechangingevents

Action for Charity have raised millions for charities with exciting challenge events around the world. We guarantee a lifechanging experience for everyone taking part, whether it’s trekking in Africa or night-cycling around Central London.

Founded and run by historians, Historical Trips is proof positive that a love of things past does not keep you from knowing how to have a good time in the present. A fascinating roster of tours, spanning four continents and 1,000 years of history.

Authentic Adventures offer high quality painting, singing, walking and sightseeing tours. Operating since 1997, they have built up a wonderful list of contacts, a team of professional tutors, and excellent local guides in well-known destinations.

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com | www.andantetravels.com

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christmas & new year 2017 We are delighted to present our range of festive departures, a feast of archaeology, landscape & celebration for the mind and spirit!

turin festive food

ravenna at christmas

Enjoy a Christmas Day walk along the splendid avenues and piazzas of Turin and receive special access to the abbey of San Sileno. Discover excavations that lie hidden beneath the streets of modern day Alba and receive special access to the 16th century abbey of San Sileno.

The mists, lagoons and beautiful historic cities of the Po Valley make Ravenna a wonderful choice for a Christmas tour.

Enjoy a traditional Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, a very authentic Italian celebration. We often have the churches, tombs and abbeys almost to ourselves.

Wed 20th - Tue 26th Dec

Thu 21st - Wed 27th Dec

pompeii & naples at new year Naples’ streets and buildings are packed with life - festooned with washing, and at this time of year, decorated with the elaborate cribs of the Neapolitan tradition. See out the old year with a day exploring Pompeii, when it is almost devoid of tourists.

Wed 27th Dec - Tue 2nd Jan

with Rosetta Ferrari & Prof. Valerie Higgins with Prof. Tony King

£2,495 (£2,265 w/out flights | £275 sgl supp)

£2,195 (£1,975 w/out flights | £180 sgl supp)

with John Shepherd £2,595 (£2,375 w/out flights | £375 sgl supp)

venice at new year

festive food in bologna

israel & palestine at new year

A very privileged view of La Serenissima. We have special access to the iconic Doge’s palace, where we visit the cells and historic offices of state. We explore the once-mighty republic on-foot and by boat. Our tour culminates with a private evening visit to St Mark’s Basilica

An unusual tour for Andante - exploring the combination of the archaeological remains and gastronomic history of Bologna. Along the way we hunt for truffles, visit fascinating museums and enjoy some sumptuous meals that would have satisfied even an Etruscan appetite!

A city of sophistaced shops and museums to winding souks. New Year in Israel and Palestine has become a big event in recent years. Here is a chance to spend a whole week exploring the archaeology, history, religions and cultures in the spring-like temperatures.

Thu 28th Dec - Wed 3rd Jan

Thu 28th Dec - Thu 4th Jan

Thu 28th Dec - Thu 4th Jan

with Dr Eireann Marshall £2,945 (£2,645 w/out flights | £480 sgl supp)

with Rosetta Ferrari and Tony O’Connor £2,595 (£2,360 w/out flights | £260 sgl supp)

with Dr Oren Gutfield £2,995 (£2,475 w/out flights | £650 sgl supp)

SPACES ARE ALREADY FILLING FAST....

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK CALL, EMAIL OR SEE OUR WEBSITE

Call 01722 713800 - tours@andantetravels.com - www.andantetravels.com The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park,Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT