2016 Newsletter and Full Availability archaeological tours Led by noted scholars | superb itineraries | unsurpassed service
FROM LINDA’S DESK
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Dear Fellow Travelers,
• News from the Office........ pg2
Many busy months have passed since our last newsletter. It has been an exciting time for Archaeological Tours: we have launched our first catalog, a new website and a new on line tour survey program. We are definitely becoming part of the digital world!
• Introducing Donatella....... pg2
“I am excited to announce that we will offer two departures to Iran, an Iceland tour, and many more new tours in 2017.” For those of you who have not made travel plans for 2016 and are fans of Bob Thorp and Ken Harl, I suggest you take a look at Bob’s really unusual spring China tour. It focuses on lesser visited ancient sites, untouched traditional villages, sacred mountains, and the serene temples around Hangzhou’s West Lake. In contrast, Ken’s Scandinavian Vikings tour will include fascinating Viking ships, burials and some amazing museums.
• Archaeological News......... pg2 • Notes from the Field.......... pg3 I also want to share some bittersweet news with you. After 17 years at Archaeological Tours, Kirsten Knudsen has decided to retire - but will continue to escort tours, including Vikings (on her home territory). Donatella Braghieri joins us as the newest member of the team. She hails from Italy, has lived in many parts of the world, and has incredible enthusiasm and expertise. During the coming months, our team will be calling you to learn more about your interests and how we can improve our tours. Hopefully, if I can find the time, I will make some of these calls myself. See you on tour, Linda Linda Feinstone President, Archaeological Tours
• Mary-Lou’s Tour Report.... pg4 • FAQ’s................................... pg5 • Availability in 2016........... pg6
NEWS FROM THE OFFICE Our New Website
Choosing the right vacation shouldn’t feel like a chore. So we decided to improve our website to make it as easy as possible for you to find what you want. We hope you like the new makeover…
INTRODUCING DONATELLA Donatella is Archaeological Tours newest Tour Consultant. She was raised in a family who considered travelling as a form of education - and what an education she had! By the age of 16 she had already visited most European countries and spent a few years living in Brazil and Canada. These early travel experiences led her to seek out a job that would satisfy her never ending wanderlust. At this stage, she finds it easier to say where she hasn’t been, than where she has. Donatella’s love of archaeology blossomed in an unusual setting - during a cruise. It was on a trip to Turkey and the Greek Islands that she met amazing tour guides leading people through ancient ruins. Her interest in archaeology has been increasing
ever since. On joining Archaeologial tours, she said:
“I feel like I have won the lottery having been hired by a company that specializes in this alluring and enriching field.” When she’s not busy at work, Donatella loves to spend her days off reading, relaxing with her husband and their cats, and planning travel adventures. She is also an avid photographer with a keen eye for the unusual - and loves nothing more than exploring with her camera on a warm day. She is excited to start her next project - a travel photography blog.
New 2017 Tours
We were absolutely astounded by the response we had to our new 2017 tours - hundreds of you cast your votes - letting us know the destinations you want to visit in 2017. Here are the top three tours, as chosen by you: Iran Discover ancient Persia’s epic history, abundant antiquities and intricately decorated monuments. Greek Islands: Rhodes, Cyclades, Crete & more Unique archaeological sites, distinctive architectural heritage and unsurpassed physical beauty. Russia: St Petersburg, Moscow & more Historic cities, idyllic countryside, spectacular palaces, beautiful churches and museums without peer. If you are interested in learning more about our 2017 tours, please give us a call to register your interest. 2
ARCHAEOLOGICAL NEWS IN BRIEF Archaeologists discovered the remains of a massive stone monument, just two miles from Stonehenge. This could be the largest surviving stone monument ever discovered in Britain and possibly Europe. Egyptologist Sarah Parcak won the 2016 TED Prize for her pioneering work in Satellite Archaeology, which allows archaeologists to more precisely target their excavations and surveys. www.archaeologicaltrs.com
A lost city was discovered in the Honduran Rain Forest by archaeologists in search of the “City of the Monkey God”. We would also like to pause and reflect on Palmyra. I’m sure you were as horrified as we were to hear of the occupation of the ancient site by IS fighters. It is hard to fathom what can be said or done in the face of such destruction of history, culture and above all the lives of the Syrian people.
SCHOLAR ARTICLE Ancient Ireland: New Evidence of Excarnation in Prehistoric Ireland Written by Professor Charles Doherty Recent surveys at Giant’s Ring have revealed that it is merely the largest within a complex covering an area of at least 33ha. The Ring is circular, 225m in diameter. The surviving earthen bank is 4m high with an average width of 19m. Just east of the center is a small polygonal passage tomb. Outside the Ring, 100m to the north-west, a large oval enclosure was discovered; and partial excavation led to the conclusion that it was just one of a number of ritual enclosures within the site. A further double ring of posts stood towards the center. The space between the posts was
filled with planking on each side of the entrance. This screened a square platform that had a massive post a little distance from each corner.
“ Of the large enclosures of the third millennium that at Ballynahatty, close to Belfast, called the Giant’s Ring is perhaps the most impressive.” The central square timber platform most likely served as an exposure platform for the defleshing of bodies by weather or carrion birds. Ireland September 7 – 22 | $6,290 (exc. airfare)
MARGOT HANRAHAN – TOUR MANAGER I left a career in broadcasting to become a certified international tour director, and having worked in this field for more than a decade now, I can’t imagine a life that doesn’t include strolling under the stars and helping to facilitate great moments for our guests. Trekking to the quarry on Easter Island in the early morning light to see how the ancient Moai were once liberated from rock was an unforgettable experience. We stood in silence on the hill with the
figures offering mute testimony to the achievements of their creators. It was
“There’s always that gratifying instance when you see someone connect to a culture or an artifact or a place in time.” a colorful, magical, and soul-stirring journey, enhanced by the insights of Dr. Jo Anne Van Tilberg, who has opened so
www.archaeologicaltrs.com
many windows to that island’s prehistory. That tour stood to enhance my belief that travel is meant to illuminate and inspire and open the door to our own curiosity. When I’m not touring, I’m a script writer for travel shows, a weekly newspaper columnist and a freelance writer. Chile & Easter Island November 6 – 19 | $7,995 (exc. airfare)
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INDONESIA: JAVA, SULAWESI & BALI
I had traveled in Asia a great deal before visiting Indonesia for the first time some 20 years ago. I was unprepared for this extraordinary, unsung country.
Mary-Lou Leddy is our Director of Operations.
Indonesia was such an unexpected explosion of cultures, religions, people, landscapes and just about everything not found in the west. We began our odyssey in Yogyakarta, the educational and cultural heart of Java, known by its nickname, Jogja. The main purpose of our visit was to see Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world. I remember how humbling it was, standing in front of this vast structure and how intricate the carvings were.
“Java changes dramatically from place to place. Mystical mountain temples meet vibrant cities; huge office buildings sit beside timeworn workshops.” I was even less prepared for our next island, Sulawesi: a confusion of races, tribes, and religions. We drove through endlessly diverse landscapes to Torajaland, home of carved ship-like rice barns, ceremonial spaces, and the Toraja people. Their culture was so different from anything I had ever seen before. Funerals are widely anticipated and celebrated with dances, elaborately carved effigies, hundreds of mourners and animal sacrifices. 4
Finally, beautiful Bali. We passed through brilliant green rice paddies, and visited magical Hindu temples and shrines, quite different to those in Java. Local life is predicated on temple ceremonies, with women carrying colorful and sacred offerings on their heads en route to festivals. Religion is life in Bali. Years later, little has changed and I find myself just as captivated by each unique experience as our guests. Indonesia: Java, Sulawesi & Bali August 1 - 21 | $6,370 (exc. airfare) www.archaeologicaltrs.com
She loves traveling and interacting with clients and has been with Archaeological Tours for 29 years. MaryLou has always traveled. – she was born in Australia, studied in the United Kingdom and is now an American citizen. Her favorite travel destinations are Myanmar and Indonesia. She also speaks French and Italian.
FAQ Q. Who creates the itineraries for your tours? A. If it’s on our itinerary, it has been personally
researched and visited by at least one of our team. This way, we can ensure that when you travel with us, you receive deep archaeological and cultural insights.
Q. How many people will there be on tour? A. Most of our tours have around 18-24 participants. We think this small number is ‘just right’ to offer sociability and companionship - without crowding you, or making you feel like part of a herd.
Q. What kind of hotels will we be staying in? A. There is no reason to sacrifice comfort or convenience while you travel the world! We seek out very best hotels - which are welllocated for touring, restaurants and culture. You can find details of all our hotels at the end of each day in the tour itineraries.
Q. Am I able to arrange my flights through Archaeological Tours? A. Of course you can. More than 50% of our travelers choose to book their flights with us. All of our dedicated staff are specialists in organizing air travel. They are very happy to make arrangements for you, from airports across the country.
Q. Can I contact you if I have any questions about a tour? A. We’re here for you whatever you need: advice, ideas, insights or specialized arrangements. Just give us a call or send us an email.
What our customers say “ I found the quality of the sites to be excellent, the schedule to be full but not overwhelming and the expert to be superb ”
“I have travelled with Archaeological Tours for fifteen years. I like the organisation towards history and having lectures as well as very well informed incountry guides ”
“ Experience has shown us that Archaeological Tours are reliable, exciting, have excellent professors and even more excellent tour guides ”
“ This was a wonderful tour, filled with many highlights. My favorites were the mosaics in the Norman churches in Palermo, the temple of Segesta, the Riace Bronze Warriors and Paestum ”
“ It far exceeded all of our expectations. The itinerary was perfect in that it provided us with a chance to visit other parts of Japan that are not normally visited by tourists ” “ Every aspect of the tour was great: the sites were great, the local guide was great, the hotels were wonderful and the restaurants were great ” “Very well organised and the knowledge of the guides was extraordinary”
“ It was a spectacular visit to a spectacular country: the ancient civilization of Axum, the magnificent scenery, the Ethiopian people; well organized and brilliantly led by the scholar and tour leader ” “ My previous experience with the company gave me confidence that it would be a good experience” www.archaeologicaltrs.com
“ I liked the archaeological sites and the hotels where we stayed. It was nice that we had time to enjoy the beaches and the swimming pools” 5
Availabilty in 2016 A full list of all our tours, check our website for any updates
January
April
Guatemala & Belize
Malta, Sardinia & Corsica
March
May
Maya Mexico
Brittany & Stonehenge
Ancient Japan
Great Museums – Paris
January 1 – 15 Last Few Spaces
March 5 – 20 Last Few Spaces
March 31 – April 14 Last Few Spaces
Delphi, the “center” of the Greek world
April 27 – May 12 Last Few Spaces
May 4 – 18 Spaces Available May 6 – 15 Spaces Available
Classical Greece May 8 – 23 Last Few Spaces
China: Sacred Landscapes May 15 – June 4 Spaces Available
June Great Museums Berlin & Vienna June 8 – 18 Spaces Available
Scotland & its Islands June 17 – July 3 Last Few Spaces
July The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site - Rila Monastery 6
Vikings
July 10 – 26 Last Few Spaces www.archaeologicaltrs.com
The golden Buddhas of the great rock temple of Dambulla
August
October
December
Indonesia – Java & Bali
Sicily & Southern Italy
Gujarat
Peru
Japan
August 1 – 21 Spaces Available
August 26 – September 11 Last Few Spaces
September Sicily & Southern Italy
October 1 – 16 Spaces Available October 6 – 23 Last Few Spaces
Israel
October 24 – November 9 Spaces Available
September 3 -18 Spaces Available
November
Caves & Castles: France & Spain
Ghana, Togo & Benin
Balkans
The Splendors of Ancient Egypt
Crete & Santorini
Oman & Zanzibar
Ireland
Chile & Easter Island
Bulgaria
Vietnam & Cambodia
September 4 – 18 Last Few Spaces September 5 – 21 Last Few Spaces September 6 – 20 Spaces Available September 7 – 22 Spaces Available
September 15 – October 1 Spaces Available
November 3 – 20 Spaces Available November 4 – 20 Spaces Available November 4 – 20 Spaces Available November 6 – 19 Spaces Available
November 17 – December 5 Spaces Available www.archaeologicaltrs.com
December 28– January 13 Spaces Available
Don’t miss out - book now! Get in touch now to secure your space on one of our 2016 tours. If you have any questions about specific tours or Archaeological Tours in general - please let us know, we’ll be happy to help with any queries: Email: info@archaeologicaltrs.com Call: 212-986-3054 Toll-free: 866-740-5130 You can guarantee your place(s) on any Archaeological Tour with a $1500 deposit payment. If you haven‘t traveled with us before we will also require personal details of you and any traveling companions. After you book your place we will send you many more details of your trip, reading material, practical information and just about anything else you might need to prepare you for a wonderful time on tour. 7
Archaeological Tours Highlights
Classical Greece
MAY
• Explore the splendors of ancient Greece • Find the fabled home of Agamemnon in Mycenae • Explore the Acropolis, lasting symbol of classical Athens Classical Greece, the cradle of Western democracy, philosophy and science, was itself an heir to the great achievements of Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.
May 8 – 23, 2016 16 Days $5,890 (exc. international airfare) Single supp: $1,295
JUNE
Scotland & its Islands • Discover stone circles, awe-inspiring tombs • Journey through craggy hills and glacial lochs • Examine the National Museum of Scotland Scattered across Scotland, between blue-hazed mountains, brilliant green valleys and rugged rocky shores, we find some of the oldest and most mysterious examples of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments.
June 17 - July 3, 2016 17 Days $6,990 (exc. international airfare) Single supp: $950
JULY
Vikings • Travel Scandinavia’s spectacular and varied scenery • Explore the huge royal burial mounds • Visit the national museums This distinctive tour through Sweden, Denmark and Norway places the Viking Age in the wider context of European history, and in Scandinavian history, from the Bronze Age to the modern day.
July 10 - 26, 2016 17 Days $7,385 (exc. international airfare) Single supp: $1,500
archaeological tours Led by noted scholars | superb itineraries | unsurpassed service
271 Madison Avenue, Suite 904, New York, NY 10016 212-986-3054 / toll-free: 866-740-5130 www.archaeologicaltrs.com / info@archaeologicaltrs.com