Winter Escapes 33 unmissable travel adventures departing November 2020 – January 2021 11 superb new winter destinations, including St Petersburg, Mexico & Egypt
Book your winter getaway with £0 deposit
PLUS – key COVID actions to keep you safe on your travels You should have received this tour selection months ago. Back in January, when the festive season or the desire to head off to exotic climes in the midst of winter was fresh in the mind, we created this outstanding selection of tours departing between November 2020 and February 2021. That seems like eons ago now – how things have changed in the meantime! The passion to show you the world and share with you its enthralling stories burns as brightly as ever at Andante Travels and Brightwater Holidays though, and as we emerge from our enforced isolation, the time seems right to reintroduce our winter programme, packed with expert-led ancient world adventures, cultural forays and glorious garden tours. And you can book your winter getaway with confidence, thanks to our exceptional range of ‘peace of mind’ initiatives: » £0 deposit: Pay nothing until 3 August 2020, so you can secure your holiday place and not worry if you subsequently decide to cancel. » Flexible balance payment: Your holiday balance will not be payable until 42 days prior to departure (instead of the previous 84 days) and we can flex this even later if there is any risk of your tour not going ahead as a result of COVID-19 presence or restrictions. » COVID-19 action plan: 11 key actions to keep you as safe as possible when you travel with us, including face masks for every day of travel, social distancing measures, enhanced hygiene protocols and insurance options with COVID-19 cover. An outline of these actions is below, but you can find full details in the introductory pages of the accompanying brochure. No other tour operator is doing more. I do hope it will persuade you to consider travelling in 2020 and we will have the pleasure of your company again soon. Jackie Willis CEO
2 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Contents
NEW Israel, Egypt & Jordan - Cruise & Stay.. pg 6
Guatemala, Honduras and Belize.....................pg 21
Israel & Palestine................................................pg 7
Sri Lanka............................................................ pg 22
Lebanon.................................................................pg 7
North India........................................................ pg 22
Algeria - Roman Mauretania............................. pg 8
Oman................................................................... pg 23
Tunisia - The Punic Wars.................................... pg 8
Chile & Easter Island........................................ pg 23
Byzantium............................................................ pg 9
Archaeology & Ghosts of East Anglia............ pg 24
NEW Istanbul at New Year.............................. pg 10
NEW Christmas in Wessex.............................. pg 25
NEW Romans on the Bay of Naples.................pg 11
NEW Christmas in Edinburgh.......................... pg 26
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania............................................pg 12
Bare Bones Pompeii.......................................... pg 27
Rome - The Heart of the Empire......................pg 13 Ravenna & Aquileia............................................pg 13 NEW Florence at New Year...............................pg 14 NEW Pompeii & Naples at New Year...............pg 14
Bare Bones Rome.............................................. pg 27 Bare Bones Florence........................................ pg 27 Bare Bones Venice............................................ pg 27 Iceland Northern Lights.................................. pg 30 Gardens of Madeira.......................................... pg 30
NEW Trier Archaeology & Christmas Markets...............................................................pg 15
Pompeii & Campania..........................................pg 31
NEW St Petersburg at Christmas.................. pg 16
Malta’s Archaeological Heritage.....................pg 31
NEW Kraków at New Year.................................pg 17
Flora & Fauna in Madagascar.......................... pg 32
NEW Thessaloniki at Christmas..................... pg 18
Seasonal Gardens of Japan............................. pg 33
NEW Athens at New Year................................. pg 19
Christmas in Kent............................................. pg 34
NEW Mexico at Christmas & New Year.......... pg 20
Christmas in the Scottish Borders................ pg 34
Mexico - The Maya ............................................pg 21
Up Helly Aa......................................................... pg 35 01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 3
Why travel with Andante this Christmas and New Year? While many of us like to be home for the holidays, Christmas and New Year trips are becoming more and more popular. Maybe it’s getting to explore archaeological sites at a time of year when tourists tend not to visit, perhaps it’s the appeal of better weather or it could just be that we’re looking to spend the festive period immersed in history rather than behind the usual chopping board or sink – whatever the reason, a winter escape is waiting for you.
• We have 35 years’ experience of leading unique ancient world adventures, so you can trust us to make your travel dreams a reality • Each of our tours is led by either an archaeological or historical expert, or by a local guide • Our itineraries are designed by our in-house experts and no destination is too niche or no site too remote – we blaze the trail with our varied programme of tours • No need to worry as all of our tours are financially protected via ATOL or ABTOT • We try to include as much as possible in the price of our tours, from return flights and entry fees to accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
With Andante Travels, you’re in award-winning company. Explore the ancient world with experts this winter.
4 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Experience something new this festive season... CULTURE AND HISTORY MAKE FOR A MEMORABLE NEW YEAR IN KRAKÓW With history both illuminating and sobering, Kraków is a unique destination from which to ring in the New Year. Visit a salt mine, stand before fine works of art and enjoy its culinary creations. Find out more on page 17
EXPERIENCE THE ANNUAL SCOTTISH WINTER FIRE FESTIVAL, UP HELLY AA Once per year, in January, Shetland hosts a Viking festival called Up Helly Aa. This winter spectacular culminates in a torchlight procession and boat-burning ceremony – it’s one not to miss. Find out more on page 35
RING IN THE NEW YEAR BENEATH A SKY OF FIREWORKS IN FLORENCE What better place to count down to midnight on December 31st than Florence. Filled with art, studded with grand architecture and promising romance, enjoy a memorable New Year’s Eve here. Find out more on page 14
To book a winter escape with a difference, please call a member of our friendly team on 01722 569 708 or just visit our website andantetravels.co.uk 01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 5
NEW FOR 2020
ISRAEL, EGYPT & JORDAN - CRUISE & STAY
Gods, Kings and Pharaohs - exploring Jerusalem, Luxor & Petra 12 Days
From £4,395
11th - 22nd December 2020
Activity Level
While enjoying the comfort of the variety ship M/S Harmony, this odyssey visits the most important sites of these historical countries in the company of expert guides. Travelling via the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, this tour encompasses outstanding sites while offering the relaxing feel of an ocean cruise. There are many highlights on this multi-centre cruise, which range from a visit to the Crusader castle of Kerak, one of the largest fortresses in the Levant; time to explore the UNESCO-listed Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, commissioned by the Emperor Constantine and then rebuilt by Justinian and repaired in the Crusader period; and a chance to wander among the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, a necropolis reserved for royal burials from around 2100 BCE. Archaeology, history and the pleasure of a cruise – combined with the company of an Egyptologist and knowledgeable local guides – make for a truly memorable voyage.
Tour Highlights • Explore the staggering city of Jerusalem with its ancient citadel and previous Paleo-Christian churches • Gaze upon the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, and visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum • Marvel at the rock-cut architecture and passageways in the famous Nabatean kingdom of Petra • Explore the enormous and monumental temples at Karnak, one of the largest remaining religious sites of the ancient world
Included in your price • On-board Egyptologist • Return flights from London & all local transport • Accommodation in Amman, Petra, Luxor & Jerusalem, as well as MS Harmony
Dates & prices per person hotel room on day one due to our late arrival • Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner • Entries to all sites & museums • All taxes & gratuities
• 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 5 dinners, plus a snack in the
Date
Prices from
11th - 22nd Dec 2020 with Tarmin Darwish, Mohammad Abdulnabi & Yonatan Zilbersheid
£4,395 £560 ss
Please note the itinerary order £4,895 differs for the January 2021 tour. £560 ss
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.co.uk/aiej 6 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The Suez Canal and the Temple of Hatshepsut
ISRAEL & PALESTINE
View incredible archaeology in the Holy Land There are few places on earth that can boast such a rich, varied and important archaeological heritage as both Israel and Palestine. Over the millennia, this ancient land has felt the tread of conquerors and settlers, including Canaanites, Israelites, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans and even Imperial Britons, all of whom left their signature. Discover the incredible archaeology of Jerusalem and uncover the tragedy of Masada, before paying a visit to one of the oldest cities in the world, Jericho. Tour Highlights
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
• Pay a visit to one of the world’s oldest cities, Jericho, where archaeologists have unearthed evidence of settlement as far back as 9000 BC
20th - 30th Oct with Nick Jackson
£4,295 £950 ss
• Discover Armageddon – or Megiddo – a city of great strategic importance in the ancient world and also the scene of many significant battles
24th Nov - 4th Dec with Nick Jackson
£4,495 £950 ss
• Spend three days in Jerusalem, with 5,000 years of history • Take a cable car to the archaeological site at Masada
Prices include an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.com/aisr
LEBANON
Discover a wealth of history in this intriguing country A small country dominated by mountain ranges, Lebanon’s impact on the Mediterranean’s history is out of proportion to its size, for here is a rich archaeological past to explore. Castles, churches, mosques, and souks recall the medieval period, when Lebanon was a battleground between the Crusaders and Islam as well as a mixing bowl of religions and cultures. Modern Lebanon is an interesting experience – Beirut is a vibrant and stylish city with an air of affluence. However, in the hills and countryside, a biblical feel still manages to exist. Tour Highlights • Explore ancient Byblos, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world • Discover the Roman remains at Tyre, including the Hippodrome and monumental streets • Pay visits to the great Temple of Jupiter Heliopolis in Baalbek and of Eshmoun in Sidon • Pore over artefacts at the National Archaeological Museum, such as the Phoenician-inscribed sarcophagus of Ahiram
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
22nd - 29th Nov with Tony O’Connor
£3,045 £345 ss
27th Dec 2020 - 3rd Jan 2021 with Tony O’Connor
£3,495 £475 ss
Prices include an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/aleb Images: The ruins of Bethesda Pool and Baalbek’s Temple of Jupiter
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 7
ALGERIA
Roman Mauretania Algeria is still one of the least-visited countries in the world, but access to its ruinous Classical cities is now easier than it has been for some years. The sites are a palimpsest of Numidian, Roman and Byzantine remains, and include probably the bestpreserved colonia anywhere in the Empire – Timgad. Elsewhere, admire artefacts housed within the Sétif Archaeological Museum, tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djémila and enjoy lunch at a private home in the Casbah – a unique UNESCO-listed medina or Islamic city. Tour Highlights • Wander around perfectly preserved streets at the UNESCOlisted sites of Roman Djémila and Timgad, which has an immaculate gridded plan • In Sétif, gaze upon one of the Roman world’s most exquisite mosaics - the ‘Triumph of Dionysus’ • Explore the Roman ‘City of Bridges’ – Constantine – and the evocative ruins of Hippo Regius • Visit little-publicised museums that house great artefacts
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
1st - 10th Nov with Steve Roskams
£3,695 £525 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/aalg
TUNISIA
The Punic Wars This is a land where dramatic events shaped ancient history – the superpowers of Carthage and Rome clashed in three Punic Wars, which determined the course of Western history. Join us to explore the ruins of the Roman era in the North African countryside. Travel from the ruins of Carthage to the Roman cities and monuments of Roman Tunisia. This year, we are able to return to Bulla Regia, with its underground houses. This site covers over 60 hectares with its range of Berber, Roman and Numidian archaeological influences. Tour Highlights • Explore the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Dougga and Kairouan • Discover the beautifully preserved Phoenician site of Kerkouane • Marvel at the grand amphitheatre of El Djem, which boasts underground service rooms • Admire some of the world’s most breathtaking mosaics at the Bardo, Sousse and El Djem museums
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
3rd - 11th Nov with Dr Eireann Marshall
£2,195 £215 ss
11th - 19th Nov with Tony O’Connor
£2,195 £215 ss
20th - 27th Dec with Dr Eireann Marshall
£2,195 £200 ss
Prices include an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/atun 8 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The site of Djémila and views over Carthage from Byrsa Hill
BYZANTIUM
Private evening visit to the magnificent Hagia Sophia 7 Days
From £2,695
16th - 22nd November 2020
Activity Level
Superbly situated on the banks of the continent-dividing Bosphorus Strait and, like Rome, built on seven hills, the vibrant metropolis of Istanbul has been around for over two-and-a-half millennia. Two great empires have made it their capital – the Christian Byzantines and the Muslim Ottoman Turks – and it is their spectacular legacy that makes the city so appealing to those of us with a passion for archaeology and history. The Topkapı Palace and its mysterious harem, the gloriously Iznik-tiled Blue Mosque, and the gorgeous mosaics and frescoes of the Church of Saviour in Chora are just some of the highlights – plus, we have secured very special out-of-hours access to one of the world’s most astounding buildings, the magnificent Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom). Join our expert Terry Richardson, author of numerous guidebooks on Turkey, for this week-long adventure in culture, archaeology, architecture and history. Tour Highlights • Be treated to special out-of-hours access to the Hagia Sophia • Explore vibrant Istanbul in the expert company of Terry Richardson, the man who wrote a book on this amazing city • Indulge in tastes of regional cuisine throughout this tour and be surprised by the diversity of Turkish dishes • Free time to soak up the culture of this memorable destination • Sail the blue waters of the continent-dividing Bosphorus Strait aboard a private boat for a different view of the city
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 6 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at the Yasmak Sultan Hotel
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
16th - 22nd Nov with Terry Richardson
£2,695 £525 ss
• All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/abyz Images: The Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 9
NEW FOR 2020
ISTANBUL AT NEW YEAR
Explore the many layers of Istanbul’s rich history 6 Days
From £2,795
29th December 2020 - 3rd January 2021
Activity Level
Founded as Byzantium, famed as Constantinople, the city we know today as Istanbul straddles two continents and has played a pivotal role in world history. When the modern republic of Turkey came into being in the 1920s, Istanbul lost its status as imperial city and capital. But it remains one of the world’s most delightful, complex and vibrant metropolises, its present-day streets, watersides and bazaars both welcoming and mysterious; its people fully modern, yet deeply aware of their city’s rich history. For people in western Europe, Istanbul has long represented ‘the Orient’. This tour is led by Terry Richardson, classical historian, writer and journalist, and author of the Rough Guide to Istanbul. This is an ideal opportunity to explore the iconic monuments of Old Sultanahmet at a quiet time of year, as well as to discover some of the hidden corners and back street life of this great city. Tour Highlights • Explore Topkapı Palace, a once rambling palace complex of the Ottoman sultans and now a treasure trove of architecture and applied arts • Take the ferry to Üsküdar, a very culturally different Istanbul – far from tourists – where we see its Ottoman mosques • Breathe in the fragrance of Mısır Çarşısı, the spice bazaar, and sample the local produce • Discover the stunning Blue Mosque with its beautiful interior
Included in your price • Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager • Return flights from London & all local transport • Accommodation at Eresin Sultanahmet Hotel
Dates & prices per person • All meals included
Date
Prices from
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
29th Dec 2020 - 3rd Jan 2021 with Terry Richardson
£2,795 £505 ss
• Entries to all sites & museums • All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/ainy 10 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The Blue Mosque’s interior and traditional Turkish sweets
NEW FOR 2020
ROMANS ON THE BAY OF NAPLES
New discoveries & highlights in the shadow of Vesuvius 8 Days
From £2,295
Departing 17th & 24th November 2020
Activity Level
The extraordinary Roman sites in the Bay of Naples have undergone an incredible regeneration in recent years. This beautiful stretch of coast, which was developed in the Roman era by elites and emperors in search of leisure, has witnessed exciting new archaeological activities, as well as an unprecedented number of newly opened sites. While much attention has been given to the wonderful new excavations of Pompeii, much less has been said about the opening of new sections of Herculaneum, the opening of Roman sites in Positano and Boscoreale, and the excavations taking place in Terzigno and Somma Vesuviana. This tour gives a fresh take on Romans in the Bay of Naples, taking into consideration the new discoveries and sites, and offering an examination of this prosperous part of the world. There has never been a better time to visit the towns in the shadow of Vesuvius with the advantage of it being a less crowded time of year. Tour Highlights • A private visit to the Villa Augustea in Somma Vesuviana, which was destroyed in the eruption of AD 472 and is still being excavated today • Visit the newly opened Museum at Terzigno, which houses incredible remains of newly excavated villas • Explore the newly opened Roman Villa at Positano, with its wonderful frescoes • Examine the newly opened Regio V in Pompeii
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at the Hotel Scapolatiello
• Entries to all sites & museums • No single supplement
Date
Prices from
17th - 24th Nov with Dr Eireann Marshall
£2,295 No ss
24th Nov - 1st Dec with John Shepherd
£2,295 No ss
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/arbn Images: Charming Positano and ancient frescoes in Herculaneum
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 11
POMPEII, HERCULANEUM & CLASSICAL CAMPANIA Exclusive access to the off-site Theatre of Herculaneum 8 Days
From £1,995
Departing November and December 2020
Activity Level
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 Pompeii, a trading town equipped with many bars, shops and brothels, while Herculaneum was an affluent elegant town. All this came to an abrupt halt, however, one autumnal day in AD 79 - when Vesuvius - which had done little more than rumble for years - erupted with cataclysmic force. 2,000 years later, the sites of the Bay of Naples confront the modern visitor with a vivid, haunting immediacy like nothing else in the ancient world. In some cases we even know the names, professions and personal histories of the people who owned the villas and shops we visit. An expert guide lecturer will be on hand throughout the tour to bring to life the ordinary people of Pompeii, Herculaneum and beyond. Lose yourself in the past, walking the ancient streets in the footsteps of gladiators, slaves, senators and citizens. Tour Highlights • Enjoy private access to the off-site Theatre of Herculaneum • Visit off the beaten track villas at Stabiae • Explore newly opened houses in Pompeii • Private access to the store rooms at Paestum Museum, where we see Lucanian painted tombs normally closed to the public • Be treated to private access to the Cave of Sejanus as well as to the adjoining villa of Pausilypon, which boasts dramatic coastal views Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 7 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and wine, tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at the Hotel Scapolatiello or similar
• Entries to all sites & museums • All taxes & gratuities
Date
Prices from
2nd - 9th Nov with Dr David Rudling
£1,995 £175 ss
9th - 16th Nov with Mark Corney
£1,995 £175 ss
14th - 21st Dec with Tony Wilmott
£2,095 £175 ss
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/apom 12 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: Ruins of ancient Pompeii and a fresco in a nearby house
ROME
The Heart of the Empire Rome is an exhilarating destination where the glories of its ancient past – the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon – exist beside museums, artfilled churches and medieval piazzas – all evidence of Rome’s continued power when its Empire was no more. This is the perfect introduction to the ‘Eternal City’, led by an expert archaeologist who bring to life the triumphs, tragedies and political intrigue that characterised the Roman Empire. Follow in the footsteps of slaves, saints and sinners in this exploration of over 2,000 years of Roman history. Tour Highlights • Discover the sprawling villa of Emperor Hadrian at Tivoli, its halls and pavilions covering more ground than most cities • Visit the Ara Pacis, Augustus’ altar to the restoration of peace boasting splendid reliefs • See the Torlonia marbles, a series of classical sculptures that include the Diadumenos by Polycleitu in Palazzo Caffarelli – one of the Capitoline Museums
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
4th - 9th Dec with Dr Andy Souter
£2,095 £265 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/arom
RAVENNA & AQUILEIA
Special evening visit to the Basilica of San Vitale In AD 402, the Roman Imperial court fled from Rome to Ravenna, and for a period this was the political centre of what remained of the Western Empire. The result? The flowering of art and architecture created in the Empire’s dying days. Even now, the city’s churches and palaces are filled with mosaics. We begin in Aquileia, a great city of the Roman Empire, which played host to emperors and archbishops. We continue to Ravenna, a must-see archaeological city, where we marvel at the artistry and explore the stories behind the glittering tiles. Tour Highlights • Special access to the mausoleum of Galla Placidia • Visit the medieval monastery at Pomposa, which is home to amazing 14th century frescoes • Marvel at the extraordinary Tempietto Longobardo, a unique Lombard chapel • Admire the 4th century mosaic floor of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Aquileia
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
2nd - 9th Nov with Oliver Gilkes
£2,495 £320 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/arav Images: Rome’s iconic Colosseum and the archaeological area of Aquileia
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 13
FLORENCE
NEW FOR 2020
At New Year
Discover how Florence, a small Etruscan settlement prone to annual flooding, became the powerhouse of the Renaissance and the greatest city in Europe – producing outstanding masterpieces of literature and art, and also reaching extraordinary levels of economic development. Florence is a small city, which makes its many examples of exquisite art and architecture easily accessible with most of the main sights within walking distance of each other. Tour Highlights • Visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the oldest and most important museums in Italy, renowned for its significant Etruscan collection • Discover world-class art at the fabulous Uffizi, with a prebooked entrance time that will help avoid the usual queues • Explore the Etruscan Temple, Roman theatre and bath complex located at Fiesole
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
29th Dec 2020 - 3rd Jan 2021 with Dr Eireann Marshall
£2,195 £260 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and all meals.
• Visit the Accademia and admire the statue of David
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/xxxx
POMPEII & NAPLES At New Year
Naples’ streets and buildings are brimming with life, festooned with washing and – at this time of year – decorated with elaborate cribs of the Neapolitan tradition. Explore the city with its churches and museums, and the astonishing remnants of ancient Naples. Then, later in the tour, it’s on to the incomparable Pompeii – destroyed and preserved by Vesuvius in AD 79. This will also be the time to experience a Neapolitan New Year – an unforgettable and unique occasion with residents literally throwing away the old year. Tour Highlights • See out the old year at Pompeii and neighbouring Herculaneum, at a time when they are devoid of tourists • Explore the amazing Piscina Mirabilis, the largest Roman cistern in all of Europe
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
28th Dec 2020 - 3rd Jan 2021 with Mark Corney
£2,995 £495 ss
• Visit the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Pozzuoli • Celebrate the New Year with a delicious gala dinner and local festivities
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/anap 14 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: Fireworks over the Duomo in Florence and the Amalfi Coast
NEW FOR 2020
TRIER ARCHAEOLOGY & CHRISTMAS MARKETS Roman splendour and romantic castles 6 Days
From £2,085
14th - 19th December 2020
Activity Level
There are few cities north of the Alps that have such splendid Roman ruins as Augusta Treverorum, most of which date from the 4th century AD when the city was the capital of the Prefecture Gaul. Enjoy visits to its UNESCO-listed Roman remains, including the largely intact Porta Nigra and the Aula Constantiniana, as well as two impressive bath complexes. The tour also explores Trier’s wonderful Gothic architecture, particularly the Liebfrauenkirche and Cathedral of Trier, the oldest church in Germany and resonant of the city’s prosperity in Middle Ages, when the archbishop-elector of Trier controlled much of the surrounding area. Steeped in the majesty of the Moselle region, we will also explore some of its spectacular castles, including Vianden and Bourscheid Castles, as well as the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Luxembourg, all while sampling the region’s famous wines and immersing ourselves in the festive spirits and Christmas markets of Trier and Luxembourg. Tour Highlights • Explore the extensive Roman remains in Trier and consider the city’s crucial role in the late antique period • Visit Vianden Castle in Luxembourg, once a Roman castellum and later the enormous fortified residence of the influential Counts of Vianden • View the Cathedral of Trier, first built in the 4th century AD perhaps at the orders of Constantine the Great • Get into the festive spirit by visiting the Christmas markets of Trier and Luxembourg Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 4 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation in Trier
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
14th - 19th Dec with Dr Eireann Marshall
£2,085 £320 ss
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/atrx Images: Vianden Castle, Luxembourg & Christmas market, Trier
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 15
NEW FOR 2020
ST PETERSBURG AT CHRISTMAS A winter escape 7 Days
From £3,895
21st - 27th December 2020
Activity Level
Tsar Peter the Great founded St Petersburg in 1703 on the marshes at the mouth of the Neva River, where the Rus Vikings – the founders of ‘Russia’ – had passed through centuries earlier. Peter’s city of timber, mud and stone was transformed by the Tsarina Catherine into a Baroque fantasy. This glorious 18th century city is characterised by elegant and extravagant architecture, including the St Peter and Paul fortress and Cathedral, where Peter the Great is buried along with many of his descendants and the fabulous Winter Palace, which now forms part of the Hermitage – considered one of the largest collections of art, furniture, and both historical and archaeological artefacts in the world. Uniquely, one whole day of this tour will also be dedicated to visiting the archaeological excavations at Staraja Lodge, where over 100 Viking dwellings and workshops have been uncovered.
Tour Highlights • Explore Catherine Palace, famous for its whipped cream Rococo façades and gilded with over 100kg of gold • Visit Peterhof with its lavish gardens and its use of hydraulics that drive a series of cascades and fountains, as well as ‘surprise’ installations • A full day at the magnificent Hermitage, home to the Russian tsars for over 200 years and now the second-largest art museum in the world today
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 6 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and wine, tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at the Kempinski Hotel
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
21st - 27th Dec with John Oxley
£3,895 £530 ss
• All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/aspx 16 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: Palace Square in St Petersburg and the Winter Palace
NEW FOR 2020
KRAKÓW
A New Year’s break with a cultural twist 6 Days
From £2,395
28th December 2020 - 2nd January 2021
Activity Level
One of Europe’s most beguiling and beautiful cities, Kraków is the perfect choice for travellers in search of a New Year’s break with a difference. Join us to appreciate the elegant Gothic and Renaissance buildings of the perfectly-preserved old town. Visit the Jewish Quarter that bore witness to both horror and heroism in the 1940s, explore the sobering and poignant site of Auschwitz, which marks the 75th anniversary of its liberation in 2020, and marvel at the 700-year-old UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine. Also awaiting discovery are churches and cathedrals, castles and monasteries – 1,000 years of history written in stone. Fine dining and fine art (including Leonardo da Vinci’s celebrated Lady with an Ermine, now returned to the Czartoryski Museum) complete a memorable stay at a magical time of year typically associated with live music and colourful confetti – the Krakowian alternative to fireworks. Tour Highlights • Head down into the extraordinary Wieliczka Salt Mine, with its vast rooms, statues and adornments – all carved from salt • Explore the dramatically situated Tyniec Benedictine Monastery • Trace centuries of Jewish history in Kraków, visit the ghetto area and take a guided tour of Auschwitz in the 75th anniversary year of its liberation • Admire great works of art, including the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece Lady with an Ermine at the Czartoryski Museum • Join in with the city’s unique New Year (Sylwester) festivities Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at the Grand Ascot Hotel
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
28th Dec 2020 - 2nd Jan 2021 with Dr Agata Chrzanowska
£2,395 £350 ss
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/akny Images: Benedictine abbey in Tyniec and Kraków’s Royal Castle
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 17
NEW FOR 2020
THESSALONIKI AT CHRISTMAS Jerusalem of the Balkans 7 Days
From £2,595
22nd - 28th December 2020
Activity Level
Founded in 315 BCE, Thessaloniki is a city whose historical importance and legacy can be said to rival that of Athens. In antiquity, the city served as both the Macedonian and Roman provincial capital. The streets here are littered with monuments of this illustrious past – the palace and mausoleum of Emperor Galerius, Byzantine walls, ancient orthodox churches and even Ottoman mosques. A bastion of Byzantine power in the Balkans, Thessaloniki’s numerous churches and mighty city walls, which at one time were over 8km in length, remain a testament to this era. We explore this UNESCO-listed harbour city in great depth and also venture beyond the city walls to the fabulous sites of Pella and Vergina – home of Philip II and Alexander the Great. This is a wonderful way to spend Christmas as well as a wonderful time of year to visit one of the great bustling cosmopolitan centres of the ancient and historic world. Tour Highlights • Visit the picturesque site of ancient Dion, situated at the foot of Mount Olympus • Discover Pella, the birthplace of Philip II and Alexander the Great – a site renowned for the exceptional mosaics that are housed within the site museum • Admire the remarkable painted tombs at Verghina, which are believed to contain the remains of the Macedonian Kings together with gold and other precious grave goods
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 6 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and wine, tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at The Excelsior Hotel
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
22nd - 28th Dec with Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley
£2,595 £410 ss
• All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/atex 18 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The Hellenistic theatre and Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki
ATHENS AT NEW YEAR
Discover the birthplace of Theseus 5 Days
From £2,295
29th December 2020 - 2nd January 2021
Activity Level
Critical to an understanding of our own modern culture is the city of Athens, where democracy, architecture, classical art and literature both germinated and flourished. This is the home of quintessentially classical ruins and an informed visit holds the key to understanding the whole of the Greek world. The city has changed considerably over the last two decades with extensive renovation and refurbishment, and it is now possible to discern the layout of the ancient Greek city – and even the Roman one – while the Plaka district at the foot of the Acropolis preserves traces of the Byzantine and Ottoman centuries. It is fascinating to uncover the echoes of the original Greek polis set amongst the busy buildings of modern Athens. At this festive time of year, many of the sites are illuminated as night falls and then, to ring in the New Year, the city celebrates with an impressive fireworks display over the mighty Parthenon.
Tour Highlights • Explore the sites and monuments – the great and lesserknown – that made Athens the very centre of the classical Greek world • Visit two fabulous, world-class museums – the Acropolis and the National Museum, housing between them some of the greatest collections of antiquities in the world • Based in the Plaka district, in the heart of Athens, you will be within easy walking distance of many of the major sites
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 4 dinners
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• Water with all meals and wine, tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at Herodion Hotel
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
29th Dec 2020 - 2nd Jan 2021 with Dr Rita Roussos
£2,295 £235 ss
• All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/aath Images: Celebrations in Athens and the amphitheatre of the Acropolis
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 19
NEW FOR 2020
MEXICO AT CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR
Discover archaeology, history and ancient Mexican culture 13 Days
From £5,195
23rd December 2020 - 4th January 2021 Activity Level
With mild evenings and warm, sunny days, December is an ideal time to visit Central Mexico. The festive season brings piñatas and flowers in abundance, especially the native poinsettias, and archaeological sites and museums are less busy. We shall explore the ancient Mexican cultures and visit some of the most beautiful cathedrals and convents of the 16th century, several of them built on top of Pre-Columbian temples. Modern Mexican architecture and design is superb, fine examples being the Museums of Anthropology in Mexico City and Xalapa. We visit several of the principal regions of indigenous tradition, notably Olmec and Teotihuacan as well as Aztec. The rural districts we travel through are picturesque, with villages of cobbled streets and tree-lined squares. Also, at the heart of our tour is traditional food and drink, which we will enjoy in some of the historic buildings such as the San Angel Inn, a former Carmelite monastery. Tour Highlights • Explore one of the largest cities in the Americas, Teotihuacan, with its imposing pyramids of the Sun and Moon • Visit the extraordinary Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan, the most important religious and economic Aztec Temple • Explore 16th century convents with their blend of Spanish architecture and native ancient Mexican motifs on their walls • Enjoy traditional foods such as mole, a sauce cooked with chocolate, and mild chilli prepared in old haciendas
Included in your price • Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
Dates & prices per person Tepozteco, Hotel Quinta Real Puebla & Hotel Posada Coatepec
• Return flights from London & all local transport
• 11 breakfast, 11 lunches & 11 dinners
• Accommodation at Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City, Hotel Ixcal Malinalco, Hotel Occidental Cuernavaca, Hotel Posada del
• Water with all meals & tea or coffee with dinner
Date
Prices from
23rd Dec 2020 - 4th Jan 2021 with Dr Elizabeth Baquedano
£5,195 £955 ss
• Entries to all sites & museums • All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/amxx 20 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: Teotihuacan & traditional Mexican mole
MEXICO The Maya
Of all Mesoamerican civilisations, the Maya have enjoyed the most enduring hold on the popular imagination. Recent progress in the decipherment of Maya writing has unlocked many of their secrets, revealing a society as complex and fascinating as their art and architecture previously suggested. This is one of our most adventurous trips, starting with the museums of Mexico City, travelling via the uplands of Chiapas along the great river of Usumacinta, and then driving up the Yucatan peninsula. This is a thrilling journey through Mexico. Tour Highlights • View the Aztec Templo Mayor • Encounter enduring Maya traditions among the Chiapas communities • Discover Palenque, which is considered by many as the most beautiful of all the Maya cities • Travel in 4x4s and then by motor launch boat to the remote site of Yaxchilán, famous for its remarkable architecture • Explore the ball court, sacred well and more at Chichén Itzá
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
2nd - 17th Nov with David Drew
£4,995 £750 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/amex
GUATEMALA, HONDURAS AND BELIZE
Discover archaeological treasures and a dramatic history Explore the enduring mysteries of a magnificent civilisation that arose from the impenetrable jungles of Central America. A diverse range of landscapes await in this mysterious part of the world. From lush jungles to the prolific soils of volcanoes, powerful sunlight and plentiful water have long provided a dramatic habitat for colourful wildlife, the Maya peoples, and, over the past five centuries, Old World settlers too. The region’s dramatic history, its colonial cities and the treasures housed in museums – we get to experience it all on this 14-day tour. Tour Highlights • Enjoy a walk among Tikal’s magnificent ancient temples at daybreak and climb their steps as the sun rises • Observe an array of endemic wildlife, from howler monkeys and macaws to eagles and more • Tour the well-preserved buildings of Antigua, a UNESCOlisted city that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773 • Examine a selection of ancient artefacts at fascinating regional museums throughout this trip Images: The legendary site of Chichén Itzá and temples at Tikal
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
1st - 14th Dec with Dr Nicholas James
£5,995 £900 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/abel 01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 21
SRI LANKA
Discover no less than six awe-inspiring UNESCO sites Home to some of the finest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Sri Lanka boasts landmark monuments and ancient ruined cities that still stand in homage to the island’s past civilisations and cultures, as well as to their unique artefacts and archaeological treasures. Learn more about one of the earliest great Buddhist kingdoms on this 15-day adventure. Embrace spirituality with visits to a selection of temples, gaze out across awe-inspiring landscapes and experience it all in the company of two experts who can shine a spotlight on its stories and history. Tour Highlights • Witness a unique puja ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth • Climb Kasayapa’s citadel of Sigiriya for its amazing views • Explore the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO site • Enjoy a free day in Nuwara Eliya, a jewel of a hill station situated in the cool uplands • Share the road with working elephants as you journey through tropical countryside
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
6th - 20th Nov £4,295 with Prof. Bilinda Devage Nandadeva & £800 Prof. Nilan Cooray Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/asri
NORTH INDIA
Gaze upon the staggering temple carvings at Khajuraho India’s turbulent history and spectacular cultural heritage has left it with exotic traditions, stunning artwork and truly fascinating architecture. Our 18-day exploration includes an array of carefully planned visits to many world-famous sites, monuments and leading museums, all of which bring a comprehensive understanding of the intricate and cultural synthesis that has evolved between the country’s primary religious civilisations - Jain, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. From the Taj Mahal to the Khajuraho temple carvings, discover it all. Tour Highlights • Explore and contrast Old and New Delhi, where the ancient and modern blend seamlessly together • Experience the architectural magnificence of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the modern world • Discover Lucknow, where we visit the exquisitely decorated Rumi Darwaza and enjoy the area’s famed cuisine • Enjoy an early morning boat trip on the holy Ganges • View Khajuraho’s amazing sculptures and temple carvings
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
1st - 18th Dec with Dr Mehreen Chida-Razvi
£5,295 £995 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/anin 22 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The Avukana Buddha statue and the stunning Taj Mahal
OMAN
Explore unique Bronze Age tombs at UNESCO-listed Bat Oman has been a crossroads of commerce for millennia, with ideas flowing from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf and across the Indian Ocean. Travelling from the mountains of Muscat to beaches of Salalah, visit Bronze Age conical tombs at Bat, see rock art in Nakher, visit copper smelting sites at Samad, and explore Iron Age irrigation systems. Discover the hub of Classical Arabia Felix, the great incense city of Sumhuram – with a special drive to the Empty Quarter that takes us to the lost city of Ubar – and see ruins of the Islamic port city of Al Balid. Tour Highlights • Discover the lost city of Ubar in the Empty Quarter • Follow in the footsteps of the ancient caravans on this unique tour as we explore a range of rock art, classical era and Islamic sites • Explore the striking Bronze Age conical tombs at Bat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site • Travel through contrasting landscapes, from the craggy mountains to the sparkling sea
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
6th - 16th Nov with Nick Jackson
£4,395 £995 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/aoma
CHILE & EASTER ISLAND
Discover some of the world’s most enigmatic rock art An adventure awaits – travel across the globe with an international expert to see some of the most enigmatic rock art in the world, situated in vast and remote landscapes. Doing so involves journeying down the coast of northern Chile and into the Atacama desert, before flying over the Pacific to a tiny speck of land - 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 extraordinary and their scale makes us wonder why they were created. Tour Highlights • Discover extraordinary petroglyphs and geoglyphs amid unforgettable lunar-like landscapes • Explore Easter Island, the most remote piece of land inhabited on the planet, and observe moai statues in situ • Visit a range of regional museums, which include exhibits on wood-carving and the Chichorro Mummies • Traverse the striking Atacama Desert, declared the world’s driest by NASA following a series of in-depth studies
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
7th - 23rd Nov with Dr Paul Bahn
£8,495 £925 ss
Price includes an Expert Guide Lecturer, Tour Manager, return flights, local transport, accommodation, entries to sites and museums, taxes and gratuities, and most meals.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/achi Images: The Grand Mosque in Muscat and the famous Easter Island moai
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 23
ARCHAEOLOGY & GHOSTS OF EAST ANGLIA Author M. R. James and the supernatural 4 Days
From £1,085
14th - 17th December 2020
Activity Level
East Anglia’s rich archaeological heritage exists alongside fables, legends and stories, exemplified by the ghost stories of author M. R. James. As a Cambridge-based archaeologist, medievalist and curator, James was born and bred in the region, and was also privy to its odd corners and folklore. This tour will introduce some of the world-class archaeological sites that are to be seen, together with a peep behind the curtain into pandemonium as we follow James’ fiction between the monuments. Beginning in the university city of Cambridge, enjoy readings and presentations of James’ writings alongside visits to Fitzwilliam Museum and the library of Magdalene College, before moving on to Bury St. Edmunds, where the ruins of the great Benedictine abbey await discovery. Elsewhere, explore some of the author’s haunts, including the Martello Tower, the White Lion Hotel and the curiosity shop in Aldeburgh. Tour Highlights • Explore the Neolithic flint mines at Grime’s Graves • Visit the reconstructed Saxon village located at West Stow • Listen to the haunting ghost stories of M. R. James in atmospheric surroundings throughout this tour • Tour Sutton Hoo, the burial place of kings as well as home to Britain’s richest archaeological find
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners
• Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
• Accommodation at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre & Hotel Diss by Verve
• Entries to all sites & museums
Date
Prices from
14th - 17th Dec with Oliver Gilkes
£1,085 £220 ss
• All taxes & gratuities
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/amrj 24 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The cathedral at Bury St. Edmunds and Saxon huts at West Stow
NEW FOR 2020
CHRISTMAS IN WESSEX
Legends and walks in Winchester and Salisbury 6 Days
From £1,945
22nd - 27th December 2020
Activity Level
Based in Salisbury, enjoy Christmas with us as we explore the archaeology of Wessex. The chalk downs of this ancient kingdom have been a focus for monumental building and funerary ritual for 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, but unintelligible to the untrained eye. Our archaeological excursions include a day among the stone circle in Avebury as well as visits to Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow, Woodhenge and – on the morning of Christmas Eve – we visit the world-famous monument of Stonehenge. We also explore medieval Salisbury, visiting Salisbury Cathedral and the historic Christmas markets in both Salisbury and Winchester. On Boxing Day, we spend time in the countryside at Cranbourne Chase, where we take a walking tour of the archaeological monuments of the area. Tour Highlights • Spend time at the Christmas markets in both Winchester and Salisbury, where we can soak up the festive spirit • A full day to explore the archaeological remains at Avebury and the related artefacts housed within the local museum • Enjoy a relaxed walking tour on Boxing Day in Cranbourne Chase to explore the area’s diverse archaeology • Wander the landscape around Stonehenge and admire the well-known stone circle that dates from the Neolithic period
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• Water with all meals & tea or coffee with dinner
• All local transport
• Entries to all sites & museums
• Accommodation at the Red Lion Hotel
• All taxes & gratuities
Date
Prices from
22nd - 27th Dec with Dr Paul Tubb
£1,945 £375 ss
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 5 dinners
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/awex Images: Stonehenge at dawn and the stones at Avebury
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 25
NEW FOR 2020
EDINBURGH
Stories of Christmas past 6 Days
From £1,525
22nd - 27th December 2020
Activity Level
With festive celebrations banned in Scotland from 1640 to 1712 – and not completely resurrected until the mid-20th century – Edinburgh can be said to be ‘the city that rediscovered Christmas’. This delightful Yule stay in the country’s capital features a Scottish take on the traditional Christmas market, a special Christmas tour of Mary King’s Close below the Royal Mile and music at the Botanic Gardens. Scottish storytellers regale us with traditional tales of faeries and other ‘wee folk’, as well as accounts of preReformation Christmas merrymaking. The Museum of Childhood invites us on a nostalgic journey back through time with toys that may once have appeared in your Christmas stockings and the Writers’ Museum shows how the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott incorporated the frownedupon festival into their novels. Trips to the Botanic Gardens and Arthur’s Seat place us in the heart of the Christmas fun, now thankfully restored in charming Auld Reekie. Tour Highlights • Storytellers join us to introduce Scottish Christmas traditions and share folk tales of faeries as well as other local spirits • Enjoy a delightful Christmas market along with festive light and music shows at the Botanic Gardens • Take a special Mary King’s Close Christmas walk and a stroll down the Royal Mile on Christmas Day • Visits to the fantastic Writers’ Museum and the nostalgic Museum of Childhood
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Expert Guide Lecturer & Tour Manager
• Water with all meals and tea or coffee with dinner
• All local transport
• Entries to all sites & museums
• Accommodation at the Apex Grassmarket Hotel
• All taxes & gratuities
Date
Prices from
22nd - 27th December with Dr Elizabeth Cory Lopez
£1,525 £225 ss
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 5 dinners
For full details of this tour visit andantetravels.com/aedx 26 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat in winter, and the Royal Mile
BARE BONES POMPEII
BARE BONES ROME
Our five-day tour of the sites around Vesuvius offers the insightful company and stories of knowledgeable local guides. Visit Herculaneum, where the houses of noblemen were buried to their rooftops, and travel to Naples for a close look at the area’s most celebrated artefacts. There is free time available, with chances to climb Vesuvius, enter the world of Roman coastal villas at Oplontis or indulge in the flavours of Italy.
On this all-encompassing five-day tour, you will not only visit Rome’s iconic monuments, such as the Vatican, Colosseum and Pantheon, but explore gems unknown even to most locals, which include ancient ruins hidden beneath the Papal Basilicas. You will also visit the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian and walk down the Appian Way to see the impressive tomb of Caecilia Metella as well as the Villa Capo di Bove.
Date
Prices from
Date
Prices from
16th - 20th Nov with Daniela Mantice
£765 £140 ss
7th - 11th Nov with Kate Parkinson
£1,075 £140 ss
Price includes return flights, a Local Guide, all breakfasts, accommodation and entries to all sites in the itinerary.
Price includes return flights, a Local Guide, all breakfasts, accommodation and entries to all sites in the itinerary.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/abbp
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/abro
BARE BONES FLORENCE
BARE BONES VENICE
It is not an exaggeration to say that Florence both gave rise to and defines the Renaissance. Immerse yourself in the city’s Renaissance masterpieces, including the Baptistery and the Medici Chapel, and enjoy visits to its wonderful museums, including the Pitti and Uffizi, with an expert local art historian. Elsewhere, explore the Palazzo Vecchio and visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David.
Venice’s maritime republic, which spanned almost 1,000 years, has given us a great collection of art, architecture and history, in a truly evocative setting. On this tour, we travel to the city’s best destinations, many of them world-renowned and others lesser known, from the evocative streets of Europe’s oldest Jewish ghetto to the Arsenale Shipyard and even the Casino Venier. There is also free time on this tour.
Date
Prices from
Date
Prices from
19th - 23rd Nov with Dr Agata Chrzanowska
£1,075 £215 ss
26th - 30th Nov with Dr Eireann Marshall
£925 £155 ss
Price includes return flights, a Local Guide, all breakfasts, accommodation and entries to all sites in the itinerary.
Price includes return flights, a Local Guide, all breakfasts, accommodation and entries to all sites in the itinerary.
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/abbf
For full details visit andantetravels.co.uk/abbv
Images: Pompeii’s ruins, views over Florence, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, and Venice’s Rialto Bridge
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 27
Fancy something different? Travel with our award-winning sister company, Brightwater Holidays
Scenic Scotland, Garden & Archaeology Tours
• Gardens and archaeology sites both at home and in far-flung destinations • Experienced tour managers with specialist experience • Organising coach holidays to every corner of Scotland for over 25 years
To find out more, call a member of our team 01722 569 708 or visit our website brightwaterholidays.com
28 andantetravesl.co.uk | 01722 569 708
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 29
ICELAND NORTHERN LIGHTS Operated by Brightwater Holidays
Seeing the northern lights is a bucket-list item for many of us, but the otherworldly country of Iceland has a lot more to offer than nature’s best light show. Enjoy a city tour of Reykjavík that takes in the architecturally impressive church of Hallgrímskirkja, the parliamentary buildings of Alþingi and the Perlan. Explore the Reykjanes Peninsula, Þingvellir National Park, and bathe in the geothermal springs at Laugarvatn Fontana. Elsewhere, walk behind a waterfall, watch a geyser erupt and marvel at landscapes truly unlike any other in the world. Tour Highlights
Dates & prices per person
• Visit Urriðafoss Waterfall and explore the inner workings of a volcanic eruption at the Raufarholshellir Lava Tunnel
Date
Prices from
• Walk behind the mighty Seljalandsfoss waterfall
15th - 19th Nov with David MacLennan
£1,995 £300 ss
• Stand on the geological border between Europe and North America – a unique and memorable experience • Gaze upon the biggest geothermal mud pool in Iceland • Go in search of the northern lights as darkness falls
Price includes return flights, accommodation, the services of a professional Tour Manager, comfortable coach travel throughout, and meals as per the itinerary.
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bice
GARDENS OF MADEIRA No single supplement
Operated by Brightwater Holidays Set in a bright blue sea, some 400 miles off the coast of Africa, lies the lush, volcanic Portuguese island of Madeira. Orchids, bougainvillea, lilies, hydrangeas, magnolias, jacarandas and azaleas bloom effortlessly throughout the year, and delight the eye at every turn. During the tour, visit the splendid Palheiro Gardens, wander among Monte Palace Gardens that surround the château-like building and even take a toboggan ride through the streets. There’s also a full-day optional excursion to villages that include Camara de Lobos. Tour Highlights • Tour the Botanical Gardens, enjoying a colourful introduction to the flora of Madeira • Take a gentle walk along the levadas • Board a cable car to travel to Monte and take an optional 10-minute toboggan ride back down to Funchal • Sit down to afternoon tea at Reid’s Palace Hotel, which has welcomed the likes of Sir Winston Churchill over the years
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
2nd - 9th Nov with Joao Camacho
£1,395 No ss
Price includes return flights, accommodation, the services of a professional Tour Manager, comfortable coach travel throughout, and meals as per the itinerary.
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bmdg
30 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708 Images: The northern lights over Hella in Iceland and Madeira’s Monte Palace
POMPEII AND THE CLASSICAL WONDERS OF CAMPANIA Operated by Brightwater Holidays
The region of Campania in southwest Italy is blessed with a dramatic coastline, a perfect Mediterranean climate and a host of ancient ruins. The most famous of these is Pompeii, a once thriving seaside town whose existence came to an abrupt end in AD 79, when Vesuvius erupted with cataclysmic force and snuffed out all life in the town. Visit the nearby site at Paestum, tour opulent villas of the Roman superrich and explore Naples’ Archaeological Museum. Tour Highlights
Dates & prices per person
• Wander the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserved almost as they were 2,000 years ago
Date
Prices from
• Visit the opulent villas of the Roman super-rich
5th - 10th Nov with Clive Warsop
£1,395 £395 ss
• Marvel at the classical treasures housed within the Archaeological Museum in Naples • Peer into the mighty crater of Vesuvius • Enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of Naples as you head out for a traditional pizza
Price includes return flights, accommodation, the services of a professional Tour Manager, comfortable coach travel throughout, and meals as per the itinerary.
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bpom
MALTA’S ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE Operated by Brightwater Holidays
Malta’s diminutive archipelago is by no means any indication of the vast riches it holds — from the Neolithic to now, they are many and varied. Venture inside the walled citadel of Mdina, explore the narrow tomb-lined passages of St. Paul’s Catacombs, and enjoy a boat trip around the Blue Grotto. But most startling of all, perhaps, are the mysterious sites left by civilisations with whom we are just starting to get acquainted – the millenniaold Mnajdra Temples and the megaliths of Ħaġar Qim. An unforgettable archaeological tour awaits. Tour Highlights • Stay at the Dolmen Hotel, built around an authentic Neolithic temple • Explore the ancient and mysterious Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a deserving UNESCO World Heritage Site • Navigate the unique labyrinth of St. Paul’s Catacombs • Marvel at the 5,000-year-old temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra • Enjoy a memorable boat trip out to the Blue Grotto Images: Ancient Pompeii and the stunning city of Valletta in Malta
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
10th - 16th Nov with Michael Gill
£1,345 £195 ss
Price includes return flights, accommodation, the services of a professional Tour Manager, comfortable coach travel throughout, and meals as per the itinerary.
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bmal
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 31
MADAGASCAR
Flora and Fauna Operated by Brightwater Holidays 15 Days
From £5,295
3rd - 17th November 2020
Activity Level
Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island, is like a gigantic ark sailing ever so slowly across the Indian Ocean, having broken free from the African continent some 160 million years ago. The National Parks and private reserves that feature in our tour are among the finest in the world, and they are home to a simply bewildering array of flora and fauna. On the botanical side we can expect to see a huge range of fascinating trees and plants – none more curious than the baobab, which look like giant tubers that have been pulled from the earth and thrust back in with the roots uppermost, hence the name ‘Upside Down Tree’. We will also see a host of orchids, including the famous Comet Orchid, which should be in flower at this time of year. Think of Madagascar and you think of lemurs – for many, these endearing primates will top a star-studded cast list of birds and animals. In addition to the familiar ring-tailed lemur we can hope to see Sanford’s brown lemur, nocturnal mouse lemurs and Indri – the largest of all the lemurs with a haunting, whale-like call. Tour Highlights • Discover an array of endemic flora and fauna • Enjoy a nocturnal visit to discover the smallest frog and chameleon species of the rainforest • Walk along white sandy beaches, bordered by turquoise seas • Spend a full day at the Berenty Reserve, home to six species of lemur • View the iconic baobab trees on our travels around this incredible country
Included in your price
Dates & prices per person
• Return flights from London Heathrow
• Services of a professional Tour Manager
• Accommodation at Le Louvre Hotel & Spa, Hotel de la Poste, Berenty Lodge, La Croix du Sud, and Vakona Forest Lodge
• Comfortable coach travel
Date
Prices from
3rd - 17th Nov with a Tour Manager
£5,295 £780 ss
• 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches & 13 dinners
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bmad
32 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: The creeks of Lokaro and endemic golden mantella frogs
SEASONAL GARDENS OF JAPAN
Discover traditional Japanese gardens & temples Operated by Brightwater Holidays 13 Days
From £4,995
11th - 23rd November 2020
Activity Level
The origin of the Japanese garden lies in simple, gravel-covered forest clearings where the gods could manifest themselves. Over the centuries the gardens have evolved into an idealised reflection of the natural landscape through the careful use of stone and water features, trees, plants and moss. We have included a variety of different styles – landscape gardens, stroll gardens and pond-and-island, each with their own particular charm and beauty. One of the best known is Kinkaku-ji, with the three-tiered Golden Pavilion at its heart. From Kyoto, we travel by Bullet Train to Tokyo, where there will be further garden visits, which include Hamarikyu. There is so much more to Japan than gardens, of course, and we have also included a wide range of other visits and excursions that reflect the unique culture of the country. Highlights include the historic town of Omi Hachiman, the Imperial Palace Garden in Tokyo and a cruise on Lake Ashi, beneath the snow–capped peak of Mount Fuji. Our final full day is spent in Kamakura and a farewell traditional dinner rounds off the trip. Tour Highlights • Step back in time to old Japan at Omi Hachiman • Watch the famous bowing deer roam free at Nara Park • Stand before the enormous Buddhas at Todai-ji and Kamamura • Enjoy stunning scenery in Hakone, including Mount Fuji • Discover the temples and gardens of Kyoto, probably the finest in all Japan • Ride the legendary bullet train to Tokyo and experience this vibrant city’s pulsating heart Dates & prices per person
Included in your price • Return flights from London Heathrow
• Comfortable coach travel
Date
Prices from
• Accommodation at ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kyoto and the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa
• Train travel • 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners
11th - 23rd Nov with a Tour Manager
£4,995 £1,500 ss
• Services of a professional Tour Manager
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bjpg Images: The Buddha statue in Kamakura and Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 33
CHRISTMAS IN KENT Operated by Brightwater Holidays
How many times have you slaved over a hot stove or a never-ending pile of cranberry sauce-encrusted plates, promising yourself that next Christmas someone else will do all the hard work? Well, here’s your chance! The friendly staff of the comfortable Donnington Manor Hotel in Sevenoaks, Kent are ready and waiting to bring Christmas to you on a plate. From the moment you arrive – welcomed by a warming drink – until the time you check out, they will ensure your every need is catered for, with a selection of snacks, meals, drinks and festive cheer. Tour Highlights
Dates & prices per person
• A welcome Christmas cocktail reception to get the holiday off to a festive start • Enjoy a delicious four-course Christmas Day lunch • Sit down to a chef’s Christmas buffet • Opt to take our complimentary excursion to the cathedral city of Canterbury, filled with history and charming shops
Date
Prices from
24th - 27th Dec with a Tour Manager
£795 £175 ss
Price includes accommodation, the services of a professional Tour Manager, comfortable coach travel throughout, and meals as per the itinerary.
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bxkt
CHRISTMAS IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS Operated by Brightwater Holidays
The Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa, nestling on the banks of the River Tweed in a tranquil valley a few miles to the east of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, provides the luxurious setting for a relaxing, stress-free Christmas break. From the moment you arrive at the hotel, welcomed with cream teas, you will enjoy the best of Scottish hospitality and a full festive programme that includes carol singing and a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. There is also an optional excursion into the Borders as well as a visit to nearby Peebles. Tour Highlights • Enjoy three nights’ dinner, bed and full breakfast at the 4* Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa near Peebles • Take advantage of our full programme of Christmas activities as per the itinerary • Coach travel from pick-up points in and around Scotland • A festive arrival awaits at the hotel, with Christmas carols performed by the staff and a drinks reception on the cards
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
24th - 27th Dec with Sue Gruellich
£499 £175 ss
Price includes accommodation, the services of a professional Tour Manager, comfortable coach travel throughout, and meals as per the itinerary.
• Scenic coach tour of the Border country
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk/bmdg
34 andantetravels.co.uk | 01722 569 708
Images: Fallow deer in Kent and sheep grazing during winter in Moffat
UP HELLY AA
Operated by Brightwater Holidays
5 Days
From £895
Departing January 2022
Activity Level
Shetland is a beguiling place to visit at any time but in the short winter days the islands take on a special character with steely grey seas and dramatic skies. During our stay we will take in the Prehistoric and Norse Settlement of Jarlshof to the south, and tour as far as the islands of Yell and Unst to the north. Up Helly Aa itself is on the Tuesday, when we will have the day free to enjoy the various events in Lerwick, culminating in the torchlight procession and boat burning ceremony in the evening, the highlight of an unusual and uplifting winter break. We offer a choice of two hotels. The Busta House Hotel, situated at Busta Voe, north of Lerwick, dates back to 1588, with a colourful history that includes tales of family feuds, secret marriages and tragic events. In contrast, the more modern Shetland Hotel is located opposite the ferry terminal in Lerwick, within walking distance of the town centre, making it the ideal base for those who wish to enjoy the Up Helly Aa festivities to the full. Tour Highlights • Experience the fire festival known as Up Helly Aa, which takes place once per year and must be seen to be believed • Encounter 3,000 years of archaeological history at the Prehistoric and Norse Settlement of Jarlshof • Visit the stunning RSPB reserve at Sumburgh Head, which is also home to a remotely functioning lighthouse
Included in your price
• Four nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast: two nights at Busta House Hotel and two nights in a two-berth inside cabin on board Serco Northlink Ferries (outside cabins at a supplement of £40pp)
• All visits as outlined in the itinerary • Comfortable coach travel throughout • Services of a professional tour manager
Dates & prices per person Date
Prices from
23rd - 27th Jan 2022 with a Tour Manager
£895 £275 ss
Shetland Hotel supplement
£120pp
For full details visit brightwaterholidays.co.uk Images: Festivities from Up Helly Aa and the settlement of Jarlshof
01722 569 708 | andantetravels.co.uk 35
Discover Italy’s finest archaeology
Ravenna & Aquileia Operated by Andante Travels 2nd - 9th Nov with Oliver Gilkes
Bare Bones Pompeii Operated by Andante Travels 16th - 20th Nov with Daniela Mantice
Bare Bones Venice
Operated by Andante Travels 26th - 30th Nov with Dr Eireann Marshall
Ancient Rome with Mary Beard Operated by Andante Travels
4th - 7th Nov with Dr Andy Souter 5th - 8th Nov with John Shepherd
Romans on the Bay of Naples
Operated by Andante Travels 17th - 24th Nov with Dr Eireann Marshall
Bare Bones Rome
Operated by Andante Travels 7th - 11th Nov with Kate Parkinson
Bare Bones Florence Operated by Andante Travels 19th - 23rd Nov with Dr Agata Chrzanowska
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania
Pompeii & Naples at New Year
14th - 21st Dec with Tony Wilmott
28th Dec 2020 - 3rd Jan 2021 with Mark Corney
Operated by Andante Travels
Operated by Andante Travels