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We can bring you face-to-face with some of the human race’s earliest examples of creativity both inside of caves and etched onto rocks in the wilderness. That’s right, we have a fascinating selection of rock art tours on offer, which can take you to France, Portugal, Spain and even Namibia. Led by our esteemed experts, our collection of rock and cave art tours will leave you in awe of early man's capability and legacy.
Rock Art Tours
5 August 2020
Rock Art of Portugal
In the world of Ice Age rock art, caves such as Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain are well known and documented. Portugal, however, has its own equally early rock art, which is exposed to the elements year-round. Set within the peaceful valley of the Côa river, surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and local fauna, lie around five thousand engravings, including a few of human figures. The archaeological impact of Foz Côa was initially controversial, but it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and new discoveries still being made today. We will explore the valley and its secrets, studying the art that has been in situ for thousands of years. This exciting seven-day tour is led by none other than Dr Paul Bahn, the world's leading authority on prehistoric rock art and leader of the team that discovered the first Ice Age cave art in Britain in 2003.
Prehistoric Rock Art & Landscapes in Scotland
The enchanting Kilmartin Glen, on Scotland’s west coast, plays host to one of the richest and best-preserved prehistoric landscapes in Britain. Kilmartin was one of the earliest places in Scotland to be farmed, and it formed a ritual centre that served and connected far-flung prehistoric agricultural communities for thousands of years. The extraordinary concentration of Neolithic and Bronze Age burial monuments, standing stones, and rock art in the glen and surrounding hills testifies to the importance of this area 5,500-3,500 years ago. Excavations have also recovered a wealth of material from below the ground, including a rich array of weapons, pottery and jewellery from the monumental Early Bronze Age cairns aligned along the valley floor. Join Dr Tertia Barnett on this unique four-day Scottish sojourn.
Rock Art of Altamira
Decorated 15-35,000 years ago, the caves of Altamira still display some of humankind’s first great artistic achievements. This is a unique chance to view the vivid images of horse, bison and deer that have come to epitomise Palaeolithic art. Throughout this tour, we will stay in historic towns nestled among the hills of northern Spain, which allows us to visit each of the sites on our itinerary with ease and also maximises our touring time. A visit to the Ice Age caves of northern Spain is a tremendous privilege. Where else could you approach original masterpieces of such immense antiquity in situ? Led by experts in rock art, for this tour we have secured special access to a selection of memorable caves and rock art sites. Here, we can view the images precisely where they were created, standing or crouching exactly as the original artists once did. The July 2021 departure is led by Dr Paul Bahn and the September 2021 departure is led by Dr Rob Dinnis.
Dordogne - Cave Art
Famed for its caves, the Dordogne Valley has some of the earliest and finest examples of prehistoric cave art. That’s not all, on this trip to rural France you’ll discover picturesque villages, sensational cuisine and a wealth of history. Vividly brought to life in ochre and charcoal are wild animals and human figures up to 30,000 years old. Our Guide Lecturer's tell the story of the art, its discovery and what is known of the people who created it. We will see some of the world famous rock art sites – taking you as close as it is possible to get to the lives of our most remote Ice Age ancestors. The May 2021 departure is led by Dr Rob Dinnis and the September 2021 departure is led by Dr Paul Bahn.
Pyrenees Rock Art
Created by our ancestors around 35-10,000 years ago, at a time when Europe lay in the grip of an Ice Age, cave art provides one of the most direct connections possible with our distant past. The astonishing feature of rock art is that, preserved by the temperature of their environment, these ancient images have remained both intact and in situ for millennia. Led by Dr Rob Dinnis, this six-day tour in France will visit the area’s key sites of prehistoric cave art, from Niaux to Mas d’Azil, offering you the chance to follow in the footsteps of the artists who created these early masterpieces. You will also explore the Parc de la Préhistoire, the Grotte de Bédeilhac and the Grottes de Gargas, where you can find cave art consisting of two different elements – both created in the Upper Palaeolithic period of approximately 25,000 BC.
Namibia - Rock Art & the Natural World
Join John Kinahan, an archaeologist with more than 40 years in the field, on a journey that will trace the footsteps of our early ancestors in magnificent Namibia next year. The rock art of the Khoisan people is a tradition that has continued over thousands of years. This aspect of an ancient culture is brought to life with exciting immediacy by stunning surroundings. Landscapes almost unchanged by humanity are still populated by the same wild creatures depicted in the earliest art. Highlights of this 16-day tour include multiple opportunities to observe incomparable ancient rock art sites among incredible landscapes, game drives in the amazing Etosha National Park to spot endemic wildlife and a chance to get involved in the AfriCat Foundation in Okonjima.
Saudi Arabia - Nabateans & Rock Art
Associated more with oil than history, Saudi Arabia is opening up to the world. This tour explores its incredible history from the ancient petroglyphs at Al-‘Ula to the Nabatean Rock cut tombs at Hegra and the historic Roshan in Jeddah. Alongside its history, we will be exploring Saudi’s spectacular desert environments. Experience 12 unforgettable days in the expert company of Roger Harrison, visiting the UNESCO-listed Nabatean rock-cut tombs at Hegra, the extraordinary UNESCO rock art at Jubbah dating back as early as the 10th millennium, Al-‘Ula Old Town (inhabited from the 13th century AD and later abandoned), and Rub’ al-Khali desert – also known as the Empty Quarter.
