Worldwide Escorted Tours

Here, at Andante Travels, we are driven by a passion for the past. Founded and run by archaeologists for the past three decades, our company remains unique among its competitors – we put archaeology and history at the very heart of everything we do. However far-flung or close to home the destination, our ethos remains unchanged – a real holiday led by an expert guide, where every day is spent immersed in stories from the ancient world through visits to museums, access to working excavation sites and a chance to experience it all first-hand.

Our worldwide escorted tours range from an adventure along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan to a chance to visit the phenomenal Maya temples in Tikal, and from the world-renowned ruined site of Pompeii to Egypt’s staggering monuments. With us, no stone is left unturned.

If you’re wondering what your worldwide escorted tour with Andante includes, let us explain…

Enjoy a tour in the company of like-minded travellers, who share your passion
On our tours, travel between destinations will always be in comfortable coaches or suitable alternatives
The majority of hotels we use on these tours are 4*, but occasionally we will stay in an excellent 3* or outstanding 5* – and they are always hand-picked by us
All meals are included on most days, but there will be the odd opportunity to explore restaurants independently on some tours – check your individual itinerary for details on which meals are included
Our expert guide lecturers can bring the past vividly back to life, while our experienced tour managers work hard to ensure that your trip runs as smoothly as possible
Your admission to sites, museums and visits in the programme are all included in the total price of your holiday
We always ensure that there is some free time available for you to get a feel for your destination at leisure, in your own way
We include porterage where we are unable to park right by the hotel or where access to rooms is difficult

What to expect

Doorway at Machu Picchu frames a view of Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu

Choose your own ancient-world adventure

With our worldwide escorted tours, no two trips are the same. Our collection of destinations includes myriad themes, which range from Roman history to rock art, and the tours can be divided up according to what experience they present. We have the archaeologist’s choice, which we consider to be the tours that visit incredible sites such as the amphitheatre of El Djem in Tunisia; then there are cultural icons, which include can’t-miss events such as the once-per-decade Passion Play in Oberammergau; the bucket-list mainstay trips, which tend to be longer and explore destinations considered to be further-flung, like Peru with its UNESCO-listed Machu Picchu and curious Nazca Lines; and we also have our top-rated – or core – tours, which are the itineraries most loved by you, our valued guests. These are the tours that have consistently been voted 5*, meaning that the site visits, accommodation, pace of the trip, and expertise of the guide have really made for a memorable time away with us.

The Andante difference

If you’re familiar with us, you’ll know that all of our tours are led by experts in their field. From historians to working archaeologists, you’ll head off on tour in truly privileged company. Our expert guide lecturers use their research, knowledge, interest, and personal passion at the site we visit to bring them to life – in immersive and often hands-on ways. Walking the streets of ancient Pompeii alongside a Roman specialist or an archaeologist who has personally excavated there is an experience to remember, and this is what we strive for with each departure, year after year.

Special access

Something we pride ourselves on is the special access to which we can treat you. Travelling with Andante means that you are exploring the world in the company of renowned experts. Our lecturers and in-house staff have spent 35 years building strong relationships with people on the ground, which allows us to lift the curtain on many money-can’t-buy experiences. From backstage tours of legendary venues and the chance to handle artefacts in museums out-of-hours, to visits to sites that are ordinarily closed to the public – nothing is off-limits when you choose Andante.

If you love the idea of experiencing one of these tours, but want to add a few tweaks – just let us know what you have in mind! There are a number of options available for enhancing your tour or making it a little more flexible.

Fancy a room with a view or a luxurious suite? If the hotel you’re staying at offers what it is you’re after, we will do our very best to help secure your perfect upgrade.
Whether you’re travelling long-haul or it’s a short two-hour trip within Europe, we can always help you to upgrade your flights. Just call our friendly team for quotes and booking, and then all that’s left to do is count down the days until you get to travel in style!
One of the most stressful parts of any holiday is often getting to and from the airport – and doing it on time! If you’d like to take the pressure off before and after you’ve enjoyed your Andante tour, why not treat yourself to a door-to-door transfer? With us in the driving seat, all you have to do is hop in the car and relax.
If you’d like to make your tour a little longer, we can arrange for you to add on extra nights either before or after your group tour. Why not stay on for some independent exploration? There’s a whole lot of world to see, after all.

A very well organised programme of visits, accompanied by very professional and knowledgeable guides. Excellent information from the company. Feefo reviewer

Frequently Asked Questions

None! All you need to enjoy an Andante holiday is enthusiasm and interest. People with a wide range of experience travel with us, from experts and amateurs to the merely curious. They are accessible for all interest levels!

Yes, very much so! Single places are available on all of our tours and these are often the first to fill. Many long-lasting friendships have been formed on our tours over the past 35 years.

We do our very best to seek out and take advantage of everything a country has to offer. Where we can, we’ll take you to a local market or festival, or offer you an invitation to a live excavation or performance.

Certainly. If you wish to fly out early or stay a few days later, we can book your flights accordingly. We do charge a modest administration fee for this service and a supplement for private transfers may also apply, but just speak to one of our sales consultants for more details.

We understand that sometimes you might decide to book a tour at the last minute, and for this reason we absolutely accept late bookings! However, we would recommend you book as early as possible to get your holiday at the very best price.

We include as much as possible on our tours, so you shouldn’t need a lot of extra money. However, there are sometimes independent meals, optional excursions and free time, so these factors should always be considered ahead of travel.

Yes. When you travel with us, you will be looked after around the clock. In the event of an emergency, Andante staff will be on hand to help you both on tour and from our office in the UK. We are experts in dealing with the unexpected and provide a 24-hr emergency number for all tours.

Our guests are intelligent, interesting people from all walks of life. We aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere, so that you feel like you’re travelling with friends. After all, if you’re drawn to this sort of holiday, it’s safe to say that your fellow travellers will be of like-minded nature, too!

Wherever possible, we dine in local restaurants that showcase regional cuisine. In Europe, it’s typical that wine will accompany your evening meal.

We include as much as possible on our tours, such as accommodation, tips, flights, and entrance fees to all sites listed in the programme.

Of course. All of our holidays are fully bonded and protected via the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL scheme (for flight-based holidays) or through ABTOT (for holidays that don’t include flights).

We work hard to ensure that our visits have a positive impact on the ancient place we go to. We have been awarded the top 5* rating by AITO in recognition of our excellence when it comes to sustainable and responsible travel. All of our brochures and packing materials are from recycled or sustainable sources.

We’ve introduced a grading system to help you understand if a tour is suitable for you. This is based on a variety of components that make up each tour. These include the distance and terrain walked, the driving distances covered, the number of hotel changes, and the average length of the day’s activities. For specific enquiries, just call our sales team who will be happy to advise.

For tours with over 15 guests, our expert Guide Lecturer will also be accompanied by a Tour Manager, due to the size of the group. Any tour with less than 15 guests will only include an expert Guide Lecturer.

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