Archaeology & Ancient History Tours

Lucia Gahlin

Lucia Gahlin is a UK-based Egyptologist with a wealth of experience as an educator, researcher, archaeologist and museum curator. She has led tours to Egypt since 1994.

Egypt

Over 3000 years of Egyptian history awaits travelling the Nile Valley from Cairo to Aswan. From the great monuments and museums in Cairo and Luxor to Abu Simbel.

Sicily : Siracusa, Agrigento and Palermo

Dr Jeni Ryde

Dr Jeni Ryde is a historian with an excellent knowledge of medieval and modern Italy. Her PhD spanned Renaissance studies, heritage and the impact of tourism.

Sicily

Experience the remarkable history and culture of Sicily on this new 13-day tour. See Greek temples, Norman mosaics, and visit some of the lesser-known towns.

Puglia to Pompeii : Classical southern Italy

Dr Estelle Lazer

Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work on the human skeletal remains discovered at Pompeii.

Puglia to Pompeii

This 17-day tour will appeal to those looking to take ‘the road less travelled’ through the regions of Puglia and Basilicata, and on to the Bay of Naples.

Waitlist

17 days

Mar 27 - Apr 10, 2019

Venice : City, Republic and Empire

Robert Veel

Robert Veel has a BA and M.Ed from the University of Sydney, where he taught for many years. Robert has an intimate knowledge of Venice, its history, art and architecture.

Venice

Unpack and unwind on this residential tour exploring the art and history of Venice, from its Byzantine origins to its Renaissance glory and modern beauty.

15 days

Mar 29 - Apr 14, 2019

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands : Jewels of the Mediterranean

Gerald Deslandes

Gerald Deslandes is a former curator and cultural historian with a BA from Cambridge University, and has led more than 50 tours to Europe and the UK.

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands

See Greek temples, Roman villas, Byzantine mosaics, Norman cathedrals and exuberant baroque architecture, in a setting of sea and mountains.

17 days

Mar 29 - Apr 13, 2019

Sardinia and Corsica : from the Stone Age to Napoleon

Dr Jeni Ryde

Dr Jeni Ryde is a linguist and art history specialist with over fifteen years’ experience leading tours to Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Sardinia and Corsica

Explore Sardinia and Corsica, two Mediterranean islands which, despite centuries of invasion and settlement, retain a proud independent spirit.

Morocco : The Grand Tour

Sue Rollin

Sue Rollin is an archaeologist, historian and linguist with 30 years’ experience in leading tours to Central Asia, India, the Middle East and countries around the Mediterranean.

Morocco

Journey beyond the kasbahs, to uncover a fascinating history, exotic culture and stunning landscapes that have attracted travellers for centuries.

Classical and Bronze Age Greece

Dr Jennifer Lawless

Dr Jennifer Lawless has led tours to Greece, Turkey and Iran. Jenny has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and a NSW Premier’s History Prize for her research and writing.

Classical and Bronze Age Greece

Explore ancient Greece and its legacy on this 17-day tour through Classical and Bronze Age sites. Visit Athens, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi and Santorini.

Iran in depth

Dr John Tidmarsh

Dr John Tidmarsh is a classical archaeologist a former lecturer at the University of Sydney. He leads tours throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.

Iran in depth

Discover Iran’s cultural highlights on this comprehensive tour visit, museums, monuments, palaces and gardens from the Caspian Sea to the desert city of Yazd.

The City of Rome : Easter in the Eternal City

Robert Veel

Robert Veel has a BA and M.Ed from the University of Sydney, where he taught for many years. Robert has an intimate knowledge of Rome, its history, art and architecture.

The City of Rome

Discover the city of Rome beyond the tourist trail, with special visits to difficult to access sites and expert guidance through its history, art and culture.

Japan Unmasked : Art, History and Culture

Dr Kathleen Olive

Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD and lectures on art and history. She is one of Academy Travel’s most respected tour leaders.

Japan Unmasked

Uncover Japan’s history, art and culture in new world Tokyo, Kanazawa’s gardens, Hiroshima’s peace memorial and 7 nights immersed in Kyoto’s cultural delights.

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan : a journey through Central Asia

Ben Churcher

Ben Churcher has a wide range of experience as an educator, and an archaeologist. Since 1994 Ben has led tours to Jordan, Greece, Syria, Egypt, China, Morocco and Central Asia.

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Uncover the wealth of history and culture of the ‘Stans’, with visits to the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, and the desert oasis of Merv.

Siberia & The Russian Far East

Dr Matthew Dal Santo

Dr Matthew Dal Santo is a historian with a D.Phil from Cambridge University. His expertise includes modern Russia, Scandinavia and the Balkans.

Siberia & The Russian Far East

Explore Russia’s most remote regions, with a blend of Russian and oriental cultures and religions, and dramatic volcanic landscapes in and around Kamchatka.

Vienna to Venice : the crossroads of history

Dr Nick Gordon

Dr Nick Gordon holds a University Medal and a PhD in history from the University of Sydney. Nick designs and leads history, art and culture tours for Academy Travel.

Vienna to Venice

Explore Europe’s extraordinary history and archaeology at one of its great cultural crossroads and discover Slovenia and Friuli on this new 17-day tour.

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands : Jewels of the Mediterranean

Dr Kathleen Olive

Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD in Italian Studies, and lectures on European art and history. Her tours focus mainly on the post-classical Mediterranean world, especially Italy.

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands

See Greek temples, Roman villas, Byzantine mosaics, Norman cathedrals and exuberant baroque architecture, in a setting of sea and mountains.

Malta & Sicily : aboard Sea Cloud II

Robert Veel

Robert Veel is a cultural historian with over 20 years’ experience leading tours to Italy and has led numerous tours aboard the Sea Cloud II.

Malta & Sicily

Enjoy the best of land and sea travel on this 17 day tour travelling from Malta to Sicily, featuring a six-night cruise on the luxury sailing yacht Sea Cloud II.

17 days

Sep 26 - Oct 13, 2019

Egypt : from the Great Pyramid to Abu Simbel

Lucia Gahlin

Lucia Gahlin is a UK-based Egyptologist with a wealth of experience as an educator, researcher, archaeologist and museum curator. She has led tours to Egypt since 1994.

Egypt

Over 3000 years of Egyptian history awaits travelling the Nile Valley from Cairo to Aswan. From the great monuments and museums in Cairo and Luxor to Abu Simbel.

Portugal

Dr Jeni Ryde

Dr Jeni Ryde is a historian with an excellent knowledge of medieval and modern Italy, Spain and Portugal. Her PhD spanned Renaissance studies, heritage and the impact of tourism.

Portugal

Discover Portugal on this 15-day tour, from Lisbon’s Golden Age to the World Heritage-listed sites of Sintra and Évora, medieval Coimbra and colourful Porto.

14 days

Sep 30 - Oct 12, 2019

Istanbul : Study Tour

Dr Jennifer Lawless

Dr Jennifer Lawless has led tours to Greece, Turkey and Iran. Jenny has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and a NSW Premier’s History Prize for her research and writing.

Istanbul

Delve into the art and architecture of Classical and Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Istanbul and discover a fascinating history of where East meets West.

Iran in depth

Dr John Tidmarsh

Dr John Tidmarsh is a classical archaeologist a former lecturer at the University of Sydney. He leads tours throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.

Iran in depth

Discover Iran’s cultural highlights on this comprehensive tour visit, museums, monuments, palaces and gardens from the Caspian Sea to the desert city of Yazd.

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan : a journey through central Asia

Christopher Bradley

Christopher Bradley Has an honours degree from Liverpool University and specialises in the history and art of North Africa and Arabia.

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Uncover the wealth of history and culture of the ‘Stans’, with visits to the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, and the desert oasis of Merv.

Western China : on the Silk Road

Ben Churcher

Ben Churcher has a wide range of experience as an educator, and an archaeologist. Since 1994 Ben has led tours to China, Jordan, Greece, Syria, Egypt & Morocco.

Western China

Travel along the Silk Road from Imperial Beijing and Xian’s terracotta warriors to Buddhist monasteries and caves and the Islamic regions in China’s far west.

Sardinia and Corsica : from the Stone Age to Napoleon

Dr Kathleen Olive

Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD in Italian Studies, and lectures on European art and history. Her tours focus mainly on the post-classical Mediterranean world, especially Italy.

Sardinia and Corsica

Explore Sardinia and Corsica, two Mediterranean islands which, despite centuries of invasion and settlement, retain a proud independent spirit.

Puglia to Pompeii : Classical Southern Italy

Dr Estelle Lazer

Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work on the human skeletal remains discovered at Pompeii.

Puglia to Pompeii

This 16-day tour will appeal to those looking to take ‘the road less travelled’ through the regions of Puglia and Basilicata, and on to the Bay of Naples.

16 days

Oct 25 - Nov 11, 2019

Mexico : Aztecs, Maya & the Day of the Dead

Chloë Sayer

Chloe has conducted extensive research and fieldwork on traditional crafts and textiles throughout Mexico. She has lived and worked in Mexico for many years and is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Mexico

Unravel the unique history, archaeology and natural beauty of Mexico: Aztecs, Maya, the colourful Days of the Dead; volcanos, jungle and tropical coast.

18 days

Oct 26 - Nov 10, 2019

South by Southwest : Charleston, New Orleans, Dallas, Santa Fe

Dr Matthew Laing

Dr Matthew Laing is a historian and political scientist with a PhD from the ANU. Matthew leads tours to the United States, Scandinavia and around the Baltic.

South by Southwest

South by Southwest USA

Greece : from Antiquity to Byzantium

Dr John Tidmarsh

Dr John Tidmarsh is the former president of the University of Sydney’s Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation, and a former lecturer in the Department of Archaeology.

Greece

Explore Crete’s sprawling Minoan palaces and cruise the Peloponnese on a small ship, visiting archaeological sites and museums in Olympia, Delphi and Athens.

Japan Unmasked : Art, History and Culture

Ann MacArthur

Ann MacArthur holds a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies and speaks fluent
Japanese. Ann has over 20 years experience as a museum educator.

Japan Unmasked

Uncover Japan’s history, art and culture in new world Tokyo, Kanazawa’s gardens, Hiroshima’s peace memorial and 7 nights immersed in Kyoto’s cultural delights.

Guatemala, Honduras & Belize : Pyramids, Temples & Tombs

Dr Chris Carter

Dr Chris Carter has an Honours and Master’s degree in archaeology and has recently completed a PhD. He has led tours to Central and South America for over 20 years.

Guatemala, Honduras & Belize

Explore the ancient civilisation of the Maya, visiting the pyramids, temples and tombs of this mysterious culture’s heartland in Guatemala, Honduras and Belize.

16 days