Dr Michael Adcock is a social and cultural historian who specialises in the art and history of France. He has written extensively on France from the 17th to the 20th century.
Explore the art and history of Paris, from its Roman origins through its medieval glory to the cauldron that shaped modern art, on this 13-day study tour.
Robert Gay is one of Australia’s leading music tour leaders and music educators. He has led more than 80 orchestral music and opera-themed to Europe and the US.
Enjoy the world's leading opera festivals attending four outstanding performances at the Bavarian State Opera and three unforgettable Glyndebourne operas.
Enjoy a compelling lucid production of Wagner's four-part masterpiece at the Bavarian State Opera, with an unsurpassable international cast.
Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and a PhD in history and lectures on European art. Nick is also a practising painter and brings this passion to the visual arts.
Discover another Italy on this 17-day journey along the medieval pilgrim route, enjoying spectacular scenery, hidden gems and the elegance of provincial Italy.
Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her research on Pompeii, featured in several BBC documentaries and the subject of several books.
See Greek temples, Roman villas, Byzantine mosaics, Norman cathedrals and exuberant baroque architecture, in a setting of sea and mountains.
Christopher Menz is a former Director of the Art Gallery of SA. He has published extensively on the decorative arts and is a regular contributor to Australian Book Review.
From Mozart to Klimt, take a journey through the history, art and music of three of central Europe’s great capitals. Includes three performances.
Dr Matthew Dal Santo is a historian with a D.Phil from Cambridge University. His expertise includes modern Russia, Scandinavia and the Balkans.
Delve into history, culture and art on this 17-day tour of Russia. Visit the Golden Ring, Moscow’s Red Square and St Petersburg’s palaces and museums.
Robert Veel has a BA and M.Ed from the University of Sydney, where he taught for many years. A director of Academy Travel, he leads tours mainly to Italy, the USA and Scandinavia.
Explore Sardinia and Corsica, two Mediterranean islands which, despite centuries of invasion and settlement, retain a proud independent spirit.
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.
Enjoy the best of land and sea travel on this 17 day tour travelling from Malta to Venice, featuring a nine-night cruise on the luxury sailing yacht Sea Cloud II
Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and a PhD in history. He is also a practising painter. He leads art and history-themed tours in Europe and Australia.
Settle in and relax on this residential tour as we discover the unique amalgam of enterprise, republicanism, ambition and virtuosity that shaped the Renaissance.
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.
Take a comprehensive tour of Spain, designed to give the first-time visitor an overview of the country’s diverse and fascinating history, art and traditions.
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.
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.
Enjoy performances by leading American orchestras and opera houses, including the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York’s Met Opera.
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.
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.
Stuart Barrie leads tours to Europe and the USA focused on 20th century history, architecture and design. He is a director of Academy Travel with decades of industry experience.
The greats of American modernism and contemporary architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra, Frank Gehry and the Eames brothers.
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.
Chris Carter has led archaeology and history themed tours in Europe, South America and Australia for over 20 years. He recently completed a PhD in archaeology.
Travel from Mildura up to Mutawindji National Park on a discovery of our ancient indigenous heritage and the beauty of some of our most remote national parks.
Dr Matthew Laing is a historian and political scientist with a PhD from the ANU. Matthew leads tours to the United States, Scandinavia and the Baltic.
Follow the Frank Lloyd Wright trail from his prairies style in Chicago through to Buffalo and on to Wright’s most famous work, Fallingwater, outside Pittsburgh.
Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and a PhD in history. He is also a practising painter. He teaches and leads tours with art and history themes.
Visit the great regional galleries in Victoria, products of the Gold Rush and pastoral wealth of Victoria and still vibrant centres of visual art.
Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD and lectures on art and history. Already well known for her tours to Europe, this is her third Japan trip.
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.
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.
Enjoy the best of the Big Apple, including jazz, opera at the Met, Broadway plays, a private visit of MoMA, history and architecture walking tours.
Christopher Menz is a former director of the Art Gallery of South Australia and before that held curatorial positions at the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of South Australia
Explore Adelaide’s cultural heart, historic houses, eclectic art galleries and gardens with fine food and wine in the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills.
Snow, Christmas markets and fine music abound on our regular Christmas/New Year getaway tour. Includes Christmas in Salzburg and New Year’s Even in Vienna.
Michael Carr is an art dealer and historian with over 20 years’ experience in handling major Australian and international paintings and sculptures.
Experience the wonders of Moscow and St Petersburg on this new residential-style tour focussing on the superb public and private art collections of Russia.
Take advantage of off-season travel and longer stays to admire these great cities of medieval Tuscany, from Renaissance masterpieces to their modern revival.
Lindy Montgomery taught musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for 13 years. A fine soprano, she is a regular soloist with the Sydney Chamber Choir and Pinchgut Opera.
Opera in New York
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.
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.
Lovers of fine art and music can spend two weeks in London and Paris on this residential style tour. Enjoy the opera and see the winter blockbuster exhibitions.
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.
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.
Robert Veel has a BA and M.Ed from the University of Sydney, where he taught for many years. A director of Academy Travel, he leads tours mainly to Italy, Asia, the USA and Scandinavia.
Singapore Arts Week 2019
Dr Stephen Wilkinson is chairman of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba and holds a PHD in Hispanic Studies.
Explore Cuba by land and sea travelling from Havana to Cienfuegos, before visiting Cuba’s islands with a seven-night cruise aboard the luxury Variety Voyager.
Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD and lectures on art and history. She is one of Academy Travel’s most respected tour leaders.
A cultural tour of the North Island, with visits to private sculpture parks, Art Deco architecture, Maori heritage, superb gardens and dramatic landscapes.
Dr Matthew Laing has a PhD in US politics from the ANU. He has an expert knowledge of New York and a love of the performing arts, especially theatre and music.
Spend two weeks in the world’s most dynamic cultural city. Enjoy seven top performances, with visits to some of the world’s best museums and restaurants.
Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work on the human skeletal remains discovered at Pompeii.
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.
Discover the wonderful contemporary art and architecture of China’s two most cosmopolitan cities on this new 8-day tour, including visits to Art Basel in HK.
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.
Dr Jeni Ryde is a linguist and art history specialist with over fifteen years’ experience leading tours to Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Robert Gay is one of Australia’s leading music tour leaders and music educators. He has designed and led more than 80 performance based tours to Europe and the US
Explore the history of Italy’s opera greats Puccini and Verdi. Travel from Rome to Milan and Turin with Robert Gay on a music tour like no other.
Elena Ortega is Spanish-born but has lived in Australia since 1992. She has a passion for Fine Arts, European history and literature, with particular expertise in the Iberian Peninsula
Dr Matthew Laing is a historian and political scientist at Monash University who has led tours to the Americas and Europe with Academy Travel for five years.
North East USA
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.
Journey beyond the kasbahs, to uncover a fascinating history, exotic culture and stunning landscapes that have attracted travellers for centuries.
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.
Explore ancient Greece and its legacy on this 17-day tour through Classical and Bronze Age sites. Visit Athens, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi and Santorini.
Judy Tenzing has decades of experience teaching about and leading tours to East Asia and the sub-continent. She has a degree in South Asian History.
Experience a sense of timelessness on this 15-day tour, visiting mountaintop monasteries in the Eastern Himalayas, Buddhist temples and traditional villages.
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.
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.
Northern Spain & Portugal
Delve into Iran’s archaeology and experience some of the most remarkable monuments in the ancient and Islamic worlds including Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis.
Michael Turner is an archaeologist, an antiquarian, garden historian and lecturer. For many years he was Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney.
Enjoy some of Italy’s finest villas on Lake Como, the Renaissance country houses of Palladio, and the splendour of the Borromean Islands on this 15-day tour.
Robert Gay has led over 80 music tours, including to this Metropolitan Opera Ring Cycle in 2012 and Ring Cycles in Munich, Paris and Vienna
Enjoy Robert Lepage’s visually striking interpretation of Wagner’s masterpiece at the New York Metropolitan Opera, with a fine international cast.
Christopher Menz is a former art museum director and curator and has been leading cultural tours in Europe, the United States and Australia since 2013.
Take an in-depth look at the diverse and fascinating city of Berlin, with days in Leipzig and Dresden, on this 14-day residential style tour.
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.
Journey to Chile & Peru exploring Incan sites, Spanish architecture and amazing scenery from the Atacama Desert to Lake Titicaca and the enigmatic Machu Picchu.
Dr Rosamund Bartlett is a cultural historian who has lectured and written widely on music. Her books include Wagner and Russia and Shostakovich in Context.
Join our annual musical pilgrimage to Germany based around an outstanding line-up of performances by some of the world’s leading orchestras and opera houses.
Amsterdam to Bergen
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.
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.
Peter Rose is an award-winning poet, memoirist and novelist, and one of Australia’s leading literary figures. Since 2001 he has been Editor of ABR. Peter is joined by Christopher Menz.
Australian Book Review in the USA
Dr Sophie Oosterwijk Is a Dutch art historian who specialises in Medieval, Flemish and Dutch art, and has lived and worked in the UK for over 20 years.
Explore the art of the Low Countries over 14-days: Van Eyck, Bruegel, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh, with stays in Brussels, Bruges, Delft and Amsterdam.
Experience the Venice Biennale, and explore this wonderful city from modern art, to tranquil islands and Renaissance masterpieces on this 9 day tour.
Michael Turner is an archaeologist, an antiquarian, garden historian and lecturer. For many years he was Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney
Great Gardens of Cornwall and Devon
Experience the wealth of art on show at Art Basel, one of the world’s premiere art fairs, and enjoy the beauty, history and art of Alsace and the Black Forest.
This new 15-day tour takes you from Copenhagen, to Oslo, Bergen and Iceland, to explore the region’s distinctive landscapes and cultural traditions.
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