Andante Travels

RING US if you would like to discuss anything below!  Our knowledgable team will give you a real answer.

 

This unique company is now nationally recognised as "the leading archaeological tours specialist" (Daily Telegraph Jan 09), but it was set up 25 years ago in the back bedroom of a (then) young archaeologist who passionately believed that nothing made a more enjoyable holiday than discovering the past - anywhere and everywhere.

Her personal approach, combined with a dedication to academic integrity, has led to the National papers describing our holidays as "relaxed but learned tours". 

In the meantime we have taken thousands of people all over the world, introducing them to aspects of humanity few (if any) other "tour operators" consider - from the very start of our human journey: "Human Origins" in southern Africa to the supremacy of Homo sapiens sapiens over Homo sapiens neanderthalensis as shown in the Palaeolithic Cave Art and the Ice Age world of Europe. 

We have followed Caesar's conquest of Gaul with the best possible guide book in our hands - the one written by Caesar himself, and we have stood in awe at the vast geoglyphs of the Atacama Desert of Chile whilst pondering, with one of the world's foremost scholars on the subject, what it all meant. 

Whilst other operators may concentrate on the great names and the far away places of the ancient world, we follow the mysteries of the un-named too, sometimes on our own doorstep, and like forensic detectives of the past, our guides will explain how things are known and point out the evidence (something our guests particularly enjoy learning and utilising).  

Archaeology is the study of human beings based on what they left behind, and whilst we know that the gigantic edifices of antiquity never fail to impress, it is often the tiny human details which allow us to span the millennia and make contact with our earliest ancestors - and these details need pointing out by someone who really understands what they mean.

And that person will be one of our interesting, engaging and knowledgable guides (some are international authorities on their subject) whose brief is to create a travelling narrative - a story which develops with each day's visits. This is archaeology at its most exciting - the real stories told by the people at the cutting edge of uncovering them!

Behind the scenes, back in the Andante offices (in a converted barn in a village in Wiltshire, England), an impressive team of travel specialists, linguists and archaeologists work hard to ensure that every element of our very carefully planned holidays is in place in such a way that it seems serendipitous, felicitous and carefree to our guests. 

We care about simply everything.  Before your holiday you will be sent specially prepared field notes to help you understand the sites more quickly and to give an overview of the whole tour and its context.  Some tours include picnic meals of local smoked meats/cheeses/breads and fruit made for you whilst you explore the sites, and waiting in the shade with the wine bottles opened!  There may be local cakes passed around the coach at the end of a long day, or a lecture with aperitifs before dinner.

Many people who come on our holidays as the partner of a more enthusiastic traveller then find themselves happily at the start of a lifelong interest in the past.

2 DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES

 Travels in Archaeology or Bare Bones Tours?

We are well-known for the relaxed and informal ambience on tour. Andante's specially trained tour managers may make you full-blown picnics in the countryside or find local sweetmeats to pass around the coach.  You will stay in hotels which we have chosen personally for authenticity, charm, cleanliness, hospitality and good food and wines.  Andante will always choose the quirky and fun over the international and bland. That is the tried and tested recipe for our TRAVELS IN ARCHAEOLOGY.

Several years ago we recognised the needs of a more independently-minded type of traveller, who wanted all the archaeological expertise we offered, and the specialist guidance and logistics of getting around, but who did not necessarily want to spend all their time in a group.  For them we invented a new kind of holiday:  BARE BONES TOURS.  On these tours you will be free to find your own meals (or join up with others and the lecturer to find them); set off on your own adventures on the local bus; and do a bit of sketching or exploring in your free time.

Archaeology, wildlife, flowers

Archaeological sites are often in beautiful and remote places. Even those at the very heart of the tourist trail frequently hide an untouched hinterland. This means that the wild flowers, natural geology and birds and beasts of the area add a special interest to our holidays. Many of our guests are knowledgeable and interested in these subjects, and you may come back with yet another area of interest!

Individuality

Our small size means that we are able to exercise personal control over many aspects of your holiday. Our lecturers are frequently closely associated with the archaeological scene in the area you will be visiting, and may occasionally be able to arrange special access. Guests appreciate and comment on the care and thoughtfulness with which their holiday is planned and run.

We are dependent on the assessment of our customers in order to keep improving, and send a detailed questionnaire to everyone who travels with us.  We even pay the return postage, to encourage people to send them back.

When all the questionnaires have been returned, we analyse and discuss them and take them into consideration for the planning of the next tour. We also write to you to let you know the overall concensus.

Last year 92% of our guests returned their questionnaires and awarded us 94% for overall satisfaction. Since we are aware of a degree of cynicism regarding the publication of questionnaire results, we invite anyone to come and inspect them in our offices - and we'll provide a cup of coffee whilst you do it!

Good value
We choose all elements of each tour with your comfort and pleasure in mind and make absolutely transparent what is included and what is not.