The brand new second edition of Andante Travels' (www.andantetravels.co.uk, 01722 713 800) brochure for 2020 includes a wealth of bucket-list archaeological adventures as well as affordable ancient-world journeys to evocative destinations. The product range on offer is extensive and ranges from small-ship ocean cruises and the higher end 'Cultural Journeys' collection, to its stripped-back Bare Bones tours that offer guided exploration alongside more flexibility and freedom.

Andante Travels' Bare Bones range returns for 2020 and it is bigger than ever, offering archaeological tours ranging from between £765pp and £1,295pp. These tours include return flights from London, accommodation throughout and guided tours as part of each day's itinerary. They only include daily breakfasts, which means that guests have more flexibility to choose their own restaurants and set their own budgets for spending outside of what's already covered in the tour price. Bare Bones trips are also likely to appeal to a wider audience as they aren't as heavy on the typical group tour elements and ensure the guest has more free time for independent exploration. Destinations for 2020 include Troy, Rhodes, Pompeii, Istanbul, Rome, Venice, Florence, and Berlin. There is also a Bare Bones Minoans tour, which traces the story of this fascinating civilisation, as well as a Bare Bones Greece trip, which visits some of the great sites of ancient Greece. 

Another exciting new product for 2020 is Andante's small-ship ocean cruises, which will take guests around the Mediterranean – to the Dalmatian Islands and Greece – in search of archaeological sites, history and story-telling architecture. These cruises are led by experts and will take place aboard the M/S Princess Aloha, the M/S Equator and the M/S Galileo. Elsewhere, there is a full collection of UK-based archaeological holidays that includes a Jurassic Coast tour focusing on Mary Anning and General Pitt Rivers, there are a selection of river cruises on offer and tours that include tickets to the once-per-decade Oberammergau Passion Play.   

2019 saw the beginning of Andante Travels' 35th birthday celebrations, and to take the party into the new year, guests who book a place on any tour between 2nd January and 2nd February will be entered into a prize draw to win a place on its flagship Pompeii tour. Full terms and conditions can be found on its official website, on the offers page. The company is also running its annual January sale from 2nd January until February 2nd, which will see guests choose between a low deposit offer (starting from just £99pp) or a chance to pay in full and receive a discount (maximum saving is £200) based on the total price of their tour. 

Algeria | Roman Mauretania

Still one of the least-visited countries in the world, Algeria is a destination with some incredible ruinous Classical cities that simply have to be seen to be believed. On this tour, wander the perfectly preserved streets of UNESCO-listed Roman Djémila and Timgad, gaze upon one of the world's most exquisite mosaics known as the “Triumph of Dionysus”, and explore the evocative ruins of Hippo Regius – all in the company of Andante expert guides. Departs 29th September and 1st November, 2020 | From £3,695pp.

Sri Lanka

2020 is the year to return to Sri Lanka and Andante's 15-day tour works as both the perfect introduction and the best way to revisit. During this adventure filled with UNESCO Sites and ancient ruined cities, guests will witness a puja ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth, they will climb Kasyapa's citadel of Sigiriya and there's also a visit to the Golden Temple of Dambulla. Spirituality, archaeology, history, and culture unite on this memorable holiday. Departs 6th November, 2020 and 7th May, 2021 | From £3,995pp.

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania

Revamped for 2020, this Pompeii tour is the ultimate way to tick this bucket-list archaeological site off your list. Explore Pompeii with Andante in 2020 and there will be private access to the Theatre of Herculaneum, the Cave of Sejanus and to the store rooms at Paestum Museum, where guests can see Lucanian painted tombs not open to the public. Elsewhere, hike the crater of Vesuvius, explore newly opened houses in Pompeii and Herculaneum alike, and discover off-the-beaten-track villas at Stabiae. A packed and all-inclusive eight days await on this long-standing tour, led by expert archaeologists. Multiple departures in 2020 | From £1,945pp.

Mary Anning & General Pitt Rivers

A brand new tour for 2020, journey along the Jurassic Coast in the footsteps of pioneers Mary Anning and Pitt Rivers. See artefacts from Pitt Rivers' excavations in the Wiltshire area along with finds from his private collection, view some of Anning's discoveries on display in both London and Oxford, and take a tour of the UNESCO-listed Stonehenge. Departs 7th July, 2020 | From £2,125pp. 

Nepal

Part of Andante Travels' Cultural Journeys range, this tour to Nepal is 12 days long and takes in a variety of sights, sites and stories. Get an introduction to Tibetan Thangka painting, enjoy a typical Tharu cultural dance, take a yoga class from a master instructor, and meet with locals to learn about their customs and traditions. Elsewhere, view the great Himalayan range from a cable car, visit the Gurka Museum and International Museum, take a jungle safari by Jeep and canoe on the Narayani River, and tour a selection of Buddhist shrines. Departs 22nd October and 24th November, 2020 and 3rd April, 2021 | From £2,945pp. 

Classical Highlights of Greece

This ocean cruise offers a wonderfully laid-back introduction to the ancient highlights of mainland Greece aboard the M/S Galileo or M/S Panorama (depending on departure date). Circumnavigate the Peloponnese, stopping to explore the Parthenon, Acropolis and its museum, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Mani, Pylos, Delphi and Olympia. Sailing aboard a small ship means that it can dock at places few land tours can access and bigger boats can't reach. Departs 21st October and 4th November, 2020 | From £2,895pp. 

Bare Bones Troy

A much-debated destination among archaeologists and historians alike, Troy is up for discovery on Andante's Bare Bones tour. Disover the site of Hisarlik (believed to be Troy), admire the remains of a theatre and the Temple of Athena at Assos, tour the outstanding Pergamon, pay a visit to the traditional fishing village of Ayvalik, and wander around the incredible ancient site of Ephesus. Departs 27th May and 28th October, 2020 | From £1,295pp

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For more information, call Andante Travels on 01722 713800 or visit https://www.andantetravels.co.uk

For further media information, contact: Martha Whatley, Content Marketing and PR Executive, martha@specialistjourneys.com

Notes to editors 

Founded in 1985, Andante Travels – part of the Specialist Journeys group – has grown to become one of the UK's leading specialist tour operators. The company has previously won the 'Best Small Holiday Company for Customer Service' title at the prestigious British Travel Awards, and thanks to the wonderful support of its travellers, it won the Best Special Interest Holiday and Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula & Malta categories at the 2018 British Travel Awards, and was also shortlisted for the Best Cultural Tour Operator in the 2018 Silver Travel Awards. In 2019, Andante made the shortlist for the Marketing Excellence prize at the South Wilts Business of the Year Awards. It won two prizes at the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers' Travel Awards and, most recently, the company won silver for Best Special Interest Holiday Company and bronze for Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula at the 2019 British Travel Awards.

Andante's tours have been named 'Trips of a Lifetime' by the National Geographic Traveler on five occasions and in 2018 it appointed Jackie Willis as its new CEO, who brought with her over 35 years of touring and travel experience. Over the years, the company has introduced thousands of people to the wonders of the ancient world. Its tours are all designed and led by renowned experts, who bring a unique, special insight to each site visited in every corner of the globe, and every one of its itineraries boasts exclusive access to either a museum or venue, a specific archaeological site or to a workshop. Andante's tours are peppered with hands-on, immersive experiences that offer an authentic taste of each destination and leave the guest with memories that will last long after they return home.