Leading archaeological holidays expert Andante Travels (www.andantetravels.co.uk, 01722 713 800) has launched its brand new 2020 brochure with a range of 74 itineraries, including 15 new tours, offering an unrivalled choice of holidays to explore the ancient world. Newly created itineraries for 2020 include Oman, Venice at Carnevale, the Isle of Man and South East Turkey and such is the demand for the newly re-introduced Lebanon tour that four departures have been added. In addition, a revived edition of Andante's first-ever tour – Journey Through Wessex, has been brought back to celebrate the company's milestone 35th anniversary and the brochure also features the iconic Oberammergau Passion Play combined with opportunities to explore either Munich and Salzburg or the beautiful castles of Bavaria. 

Jackie Willis, CEO of Specialist Journeys, parent company of Andante Travels, says: “I am absolutely delighted to present the new flagship 2020 First Edition brochure showcasing more than 70 special interest travel adventures worldwide throughout Andante Travels' 35th anniversary year. The brochure features a selection of enthralling new tours, including expert-led journeys into the ancient world in destinations such as Oman, South East Turkey and Morocco; and we have also refreshed some of our perennially popular tours, like Pompeii, adding in some exclusive attractions not usually open to the public. 2020 will be a special year for Andante, not just because of our milestone birthday, but because we are always looking for ways to make the guest experience ever more memorable and enjoyable – and next year is set to be our best yet.”

With a brochure that includes such a diverse range of destinations, Andante has ensured that there are a variety of ways to travel. This new collection features the ever-popular 'full' Andante tours as standard, but there are also several Bare Bones trips, which don't include flights and have a more flexible meal plan, allowing guests to explore local restaurants of their choice. There is a trip that will take guests on foot alongside the legendary fortification that is Hadrian's Wall, walking up to 7.2 miles per day, and there is also a brand new cruise that will travel along the River Nile between Cairo and Aswan, visiting a selection of iconic and lesser-known Egyptian sites. In addition, Andante has kept one of its 'relaxed' tours on the books for 2020, which will see guests enjoying eight slower-paced days in the sunny Croatian city of Split. 

Many tours feature exclusive special access experiences, such as the Ta' Cenc prehistoric temple on the Malta & Gozo tour; the grand gallery and royal burial chamber in the Pyramid of Khufu on the Egypt - Highlights & Discoveries tour; and a curator-led tour of the Zagreb Archaeological Museum on the Dalmatia & Dubrovnik tour.

New tours for 2020

While many core tours will return for the new year, there are a total of 15 new ones on offer. Alongside new itineraries for Roman Provence, Morocco, Milan & Brescia, and Oman, they include the following:   

Ancient Catalonia | Iberians & Romans in North East Spain – On this new eight-day tour of prehistoric cave paintings, impressive Roman remains and vibrant cities, guests will explore the distinctive regional culture. Visits include the UNESCO-listed rock art at Ulldecona, the Roman aqueduct at el Pont de les Ferreres and the 2,500-year-old village of Callafel. This tour departs on either 1st June or 5th October and prices start from £2,395pp. 

Denmark | Not Only Vikings – Journey through Jutland and the Danish islands on this 10-day exploration of Viking heritage, amazing museums and the stories to be found here. Come face to face with the Iron Age Tollund Man at the Silkeborg Museum, discover the open-air museum of Den Gamle By and tour Jelling, a site made famous because of its connection to Harald Bluetooth – King of Denmark. This tour departs on either 17th June or 2nd September and prices start from £3,995pp.

South East Turkey | Charting the Rise & Fall of Civilisations – Visit the UNESCO-listed excavations at Gobekli Tepe, travel to the remote hilltop site of Mount Nemrut to see the site where Antiochus I had a monumental sanctuary constructed and marvel at the creativity on display at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. This 12-day tour will showcase the different peoples who have called South East Turkey home throughout history. It departs on either 1st April or 26th September and prices start from £3,495pp.

Poland | Slavs, Celts & Goths – Spend 10 days visiting great Polish cities, touring captivating museums and exploring sites in remote countryside locations, which all tell stories of this country's varied past. Walk among ancient stone circles, pay a visit to extraordinary salt mines that date back to the 13th century and wander around a selection of historic castles. This tour departs on either 30th May or 25th July and prices start from £2,995pp.

North India – This is a mammoth tour of India's magnificent north at 18 days long. Taking in leading museums, iconic monuments and world-famous sites, explore the turbulent history and cultural heritage of this unforgettable country. Witness a sunset aarti ceremony on the steps of the Ganges, visit the spectacular Taj Mahal and explore the Amber Fort. Other experiences include a contrasting tour of Old and New Delhi, the chance to indulge in amazing Indian cuisine in Lucknow, and time at Khajuraho to see its amazing sculptures. This tour departs on either 30th January or 1st December and prices start from £4,845pp. 

Egypt Cruise | In the Wake of the Pharaohs – A luxurious Nile cruise taking guests between Cairo and Aswan. Guests will explore Seti I's temple at Abydos, the temples at Abu Simbel and the lesser-known sites of Beni Hasan and Amarna. There will also be time to pore over artefacts at Cairo's Egyptian Museum, a special evening visit to Luxor Temple and a stop at the Valley of the King. This tour departs on either 5th May or 31st August and prices start from £4,795pp. 

The Archaeology of the Isle of Man – Discover this sea-bound kingdom and its surprising archaeology. Spend six fascinating days exploring all that the Isle of Man has to offer, from the world's largest working waterwheel at Laxey and the striking examples of both Norse and Celtic crosses, to the Viking burial ship at Balladoole and Tynwald Hill, where the area's parliament has met since the 13th century. This unusual tour departs on either 22nd June or 7th September and prices start from £1,495pp.

Venice at Carnevale – Another exciting new tour from Andante Travels, this time to its already popular destination of Venice, but during the Carnevale celebrations. On this trip, guests will enjoy a lecture on the history of masks at the famous atelier Ca' Macana before taking in the Carnevale activities. Elsewhere, there is a very special private tour of the legendary St. Mark's Basilica and a private tour of the Doge's Palace. On Murano Island, there will be a glass-blowing demonstration and a private visit to the Casino Zane, whose gambling room was used by Mozart, also awaits. This tour departs on 17th February and prices start from £2,795pp.

Only in 2020 – Oberammergau

A very special experience awaits in 2020 as it will mark the return of the once-per-decade Passion Play, which takes place every 10 years in the charming Bavarian village of Oberammergau. Andante Travels has created two itineraries that both include tickets to the legendary performance itself, but explore the surrounding areas in different ways. 

Oberammergau | Munich & Salzburg – Explore both Munich and Salzburg on this fascinating cultural tour. From a visit to Nymphenburg Palace and an 18th century-inspired dinner concert at the St. Peter Monastery, to a meal at the legendary Hofbräuhaus, this six-day escape takes in culture, history and heritage. There will also be a visit to the Mozart Residence, which is now a museum that details the life and works of this iconic composer. This tour departs on 29th June or 11th February and prices start from £2,245pp.

Oberammergau | Dream Castles of Bavaria – This tour takes guests on a beautiful discovery of King Ludwig II's amazing castles in the Bavarian countryside. With visits to Herrenchiemsee Palace, Castle Berg and Neuschwanstein, this is one for lovers of history and architecture alike. There will be a dinner at the legendary Hofbräuhaus, time to visit Ludwig's childhood home of Hohenschwangen and an afternoon to explore Munich at leisure. This tour departs on 4th June and prices start from £2,150pp. 

Revived and Refreshed Itineraries for 2020

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Andante Travels has brought back its first ever tour – Journey Through Wessex - for two special departures.  Based in Andante Travels' home city of Salisbury, this tour will examine the monuments of Wessex. Explore Stonehenge, tour Salisbury Museum and take a walk around Old Sarum – the original site of Salisbury Cathedral – before visiting the cathedral's present-day home. There will also be visits to Maiden Castle, the Neolithic henge at Avebury and Fishbourne Roman Palace.

Another of Andante's longest-running tours, which takes guests to the iconic site of Pompeii, has also undergone a refresh with all 17 of the 2020 departures including newly added special access experiences. Guests will visit the Theatre of Herculaneum, opened especially for Andante tour groups; enjoy private access to the Cave of Sejanus and the adjoining villa of Pausilypon with its dramatic coastal views; and special private access to Paestum Museum's store rooms, where guests can admire painted Lucanian tombs, which aren't on display to members of the public.

Andante Travels' 35th Anniversary

Over the past 35 years, Andante Travels has explored 60 countries, worked with over 180 experts and operated over 1,700 departures to destinations in every corner of the ancient world. It began in 1985 with just one tour – Journey Through Wessex – and this will return for 2020 to celebrate this anniversary. Also, to celebrate, Andante is launching a monthly photography competition for its guests and, throughout the year, there will be a series of giveaways with prizes including two places on a Pompeii tour, hampers, Study Day places, and even an exciting golden ticket initiative to come later in 2019.

Save up to £200pp

Andante Travels will reward early bookers with its Price Promise, which will see savings of up to £200pp offered for guests who book their 2020 tours by 30th September, 2019. The discount depends on the total tour price, and maximum savings are £200pp.

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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 is also currently a finalist for two prizes at the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers' Travel Awards and the company is once again nominated in both the Best Special Interest Holiday and Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula & Malta categories 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.