01 Aug 2018
Tags: Winter, #winterholidays, Christmas, Christmas Markets, Wine, Wine Tasting, new years eve, archaeology, arts & culture, Culture Travel, 2018, Malta, new york, Italy, champagne, Spain, Scotland
Specialist Journeys is delighted to share details of its Winter 2018 programme across all brands, which is comprised of unique experiences in unforgettable destinations that will allow guests to discover wine, explore ancient archaeology, immerse themselves in culture, and enjoy personal encounters with artists over the holiday season. Starting at just £495, experience a tour with Andante Travels, Arblaster & Clarke or Brightwater Holidays and start a new festive tradition…
A strong trend of people taking winter breaks is on the rise
One of the biggest travel trends to emerge this year is the rise of people taking holidays during the winter season. If you're thinking about escaping the short days, long nights and bad weather later this year, research shows that you're not alone... However, this doesn't have to mean venturing to a warmer climate as only 47% of people who were recently surveyed said they would take a trip in winter purely to experience better conditions. The majority of people book vacations in this season to experience new traditions in different destinations around the globe and to avoid repeating their traditional holiday routine.
Incredible special access for a very special time of year
Highlights from our Christmas and New Year's tours include an exclusive private tour of the Galleria dell'Accademi, where you can stand before Michelangelo's David away from the usual throng of tourists; a personal encounter with dancers from the revered New York City Ballet and private backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera House; privileged access to the Valley of the Kings and Queens in Egypt, where parts of the Tomb of Seti I and the Tomb of Nefertari are opened to the group; and exclusive access to the Doge's Palace and a private evening visit to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
- Private access to a working studio, well-known to our Guide Lecturer Susan Wilson
- Experience a private tour of the city's renowned Flamenco factory and enjoy its current exhibition
- Sample delicious sherries at a traditional bodega
- Visit the extraordinary Alcázar Palace, the Catedral de Sevilla and the Seville Museum of Fine Arts on this cultural extravaganza
- 5th – 9th November | From £1,850
- An exciting new departure that showcases Istanbul in all its glory
- Very special out-of-hours access to the iconic Hagia Sophia
- Be one of the first to return to this wondrous city with our guide Terry Richardson, who quite literally wrote the book on it
- Step inside of the magnificent Blue Mosque and enjoy a private boat ride up the Bosphorus
- Visit the Basilica Cistern, walk around the Ottoman-era Spice Bazaar and the Süleymaniye Mosque
- 5th – 11th November | From £2,495
- Our Bare Bones range offer the same expert-led visits, but on a bed and breakfast basis, and with more leisure time available to explore your destination independently
- Experience the cathedral-like vaults within the Piscina Mirabilis, an ancient cistern and impressive feat of Roman engineering, which is opened upon our request
- Walk up to the crater of Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed and preserved Pompeii
- Wander around the remains of little-visited and newly-opened villas
- Spend a day in Herculaneum, where skeletons and more remains can be seen, and explore Paestum with its impressive temples and fine museum
- 5th – 12th November | From £1,695
- Authentic experiences and traditions await in this magnificent country
- Take part in a tea ceremony, ride aboard the legendary bullet train and walk among a bamboo grove
- Pay visits to marvellous temples, include Todai-ji, Kinkaku-ji and Tenryu-ji
- Discover the castles of Osaka and Himeji, and experience the charm of Nara's fantastic deer park, where the animals approach tourists and bow in anticipation of being fed
- Tour Nagasaki and explore its haunting history, visiting the Atomic Bomb Museum and Dejima along the way
- 9th – 24th November | From £6,995
- Explore Frida Kahlo's iconic Blue House in Mexico City
- Wander the remains of Templo Mayor, a legendary Aztec temple
- Spend time in Palenque, one of the most exciting historical sites in the world that still hasn't made it onto the mainstream tourist radar
- Stand before one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá
- 12th – 27th November | From £4,450
Jordan | Petra & the Desert Fortresses
- Experience weightlessness in the Dead Sea
- Spend two full days in historic Petra, admiring its phenomenal façades and discovering its rich history alongside an expert archaeologist
- Cruise lunar-like landscapes in 4x4s as you visit the vast Crusader castle at Kerak and stop to examine artefacts at the Archaeological Museum
- 20th – 29th November | From £2,995
Milan | Masterpieces & the City
- 2019 will mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death, so we have tweaked this itinerary to perfection, allowing guests to immerse themselves in his art and design a year ahead to beat the crowds
- A private demonstration on painting techniques and a personal meeting with a local watercolour artist await
- Gaze upon da Vinci's The Last Supper, see one of his locks on the canal and visit the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
- Visit the Brera art gallery, the Ambrosian Art Gallery and the Novecento Museum
- 10th – 14th December | From £2,250
New York | Opera, Music & Dance
- Experience a private tour of the Metropolitan Opera House
- Attend a private meeting with dancers from the New York City Ballet
- Sit down to a stunning festive performance of the Nutcracker
- Soak up Manhattan's inimitable holiday spirit with free time to explore independently or to enjoy its Christmas markets
- Enjoy an opera at the Met and a concert at Carnegie Hall
- 13th – 16th December | From £2,195
Florence | The City & its Artists
- The perfect pre-Christmas Italian escape awaits in this glorious city
- Experience a private visit to the Galleria dell'Accademi, where we treat you to an exclusive viewing of Michelangelo's David in splendid isolation
- Try your hand at drawing at a special hands-on workshop at a local studio
- An out-of-hours tour at the Museo dell'Opficio workshops
- 17th – 21st December | From £2,495
- Indulge in the delights of a traditional Italian Christmas
- Be welcomed into the Sistine Chapel for an exclusive private visit, where we can stand before iconic masterworks without the usual throng of tourists
- Explore off-limits parts of the Colosseum during a special tour, including underground passages and the upper levels
- Tour the Vatican Museum, the Galleria Borghese and the Field of Mars
- 21st – 26th December | From £2,695
- Tour Pomposa Abbey, with its magnificent interior
- Enjoy an out-of-hours visit to the Church of San Vitale
- Discover Ravenna, a true haven for mosaic lovers
- An excursion to coastal Rimini awaits on Christmas Day
- 22nd – 27th December | From £2,495
- Come face-to-face with Gustav Klimt's masterpiece The Kiss during a visit to the majestic Schloss Belvedere
- Wander the charming Christmas markets, where traditional treats and handmade crafts are on sale
- Confront mortality at the evocative catacombs, hidden beneath Saint Stephen's Cathedral and home to the remains of some 11,000 people
- 22nd – 27th December | From £2,495
- Not your usual Venice tour – this escape offers a unique and privileged view of the city
- Very special access to the Doge's Palace and an exclusive, private evening visit to St. Mark's Basilica
- Travel by vaporetto to the deserted island of Torcello and visit Murano, home to the legendary glass factory
- A sumptuous gala dinner and fireworks to ring in 2019
- 27th December, 2018 – 2nd January, 2019 | From £3,195
- See out the old year at Pompeii, at a time of year when tourists tend not to visit
- Visit the incredible Piscina Mirabilis, opened upon our request
- Indulge in a gala dinner to celebrate the arrival of the New Year along with a festive display of fireworks
- Take a tour of neighbouring Herculaneum, visit the Catacombs of San Gennero and explore Naples at your leisure
- 28th December, 2018 – 3rd January, 2019 | From £2,695
- Join expert Egyptologist Lucia Gahlin for a New Year's trip with a difference
- Explore off-the-beaten-track sites in Western Thebes
- Experience privileged access to the Valley of the Kings and Queens
- Cruise the Nile aboard the MS Farah throughout this tour
- 28th December, 2018 – 5th January, 2019 | From £3,850
- Join Master of Wine Conal Gregory in the Champagne region of Reims this holiday season
- Stock up on bottles of bubbly for your own Christmas and New Year's parties at cellar-door prices, and bring back as much as you like
- Pay a visit to the gorgeous Château de la Marquetterie, owned by renowned champagne house Taittinger
- Say hello at Champagne Jean Milan, visit Edmond Barnaut's regional house and enjoy decadent guided tastings, led by our expert Conal
- 1st – 3rd December | From £695
- Celebrated wine writer Miquel Hudin will lead this luxurious New Year tour of Spain
- Visit Celler del Roure, a winery that stores its produce underground in stone urns in caves dug from the surrounding natural landscape
- Gastronomic delights await on this tour – a leg of Spanish ham will be presented and carved, which is then perfectly paired with sumptuous local wines
- 29th December, 2018 – 2nd January, 2019 | From £1,995
Malta's Archaeological Heritage
- Visit the mysterious, UNESCO-listed Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean Neolithic burial site
- Explore St. Paul's Catacombs, an evocative cemetery complex
- Sail out to the stunning Blue Grotto
- Opt in for an excursion to the nearby island of Gozo
- 6th – 12th November | From £1,345
- Go in search of the elusive northern lights after dark in locations that boast very little artificial light, making the hunt that bit more promising
- Walk behind the mighty Seljalandsfoss waterfall, with its drop of 200 feet
- Relax in the restorative geothermal waters at the Laugarvatn Fontana lakefront spa
- See Þingvellir National Park, Gulfoss waterfall, Strokkur geyser and the Skogar Folk Museum
- 18th - 22nd November | From £1,995
Christmas in the Scottish Borders
- Christmas carols, a traditional lunch with all the trimmings and time to unwind
- A scenic coach tour of the towns that make up Border country, from Galashiels and Melrose, to Moffat
- Three nights at the MacDonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club Hotel
- 24th – 27th December | From £495
- Experience a traditional Ceilidh on Boxing Day
- Enjoy meals accompanied by live piano music and the tunes of a talented piper
- Indulge in a traditional Christmas lunch with the Dunkeld Jazz Trip
- Take a coach tour around Perthshire to see its charming towns
- 24th – 27th December | From £695
- If you've made a resolution to experience something new in 2019, this is just the thing
- Spot birds at the Sumburgh Head RPSB Reserve, home to puffins, kittiwakes and razorbills
- Visit scenic Scalloway – Shetland's former capital – a town that served as a base for the Norwegian Resistance during the war, and tour the Jarlshof Norse settlement
- Experience the fiery traditions of the Up Helly Aa festivities
- 27th – 31st January | From £845
Notes to editors
Andante Travels
Founded in 1985, Andante Travels 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 is nominated in the Best Special Interest Holiday, Best Escorted Tours Holiday Company and Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula & Malta categories at the 2018 British Travel Awards, and was recently shortlisted for the Best Cultural Tour Operator at this year's Silver Travel Awards.
Andante's tours have also been named 'Trips of a Lifetime' by the National Geographic Traveler on five occasions and, earlier this year, it appointed Jackie Willis as its new CEO, who brings 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.
For more information, call Andante Travels on 01722 569640 or visit https://www.andantetravels.co.uk
For further media information, contact: Martha Whatley, Content Marketing and PR Executive, martha@specialistjourneys.com
Brightwater Holidays
Offering worldwide garden tours and scenic Scottish holidays, Brightwater are experts in their field. Explore famous royal properties and private gardens not open to the public, and discover a total of 33 Scottish islands on the tours this company operates.
For more information, call Brightwater Holidays on 01334 898554 or visit https://www.brightwaterholidays.com/
For further media information, contact: Martha Whatley, Content Marketing and PR Executive, martha@specialistjourneys.com
Arblaster & Clarke
Indulgent wine tours created by leading figures from the world of wine. Every Arblaster & Clarke wine tour is led by an expert, from Masters of Wine and published authors, to television personalities. Experience a glorious destination as part of a small group… There is something about wine that lends itself to forming new friendships – and strengthening old ones, too. Whether you're joining a tour as a solo traveller, with a partner, relatives or with friends, everyone is welcome on an Arblaster & Clarke tour.
For more information, call Andante Travels on 01730 263111 or visit https://www.arblasterandclarke.com/
For further media information, contact: Martha Whatley, Content Marketing and PR Executive, martha@specialistjourneys.com
