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All Andante tours are accompanied by a Guide
Lecturer, a leader chosen not just for their academic
background, but for their ability to compart their knowledge with
the group. Most are highly qualified and
articulate academics - they also have to be the kind
of people you would want to spend time with! Many of
the people who guide your
party are leading authorities on the area which you
are visiting and work with the Andante office to help
develop the tour itineraries. Professors,
authors, excavating
archaeologists - they are some of the most renowned
scholars and exciting academics around.
Archaeologist Guide
Lecturer David Drew explains the layout of the great
pyramid at Altun
Ha
Most of our tours (except those in the 'Bare Bones'
programme) are accompanied by one of Andante's superb
Tour
Managers ( 'good-humoured, efficient, kind,
unflappable, endlessly helpful, patient, thoughtful,
caring, boundless energy, a delight to be with' ),
who will look after the details. Their
unobtrusive presence makes all the difference to your
holiday. They have been chosen and specially
trained by Andante to be perceptive and forward
thinking so as to ensure that every traveller enjoys
their holiday to the full. Tours with fewer
than 15 guests may travel without a Tour
Manager, but will still be accompanied by the
specialist Guide
Lecturer and frequently, also a local guide.
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Small parties of
like-minded people
There are usually around 19 people in an Andante
party, but you may well find you are part of an even
smaller group. There will never be more than 24 other
guests on your holiday.
Whether you come alone, with a partner or friends,
there are plenty of others in the same
situation. We have a reputation for creating an
easy and informal atmosphere so you feel that you are
travelling with friends.
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Our itineraries
Our tours provide a very different experience of
visiting sites from most other tour operators.
Andante approaches an area in consultation with an
expert who has worked there, and together we create
an itinerary of academic integrity which balances
visits to world-class monuments on the tourist trail
with off-the-beaten-track adventures. Whilst it
is the big names of archaeology which you travel to
see, it may well be the fascinating little sites
which you remember with the most affection.
Ours are never "tick-lists" of ancient sites, but a
carefully constructed journey which reflects a
"narrative" that unfolds as you progress.
The greatest enjoyment is to be had in understanding
an archaeological site within its setting, giving
consideration to the people who built it, the society
they lived in, and the world around them at that
time.
We can do this only because the people in charge of
creating your tour are themselves archaeologists as
well as travel professionals. Three members of our
small office staff have PhD's in archaeology!
You are in the hands of experts with a mission to get
you addicted to an interest in the ancient
world….and be warned, we are usually
successful. The majority of our clients travel
with us time and again.
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