Our ancient civilisations vacations & tours
Our ancient civilisations vacations are an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the explorers and adventurers of ages past, accompanied as you go by immensely knowledgeable local guides who can illuminate the past. Step back in time among monuments, temples and the ruins of ancient cities to learn about ways of life, culture and belief systems. These trips will also, where relevant, include visits to prestigious museums where you can view priceless artefacts and explore these stories in even greater depth. Whether learning how pyramids were built, wandering underground citadels or following samurai trails, our ancient civilisation vacations are endlessly fascinating.
Our top trips
Jordan vacation, a week in Jordan
From
US $1740 to US $2290
9 days
ex flights
A week to explore the spectacular sites and scenery of Jordan
Small group2026: 11 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 2027: 9 Jan, 10 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 17 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 29 May, 12 Jun, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 6 Oct, 9 Oct, 20 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 17 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 25 Dec, 2028: 8 Jan, 22 Jan, 29 Jan, 5 Feb, 9 Feb, 12 Feb, 26 Feb, 4 Mar, 11 Mar, 15 Mar, 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 1 Apr, 8 Apr, 15 Apr ...
Archaeology tour of Eastern Turkey
From
US $5125
14 days
ex flights
Discover the cradle of civilisation in eastern Turkey
Small group2027: 24 Apr, 29 May, 28 Aug, 2 Oct
Mexico, Belize & Guatemala tour, Mayan encounter
From
US $1831 to US $2791
13 days
ex flights
Travel through paradise between the Yucatan & Guatemalan.
Small group2026: 17 Nov, 21 Nov, 25 Nov, 28 Nov, 1 Dec, 5 Dec, 8 Dec, 9 Dec, 12 Dec, 15 Dec, 16 Dec, 19 Dec, 22 Dec, 26 Dec, 2027: 2 Jan, 6 Jan, 9 Jan, 12 Jan, 13 Jan, 16 Jan, 19 Jan, 20 Jan, 23 Jan, 26 Jan, 27 Jan, 30 Jan, 3 Feb, 10 Feb, 13 Feb, 16 Feb, 17 Feb, 20 Feb, 23 Feb, 27 Feb, 3 Mar, 6 Mar, 10 Mar, 13 Mar, 17 Mar, 20 Mar, 24 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 7 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 20 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 26 May ...
Archaeology vacation in Greece
From
€1540
8 days
ex flights
A small-group archaeology tour of Greece
Small group2027: 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct
Nile felucca cruise in Egypt
From
€600 to €700
4 days
ex flights
Private carbon free traditional felucca cruise on the Nile
Tailor made
Mexico small group vacation, culture & beach
From
US $2400 to US $4095
15 days
ex flights
2 week discovery Mexico's Aztec, Zapotec & Mayan cultures .
Small group2026: 17 Nov, 21 Nov, 24 Nov, 25 Nov, 28 Nov, 1 Dec, 2 Dec, 8 Dec, 12 Dec, 15 Dec, 23 Dec, 30 Dec, 2027: 2 Jan, 6 Jan, 9 Jan, 13 Jan, 16 Jan, 27 Jan, 30 Jan, 2 Feb, 3 Feb, 6 Feb, 9 Feb, 13 Feb, 17 Feb, 20 Feb, 24 Feb, 27 Feb, 3 Mar, 6 Mar, 10 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 24 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 6 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 12 May, 22 May, 2 Jun, 9 Jun, 16 Jun, 26 Jun, 10 Jul, 13 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug ...
Cairo short tour, Egypt
From
£560 to £1350
5 days
ex flights
City break vacation for 5 days in Cairo
Tailor made
Libya guided tour
From
£2599 to £2675
7 days
ex flights
Impressive archaeological sites & traditional towns
Small group2027: 14 Mar, 31 Oct, 2028: 16 Jan, 15 Oct
Nile cruise vacation in Egypt
From
US $3775 to US $5255
9 days
ex flights
Discover temples, tombs & travel by river boat
Small group2026: 4 Dec, 2027: 8 Jan, 15 Jan, 12 Feb, 26 Feb, 5 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 16 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 19 Nov, 26 Nov, 3 Dec, 24 Dec
See all our Ancient civilisations vacationsContact Us
Call us for a chat about our vacations. We are happy to discuss your vacation and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
Highlights of our ancient civilisations vacations
Egypt and the Middle East
In Jordan, our vacations visit the magnificent Treasury of Petra, then explore aspects of modern-day Bedouin culture in the nearby village of Umm Sayhoon. In Egypt, they sail the mighty River Nile, explore the Pyramids of Giza, and spend a day taking in the vast collection of antiquities within the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum. And in Iran and Iraq, they help you admire stunning architectural treasures of the ancient world, deepening understanding of these countries beyond the headlines.
Mexico and the Americas
Maya sites are the focus of many vacations in the Americas, but our trips also explore Aztec and Zapotec civilisations, among others. Key destinations include Chichen Itza, Oaxaca, Tulum and Palenque in Mexico, where you can explore crumbling ruins surrounded by jungle, and stories of sun worship, sacrifice and sacred cenotes. The ruins of Belize are smaller than those of Mexico but have an engrossing wildness to them, while in Guatemala lies Tikal, the great Maya metropolis, a city to rival those of ancient Egypt and Greece.
Asia
The Silk Road spiders across Asia, branching off in many directions, offering immense potential for history-lovers wanting to trace the routes of pilgrims, traders and armies who journeyed along it in centuries past. Overland vacations explore the ‘Stans, with different combinations available, taking in cities like Samarkand, Merv and Khiva. Or you can travel all the way to China, with some truly epic train rides involved, along with chances to learn about how ancient traditions survive in nomadic desert culture.
Africa
While Egypt reigns supreme among our ancient civilisations vacations in Africa, other destinations hold just as much fascination while slipping under the radar. There is Great Zimbabwe, for instance, one of Africa’s largest stone structures. Local communities still use this UNESCO World Heritage Site for ceremonies. And in Libya, while much of the country remains difficult to visit, our vacations take you back to the days of ancient Carthage and Rome in places like Leptis Magna, following old Saharan trade routes to historic desert towns where you can explore troglodyte houses.
Latest reviews
4.6
287Ancient civilisations vacations reviews
Jemma Chapman01 Nov 2026
Amazing experience, saw the massive contrasts across Peru. Brilliant guide.read more
Lynn McCarthy05 Oct 2026
Our Tour Director Charlie was great, having over 20 years in the tourism business. His knowledge of his country both historical and current was exceptional and he managed to make some complicated issues very easy for us to understand.read more
janine reed20 Sep 2026
Baalbek was astonishing, Damascus gave me goosebumps walking through such a wealth of history. Palmyra was haunting, but for me Krak des Chevaliers was the pinnacle of this trip, as I’d wanted to visit for the 15 years but could not - it was spectacular and didn’t disappoint. While walking through the church/mosque in the castle, our Muslim guide sung the ‘Call to prayer’ for the faithful, to demonstrate the acoustics. It was flipping amazing and a memory I’ll never forget.read more
