History & Archaeology
Holidays & Tailor-made Tours
Holidays to discover ancient civilisations in India, China, the Mayas, Incas and Aztecs
Three main civilisations dominated Latin America at various times before the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. These's were the Mayans in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, the Aztecs in central Mexico and the Incas, mainly in Peru. These civilisations flourished within their local surrounds, gaining wealth and power from which they built great cities and empires. Religion was also very important, with each civilisation constructing great temples for the performance of ceremonies and rituals to appease the gods, in return for bountiful harvests and victories in battle.
The Mayas thrived throughout the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, creating a complex society built on agriculture and trade, which consisted of several large city-states, with large pyramids and palaces. They also created an accurate calendar and a numbering system.
The Incas settled in Peru, near the Urubamba Valley, establishing Cusco as their capital and building nearby the 'lost city' of Machu Picchu, high in the Andes Mountains. They built their famed terrace farms, as well as an elaborate system of roads to maintain control of their empire. Today, Inca descendants still speak their ancient language, Quechua.
The Aztecs were a fierce warrior society, who built a huge empire through military conquest and subsequent taxation of neighboring peoples. They built there mighty capital Tenochtitlan on floating islands in Lake Texcoco, located on the site of present-day Mexico City.
Today we can explore the remains of these mighty civilisations, marveling at their extraordinary capacity and ingenuity, at some of the best preserved archaeological sites in the world.
Meanwhile in China, successive Dynasties ruled for centuries, contributing to an immense tapestry of palaces, pagodas and temples. The greatest concentration of these are in the capital Beijing, which is also close to the Great Wall. Just outside Xi'an we find the 8,000 strong Terracotta Army, built to defend the tomb of China's first emperor.
Choose your perfect holiday History & Archaeology
Find inspiration from our selection of itinerary suggestions, a great starting point for your next trip
Buenos Aires - Perito Moreno Glacier - Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego Cruise for 4 nights - Torres del Paine - Puerto Varas - Andean Lakes Crossing - Bariloche - Iguazu Falls - Salta - Mendoza -Andean Crossing by road - Santiago - Easter Island - Maipo Valley - Atacama Desert - Uyuni Salt Flat - Potosi - Sucre - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Cusco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Lima
Experience mighty glaciers, the wilds of Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego, Easter Island, stunning Andean Landscapes and cultures in the Atacama Desert, Uyuni Salt Flat, La Paz, L…
Route
Buenos Aires - Perito Moreno Glacier - Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego Cruise for 4 nights - Torres del Paine - Puerto Varas - Andean Lakes Crossing - Bariloche - Iguazu Falls - Salta - Mendoza -Andean Crossing by road - Santiago - Easter Island - Maipo Valley - Atacama Desert - Uyuni Salt Flat - Potosi - Sucre - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Cusco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Lima
Ecuador & Galapagos
Darwin Legends Tour
9 Nights from
£6,367
Quito - Galapagos Cruise
Explore colonial Quito for 2 nights and discover the Galapagos Islands on a 7-night cruise of a lifetime. Veloso Tours provides expert advice on the best ship and itinerary to…
Route
Quito - Galapagos Cruise
Indonesia
Eastern Bali Adventure
11 Nights from
£2,679
Udud - Undisan - Candidasa
Explore beautiful countryside, forests, villages and beaches of Eastern Bali, on foot and by bike.
Route
Udud - Undisan - Candidasa
India
Varanasi Tour
12 Nights from
£3,111
Delhi - Agra - Gadoli - Ranthambore National Park - Jaipur - Varanasi - Delhi
A wonderful combination of iconic sites, rural Rajasthan, tigers at Ranthambore and the sacred Ganges at the town of Varanasi.
Route
Delhi - Agra - Gadoli - Ranthambore National Park - Jaipur - Varanasi - Delhi
Multi-Country Landmark Tours
Laguna Tour
21 Nights from
£7,469
Santiago de Chile - San Pedro de Atacama - Remote Lagoons & Flamingoes - Uyuni Salt Flats - Potosi - Sucre - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Cusco - Machu Picchu - Lima
Journey to cosmopolitan cities, deserts and the Andean mountains to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Cross stunning salt flats, view remote lagoons with flamingoes, experienc…
Route
Santiago de Chile - San Pedro de Atacama - Remote Lagoons & Flamingoes - Uyuni Salt Flats - Potosi - Sucre - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Cusco - Machu Picchu - Lima
Ecuador & Galapagos
Beluga First Class Cruise Tour
9 Nights from
£6,118
Quito - Galapagos Cruise
The Darwin Tour - explore Quito and cruise the Galapagos for 7 nights aboard the superb superior first class Beluga.
Explore magnificent Mayan temples, beautiful Lake Atitlan, colonial Merida, famous markets, the pine forests of Belize and relax on the beach at the Riviera Maya.
Mexico City - Guanajuato - Dolores Hidalgo - Queretaro - San Miguel de Allende
Explore Mexico City and the nearby pre-Aztec pyramids at Teotihuacan. Discover the magical towns where revolutionary history, cobbled streets and colonial architecture abound.…
Route
Mexico City - Guanajuato - Dolores Hidalgo - Queretaro - San Miguel de Allende
Peru
Sanctuary Tour
7 Nights from
£2,240
Lima - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco
A week in Peru exploring cosmopolitan Lima, the history of Cusco, life in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu.
Route
Lima - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Multi-Country Landmark Tours
Shaman Tour
31 Nights from
£27,994
Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Rio de Janeiro - Salvador - Brasília - Manaus - Tabatinga Three Borders: Brazil, Peru, Colombia - Private Amazon Cruise - Iquitos - Lima - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Cross continent journey via the Amazon with a 4 night private cruise in the remote depths of the rainforest. Discover the local lifestyle, delicious cuisine, Andean landscapes…
Route
Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Rio de Janeiro - Salvador - Brasília - Manaus - Tabatinga Three Borders: Brazil, Peru, Colombia - Private Amazon Cruise - Iquitos - Lima - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Indonesia
Bali, Dragons of Komodo Islands and Flores
14 Nights from
£4,287
Jimbaran - Komodo Islands - Flores - Ubud - Sanur
A classic combination of scenic and mysterious Bali, the amazing Komodo dragons, exploring the culture and people of Flores and time to relax on the beach
Route
Jimbaran - Komodo Islands - Flores - Ubud - Sanur
Multi-Country Landmark Tours
Pachamama Tour
20 Nights from
£6,903
Lima - Paracas - Nazca Lines - Arequipa - Arica - La Paz - Lake Titicaca/ Sun Island & Puno - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco - Amazon Rainforest - Lima
Explore the Amazon, Nazca Lines, Machu Picchu, Northern Chile and Bolivia with the minimum about of domestic flights.
Route
Lima - Paracas - Nazca Lines - Arequipa - Arica - La Paz - Lake Titicaca/ Sun Island & Puno - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco - Amazon Rainforest - Lima
Explore some of our favourite holidays
Suggestions & Recommendations
Cusco
Uncover rich Inca heritage in Peru's most beautiful city
Machu Picchu
Marvel in awe at the mesmerising Lost Citadel of the Incas
Sacred Valley of the Incas
Experience rural life and local traditions in the timeless Sacred Valley
Chichen Itza
The Mayan Ruins of Chichén Itzá
Uxmal
Palenque
Tikal
Aguateca & El Ceibal
Quirigua & Copan
Beijing & Great Wall
Xian & Terracotta Army
Pyramids of Teotihuacan
Find Inspiration & Advice from our
Specialist Insights
The Great Wall: 7 key questions
Why the Terracotta Army is so much more than a collection of statues
Visiting the Inti Raymi Festival
10 best Inca Ruins & Archaeological Sites to Visit