The Archaeology Channel Tours
The Archaeology Channel Tours is a program set apart from others by our commitment to storytelling and expert guidance. We believe that a tour should be far more than a photo-op or checking off a bucket list. For us, a tour is an opportunity to perform our mission to tell the human story, in this case by bringing people to the real sites where history took place. We like to embed the background in the tour process, so each destination represents an episode in the historic timeline and has a comfortable place in the temporal, cultural and environmental context. We also like to design unique tours not offered by others.
Just below, you can see our upcoming tour schedule.
Malta: Land of Forgotten Temples
Inhabited since approximately 5900 BC, Malta is home to the world’s oldest religious structures. Archaeologists believe these structures to be temples that were in use from 4000 to 2500 BC before their builders mysteriously vanished. It is likely that the builders were beset by disease or famine, but whatever the cause for their demise, they left a wake of forgotten temples behind. This tour, led by experts from Heritage Malta, will explore the story of these forgotten temples as well as examine the layers of Malta’s history. While the temples date to the Neolithic, Malta also features many sites, such as “Clapham Junction,” that date to the bronze age, and others like St. Paul’s catacombs, that span from the third century AD through the Phoenician, Roman, and Punic occupations of Malta. Don’t miss the chance to experience antiquity and adventure with us in Malta!
Dates: March 18 - 25, 2023
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The Viking Age in Denmark
The Viking Age officially began in AD 793 with the Viking raid on the island of Lindisfarne along the northeast coast of England and ended in the 11th century when the Norse kingdoms, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, accepted Christianity and established diplomatic relations with other European countries. Technological innovations in ship-building and sailing extended their reach westward to North America, southward into the Mediterranean Sea, and eastward as far as Persia. Their raids became legendary; they besieged Paris, Constantinople and other cities; and they and their descendants ruled far-flung territories from Greenland to Russia. The world knows them from their exploits in distant lands, but the best way to understand Vikings is to visit the places where they originated. Our ten-day tour of Denmark, led by experienced tour guide Benedikte Ehlers in tandem with archaeologist Dr. Richard Pettigrew, is a journey around the length and breadth of the country, as well as a part of Germany, with stops at all the major Viking sites and interpretive centers, including the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. Along the way, you will enjoy gaining an unprecedented understanding of the remarkable Viking lifeway and culture, as well as the deep history and prehistory from which these fascinating people emerged.
Dates: May 29 - June 9, 2023
Registration Deadline has passed Click here to view the itinerary!
The Megalithic Ireland Experience
Sometime between roughly 4000 and 3500 BC, Neolithic farmers began building many impressive megalithic monuments in Ireland. These structures are closely tied to the landscape. Made of large rough stone blocks, these megaliths typically served as memorial or burial sites. Often located in clearings surrounded by the vast forests that previously covered most of Ireland, these tombs reflect ancient humans’ ability to adapt to the environment. These large memorials are complex and impressive, even though the Irish monuments typically receive less public attention than their counterparts in England and Scotland. This 11-day tour will uncover Ireland’s fascinating prehistory while visiting sites with stunning and impressive stone circles, capstones, and tombs. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to learn about history and folklore while exploring the breathtaking sites that Ireland has to offer.
Dates: September 8-19, 2023
Click here to view the itinerary and register for your spot! Registration Deadline: June 8, 2023.
Peru: Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines
Although Peru has been occupied since aat least 13,000 BC, one of the most extraordinary societies to emerge has been the Inca Empire. Rising up around the 15th century AD, the Incas established a sophisticated society that conquered a large portion of South America. At its height, the Inca empire controlled a 2,500 mile stretch of the Pacific Coastline. However, in the 1500s, the Inca met their end at the hand of the Spanish. In modern Peru, the Inca capital of Cuzco presents a hybrid of Spanish and Inca cultures. The colonial buildings that sit atop ancient Inca walls to this day are a living testament to the dual nature of modern Peru. In addition to the Inca, Peru was also populated by other smaller societies, including the Paracas and the Nazca. This tour will feature an exploration of the works and artifacts left behind by these cultures, including a flight over the Nazca lines, a visit to the iconic city of Machu Picchu, and a visit to a museum where the famous Paracas skulls are held. See the collision of the East and the West on our tour, led by Dr. Michele Koons of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, who is actively engaged in archaeological field research in Peru.
Dates: October 8-18, 2023
Click here to view the itinerary and register for your spot! Registration Deadline: July 8, 2023.