Expert-led history trips to book for 2026
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new destination is to understand its past - the events that have shaped its history, culture and people. We offer a whole host of history tours, led by experts and where you'll be surrounded by like-minded people who share similar interests and a passion for the past. From battlefields and fortresses, to ancient history and royal palaces, step back in time with our favourite expert-led history trips.
Join leading historian and archaeologist Sophie Hay on an exclusive tour of Pompeii, while also visiting the Vesuvian archaeological sites, Herculaneum and the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. You'll stay in a stylish hotel just moments from the entrance to the Pompeii archeological site.
Meet the expert: You'll be joined by Dr Sophie Hay, a leading archaeologist and an expert on Pompeii. She is currently working at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and is also writing a book about the women who excavated Pompeii. Her PhD was based on the fieldwork she completed for the British School at Rome's Pompeii Project.
Join renowned broadcaster and former Royal Marines officer Monty Halls on a fascinating trip. Trace the dramatic story of one of the most daring and costly raids of the Second World War as you follow in the footsteps of the men who landed on the beaches of Dieppe.
Meet the expert: A former Royal Marines Officer who worked for Nelson Mandela in the early '90s, Monty left the forces to pursue a career in expeditions, travel journalism, and marine biology. He has presented award-winning documentaries, including Channel Four's The Freedom Trails, and three series of BBC2's Monty Halls' Great Escape.
Follow in the footsteps of Katja Hoyer's latest book, Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe as you explore the German city and stay at the iconic and historic five-star Hotel Elephant Weimar. During the tour, explore the city's pivotal role in German history: from the hopeful birth of democracy in 1919 to the moral collapse of the Nazi years.
Meet the expert: Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian and the author of the international bestseller Beyond the Wall: East Germany 1949-1990. A Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she is also a regular media commentator on current affairs in Germany. She was born in East Germany and now lives in the UK.
New for 2026, follow the dramatic 20th Century history of Prague from the Nazi occupation in 1939, through to the Velvet Revolution of 1989 - in the company of Guy Walters. On this five-day tour, visit major sites like Prague Castle and Wenceslas Square, which are central to pivotal historical moments. You'll also visit the village of Lidice and pause for reflection at Lidice Memorial.
Meet the expert: Guy Walters is a British historian, TV presenter, and journalist. He is the author and editor of nine books on the Second World War, both fiction and non-fiction.
Commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on a no-fly tour in the company of military historian Clive Harris. You'll stay in the heart of Picardy and explore several World War I sites, landmarks and memorials, while also incorporating the official services of commemoration that will be taking place across the anniversary.
Meet the expert: Clive served in the Royal Signals and with Hertfordshire Constabulary before embarking on a career in military history in 1998. He is the holder of badge number 33 within the Guild of Battlefield Guides and was elected onto the prestigious British Commission for Military History in 2010.
Join esteemed military history Mike Peters as you walk in the footsteps of the airborne forces who shaped the course of the Second World War on this immersive week-long tour. You'll discover key locations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany - from the formidable Fortress Eben Emael to Arnhem.
Meet the expert: Mike served in the British Army for more than thirty years. As an Army Air Corps Soldier, and later in his career as an Officer, he served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has maintained a lifelong interest in military history, working as a Battlefield Guide, an author, and recently as a TV Historian.
