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Expert-led small-group tours

This video was filmed on our Footpaths of Umbria tour in June 2023 and gives a flavour of what to expect on one of our holidays.

Exploring Italy on a cultural tour

We also offer fresh perspectives on old friends, using art historians, not musicologists, on our opera tours of Verona and seeing Florence, Padua and Bologna through the prism of science and medicine as well as art. We bring you Puccini at the maestro’s lakeside villa, the mosaics of Ravenna and the frozen worlds of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

We dine finely in Piedmont, throw light on the Dark Ages in the northern Adriatic and stand at the crossroads of European civilisations in Sicily. We gaze up at Michelangelo’s David and down at Etruscan tombs. We give you Italy, packaged in a gilt-edged portfolio.

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Cultural tours in Sicily

Whether it’s on a private tour of Palermo’s Palatine Chapel or a guided walk on Etna with an expert vulcanologist, you will be fully immersed in dazzling cultural inheritance.

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Cultural tours in Venice

With special, out-of-hours access to the Basilica di San Marco - as well as on-the-spot insights by our expert lecturers - we give you an unrivalled view of La Serenissima.

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Cultural tours in Florence

Special access is a feature of our Florence tours: visit the vast baroque Palazzo Corsini al Parione, dine at the Palazzo Corsini al Prato, and gaze across the city and Appenines beyond from Palazzo Gondi.

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Cultural tours in Rome

From the underground chambers of the Colosseum to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes viewed in tranquil solitude, we uncover both Rome's cultural triumphs and lesser-known masterpieces.

Browse Italy tours by theme

Why travel with us?

Leading expertise

For 36 years we have been the most influential organisation in the field of cultural travel, offering an unequalled range of tours and events. Pioneering and innovative, we have led the way with ideas and itineraries and by setting the benchmarks for customer service and administration.

Privileged access

Special arrangements are a feature of our tours – for admission to places not generally open to travellers, for access outside public hours, for private concerts and extraordinary events. In innumerable ways, we lift our clients’ experience far above standards which are regarded as normal for tourists.

First-rate speakers

Expert speakers are a key ingredient in our tours. Academics, curators, writers, broadcasters and researchers, they are selected not only for their knowledge but also for their ability to communicate clearly and engagingly to a lay audience. Their brief is to enlighten and stimulate, not merely to inform.

Holiday protection

We provide full financial protection for our package holidays which include international flights, by way of our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL); and for those that do not include a flight, by way of a bond held by ABTOT – The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited.

Personal service

We aim for faultless administration from your first encounter with us to the end of the holiday, and beyond. We want you to come back again and again – as most of our clients do. We can provide options without international travel if you prefer to make your own arrangements.

Award-winning

Five consecutive years as Best Special Interest Holiday Company at the British Travel Awards (2015–19) reflects our commitment to excellence. With a remarkable 99% satisfaction rating from more than 1,100 independent reviews, our attention to detail and client care is unmatched.

Most of our tours run with between 10 and 20 participants. Our travellers are self-selected by common interests and an endorsement of our ethos. You are highly likely to find yourself among like-minded companions, whether travelling solo (as 50% of our clients do) or with a travel partner.

Value for money

The price includes nearly everything, not only the major ingredients such as hotel, transport and the costs of the lecturer and manager but also tips, drinks with meals, and airport taxes. The price published is the price you pay. You can secure your booking today with a 15% deposit.

What do others say about Martin Randall Travel?

Showing 2184 reviews
Outstanding planning, expertise and interest
We have travelled with Martin Randall Travel on many occasions and find their attention to detail outstanding. The lecturers are always of the highest calibre and also chosen to create a sociable and relaxed atmosphere in the group. Every care is taken for single travellers, but there is also suffic...
*****
RJB
04 Oct 2015
Excellent lecturer, tour manager and coffee, lunch and tea breaks
Excellent day out looking at London architecture.
*****
Robin
14 Sep 2020
Gastronomic Veneto
This was an introduction to the culture and the produce, food and wine of the Veneto. 8 days exploring some of the marvellous countryside, getting a snapshot of some of the historical influences on the region - art and architecture, viewing the produce and processes and tasting the local specialitie...
*****
Driz
30 May 2017
Walking holiday in Czech Republic. Learned a great deal, with excellent tour leaders.
Six days walking in southern Bohemia province of Czech Republic. Very pretty country, including foothills of Alps. Saw sites and castles and towns I wouldn't have visited otherwise. Guide and lecturer were superb: well prepared, fluent Czech speakers, and very knowledgeable about Czech culture ...
*****
John V
21 Jun 2018
Le Corbusier: Through France and Switzerland
Martin Randall helped me register and prepare for the tour and provided tour members with an outstanding lecturer and competent tour manager.
*****
The Road
10 Nov 2017
Discovering Oman, it's history, culture and people
Thorough preparation and well conducted tour, everything was on time and provided a seamless, consistent holiday experience.
*****
mmm
21 Jan 2018
An overview of Minoan archaeology, Cretan history, geography and culture
Martin Randall Travel provide specialist tours across Europe and beyond. Their organisation and attention to detail in respect of every aspect of the tour - including travel, transfers, hotels, meals, visits to sites of interest and provision of expert lecturers and guides is outstanding.
*****
RuthH
01 Apr 2018
A unique and memorable experience
Martin Randall Travel fully deserves its reputation for creating unique and inventive experiences which last long in the memory.
*****
RJB
30 May 2022
Divine Office
Martin Randall a specialist tour operator in the areas of arts, music culture, history. Professional to the core both in the office and at the events
*****
Azalea
04 Oct 2021
Memorable
Trip to Austria- to Eisenstadt for their annual festival of music in celebration of Haydn. Martin Randall organised a tour party of 22 to stay in the town for 6 days.
*****
albamac
08 Oct 2015
Informative and fun
An experience that will be long remembered and will continue with follow up reading and research
*****
Dar
12 Nov 2019
Art tour of Venice and Florence
Touring with expert lecturer on renaissance art was amazing
*****
Mikek
27 Nov 2018

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