The Crafty Traveller: How to beat the crowds at the world's busiest tourist sites

By FRED MAWER

Egypt on the quiet: You can get to see the Temple of Horus at Edfu without the crowds


Visiting the world's cultural wonders can sometimes be a disappointing anticlimax.

For example, my overriding memories of the Sistine Chapel are of an unpleasant crush of people, and similarly at St Mark's Basilica in Venice, I was so frustrated about having to shuffle along with the crowds that I was unable to concentrate on the dazzling mosaics.

But there is an alternative. Companies specialising in cultural tours can arrange out-of-hours and behind-the-scenes access to top sights and museums. These tours don't come cheap - but you may think the experiences they provide are priceless. Prices given are per person, based on two sharing, and include admission to the places described and services of guides.

Venice
Special Tours (020 7386 4690, www.specialtours.co.uk) is offering a Canaletto's Venice tour next March. The highlight will be a private evening view of the interior of St Mark's Basilica with its mosaics specially illuminated. Also included is dinner in a private palazzo. Price with flights, six nights in a luxury hotel and most meals - £2,595.

Pompeii
Ancient history and archaeology tours specialist Andante Travels (01722 713800, www.andantetravels.co.uk) organises lecturer-led tours of Campania with a day in Pompeii. The tours include entry to buildings to which access is otherwise restricted, along with a visit to the conservation laboratory for a talk. Price, including flights, seven nights' accommodation and most meals - £1,475 in March.

Rome
Martin Randall (020 8742 3355, www.martinrandall.com) is running small-group Connoisseur's Rome tours next November, focusing on places that are difficult to access or rarely open to the public. The itinerary includes a private evening visit to the Sistine Chapel, and out-of-hours access to the fabulous painting and sculpture collection of the Galleria Borghese. Price, including flights, five nights in a top hotel and some meals - £2,350.

St Petersburg
Exeter International (020 8956 2756, www.exeterinternational.co.uk) specialises in tailor-made trips to Russia. It can arrange a number of behind-the-scenes experiences including a tour of the treasure-stuffed storage rooms of the Hermitage, Russia's foremost art collection, and a visit to the Amber Room workshops of Catherine Palace to see craftsmen recreating the exquisite amber panels. Price, with flights and four nights' accommodation at a top hotel - from £1,490.


Fine on the vine: Try a Bordeaux wine tour that takes you to less-visited wineries

Egypt
Bales (0845 057 1819, www.balesworldwide.com) arranges Nile cruises in dahabiyyas, replica 19th Century boats, with a maximum of 12 passengers. The cruises regularly arrive in the late afternoon at the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best preserved in Egypt, when few other tourists are there. An eight-day holiday costs from £1,495 full-board, including flights.

New York
Serious art lovers may want to sign up on a late March/early April tour next year with Ciceroni (01869 811167, www.ciceroni.co.uk). It will include an out-of-hours early morning visit to MoMA, the city's pre-eminent modern art collection, as well as visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Price, including flights, five nights' accommodation and some meals - £1,995.

Lebanon
Sidon, near Beirut, has longstanding archaeological mystique. Those who sign up for a Lebanon tour with The Traveller (020 7269 2770, www.the-traveller.co.uk) will be taken inside the ruins by the British Museum's lead archaeologist working on the excavations. The eight-night Lure Of Lebanon tour in April costs £1,795, including flights and half-board.

Bordeaux
Reserve Collection trips offered by wine tours specialist Arblaster & Clarke (01730 263111, www.winetours.co.uk) are very different from any wine-tasting visits you can set up independently. On the Bordeaux 'en Primeur' trip in May, you can stay in a grand wine chateau and will dine at other chateaux that have Premier Grand Cru Classe ratings, and do not normally accept visits. Price, including four nights' luxury accommodation, tastings and most meals - £3,075.


source: dailymail