BC Archaeology Travel, PO Box 1236, Mittagong (2025)

20/08/2025

Hi everyone. This is Michael Birrell, the owner/manager of BC Archaeology Travel. I've been guiding small group tours to ancient world sites for the last 28 years.

Here is my schedule for the next two years which includes new tours in 2026 to the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia) and in 2027 to the Balkans (Bulgaria and Romania). The focus will be archaeology and history. Let me know if you'd like to join me.

2025

WESTERN TURKEY: FOLLOWING ALEXANDER THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of western Turkey led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Miletus, Bodrum, Fethiye, Phaselis, Antalya, Perge, Termessos, Sagalassos, Cappadocia
1st - 19th October 2025 (arrive Istanbul 1st Oct - depart Istanbul 20th Oct)
$8200.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra

NORTHERN INDIA: RAJASTHAN AND THE MUGHALS
A 3-week tour exploring the archaeology and history of Rajput and Mughal India led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer
15th November - 4th December 2025 (arrive Delhi 15th Nov - depart Delhi 5th Dec)
$8100.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra

2026

ANCIENT EGYPT: RAMESSES THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of Egypt led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: GEM Museum, 3 night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and a 4-night Lake Nasser Cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel
27th January - 13th February 2026 (arrive Cairo 27th Jan - depart Cairo 14th Feb)
$8300.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

ANCIENT MOROCCO: ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY
A 3-week tour exploring ancient and medieval Morocco led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Volubilis, Fes, Sahara dunes, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakesh
22nd April - 11th May 2026 (arrive Casablanca 22nd Apr - depart Casablanca 12th May)
$7800.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

THE CAUCASUS: AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA AND ARMENIA
A 3-week tour exploring ancient and medieval Caucasus led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Baku, Gobustan, Sheki Khan, Tbilisi Archaeology Museum, Haghpat monastery, Yerevan, Erebuni fortress, Garni Roman temple
1st - 18th September 2026 (arrive Baku 1st Sept - depart Yerevan 19th Sept)
$8200.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

CENTRAL ASIA: CITIES OF THE SILK ROAD
A 3-week tour exploring the history of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Ashgabat, Merv, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Penjakent, Dushanbe, Tashkent
11th - 29th October 2026 (arrive Ashgabat 11th Oct - depart Tashkent 30th Oct)
$7900.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

2027

ANCIENT EGYPT: RAMESSES THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of Egypt led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: GEM Museum, 3 night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and a 4-night Lake Nasser Cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel
19th January - 5th February 2027 (arrive Cairo 19th Jan - depart Cairo 6th Feb)
$8300.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

ANCIENT ALGERIA: ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE DESERT
A 3-week tour exploring ancient Algeria led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Algiers, Tipaza, Cherchell, Timgad, Lambaesis, Djemila, Setif, Ghardaia, the desert
4th - 21st May 2027 (arrive Algiers 4th May - depart Algiers 22nd May)
$8300.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

THE BALKANS: ANCIENT BULGARIA AND ROMANIA
A 3-week tour exploring ancient and medieval Balkans led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Sofia, Plovdiv, Kazanlak Thracian tombs, Bran castle, Bucovina, Bucharest
7th - 24th September 2027 (arrive Sofia 7th Sept - depart Bucharest 25th Sept)
$8200.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra

ANCIENT TUNISIA: ARCHAEOLOGY & THE DESERT
A 2-week tour exploring the archaeology of Tunisia led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Tunis, Carthage, Dougga, Sufetula, Tozeur, Douz, El Jem, Kairouan, Sousse
14th - 28th October 2027 (arrive Tunis 14th Oct - depart Tunis 29th Oct)
$5800.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $900 extra

Here are some photos of next year's tour to the Caucasus.

The schedule: https://www.bcarchaeology.com.au/schedule-prices.html

17/07/2025

Hi - this is Michael Birrell. I'm leading a tour of the Silk Road in October 2026. Come with me and see the superb architecture of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan:
CENTRAL ASIA: CITIES OF THE SILK ROAD
A 3-week tour exploring the history of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Penjakent, Dushanbe, Ferghana
11th - 29th October 2026 (arrive Tashkent 11th Oct - depart Tashkent 30th Oct)
$7900.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: https://www.bcarchaeology.com.au/central_asia.html
Contact me: [email protected] or 0405 492 946

13/07/2025

Hi - this is Michael Birrell. I'm leading a tour of India in November this year which explores the history and archaeology of Delhi, Agra, Gwalior and the walled cities of Rajasthan:
NORTHERN INDIA: RAJASTHAN AND THE MUGHALS
A 3-week tour exploring the archaeology and history of Rajput and Mughal India led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer
15th November - 4th December 2025 (arrive Delhi 15th Nov - depart Delhi 5th Dec)
$8100.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: https://www.bcarchaeology.com.au/northern_india.html
Contact me: [email protected] or 0405 492 946

11/07/2025

ONLINE LECTURES

Hi - this is Michael Birrell, the owner/manager of BC Archaeology Travel. I'm an Australian archaeologist and historian who has travelled widely in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. I completed my PhD in 1999 and have excavated at many sites in Egypt and Israel. I've been teaching courses and giving lectures on archaeology and history since 1992.

I am going to teach the following Zoom courses in 2025 and 2026 and I hope you might find them of interest. I'm going to teach on Wednesdays and in the 6-8 pm Sydney time slot. I will be recording the lectures, so if you can't actually attend certain lectures, I can always send you a link afterwards.

2025:

THE MUGHULS - EMPIRE OF INDIA
6 to 8pm - $110 for 4 lectures
The Mughal Dynasty ruled much of northern India from 1526 until it was formally dissolved by the British in 1857. We'll explore the reigns of the first six Emperors, examining their military and cultural achievements, with emphasis on their grand architectural accomplishments. In the last lecture we will briefly look at the decline of the empire after the death of Aurangzeb.
Wed 6th Aug - Babur and Humayun
Wed 13th Aug - Akbar
Wed 20th Aug - Jehangir and Shah Jahan
Wed 27th Aug - Aurangzeb and Mughal decline

2026:

TAMERLANE - CONQUEROR TO THE HORIZONS
6 to 8pm - $110 for 4 lectures
In this course we will examine the rise of Tamerlane (who lived 1320-1405), also known as Timur, a Turco-Mongolian who ruthlessly conquered much of Central Asia. Establishing himself in Samarkand, he brought artisans from regions that he conquered to create some of the most superb Islamic buildings ever created. His descendants, the Timurids, ruled an empire in decline but one which has left a rich legacy.
Wed 11th March - Rise to Power
Wed 18th March - Early Conquests
Wed 25th March - Later Conquests
Wed 1st April - Death and Legacy

DEIR EL MEDINA - VILLAGE OF THE TOMB BUILDERS
6 to 8pm - $110 for 4 lectures
The ancient Egyptian settlement known today as Deir el Medina is located in western Luxor. It housed about 70 families who worked on cutting and decorating the tombs of the Kings and Queens of the New Kingdom Pharaohs. It preserves a unique snapshot of life in a small town, giving a glimpse of religion, law, and daily life in ancient Egypt.
Wed 10th June - The Village
Wed 17th June - The inhabitants
Wed 24th June - Religion and Law
Wed 1st July - Death and burial

TROY - FROM MYTH TO REALITY
6 to 8pm - $110 for 4 lectures
The settlement mound of Hissarlik was famously excavated by Heinrich Schleimann who cut a deep trench through the town to explore the history of the site and help identify it with Homer’s Troy from the Iliad. More recent excavations have discovered a rich array of artefacts from a much larger city than originally proposed.
Wed 5th Aug - Poem and Poet
Wed 12th Aug - Early Troy
Wed 19th Aug - Later Troy
Wed 26th Aug - Myth to reality?

HADRIAN'S TRAVELS - THE RESTLESS EMPEROR
6 to 8pm - $110 for 4 lectures
Hadrian ruled the Roman Empire from AD 117 until 138. He spent much of his rule moving around the provinces, initiating civic projects and securing the frontier. This course examines the travels of Hadrian, exploring the cities he visited and the changes he made to the civic landscapes.
Wed 9th Sept - AD 117-8 Hadrian returns to Rome
Wed 16th Sept - AD 121-3 Hadrian in the west
Wed 23rd Sept - AD 123-7 Hadrian in the east
Wed 30th Sept - AD 128-34 Hadrian's last voyage

The lectures will be held online using ZOOM. Lectures will start at 6pm and finish around 8pm (AEDT and AEST - Sydney time), with a short break in the middle. The cost of each series (4 lectures) is A$110 - this includes A$10 GST. Ideally you would send me an email (to [email protected]) with your name, address, phone number, and email address, and statement of which series you are interested in.

Lectures: https://www.bcarchaeology.com.au/lectures.html

09/07/2025

Hi. My name is Michael Birrell and I'm the owner/manager of BC Archaeology Travel. I have a PhD in Ancient History and I've been leading tours for almost 30 years and giving lectures for even longer.

Last night I gave a Zoom lecture on the ancient Turkish city of Sagalassos. You can watch the lecture at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0I1aGb8e88

I'll be taking my group to visit this wonderful site in October this year when I lead a tour:
WESTERN TURKEY: FOLLOWING ALEXANDER THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of western Turkey led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Miletus, Bodrum, Fethiye, Phaselis, Antalya, Perge, Termessos, Sagalassos, Cappadocia
1st - 19th October 2025 (arrive Istanbul 1st Oct - depart Istanbul 20th Oct)
$8200.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: https://www.bcarchaeology.com.au/turkey_alexander.html
Contact me: [email protected] or 0405 492 946

30/06/2025

One of my clients, Michel Hedley, wrote a short piece about my tour of Algeria for the Sydney Morning Herald. Thanks Michel

31/05/2025

ANCIENT MOROCCO: ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY
Hi - this is Michael Birrell. I'm leading a tour of Morocco next year, in May 2026, which explores the country's rich cultural heritage. We visit ancient sites, medieval cities and the desert. This is a special place for photographers - these are some of the photos I took last year:

A 3-week tour exploring ancient and medieval Morocco led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Volubilis, Fes, Sahara dunes, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakesh
22nd April - 11th May 2026 (arrive Casablanca 22nd Apr - depart Casablanca 12th May)
$7800.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: www.bcarchaeology.com.au/ancient_morocco.html
Contact me: [email protected] or 0405 492 946

30/05/2025

ANCIENT EGYPT: RAMESSES THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of Egypt led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: a visited to the completely opened new Grand Egyptian Museum including the Tutankhamun collection, a 3 night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and a 4-night Lake Nasser Cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel
27th January - 13th February 2026 (arrive Cairo 27th Jan - depart Cairo 14th Feb)
$8300.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1500 extra
Itinerary: https://www.bcarchaeology.com.au/ramesses.html
Contact me: [email protected] or 0405 492 946

29/05/2025

THE MUGHULS - EMPIRE OF INDIA
ZOOM LECTURES ON ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANCIENT HISTORY

The Mughal Dynasty ruled much of northern India from 1526 until it was formally dissolved by the British in 1857. We'll explore the reigns of the first six Emperors, examining their military and cultural achievements, with emphasis on their grand architectural accomplishments. In the last lecture we will briefly look at the decline of the empire after the death of Aurangzeb.
Wed 6th Aug - Babur and Humayun
Wed 13th Aug - Akbar
Wed 20th Aug - Jehangir and Shah Jahan
Wed 27th Aug - Aurangzeb and Mughal decline

Hi - this is Michael Birrell, the owner/manager of BC Archaeology Travel. I'm an Australian archaeologist and historian who has travelled widely in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. I completed my PhD in 1999 and have excavated at many sites in Egypt and Israel over 15 years. I've been teaching courses and giving lectures on archaeology and history since 1992.

I am going to teach this Zoom course coming up in August. The lectures will be held online using ZOOM. Lectures will start at 6pm and finish around 8pm (AEDT and AEST - Sydney time), with a short break in the middle. The cost of each series (4 lectures) is A$110 - this includes A$10 GST.

Email me on [email protected] with your name, address, phone number, and email address, and statement of which series you are interested in.

I will be leading a tour of Mughal India in October this year - why not come with me:
NORTHERN INDIA: RAJASTHAN AND THE MUGHALS
A 3-week tour exploring the archaeology and history of Rajput and Mughal India led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer
15th November - 5th December 2025 (arrive Delhi 15th Nov - depart Delhi 6th Dec)
$8100.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: www.bcarchaeology.com.au/northern_india.html

29/05/2025

WESTERN TURKEY: FOLLOWING ALEXANDER THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of western Turkey led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Miletus, Bodrum, Fethiye, Phaselis, Antalya, Perge, Termessos, Sagalassos, Cappadocia

Hi - this is Michael Birrell. I'm leading a tour of Western Turkey in October this year which explores the history of this fascinating region, following in the path of Alexander the Great:
1st - 19th October 2025 (arrive Istanbul 1st Oct - depart Istanbul 20th Oct)
$8200.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: www.bcarchaeology.com.au/turkey_alexander.html
Contact me: [email protected] or 0405 492 946

28/05/2025

ANCIENT LYCIA - THE RUINS OF SOUTHERN TURKEY
ZOOM LECTURES ON ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANCIENT HISTORY

These four lectures explore the history and archaeology of Lycia, a less visited region between Fethiye and Antalya on the south coast of Turkey. Lycia preserves some splendid examples of ancient Greek and Roman cities, such as Xanthos, Myra and Patara, with a diverse range of buildings including theatres, temples, houses and churches.
Wed 18th June - Early days and the Classical world
Wed 25th June - Hellenistic period
Wed 2nd June - Roman Empire
Wed 9th July - Late Roman and Byzantine

Hi - this is Michael Birrell, the owner/manager of BC Archaeology Travel. I'm an Australian archaeologist and historian who has travelled widely in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. I completed my PhD in 1999 and have excavated at many sites in Egypt and Israel over 15 years. I've been teaching courses and giving lectures on archaeology and history since 1992.

I visited Lycia in September last year when I took these photos and am going to teach the following Zoom course coming up in June-July. The four lectures will be held online using ZOOM. Lectures will start at 6pm and finish around 8pm (AEDT and AEST - Sydney time), with a short break in the middle. The cost of each series (4 lectures) is A$110 - this includes A$10 GST.

Email me on [email protected] with your name, address, phone number, and email address, and statement of which series you are interested in.

I will be visiting this stunning region in October when I lead a tour following in the path of Alexander the Great - why not come with me:
WESTERN TURKEY: FOLLOWING ALEXANDER THE GREAT
A 3-week tour of western Turkey led by Dr Michael Birrell
Includes: Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Miletus, Bodrum, Fethiye, Phaselis, Antalya, Perge, Termessos, Sagalassos, Cappadocia
1st - 19th October 2025 (arrive Istanbul 1st Oct - depart Istanbul 20th Oct)
$8200.00 per person twin share (airfares not included), single supplement $1200 extra
Itinerary: www.bcarchaeology.com.au/turkey_alexander.html

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