Holiday Architects

Holiday Architects We're a UK-based tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays. We design, for you to discover.

Is Abu Simbel worth visiting? According to our Egypt specialist Ian, absolutely.After exploring Saqqara, Giza, Luxor and...
05/09/2026

Is Abu Simbel worth visiting? According to our Egypt specialist Ian, absolutely.

After exploring Saqqara, Giza, Luxor and sailing the Nile, Abu Simbel was still one of the standout moments of his trip; in his words, “one of my favourite days of the whole journey.”

Ian says that if done right, you can make your trip to Egypt much richer by visiting the sites in historical sequence. Seeing Saqqara before Giza helped him understand the fascinating evolution of the pyramid, from the earliest burial mounds to the step pyramid and finally the smooth-sided pyramids we all recognise today.

Then travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel by boat across Lake Nasser, which he described as a wonderfully relaxed and scenic way to arrive. There are several ways to visit: by boat, road or air, so that it can be tailored to different itineraries.

And if you can spare the time, he’d strongly recommend staying overnight. “Experiencing the temples in the quiet of the evening when they’re illuminated, or early the next morning before the crowds arrive, offers a completely different atmosphere.”- Ian.

If Egypt is on your wish list, Ian’s latest blog is full of first-hand insights, practical tips and the stories behind these fascinating places - https://holidayarchitects.co.uk/blog/ancient-egypt-explained-by-a-specialist

03/09/2026

Meet our India expert, Clare. She knows India inside out and has been designing holidays since 2008. Throughout her travels in India, whether on a research trip or on holiday with her family, she has definitely picked up some stories along the way.

Clare touches on why she loves to use female guides when she visits India, a topic we are very proud of here at HA, because, as she explained, India has made humongous steps forward in recent years for women in tourism, from underrepresented, informal roles into prominent positions as entrepreneurs, general managers, and tour guides.

These amazing social/corporate improvements lead to incredible outcomes such as economic independence, enhanced safety, community leadership, cultural preservation, sustainability, and so much more.

Clare has just returned from a trip to India. She said, “On my last adventure through Rajasthan, I set out to find the places that rarely make it into the guidebooks – the hidden spots that are all too often missed from India holiday itineraries”.

Keep a little eye out for Clare’s India blog, coming soon.

When you're travelling, some of the best times come from the places you don't see in travel guides or brochures. It migh...
02/09/2026

When you're travelling, some of the best times come from the places you don't see in travel guides or brochures. It might be a quiet village, a train journey that's not on social media, or a chat with someone you just happened to cross paths with. And that's what we're all about here at HA.

On her latest trip through Rajasthan 🇮🇳, our India specialist Clare set out to build the complete picture: the cities that rightly headline every itinerary, and the villages, trains and local spots that rarely make it past word of mouth.

"It's these lesser-known places that really capture the heart of the state. This is where history feels alive, where communities flourish, and where you can connect with the land and its people in a way that feels truly personal."

She came back with a full guide to where to go in Rajasthan: the classic stops worth every bit of their reputation, and the quieter finds she loves weaving in alongside them.

If you're planning where to go in Rajasthan, from the Pink City and a fort you can actually sleep inside, to rural villages, local train rides and community projects most visitors never find, Clare has shared it all in our latest blog.

Read Clare's full guide: 'Where to Go in Rajasthan' over on our blog.

Thanks so much for your message, Katherine. It’s great to hear that your family holiday to Japan with Fenton was just ri...
01/09/2026

Thanks so much for your message, Katherine. It’s great to hear that your family holiday to Japan with Fenton was just right. That really matters to us.
…

Chat with Fenton today to design your family holiday of a lifetime. 🇯🇵

1. Kirsty enjoyed a family holiday in Costa Rica!2. Kim and Fenton had a bit of country fun, singing and dancing with th...
31/08/2026

1. Kirsty enjoyed a family holiday in Costa Rica!

2. Kim and Fenton had a bit of country fun, singing and dancing with their friends and family.

3. Clare made a note to herself not to walk past the ice cream van in the morning- or else face the temptation of ice cream from breakfast!

4. Cat came 3rd in her category at the 10k Bugatti (Prescott Hill) race. A big well done, especially in this heat.

5. A big well done to our Head of Marketing, Gabs, not only for getting another qualification under her belt, but also for earning an A-grade whilst doing so! Gabs was somehow juggling the role of our Marketing team lead here at HA, all whilst taking exams. And that’s how she’s earned her nickname: “the Duracell Bunny” 🤭.

6. Congratulations to Ian for buying his first house! He already has a line of HA’ers who are claiming sh***un to the first sleepover.

7. It was our Mr Ronnie's last connection day as a single man! So, Rebecca and Ian surprised him with an afternoon of HA stag do shenanigans! Followed by a “stag do” drink afterwards, of course.

8. HA’s Andy and Rachel spent their summer holiday on a boat sailing around Greek islands with their two girls. It seems there have been some mixed reviews after spending quality family time on a small boat. Nonetheless, they all had an amazing time and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime trip!

9. Gabs has been making the most of our bonkers British summer weather, off paddleboarding along Cirencester Lake or wild swimming in the river.

10. Emma has managed to squeeze in a few little trips around Europe this summer, her latest being Romania!

Dear summer, thank you for a magical one. All the love from Team HA; we can't wait to see what you have in store for us, Autumn. 🍂

We are delighted to share the wonderful news that Holiday Architects has been shortlisted for the 2026 Wanderlust Reader...
27/08/2026

We are delighted to share the wonderful news that Holiday Architects has been shortlisted for the 2026 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards!!! ✈️🏆
Wanderlust Travel Magazine

We are the runners-up for…
Favourite Tour Operator for Specialist Touring,
Favourite Tour Operator for Nature & Wildlife,
Favourite Tour Operator for Adventure,
and Favourite Tour Operator for General Touring.

And this one feels particularly special. We’re used to being recognised for the work we do behind the scenes: building a brilliant business, creating unforgettable holidays and, most importantly, being a pretty wonderful bunch to work with. But the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards are voted for by travellers. So this one is for you, our lovely HA community. 💙

We have won Wanderlust awards in the past, but this time we’re up against some of the big boys in travel: businesses with huge marketing budgets and even bigger customer lists, so every single vote from our incredible clients really does matter. 💛

If you’ve travelled with us, followed our adventures, or love what we do, now’s your chance to show us some love and cast your vote! - https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/about-us/our-awards/2026-wanderlust-travel-awards/

P.S. Voting gives you the chance to win an incredible holiday for yourself!
Such as… Drumroll please!
A 15-day Peru Panorama tour
A Seychelles 5* all-inclusive club stay
An 8‑day all‑inclusive Norway Expedition Cruise
A 17-day Grand Tour of India
Oh, and these ones include flights too!

These are just a few examples of what's up for grabs, so it’s definitely worth having a look over on the website for yourself to see what's on offer.

…

Thank you, as always, for being the very best part of HA. 🥹🌍

Are you jetting off in December because you want to be rid of grey skies and need some warmth before winter properly set...
26/08/2026

Are you jetting off in December because you want to be rid of grey skies and need some warmth before winter properly settles in? Or are you off to celebrate Christmas somewhere extraordinary? Taking a big family trip, or squeezing in one last adventure before the year disappears? Whatever it is, we can’t wait to see where you chose.

Will you be…
Taking it all in, like HA's Chile specialist Lou, next to the lake in Castor, Chile.
Wandering among local craftsmen like HA's Morocco specialist Rebecca in Oasis, Morocco.
Getting up for early morning game drives like HA's Radders, at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in South Africa.
Running across the dunes in the desert like HA's Africa specialist Kirsty in Sossusvlei, Namibia.
Exploring the “Rose City”, one of the Seven Wonders of the World like HA's Head of Sales Helen in Petra, Jordan.
Experience nature and heritage at the luxury plantation resort Pepper Trail like HA's India specialist, Clare, in Kerala, India.
Cycle and tour an entire ancient archaeological site like HA's Asia specialist Lisa in Angkor, Cambodia.

✈️🐘🗻🌊

Still a bit undecided? Luckily for you, our specialists have shared why these destinations are at the top of their lists to end the year on a high note in our most recent blog, “Where to go in December” - https://holidayarchitects.co.uk/blog/where-to-go-in-december

22/08/2026

Did you know you can pair Sri Lanka with the Maldives? 🌴

It's one of Rebecca’s favourite combinations, blending Sri Lanka's wildlife, culture and landscapes with a few days of complete relaxation in the Maldives.

And while June to October is technically the Maldives' monsoon season, that doesn't necessarily mean constant rain. As our specialist Rebecca found on her own travels, September and October can still bring beautiful weather (although July has proven a little less kind to her in the past 🤭).

Every trip is different, which is why speaking to someone who's been there (a good many times) makes all the difference.

If you're thinking about combining Sri Lanka with the Maldives, Rebecca would be delighted to help you plan the perfect itinerary.

A few snippets from Hels’ most recent Jordan holiday 📸Helen heads up our marvellous Sales team at HA, and she does a spe...
20/08/2026

A few snippets from Hels’ most recent Jordan holiday 📸

Helen heads up our marvellous Sales team at HA, and she does a spectacular job. A little shout-out to her for always being there to take any queries head-on and always offering solid support to her team; thank you, Hels!

On her last trip to Jordan, Hels and her sister Paula spent some time in the Wadi Rum, relishing Arabian luxury at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp , and zipping through the desert in a 4x4 jeep.
…
Chat to our Jordan experts, Cat or Ian, to start planning your very own desert adventure in the Wadi Rum.

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