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Ancient ground, new eyes: meeting the past through travel

From Neolithic stone circles to the food we eat, we’re more connected than we think. Discover how history is intertwined with travel on our small group trips.

Written by: Aimee White for The Explorer magazine
Published: 13 February 2026

 

When we travel, we're surrounded by the past: it's etched into streets, stones, walls and landscapes. In the places we visit, you can notice what came before us, from prehistoric monuments to everyday marks left by ancient lives – and thinking about what they reveal.

 

By paying attention to these remnants, travel becomes more than sightseeing. It becomes a way to understand how human stories continue to shape the world we move through now.
 

I’ve always been fascinated by history. For me, I’m not just looking at a bunch of old rocks, or crumbling buildings that could be demolished for swish new apartments. I picture the people who built them. What their lives looked like. How their day-to-day routines shaped a heritage. And how history still lives with us today.

1. Sites and monuments

Look at Stonehenge. This Neolithic stone circle was constructed around 2500 BC. We don’t have all the concrete answers (Why here? Who used it? How did they use it?) but many believe it was used as a solar calendar or a healing centre, because of the stones’ solstice alignment and supposed curative powers.

 

Some of the huge stones came from as far as Wales and Scotland – what significance did this site have for people to travel so far to this part of southwest England?

 

Pictured: Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

Stone circles are scattered across Europe, and there are a few further afield including the Gambia. Even Japan has its own Oyu Stone Circles (in northern Akita), although they were built slightly later than Stonehenge. Isn’t it fascinating that these ancient communities shared similar ideas at similar times, despite being thousands of miles away from each other?

 

Most of these stone circles are still accessible today, bringing us together to stand in awe and appreciate their mighty structures. I like to think this is how they would have been viewed back then, too.

 

Pictured: Wassu Stone Circles, The Gambia

See the Wassu Stone Circles on our Gambia tour

2. Human connections

If that hasn’t blown your mind yet, let’s look at Pompeii. This ancient city is a rare example of everyday ancient Roman life.

 

Instead of gazing at emperor’s palaces, huge forums and staggering columns, you can see the local bakery, the ‘fast food’ shops and graffiti stating, “Antiochus hung out here with his girlfriend Cithera”.

 

There’s something intimate about how closely we can understand this.

 

Pictured: A plaster cast of a Pompeiian citizen, Italy

View our Italy tours

A similar spot lies on the remote Orkney Islands in Scotland. Dubbed the ‘Scottish Pompeii’, Skara Brae is the oldest Neolithic settlement in Europe. It was built around 3180 BC, consisting of nine surviving houses built into the ground.

 

Today, a walkway loops around the outside so you can look down at the houses and into their lives. It feels oddly familiar, as you can see the fitted stone furniture like ‘dressers’ where they kept their belongings and box-beds.

 

It’s different, of course, but it’s not a far cry from our nesting habits today.

 

Pictured: Skara Brae, Orkney Islands, Scotland

Walk the Orkney Islands with us

3. Communities and language

Living history isn’t just about physical ruins and remnants; it’s also about communities continuing age-old traditions, from crafts to festivals.

 

With this, there are also chapters that challenge us. Part of Benin’s Voodoo Festival involves visiting the Door of No Return, a memorial arch that commemorates the enslaved Africans who left from the shoreline here. Standing before a monument or walking through the remnants of a difficult past are opportunities to remember, reflect and learn.

 

By acknowledging history (both its triumphs and tragedies), we carry its lessons forward.

 

Pictured: Door of No Return, Ouidah, Benin

Finally, there’s language. There are words, dialects and phrases that we still use today – whether we’re aware of it or not! Thursday derives from the Norse god Thor’s Day. ‘Holy moly!’ might refer to an ancient Greek magical herb.


I don’t think history is about the past: it surrounds us every day, from where we live and visit, to the stories we share and art we consume. History surrounds us as much as it is a part of us, and we can always learn from it.

 

Wherever you are, take a moment to lean in and notice the details. The more we explore, the more we can understand the world we share.

 

Pictured: Small group chatting with local Vietnamese woman

Need more living history inspiration?

  • Watch this: The Detectorists is a UK comedy series about two metal-detecting friends in search for local Saxon treasure.
  • Listen to this: Tony Robinson’s Cunningcast podcast explores history topics from a quirky or unexpected angle.
  • Read this: Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town by Mary Beard shares everything you need to know about this ancient town.
  • Eat this: Congee is one of the world’s oldest dishes (and it’s really good for you).

Don't just travel, Explore!

On many of our small group tours, you'll have the chance to visit incredible archaeological remains, learn the ins and outs of different cultures and try local dishes whose recipes have been passed down for generations.

 

We may be adventure holiday experts, but we also know that history isn’t just about the past. Where will your next adventure take you?

Read the Explorer magazine

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