Eastern Approaches

Returning from archaeological work in Iraq in the 1980s, Warwick realised that nearly twenty years of experience in the field running and operating archaeological excavations with poor infrastructure, sensitive academics, very little money and dodgey Landrovers, he might be qualified to operate specialist holiday tours to his area of expertise. By 1994, he had proved that this was so and from the first “menu” of five tours, he has now established a regular programme to some 45 countries in 4 continents, as well as a loyal client base, 80% of whom return to travel again with Eastern Approaches.

Warwick devises carefully thought out itineraries based on his own comprehensive knowledge and advice from his wide network of colleagues and researchers. Because of Warwick’s knowledge of the destinations, he feels that it does both the client and the country an injustice to just have a whistle stop tour of the off the peg highlights. Hence the tours tend to be longer and involve a more in depth experience than other tour operators.

Warwick is supported in his venture by his wife and partner Wendy, who runs the office administration, produces the publications, and “holds the fort” when Warwick is travelling. The arcane art of dealing with the complex and huge world of airlines is handled by Eastern Approaches associate, Bob Ballantine. Bob is a former director of Connoisseur Travel Company and brings many decades of experience in the travel world to Eastern Approaches, knowing as he does the nuts and bolts of the travel industry inside out.

In addition, a key part of the success of each individual tour is in the hands of the accompanying expertise and the ground agents. Each tour is led by a recognised authority in the field and they bring their own distinctive style of imparting information within the framework of the itinerary and standards that Warwick has devised. The ground agents are responsible for handling all the ground arrangements and they are our hosts in the country we are visiting. Warwick sets high store in developing good relations with his agents and many have worked with Eastern Approaches for over ten years and have become good personal friends.

Sevgin Tamer and his wife and colleague, Grethe, are specialists in cultural tours around Turkey. They have been providing superlative services to Eastern Approaches for over fifteen years. In March 2011, Sevgin Tamer was given a special award by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism at a glittering ceremony in Istanbul in recognition of his fifty years as an outstanding guide.

Larisa Gordeyeva is one of our key contacts with Saga Voyages of Rostov-on-Don. In December 2010, Larisa Gordeyeva was honoured the first position as the ‘best travel guide’ and awarded the Certificate of Honour from the Mayor of Rostov-on-Don in a ceremony at the City Hall. (The company Saga Voyages was awarded ‘best incoming and internal tour operator’ on the same occasion.)