Travel Article
Following the footsteps of ancient civilisations
By Dallal, Cultural Travel Specialist at Travelwise
I sometimes think I missed my calling as an archaeologist.
Growing up between cultures, I’ve always been fascinated by the past, especially the traces of it we can still walk through today.
My love of ancient civilisations started with childhood holidays to Tunisia, exploring Roman ruins with my family. One of my aunts lived in Carthage and her garden backed straight onto the site. I didn’t realise how lucky I was at the time – being able to wander through those crumbling columns whenever we visited. Looking back, I think that’s where the spark began.
Dallal BenRomdhane
With a goal to visit every US state and a passion for ancient civilisations, Dallal designs thoughtful, immersive trips that feel personal at every step. Her favourite areas of expertise are North America, North Africa and the Maldives.
Later, I spent five years living in Luxor.
I visited the temples and tombs so often I lost count, and yet it never stopped being extraordinary. There’s something about standing in the exact spot where Ramses II once walked that catches your breath. The scale, the detail, the stories etched in stone, they have a way of staying with you.
History you can feel.
For me, ancient history isn’t just something to read about, it’s something to feel. It’s in the way the air changes when you step into a tomb. The hush of the jungle around a Mayan pyramid and the crunch of gravel underfoot as you approach Machu Picchu at dawn.
One of my most treasured trips was finally seeing Machu Picchu in person. I’d dreamed of that journey for years – and it didn’t disappoint. Being there, learning about Incan life and seeing how they shaped their world so ingeniously, high in the Andes, was life-changing.
I’ve followed the Mayan trail through Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, and traced its echoes all the way north to New Mexico’s pueblos and the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. I’m endlessly fascinated by how people lived, adapted and innovated in ways that still inspire us today.
Always learning, always exploring.
Even when I’m not travelling, I’m researching. I’ll often be found watching documentaries, reading up on newly discovered sites or planning where to go next. A recent trip to Gibraltar uncovered something I hadn’t known – that the last known Neanderthal home was found in a cave there. It’s inspired me to start exploring even further back.
Because history doesn’t have to feel distant.
Whether you want to walk through the Valley of the Kings, climb to an Incan citadel or visit less well-known ancient sites around the world, I can help shape a journey that brings the past to life in a way that feels personal and profound.
In the right place, with the right guide, it becomes a story you can step into, and carry with you long after the journey ends.
