My fellow travelers constituted one of the most rewarding aspects of the trip; from a range of backgrounds, all were knowledgeable, interested and, pretty important, pleasant – not something you can say of all package trips!

These deposits are transferable so you can choose a tour for them and if they can not make it they can choose from any of our tours in 2013.

Download the Standard Booking Form to reserve a place, or email

Our tours for 2012 includes trips to North Korea, Russia, China, Bosnia and Kosovo. We can also create tailor-made tours for individuals or small groups of 2-5 people to almost anywhere in the world.

info@politicaltours.com

Here are some comments from some of our customers in 2012:

“It goes without saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the Beijing-NK trip and many thanks for all your expert guidance and organisation. It will always be an unforgettable experience for me and one which has given me a different perspective on life.”

Tim H. on our tour to North Korea.

“The trip to Turkey was excellent and so also were all the logistics. I think the politicaltours concept is wonderful.. ”

Ian S. on our tour to Turkey in 2012.

“In May I took my most worthwhile package tour ever, a trip to Bosnia and Serbia organised by Political Tours. My fellow travelers constituted one of the most rewarding aspects of the trip; from a range of backgrounds, all were knowledgeable, interested and, pretty important, pleasant – not something you can say of all package trips!”

“It was a sobering, thought provoking and memorable eight days.”

Elizabeth B on our tour of Bosnia and Serbia in 2012.

Click the following link to listen in.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/dorothy-button/4349748

18 years after the end of apartheid Political Tours examines Nelson Mandela’s legacy and asks if the ANC has met the needs of ordinary South Africans.

It will run between January 19th and 27th, and will be led by Peter Sullivan, the former editor of The Star and Group Editor of the Independent Newspapers SA. He’s one of South Africa’s best known journalist and thanks to him we have access to some of the country’s most senior politicians, businessmen and community leaders. Needless to say we will also be getting people’s boots dirty and examining key grass-roots issues.

To view the itinerary on the website please click the following link http://www.politicaltours.com/tours/south-africa-in-mandelas-wake

For further details contact Nicholas Wood at info (at) politicaltours.com or call him directly on +44 (0) 7855 266 151.

Meetings with key politicians and leaders, including:

His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelethini of the Zulu Kingdom

Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille

Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille.

Ann Bernstein, CEO of the think-tank the Centre for Development and Enterprise,

Mike Moriarty, Gauteng Democratic Alliance leader,

Kate O’Regan, Constitutional Court Judge

Mike Solomon, Mining engineer and commentator

Alan Dunn, Editor-in-chief of KZN’s Independent Newspaper group,

Don Ncube, ANC Sandton Branch chairman;

Dr Paul Davis of The Aurum Institute – (A medical research and management institute specialising in the treatment of TB and HIV-AIDS)

Denis Beckett, political commentator

Peter Soal, MP, radio personality, diplomat and commentator,

The tour starts in rural Kwa-Zulu Nata, and then moves on to Johannesburg and Cape Town, and is designed to look at how South Africa has faired since the end of apartheid.

Highlights of the tour include: 

Analysis of rural development, and home visits

A visit to Jacob Zuma’s extensive new compound 

Tour of Soweto new and old

Visit to an SA mine – one of the key sectors of the economy

Visit to The South African Stock Exchange

Analysis of South Africa’s key problems from infrastructure to unemployment 

Stays in some of South Africa’s best hotels, and meals offering the huge range of South African cuisine

The costs is £3200.00 and includes stays in some first rate hotels and meals in some great restaurants.

To receive more information and begin the booking process just fill out the following details:

[contact-form-7]

South Africa 19^th -27^th January

Two decades on from Mandela’s release the success of post-apartheid South Africa is seen as an example to the world. The rainbow nation boasts a successful economy, is a regional power, and a popular tourist destination. Yet the ANC is under significant pressure from its supporters. Unemployment is high, communities lack basic services and allegations of corruption in government circles are widespread. From Kwa-Zulu Natal, to Johannesburg and the Western Cape we look at change in South Africa and its immediate future.

Kosovo 30^th March – 6^th April

Kosovo is where the war in former Yugoslavia had its origins and came to an end in 1999.  Today it is Europe’s youngest state, and is still seeking international recognition amid opposition from Serbia.  We look at the country today, the relations between Serbs and Albanians and their recent past.  It’s a country of many surprises; compact, diverse, both stunningly beautiful and ugly in parts. The tour runs back-to-back with our trip to Bosnia in April.

Bosnia 6^th -14^th  April  

Two decades on from the start of the war, Bosnia is becoming an ever increasingly popular tourist destination.  Yet at the same time the divisions that remain from the end of the war are proving difficult to overcome.  Bosnia’s ties with the EU are held hostage.  We look at life today in the country; the relations between Bosnians, Croats and Serbs, the legacy of the war, and examine the hopes for change. The tour ends in Belgrade, Serbia.

North Korea 27^th  April – 7^th  May

Leading economist and professor of Korean studies, Rudiger Frank, takes us on a journey through the world’s most isolated state. We look at the lives of ordinary Koreans in schools, factories, farms and universities as well as the key sites in the capital.  With pre-tour briefings from international agencies and commentators in Beijing this is an unparalleled insight into the region at a crucial period in its history.

Russia 25^th  May – 2^nd June

After the chaos and uncertainty of the 1990s Russia’s pride has been restored: its economy has boomed thanks to oil revenues and it is once again a major player in international affairs. Our tour looks at those changes, its relations with its neighbours, and the tensions between the government and opposition.  From a small Russian republic, to the capital Moscow we see how Russian lives have changed and examine the prospects and possible legacy of Vladimir Putin. Full details will be released shortly on the website. Please contact us for further details.

Greece 22^nd  – 30^th June

Ordinary Greeks are faced with some of the most profound changes in their lives as the country struggles to tackle its sovereign debt crisis. The implications for the rest of Europe are substantial. If it succeeds to introduce reforms it may well remain within the Euro.  If those efforts fail, it may be forced out, triggering similar crises across Southern Europe.  From Samos, a beautiful island situated just a few kilometers from Turkey, to Athens and Corinth, we look at how Greece came to where it is today, and the government’s efforts to introduce reforms. We also look at the broader implications for Europe.

Scotland  13^th -20^th  July

Led by a charismatic and tenacious leader, Scotland’s independence movement seems poised to break up the United Kingdom.  In 2014 Scots will vote on the matter.  We look at how this evolution has come about and its implications for the rest of the UK.  The tour takes in Glasgow, Edinburgh as well as the highlands and plenty of good food.  Combined with a tour the following week to Northern Ireland – this is part of a series of tours that look at the UK’s changing shape and identity. (See also our shorter series of tours that look at London and the UK’s Financial crisis)

Northern Ireland  20^th -28^th  July

The Northern Ireland conflict was once seen as one of the most intractable in the world.  But now 14 years on from when the Good Friday agreement brought an end to the “troubles,”  that process seems irreversible.  We look at how the change came about, as well as the current threat from renegade paramilitaries. The biggest challenge facing most politicians though is not sectarian division, but the economy. The tour starts in Derry/Londonderry, and ends in Belfast.

China  2^nd – 12^th  September

China’s rapid economic growth in the past decade has seen it emerge as a power to rival the United States.  Internally the changes have had a profound impact on ordinary Chinese.  We track the changes from the Cultural Revolution to China’s growth orientated policy.  The tour takes us from small rural villages to the regional towns and the capital Beijing.  We also look at the challenges to the political system.  How has China’s communist party managed to embrace market economics, and what role is it likely to play as a new global power? Details will be released shortly. Please contact us for further details.

North Korea  14^th  – 24^th  September

Leading economist and professor of Korean studies, Rudiger Frank, takes us on a journey through the world’s most isolated state. We look at the lives of ordinary Koreans in schools, factories, farms and universities as well as the key sites in the capital.  With pre-tour briefings from international agencies and commentators in Beijing this is an unparalleled insight into the region at a crucial period in its history.

Georgia  5^th -13^th  October

In August 2008, the West’s relations with Moscow were brought to dramatic focus as Russian tanks moved within kilometers of the Georgian capital Tblisi. The conflict over South Ossetia has had dramatic impact on relations between the United States, the EU and Russia. It also threatened to undermine the most zealous advocate of free-market reform in the region, Georgia’s president Mikhael Saakhashvili.  Led by Neil MacFarlane, the Pearson Professor of International Relations at Oxford University, and Keti Tsikhelashvili, Director of the Liberal Academy-Tbilsis, a leading Georgian think tank, we examine the fallout from the war, its impact on east-west relations, and the long-term prospects for Saakhashvili’s vision.

Turkey  26^th  October – 3^rd November

Turkey is on the rise.  Led by a conservative Islamist leader it is emerging as a significant power in the Mediterranean basin. But many, both in and outside Turkey, are unclear about its course.  We examine Prime Minister Erdogan’s future direction, as some accuse him of a hidden Islamist agenda. We look at Islam and how it has been harnessed in some regions to boost the economy, giving rise to what some have called “Islamic calvanism.” We also look at Turkey’s policy towards its immediate neighbours, notably Syria. The tour covers Istanbul and Ankara as well as Gaziantep, a town on the border with Syria.  The briefings and discussion will be interspersed with tours of key institutions, as well as historic sites, not to mention excellent food in some of Turkey’s best inns and restaurants.

Libya  16^th -23^rd  November

Libya’s revolution is one of the seminal moments in the Arab Spring.  But the huge sense of optimism among ordinary people is giving way to fears over its immediate future.  Our tour explores the fallout from the conflict, and asks how best can peaceful and durable political settlement be achieved.  Leading analysts and diplomats provide briefings.  We also visit some of Libya’s historic sites, which are regarded as the most exceptional in the Mediterranean. This tour will run back to back with our tour to Egypt so both tours can be booked together.

Egypt  23^rd  November -1^st  December

The January 25 Revolution launched in Cairo’s Tahrir Square has had profound implications for the Middle-East, and represents the biggest sea change in international affairs since the fall of the Berlin wall. Our seven-day tour examines the roots of the revolution and looks at where it is headed now.  We look at the “democratic deficit”, the lack of development and autocratic rule – a common element in many Middle-Eastern countries – that fuelled the revolution. We travel to Cairo’s suburbs and a provincial town to see the everyday problems faced by ordinary Egyptians ; corruption, joblessness, and lack of services. And we look at the power-struggle between the military and the Muslim brotherhood who now hold sway in government and ask where Egypt is headed now. Details will be released shortly. Please contact us for further details.

Political Tours clients, Alastair Muriel and Samantha Holcroft, joined the show and spoke vividly about their time in North Korea.  Our next tour starts on September 9th.

Click this link in orange to listen to the programme.

Or copy and paste this link in your browser:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016vx70