Political Tours

Travel beyond the headlines with reporter-led, small-group tours.

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Some photos from our first days in Uganda. We are currently leading a tour here looking at Uganda’s complicated history through years of war and instability and into the modern day.

#politicaltours #uganda #entebbe #gulu #kampala

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Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, interviewed Political Tours founder Nicholas Wood about upcoming tours in 2026. It all made for a fascinating talk that included a preview of next year's tours: https://t.co/1HFYRDFUYg via @acast

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

Political Tours founder Nicholas Wood previews our upcoming tours for 2026 -- a fascinating lineup of destinations that includes Taiwan, NATO's Eastern Flank, and the US Midterms.

With thanks to Giles Hutchison-Smith of chalet_white for use of his 1895 globe.

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

Over two days, Barnaby Phillips, author of "Loot, Britain and the Benin Bronzes," led us through a complex and striking tour that examined Britain's imperial legacy and the question of restitution. We spoke with art dealers, a UNESCO heritage expert, and even a Nigerian prince.

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

One of many strange things you'll see in Transnistria – a statue of 'Gary' Potter, as locals call it, in front of Transnistria's main university.

'Gary' is how Russian speakers pronounce 'Harry." Our Moldova expert Kamil Calus says it's unclear why the statue was put here!

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Places you've never heard of: Tiraspol.

We visited the capital of Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway state on the left bank of the Dniester River, during our Moldova tour. Russia stations peacekeepers here – but Moldova wants them out.

#tiraspol #transnistria #politicaltours

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May 9 divides Moldovans. At the end of WWII the Soviet army took Moldova, and for many, this was seen as occupation. But for others, it was liberating Moldova from Romanian occupation.

There are still two camps in Moldova, which pull the country between Russia and the EU.

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Places you've never heard of: Gagauzia.

Moldova expert Kamil Calus helps us make sense of this autonomous region of Moldova – inhabited by Turkic people who speak Russian and are Orthodox.

#gagauzia #moldova #politicaltours #travel

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

Moldova's largest Jewish cemetery is a vivid symbol of the legacy of the Shoah. Before World War II 60% of Chisinau's population was Jewish. Those who escaped the Holocaust mostly emigrated after the war. #holocaust #shoah #politicaltours #ww2 #moldova

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

Join us later this month (May 15-16) for a two-day tour in London of the Benin Bronzes that explores arguments for and against their restitution. The tour will be led by Barnaby Phillips, author of the acclaimed Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes.

https://t.co/YzeIDBW0k2

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Italy tour expert Tobias Jones introduces Santa Maria Maggiore, the Catholic basilica in Rome where Pope Francis will be buried.

We visited the pope's burial site during our tour of Meloni's Italy, which explored the roots of Italian conservatism from Trieste to Rome.

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

Some photos from the first half of our tour of Meloni's Italy. We have made our way south from Trieste to Bologna and are now in Rome to study the roots of Italian conservatism and how they are finding expression today.

We will be in Rome for Pope Francis's funeral.

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

Mexican states compete for international investment. The Aeronautical University at Querétaro is one prominent example of a state's desire to create a more educated workforce to attract foreign investment.

We met with rector Enrique Gerardo Sosa during our recent Mexico Tour.

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Mexico faces a major challenge with its informal economy. As much as 60% of its workforce exists beyond the confines of the official economy.

Santiago, a potter we met in Guanajuato, gives another take on Mexico's economic woes – young people don't want to work!

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How did Political Tours get started?

Amanda Kendle put that question to Political Tours founder Nicholas Wood in a great talk on The Thoughtful Travel podcast.

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/mUYclPMklc
Spotify: https://t.co/KhMVxCFzbf
Show Notes: https://t.co/EMCL0jLJqJ

[Political Tours @politicaltours]

In one fell swoop American soft power has been undone and US allies are racing to fend for themselves in a new world. Australian journalist Latika Bourke suggests that Trump may even cede power in the Pacific region to China.

Link to full video: https://t.co/dSU07OpHor

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In Mexico, Trump's tariffs are a distraction from the main event; a wedge is being driven through its democracy, says democracy advocate Miguel Lara Otaola.

Otaola spoke with us on the second day of our Mexico Tour.

#Sheinbaum #Mexico #Democracy #Politicaltours

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Mexico tour expert Christine Murray provides an introduction to Zócalo, site of Mexico’s National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, and Federal District buildings.

Our Mexico tour began yesterday and extends through all of next week.

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We visited a family-run bakery in Guanajuato, a city northwest of Mexico City. The bakery goes through as much as 25 kilos of flour a day and uses a traditional bread oven to bake pan dulce and bolillo.

We are in Mexico ahead of our tour that begins tomorrow in Mexico City.

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We are in Mexico City where we saw a massive rally by President Claudia Sheinbaum about Trumps’s tariffs.

Sheinbaum had planned to announce retaliatory measures but instead celebrated the US' decision to postpone 25% tariffs.

We are here ahead of our Mexico Tour next week.