Looking for a holiday with a difference – Look no further

For those looking for a holiday with a difference, there is still time to book places on Greenbee Specialist Travel’s expert-led tours, with political correspondent John Sergeant and former Cabinet Minister Lord Hattersley taking the helm on exclusive group journeys to India and Cuba respectively.

Across the Ganges Plain links memories of the British East India Company and the Raj with sacred sites, ancient temples and stunning monuments as the journey travels across the plain of the holy Ganges River. Highlights include the Mughal architecture of Lucknow, spiritual Varanasi, and the iconic Taj Mahal.


Former BBC and ITV chief political correspondent & political editor John Sergeant will be joining a tour to India with Greenbee Specialist Travel, in association with Cox & Kings, where he will entertain the group with stories from his fascinating and extensive career which has spanned over 30 years.

One of the most recognised faces on television, John has covered stories in more than 25 countries, and shadowed Prime Ministers John Major and Tony Blair on official visits to India. His infamous encounter with Margaret Thatcher at the Paris Embassy days before she resigned as Prime Minister in 1990 - when he was pushed aside by her press secretary Sir Bernard Ingham - was one of the most memorable broadcasts of the year. Departing 18 October 2008, the 12-night tour, staying in Taj hotels throughout, costs from £2,995 per person.

A Journey Through Cuba accompanied by Lord Hattersley combines a visit to the grand cities of Havana and Trinidad, with the opportunity to experience the much-written about areas of 20th century Cuba that have shaped history, including The Bay of Pigs (site of the 1961 invasion) and the historic Santa Clara, as well as a meeting with Che Guevara’s son, Camillo.

Lord Hattersley recently told Source, the magazine from greenbee.com, that his interest in Cuba stemmed from the film, Kiss the Boys Goodbye, with the lyrics to one of the film’s songs ‘Sand in my Shoes’ leading him to believe, aged 10, that Havana “was a more romantic place than anywhere I had ever visited”. He will offer a perspective on the colourful history and politics of Cuba and her neighbours through a series of talks. The 13-night tour, departing 12 November 2008, costs from £2,950 per person.

James Furse, managing director, greenbee.com: “Our tours offer exclusive travel experiences to some of the world’s most fascinating destinations. Along with our expert tour managers, who will be on hand to provide excellent local knowledge on the countries visited, having on board well-renowned experts who have a special interest in the destination will bring the area to life and ensure the group has a trip to remember.”

Previous Greenbee Specialist Travel tour leaders have included celebrated chef Prue Leith, leading news reporter Kate Adie and former war correspondent Martin Bell, whose insightful, moving and sometimes humorous account of his tour around Croatia and Bosnia last year can be found at Greenbee.com/specialisttravel.

For further information on Greenbee Specialist Travel, visit Greenbee.com/specialisttravel.