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“Highly customizable itineraries. In-the-know guides. Artisans of Leisure can arrange anything.” – Departures Magazine

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Artisans of Leisure is a luxury tour operator specializing in private international travel.

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Luxury south america & latin america tours.

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Join us on our cultural walking adventures, as we explore the world on foot at eye level.

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Fuel your soul. One step at a time.

We believe that travel—and in particular connecting with other people and cultures when you travel—fuels your soul in a way that very few things do. So, through our relationships with well-connected local guides, we introduce you to the most memorable experiences and interesting people—artisans, winemakers, hoteliers, chefs, naturalists, and more. And, with this extended family, we handcraft Cultural Walking Adventures that empower you to see the world, on foot and at eye level. Want to join us?

We create the most culturally rich & authentic walking tours in the world … here’s how.

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Mean deeper, richer experiences while making friends along the way.

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Explore the world on foot at eye level as you walk part of each morning and afternoon with your truly local, expert guides on the most cinematic footpaths in a region. With our long-term local friendships, we know our regions more personally than anyone else. So, you get thoughtfully handcrafted itineraries whose walks are about so much more than just counting miles. They lead to memorable moments that immerse you in the history, the culture, and most importantly the people of the places you’re exploring.

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The world is vast, full of wonders. But information engulfs us. See this, do that, don’t miss this. It seems the more choice there is, the more overwhelmed we feel. What’s more, you’re never asked how you want to feel . In fact, you’re rarely asked anything. That’s not us. We are people. People who value human connection and thrive on connecting you to our vast world. A company of people renowned for planning remarkable and luxurious travel experiences.

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“Black Tomato has made it a mission to keep the world of travel fresh, responsible, and exciting”

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A Journey into Italy

A journey into greece, kenya: the ultimate family safari, a journey into morocco, south iceland, golden circle & reykjavik: from land…, cambodia & vietnam: lively cities and quieter isles, california: the ultimate luxury west coast discovery, ultimate bhutan: a luxurious & cultural retreat, ultimate egypt: culture on the nile.

Trekking across remote parts of the country, navigating by compass and sight, I was rewarded with memories that will last a lifetime

K, Mongolia

We have explored some incredible places and had unique adventures that could have only been made possible with their guidance

Ike and Alexa, Italy

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Black Tomato is top notch – you will not be disappointed

Wendy, Morocco

As a solo traveller, Black Tomato did an excellent job of allowing me to experience Cuba and the Cuban people in a truly creative way

Black Tomato will change the way you travel

Micah, Egypt

Glamping, hiking, icebergs, gourmet food. Not sure how my trip could have been any better

Jimmy, Greenland

A dream come true – from small riads to a mountain fortress and a desert oasis. Black Tomato delivered

Kim, Morocco

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Since our founding in 2005, Black Tomato has always been about creating remarkable, tailor-made trips for travellers around the world. Tom and James – our co-founders – know this better than anyone. You can meet them in our new video.

Our guide to luxury travel

Luxury holidays are personal. They mean something different for each and every one of us. For some, luxury is hiking in peaceful solitude through a remote corner of the desert, while for others it’s the indulgence of sipping cocktails aboard a private yacht, sailing gently through the Mediterranean. Whatever floats your boat, so to speak.

Our team of seasoned travellers are connoisseurs of luxury, curating unparalleled experiences, tailor-made tours and bespoke adventures. Whether you seek the opulence of a secluded villa in the Tuscan hills or the thrill of an exclusive safari in the heart of Africa, we’ll craft a journey that exceeds your expectations.

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VOTED AS ONE OF THE BEST TRAVEL SPECIALISTS IN THE 2023 CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

TRAVEL EXPERT VOTED AS A ROBB REPORT TRAVEL MASTER IN 2024

A TOP 10 TOUR OPERATOR IN TRAVEL + LEISURE WORLD’S BEST AWARDS 2023

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As an independent and award-winning luxury tour operator , we have been curating extraordinary holidays for over 20 years. Our team of luxury travel specialists will provide you with a one-of-a-kind, personalised itinerary, meticulously crafting your dream holiday. As we frequently visit our luxury worldwide collection we will share invaluable insights to ensure that your holiday is everything that you imagined. Welcome to a world where your dreams come to life, where luxury is not a destination but the very essence of your journey.

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The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

It’s been a challenging few years for tour operators but the names below are in it for the long haul (as well as the short and medium), honing itineraries and managing expectations. So who prepared your travel documents this year? Red Savannah and Black Tomato scored highest for first-hand knowledge, and Exodus Adventure Travels and Abercrombie & Kent for on-the-ground support. But when it came to all-round endeavour, Scott Dunn and The Turquoise Holiday Company were leaders of the pack. Both report a surge of interest in Asia, as well as multi-generational travel, solo adventures to Namibia, Bhutan and Mexico, and authentic experiences such as outback stations in Australia and bear lodges in Canada.

These are the best tour operators in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards . The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.

The best general tour operators in the world 2023

15. Cox & Kings. Score 88.00

14. Hayes & Jarvis. Score 89.44

13. Carrier. Score 90.73

12. Simpson Travel. Score 91.48

11. Kuoni. Score 92.82

10. Mr & Mrs Smith. Score 93.29

9. Kensington Tours. Score 94.14

8. Audley Travel. Score 94.77

7. Original Travel. Score 95.44

6. Cazenove + Loyd. Score 95.92

5. The Ultimate Travel Company. Score 96.75

4. Abercrombie & Kent. Score 97.12

3. Elegant Resorts. Score 97.39

2. Red Savannah. Score 97.96

• The Turquoise Holiday Company. Score 98.42

The best travel specialists in the world 2023

15. Wild Frontiers. Score 94.81

14. Martin Randall Travel. Score 95.17

13. Intrepid Travel. Score 95.40

12. Wilderness. Score 96.54.

11. Inntravel. Score 96.88

10. Oxford Ski Company. Score 97.15

9. Kirker Holidays. Score 97.47

8. andBeyond. Score 97.61

7. Ampersand Travel. Score 97.65.

6. InsideJapan Tours. Score 97.79

5. Steppes Travel. Score 97.88

4. Black Tomato. Score 98.03

3. Exodus Adventure Travels. Score 98.15

2. Healing Holidays. Score 98.35

• Scott Dunn. Score 98.70

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From Booking Safaris to Planning Global Vacations, Here Are the 10 Best Travel Specialists

After a year off-grid, our winning specialists are providing customized experiences from jet travel to road trips., the editors, the editors's most recent stories.

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Travel specialists have never been more essential than they are right now, with their invaluable ability to pivot, re-book and offer advice. We picked 10 standouts in the luxury field from across the world, a directory of those who embody that above-and-beyond spirit essential in the past year.

Christoper Sitwell, Cazenove + Loyd

Wilmot-Sitwell has been working in travel for more than three decades. The co-owner of a 16-person London-based agency specializes in long-haul luxury, often to far-flung sites in rural Africa and Asia. The team there spent much of 2020 canceling or postponing trips—most recently, unpicking rescheduled itineraries to the Tokyo Olympics when a ban on foreign spectators was announced.

The firm anticipated today’s conscious-travel concerns from the outset, always focusing on owner-run and locally staffed independent operations, such as preservation outfit Campfire in Zimbabwe. Cazenove + Loyd also offsets the entire carbon cost of its research recces via a partnership with CommuniTree , a 12-square-mile tropical reforestation project in Nicaragua. Clients can easily opt into this, too; anyone whose itinerary swoops through the country can visit the project and personally plant the trees.

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Tanya Dalton, Managing Director UK, Greaves

Dalton leads the UK office of this India specialist outfitter, which was founded by her Mumbai-born grandfather in 1978 and later run by her mother. With generations’ worth of in-depth experience and exclusive connections at her fingertips, she arranges custom trips as luxe as they are immersive. Depending on their interests, travelers may find themselves granted entrée to private palaces, sacred religious sites and landmarked government buildings; meeting with celebrated curators, authors, artisans, jewelers, chefs or astrologers; or exploring desert wilds while staying at plush mobile camps.

Dalton’s team—45 in Delhi and Mumbai, and 15 in the UK—helped extract some 40 clients from India at the start of the pandemic, as borders closed. Now she’s helping guests plan their return. On her radar currently are safaris to spot India’s rising tiger population, top-end hotel openings in Rajasthan and a new single-suite wooden boat that’s perfect for privately cruising the Ganges, Bhagirathi and Hooghly Rivers.

Jules Maury, Scott Dunn Private

Maury runs this offshoot of the UK-based travel firm, focused entirely on bespoke itineraries. Much of her work during the pandemic involved extended stays for home-schooling families who were looking to live and work in a new locale, whether spending two and a half months at Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives or a month in residence at Antigua’s Jumby Bay. Another guest commandeered the five-room Sheldon Chalet in Denali National Park, an ultra-secluded property accessible only by a 45-minute helicopter ride.

The SDP team follows multiple pro-social protocols when it travels and encourages clients to follow suit, including the Pack for a Purpose program, in which visitors pack requested supplies in their luggage for distribution at the destination. It’s laser-focused on ethical practices, too. Animal welfare is a priority, so providers that offer bullfighting or elephant riding are not used, and there’s a pledge that 90 percent of all operators will not provide single-use plastics to guests by the end of 2023.

Deborah Calmeyer, Roar Africa

The Zimbabwe-born Calmeyer has carved out a discrete niche as the ultimate elite safari planner, with the ability to pull off near-impossible requests, even during the pandemic. Rwanda’s government requires a negative PCR Covid-19 test for visitors, but offers only the throat-swab version at Kigali airport—a problem for one Roar Africa client, desperate to go gorilla-trekking but phobic about anything touching his throat. Calmeyer set up a protocol change, arranging for a nose swab to be administered instead.

She has offices in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Cape Town, with the HQ in New York, and Roar Africa continued to pay drivers, freelance guides and its staff even during lockdown, as governmental support in situ was scant. Roar Africa supports several social programs, including an all-women anti-poaching academy in Kenya, which has so far graduated almost 30 fully trained rangers, and underwrites a scholarship at a college of tourism in South Africa that trains women to work at local hotels and lodges.

Catherine Heald, Remote Lands

Remote Lands’ expertise centers entirely on planning ultra-luxury trips for Americans to Asia, with offices in New York and Bangkok, plus country managers in every locale.

Heald and business partner Jay Tindall try to ensure a positive impression both for their guests and by them, encouraging clients, for example, to fund the digging of a water well for a local family whenever Siem Reap in Cambodia forms part of the itinerary. Conscious of the higher carbon footprint of itineraries that span the continent, the pair deliberately minimize the number of flights, private or commercial.

Last year, a Texas couple who were planning to go solo to Asia to celebrate both his 70th birthday and their 40th wedding anniversary had to postpone, and instead Heald helped them turn their three-week, four-country trip into a reunion with their grandchildren, whom they plan to take along this November.

Beks Ndlovu, Founder of African Bush Camps

Ndlovu has maintained momentum, despite the safari industry’s devastating year. The operator and hotelier kept his entire 600-person staff employed while also unveiling Khwai Leadwood, a new high-design lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. It’s the latest in his eco-conscious properties; he has rolled out 16 of them in 15 years across three countries, a remarkable achievement. Each has a light footprint, via solar farms and water recycling, while also offering direct support to surrounding communities via the company’s ABC Foundation.

Even amid the logistical and medical constraints of the past year, Ndlovu seamlessly pulled off a recent journey for 14 people to Zimbabwe via private plane. “There was a lot of juggling, but it was well worth it,” says Ndlovu, who advocates for guests to spend their tourism dollars with brands that preserve wilderness areas and empower minorities and locals. “We continue to make the effort in identifying key talent that we can support and help rise to the surface.”

Cedric Reversade, Unique Properties & Events

Luxury travel was already tilting toward villa rentals before the pandemic made the idea of privacy, and self-containment, even more appealing. The London- and Paris-based Reversade and business partner Koskas offer discreet access to the world’s best rental homes in hot spots like Saint-Tropez, Ibiza and Capri while also acting as a travel concierge.

Take the California client who had bought a piano nobile on the Grand Canal in Venice, just before the first lockdown—and for whom they managed to secure a visa even when borders were shut. They also arranged excursions in the city, like a day on Burano with the glassblowers and a night visit to San Marco. Or the polo-loving English client who ditched her Chelsea townhouse for a seafront estate in Ibiza they’d wrangled on her behalf as lockdowns loomed; she then took trips around Spain, including lunching with a retired rejoneador from whom she bought two horses to ride at her country estate.

Cari Gray, Gray & Co.

Based in Santa Monica, Calif., Canadian expat Gray runs a lean team of about 10 with a particular expertise in active luxury. Take the trip to Argentina and Uruguay which shuttled her guests between cycling spots by private jet. It was due to start just as Argentina shuttered its borders last March, so Gray’s team pivoted, re-booking the group on a similar itinerary in California within 24 hours.

She’s determined that the lavish sums spent by clients truly uplift every destination, especially in developing areas. One pair of travelers sponsored GPS collars on a research project for rescued elephants at a local animal reserve in Namibia and witnessed the process firsthand. And an always recommended pit stop in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco is one of the late Eve Branson’s projects, which employs local women making crafts. It isn’t all do-gooding, though: Gray is renowned for arranging Michelin-caliber chefs to cater alfresco at the end of a day’s hiking.

James Jayasundera, Ampersand Travel

Sri Lanka is one of the rare destinations in Asia that have managed to create a program that allows visitors to experience the country during the pandemic, and no one is a better expert to help navigate an itinerary in that new normal than Rome-raised Jayasundera and his five-person, almost two-decade-old firm. Visitors can stay in designated hotels, he explains, and even go sightseeing, as long as they remain in “bio bubbles” to protect the local populace from imported infection.

Jayasundera started early, noting the preferences of each of his 12-strong family as they traveled constantly in his childhood, and has made such attention to detail a hallmark of his commercial operation. Inclusivity is a longtime passion, with a strong presence in the LGBTQ community among both staff and clients, and efforts to use female guides where possible to offset challenges around equality.

Mark Duguid, Carrier

The 60-person, Manchester-based Carrier plans less than 5,000 trips per year, allowing it to retain a reputation for flexibility. It’s willing to change itineraries within hours of departure and never charging amending fees. Duguid and his team were well placed, then, for the challenges of last year: See the couple from the UK who seized the chance to travel when permitted during a break in lockdowns, heading impromptu to the Maldives as an add-on to a last-minute visit to Dubai. Carrier recognized the appeal of the outdoors for travelers in the last year, too, and created an exclusive trip to Octola in Finland’s Arctic Circle, a five-star private wilderness reserve where local guides hosted open-fire lunches and ran excursions on husky sleds and snowmobiles.

Duguid reports a surge in so-called revenge spending, noting that the average booking value for 2021 has risen 90 percent year over year, with clients indulging in once-in-a-lifetime trips after lockdown restrictions loosen.

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Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Tour Operators of 2024

Travel + Leisure readers have selected their top tour operators for 2024. Check out which companies made the cut in our annual “World’s Best Awards” survey.

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What readers loved about tour operators, the full list.

Courtesy of Timbuktu Travel

An experienced tour operator can elevate a trip from “great” to “unforgettable.” So it stands to reason that many of the votes in Travel + Leisure ’s World’s Best Awards came from repeat customers — readers who know not to let go of a good thing. And though there are a few generalist luxury travel companies on this year’s list, many have a specific niche, from walking tours to regional expertise.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Tour operators and safari outfitters were specifically rated on the criteria below:

• Staff/guides
• Itineraries/destinations
• Accommodations

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

Many of the top-rated tour operators this year are specialists of some description, such as bicycle-focused DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. (No. 3) or Classic Journeys (No. 11), which focuses on walking tours.

Quasar Expeditions (No. 2) operates boutique Galápagos cruises and Patagonia trips. A repeat customer highlighted their dedicated regional expertise: “Their incredible local hires brought enriching cultural experiences to each journey.”

Another company with a niche, AdventureWomen (No. 5) offers small group tours for women. “I continue to work with them again and again,” one voter wrote. “I really enjoy my fellow travelers, small groups (only 14 people), and interesting places with a focus on culture and activities through a woman’s perspective.”

Timbuktu Travel

A new entry to the World’s Best Awards, Timbuktu Travel (No. 1) is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and coordinates trips throughout Africa, South America, Asia, and Antarctica. T+L readers particularly appreciated the company’s website, which allows users to create a custom trip (including hotels, activities, and transfers) with an estimated price. For readers, the cost transparency was a “very rare” perk for a luxury travel company. And, with so many repeat customers, it seems the vacation experience matches the planning process. “I have been on four safaris with Timbuktu and about to leave on my fifth. Their care and organization is exceptional,” said one reader.

1. Timbuktu Travel

Reader Score: 99.30

2. Quasar Expeditions

Reader Score: 98.76

3. DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.

Reader Score: 98.68

4. Butterfield & Robinson

Reader Score: 98.60

5. AdventureWomen

Reader Score: 97.83

6. TCS World Travel

Reader Score: 97.78

7. Black Tomato

Reader Score: 97.38

8. Jacada Travel

Reader Score: 97.24

9. Kensington Tours

Reader Score: 97.02

10. Natural Habitat Adventures

Reader Score: 96.33

11. Classic Journeys

Reader Score: 96.21

12. Boundless Journeys

Reader Score: 96.00

Reader Score: 95.84

14. Off the Beaten Path

Reader Score: 95.78

15. Backroads

Reader Score: 95.39

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