Mahmood, Dragana, and Zoran -  June 05, 2024

Once again we would like to thank you for a great tour. We started writing travelogues for our parents, then the distribution list expanded to include other family members, friends, and fellow travelers. Here is the first chapter about our Balkan trip. Chapters will be published about once a week. Each one will have a target size of around 1 MB (about 2,000 words and 20 embedded pictures) to keep everyone’s e-mail inbox or attention span from overloading. While the pictures are sent embedded in the text, some e-mail systems display the pictures only as attachments due to incompatibility issues, thus making the travelogue harder to follow. If this happens, let us know, and we will try other options with you (we can send out a PDF file as the primary fix). Please feel free to forward copies of the travelogue chapters to others who might be interested. If any of the information is in error, let us know, and we will release a correction in the next available segment.

This travelogue covers our tour through select Balkan countries from 10-26 May 2024.  The Balkan Peninsula is generally considered to be the area of southeastern Europe bordered by the Adriatic, the Aegean, and the Black Seas.  It is a land of diverse religions, races, and ethnic and political influences that range from the Romans, early Slavic empires, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, communism, and democracies.  Despite these cultural diversities, the people adapt and move on.  For example, the huge mosaic below is 478 yd² (400 m²) and is located over the front entrance of the Albanian National Historical Museum in Tirana.  Anyone who is familiar with communist art will recognize its bold and muscular characterization of workers and historical figures in what is called the “Socialist Realism” style.  The mosaic was created under the communist dictator Enver Hoxha and depicts the historical evolution of the Albania territory.  It included the gold silhouette of a 5-pointed star (to symbolize communism) over the double eagle on the flag.  There was also a large 5-pointed red star behind the central lady’s head, and the man on her right was holding a red book.  When the dictatorship ended, the mosaic chips of the communist icons were carefully removed and replaced.

Our tour was organized by Bestway Tours out of Canada through Dragana Petković of Balkan Expert Tours in Belgrade.  We expected to travel with as many as ten other people, but turned out to be the only two who signed up, so we had an excellent private tour and were well-cared for.  The adventure started with a few days in Belgrade, Serbia, then we drove some 1,500 mi (2,400 km) through the five other countries indicted on the map below.  (The countries we visited and their capitals are listed in black on the map, along with dots indicating some of the places where we stopped.  The maps of the individual countries will fill in the names of some of the places visited.)  Driving is one of the best ways to take in the local sights, culture, and cuisine, and it was our first time visiting four of the countries.  Overall, the region has rich agricultural areas, lush woodlands, beautiful seashores, and some of the most rugged mountain ranges we have seen.

The trip started on Friday, 10 May when we caught a Lufthansa Airbus 330 flight directly from St. Louis to Frankfurt, Germany (with no layovers in a U.S. departure airport).  We were especially fortunate to be on the left side of the airplane looking towards the north.  During the night flight, the aurora borealis was very active, and we were able to snap some photos of a phenomenal display.  In the photo below, the aurora shows up as the green and purple hues of what looks like a curtain.  Across the bottom, the light of dawn is coming up over a cloud deck, and the reddish tint of the sunrise is showing through a hole in that deck.

On Saturday, 11 May we landed in Frankfurt and caught a Lufthansa Airbus 320 to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.  There we were met by our guide, Dragana, who took us to the central section of Old Belgrade where we checked into the Hotel Moskva of Beograd (Belgrade).  In the 1800s, the site had been a farmer’s market and then a modest inn.  In the early 1900s an ambitious construction project with Russian backing was undertaken, and the building in the photo below was officially opened on Terazije Square (the officially designated center of the city).  In 1908 it was the biggest privately-owned building in Serbia.  It was two stories taller than the surrounding buildings, so it dominated the skyline of Belgrade and quickly became one of the most prestigious places to stay in the city, as well as a place for many businesses to open offices.  Today it is a 4-star landmark hotel that is near the downtown core, and it is still a stately representative of the elegance of European life the early 20th century.  The halls of the floor we stayed on were adorned with pictures of politicians, entertainers, and dignitaries who stayed in the hotel throughout the years.

Background Information:  The Republic of Serbia has a parliamentary form of government with a prime minister, but its president is the head of state.  The country has been inhabited since the Iron Age, with groups such as the Thracians, Dacians, and Greeks having lived on the land.  A Serbian kingdom was autonomous during the Middle Ages, but it fell to Turkish control hundreds of years before the Ottomans made their successful push into Central Europe.  In the 20th century, the country became infamous for the assassination in June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in the then-Serbian city of Sarajevo – the spark that ignited WW I.  Today it has a population of just under 7 million people who live on 34,116 mi2 (88,361 km2) of land, making it slightly smaller than Maine.  The economy is dominated by a service sector which accounts for 60% of GDP, followed by industry with 32% and agriculture at 8%.  The official language is Serbian that uses Serbian Cyrillic script, but informally Latin and Cyrillic alphabets are both used.  Nearly 85% of the population follows the Orthodox religion, with Catholics, Muslims, and Protestants making up the rest.  The country provides universal health care and free primary and secondary education to its citizens.  The official currency is the Serbian dinar, with $1US≈ 107dinar.  The country has an excellent sports tradition, producing athletes such as Novak Djokovic, currently ranked No. 1 in the world in men's singles tennis.  The flag uses a two-headed eagle that has historical connotations in the region as a symbol of an independent empire (past or present).

After unpacking and a brief rest, the two of us set out on a relaxing Saturday-afternoon walk near the hotel.  We ended up at Republic Square as pictured below, considered as somewhat of a social gathering place for the city.  The red building in the background is the National Museum of Serbia.  The building started as a financial center in 1903 and was converted to the museum that opened in 1952.  The building barely visible on the far right is the National Theater.  In the center of the square is a statue of the prince on horseback who pushed the Ottomans out of Serbia in 1867.  Today, many Serbians do not remember the name of the prince, and often simply tell friends I’ll meet you at “the horse”.  The stage was set up as part of a celebration of families, and featured a live band accompanying pre-recorded videos and audios of children singing.

On the way back to the hotel we walked along Terazije Street that the hotel is on.  It is normally one of the busiest streets in the old part of the city, but on that afternoon it was blocked off for a bicycle race.  The cyclists followed a closed loop around the widest part of the street that has a median, and the photo below captured them making a tight turn around one end of the median.

We returned to the hotel, the jet lag caught up with us, and we slept well that evening.  On the morning of Sunday, 12 May, there was time after breakfast and before our tour for a few photos of another section of the old town neighborhood.  Right across Terazije Street from the hotel is a collection of nondescript office buildings as pictured below.  After the architectural splendor of the early 20th century, Belgrade became the capital of Yugoslavia under the communist regime of Josip Tito.  After WWII the country embraced a more utilitarian outlook on life as evidenced by the plain façades of these buildings that were designed as part of the post-war reconstruction era.

A few blocks from the hotel is a building that has had an interesting and varied past.  The cornerstone was laid in 1907 for the neo-Baroque style building pictured below that was intended to be the House of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Serbia.  However, the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the Great Depression interrupted construction that was not finished until 1936.  From the time it was opened until 2006 it was the seat of the Parliament of Yugoslavia and then the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro.  After 2006 it has been the House of the National Assembly of Serbia.  (The factors surrounding this building are indicators of the complicated history of the whole region.)

Across the park in front of the National Assembly building is a building housing the offices of the Presidency of the Republic of Serbia, and it has a history of its own.  Design plans started in 1903 for the New Court palace to house the Serbian royal family, and construction started in 1911.  After WWI broke out, Austro-Hungarian soldiers were billeted in the unfinished palace, and they destroyed much of the interior.  When the palace was finally completed in 1922, the Serbian royal family moved in and lived there until 1934, when King Alexander was assassinated in Marseille.  For almost two decades the palace housed displays of the National Museum.  After WWII it went through years of refurbishment that featured architectural ornamentation in the Renaissance and Baroque styles.  Since 1953 it has been used for the highest executive offices in Serbia.

Near Republic Square is an area of the old town that has several pedestrian-only streets that engender a communal atmosphere that is not possible when streets are filled with cars, busses, and trucks.  Some streets have retail stores and kiosks, while others are lined with trees and sidewalk cafés where people can linger to enjoy a social gathering and watch people go by.  As seen in the photo below, business was slow on an early Sunday morning.

Around mid-morning, Dragana and her driver Goran picked us up for a tour of the highlights of Old Belgrade and New Belgrade.  Dragana did an excellent job of organizing the entire tour, and she served as our guide in Belgrade.  She was very patient in helping us try to understand the politics, religions, and clashing empires that shaped the Balkan cultures.

Belgrade is situated on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, and the older section of the city used the Sava River as its western boundary.  The area west of the river is now extensively developed with new buildings constructed in the post-WWII era.  As a result, most of the newer buildings have the traditional plain communistic look of steel and glass.  However, further upstream along the Danube River is the old fishing village of Zemun that has the Gardoš Tower on a small hill.  Pictured below, the tower is also called the Millennium Tower because it opened in 1896 to celebrate a thousand years of Hungarian settlement in the Pannonian Plain.  Seven towers were built all over the Hungarian part of Austro-Hungary, stretching from Budapest, Hungary to Ukraine, Slovakia, and points in between, with Gardoš Tower being the southernmost.  Ironically, a little over 20 years after the tower was built, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dismantled in the aftermath of WWI.  The tower is pictured below and stands 118 ft (36 m) high.  Towards the end of the 20th century, it was in total ruins with almost all of the doors and windows missing.  Early this century a group of private history enthusiasts worked to restore the building by referencing original schematics from 1896 – which are kept in the Belgrade City Museum – as their guides to rejuvenate the tower to its original splendor.  From the base of the tower we could look across the Sava and Danube Rivers over parts of the Belgrade metropolitan area.

From the tower we drove back across the Sava River to an older part of the city where the House of Flowers is located.  This is the name given to the estate of Josip Broz Tito who was the communist leader of Yugoslavia from WWII until his death in 1980.  As a term of endearment, some referred to it as the “flower shop” during his lifetime.  The estate has his residence, guest houses, offices, and the photo below is of the mausoleum where he is buried under the large slab of white marble.

Background Information:  Josip Tito was a military and political leader whose strong personality was able to unite the ethnic factions of Yugoslavia into one nation.  A devout communist since early in his life, he led Yugoslavia to communism in the late 1940s – but to his own brand of communism.  He split with Stalin and the Soviets early in his political reign and played East and West against each other to his benefit.  By doing so, his international stature was elevated when he became the leader of the 120 countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during the Cold War.  After his death, Yugoslavia was ruled by a committee of ethnic individualists, and it was just a matter of time before the former empire split into smaller countries.

The Serbian Orthodox Church has long been the religious foundation of the culture of the country.  Saint Sava (1175-1235), is the patron saint and national hero of the Serbian people since he was instrumental in separating the country from the influence of the Byzantine church.  His body and coffin were burned by Ottoman Turks in 1595 to eliminate all physical traces of his presence.  In the late 1800s there was a movement to build a grand church in his memory.  The photo below shows the Temple of Saint Sava that was built on the site on the Vračar plateau where, at one time, he was believed to have been buried.  The first stone was laid in 1935, and after decades of war and communist restrictions on construction of any religious buildings, in 2017 the exterior construction was complete.  Designed to replicate the dimensions and appearance of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the temple is the largest Orthodox church in Serbia, and the top of the cross in the photo below is 257 ft (78.3 m) above the ground.

Stepping into the interior of the temple was like walking into a giant cavern.  The top of the central dome is 213 ft (64.9 m) above the floor, and there is enough space to accommodate 10,000 worshippers.  In 2019 Vladimir Putin visited the church and announced that the Russian state would finance parts of the mosaic cladding that remained to be added to make a total of 130,000 ft2 (12,000 m2) of gold mosaics.  When we visited inside the temple there was a wedding being conducted, and several other weddings and baptisms were scheduled for that Sunday.

The last major stop of the tour that day was a walk through the most-visited site in Belgrade – the remains of Belgrade Fortress that overlook the two rivers.  The area was fortified as early as 279 BCE.  At its height during the Middle Ages, the fortress had several sections that covered 160 acres (66 hectares).  Due to its location on two strategic rivers in the Balkans, Belgrade has seen 115 wars, and despite its fortifications it has been razed to the ground 44 times.  Most of the ramparts have now been dismantled, but the inside of Stambol Gate, the main entry gate with its 88.6-ft (27-m) clock tower in the photo below, is a reminder of how massive the fortifications once were.  Today the fortress is the centerpiece of a collection of green spaces and parks that attract many visitors who stroll the grounds.

We finished touring, had a short break, and then Dragana took us to yet another pedestrian walkway lined with popular restaurants.  We dined at the Dva Jelena restaurant pictured below, and enjoyed a meal while sitting outside in the comfort of the night air.

We ordered a delicious sampler platter of three types of meats (a type similar to hot dogs is hidden behind the kabobs and the breaded pork cutlet), accented by side salads, fresh bread, and French fries.  Despite all the walking during the day, we were not able to finish the huge quantity of food.

To top off the meal, the 4-person band pictured below serenaded us.  Two accordionists, a guitarist, and a vocalist sang a variety of Serbian folk songs, as well as traditional songs from elsewhere around the Balkans.  It was the perfect way to end an excellent day of touring Belgrade.

Dragana walked us back to the hotel where we thanked her, said farewell, and slept well that night.  In the next segment we will continue our tour on the following day by meeting Zoran, the guide who would drive us on the rest of our journey.  On that day one of our activities would be a ride on a train that was once part of the historic Serbian National Railways structure and is the only narrow-gauge railway still operating in Serbia.

The 4 Stan’s of Central Asia - Customised tour

"We were treated like royalty by our drivers and guides as everything had been well thought out and our comfort was a priority. With centrally located hotels, our spare time could be spent exploring the cities and towns on foot. The markets, mosques, mountains and meals will long be remembered. We always felt safe and remarked at the courteousness of the people and the orderliness of the societies. A most fulfilling journey!"

-- C Harling of BC, Canada

Central Asia - Customised tour

"The Central Asia trip (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) was fantastic and your services were appreciated. The guides you arranged for us were professional and highly qualified. They arranged for excellent activities and food."

-- J Smith of BC, Canada

Silk Road Adventures - Customised tour

"Chi Pham, our bestway agent kept on top of the plans and reminded us to get our visas in a timely fashion. We asked at the last minute what the appropriate tipping customs were for the drivers and guides--perhaps that information should be given out earlier. We were amazed at the many things we were able to see in Uzbekistan and China. Most of us were not familiar with these sites before our trip. Our guides also gave us suggestions of things we might want to see on our own. Bestway Tours planned and executed a wonderful Silk Road tour for our group of six in Uzbekistan and China. The guides, transportation, and hotels were all excellent."

-- Shirley R of UT, USA

Private tour of Russia & Baltic States - Customised tour

"We wanted to see Russia, (especially the Hermitage )and the Baltic States. Our guides and drivers were extraordinary. Bestway has always provided us with superior drivers. We would trust Chi (Bestway Agent) to make any plans for us. We had a very warm relationship with our Moscow guide which helped us to learn about the Russian people. We were surprised to see how beautiful Moscow is. The drives between cities was very helpful in understanding what life was like outside of the cities."

-- Zane & Carole A of RI, USA

Silk Route to Bukhara (China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan)

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will forward your email to the other tour participants as well so you can have their feedback. As the travel agent that has not used your company in the past, I was very pleased with the professional services of your booking agent. She did an excellent job making the travel plans on short notice and helping with questions and itinerary suggestions. It was an area of the world that was not very familiar so I needed guidance. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Silk Route to Bukhara

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Silk Road and Sunday Bazaar - Customised tour

"Mahmood working overtime to make our personalized trip possible. Planning the trip was a long process and he was very patient."

-- Teresa Z of CA, USA

Route of the Caravans: The Silk Road

"We are very pleased with the care and attention we are receiving in all these "off the beaten track" countries. We are welcomed and made to feel very comfortable. The guides go out of their way to give us the best tour possible. We both apreciate the efforts Bestway gives us and are looking forward to our next tour with you to the East Indies next month. Bestway Tours will take you on well-planned, carefully thought-out tours with your comfort and safety always in mind."

-- Margaret D of FL, USA

Route of the Caravans: The Silk Road

"Last Fall my wife and I took the "5 Stans" trip with Bestway Tours. While we were in Uzbekistan, Mr. Marat Karimov was our guide. He was excellent in all respects, and made Uzbekistan the highlight of our tour. His command of English was very good, and he was both knowledgeable and resourceful. When our flight to Kyrgyzstan was delayed for an extra day, he came up with a special trip to the mountains that was most interesting. Both my wife and I had the misfortune to fall while we were in Samarkand. My injury was somewhat serious, but Marat made sure that we both received prompt medical help, so that we could continue our tour activities without interuption. He also obtained a second entry visa to Kazakhstan for us which our travel agent had neglected to obtain prior to our departure. In short, he was all we could hope for in a tour guide. Please thank him for us."

-- Henry A.F of CA, USA

Balkan Mosaic - Customised tour

"Mahmood, We have returned home from your excellent Balkan Mosaic tour and wanted to thank you for a perfect trip. Beginning with our first contact with you, the complete trip experience went very well. Both Dragana and Zoran were excellent guides with their knowledge, attention to details, and fun personalities. We had a great time touring with them and appreciate all of their hard work. The food was delicious, the hotels were nice and comfortable, and the scenery was beautiful. The itinerary was exactly what we had hoped it would be for learning about this region of the world. This was our first experience with Bestway, and we were impressed with the quality of your service and the entire tour. Thanks again! "

-- Nick & Michaele S of IL, USA

South Caucasus - Customised tour

Mahmood, You did it again. We had a great trip through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. The guides were excellent particularly, Sophio Kikava in Georgia. In spite of Pam and Chi working over the program a number of times we probably still tried to do too much. But it turned out that this was OK as we just left a few things out along the way when we realized we were running out of energy. The 4x4 drive up to the Sameba (Trinity) Church at Gergeti was “some” experience. The photo does not do it justice but having this scramble of 4x4’s up on this meadow is something to behold. From left to right Pam, Ron, Peggy and Pat Fleming. When we figure out where we want to go next we will be in touch. Again thanks for all your help."

-- Ronald T of WA, USA

World Heritage Tour of the Caucasus

""Guides were very good to excellent. Teona in the Republic of Georgia was particularly good. The vans in each country that we used for getting around were perfectly fine. Hotels were fine, especially taking into account that we stayed in some small towns. The hotel in Sheki, Azerbaijan was surprisingly good considering how small the town is (everything in the room worked, there was plenty of light in the room, and the hotel was very new). In Georgia, the hotel near Kutaisi was particularly interesting because of its origin as a spa for the military during the Soviet era. The Courtyard by Marriott in Tbilisi was particularly welcome in view of its central location and modern facilities in the room and restaurant. The Golden Tulip Hotel in Yerevan was top-notch."

-- Richard A of NY, USA

South Caucasus - Customised tour

"This tour met my expectations in terms of hotels. It exceeded expectations for food and guides. We ate very well. Our guide Teona in Georgia was one of the best I have ever had. Baloch in Azerbaijan was highly organized and knowledgeable. I don't think there was that much to see in Azerbaijan but that is just the facts on the ground. We saw so much, always on the move. Learned a lot. This was a very good tour, especially for anyone interested in Christian architecture and history."

-- Eugene W of NY, USA

Balkan Mosaic

"Excellent tour! Comprehensive, interesting and the guides had an excellent knowledge of history. Beautiful sights and lovely hotels."

-- Pauline W of CA, USA

Balkan Mosaic - Customised tour

"Just want to let you know our Balkan Private Tour was simply fantastic in every way. Our driver/guide, Dimitar, quickly learned our preferences and accommodated us perfectly. For example after a morning in the incredible Scocjan Cave we chose not to visit the second one and instead accepted Dimitar’s offer for a side trip to Trieste (in Italy) for gelato! The Bestway agent handling our requests here was personalized, professional, service. Please feel free to share this with Dragana and Dimitar who personally inspected each hotel and can let her know how pleased we were with all our rooms and balconies. I expect to write a short review of the trip for International Travel News since that is where we found Bestway’s advertising."

-- Anthony L of FL, USA

Private tour of Russia & Baltic States - Customised tour

"We wanted to see Russia, (especially the Hermitage )and the Baltic States. Our guides and drivers were extraordinary. Bestway has always provided us with superior drivers. We would trust Chi (Bestway Agent) to make any plans for us. We had a very warm relationship with our Moscow guide which helped us to learn about the Russian people. We were surprised to see how beautiful Moscow is. The drives between cities was very helpful in understanding what life was like outside of the cities."

-- Zane & Carole A of RI, USA

Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro - Private Tour

"Chi is a travel agency gem, and truly a delight to deal with. She is amongst the most thorough and efficient I have ever encountered in dozens of travel companies and agents I have dealt with over 40 years of traveling. Dragana (tour guide) is a wonderful woman with unbridled enthusiasm about the Balkans. Zoran (tour guide) was an extremely knowledgeable, thoroughly prepared, and fun travel companion. One of the best. Excellent Itinerary presentation. What was in the itinerary was what was provided, along with a few additional surprises that were not in the itinerary but spot-on due to Zoran observing his client's preferences and actively seeking sites and experiences that would make the overall experience even better than advertise."

-- Thomas Michael J of VA, USA

Customised tour of Greece

"The guide Constantinos Sfikas was very very good, as was the driver Sakis and the local representative Smaro. We worked this out in a collaborative way with the Bestway agent, going back and forth a few times until we were happy. This worked out very well. We were extremely pleased with the whole trip. This is the third trip we have done with Bestway and they keep getting better."

-- Ronald T of WA, USA

Private tour of Poland & the Baltic States

"One of our best local guides was Olga Vilks in Riga. She had a great balance of activities and most importantly gave us a very good tour of the local food market which we all enjoyed very much. She did show us many churches, but from the outside, and it was up to us whether we wanted to go back later and tour the interiors. Bestway put together a great tour of poland and the baltic states for us and four friends. The tour certainly surpassed our expectations - these countries which were once dominated by the soviet regime have emerged fiercely independent and offering delightful surprises at every turn. While traditionally prepared foods are still available, we were particularly impressed by the cosmopolitan cuisine and excellent prices. We left feeling enriched by the history we had absorbed and very taken with the friendliness and resilience of the people in this region."

-- Susan M of ON, Canada

Private tour of Moldova, the Baltic States, Belarus, Poland & Ukraine

"Our guide in Kiev was one of the best I ever had. The same can be said of our driver in Kiev. In Moldova we had a guide/driver who also was very accommodating to our needs. The Moldova tour agency did a very nice job. Thanks for all the work you put into this trip. All of the guides were at the least "Very Good". The whole trip was wonderful."

-- Ralph S of MN, USA

Balkan Mosaic

"We had a fabulous time on our trip to the Balkans. Dragona was an excellent guide and looked after us really well. She also planned the last part of our trip and made terrific recomendations. Please thank her for all her hard work. All our local guides were excellent. The trip was very well planned."

-- Bob M of ON, Canada

Balkan Mosaic

"All went well on our tour. Our tour guide Zoran was EXCEPTIONAL!."

-- Greg N of OH, USA

Romania - Private tour

"Myself and my wife Dawn are planning on returning to Romania within a year. The experience was so overwhelming that we vowed to see the rest of the country, possibly planning a 2 week visit this time. We would love nothing more to have Sorin as our guide again. We cannot say enough about him. He is a great ambassador for Romania. We would certainly use your company again and could get estimates etc as we plan our trip next year. We don't have a timeline yet, as it depends on work schedules, etc. Once again, thank you for the email and feel free to send us info regarding Europe."

-- Isaac P of NL, Canada

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"Guides in Bosnia, the city guide, Adnan, and Tarik, who took me to Mostar, were both well-prepared. However, my guide in Macedonia, Zoran Tanevski, was by far one of the best I have ever had in my travels to almost 150 countries...simply outstanding! Thank you for your patience and efficiency in dealing with my many questions and for providing, overall, a good trip for me."

-- Eugenia P of NJ, USA

A Journey of Classical Eastern Europe - Customised tour

"Overall it was a very good experience. Thomas, our guide was excellent, very knowledgeable, great sense of humor. Knew where to go and how to get the best bang for our buck and the best service. He gave us a history for all locations before we got there to help us prepare for the day and time on our own. I would recommend this trip to others that want to get acquainted with the eastern Europe countries and cities and do not or can not plan a trip on there own. The fact that we had Thomas as a guide was very much a plus. The itinerary was perfect for us. It is a great way to see some of the most historical cities of Eastern Europe and learn all the hardships they have endured over the centuries and the persistence to rebuild."

-- David A of NY, USA

A Journey of Classical Eastern Europe - Austria, Hungary, Poland, Germany & Czechia

"Guide Thomas Seisky was superb - deep knowledge and excellent descriptions of all sites."

-- David R of BC, Canada

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"Flexibility of schedule and comprehensive itinerary. Tour guide Zoran was outstanding in terms of his knowledge and experience. Met and exceeded our expectations. Sightseeing was very comprehensive."

-- Erwin D of NY, USA

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"For anyone interested in the post Yugoslavia balkans and the general complexity of the region, the Itinerary could not have been better. We appreciated central locations. Quality & cleanliness was satisfactory. The food in all cases was exceptionally good. Dragna was always considerate and well-informed. We thought she was exceptionally consciencious and an excellent escort in every way. Local drivers were conscientious andcareful under what were often difficult driving conditions. The local guides were very good. Pre-tour handling was very professional and competent. We would have liked a night in Zagreb and a little more time in Tirana and Sarajevo. This is a tour that opens a window on one of the most complicated and interesting regions of the world."

-- Frank & Ilene F of BC, Canada

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"Wonderful trip - Absolute eye opener. Beautiful sceneries and wonderful bazaars. Dragana our tour guide was very helpful and a pleasant personality. All ground handling operators were excellent, courteous & kind. Excellent hotels."

-- Shirley R of FL, USA

Balkan Mosaic

"Food was excellent and much better than anticipated. The selection of restaurants was outstanding. Dragana was a fantastic host and guide. She kept us informed every step along the way. The humor she added lightened the long hours on the bus. Zoran was excellent. His extensive knowlerdge of historicaal places and events was uncanny."

-- William M of TN, USA

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"Best Balkan Itinerary I could find. Perfect glimpse of each small country. Most guides were superb and hearing their own unique national perspectives on the Balkan conflics was fascinating. Bestway crafted a truly brilliant itinerary that allows us to enjoy the highlights of the "Balkan Mosaic" and get a really good taste of all these small countries. A truly fascinating trip."

-- William A of VA, USA

Cyprus - Customised tour

"Would recommend that clients request Guide Maria and Driver Vitali. Maria is a very hospitable and gracious guide. She is good diplomat and represents Cyprus in a well-rounded way (i.e., she could name vegetation, relate current geo-political facts, and explain ancient history equally well). Also, thank you to her for teaching us Greek! Our courteous and conscientious driver, Vitali, likewise made the trip especially enjoyable. The flexibility in scheduling Itinerary was greatly appreciated."

-- Lorna B of CA, USA

Moldova - Customised tour

"Wanted to see the basics of Moldova. This tour was the right length. Based on past experiences, I trusted Bestway Tours. Mahmood is excellent, responsive and helpful as always. Moldova is a charming country and its breakaway region Transnistria is an interesting quasi-country. Guide Natalie and driver Andrew were outstanding, informative, fun, and full of personality."

-- William A of VA, USA

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"Excursions and sightseeing exactly what I wanted to see and in the way I wanted to see them. Extremely happy about the trip"

-- Jack G of QC, Canada

Croatia - Customised tour

"Great previous history with Bestway. All hotels were excellent. Following had excellent location and we had superb rooms: Zagreb Westin, Ljubljana Executive Union (new section), Degenija in Plitvice Lakes, Vardar in Kotor. Mahmood is extremely efficient, prompt, helpful, excellent suggestions and guidance. All drivers, driver/guides & guides were excellent. Following were outstanding: Zagreb - driver/guide Hrvoje Kucek (day trip to Hlebine) Ljubljana - driver/guide Vid Legradic (day trip to Skofja Loka) Lubjlana /Plitvice Lakes. Lovely trip. All arrangements went perfectly. Drivers, guides, hotels were great, some outstanding. Bestway came through again (predictably), and we're so appreciative of the capable assistance with the trip!

-- John B of WA, USA

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"Thanks - we had a fabulous time on our trip to the Balkans.  Dragana was an excellent guide and looked after us really well.  She also planned the last part of our trip and made terrific recomendations.. Please thank her for all her hard work.All our local guides were excellent. The trip was very well planned. We will put our photos on Facebook within the next few days."

-- Bob & Joan M of ON, Canada

Balkan Mosaic - Private tour

"This tour met, or exceeded, our expectations in every regard... We had requested Dragana to be our guide based on our friend Rob Rees's recommendation. She was fantastic! Thoroughly professional, totally caring, informative, and fun to be with - we simply couldn't have asked for more. Dragana also organized excellent local guides for us throughout our travels. We asked Bestway to organize a private tour of Croatia and Bosnia Hertzogovina for ourselves and two other couples. It was one of the best trips we have ever taken. Every detail was taken care of and the guide we had throughout the trip was absolutely fantastic. We learned so much about the politics,history, and geography of the area as well as having a lot of fun. Overall, we thought that the value was excellent for a tour which was totally customized to our needs."

-- Susan M of AB, Canada

Turkish Delight

"We had 3 tour guides. Two of them were just average (they did our day tours in Istanbul). However, the guide that took us around to all the other cities (over 10 days) was Excellent!! His name is Safak Kaygusuz... and I would recommend him to others :-). Safak was Excellent on all accounts... Great package that was sent to us by email and my regular mail. So many awesome sights in Türkiye!! Loved visiting the ruins and also all the natural landscape - Capadoccia, Pamukale, etc... Also really enjoyed learning all the history in Istanbul/Ankara, and other places."

-- Shainul W of BC, Canada

Balkan Mosaic

"The entire tour was very good to excellent, especially the small group. The meals provided and arranged by Dragana were excellent, all very interesting featuring local and traditional cuisine, and extremely tasty. Meals were beyond our expectation and make a very good tour all that better. Although we don't have the names of all guides, they were certainly very good, very knowledgable, and very friendly. Since there was so much information regarding the extensive history, politics, religion and culture, which is impossible to remember, we suggest that the details be provided in written handouts which we could then review at our leisure. This would also make it easier for the guides so that they could talk more about highlights rather than all the specific details." The itinerary was very good, although a bit more free time would have been appreciated. I definitely reccommend that an additional 1/2 day or even a full free day in Zagreb be provided."

-- Wally AE of AB, Canada

Balkan Mosaic

"Really well done tour. Always sort of apprehensive when trying out a new operator but my first Bestway was wonderful and I wouldn't hesitate to travel with you again and/or recommend to others. Thanks to you(Mahmood) and especially Dragana for such a great time."

-- Bob B of NY, USA

Balkan Mosaic

"Tour itinerary and sightseeing: Excellent! The itinerary was outstanding. There were only a couple of stops that I probably would have skipped in favor of other things (the Medjugorje shrine and the Lipica stud farm, and even these weren't bad, they just weren't as great as the rest of the stops) – everything else was extremely interesting. I loved it all, and I especially loved the World Heritage sites, which was a major plus for me in selecting this trip. I would have liked to see/do even more, but the trip was already 22 days and there wasn't any fat in the itinerary, so I can't think how it could have gotten much better, short of making the trip much longer. Absolutely wonderful.

Hotels: Mostly great! Dragana told us that her first priority in hotel selection was location, and as that's my first priority in hotels as well, I was extremely happy. Almost all of the hotels were very well-located, right in the center of town or adjacent to the areas I wanted to be in.

Local guides/drivers/transportation: I liked all of the local guides a lot. All the drivers were competent, safe, and friendly, and although most of them didn't speak a lot of English, you could still tell that some of them had great senses of humor! The minibuses were great - lots of room, usually - it was nice to have a seat to myself and not be crammed in there. Pre-tour handling and customer service. Excellent!

Tour leader: Dragana was absolutely outstanding - one of the most competent, kind, and funniest trip leaders I've had in my years of travel. She arranged little surprises and extra stops on a regular basis; she invited us to her home (wow!); she even picked me up at the airport (something I've never had a trip leader do in all my years of travel - usually it's a driver with a sign who barely speaks English!). Her passion, enthusiasm, sense of humor, and knowledge about the Balkans made the trip. All eight of us were unanimous in saying that we couldn't have imagined the trip without her. It would have been an entirely different trip with just local guides/drivers.

Food: Overall I found the food excellent in the Balkans, and it was a really nice surprise to order whatever we wanted off the menu - that was a travel first for me! I'm a vegetarian, which made Dragana nervous, but she did great – she translated to the waiters, and I ended up with wonderful plates of grilled vegetables, rice, pasta, etc. Wonderful!

Weather: I thought it got pretty hot in Bosnia and Croatia, and I would have preferred an earlier departure of this trip, if one had been available, to avoid this heat in Bosnia and along the Croatian coast, but that may well have interfered with the more mountainous earlier parts of the trip.

In summary, I loved this trip! Thanks to Dragana, the amazingly congenial seven other passengers on this trip, and the exceptional arrangements by Bestway, it was truly a wonderful experience. I hadn't used Bestway before, and based on this experience I would happily use the company again. Great job by Mahmood, Dragana, and everyone else involved in this trip.

Tour quotation: Exciting itinerary jam-packed full of wonderful events, an amazing trip leader, and a fascinating part of the world - what a great trip!"

-- Anne E of IL, USA

Balkan Mosaic

"Dragana is an excellent guide and companion and the tour was highly enjoyable and educational. For my own age and health, it was too physically demanding and I would have benefited from a longer tour with less "pushing". I have to say I am glad I went and got through it, or most of it. The rest of the group seemed to be quite happy with the physical demands, but most were experienced and fit hikers and climbers.
If you consider a longer period, that might lead to consideration of two tours, leaving the Croatian and Slovenian parts as a separate adventure, as many people have already been to Croatia and few to the other countries in the earlier part of the trip and it would still be within the leave periods of many still at work."

-- Pat W of North Queensland, Australia

Balkan Mosaic

"Firstly I want to thank you for putting the Balkan mosaic tour together with Dragana. It is next to impossible to put into words how spectacular the trip really was. Both Dana and I went without expectation and were bowled over at some of the places that we were fortunated enough to see and experience. As you may know Mahmood this was my third trip with Bestway and now I am thinking about number four. I was reading on the web sight about Bulgaria and Romania. I will most likely be going on this one alone if there are some others that have booked. Many many thanks again for a really great travel experience."

-- Rob R of AB, Canada

Cyprus - Customised tour

"Tour Guide, Maria was very personable and knowledgeable. An excellent organisational skills. One couldn't expect a better guide than she! Itinerary presentation:Designed to see that the visitor saw all of the island and its major sites. Excursions & Sightseeing:Excellent pace and thorough presentation. Anyone interested in the history of the world needs to visit Cyprus. This island has been controlled by all of the major forces of history due to its strategic location between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. From neolithic settlements to the modern-day divided island, the visitor views the panoply of history."

-- Carolyn MC of CA, USA

Balkan Mosaic

"We have just concluded our tour of the Balkans with the Slovenia extension. I want to commend you for an excellent tour. Dragana is a wonderful guide and we had a great experience. Hopefully we will be able to join another Bestway tour someday."

-- Tom & Sandy H of MN, USA

Hong Kong, Indochina & Southeast Asia - Customised tour

"Mahmood is a very pleasant person he was very helpful and fast and flexible he always wanted the best for us and worked with us very well and it was very easy to work with him. Gave us all the information we needed no matter what the time he knew what he was doing and what he was giving us. He is the best. Tour guides were all helpful and did there best to give us as much information as possible. It was a beautiful and a great trip all the way."

-- Iqbal E of ON, Canada

Tour to Vietnam - Burnaby Board of Trade tour

"I thought everything about this tour was great. It was a good mix of down time as well as the opportunity to see a lot of great sites from North to South Vietnam. I loved the World Heritage sites we saw as well as some of the fun things that were thrown in. The included meals and restaurants were outstanding. I spoke with many tour members, however, and we all thought that Thanh our tour guide, really made the tour exceptional for many of us. He was funny, passionate, very solicitous to people's needs and most of all he was very knowledgeable."

-- Tessa V of BC, Canada

Tour to Vietnam - Burnaby Board of Trade tour

"Spent 10 glorious, memorable days in Vietnam. Thang our guide was exceptional! Bestway did an excellent job with this tour. If you can, book Vietnam through Bestway!"

-- Lora DM of BC, Canada

Silk Road Adventures - Customised tour

"Chi Pham, our bestway agent kept on top of the plans and reminded us to get our visas in a timely fashion. We asked at the last minute what the appropriate tipping customs were for the drivers and guides--perhaps that information should be given out earlier. We were amazed at the many things we were able to see in Uzbekistan and China. Most of us were not familiar with these sites before our trip. Our guides also gave us suggestions of things we might want to see on our own. Bestway Tours planned and executed a wonderful Silk Road tour for our group of six in Uzbekistan and China. The guides, transportation, and hotels were all excellent."

-- Shirley R of UT, USA

China, India & Nepal - Private Journey

"We had an excellent trip and everything went very well. We will gladly be used for a reference and will fill in questionaires with our experiences. I took about 4500 pictures which I plan to make up a couple of coffee table books with many of the pictures and experiences. India is difinetly a place I will recommend to go to."

-- Sidney T of BC, Canada

Indochina - Customised tour

"The Bestway nominee for our trip, the ICS Company, had proven to be very, very good. The hotels were from excellent in the north to good in the south of the peninsula. The best were in Luang Prabang, Hanoi and on the Halong, To long Bai cruise. The airline bookings were flawless as were the guides in their care of us. Truly, we are grateful for our decision to put our trust in Bestway's hands once again. We were not disappointed, just to the contrary. This was one Helluva trip! Thank you Mahmood, thank you Chi. thank you ICS and we wish you all the very, very good year 2017! Bestway has been and is good."

-- Peter & Rachel B of ON, Canada

Vietnam & Cambodia via the Mekong River

"Thank you for your kind welcome home. To be honest, we really didn’t want to come home as we had such an amazing time. We cannot think of one negative thing to say to you. Tour guides were wonderful from start to finish. Trip was everything we expected and more! We are still struggling to adjust to the time change and excitement of our recent trip. It was everything we expected and so much more! We can’t even begin to tell you about the service provided from start to finish. Exceptional! We also want to add that our “Special Anniversary Dinner” was amazing! Thank you so much for making it a most memorable evening. This is our third trip with you and certainly wont be our last. Several people have been interested in our experiences and we do not hesitate to pass the Bestway name on to them for worry free travel. We can’t imagine choosing anyone else. Chi has been amazing with the tour explanations, suggestions and general enquiries. A dream to work with. We would be pleased to provide a testimonial to add to the numerous ones you already have from happy clients like ourselves. Once again, we thank you for the wonderful memories that fill our heart and soul."

-- Al & Sandra O of BC, Canada

Indochina - Customised tour

"I had a wonderful time and I enjoyed the places we visited more than I expected. Ha Long Bay is indeed spectacular, memorable and a 5 star beauty. The tour guides in Pagan and in Yangoon were particularly good. We added some pagodas in the Mandalay region whcih I think you should include officially in the tour (eg. Mahamuni Pagoda, 30 cave temple). The hotels (especially in Pagan and Mandalay and even the Paramount Inle Resort) were fabulous. The Hanoi one was fine as well."

-- Fernando F of PR, USA

Silk Route to Bukhara (China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan)

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will forward your email to the other tour participants as well so you can have their feedback. As the travel agent that has not used your company in the past, I was very pleased with the professional services of your booking agent. She did an excellent job making the travel plans on short notice and helping with questions and itinerary suggestions. It was an area of the world that was not very familiar so I needed guidance. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Silk Route to Bukhara

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Silk Road and Sunday Bazaar - Customised tour

"Mahmood working overtime to make our personalized trip possible. Planning the trip was a long process and he was very patient."

-- Teresa Z of CA, USA

Fascinating Myanmar

"Burma is a superb destination that holds tremendous surprises even for a well travelled tourist. My expectations were more than amply rewarded. Ha Long Bay is memorable, much like other natural wonders in the world like Grand Canyon. Bagan in Burma is particularly stupendous. And we had the fantastic luck to see a novitiation ceremony for young boys and girls entering the Buddhist monastery in a town on the way to Mt. Popa. Unforgetable!."

-- Fernando FB of PR, USA

Customized tour to Egypt & Jordan

"Every guide was excellent. Knowledgeable, patient with our questions and requests, and fun to be with! They each, by their personalities, casual conversations and interests provided a view and understanding of their culture and country. Each went beyond the itinerary to enrich our experience.

The drivers were also excellent - particularly our Cairo driver, Mohamed. He was a fearless driver who knew all the shortcuts, never got a dent and always had a smile! Also, Ali, in Jordan augmented our tour to take us to out of the way places, his home village with incredible views - and, quick stops for local breads and other treats. He and Achmed, the guide made a great team."

-- Michael K of CA, USA

Arab Sheikdoms

"Last October, Mark F. Nelson, a well-known and well-travelled lawyer in Laguna Beach, California, took Bestway Tours & Safari’s Arab Sheikdoms tour.  This unique journey provides a rare glimpse into five of the Arab states along the Persian Gulf, including Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Mark was so thrilled with the experience that he wanted to share his story with other Bestway travellers. Here’s what he had to say about his once-in-a-lifetime adventure."...

-- Mark N of CA, USA

Experience Dubai & the Emirates Tour - BBOT Tour to UAE

"The trip to Dubai was AWESOME. The organization, guide, events, meals were all over the top. This was the #1 thing on my bucket list; both my son and I had a great time."

-- Tony P of BC, Canada

India - Customised tour

"Bestway Tours offered a well organized tour with good guides and excellent drivers. We would enjoy returning to India and perhaps going to the north , around Darjeeling."

-- Leona JB of BC, Canada

A Culinary Journey through Jordan

"I just wanted to send you a quick note to first of all thank you for an incredible time in Jordan. I had a blast and absolutely loved the country!"

-- Lauren M of ON, Canada

Customised tour of Dubai and India

"Our trip was complete and wonderful in every way. We were constantly aware and stimulated with the colors, contrasts and contradictions of India. We had a different tour guide in every city, sometimes 2 (well over 15 total). The 3 ladies were the best all around (in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi), we had great conversation about everything, gave us great insight into living in India. Our drivers were great, Anil spent over 10 days with us, he was excellent. Really enjoyed all the textile excursions and the cooking classes were fantastic."

-- Peter P of BC, Canada

Journey in Diversity (Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda & UAE)

"We had many local guides. Most were excellent communicators. Knowledge of English was variable. All were punctual and polite. We learned a great deal about the history and the culture."

-- Robert S of ON, Canada

Customised tour of India & Dubai

"The organization of the tour was excellent. We saw the highlights of every city we visited. The best part was the relaxing week at the end with few tours. The overall best tour guides where the ladies we had in Delhi, Mumbai and Cochin. The driver we had for 10 days, 3 in Delhi and then from Agra to Ahmadabad was excellent. The itinerary for each city was very good. As a first time visitor I thought it was very good."

-- Gottfried P of BC, Canada

Burnaby Board of Trade - Dubai and the Emirates

"Overall experience was excellent. Very impressed with all the meals provided. The bus was very comfortable. Having water for us on the bus was great. Chi (Bestway agent) was very quick in replying to all my queries about the trip. Vinod, our tour guide was very personable & was very knowledgeable. His helpers were nice. The trip was great! Very well organized. Enjoyed it tremendously."

-- Debbi W of BC, Canada

Burnaby Board of Trade - Dubai and the Emirates

"Thought the tour was excellent value, and really provided an opportunity to see the highlights of Dubai and the Emirates in a short period of time. The tour guides were very knowledgable and went out of their way to ensure all of us were enjoying our time. They went above and beyond expectations. Vinod really spent the time talking to us along the way and sharing his vast knowledge on the area. In addition he went out of his way to assist some of the travellers with other activities on our free afternoon. Jubin and Sharesh were also great, and were great with all of us. They went out of their way to ensure we got the most out of the trip, and were fun to be around. Itinerary was clear, and well laid out. Knew what each day entailed. Cant believe we saw as much as we did in such a short time. The Dubai tour was beyond my expectations for value and content. Special thank you to Bestway for organizing and to Riya Tours for a wonderful time. The tour guides went out of their way to be helpful and share their wealth of knowledge of the area and culture. Great trip!!"

-- Leza M of BC, Canada

Iraq - Customised tour

"Our trip in Iraq was very good. We enjoyed it a lot."

-- Hongyu Y of VA, USA

A Journey through Antiquity (Egypt, Jordan & Israel)

"The trip was great! The iterinary covered about as much as we could handle in the allotted time. It was all interesting. The guides were excellent."

-- Charles M of FL, USA

From Petra to Baalbek

"I learned of Bestway about a year and half ago when I was looking for a tour to Central Asia. I found an itinerary and other references on the internet. I went on that tour and was satisfied. Our Agent Chi Pham's responses were always timely, accurate, and informative. All of the guides were at least very good, but the guides in Syria and Lebanon were somewhat better than the guide in Jordan. Husam and Tony were always enthusiastic about the subject matter as well as energetic. All of the guides were very knowledgeable. I sometimes had the impression that the Jordanian guide wanted to hurry us along (for example, by substituting another crusader castle for Karak) in order to shorten his day. I hope I'm not being overly suspicious or critical. I'll watch your website for specific tours. I'm hoping to travel with Bestway again."

-- Richard A of NY, USA

Wild Game Safari & Dubai - Customised tour

"We had booked our Egypt tour with Best Way and were very happy with the tour. We were looking for a tour that covered Kenya and Tanzania, as well as our previous experience with the company. Our guide was outstanding......his skill to spot animals was amazing. He always had all the detailed information at hand. He was extremely pleasant and polite. We have recommended this tour to all our friends."

-- Christine KH of BC, Canada

Middle East - Customised tour

"An experience we had with BESTWAY TOURS. 800-663-0844. They worked with us on a most unforgettable trip to the Middle East. We visited the UAE, Dubai, Oman, and even went to Yemen. It was one of the best trips I have ever had, and I have been to 72 countries. I highly recommend Bestway for travel to that part of the world.."

-- Carolyn D of NM, USA

Turkish Delight

"We had 3 tour guides. Two of them were just average (they did our day tours in Istanbul). However, the guide that took us around to all the other cities (over 10 days) was Excellent!! His name is Safak Kaygusuz... and I would recommend him to others :-). Safak was Excellent on all accounts... Great package that was sent to us by email and my regular mail. So many awesome sights in Türkiye!! Loved visiting the ruins and also all the natural landscape - Capadoccia, Pamukale, etc... Also really enjoyed learning all the history in Istanbul/Ankara, and other places."

-- Shainul W of BC, Canada

From Petra to Baalbek

"All of the guides were at least very good, but the guides in Syria and Lebanon were somewhat better than the guide in Jordan. Husam and Tony were always enthusiastic about the subject matter as well as energetic. All of the guides were very knowledgeable. I sometimes had the impression that the Jordanian guide wanted to hurry us along (for example, by substituting another crusader castle for Karak) in order to shorten his day. I hope I'm not being overly suspicious or critical. Tour Agent, Chi Pham's responses were always timely, accurate, and informative. Very good/excellent tour overall. I'll watch your website for specific tours. I'm hoping to travel with Bestway again."

-- Richard A of NY, USA

From Petra to Baalbek

"Our experience in Syria was very good. We were grateful for an excellent guide, Husam with Golden Target. We were not sure when or where we would meet our guide and the Jordan contacts did not seem to know. Husam took the initiative to take a bus at 6:30am from Damascus to look for us at the border crossing from Jordan. Given what was happening in Syria, we were relieved to have such a gracious, calm, and competent young man who spoke English well. The driver in Syria, Ahmad, was reliable. The minivan very comfortable for long distances. Chi (Bestway Agent) is consistently competent. Shows thorough attention to detail, and a pleasure to deal with."

-- Dee Standley A of CA, USA

From Petra to Baalbek

"The guide in Syria, Husam Alalo, was excellent and we really liked him. He was easy to be with and he was more like a friend. The guide in Lebanon, Tony, was also very good. His knowledge level was high and he was enthusiastic. Some of the hotels--in Old Damascus and Aleppo--were outstanding. Overall, I had a great time on this tour. Many of the sights were outstanding, and I loved the food. I learned a lot."

-- Eugene W of NY, USA

India - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"The India tour: Paul Saltzman – A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul in September 2023 was absolutely amazing. One of the great experiences of a life time."

-- Vlasta P of VT, USA

India - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"I can honestly say that this was probably the best travel experience in our lives. Bestway Tours did an ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE job with the selection of hotels, the arrangements, the logistics, etc., etc. I am so looking forward to our next Bestway tour."

-- Venkatesh K of OH, USA

India - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"This tour played out India like a magic carpet. We were treated like royal guests. I cannot imagine seeing India any other way."

-- Helene T of AL, USA

Customized journey through North & South India

"Dan and I are a week back from our spectacular 25 day India odyssey. I won't say experience because the word is so incomplete given all the sights, sounds, smells, food, etc that can only be "felt" by such a trip. The itinerary that Dan put together with your assistance was practically flawless. We had such a great time with all of the guides and drivers and Ajay and Ramesh(driver). The accommodations and food were absolutely first rate to the point where I felt we could have been part of the 19th century British aristocracy given our treatment.

It was a once in a lifetime experience for both of us. I even managed to insert myself into a local boys cricket game as we were walking down one of the streets and came across the game being played in an empty lot. Dan documented the second pitch from the bowler and I launched up against a center field building. At that point I turned around looking for a signing bonus as the boys were amazed and so, so friendly.

I could go on and on but suffice to say that Bestway went beyond the call and I would recommend it to any of my traveler friends."

-- Dave S of MN, USA

Pakistan & India - Customised tour

"We've used Bestway since 2007 for customized travel in Pakistan and India and have always had excellent service. Bestway's organization is superb and the local guides and drivers were top-notch. We would not hesitate to turn to Bestway for future travels, whether it's a group tour or a more specialist, individualized itinerary."

-- J Smith of BC, Canada

Pakistan - Customised tour

"It certainly was an amazing trip which you & Sitara arranged for us.  The unbelievable scenery, the country's diversity & incredibly friendly people.  We are grateful that you & Mr. Hussain were on top of the situations which occurred while we were in Pakistan & were able to re-arrange the itinerary for our safety. We understand that you made our safety the #1 priority & for that, we are truly grateful. The guides and drivers were both excellent.  I mentioned to Nancy to do the same itinerary & recommended she request Ali as her guide along with the driver (we called him the Professor). John & I look forward to your itinerary for the private trip to Zimbabwe."

-- John & Linda of TX, USA

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"Our guide, Charles, made the trip for us. He was very well organized and looked after everyone's needs and requests very promptly. He was a very good communicator, friendly and open. He provided lots of interesting information not just about the sights we visited, but also about life in India. He took us on some non-scheduled stops, such as markets, wild elephant viewing in Munnar, etc. all of which which I found extremely interesting. Also kudos to the bus driver and his assistant. They did an excellent job!"

-- Lois C of QC, Canada

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"One of the best tours we have taken. We added on Dubai and Istanbul to the original tour. All the arrangements were excellent, including hotels, airport pickup and drop-off, guides, tour director in India, transportation, food, and sightseeing. Thank you, Bestways, for a superlative tour experience in Dubai, South India, and Istanbul. Bestways provided excellent tour planning, advice, transportation, accommodation, food, guides, and itinerary. Bestways was very attentive to our needs and desires and planned our tours accordingly. Bestways has given us one of our best sightseeing experiences ever."

-- Dev A of ON, Canada

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"Our guide Charls Ghanaraj was the highlight of the trip. He was knowledgeable, sensitive, considerate, helpful -- everything plus more that one could ever ask for in a guide. We trusted him implicitly. We knew we would love the food aspects (i.e. Chef Joe and his culinary instructions etc which were amazing), but Charls was instrumental in making the trip exceed our wildest expectations. We were also very honoured and privileged to meet Chef Joe's extended family and travel with and get to know his wife and children."

-- Janice C of ON, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"The tour was well put together. The choice of tour guide Ajay was the real deal. He was calm and on top of our safety swiftly accommodating each of us when things changed or altered at any given point from regular schedule. The Taj hotels were lovely....the Lake Palace was exquisite. Service on the buses was great. So thankful for bottled water and fruit or biscuits. The food was excellent. Especially Kerala cuisine aboard riceboat in Allepey. I would trust Paul Saltzman to go Anywhere on the globe. He is the consummate host!"

-- Julianne H of ON, Canada

Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

"If there were another category above excellent I would have checked that one. Ajay, our guide was so great, funny, helpful beyond his job, organized and patient. Every detail was covered, we never had to worry that things were not going the way he planned. We had never done a tour before this one and no idea how well we'd cared for. It would be very hard to beat Bestway's standards. If you are even considering a tour, look no further than Bestway Tours and Safaris. The bar is set so high."

-- Marti JB of BC, Canada

Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

"My experience traveling with this tour was above my expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed every day. Ajay was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable in all the history. I already have recommended this company to my friends."

-- Cecilia P of BC, Canada

Best of North India

"Excellent from start to finish. The itinerary was perfect. The tour operators were excellent and we were looked after very well at each location. A very professional group to handle all our travel. India was incredibly fascinating! Thank you so much Mahmood!"

-- Jennifer P of AB, Canada

Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

"This was a very good introduction to India which gave me a good overview (climate, customs, people, food, points of interest. Visiting Gandhi's living quarters was very interesting, Taj Mahal was excellent as I knew it would be a hightlight......another highlight was going to Ranthambhore and seeing a Tiger. Overall, the experience was extremely memorable. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to visit India."

- Darcy AM of BC, Canada

Best of South India & Golden triangle - Private tour of India

"We truly had a full agenda of varied and interesting experiences. Highlights were the Taj Mahal, Chadni Chowk and the Amber Fort in the North. In the South, the boat cruises in Cochin, Thekkady and overnight houseboat in Alleppey were all wonderful. Thekkady was a lovely spot and the hotel, spice plantation, and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary were all very nice. The many UNESCO world heritage sights were all interesting and well worth visiting. In all, the tour really was a wonderful experience. The guides were all very organized and accommodating. They would change plans if the group wanted to go a slightly "off-schedule" to accommodate us. They looked after those with special needs such as mobility issues and dietary needs. Great guides who advocated on our behalf. The Best of India tour showcased how incredible India truly is. Highly recommended to anyone who would like to see the many, varied sights, sounds and smells that make up this wonderful country - India assaults your senses."

-- Vicki B of BC, Canada

Varanasi, Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhopal - Private tour of India

"Bestway was able to accommodate a very special tour for us to visit Varanasi and the Burial Ghats. It was made memorable by the people that Bestway found to help us celebrate a life. Everyone was sympathetic and professional to our needs. I would recommend Bestway both for existing itineraries and special needs. There was not a single instance during our recent travels where we felt we were not being superbly well taken care of; from the drivers and guides to extra resources for our special needs. I will go back to India with Bestway again and again."

-- Victoria H of ON, Canada

Customized Tour to North and South India

"I, personally, had excellent service from Azmina. She kept me informed about any changes in the itinerary and/or hotels, and was in good contact with the Delhi office. Our guide in Mumbai was Monica. She was extremely personable and entertaining. She was very intuitive to the needs of the group. We really enjoyed our day with her. All the guides were very knowledgeable about the history and sights of the areas we visited. They were able to answer many questions about India's culture, as well as current affairs."

-- Lynn J of BC, Canada

Maiwa Textile & Cultural tour of India

"I have travelled in India before and this seemed like the perfect trip to bring me back. Highly recommended!"

-- Michelle D of WI, USA

Exploring the Arts & Artisans of India with Dr. Stephen Inglis

"Charls is a superior tour Guide. His bubbly personality and extreme attention to helping us through various problematic situations were very much appreciated by all. He knows Tamil Nadu like the back of his hand and gave us all sorts of fascinating local information everywhere we went. His knowledge of and high level of fluency in English are amazing. I don't know how you could do more than he did or do it better. Bravo!! The biggest asset for all of us was the expertise of Dr. Stephen Inglis. He is both highly knowledgeable and engaging. Superb choice to lead the trip. He and Charls were a magnificent team. Wonderful. You couldn't ask for a better combination."

-- Carol JB of QC, Canada

Exploring the Arts & Artisans of India with Dr. Stephen Inglis

"Stevens knowledge made this trip very special. It was a real treat to travel have his expertise at hand. Charls made all our lives very easy, whatever we needed he got us. His insider knowledge of south India was very interesting and he was overall a really nice and helpful guy. He made sure everyone was ok 24/7."

-- Erica S of ON, Canada

India - Customised tour

"Everything on the tour went as planned and it couldn't of been a more well organized tour. Everyone from the guides to the Bestway staff in India, made sure our trip was an amazing experience. There were so many details in our trip (train rides, hotel reservations, boat reservations, plane reservations etc) and everything was well planned out and organized before our arrival. We had 5 star treatment wherever we went, were treated very well by all Bestway members (Amit & Gagan). It was apparent they did whatever was necessary to make sure the travelers had a positive experience. I would highly recommend this tour to friends/family. I hope to do another Bestway tour again! I have heard of others going to India and having a totally different experience (not as positive) because of the company they went with, but I attribute my positive experience and new found love of this country to this tour company making sure everything was organized and taken care of. Your team is awesome!!"

-- Lori F of OR, USA

Tiger Safari, India - Customised tour

"Our guide in New Delhi to go to the Zoo and Purana Qila was excellent. The jeep driver/guides in Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh were all excellent. They had lots of experience spotting animals and getting us to the tigers from the sounds the other animals make when one is around. Overall it was an interesting adventure with good opportunities to view the tigers and other animals in the wild."

-- Mary E of BC, Canada

Gems of Kerala - plus additional accommodations in Cherthala- Mararikulam

"We decided to go to India to visit friend, It was very short notice and it was pulled off! (Don’t recommend doing it this way, but it really showed off Bestway’s capabilities). Well organized in advance, staff on the ground to help with different parts of the tour. Overall a wonderful experience."

-- Nadene K of MB, Canada

Gardens of India - Customised tour

"We were two senior women travelling by car with a driver on an individualized itinerary as per our requests, We always felt safe and secure. Guides were provided at each city. The hotels were a mix of 5 star and historical and the staff at each was unfailingly pleasant and helpful. Breakfasts were included at our hotels but we sourced our own lunches (drivers and guides were helpful) and dinners. We had a mix of local and international food, often at our hotel as we were tired after a day of touring. Neither of us experienced the dreaded 'Delhi belly' in almost 3 weeks of travelling. Water was always available in our car. Guides were helpful with ATM's, and hotels and restaurants take credit cards.The sites were amazing. India is a large and colourful country with a complex history and mix of cultures and Bestway knows how to organize a varied and trouble free experience."

-- Brenda K of SK, Canada

China, India & Nepal - Private Journey

"We had an excellent trip and everything went very well. We will gladly be used for a reference and will fill in questionaires with our experiences. I took about 4500 pictures which I plan to make up a couple of coffee table books with many of the pictures and experiences. India is difinetly a place I will recommend to go to."

-- Sidney T of BC, Canada

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"My trip was wonderful! In the South of India, the culinary tour was fabulous. Chef Joe was lovely; the Team we travelled with were excellent; we had an excellent tour guide; all of the sights were great and, our group itself were all terrific. The cooking demonstrations were exceptional; it goes without saying that the cuisine was superb; we toured a few kitchens, which was very interesting; and we received several recipes as a very nice keepsake, including a very nice booklet that the Spice Villages sent to our individual e-mails. Meeting, and interacting with, Chef Joe and his family was definitely a highlight for me.
I had a wonderful time in the North of India, too. Of special note was Shailesh, the rep in Delhi, who met me on arrival, and explained the general set up of everything. He then met me again on my return to the city from Agra. He then surprised me by meeting me when I was in transit on my way back to Canada (with a change of planes in Delhi) to make sure that all was well. His courtesy went above and beyond any service I had anticipated. It was truly impressive!
Re. hotels in the North: Vivanta by Taj Dwarka in New Delhi was fabulous. The Crystal Sarovar in Agra was very nice, as was the Gateway Hotel Ganges in Varanasi.
The Oberoi Grand in Kolkata was superb. Nor-Khill Hotel in Sikkim was beautiful. "

-- Margaret G of BC, Canada

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"We had never been to India and the description of the tour intrigued us and we decided that if we were ever going to visit India a tour was the Bestway. I can't say enough about our guide Johnson, he was so knowledgeable and personable."

-- Sharon RI of ON, Canada

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"Host Joe, Guide Johnson, Driver Gijo, and Assistant Salim made the tour welcoming, educational, enjoyable, and worry-free."

-- Harvey JS of BC, Canada

Discover the Culinary of South India with Chef Joe Thottungal

"A wonderful experience with a wonderful guide. Tour guide was a special person who added immeasurably to the enjoyment of the tour. Good setup with spontaneous additions by the tour guide which added worth. It was the most fabulous adventure."

-- James BT of ON, Canada

Royal Rajasthan - India

"We had travelled with Bestway to Pakistan in 2007 and were confident of Bestway's ability to organize a tour of similar quality in India in 2017. The organization was superb. Everything flowed smoothly. The guides were knowledgeable and flexible."

-- Jocelyn A S of BC, Canada

India - Customised tour

"Thank you so much for putting together such a fabulous trip. We have so many amazing memories from India. We realize that it has been too long since we have done an international family trip – and plan to do them on a regular basis. I am hoping that your agency has contacts in other countries so we can use you again.We would and will recommend your company to anyone we know who wants to go to India."

-- Elizabeth H of BC, Canada

India - Customised tour

"Bestway Tours offered a well organized tour with good guides and excellent drivers. We would enjoy returning to India and perhaps going to the north , around Darjeeling."

-- Leona JB of BC, Canada

Grand Tour of Northern India

"Our guide Ajay was funny, informative and a great host. He went out of his way to make us comfortable, accommodate all our needs. Sunset cruise was very nice and relaxing. Beautiful views. Enjoyed all the sightseeing and Diwali. The BBQ at Dera Amer was amazing. Mother Teresa Orphanage was a short but nice visit to see how they are helping out the disabled population they are able to provide for Musical dance show evening was a lovely treat. Best hotel of the trip was the Trident in Udaipur. The food amazing and the pool. ITC hotels were great. Nice rooms great choice of foods."

-- Yvonne K of AB, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"I was overwhelmed with Indian colours, sights, sounds, tastes, music, smells, contrasts, cultures, and history! There is so much more I need to learn about India. This was just a brief introduction. The more one sees the more you realize you don't know!"

-- JoAnne F of ON, Canada

Best of South India

"If you have one iota of an explorer in your nature and open to a diverse trip in a new location... I HIGHLY recommend this (Bestway’s Best of South India) trip! It has a little of everything... Friendly, lovely people, a good pace, internal travel by road, boat and air, incredibly food, beautiful country, superb beaches, wildlife trekking, spice plantations, cruising the waterways, history, religion, art and architecture... and so, so much more! The hotels are absolutely lovely and the service level is superb!"

-- Shameem P of BC, Canada

South Africa and Victoria Falls - Customised tour

"The tour was well organized with clean vans with an excellent driver. Fahima, our guide was very knowledgeable of the places we toured and presented it well. Very well organized Itinerary and excellent Sightseeing & Excursions."

-- Naguib D of BC, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"I can't think of anything that Bestway could do to improve upon our experience. I know that by the time we were in Rishikesh, many of us were quite tired and the thought of a long train ride back to New Delhi, arriving quite late in the evening, was not appealing to us. When we asked Gagan (tour guide) to arrange for us to fly back to Delhi earlier in the day, he did so happily and efficiently. We appreciated his flexibility and effort immensely! Excellent sightseeing and excursions, I particularly appreciated the visits to Hariprasad Chaurasia and to Gopal Dayal's family, as these were excursions which most tourists would not have the opportunity to make."

-- Robin Elizabeth H of ON, Canada

Kashmir and Ladakh - Customised tour

"I had never been to India before and travelling with my mother as part of a small group tour seemed like the perfect opportunity. The itinerary was very appealing because it covered many different cities and unique cultural sights in northern India. Daily excursions were always interesting and varied. Highlights included visiting the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, the Tibetan children's school in McLeod Ganj, the natural beauty of Gulmarg, the Hemis Festival and monasteries in Leh, our Shikara ride on Dal Lake and visiting Pangong Lake. All of the sights were fascinating to visit. This was my first trip to India and I would definitely go back. Bestway did an excellent job of organizing and leading the tour. Each day was an adventure, the food was always delicious and travelling in a small group made it fun for everyone. Thank you for such a memorable trip."

-- Catherine H of ON, Canada

Bestway to India - Customised tour

"The Bestway to India trip exceeded all of my expectations. Exhilarating and extraordinary adventures at every turn. For a diverse group, the program/schedule worked very well. From tigers in the wild in Ranthambore National Park, to riding up to the Amber Fort on an elephant, to a night in a fairytale palace in Deogarh, we were thrilled with each new experience. All of the Heritage sites that we visited were fascinating, in quite different ways. Kerala's tea plantations were breathtaking. Jaipur and Udaipur were magnificent. The rickshaw rides were exciting and allowed us to see another, more intimate, side of Delhi and Varanasi. Having survived them, they became two of the highlights. Planes, trains, buses, boats and rickshaws, each mode of travel enriched our India experience. All of our accommodation was very good. The Deogarh Mahal palace experience, including the tour, was outstanding, as were the houseboats in Kumarakom. Our Bestway tour guide/director, Amit Malhotra, was exceptional. He solved the inevitable individual and group missteps - always calm, competent, patient, and cheerful. Amit always came to the rescue - no blaming, just solutions. His sense of humour made a great trip even better. Thank you, Amit, our excellent local guides and our very skilled bus drivers, for a fascinating, spectacular travel experience. Definitely one of my best ever."

-- Margo A E of SK, Canada

Customised tour of Dubai and India

"Our trip was complete and wonderful in every way. We were constantly aware and stimulated with the colors, contrasts and contradictions of India. We had a different tour guide in every city, sometimes 2 (well over 15 total). The 3 ladies were the best all around (in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi), we had great conversation about everything, gave us great insight into living in India. Our drivers were great, Anil spent over 10 days with us, he was excellent. Really enjoyed all the textile excursions and the cooking classes were fantastic."

-- Peter P of BC, Canada

Maiwa Textile tour of India

"Ms. Pirani from Bestway is fantastic. On the ball and very helpful. She make me feel like I was in good hands."

-- Idit I of OH, USA

Maiwa Textile tour of India

"The overall experience was excellent. As a not very experience travel I appreciated all of Azmina's (Bestway agent) suggestions especially the one about having someone from Bestway meet me at the Dehli airport as well as in Jaipur. The tour guides were professional, courteous and always dealt with things right away."

-- Sandy LR of BC, Canada

Maiwa Textile tour of India

"I was very impressed with the Bestway staff. I've done a lot of organizing work in my lifetime and I know that when things run smoothly, that means that a lot of work was done. Bravo to the team!!. I would not only recommend the tour, I would also recommend that people consider Bestway as a tour company. The tour guide in Delhi, and the outstanding group through out the Maiwa tour, I have nothing but praise. Bestway did an outstanding job organizing a rather complex trip on behalf of Maiwa textiles. The staff were great and always on top of things. I really enjoyed the whole experience and felt safe and cared for."

-- Francine LG of BC, Canada

Customised tour of India & Dubai

"The organization of the tour was excellent. We saw the highlights of every city we visited. The best part was the relaxing week at the end with few tours. The overall best tour guides where the ladies we had in Delhi, Mumbai and Cochin. The driver we had for 10 days, 3 in Delhi and then from Agra to Ahmadabad was excellent. The itinerary for each city was very good. As a first time visitor I thought it was very good."

-- Gottfried P of BC, Canada

Craig Minielly's India Photo Safari

"Overall I thought that Craig, the guides and drivers were very knowledgeable and extremely flexible and patient people. We were a high maintenance group. They all did extremely well in my opinion. Personally I thought it was great experience overall, I enjoyed it very much. As a photographer I got a lot out of this trip and Craig was great. Azmina (bestway agent) was all over organizing this trip from the get go. She was really on top of it. I very much appreciated her help getting organized. All the guides were pros. They were all excellent. We had a very nice lady as tour guide."

-- Scott B of BC, Canada

Rajasthan, India - Customised tour

"This was a very well organised and extremely pleasant tour to travel on and would certainly recommend it to anyone. The information was all well prepared and helpful, emails were promptly answered and all seemed most effecient, the travel plans all worked very smoothly with no hitch. Our tour guide (Ajay) was extremely good, knowledgeable about many aspects of India life and culture, he was always smiling and very patient and nothing seemed to difficult for him. He was also most assiduous about everyone's welfare and could not have been a better travelling companion, and he had a very nice sense of humour. I would readily be guided by him again!. It was on the whole a very thoughtful and well put together tour with plenty of variety, I especially appreciated having time to be in the countryside, and being able to walk and see rural life. I think that the tour looked after us very well and insulated us from some of the rougher side of Indian life. The majority of the places where we stayed provided us with delicious meals and the final one in Delhi was a real star! Very many thanks to Bestways for arranging this very special occasion. I felt very lucky to have been part of such an excellent tour."

-- Josie M of UK

India - Customised tour

"This is an excellent tour, providing a wonderful exposure to many monuments and historical sites, and to the culture, food and people of this remarkable country. The itinerary is excellent, the hotels and facilities were first class. Bestway representatives were readily available and supportive, and the local guides they have chosen varied from very good, to SUPERB. This was truly “the trip of a life time” for us."

-- Bob & Elaine R of BC, Canada

India - Customised tour

"Just wanted to say that we did have a wonderful experience and the post-tour that Azmina provided us with was excellent and went very smoothly – it was very well organized. Also, that Amit was wonderful on the main body of the tour."

-- Linda S of BC, Canada

Silk Route to Bukhara (China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan)

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will forward your email to the other tour participants as well so you can have their feedback. As the travel agent that has not used your company in the past, I was very pleased with the professional services of your booking agent. She did an excellent job making the travel plans on short notice and helping with questions and itinerary suggestions. It was an area of the world that was not very familiar so I needed guidance. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"We will never, ever forget the Lake Palace Hotel and our wonderful dinner on the boat. Also very much enjoyed the Holi reception in the Palace the next evening. This was one of the real highlights of the trip and would have liked more time there ...it was sad to be away so early and on a bus. We also adored our time in Rishakish and also at the Vivanta in Kovalam. Thank you for all your efforts to make our trip a wonderful experience. I trust that you can pass on our gratitude to those in India who made it so special."

-- Marsha & Cameron G of ON, Canada

Customised tour to India

"I would first of all like to thank Bestway Tours and Safaris for their help and expertise with all my bookings to India. When I booked my personal trip with them, I really felt secure with all the driver's and guides that were provided. They went the extra mile and I received many calls from their local office in Delhi to ensure that everything was working out to my satisfaction. I think that booking your tour with a trusted company that has local offices is the only way to travel to India. As a woman and a travel agent, I felt safe and was treated with the utmost courtesy. I also had access to the manager's telephone number in Delhi and they advised me to contact them if there were any complaints or questions. We were also escorted by one of their employees to the train station and told to wait in the lounge while this fellow sat and waited for the train to arrive. Even though I felt that this was not necessary, the man that escorted us explained that it was better as a woman for me to wait in the lounge. I did not argue and did as he advised. When the train arrived, the man engaged a porter in advance to carry our bags and stow them for us and also seat us before he departed with assurances that we would be met with a guide and driver at the train station. So sure enough, after our train arrived at our stop, we were met by a driver and guide. They proceeded to take our bags off the train and escort us to a waiting vehicle. Then effortlessly escorted us to our hotel. The service was just incredible and I cannot say enough about how meticulous and friendly the staff are. I also led a group to the South and it was an incredible experience, everything worked out to my satisfaction. They chose good hotels, the quality of the service and the guides was excellent. The guide also took us to a fabulous restaurant where we ate the most delicious Briyani. I would say that overall, you will not be disappointed dealing with an experienced and ethical company. I would not hesitate to book all my tours to India and Africa with Bestway. They are professional and provide excellent customer service. I would recommend this company to anyone looking for quality and exceptional customer service."

-- Bernadette R of BC, Canada

Experience India - Customised tour

"This was the best bus/packaged tour I have been on. Well organized, professional guides, great hotels and a fun group of people. Fine details like water, beer, and CARE for those who were not feeling well at times, was wonderful. A well oiled machine. Bestway has a great Itinerary within India's GOLDEN TRIANGLE. A lot of sightseeing in a short period of time. Good pace. And just the right amount of free time. A memorable tour. THANK YOU! "

-- Michael C of BC, Canada

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"The Elephant Court Hotel was wonderful! The variety of activities and hotels and shopping and dining offered on this trip was fantastic. A wonderful tour, allowing an in-depth look at Kerala's varied sights, sounds and tastes, including how and where the food and spices are grown. Overall I would highly recommend this tour."

-- Linda M of ON, Canada

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"Fabulous experience. Loved Raju and the intimacy of the trip especially the local flair The guides were helpful and responded to any concerns immediately. We covered a lot of ground in 2 weeks but did not feel rushed."

-- Laurie C of ON, Canada

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"The culinary program arranged by Chef Joe Thottongal was excellent. His contacts and relationships in Kerala were a great asset to him and thus to us. I feel that we missed nothing in his introduction to the culture and cuisine of Kerala."

-- Hallam J of ON, Canada

India - Customised tour

"I loved the Indian owned accommodation as in former great houses and estates and the new palace hotel in Rathenpur. The driver we were assigned was excellent. The guide in Jodhpur excellent as well. Loved Upapur which was not in original trip but we added. We felt well taken care of before and throughout trip. Transfers to hotels and transportation was excellent. Very good excursions and sightseeing with the exception of Safari first time which was corrected for the second Safari as I have already noted. The way to go in India. Very well organized. Great infrastructure on the ground in India so we always felt very well taken care of. A great way to see this country in a limited time (we had just short of 3 weeks). Great attention to details like diet (spice level), safety, level of comfort in accommodation. They are very flexible should you want to customize your itinerary (which we did). Their guides and drivers are top notch and are very respected in India, which helps in a country where seemingly chaos (to a North American eye) is often the norm."

-- Alvin W of BC, Canada

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"If Bestway were to hold a contest for their happiest and most satisfied customer, I would surely win!"

-- Louis L of ON, Canada

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"It was a wonderful experience. India is an incredible country which needs to be explored. The driver and helper aside from being amazingly skilful were polite and always helpful and always smiled. The tour plan was excellent. It was packed full of things to see, smell, hear, touch and taste. The seeing... the scenery, the towns, the fabric, the jewelry, the spices, the vegetables, all so vibrant and lively. The smelling....the fragrance of vanilla pods, fresh cloves and cardamon, the food...a feast for the sense. The hearing....the singers and musicians who played at the dance, the wedding and for dinner..a delight for the ears. The touch... the warmth of the weather, the softness of pashmina, and the smooth teak floors of the house boats. And the taste...the crispness of early morning dosas, with their hint of sour, the cardamon yogurt a delight for the palate, the ginger chutney at the Sadhya and all the other delights.... alas I am again in Kerala. I have already started recommending this trip. This trip had a high wow factor. Every day I thought that this was the best day yet and the next day proved to be the same, another best day. Joe found his stride explaining to us the use of all things edible in Kerala. His love for cooking was palpable, and he delighted in showing us where the spices come from, how to climb a coconut tree, drink coconut water, and eat the tender jelly inside. Many cooking demonstrations introduced us to south Indian cuisine and I enjoyed a particularly fragrant and delicious biriani cooked by the chefs at The Elephant Court. Mr Amit Malhotra was very personable and helpful. Mr Phillip was proper and respectful. He had extensive knowledge about the area and answered all my questions. He was always helpful in requests for getting money and bathroom breaks. The whole trip was a WOW!!!!! The trip plan was excellent. Our first stop in Fort Cochin we visited a church and synagogue which were beautiful. Visiting with Joes family was a delight, being welcomed into their home was very special. What is more beautiful than mountainsides wrapped in velvet like green mounds of sculptured tea trees. Walking with the game wardens where elephants and tigers roam, soul refreshing. A mock Hindu wedding, to experience another culture, followed by a sumptuous meal. Then to the house boats where the teak on the floors were a delight the touch of feet. The cruise, the food and the company..priceless. A wonderful tour where every new day was a BEST day. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in food and a good time."

-- Kathleen J of NS, Canada

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"This tour was a real learning experience. The people of Kerala and the other places we visited were so friendly. Their lifestyle is so very different from any other country I have visited so far; much simpler and content with less and so very, very religious. Really refreshing. Learning about the spices and food was appreciated. Since Joe has family and friends in the area we were treated to some visits that we would not otherwise have been able to do. This gave us additional exposure to the culture and the people over and above what regular tours offer. The group really appreciated this. We took a 5-day add-on to Bangalore, Mysore and Kabini. We were very happy with the guides and driver provided. We particularly liked the safari in Kabini. The accommodations were excellent every where we stayed."

-- Shirley M of QC, Canada

Silk Route to Bukhara

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Discover Kerala with Chef Joe Thottungal

"The whole tour was exceptional especially with Raju and Joe as our guides. So many delightful things were added each day to make it special: fireworks during the last evening; prawns for the houseboat dinner; shopping excursions well organized; visits to hotel kitchens; visits to Joe's in laws and with his Mother and Father. It was all a great treat. I learned a lot about Kerala cooking and the use of spices and miss it already. Having such a focussed tour was really what made it special. Having Joe with us, especially as he is from Kerala and knows its culture well meant a superb introduction to everything. This is an excellent introduction to the food and culture of Kerala. Kerala is called God's Country as the churches, the landscape, the waterways, the natural vegetation and constant source of food and spices are awesome. Everyone had a great time and returned to Canada wanting more. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone and would consider another with Bestway again in the future."

-- Vicki H of ON, Canada

Bangladesh - Private tour

"Great Trip! Excellent Guide and Accommodations!"

-- Lindsay C of CO, USA

Southern India - Private tour

"We wish to advise you of our very high level of satisfaction and appreciation with the level of care and service provided by "Roy". We particularly appreciated his attentiveness, concern for our safety, on time appearances, and excellent judgment and driving skill on a long and challenging road trip. In addition, he was informative and helpful without being intrusive. His thoughtful, courteous and graceful demeanor added tremendously to our journey.  Without any hesitation, we would highly recommend Roy as a driver to other travellers in India."

-- Jerome S of AB, Canada

India - Private tour

"I am back from India now one week and just getting around to saying what a great tour it was. A big thank you to the whole team. Amit(our guide) was so good on this tour. He took such great care of all of us, with our safety being number one. He is very good at his job. The Bestway team is a great one. Particularly I want to thank Mr. Singh, our driver, and Diyal. With Amit, they made a fearsome threesome. We always felt that we were in great hands. What a warrior Mr. Singh is. And Amit is a strong young man. Anyway, the changes that are coming so unexpectedly to Bestway in Delhi will be met with good people on board. My best to all of you."

-- Mary B of WA, USA

India - Private tour

"We had amazing times. We all loved our country guide Jiju Jacobs(JJ). I suggest you use him again and again. He made the trip for us. He had us jumping off the bus when opportunities came up. William would answer questions and did do slideshows with us, but his prime goal was to take his pictures. We were a good group. Thank you for all of your work. Our accomodations and the trip plans were great. We were among 50 million Hindu women at a religious ceremony. We saw a Hindu elephant parade. JJ found his wild monkeys near the side of the road coming out of Mumar. We crashed a Hindu wedding. We were welcomed into an elementary school. We went to villages. Our people pictures astound. Most of us were really good photographers, but who couldn't be given our subject. I had a driver/guide in Trivandrum that I also recommend. He has a taxi/tourist business with four other men. He also knew the best places to go. I went places Susan had not heard about. His name is Sachu. He came highly recommended to Susan. He took just me out for five days and then Susan joined us a couple of days. I felt safe, he drives through the traffic mess with finesse, Sachu knows his history. We even went to Kanniyakumari and saw the temple on the rock. He told Susan he would take care of me like he would his mother and he did."

-- Kenita G of CO, USA

Rotary Group Tour of India - Private tour

"It has been a week since we returned from India and I don't think all of our adventure has yet sunk in. This is the first time that I have escorted a group where there was not one complaint from group members and everybody enjoyed themselves all of the time. This was due to the ability of our guide Ajay to read the personalities and interests of the group members and adjust the tone and pace of the tour. This made the tour far exceed all expectations. Also your choice of hotels was masterful in location and quality. Since I was the group leader and travel agent, I thank you for making me look good. I will not forget. I am sure that we will work together in the future. Again, I thank you for a job well done."

-- Steve E of BC, Canada

WTC Northern India with Goa Extension - Private tour

"The trip went off without a hitch. Very well organized for the amount of detail required for this kind of trip. Gavrav Kashyap was a wonderful tour guide and I would definitely request to have him again for the next tour of Northern India. It is a real challenge to keep 13 women focused and happy and GK did an amazing job. He has a great sense of humour and took the questions and requests in his stride. It was a highlight for us all to be taken to his home for tea and meet his lovely new wife and his parents. We really appreciated all the little extras that he did to make sure the ladies were happy and our trip such a great one! Great presentation. Easy to understand. I enjoyed all of the excursions & sightseeing. Nita Mehta cooking demonstration, Varanasi, Ranthambore and Pushkar and of course the Taj Mahal were the highlights for me. The Astrologer was delightful and we had a ton of fun comparing our futures over a glass of wine that evening. India is a life changing and magical destination that words can not explain.
I wish everyone could have the opportunity to experience the magic first hand!"

-- Colleen J of BC, Canada

Incredible South India and North India Tour

"We were very happy with everything on both the South and North India tours. The tour representatives were always at the airports and hotels to greet us and the Bestway rep checked with the driver every day to make sure everything was ok. The drivers made sure we only stopped at "safe" clean cafes for washroom facilities and coffee/tea. The meals in the hotels were very good and we did not have any stomach problems on the whole trip. We enjoyed the 2 hour morning trek in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary...good to get exercise after all the driving. The night on the houseboat on the backwaters was wonderful, very relaxing. The whole 28 days were fantastic...I was really impressed with the tour guides, drivers, hotels, meals and the beautiful people of India."

-- Brian B of BC, Canada

World Heritage Sites of Pakistan

"The 10-day World Heritage Sites tour was excellent. The 5-day Karakoram Highway tour was extraordinary. It ranks as one of the best tours I have ever taken. Excellent guide and driver.  The people of Pakistan were wonderful."

-- Robert E of CO, USA

World Heritage Sites of Pakistan

"Pity people have such a fear of travel to Pakistan. The country is full of history, the people are very, very pleasant and your itinerary is perfect to experience it. I have enjoyed very much discussing the trip with Chi (Journey Manager). She always gave me the correct information and was very helpful. I still cannot get over that she remembered me from the year 2000, when I signed up for the Emirates tour. I must be a memorable person (!!!). Ameer is very knowledgeable, very accommodating and pleasant tour guide. He was able to answer all questions we asked. He was always ready to help us and besides the business at hand, we had a lot of laughs. I would recommend him from my heart."

-- Vladimir B of CA, USA

Silk Road and Sunday Bazaar - Customised tour

"Mahmood working overtime to make our personalized trip possible. Planning the trip was a long process and he was very patient."

-- Teresa Z of CA, USA

India - Customised tour

"In March 2012 we toured part of India with Bestway Tours. We were very impressed with the service and with all the arrangements. We would highly reccommend it. Their customer service is exceptional."

-- Abdulmalek D of ON, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"We’ve done many tours and this is the best tour we've ever been on, and Paul was the best tour guide ever. The most wonderful thing about this "experience", is the memories that pop up at the least expected time.  I have never had this happen to me before and find it quite exquisite!"

-- Cheryl & Joe of BC, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"Your tour of India was so incredible!!  I cannot thank you enough, Paul. From the very special fellow tour members to the unique experiences of music and culture, you created a set of experiences which have changed me and will be forever memorable."

-- Cathy of TX, USA

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"The trip was everything we expected and more.  We enjoyed each and every day from the south to the north and all the days in between.  We have been on a number of organized tours and the India tour will stand out as one of the highlights of our travel experiences."

-- Linda & Ken of ON, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"It was a mind and heart-expanding experience, Paul. I experienced India in a more personal and meaningful way because of your meditation experience and love for the culture."

-- Anne of ON, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"So many fine folks to share this fine adventure with. This magical excursion to India was transformative in so many ways.  Like the gift that keeps giving."

-- Charles of TX, USA

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"I feel extremely lucky to have made this amazing journey. I personally had the most glorious time on this trip and am so thankful to Paul and to Bestway for creating it."

-- Laura of IN, USA

India - Customised tour

"First of all we must thank all the good and knowledgable staff at the British Columbia (Canada) office for their expert advise before we left on our trip. We must also thank all the travel agencies in India for their promptness and assistance. They were always waiting for us at the airport and assisted us with hotel registration etc. The drivers were experts in their field and we always felt safe with them. They also had valuable information to enrich our trip. We had good guides and not so good guides. The best guides were in Varanasi and Jaipur. The best guide was in Orchha by the name of R.J. Some of the guides were bored out of their minds and just wanted to get this over and done with. Your choice of hotels was exceptional except for the 'Pugmark Resort'. All in all it was a great adventure. Thank you all."

-- Vincent VH of ON, Canada

India - Customised tour

"Bestway provided very good service. We would happily use them again. The help and experience of Kassam, our local agent, was invaluable in planning this trip. We did have some specific requests on the tour like the cooking class, the visit to the National School of Drama in Delhi. Bestway was great in setting these up. They were both highlights. Although there were guides, drivers and episodes that did not enhance the trip, on the whole we had an excellent adventure."

-- Pauline T of BC, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"We had a truly wonderful time. The trip was everything we expected and more. We enjoyed each and every day from the south to the north and all the days in between. We have been on a number of organized tours and the India tour will stand out as one of the highlights of our travel experiences and we have done a lot of touring! We loved some of the spontaneity of this trip! Fabulous! Thank you for your attention to all these matters with alternate arrangements and particularly the amazing Barge dinner at the Lake Palace. So wonderful."

-- Linda F of ON, Canada

India with Paul Saltzman - A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul

"I wanted to take a moment to express my profound thanks for a truly extraordinary adventure in India! The trip with Paul was better than I could have ever imagined. You and your staff are to be commended for taking such good care of us, both as a group and individually, throughout our amazing journey. Special thanks for covering the unplanned extra night in Delhi due to the change in the dates for the trek. I confess that I'm missing India SO much and am already thinking about how soon I can return. I've looked at some of your upcoming trips and hope to schedule another trip soon. If you need someone in India to be the official greeter or just anything (I probably can't carry suitcases on my head as the railroad porters did), let me know as I simply cannot wait to go back:) Again, my sincere thanks to you, JK and all the wonderful Bestway personnel who made this trip a success."

-- Laura H of IN, USA

India - Customised tour

"I was the person who (regretfully) had to go home from Jaipur. I was very sad at having to do this, because apart from my personal complaints I was enjoying the tour so much. Amit was incredibly helpful in arranging my (early) return's travel arrangements. A huge thanks to him for all his help, and that of other Bestways staff on my way home."

-- Chris G of BC, Canada

Northern India - Customised tour

"We were looking for a small group,and found out in Dehli that two more couples will join us.. It was a
wonderful, excellent experience we will treasure. Mr. Kassam, our agent is exceptional and any question we had he gave us all the help needed."

-- Josef B of BC, Canada

Royal Rajasthan - Northern India tour

"No big complaints. Our driver, Manoj Tiwari, was outstanding, I can't say enough good things about him. I liked the itinerary. It was a lot of driving but we knew that going in. Some of the hotels didn't have great food but others did (Castle Mandawa had great food). The guides were variable; indifferent in Agra but very good in Delhi, Jaipur. Overall was a good experience, well put together tour, saw a lot, wide variety of experiences. We had 9 guides, I can't remember them all. We saw a lot of Excursions & Sightseeing, no complaints. I enjoyed this tour. We had many different experiences and learned a lot. The accomodations ranged from good to ridiculously good. It was a nice adventure."

-- Eugene W of NY, USA

Best of South India

"Kassam has helped us book other trips with Bestway. He is always a pleasure to speak with on the phone. Shabbir Atthar was our guide in Mumbai. He really knew the city and its sites well and pointed out many things that we would have missed on our own. All the guides we had on this trip were very good but we feel that Joseph was by far the most outstanding. He is an excellent guide and a very nice person. I can't remember the name of the woman who was our guide in Pondicherry, however she was also excellent. She was highly educated and really enjoyed showing her city to us. We would also like to make a comment about the help provided us by Raul Dhar, of Abhe Cabs, our contact person in Bangalore. Not only did he meet us at the trtain station but he also checked on our Air France flight as we were concerned whether it would occur due to a strike. We certainly appreciated all his assistance. All our drivers were excellent and we felt very safe and well taken care of. We would especially like to mention the driver we had for 13 days, from Cochin to Chennai, N. Santhosh Babu. Everything went off like clockwork. We had a great time. The night on the houseboat in the Kerala backwaters was a fun experience and the food simple but delicious. The setting of Thekkady Wild Corridor Hotel was spectacular. We really had fun on our jungle walk at Periyar. Mahabalipuram was a real highlight! I could have spent a week there! Going on the local ferry ride to the Vivekanandra Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari was also quite an experience....and a fun one. Of course, there were so very many highlights of this trip. We really loved the temples, palaces, museums and all the site we visited.
This was our 4th tour with Bestway. India is indeed incredible and a tour of South India with Bestway Tours and Safaris can make the incredible a reality for you."

-- Barbara G of OH, USA

India - Customised tour

"From the start of our tour to the end, from all the drivers and guides, airlines, etc, - The service we received was outstanding. Thank you for the excellent tours you provide. We thank Mr. Malhotra of Bestway Tours for the service and help he provided during our stay!!! We had an excellent time."

-- Tajdin G of NM, USA

Museum in Gwalior - Customised tour of North India

"We returned in January '03 from a trip to North India with Bestway Tours. In Madhya Pradesh State we took the train from Agra and visited Gwalior, a place I had not heard of. It proved to be one of the best. We found the contents of the museum there in itself worth the trip, although the museum itself is in need of attention. Another highlight, for me, was visiting Gandhi's museum. I was very moved by his worldly possessions in a showcase: eyeglasses, cane, sandals, a bit of clothing..."

-- Peggy G of CA, USA

Best of South India

"Overall, the tour was excellent with one or two exceptions:
The guide, Deena, who met us in Cochin and stayed with us until Bangalore was absolutely excellent. He was very likeable, patient, knowledgeable, spoke very good English and went beyond our expectations by including extra visits and stops to ensure that we were enjoying ourselves.
The driver who joined us in Periyar (Mr. Rajendran) was excellent - a safe and smooth driver who was very pleasant and helpful. The driver from Cochin to Periyar made us all very nervous, driving too fast and taking risks overtaking on a mountainous road. The driver from Mysore to Bangalore was also not the best.
Regarding the hotels, they were all very good, spotlessly clean , well-run, welcoming, with good restaurants that offered a wide variety of food, with one exception: the Hotel Atithi in Pondicherry. This hotel was clean and modern with good rooms, but there were problems with the staff. It was unfriendly compared to all the other places we stayed. The staff could not find the menus, and it took 2 hours to have our dinner, although the food eventually was OK. We particularly liked the hotel in Mysore where we were upgraded to beautiful rooms and the restaurant was excellent as it was in the hotel in Bangalore (The Pride)."

-- Gillian K of BC, Canada

Tibet, Nepal & Bhutan - Himalayas (Customised tour)

"We were greeted warmly and quickly taken to our hotel for rest as we had been travelling 32 hours!Excellent Service. Vehicle was very comfortable.. A/C worked well (which is very important to us Canadians who are not used to hot weather). Rakesh, our tour guide & driver Rocks!! He is a fantastic guide. Rakesh quickly learned how my group operates and he did exactly what we required. I will request him again for my next group (hopefully soon). Our driver was excellent, very careful and we felt safe with him. Driver's helper was also great!!"

-- Heather R of AB, Canada

India - Customised tour

"I enjoyed looking through the brochure remembering the great trips that we have had with Bestway and particularly our trip with you. We had a wonderful trip in India. Our group and leader were ideal with a great spirit of fun. Pakistan is still high on our list of places to visit. We would love to travel with you again.."

-- Zane A of RI, USA

Northern India - Customised tour

"I will refer MANY people to you in the future. Bestway was a very professional organization to work with and the itinerary and guide resulted in an excellent trip. We will go back in future years to see other parts of India"

-- Kim M of BC, Canada

Southern India - Women's Group Tour

"Our Guide Priya was the best we have ever had. Mahmood was very good at helping us fit in all of the things we wanted to see and patient with our many requests! thank you!. I have been to India before with another tour operator. There was no comparsion in the quality of service. Bestway by far exceeded our expectations once again. We will use them again!"

-- Cathy S of BC, Canada

Hong Kong, Indochina & Southeast Asia - Customised tour

"Mahmood is a very pleasant person he was very helpful and fast and flexible he always wanted the best for us and worked with us very well and it was very easy to work with him. Gave us all the information we needed no matter what the time he knew what he was doing and what he was giving us. He is the best. Tour guides were all helpful and did there best to give us as much information as possible. It was a beautiful and a great trip all the way."

-- Iqbal E of ON, Canada

Tour to Vietnam - Burnaby Board of Trade tour

"I thought everything about this tour was great. It was a good mix of down time as well as the opportunity to see a lot of great sites from North to South Vietnam. I loved the World Heritage sites we saw as well as some of the fun things that were thrown in. The included meals and restaurants were outstanding. I spoke with many tour members, however, and we all thought that Thanh our tour guide, really made the tour exceptional for many of us. He was funny, passionate, very solicitous to people's needs and most of all he was very knowledgeable."

-- Tessa V of BC, Canada

Tour to Vietnam - Burnaby Board of Trade tour

"Spent 10 glorious, memorable days in Vietnam. Thang our guide was exceptional! Bestway did an excellent job with this tour. If you can, book Vietnam through Bestway!"

-- Lora DM of BC, Canada

Isles of Indonesia

"The guides were professional and accommodating in a most pleasant manner. The hotels were all fine. If anything, some of them were too luxurious. But that is an observation - not a complaint. I don't have the names of the guides, but to a man they were superb - particularly the guide in Borneo who was especially watchful over us during the walks. They all took very good care of us."

-- Richard K of FL, USA

Silk Road Adventures - Customised tour

"Chi Pham, our bestway agent kept on top of the plans and reminded us to get our visas in a timely fashion. We asked at the last minute what the appropriate tipping customs were for the drivers and guides--perhaps that information should be given out earlier. We were amazed at the many things we were able to see in Uzbekistan and China. Most of us were not familiar with these sites before our trip. Our guides also gave us suggestions of things we might want to see on our own. Bestway Tours planned and executed a wonderful Silk Road tour for our group of six in Uzbekistan and China. The guides, transportation, and hotels were all excellent."

-- Shirley R of UT, USA

China, India & Nepal - Private Journey

"We had an excellent trip and everything went very well. We will gladly be used for a reference and will fill in questionaires with our experiences. I took about 4500 pictures which I plan to make up a couple of coffee table books with many of the pictures and experiences. India is difinetly a place I will recommend to go to."

-- Sidney T of BC, Canada

Indochina - Customised tour

"The Bestway nominee for our trip, the ICS Company, had proven to be very, very good. The hotels were from excellent in the north to good in the south of the peninsula. The best were in Luang Prabang, Hanoi and on the Halong, To long Bai cruise. The airline bookings were flawless as were the guides in their care of us. Truly, we are grateful for our decision to put our trust in Bestway's hands once again. We were not disappointed, just to the contrary. This was one Helluva trip! Thank you Mahmood, thank you Chi. thank you ICS and we wish you all the very, very good year 2017! Bestway has been and is good."

-- Peter & Rachel B of ON, Canada

Private tour of Russia & Baltic States - Customised tour

"We wanted to see Russia, (especially the Hermitage )and the Baltic States. Our guides and drivers were extraordinary. Bestway has always provided us with superior drivers. We would trust Chi (Bestway Agent) to make any plans for us. We had a very warm relationship with our Moscow guide which helped us to learn about the Russian people. We were surprised to see how beautiful Moscow is. The drives between cities was very helpful in understanding what life was like outside of the cities."

-- Zane & Carole A of RI, USA

Vietnam & Cambodia via the Mekong River

"Thank you for your kind welcome home. To be honest, we really didn’t want to come home as we had such an amazing time. We cannot think of one negative thing to say to you. Tour guides were wonderful from start to finish. Trip was everything we expected and more! We are still struggling to adjust to the time change and excitement of our recent trip. It was everything we expected and so much more! We can’t even begin to tell you about the service provided from start to finish. Exceptional! We also want to add that our “Special Anniversary Dinner” was amazing! Thank you so much for making it a most memorable evening. This is our third trip with you and certainly wont be our last. Several people have been interested in our experiences and we do not hesitate to pass the Bestway name on to them for worry free travel. We can’t imagine choosing anyone else. Chi has been amazing with the tour explanations, suggestions and general enquiries. A dream to work with. We would be pleased to provide a testimonial to add to the numerous ones you already have from happy clients like ourselves. Once again, we thank you for the wonderful memories that fill our heart and soul."

-- Al & Sandra O of BC, Canada

Indonesia's Sulawesi & New Guinea (Papua)

"Both guides Silo and Jonas were wonderful representatives of their cultures, and went out of their ways to share their cultures with us. Excellent drivers in very difficult road conditions."

-- Larry WJ of IN, USA

Indonesia's Sulawesi & New Guinea (Papua)

"The tour leaders were great - especially Silo, for taking us to the funeral, among all the regular tour objectives and martin was a wonderful driver, and Jonas in Wamena who was patient with me when I became exhausted on the trek (and the porter was unbelievably wonderful). Excellent guides and hotels. Overall it was a wonderful experience."

-- Bill & Mary C of IL, USA

Indochina - Customised tour

"I had a wonderful time and I enjoyed the places we visited more than I expected. Ha Long Bay is indeed spectacular, memorable and a 5 star beauty. The tour guides in Pagan and in Yangoon were particularly good. We added some pagodas in the Mandalay region whcih I think you should include officially in the tour (eg. Mahamuni Pagoda, 30 cave temple). The hotels (especially in Pagan and Mandalay and even the Paramount Inle Resort) were fabulous. The Hanoi one was fine as well."

-- Fernando F of PR, USA

Isles of Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan & Sulawesi

"The Sanur Beach Hotel was excellent and we stayed there just when we needed a good sleep and a decent meal. The restaurant at the Puri Bagus in Candi Dasa was excellent. All in all we liked Bali. Lots of things to see. And Oka was a terrific guide."

-- Bert F of MD, USA

Silk Route to Bukhara (China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan)

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will forward your email to the other tour participants as well so you can have their feedback. As the travel agent that has not used your company in the past, I was very pleased with the professional services of your booking agent. She did an excellent job making the travel plans on short notice and helping with questions and itinerary suggestions. It was an area of the world that was not very familiar so I needed guidance. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Silk Route to Bukhara

"Overall the trip was fantastic and all went smoothly. I will definitely be recommending a trip to Uzbekistan for my more adventurous clients."

-- Louise S of CA, USA

Silk Road and Sunday Bazaar - Customised tour

"Mahmood working overtime to make our personalized trip possible. Planning the trip was a long process and he was very patient."

-- Teresa Z of CA, USA

Isles of Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan & Sulawesi

"We had a really good trip to Indonesia. Everything went according to plan. We are so pleased we saw the Komodo dragon. The air conditioning was very welcoming after the humidity of the small boat. All in all a very enjoyable vacation! With thanks for all your help and in anticipation of many more fine trips with Bestways Tours & Safaris."

-- Lesley & John B of CA, USA

Isles of Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan & Sulawesi

"The itinerary was excellent and extensive. The tours offered were interesting and included a nice mix of cultural sites and local interests. Also, the hotels listed were great selections and among the best in each of the locations. I have nothing but positive comments regarding my Bestway Indonesia tour. I was worried since I was traveling alone, but everything went smoothly due to the great service from Bestway. I am already looking forward to another visit to Indonesia and hope to take the remote island tour offered by Bestway. Thank you for making my first visit to Indonesia such a memorable and lovely experience. I cannot say enough great comments about Mahmood. He was so patient answering all my emails and always provided me with the information I needed, often before I even asked!! He was definitely a key factor in making my Indonesia trip a fantastic experience. I want to thank him personally for his attentive and professional guidance and hope to plan more tours in the future with his asssitance. I apologize for not remembering the full names of the guides or the proper spelling. They were all excellent, professional, and knowledgeable. They offered not only great information but also added a personal touch due to their local expertise. They also took care of every detail so that the tours were always enjoyable and stress free. They definitely made the difference between a good tour and a great one. My only suggestion would be to perhaps offer some optional tours for those days when the scheduled tours ended early. This would be great for individual travelers who want to experience more but may not want to venture out on their own. For example, perhaps evening tours to see local dances or visit local markets would be nice. I had some afternoons and evenings free where I would have really enjoyed seeing more of the local flavor!. Bestway Tours provided service above and beyond my expectations. Their Isles of Indonesia tour was excellent, thorough, organized, and absolutely unforgettable. The guides, the tours, the hotels, and the food were superb. No detail was left unattended. I would highly recommend this company to my family and friends and to anyone who wants an experience of a lifetime. Thank you all for making my first trip to Indonesia one I will always remember."

-- Daniele DN of AE, USA

Fascinating Myanmar

"Burma is a superb destination that holds tremendous surprises even for a well travelled tourist. My expectations were more than amply rewarded. Ha Long Bay is memorable, much like other natural wonders in the world like Grand Canyon. Bagan in Burma is particularly stupendous. And we had the fantastic luck to see a novitiation ceremony for young boys and girls entering the Buddhist monastery in a town on the way to Mt. Popa. Unforgetable!."

-- Fernando FB of PR, USA

North Korea - Customised tour

"All that was promised was delivered. It was quite an adventure. Great job by your people."

-- Clarence A of CA, USA

Best of Peru & Brazil - Customised tour

"Loved all the beautiful sites we saw. Small group was great! The tour guides were all excellent. They had strong knowledge base and were very thoughtful about our needs! Loved all the beautiful natural wonders of both countries! Thank you very much!"

-- Rijinder A of BC, Canada

Colombian Experience

"It is never possible to do EVERYTHING in a short time so I thought what we saw was fantastic. Many people mentioned Medellin to us so I think that would be a good inclusion. We were lucky as with only 2 of us we were allowed a great deal of flexibility. For example we declined the option to see emeralds in production, and also some of the more touristy aspects of the coffee plantation such as dressing up, etc. The coffee farm was too long and drawn out. We could have just had a look by ourselves. I definitely think more time should be spent in Cartagena and surrounding areas but we extended there by ourselves. Santa Marta was GREAT, and Tayrona. Well, Colombia is an amazing country and deserves at least a month but not everyone has that luxury. I describe this as my best trip ever. Colombia was such a wonderful discovery. The scenery is spectacular, the country is safe and clean and diverse but it was all about the people – so friendly, happy, relaxed. I made new friends and would love to return." Tour info and communications prior to the trip were great. This was my journey of a life time. The guide was just great!"

-- Jill H of CA, USA