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Reviews

Find out why our guests love us so much

4.9/5

Based on 836 reviews

Feefo
Travel and Leaisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
We're one of the World's Best Tour Operators!
Voted No.1 in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 by Travel+Leisure
At Timbuktu our mission is to delight our guests every step of the way, from planning to traveling. We're really proud to share all of our guests' feedback.
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Amazing Thailand trip, thanks to Timbuktu and Khiri for a great anniversary

Amazing Thailand trip, thanks to Timbuktu and Khiri for a great anniversary

May 2024

10 nights in Thailand

Always love Timbuktu. The service is great, and they are very friendly. We had the most incredible help from Catherine our first time around, so Meg had big shoes to fill. This experience and trip were nearly as perfect as the last, so we have been recommending to friends and family for a while now. They definitely charge a premium, but the convenience and professionalism of their local partners can't be beat. They always find the most spectacular excursions and add little details to make your journey feel special.
Highly recommend!

Highly recommend!

May 2024

10 nights in South Africa and Zimbabwe

Jeffi was amazing! She helped us plan exactly what we were looking for! She listened to our needs and planned the perfect vacation at an affordable price!
Repeat customers

Repeat customers

May 2024

9 nights in South Africa

We have just booked our second trip to Africa with Jonty. He has been great both times and our first trip was totally amazing. Very responsive and dependable and all details were in perfect order. All of the drivers and events and tours were solid.
Never disappointed with Timbuktu

Never disappointed with Timbuktu

May 2024

13 nights in Kenya and Tanzania

Friendly, efficient, listens, and accommodating. Always delivers. Trips are fantastic!
Another amazing trip!

Another amazing trip!

April 2024

14 nights in Argentina

As always, Timbuktu makes our trip planning easy and helps with every little detail along the way. FYI, Joanna is the best. We spent 12 days in Morocco and every riad was stunning, well located, with great food and attentive staff. Our driver for the trip was perfect with a friendly and helpful temperament. We visited all the sites with ease and enjoyed them all immensely. A truly wonderful trip. We have used Timbuktu previously for an amazing adventure in Kenya & Rwanda, will use them for Argentina this winter and for Cambodia the following winter. Their help and service is exceptional.
Magnificent Tanzania

Magnificent Tanzania

April 2024

12 nights in Tanzania

Very prompt response from Catherine with a great itinerary based on our initial ideas and with suggestions that were based on her personal experiences and an obvious desire for us to have an unforgettable trip.
Kevin Zimmerman

Kevin Zimmerman

April 2024

14 nights in South Africa and Zimbabwe

Kevin is amazing! He provided such wonderful help and I could not have asked for anything more!!
My SE Asia trip with Timbuktu was Amazing

My SE Asia trip with Timbuktu was Amazing

April 2024

Journey Through Southeast Asia: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam

The Timbuktu team did an amazing job putting together an itinerary that got better every day. All the places I visited and journeys I went on were not ones I could have found myself. The schedule had me stopping and enjoying where I was now and looking forward to those to come. Your execution of the trip was outstanding and flawless. I was always met when I disembarked from whatever mode of transportation I was on by a friendly and smiling face. Each guide in every location was professional, knowledgeable, and friendly! Each time we parted, I felt like I was leaving a new friend. The accommodations were also amazing. First class with a local feel. All the hotels had wonderful staff and service, and no room disappointment. The mahogany room in Chiang Khong overlooking the Mekong was truly an experience. My time in northern Thailand with my guide and driver was fascinating. Stopping at the White Temple was inspiring. The boat trip down the Mekong was certainly a highlight. What an experience to visit the villages and the Buddha Temple cave. Luang Prabang was so interesting and full of history. The trip to the falls and the villages made for a wonderful day. I made new friends on the boat trip, and I celebrated Christmas in the night market. And I was up at 5:30 am to watch and offer offerings to the monks. Flying into Hanoi was easy thanks to the airport guide, who got me through customs quickly, and the local guide, who whisked me through the city to the train station. On her advice, we stopped, and I bought sandwiches and drinks for the overnight train trip. I had seen a documentary on this north-to-south train, and it turned out to be another highlight of my trip. In the morning, I was having coffee with my suitemates from India and Vietnam. Although we did not have a common language, we still found a way to laugh. The stop in Hue was mystical on a grey, rainy day, making it the perfect setting for the visit. The guide was extremely knowledgeable, and the driver was fantastic. Overnighting in Da Nang, a 5-star hotel on the beach, was a real treat. And allowed for a morning run along the water, As always, the guide and driver were on time to take me to the train station and pick up a few more sandwiches for the long daytime train ride that day. This was a great way to experience the countryside as it rolled by for many hours. Nha Trang was a perfect rest stop for a few days near the beach with no itinerary. A beautiful hotel with a great gym and an ocean view. Dalat was also amazing. Staying high in the mountains in a beautiful colonial hotel added to the overall experience. My guide was amazing, and after I had New Year's Day to myself to explore, there were so many things I would have missed without the local knowledge. To top off a fantastic trip, the luxury bus ride in my suite just put a big exclamation mark on everything. And just so you made sure I made it, my trip was wrapped up with a local guide in HCMC, who picked me up and delivered me to my hotel. Thank you again for putting together an amazing experience. Everything you did was perfect, and I will certainly be reaching out again soon for more experiences!
Highly recommend

Highly recommend

April 2024

12 nights in South Africa and Mauritius

Joanna was a pleasure to work with. She helped us to mold the perfect itinerary and find the right accommodations for each part of our journey and made it fun along the way! We can't wait to refer friends and family to Joanna and Timbuktu.
Timbuktu Travel, the best

Timbuktu Travel, the best

April 2024

10 nights in Tanzania

Jonty is absolute the best. Nollegable, friendly and helpfull. We will be back.
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As Seen in

11 Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists 2025

Condé Nast Traveler

No. 1 & No. 2 Tour Operator in Travel + Leisure's Best Awards 2024 & 2025

Travel + Leisure

Best Booking Platform in Women's Health Travel Awards 2025

Women's Health

Travel Specialist voted as Latin America A-List Travel Advisor 2025

Latin America A-List Travel Advisor

"Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip."

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