World's Best The Top 15 Tour Operators By Scott Bay Scott Bay Scott Bay is a magazine editor specializing in travel, architecture, and gear. He was previously an assistant editor at Travel + Leisure. His work has also appeared in Wired, Architectural Digest, Wallpaper, Robb Report, Saveur, Daily Beast, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on September 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world. Linking up with the right tour operator can take an amazing trip and turn it into a trip of a lifetime. This might seem like magic, but their in-the-know expertise and long-standing relationships open the doors for the seemingly impossible — a private Jeep safari with a professional tracking team in the depths of Torres del Paine or one-on-one cooking classes from a chef that runs a Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France. And if any group has traversed the world enough to discern the best tour operators out there, it's the readers of Travel + Leisure. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities. Courtesy of Quasar Expeditions The companies that made the list have the skills and connections to create itineraries that reflect their clients' personal interests. No. 3 VBT Bicycling Vacations curates two-wheeled trips all over the globe. One reader said, "Their staff make all the difference." No. 2 Mountain Lodges of Peru puts together highly personalized trekking adventures to Machu Picchu. As another reader exclaimed, "This is the way to visit Machu Picchu!" But at the top of the list is Quasar Expeditions. Though primarily known for its cruises (the company won the small-ship ocean cruises category this year), it also operates a roster of dynamic safari-style excursions in South America. Read on to find out what sets it apart and which other companies join it on this year's list of the best tour operators in the world. 1. Quasar Expeditions Courtesy of Quasar Expeditions Quasar Expeditions is for adventurers. The highly specialized itineraries are designed to make guests feel like they're James Cook or Charles Darwin. "Quasar Expeditions' guides are the ultimate, passionate gatekeepers to the Galápagos Islands," one reader said. "Their enthusiasm and love of the islands and the wildlife encourages you to share in their passion and desire to conserve the natural beauty and habitat of the area while still allowing low-impact tourism." Another raved, "Excellent isn't a high enough rating to describe our experience with Quasar Expeditions. Extraordinary in every way!" And while Quasar is best known for its Galápagos trips, it gets high marks for its Patagonia itineraries, which takes guests into the best parts of Chile's Torres del Paine and Argentina's Los Glaciares — two of South America's most spectacular national parks. Score: 99.58More information: quasarex.com 2. Mountain Lodges of Peru Courtesy of Mountain Lodges of Peru Score: 98.93More information: mountainlodgesofperu.com 3. VBT Bicycling Vacations JAM Creative/Courtesy of VBT Bicycling Vacations Score: 98.70More information: vbt.com 4. Classic Journeys Courtesy of Classic Journeys Score: 98.60More information: classicjourneys.com 5. TCS World Travel Courtesy of TCS World Travel Score: 97.55More information: tcsworldtravel.com 6. Black Tomato Courtesy of Black Tomato Score: 97.25More information: blacktomato.com/us 7. Inside Japan Tours Courtesy of InsideJapan Tours Score: 96.84More information: insidejapantours.com 8. Tauck Courtesy of Tauck Score: 96.72More information: tauck.com 9. Wilderness Travel Mike Crane/Courtesy of Wilderness Travel Score: 95.71More information: wildernesstravel.com 10. Trek Travel Getty Images Score: 95.71More information: trektravel.com 11. Geographic Expeditions Vassi Koutsaftis/Courtesy of Geographic Expeditions Score: 95.70More information: geoex.com 12. Thomson Family Adventures Courtesy of Thomson Family Adventures Score: 94.89More information: familyadventures.com 13. Greaves Courtesy of Greaves India Score: 94.74More information: greavesindia.com 14. DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. Taylor Burk/Courtesy of DuVine Score: 94.64More information: duvine.com 15. Odysseys Unlimited Courtesy of Odyssys Unlimited Score: 94.39More information: odysseys-unlimited.com See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2021. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit