Which tour companies are the most reputable?

Reputation can be checked. These 27 tour companies state two things anyone can verify on their own websites: the scheme that protects your payments and the trade bodies they belong to. Of them, TruTravels, Quark Expeditions and Exodus Adventure Travels have the most Google reviews.

Which tour companies are the most reputable?

These 27 tour companies put both checks on their own websites: a named payment protection scheme and a trade membership; TruTravels, Quark Expeditions and Exodus Adventure Travels have the most Google reviews. Check each number with the scheme or trade body before you pay.

Which of these companies protect your money?

27 of the 27 name a scheme that protects guest payments on their own websites, such as ATOL for UK flight packages, ABTA or USTOA membership, or a trust account; the rest do not name one on the pages read.

• APT: On its UK pages, air-inclusive packages are bonded under the ATOL scheme and funds paid are held in a separate bank account under Client Fund Protection; no ATOL number is given.
• Aurora Expeditions: Places all voyage deposits in a separate trust account under its Deposit Protection Program.
• Black Tomato: ATOL number 10531 covers the flight-inclusive packages it sells as agent of Hays. It says non-flight packages are covered by a scheme through ABTA that refunds advance payments if it becomes insolvent.
• Carrier: ATOL number 2968 covers its flight-inclusive holidays. As an ABTA member (number V0391) it says bookings are financially protected under the Package Travel Regulations if it becomes insolvent.
• Classic Journeys: Takes part in the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program, where the $1 million posted may give only partial recovery of advance payments.
• Collette: Posts $1 million with the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program to reimburse advance payments if it becomes insolvent, though that sum may give only a partial recovery.
• Exodus Adventure Travels: ATOL number 2582 covers its flight holidays and it holds ABTA licence number Y 0751.
• Flash Pack: Says it operates a third-party trust bank account for guests' money.
• Globus: Takes part in the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program, with $1 million posted to reimburse advance customer payments on bankruptcy, insolvency or cessation of business.
• InsideAsia Tours: Holds ATOL number 9419, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.
• InsideJapan Tours: ATOL number 9419 covers its flight-inclusive holidays.
• Insight Vacations: Its US booking conditions name the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program.
• Jules Verne: ATOL number 11234 covers its air-inclusive holidays and it is an ABTA member, number V1661.
• Luxury Gold: Its UK business is an ABTA member, number Y6200; its US pages name no protection scheme.
• Macs Adventure: ABTOT bond number 5521 protects its package holidays that do not include flights; other arrangements booked from it are not financially protected.
• Martin Randall Travel: ATOL number 3622 covers its flight packages and ABTOT number 5468 covers non-flight packages.
• One Traveller: ATOL number 9718 protects its flight-inclusive packages. A bond held by ABTA (number Y3177) protects packages without flights.
• Original Travel: Holds ATOL number 5922 for flight-inclusive packages. An ABTA bond held by its bankers, NatWest, protects packages that do not include a flight.
• Peter Sommer Travels: Is an ABTA member, number Y6151.
• Quark Expeditions: Is covered by the USTOA Consumer Protection Plan, which requires it to post US$1 million with USTOA to reimburse advance payments if it becomes insolvent.
• Sovereign Luxury Travel: ATOL number 0285 covers its flight packages. A bond held by ABTA (number V4068) protects packages without flights.
• TransIndus: Is financially bonded, with ATOL number 3429 and ABTOT number 5510.
• Travelbag: ATOL number 11078 covers any package holiday it books that includes a flight.
• TruTravels: Says it is both ABTA and ATOL registered, so guests' money is protected; no ATOL number is given.
• VBT Bicycling Vacations: Takes part in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, which it shares with affiliates of Xanterra Leisure Resort Holdings, so recovery may be only partial.
• Walk Japan: Guests who book guided tours with accommodation directly are protected by Hong Kong's Travel Industry Compensation Fund; self-guided tours, tours without accommodation and bookings through agents are not covered.
• Wendy Wu Tours: ATOL number 6639 covers its flight packages. A bond through ABTA (number W7994) covers non-flight holidays.

Who to contact first

Start with the 27 companies on this page that name a scheme protecting your payments on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates.

• APT
• Aurora Expeditions
• Black Tomato
• Carrier
• Classic Journeys
• Collette
• Exodus Adventure Travels
• Flash Pack
• Globus
• InsideAsia Tours
• InsideJapan Tours
• Insight Vacations
• Jules Verne
• Luxury Gold
• Macs Adventure
• Martin Randall Travel
• One Traveller
• Original Travel
• Peter Sommer Travels
• Quark Expeditions
• Sovereign Luxury Travel
• TransIndus
• Travelbag
• TruTravels
• VBT Bicycling Vacations
• Walk Japan
• Wendy Wu Tours

What to ask each one to set out in writing:

• What the price includes and excludes, line by line: stays, guides, transfers, internal flights, park or entry fees.
• The deposit, when the balance is due and what you lose if you cancel.
• Which scheme protects your money and the number to check it.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 4 November 2026 · updated 4 November 2026