Halal Travel Guide Reviews 239

Just did a tour of Uzbekistan with Halal Travel Guide with my husband and sisters.
Throughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
Hotels and travel arrangements were nicely organized. The selection of historic places to visit gave us a great cross section of the beauty and history of the region. Would strongly recommend traveling with HTG

Well established itinerary and partners on the ground made this a well rounded and informative trip!
With little time to plan for trips in my busy schedule choosing a a planned tour was a preferred option for me!

Felt immediately comfortable ‘travelling solo’ with a brand new group of women and the tour guide /driver who waited patiently for us to arrive!

The care and attentive touches to the tour were a particular highlight - can’t put a price on it!

The tour and exhibition event in Sarajevo was really informative. The guide was
informed, passionate and candid in her presentation of the history.

I would recommend the timing of the year as well - as it wasn’t too busy in the traditionally busier areas so we were able to make the most of those locations. I loved the little bit of rain as much as the mild warmth of the sun!

Areas to consider:
- quality of time in locations
- travel timings: implications for solo/ women travellers and value for money
- accommodation : closer to itinerary events to reduce travel time/ value for money where possible (incorporate travelling by the train options where/when available)
- providing a platform ( eg WhatsApp group) for solo travellers prior to booking flights to make connections and arrangements pre/post trip where possibles provides a little more flexibility to travel plans

Flights to Sarajevo and starting the trip from there or if via Croatia - an overnight stay would have been a great addition.

Very pleased with HTGs responses to any feedback that was given.

Look forward to travelling with you on future trips!

I really enjoyed the Bosnia tour. From start to end and everything in between, Alhamdulillah. Met some amazing people, had amazing experiences and amazing journey. I hope to explore more countries with Halal Travel inshaAllah. Jazak'Allahu khair

This trip was an epic adventure and would encourage anyone to experience this trip to Jordan at least once in their life. Jordan is a country packed with history and with people that are hospitable kind and welcoming.HGT provided a well thought out and extremely well tailored experience that helped me learn about the most amazing Islamic history combined with an adrenaline packed few days in the breathtaking desert of Wadi Rum. HTG have thought of every detail providing an exceptional tour guide Hasan who not only had a breadth of knowledge to share but was also a caring and kind host that looked after us and made the experience the most enjoyable. The host from Rum Planet Camp Ahmed was most welcoming and took care of our every need. I felt so happy to hear experiences from the beautiful people of Jordan, one night HTG also organised a star gazing experience in the desert which was absolutely incredible.I just want to thank Soumaya and HTG for once again organising such a special trip and working with locals to provide an authentic and inclusive experience that will be remembered always.Extremely happy and would recommend this once in a lifetime experience of visiting Jordan with HTG. Many thanks, I will definitely be recommending this tour to my family and friends!

- The group of people I travelled with were all really lovely, the pre-travel advice was helpful, and the hotels were comfortable.

- HTG went over and above to help me arrange flights, transfers, and hotels for 'add on days' in Khiva after the tour ended; I really appreciated this and had a great time.

- Note that the itinery is flexible as mentioned by HTG. A few items that couldn't be included during our particular tour due to to travel times were Nurata, the 3-course meal at the pottery studio, and lunch with a view in the Kitab Mountains. The 'experiences' were great, but also slightly different than I expected e.g., the Plov making masterclass was cutting a carrot and watching someone make it in a dark out-house (the end result however, was delicious), and the calligraphy class leader was absolutely lovely, but I would say it was less a 'masterclass' and more just watching him write your name in Arabic.

- The part that personally disappointed me was the Yurt camp. The bonfire was a great touch, but the rooms weren't particularly clean, we weren't given blankets (it was rather cold), and we witnessed animal abuse taking place, which was heart-breaking. The only activity on offer was the boat trip, and it wasn't as relaxing as expected given we spent almost 8 hours driving there, and then left again the next day in the early afternoon, ready for another 8 hours of driving. My suggestion would be to cut this from the itinerary. I think that staying an extra day in Bukhara and taking a train to Samarkand would be better, and this would also allow for more free time to be incorporated into the tour as whole.

- There was a lot more driving time than expected. This is fine as it does have to happen, but I suggest there should at least be 15min breaks for every 3-4 hours of driving.

- I think that once Imam Bukhari’s tomb has been renovated, it would definitely be worth the visit. For now, it is a construction site (as mentioned by HTG). We personally spent two hours sitting on the coach in the car park outside. I would suggest making this entire day 'free time' and then having the group come back together to take the train to Tashkent.

- The Trip Manager checked in frequently, but not everyone had access to internet to reply, and there wasn't much that could be immediately amended from afar. On immediate amendments however, the Tour Leader, Humayun, was always very helpful and provided real-time advice and adjustments.

- As a country, Uzbekistan is stunning, and the people are all so friendly; definitely worth the visit!

- Overall, this tour is unique and has immense potential with a few adjustments.

- As a company, HTG are very personable and they did a lot for me in a short amount of time so that I could join this tour, for which I'm genuinely really appreciative.

This is the first time I travelled with HTG, having previously used another well-established, international group travel company. Overall, I think the intent behind the tour and themes had a lot of promise and were the reasons I was attracted to HTG but unfortunately I didn’t feel the itinerary was executed well.

Hotels - the Tashkent and Bukhara hotels were good but I was disappointed with the other accommodation - particularly Khiva and the Yurt camp. Khiva was extremely basic, although thankfully clean and in a good location. Given the price for the tour in comparison to other companies, I expected a better standard of hotels. The yurt camp (Oxus Adventures) was awful, the bedding looked unclean, we didn’t get given blankets and basically froze the whole night. Bathroom was outside and the camp’s guard dog kept barking whenever we opened our door so we didn’t feel comfortable leaving our room. Lock of door was also broken. My main concern with this place was the mistreatment of the animals. I, on more than one occasion, saw the owners of the camp beat /bully their very docile dog. It was heart-breaking. Also on the day we left, the camp was full of wasps which was terrifying as they got into everyone’s rooms!

Transport - there is far too much driving as part of this itinerary. I felt that we were basically in a coach for 4 days in total which is a massive shame. There were also not enough breaks on these very long drives. At one point we drove 4 hours without a break. I personally did not think the drive to and from the desert stay was worth it. (I also think saying it’s a Nomad Yurt camp is a bit misleading when we’re not actually staying in a yurt.) I would’ve much rather have stayed an extra day in Bukhara and taken a train to Samarkand with more time to relax there. In any case, HTG should update the itinerary to make it very clear on all the travel times (with hours of travel clearly specified each day).

Not enough free time - overall, I felt the itinerary was a bit too packed and there was barely any free time. We had a free evening in Bukhara and a free morning in Samarkand. It really was not enough and felt so rushed (e.g. we barely had time to explore Shahi-Zinda). I would recommend adjusting your itinerary to add an extra day in Bukhara and Samarkand (this could be accommodated if you remove the desert camp from the itinerary). These are the main cities everyone comes to Uzbekistan to see so it’s a shame that wasn’t a focus of the itinerary. HTG could offer optional tours/activities to travellers which would allow more flexibility (on the free days). I think my main point here is that sometimes less is more and makes for a more enjoyable travel experience. So I’d recommend fewer activities or make them optional (e.g plov making, although interesting, could be made optional). To note, I felt that the last Friday in Samarkand was totally wasted, we went to Imam Bukhari’s tomb which was a huge construction site, spent 2 hours in a parking lot! would’ve been nice if this last day was a full free day (instead of including lunch on the last day, this could be switched around to include dinner in Tashkent). This would’ve given everyone flexibility to spend the day how they wish and come back to the hotel at 5pm to go to the station together.

The Tour literally starts on the day everyone arrives. This makes it very tiring and also means that anyone whose flight is delayed could potentially miss the whole day (many of our group arrived late due to delays so missed part of the Tashkent tour). I would recommend that you include an ‘arrival’ day where people can arrive at any time they want and there are no activities planned, except for a welcome meeting/perhaps a group dinner for everyone to meet. This gives everyone flexibility to pick appropriate flights etc although the airport transfer is nice, I don’t think it should dictate the day, or the time people arrive. Taxis are very cheap, if you give people clear instructions, it would be fine. NB: there was no official welcome meeting where people got to meet each other properly or where the guide introduced himself and set out tour expectations etc.

Tour guides - our Khiva tour guide was not great, he kept walking and talking which meant most of us couldn’t hear him. It wasn’t even clear when he started the tour! Also he kept moving on without checking if the whole group was there and lost me at one point! The Tashkent Guide was good overall but I felt like she was in a rush to finish, we rushed through Chorsu Bazaar where I would have valued free time. Samarkand and Bukhara guides were great.

HTG should include all costs in the price of the tour i.e. the £65 internal flight. Price otherwise misleading. Other tours include all transport.

Itinerary not always followed, sometimes needed but should be communicated to group.

I had high expectations for this trip due to the wonderful Instagram content, positive reviews and reassurance given by Soumaya. I’ve been following the HTG Instagram for years and the Uzbekistan tour has been portrayed amazingly. That was not a reflection of the experience my group and I had.

Pros:
Met and explored Uzbekistan with a really lovely group of people 🥰
Uzbekistan has so much to offer and was definitely worth the visit.
The tour guides and tour leader were polite and hospitable.
The hotels were mostly in good locations.

Cons:
This tour was advertised as “premium” and we paid a premium price but did not receive a premium experience. The hotels were very basic apart from the hotel in Tashkent that was very comfortable.

The Nomad Yurt Camp was HORRIFIC. We spent an unbelievable total of 15+ hours over two consecutive days travelling to and from the camp by coach only to arrive late in the evening and leave at noon the next day. On the way back we spent over 8 hours on the coach and only had 2x15 min breaks during the 1st 3 hours, then we had no breaks until we arrived at Samarkand late at night.

We did not experience a “yurt camp”. We stayed in cabins in appalling conditions. There were dead and live bugs in the cabins. The cabin I stayed in was previously occupied by the camp staff. They removed their things when we arrived and no cleaning or changing of sheets took place. Our “personal” toilet was outside the cabin and I felt unsafe going out at night to use it as there were men hanging out behind our cabin. It was also being used by the staff during our stay and It was foul.

Many of our companions were left with no blankets and were freezing all night.

Most appalling is the vile animal abuse that took place at this camp. On the day we were supposed to be relaxing and disconnecting from the busy city life, a worker with all his power and palm grabbed a dog by his ear and slapped him in the face around 5 times for all of us to see. The dog howled and whimpered in pain. I can still hear the thuds against his little skull. The slaps were like what you see in the “sport” slap fighting. The dog trying to escape to make his way back to the cabin was kicked a few times by another worker. All because the dog wanted to play with the horse. The horse and camel didn’t want to be ridden by us the dog was blamed and the rest of the animals were treated appallingly also. This experience traumatised me and I went back to the cabin and cried. For the rest of our time at this camp the dog was whimpering and hiding under a table.

HTG did not meet their promise to “avoid activities that cause harm to animals”. I can see that they have omitted this camp from future tours anyway. But that still doesn’t compensate for the trauma caused and the animals that were left behind to suffer.

To make matters worse we did not get to go fishing or ride horses. Some of the group went on a boat ride but after what I witnessed I couldn’t take part in the activity. We had our plov making experience in a shed at the camp. Rather than “a local hosts house” as stated in our itinerary and shown on Instagram. We were all told to cut a carrot each and then we watched a man fry them and that was the “plov making experience”.

Being at a “Nomad YURT camp” you would think we would experience the actual yurts but we did not. Before leaving we walked up to a yurt and spent maximum 10 minutes looking at it and that was it. We didn’t get to have tea or a meal in the yurt as portrayed on the HTG website. We were robbed of an authentic and meaningful experience.

Being robbed of experiences was a common theme on this tour. Our experience at the pottery studio was so rushed. We were given 20 minutes to decorate a tiny plate, which took away all the joy and relaxation from the experience. We did not get a three course meal at the studio either.

The “Calligraphy Masterclass” was a nice experience but again we were on a timer and we didn’t actually get a class. The Ustadh just wrote each of our names on a plaque and then we were told we could buy some of his work and that was it. There was no teaching let alone a masterclass.

We were given 15 mins to explore Shahi Zinda despite us wanting longer. We wasted time driving 2+ hours to see mountains for 5 mins. On our final day we spent 2 hours on the coach in a car park rather than going to Shahi Zinda or a bazar. We were all disappointed.

HTG state “Everything that's listed are highlights; you'll be seeing and experiencing many more things and surprises that we haven't listed”. This was absolutely NOT the case. No extras. In fact a few things were missed: Nurata, meal at the pottery studio and meal at Amudarya river.

I believe HTG cut many corners on our tour and we were not given value for our time or money. We were rushed when we wanted time and time was wasted on less interesting things.

It’s a shame, I wanted to book more tours with HTG.

I really went on this trip with high hopes due to all the positive reviews. However that was not the case my group and I experienced. Our trip did not reflect the posts from Instagram nor the positive reviews from previous travellers. This trip to Uzbekistan was listed as a “premium trip” but there wasn’t much that demonstrated that. Apart from the hotels in Tashkent and maybe Bukhara, the rest of the places we stayed at were very poor. My bathroom in Khiva smelt of urine and there was nothing premium about the room. My room in Samarkand, the bed was very uncomfortable and my air conditioning didn’t work. I reported this to the hotel and nothing was done.

Worst of all was when we stayed in the Nomad camp. First of all the journey was such a waste of time. We drove over 8 hours to such a disgusting place and it most definitely was not worth our time or money at all. The bathroom was absolutely filthy and the stench coming from it was the worst smell I have ever smelt in my life. (For context I used to work as a carer for the elderly and can stomach strong smells.) The bathroom, especially the shower, was covered in grime and looked like it had not been cleaned in months. Also the bathrooms were outside and I definitely did not feel safe using it in the middle of the night.

Furthermore, the door handle for my room was broken and when I closed the door to go in, I became trapped in my room and had to bang on the door and shout for help before someone found me. Even my bedroom wasn’t clean as there was dead bugs on the bed and my blanket smelt. A lot the people in the group weren’t even offered a blanket and it was very cold at night. This isn’t even the worst of it. The day when we were supposed to have “free time” in the morning to either sit by the lake, go for a ride on the camel/horse or go fishing, this was no longer an option as the group lead decided we should watch Plov being cooked instead. The whole point of the nomad camp was to relax and recharge. We could see Plov being cooked anytime. It wasn’t even a masterclass as we all just cut one carrot each and off we went. The most traumatic part was we saw the owners at the camp physically abusing their dog. When this was reported to HTG, a very generic response was given and it was basically said there’s nothing they can do unless someone recorded the abuse. I mean wasn’t 8 witnesses enough?! The correct response would be to carry out an investigation and cut ties with the camp. The whole experience was a shambles and it would have been way better to just get a bullet train from Bukhara to Samarkand which takes 1h26 instead of the 8 hours to the camp and then the 8 hours after we drove.

Furthermore, one of the main discrepancies I noticed were how certain things from the itinerary were missed out. For example, we were supposed to visit Nurata and that never happened and on that same day we were supposed to have a 3 course meal at the pottery studio and that also never happened. We were only given 20 minutes to decorate a plate which was rushed and no one got to enjoy the experience.

Similarly, Shahi Zinda, one of the main attractions of Uzbekistan that all of us wanted to take in and actually spend time at, we had like 15 minutes to actually explore the place ourselves but for other less interesting places, we had way longer than we needed and this just seemed to be the common theme for this whole trip.

I know my review is long winded, but I’m honestly so confused. All the other reviews are so positive so did everyone else have good time and with our group they decided to cut corners or what??

I definitely think HGT should refund us the money for the nomad camp and the experiences we didn’t get to do. It most definitely was not good value for the money and it’s a shame as I was a planning to go on a lot more tours with them.

Great experience. Wonderful adventure

Some of the hotels selected are not value for money. This trip was expensive so quality of some of the hotels were not great. Hotel in khiva did not always have hot water and plug sockets were hanging loose right close to your bed. The log cabins in the lake/desert did not have blankets, and just bedsheets. Toilets and shower facilities were not clean. Some excursions were not necessary and took up more time then necessary, such as the drive to the mountain and Amir Taimur's Palace. The itinerary mentions visiting Imam Al Bukhari's burial place but the whole site was under restoration and we had no access and just sat in the coach on our last day, when we could have done something else. We literally drove for over an hour or more to see the view from a mountain and that was for 5 minutes and it said we will have a nice meal but that did not happen. Alot of things were hyped up and we did not either see it or we spent few minutes there.

Clear instructions were not given of where our guide will be at the Tashkent Airport when we arrive before hand, as many of us did not have WiFi upon arrival. I had to leave the airport and look outside to find the guide. Overall I had a good experience, places that we visited was educational and amazing, and I got to meet some very nice people. The guide was always looking out for us and helped us when needed. They should have provided details of the internal flights because if a member of our group did not raise it we would have issues with our baggage allowance and size.

Excellent information, communication, selection of places to visit and stay and an outstanding tour guide.

We were taken care of like family, every step of the way. I can honestly say that I have no qualms about travelling as a single female on my own, knowing that HTG is the best travel companion I could wish for. I will definitely be travelling with HTG again 😊

My husband and I would like to personally thank Soumaya of Halal Travel Guide for organising the Uzbekistan trip so well. We would like to thank our travel Guide Houmayoon for being with us throughout the trip, providing us with accommodation in best hotels of Tashkent Samarkent and Bukhara, taking us to various restaurants for delicious meals and taking us to various mosques mausoleums and museums of great historical background. He also took us to various bazaars for shopping. All group members were very nice and pleasant people and we all got along very well with each other. Uzbekistan is a beautiful country and is worth visiting again through Halal Travel Guide.

I was looking to connect with like minded muslim women and HTG provided just what I needed. Even though I have been lucky enough to see some amazing places (Alhumdulillah) Cappadocia was such a unique experience. I met other muslim women with similar experiences to myself and this was heartwarming.
The trip was very well organised and I would definitely recommend HTG to those who want to travel but do not feel comfortable travelling alone.
I love that Soumaya works with local guides and makes the trip educational. The itinerary was full of activities but there was also free time, which for me was important as it gave me time to pause and reflect on the experience.
If you are thinking about booking a trip with HTG....do it...you will not regret it!

Absolutely fabulous!

Every detail on these trips is hand crafted and well thought through by Soumaya and her team. I’ve been on the journey from the start and would not hesitate to travel again with Halal Travel Guide.

HTG is a true gem in the world of travel experiences. This exceptional company, led by a passionate young female entrepreneur, sets itself apart by crafting journeys that are nothing short of extraordinary.

What truly stands out about Halal Travel Guide is their unwavering commitment to creating authentic, handcrafted trips. Each adventure they curate is a masterpiece, designed with meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the unique needs and preferences of her clientele.

One of the company's most commendable aspects is its dedication to supporting local tourism. Halal Travel Guide actively seeks out and promotes destinations and experiences that allow travelers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of local cultures.

HTG prioritize working with local businesses and communities, ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism reach the heart of the destinations visited.

As a traveler, you can trust that Halal Travel Guide will go above and beyond to ensure your journey is not only halal-friendly but also culturally enriching and socially responsible. With them, you're not just a tourist; you're a global citizen, making a positive impact on the places you explore.

From the moment you embark on a Halal Travel Guide trop, you'll be enchanted by the carefully curated itineraries, personalized service, and the genuine passion that radiates from every member of their team. HTG is a beacon of excellence in the travel industry, and it's paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable approach to exploring our world.

In conclusion, HTG is more than just a travel company; it's a promise of unforgettable experiences, ethical tourism, and the chance to let meet other great people! . When you choose Halal Travel Guide, you're choosing a journey that will not only leave you with cherished memories but also make a positive impact on the destinations you visit. It's a choice you'll be proud to make, time and time again.

Thank you to all team members at HTG and looking forward to booking my next trip with you already!

I went on the Chasing Waterfalls trip to Bosnia in early August 2023.
I'm so glad I went with HTG, as I would have missed seeing and doing so much if I had planned my trip.

The trip was well-organised with lots to do!
We spent the right amount of time at each destination; there was a good balance between guided tours and being able to do things on your own.

My only criticism is regarding the day we took the train from Mostar to Sarajevo - Nothing wrong with the Journey; it was picturesque- 110% worth it!
Once we reached Sarajevo, we got on the coach and went to the old town to start our tour. The group could have done with a 30-minute loo/refreshment break before the tour began.
The tour guide was excellent and informative - he was also very accommodating and could sense that we needed a refreshment break; however, this cut down our tour time as we had to get to lunch.

Overall, I had a fantastic time and met many like-minded sisters!
My trip with HTG will always be Cherished <3

Where to start and what to say! Uzbekistan is an absolutely stunning country which is so underrated from Tashkent to khiva to Bukhara and Samarkand to name a few….. to our wonderful guide who was incredibly thoughtful, humorous and knowledgeable along with having the patience with us, from meeting more wonderful ladies on this trip, I can’t wait to come back. Again if your thinking about visiting Uzbekistan do the 10 days it’s highly worth it and you won’t regret it.

5 starsss…Great hosts wonderful guides the best short vacation I had …looking foward to more adventures with the crew of halal travel guide

Greatly enjoyed my tour in Bosnia.
The communication, brochures, information prior was detailed and timely.
The tour was wonderfully organised as was the tour guide.
I had a magical time and am hoping to book something in 2024!

This was our first time with HTG and we went to Uzbekistan 7day trip and It was an amazing experience over all . Few things were not our fav like a day for chorsu bazar and riding local metro or a day for mountains, it was in my opinion not the best use of our limited time and could have easily been omitted from the itinerary . Besides that the rest of the trip to Bokhara and Samarakand was just so amazing. Our main guide Homayoun was phenomenal and the other local guides were good as well.
Soumaya was very thorough and was great at communicating with any questions or concerns we had .
Thank you HTG for a wonderful experience!