I had 2 weeks to agree an itinerary and book my travel as it was all last minute when I knew I had the time to travel. Alibabatrek was the most responsive, flexible and cost effective of the four agents I contacted. Within a few days, we agreed an itinerary based on my requirements and their advice on possibilities and practicality. They also convinced me to apply for my visa ahead of time to give me added comfort on arrival, even though I could do it on arrival, and made all of the arrangements for me. They answered all of my questions promptly and made sure I felt comfortable and safe with the arrangements they were making down to the details of the exact hotel selections. As a single female traveller my safety and compliance with the laws of the country were my highest priority given what is portrayed in the media. I must say I had a very different experience, but I was hopeful I would as I had travelled to other countries with poor media image and found them to be hugely different to what was portrayed.

My guides were all exceptional. They were welcoming, had a wealth of knowledge and passion to share their country with me. They did not just provide positive spins, but were honest and open about both the great and the not so great.

This was more than just a tour. I was afforded the opportunity to try as much of the local food as I liked and experience much of the local life throughout my journey. This included walking and taking public transport with my guides to get the full experience of how people live. Please note, I was not forced to do any of this... they gave me the options and stated it was "as you wish".

They were attentive throughout, checking that I was happy and addressing any issues as they arose. In my opinion, the only real issue I had was a hotel reservation where the requested room type was not what was booked by the hotel. As a single female traveller in a country where women are expected to be covered up, the last thing I wanted was a room without its own toilet and shower. The hotel however booked the wrong room in error and initially stated upon my arrival that they had no other rooms. Alibabatrek dealt with the issue promtly until it was resolved and I got a proper room. They were willing to change hotels if I could not get the required room. I was very impressed with the service. We had other things come up along the way that were outside of their control, but they dealt with them seamlessly. My guide on the road trip, which was the majority of my journey, was exceptional at driving and dealing with all of the crazy encounters we had with other drivers, pedestrians and situations. We even had to deal with a strike that left gas stations with no fuel at the pumps while driving in what for me was the desert. At no time did I feel unsafe. Any decent service provider can deliver what was agreed when there are no issues. However the distinction between that and a really good service provider is their ability to quickly manage and resolve issues as they arise. Alibabatrek rose to each challenge.

I had an amazing first visit to Iran thanks to Alibabatrek and I know it was down to their impeccable service. I could post a million pretty pictures ( I posted quite a few on my instagram suz.lb1), but lets face facts, it is a beautiful country with lovely people and much to offer. You can find pretty pictures online that you can stay at home and watch. As an avid traveller of now 66 countries, what makes the difference is your experience of the people, the culture and the environment. Alibabtrek really brings that to life like no other.

My friend, who has lived in Iran for 13 years now, was in awe at the high level of customer service I received and commented on the fact that she had not experienced or heard of such a high level of service from a tour company in Iran before. She questioned me daily to ensure I was ok.

I can only recommend using Alibabatrek to anyone wanting to have a true Iranian experience customised to their travel needs and taste.