As anyone who has explored a new destination can attest, a tour guide can make or break the experience.

The best guides can help you connect with a new place, perhaps immersing you in unique activities or sights, or using their insider knowledge to help you escape the crowds, or even introducing you to locals to create a more meaningful visit.

One Canada-based private tour provider understands that.

Established 20 years ago, ToursByLocals has grown into a thriving online marketplace that allows travelers to find and book one-of-a-kind, curated experiences with local guides across 176 countries.

It was an idea dreamed up by co-founders Paul Melhus and Dave Vincent whose own vacation in China was transformed by two local women who offered to help the duo explore the Great Wall and learn more about its history. That interaction set Melhus and Vincent on a mission to help other travelers have once-in-a-lifetime experiences and make meaningful connections.

Now in 2025, for the first time, ToursByLocals has created the Golden Guide awards, a new effort to recognize 20 of the planet’s standout guides.

The individuals receiving awards were selected from a network of 5,000-plus guides who work with ToursByLocals. Recipients were chosen because they exemplify the qualities that inspired ToursByLocals: deeply local expertise, personalized service, and community-rooted travel experiences that travelers can’t find anywhere else.

“We started the Golden Guide awards to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary work that local guides do every single day,” Lisa Chen, CEO of ToursByLocals, told TravelPulse. “We’ve always held our guides to an incredibly high standard — and time and again, they not only meet but consistently surpass it.”

“Local guides are the beating heart of travel,” adds Chen. “They don’t just show you a place, they bring it to life for visitors. Through their lived experience, deep knowledge and personal stories, they create connections that go far beyond the guidebook.”

The newly announced awards are the company’s way of formally recognizing that excellence.

“These guides are memory-makers, and they deserve to be celebrated,” says Chen.

Read on for details about some of the top, most beloved tour guides around the world.

2025 Golden Guide winners

The Golden Guide awards recognizes nearly two dozen winners globally. Here’s a snapshot this year’s recipients.

The Dream Tour Award >> The most “wish-listed” tour on the ToursByLocal platform, this Dream Tour award went to Daisuke Kiguchi Winfield from the in-demand city of Kyoto, Japan.

Winfield offers a full-day experience exploring Kyoto, balancing must-see traditional moments with off-the-beaten-path charm and local flavor.

Ultimate Pathfinder >> With nearly 500 tours delivered in the past two years, Pepe Alonso of Madrid is the guide you’ll want to seek out when visiting Spain.Alonso earned the Ultimate Pathfinder award for being ToursByLocals’ busiest and most booked guide worldwide. Let that sink in: the most booked tour guide worldwide.

One traveler described Alonso as “an exceptional tour guide who made history come alive through his deep knowledge, passion, and incredible storytelling.”

“He’s a brilliant example of how our guides don’t just share facts, but perspective, emotion and meaning,” adds Chen.

Ship to Shore Award >> Is a cruise in your future? Then you’ll want to take note of this award-winner. Created to honor the most-booked shore excursion globally, Eynep Zerkan is the recipient of the Ship to Shore award for her decade-long dedication to welcoming cruise travelers to the ancient wonders of Ephesus, Turkey.

Personal Touch Award >> Budapest guide Beata Katona is the recipient of the Personal Touch award for creating a deeply meaningful custom experience. Katona went above and beyond to reconnect travelers with their family’s heritage in a remote Hungarian village.

Travel Advisers’ Pick >> Selected from industry nominations, Esther Ranis, in Aruba, stood out for her exceptional attention to detail and joyful delivery of high-end, flexible experiences for travel advisers and their clients.

Traveler’s Choice >> An award based entirely on the direct nominations of travelers, Marta Corte Real, in Lisbon, Portugal, has consistently received glowing praise for her warmth, helpfulness, and expert guiding.

“With dozens of nominations from travelers who still keep in touch with her post-tour, she’s a great example of how guides form lasting relationships with the people they take on tour,” says Chen. “It’s far more than a half-day transactional relationship; a tour is often the start of a years-long friendship.”

Corte Real also celebrated her 1,000th tour with ToursByLocals this month.

Lifetime Achievement Award >> With 1,720 tours delivered since joining the platform in 2012, Dino Margiota of Rome has made an indelible mark. Travelers routinely describe his tours as “outstanding” and “unforgettable” and praise him as the reason they’re now hooked on using a private guide wherever they travel.

“Since 2012, he’s led over 1,700 private tours — more than any other guide on our platform,” says Chen. “ Dino embodies what makes ToursByLocals special: a deep love for place, unmatched dedication and the ability to make every traveler feel like a VIP. His legacy is one of lasting impact and genuine connection, the very heart of what great guiding is all about.”

For the full list of winners, visit www.toursbylocals.com/golden-guide-awards-2025.

Distributed by Tribune News Service.