Testimonials

Here is what a few of our travelers had to say about our Jewish heritage tours:

My 2023 trip to Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Greece exceeded my expectations. It was intelligently and sensitively organized, and we were exposed to history, sites, customs of the past, and the functioning communities of today. The guides, children of survivors, were passionate in communicating with us. Hotels were top notch in terms of comfort and location. Meals were an outstanding culinary experience supervised by Joseph. The overall success of this group can be attributed to Joseph, whose knowledge is immense, and his sensitivity to group dynamics and connections to the individual were remarkable. Irit Bloomgarden, Suffern, NY; Sephardic Balkans 2023

Joseph led us on a thoroughly enjoyable, informative, and richly rewarding journey through historical and spiritual sites in Bulgaria, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Thessaloniki in Greece.
From the Tomb of Philip of Macedon, to Sephardic communities in Bulgaria and Greece, and monuments to members of the Righteous Among the Nations, our trip was enlightening and inspiring. We had a terrific time.
Bob R. and Nancy H., Silver Spring, MD; Sephardic Balkans 2016; Western Balkans 2018; Jewish Romania & Serbia 2022

The Sephardic Balkans tour led by Joseph Benatov is an incredible and unforgettable experience. It presents Jewish and general history, geography, culture, and gastronomy in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and northern Greece. One learns what was and what is in a part of the world that is both familiar and exotic.  The trip is immeasurably enhanced by its leader, Joseph Benatov, who is extraordinarily knowledgeable and caring for each participant.
Ann K. and Joseph L., Wynnewood, PA; Sephardic Balkans 2015

We came back from our Sephardic Balkans trip with all hopes and expectations met and then some.  The trip was meticulously prepared, and it unfolded without a glitch or a wrinkle.  Joseph was the most informative, patient and attentive of guides, and accommodations, meals, local guides, the bus driver, the itinerary itself . . . all were completely excellent.  Probably most memorable of all was the time spent with local Jewish groups in Sofia and Thessaloniki – communal meals with the direct descendants of the Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492, in whose collective memory the expulsion still seems completely fresh and vivid.  Their history (up through the Second World War and the Communist years) turned out to be so interesting and moving, and they were so warm and welcoming – these were encounters we will never forget.
Stephen L. and Carol S., Swarthmore, PA; Sephardic Balkans 2014

Maybe the best trip I ever took!
Janet A., St. Petersburg, FL; Sephardic Balkans 2018