2013
Founded in 2013 in Washington DC by Rauf Shakir, Anthony Givens, Jose Chavarria, and Claudio Herrera, USA Guided Tours was designed to provide the most engaging and customer-friendly tour experiences in the US.
Award-Winning DC & NYC Tours
At USA Guided Tours, we believe the best way to experience a city is through a personalized, hands-on approach. We offer fun, educational, and award-winning bus, walking, and private tours in Washington DC and New York City—all year round—curated by passionate local experts who know and love the cities they share.
Our expertise extends well beyond sightseeing. We provide reliable executive transportation, delegation logistics, school transportation, and shuttle services for groups seeking safe and seamless travel.
Our mission is simple: deliver exceptional experiences that celebrate the unique character and hidden treasures of the cities we serve—every tour, every transfer, every time.
Our Story
USA Guided Tours was founded in 2013 with a powerful vision: to reinvent the sightseeing experience in Washington DC by offering fully guided, small-group tours that were more personal, curated, and engaging than traditional options. The company started with one vehicle and a commitment to hands-on, high-quality service.
Three partners came together, bringing decades of combined experience across hotel hospitality, tour operations, fleet management, and on-the-ground logistics. Each founder contributed a distinct strength—frontline tour guiding and concierge relationships, transportation logistics and fleet operations, and business development and brand stewardship. This balance allowed the company to grow steadily while maintaining a refined, guest-focused service model.
Over time, the company evolved well beyond sightseeing, responding to growing demand for reliable and professional transportation services. We expanded into executive and delegation transportation—coordinating logistics for high-level visits, international dignitaries, and global brands—and in 2022, broadened our offerings to support educational and community organizations, including school transportation services in Washington DC.
Today, with more than a decade of operational excellence, a 34-vehicle fleet, and a track record serving clients ranging from federal agencies and public school systems to Fortune 100 companies, USA Guided Tours continues to grow—leveraging deep industry experience to support tourism, corporate, educational, and government clients, while never losing sight of our core commitment: delivering exceptional experiences.
Awards & Industry Recognition
Our commitment to quality and excellence has been recognized by industry-leading awards:
Travelers’ Choice Award
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Viator Travel Award
Gold Trusted Service Award
We’re proud members of Destination DC, New York City Tourism + Conventions, the Capital Region Chamber, NYC Association of Hotel Concierges, Washington Area Concierge Association, NCA, and SYTA.
Meet Our Founders
Rauf Shakir — Chief Executive Officer
Rauf is an experienced transportation and hospitality executive with over 20 years of leadership in sales, business development, operations, and customer service. As Founder and CEO, he oversees strategic growth, fleet operations, government contracting, and partner relationships. Under his leadership, USA Guided Tours has expanded into a full-scale transportation solutions provider supporting federal agencies, school systems, corporate clients, and international delegations—while maintaining the company’s award-winning tour business.
Rauf’s career began in the hospitality sector, where he developed deep experience in guest services, concierge relations, and client-facing service standards. He advanced through roles in tour operations, sales, and fleet management in Washington DC, strengthening relationships with major hotel networks, embassies, and travel partners. His international experience includes business development leadership in Dubai and project management in Doha, Qatar, where he led partner acquisition and multi-million-dollar operational initiatives.
Expertise: Organizational management, strategic partnerships, customer relationship development, operational scaling, GSA schedule contracting.
Jose Chavarria — Chief Financial Officer
Jose brings more than 20 years of experience in financial management, accounting, and operational leadership. As Co-Founder and CFO, he oversees budgeting, fiscal planning, compliance, reporting, and strategic financial oversight to support company growth and sustainability. He provides executive-level guidance on cost controls, investment decisions, and risk mitigation.
In addition to his leadership at USA Guided Tours, Jose has served as a licensed tax advisor for over two decades, supporting individuals and businesses with tax planning and financial decision-making. Jose is bilingual in English and Spanish and holds an Degree in Accounting from Northern Virginia Community College.
Anthony Givens — Chief Operating Officer
Anthony is an experienced transportation and operations leader with more than 15 years in the tourism and passenger transportation industry. As Co-Owner and COO, he oversees day-to-day operational performance, fleet management, staffing, scheduling, and service quality across multiple metropolitan markets. Anthony is well-versed in DOT compliance requirements, vehicle safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
He gained firsthand experience in passenger service, routing, vehicle inspection, and customer interaction as a bus driver and tour operator before progressing into operational leadership. Anthony continues to drive company growth by strengthening internal systems, optimizing resource coordination, and fostering a high-performance work culture.
With USA Guided Tours, your journey will be not only memorable—but exceptional.
Trusted by
Don’t Just See the Sights. Hear the Stories.
A great tour isn’t about the bus—it’s about the guide. That’s why our local experts ditch the scripts to share the legends and secrets that make the city come alive. Join us for an award-winning journey that feels less like a commute and more like an adventure with a friend!
Ralph was fantastic! He interacted with everyone in a personal way and made the tour great!
We would absolutely recommend this tour. Our tour guide Dre & driver Miss T were amazing. Dre was so knowledgeable, respectful & funny. It was the best part of our time in DC, seeing the city at night was stunning! Would definitely do it again.
Had a fantastic NYC guided tour. Drove past across most landmarks of the city and also stopped over at the major ones. Our tour guide Rachel and the bus driver Jim, both were outstanding. Would surely recommend!
Ralph was fantastic! He interacted with everyone in a personal way and made the tour great!
We would absolutely recommend this tour. Our tour guide Dre & driver Miss T were amazing. Dre was so knowledgeable, respectful & funny. It was the best part of our time in DC, seeing the city at night was stunning! Would definitely do it again.
Had a fantastic NYC guided tour. Drove past across most landmarks of the city and also stopped over at the major ones. Our tour guide Rachel and the bus driver Jim, both were outstanding. Would surely recommend!
Award-Winning Tours
Trusted
Capability Statement
Our Mission
Memorable and Enriching Journeys
Our mission is to deliver exceptional sightseeing experiences that create memorable and enriching journeys, connecting travelers with the authentic vibe, iconic landmarks, and hidden treasures of Washington DC and New York City while helping travelers develop deeper connections to these remarkable destinations.
- At USA Guided Tours, we provide more than just a ride around the city and the occasional factoid. Our tours strive to touch on notable and significant historical landmarks and locations along the way, taking time to elaborate upon the storied history and unpack the rich culture within.
- This is especially impactful for the large portion of our customer base that are tourists, who are visiting Washington DC or New York City for the first time or are unfamiliar with US history.
- Tours build a stronger understanding of America and the principles on which it was created. Our cities are filled with history and stories – sometimes, all that’s necessary to experience them is a helpful guide who is passionate about bringing you along.
- Our wonderfully talented tour guides and the energy they bring everyday translates to our passengers, creating an infectious level of interest and excitement.
Exceptional Guest Experience
One of the ways USA Guided Tours sets itself apart is the incredible diversity of its experiences and guides. Home means something different to everyone – our tour guides are no exception, each with their own stories, experiences, and unique insight to share about the cities they’re passionate about.
- Our public tours are entirely dependent on the individual tour guide, empowering them with the freedom to tailor tours to their audience, entertain passengers, and create a more intimate experience than a set script, routine, or recording would provide.
- Our guides accompany guests for the entirety of the tour, providing live commentary and reactions throughout to make guests feel connected and invested in their experience. They are empowered with a level of creative agency to make each tour enjoyable and memorable. No two tours are the same – each of our experiences is entirely and uniquely individual.
- Our private tours are fully customizable based on the customer or client’s needs, virtually constructing the experience from scratch if it’s necessary to provide a personalized tour. In addition to the customers’ requests, we look at age demographics, interests, and other personal factors to customize the best possible experience for the client.
- Both our private and public tours are often directed or themed with certain ideas in mind, whether it be by design of the client or the tour guide. The variety of tours we offer range anywhere from classic sightseeing routes to major landmarks and attractions to more historically focused tours that highlight the rich history associated with sites outside Washington DC and NYC.
Our History
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Voted TripAdvisor ‘Travelers’ Choice’ Year After Year.
We combine the intimacy of a private guide with the comfort of a luxury fleet to deliver a seamless, all-inclusive journey. Don’t just visit—experience the best with the team that knows it best.
