Testimonials
“We took The Nation magazine’s civil rights tour, arranged by Distant Horizons. Well thought out and well organized. We got to meet and talk to folks that were on the front lines of the Movement. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
“The Civil Rights Tour in February 2023 was astounding for several reasons: the quality of the relationships with survivors that Janet, our tour leader, had built over decades such that our group was welcomed with a hug at almost every stop. Next, her leadership style = servant leadership = albeit with a firm grip of our dynamics and resilient response when circumstances changed in ways she couldn’t have foreseen: at one museum where we had been booked to eat in the cafeteria, the lines were long, and Janet moved 26 of us to a new lunch spot so quickly that we were surprised. She and her partner for this trip, Robin Perry, are deeply informed but humble in seeking input from the group. I was also delighted that we supported minority-owned businesses whenever possible. Distant Horizons support staff were competent and responsive. Whenever Possible I will travel with them and advise my friends to do likewise.”
“I was lucky enough to go on a Distant Horizons February 2023 civil rights tour organized in conjunction with the Nation magazine. The trip was a week long journey that started in Jackson Miss, and moved on to Little Rock, Memphis, Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery. I really cannot say enough good things about this trip. It was extremely well planned, well organized and educational. Janet Moore from Distant Horizons accompanied us on the trip and she could not have been more helpful. The trip was jampacked with excellent and memorable visits. It is a trip I will always remember. I offer the highest possible recommendation.”
“We cannot say enough about the bespoke itinerary Distant Horizons put together for six of us when we traveled to India recently. We particularly appreciated their ability to understand when you need a good hotel for comfort to recover from jet lag or how important it is to stay in smaller, interesting places to absorb the feel of the country. The guides they use are top notch, full of personality and knowledgeable. While they schedule visits to the important sites, they also throw in some edgy things, like visits to an artist’s studio or a jeep safari to tiny craft villages outside Jodphur. They know their food, too, recommending charming restaurants that were safe for travelers. The shops they recommend are first quality. Their tours never seem “canned.” You come home enriched and ready for the next one. They are smart, savvy and fun to work with. As a former Pan Am’er who has traveled the world, I’m so glad we have found Distant Horizons!”
“Distant Horizons led by Janet Moore organized the Nations Civil Rights tour that I took this month. The entire experience exceeded my expectations. I know I have high standards (one might say am picky) but everything was wonderful.
Problems were taken care of before they were out of hand and changes made so they wouldn’t happen again (slow breakfast service one morning, the next morning the hotel’s leadership was supporting the understaffed dining room).
We met the icons of the Civil Rights movement who knew Janet personally, we ate at fun, yummy and funky places one would never find on their own.
Thanks Janet, her team at Distant Horizons and the Nation Travels for an absolutely incredible experience.”
“Distant Horizons guided the most amazing Civil Rights Tour ever. A carefully curated trip through Mississippi, Little Rock, Memphis, and Alabama provided thoughtful, in-depth, and compelling review of the history and experience of the people of this area and beyond. A definite must experience for anyone who is interested in and cares about the full fabric of the United States.”
“I recently returned from Saudi Arabia on a trip that Distant Horizons organized. It was an incredible experience from beginning to end. The hotels and the restaurants were wonderful choices but what made the trip so special was the itinerary Distant Horizons designed and the access to community and small business leaders, historians, Saudi & American government officials, independent journalists, and others. We experienced the astounding beauty of Al-Ula, the dramatic landscape of Asir province, the urban centers of Jeddah and Riyadh and ended with an incredible private visit at ARAMCO in Dammam. My preconceived beliefs about this country were swept away by this trip. I have unequivocally never felt so welcomed by people and I am grateful to Distant Horizons for providing such a comfortable, well designed and well managed program. This is the 4th trip I have taken with Distant Horizons, and I highly recommend them to other travelers.”
“Distant Horizons planned a fabulous 2-week trip for our group of 8 women. We stayed in charming, comfortable riads, had amazing meals, and saw incredible sights with the full attention of Jalil, the best guide ever.”
“The folks at Distant Horizons set up an epic two week trip for my family and I through Malta and Sicily. Everything was perfect! the drivers, the guides, the hotels, the sights / itinerary, all top notch! We so thoroughly enjoyed our trip I will most definitely book through them again!”
“Janet and Julie perfectly planned our trip to Prague, Budapest and Poland. Every detail was thought out from excursions to the personable and reliable tour guides and finally the impeccable boutique hotels and first class transportation in each city. We didn’t need to worry about anything as each detail was handled so we are fully able to enjoy our trip. Highly recommend Distant Horizons.”
“The Distant Horizons trip provides a glorious and eclectic adventure to even the most seasoned traveler. The guides, the sights, the accommodations all combined to offer a rich cultural experience. We did indeed enter the soul of Russia on this trip.”
“We just returned from a wonderful private trip to Japan arranged through Distant Horizons. We worked with Julie to develop an itinerary that suited our particular interests and style of travel. Distant Horizons did a great job of planning for us. Everything was very clear and meticulously described in our itinerary, even down to diagrams of the trains stations to aid us in changing trains during travel between cities. It is hard to say what we liked best, but the Beniya Mukaya (A Japanese onsen) was definitely a special place. All of the planned activities were especially good (the tea ceremony in Tokyo, making Washi paper, the cooking class in Kyoto and the visit to the knife maker in Osaka). I was glad that we had taken Julie’s suggestions on all of those. We will not hesitate to use Distant Horizons again for future travels and we recommend them highly.”
“The cars were perfect for all of us and the guides were knowledgeable and helpful. Our sightseeing made the trip!
I feel that you and the company put together a perfect itinerary [to India] and a trip I will long remember with joy.”
“We had a fantastic time in India, and the trip you planned for us was wonderful! The guides were all great, our Delhi driver Shanti was irreplaceable, all logistics worked smoothly, and the hotels were lovely. I would say that the temples at Khajuraho, the Taj Mahal, and Elephanta Island were my favorite things. Watching the faithful in action in Varanasi was amazing! Thanks again for all your help. We can’t wait for our next adventure, and when we are ready to plan, we’ll be back in touch with you.”
“Many of us wept when we entered the first garden. No photo can capture spiritual beauty. This was a dream trip for me. Many times we are disappointed when we look forward to something. You helped me have a trip that was in all ways beyond my wildest dreams”
“I just took my second trip with Distant Horizons in 12 months. Last year I went with them to the Himalayas. This year I went to Ethiopia. It was supposed to be a group tour but it ended up being just me. This posed no problem to Distant Horizons. Janet Moore and staff were always available, knowledgeable and proactive. I had the same itinerary (superbly planned out) as if the group was going. Plus I was able to add a post-tour excursion to the Omo Valley. Distant Horizons local partner in Ethiopia was extremely capable and provided amazing on-ground services. Distant Horizons really looks after its clients. It delivers what it promises. I had my own guide, driver and superb vehicle. Distant Horizons often checked in with me to make sure all was going smoothly.
Ethiopia is not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough trip. I so appreciated Janet Moore’s complete honesty with me. They use the absolute best hotels available and I saw this too on my tour to the Himalayas. In Addis, the best hotel meant the Sheraton Luxury Collection property but when the best available was not great, Janet Moore said so upfront.
It was an amazing trip in an amazing country and I am grateful for all the work that Distant Horizons and their local partners did to make this such an extraordinary experience. I look forward to travelling with them again.”
“We have travelled to 125 countries and without doubt Distant Horizons is the best travel company for exploring unique destinations. You can be assured that the trip will be perfectly organized, that their knowledgeable leader will provide a rich context for learning, and that you will return home enriched by the cultural experiences that all Distant Horizons trips provide.”
“I have traveled with Distant Horizons since 1994 starting with the Silk Road in China 1994, Himalayan Kingdoms 1997, Iran in 1997, Saudi Arabia 2000, Indonesia 2006, and Sri Lanka 2011.
Janet Moore is an excellent planner of trips. She personally investigates closely each program they offer. She is meticulous in selecting the most interesting locations of a country and times to go. As an example, in Sri Lanka, she timed our trip to coincide with the fantastic procession of Perahera in Kandy which included some 210 trained elephants covered in precious silk. To climb the Sirigia rock fortress she made sure we attempted the climb in the morning when the 1400 stairs would be in the shade.
Distant Horizons is usually the first travel agency to spot a newly available destination. Our group was the first American group to go to Iran. Iranians were surprised and delighted to see Americans come to their country which had been shunned by the West for 18 years.
I would highly recommend Distant Horizons!”