What a marvelous experience! My husband and I decided on a trip to Cuba with very little notice. Distant Horizons (we worked with Melissa Costa) worked hard to get everything pulled together quickly and perfectly. Almost instantly, we had flights, a great hotel, and a four-day itinerary of things that interested us, and it wasn't as expensive we thought it would be. Once there, we were met by our guide, Roly, who became a trusted friend. He was our source of guidance, knowledge, advice, humor and inexhaustible serenity. As US citizens, this was an educational trip through the people-to-people program. We were told that some of the scheduled interactions might be canceled or changed, but none were. We met a literacy worker from the early days of the revolution, an architect involved in Havana's current restoration work, a former government official, an art museum curator, a young up-and-coming filmmaker, and a Santeria expert / practitioner. They all shared their work through films or tours, and every single one of them was fascinating. We also got to visit Hemingway's home, a thriving neighborhood art installation (Fusterland), and a high-energy rehearsal at a professional dance company. All in four days! Every event felt like it would have been the high point of any other vacation. Distant Horizons has put together an all-star team of travel experiences in Cuba. It sounds like education overload, but it wasn't. We ended up loving that the schedule was full, since no interaction dragged on. And there was still plenty of time for unwinding, dining and a visit to the hotel pool. We were warned not to expect too much in the way of food or accommodations, but we were quite happy on both counts. The hotel (Iberostar Parque Centrale) had a few small issues (the a/c dripped and the internet was spotty), but it was comfortable, quiet, had drinkable tap water, a mini-fridge, a great breakfast buffet, and quicker room service than I've seen anywhere else recently. The food was excellent for the whole trip - no meal let us down and several were world-class. We're just now learning that Distant Horizons serves other destinations. Our experience in Cuba was so positive, we're going to look into where else we can go with them! read more

We used Distant Horizons for our "Person-to-Person" trip to Cuba in January 2014. Although the trip was under a Harvard Alumni license from the State Department, Distrant Horizons was instrumental in planning all aspects of the trim and then making sure that it happened as intended and promised. The entire Distant Horizons team did a stellar job in every respect. From the time we touched ground in Holguin until we went through security in Havana, Julie Gilders, Distant Horizons' tour manager, was making sure everything went perfectly. This UK native has spent the last couple of years in Cuba and knows the country and its people extraordinarily well. When schedules slipped or circumstances changes, she was invariably on top of everything and made prompt, effective adjustments. Our check-ins and departures at hotels were exceptionally smooth and hassle free. Julie kept us supplied with all necessities particularly bottled water, which was occasionally hard to find in Cuba. Because my wife and I have some dietary restrictions, Julie was on top of the menu at every stop to make sure we were fully accommodated. Julie also worked seamlessly with our Havana Tours guide, Nelson Ramos. They have worked together frequently, and it showed in their flawless coordination. Julie was a major factor in making our Cuba trip one of our best. This has been my only experience with group travel and with Distant Horizons, but I'm certainly a fan of their work in this instance. Our group was relatively small (25) so we all got personal attention. While I still prefer traveling on our own, there were certainly advantages to being in the Distant Horizons group since I really didn't have to worry about any of the details that normally nag us on every trip. I can heartily recommend Distant Horizons, at least based on my experience with Julie Gilders in Cuba. read more

The crew at Distant Horizons set up a 2 week trip taking us through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and it was wonderful! We had local guides that were so knowledgeable and friendly, excellent drivers to ferry us around, amazing food and some of the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen! From the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, with it's gleaming new towers, wide lanes and undulating river to the old capital of Almaty with its apple trees and museums. We visited local bazaars, a gorgeous ski resort, a fascinating museum of musical instruments, the worlds highest open air ice skating rink (Almaty is vying for a Winter Olympics!) and big beautiful mosques! then we flew to Uzbekistan to visit more silk road cities, one was just more amazing than the last. We visited the bustling big city of Tashkent (one of the oldest cities on the Great Silk Road between China and Europe!). Then on to Samarkand to admire the ancient architecture of the Registan with its beautiful mosaics and tile work, local bazaar for arts and crafts, an ancient observatory and the amazing Shah-i-Zinda tomb complex that houses some of the most amazing tile work I have ever seen! Next was Bukhara with its lovely minarets and old mosques, madrassas, bazaars and caravanserais! We even took advantage of a local sauna for a little down time! Then on to what I think is my favorite - Khiva! Far out in the desert, you really fell like you are on the ancient silk road and the old town is wo well preserved/renovated! It's stunning, A big wall and gates surround the old town, there are mosques and madrassas and minarets and mausoleums and museums are in a compact, easily walkable area dotted with craft stalls and restaurants and cafes. It was just so atmospheric! Such a wonderful trip - Thank you Distant Horizons! read more

Both my husband and I are still on a high from a Distant Horizon trip to Iran and it has been almost two months. We are still writing up our notes, going through our pictures and reminding each other of little things that happened that made the trip so wonderful and meaningful. As my husband says, this is the most wonderful trip we have ever taken by "times two." First of all, our national guide, Jalil, was wonderful. He was so knowledgeable on the history, culture, art, literature, religion and music of Iran that we would have missed out on much of what a country like Iran had to offer without him. His enthusiasm for what his country had to offer was infectious. He was not afraid to request entrance for us to spontaneous activities. His understanding of the culture and his jokes left a lasting impression. He also brought in other local guides who helped us to understand the history, art and culture. I cannot imagine anyone else being our guide. Our local guide, Ali was wonderful in Mashhad and his chanting of the poetry at Ferdowsi's tomb was memorable. The religious insights were critical in helping us appreciate the culture. In Isfahan, the education and knowledge of our local guide, Ehsan, gave us a glimpse into the vibrant art of the Persian Culture. This was for us, a trip of a lifetime and it was one that we will never forget. Forgot to mention ... Julie Scott of the Distant Horizons Long Beach office was exceptionally helpful with questions and with the many details of our trip preparation. read more

I took my 2nd 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. read more

In February 2014 we took a People to People trip to Cuba with Distant Horizons. Every aspect of our trip was top rate. In the planning stages, Janet and her staff went above and beyond to provide answers to all of our questions and accommodate our needs. Brochures, information packets and documentation all arrived on time and had our group well prepared. Once in Cuba the Distant Horizon representative Patricia and the local guide Osmin were pleasant and capable in every way. The DH connections to professors, artists, dancers, musicians and locals gave us access to in-depth conversations and wonderful food! We also had Dr. Joe Scarpaci from the Cuban Center for Culture and Economy to guide us on architectural tours of Havana. Accommodations were gorgeous and much more than expected. All in all it was a wonderful week and I came home with new knowledge and appreciation for what's going on with our Cuban neighbor. I believe it will all change once US-Cuban relations open up. It was good to see the "before". And you can feel confident that you'll really see it in a great way with Janet Mann and Distant Horizons. And no, I'm not a relative, just a satisfied customer! read more

I just returned from a People to People tour of Cuba handled by Distant Horizons. As a travel professional for over 30 years, I found Cuba unlike any other destination I had ever handled. Janet Moore and her staff hand held me through the process of Cuba group travel with the greatest professionalism and courtesy possible. The tours, the visits, the hotels and the meals were all exceptional. When the inevitable change happened, they were quick to react and to make sure that nothing was left out of the tour. Even when we had a minor bus malfunction, their staff, particularly Nelson Ramos, reacted more quickly than if we had been in England or France. We were wined and dined and soon on our way. We also had the good fortune to have Joe Scarpaci along with us. His knowledge and love of Cuba is enormous. The only glitches we had in any of the process were out of Distant Horizons control, yet they managed to turn lemons into lemonade every time. I would recommend Distant Horizons for anyone thinking of going to Cuba. I know that I will be using them again. read more

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 and on several occasions a new country she wants to add to her list of destinations. 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! read more

I chose Distant Horizons over another company for my institution's People-to People cultural exchange. The group enjoyed a well-planned itinerary full of meaningful interactions with artists, musicians, dancers, community and business leaders and experts. We were extremely impressed with Nelson and Mike, our group leaders. They were able to bring Cuba to life through their passion and knowledge of the current state of affairs and its people. The two emergencies that happened within the group were handled professionally and satisfactorily by Distant Horizons. We had been adequately prepared for the accommodations and Cuban diet. There have been no complaints from the group, only praise! I would highly recommend Janet and her team of experts to lead a group through the fascinating country of Cuba. Thank you Janet and Melissa for a job well done! read more

My husband and I took a Distant Horizons' trip to Iran this Spring and had a wonderful time. We are experienced travelers with a special interest in Asia who often travel on our own but have also traveled with Distant Horizons previously to places like Central Asia, Eastern India and various areas in China. We particularly enjoyed the Iran trip because we had an outstanding guide, Mojgan Attarzadeh, who not only worked tirelessly to make our trip run as smoothly as possible but also gave us a wealth of interesting information about each of the many places we visited. Our trip scholar, Dr. Keelan Overton, was also very impressive. Her lectures were excellent, and her on-site explanations of various aspects of Iranian art (calligraphy, ceramics, architecture, painting, etc.) were extremely helpful. This was a terrific trip! read more

I recently returned from a Distant Horizons organized trip to Iran. The itinerary was superb and the Iranian guide( who accompanied us throughout) was outstanding. Accommodations ranged from satisfactory to outstanding. The coaches provided were comfortable and air-conditioned. Frequent "comfort stops" were offered. This made travel on longer distances very manageable. Distant Horizons has extensive experience in Iran travel. They also provided arrangements in 2000 when I made a private journey there. I recommend them for persons interested in traveling to Iran. read more