Distant Horizons - Long Beach, California

Alexandra Christy

Distant-Horizons (D-H) was the tour operator for the trip to Morocco that I took in September 2023 hosted by The Nation magazine. I had never been on a tour, but I took a risk because the itinerary was so incredibly interesting and diverse. I was not disappointed! D-H had found an extraordinarily knowledgeable Moroccan tour guide who, along with D-H and Nation staff, shepherded us through cities, medinas, fabulous lodgings, great food and fascinating speakers and artists. Our trip came only a few days after the earthquake and D-H made sure to reach out to all of us to answer any questions and quell any concerns. They really are top-flight and I recommend them whole heartedly.

Carol Mermey

The Nation South Africa Tour oranized by Distant Horizons was a gem. Many thanks to the outstanding, unbeatable, super South African guide, Wayne Milner, who kept us on track on the Nation/DH tour and added so many extras - like suggestions for local music venues, restaurants, where to get things fixed, deep historical and cultural knowledge, retrieving lost items, and fixing glitches so we never even knew about them. The Nation itinerary included several meetings with South African journalists, activists, and even Albie Sachs - they made the trip unique and outstanding.

Debora Meltz

I have now been on three Distant Horizons trips customized for Peters Valley School of Craft in Layton NJ. .

The first, in 2019, was to Morocco, and it was absolutely perfect. The hotels were lovely, intimate and interesting, and the food was outstanding. I had been to Morocco many years ago, but this trip was remarkable. It was a truly joyous journey! We covered a lot of ground and learned a great deal, visiting craft workshops and actually got to participate in some, which was interesting, fun and engendered a lot of laughter.

The second trip was to Japan and focused on craft workshops and meeting the artisans. That too was wonderful. I had been in Japan on a three-week trip several years ago and it was unforgettable, but this visit was a different experience entirely.

This year’s visit to Mexico was amazing. I have been to Mexico many times as I have friends who live there, and have traveled extensively in the country, but I had not been to Mexico City or Oaxaca in at least twenty-five years. Getting to see the workshops and meet the craftspeople – and shop! - was exciting. The museums were spectacular! Many of the places we visited were not there two-plus decades years ago.

In all of the trips our guides were excellent. Having traveled extensively, I know what good guides are, and these were outstanding. They were extremely knowledgeable, interesting, friendly, considerate, kind, patient and helpful.

I loved all my experiences on these trips and returned home re-energized and inspired. I look forward to more!

Debora Meltz

Peggy Curchack

We have taken many group trips; The Nation Magazine’s trip “Native American Voices,” managed by Janet Moore, founder of Distant Horizons, was outstanding in every regard. The tour announcement promised encounters with leaders and members of Native American communities to whom we otherwise would not have access. We were privileged to have two tribal members accompany us throughout the trip, and had the opportunity to visit four reservations to meet with and ask questions of world-renowned thought leaders, non-profit directors and advocates, artists, musicians, tribal council members, tribal court justices, and members of the communities we visited. We came away with a much more profound appreciation for hardships, challenges, and victories that these vibrant communities have achieved. Accommodations were excellent, food choices allowed for a range of dietary needs and restrictions, the bus was large enough for our group of 20 to spread out comfortably, and included all sorts of snacks and plenty of water. But one doesn’t take this trip for the food or the bus. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to have Janet’s wise and adept leadership on this exceptional trip.
Mark and Peggy Curchack

Janice Solek-Tefft

Janet Moore is absolutely the best organizer and leader of the Nation tour called Native American Voices. Every aspect of this experience was above and beyond our expectations! The places, restaurants, hotels and especially the speakers and each activity were superb! We will definitely travel with Distant Horizons again.

Susan Simmons

I gained a true respect for Janet Moore and Distant Horizons when I participated in their group tour to Saudi Arabia last year. When it was time to take our long-awaited, first-time trip to Morocco, I knew just who to call.

Janet is a true artist in the design of the itinerary. And, the amount of in-person research she devotes to her recommendations is evident.

Of course, we toured all of the normal tourist places: Rick's Cafe in Casablanca, the medinas in Tangiers, Fez and Marrakech. But, how many first-time visitors to Morocco get to have a nomadic tribe bake bread for them in their clay oven, tour through their home and get served tea. We had a private tour of a charitable veterinary clinic in Fez, founded in 1929, which treats donkeys and mules for free. We climbed the lighthouse on the promontory where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean and learned dances with tribesmen.

Firsthand knowledge, creativity and attention to detail are the hallmarks of Distant Horizons. If you want the best guides and the sites most other folks don't see, talk to Janet. You'll be amazed.

Patricia Dinner

In November 2023, I had the privilege of going on a week-long trip entitled "US Civil Rights: On the Road to Freedom," led by Janet Moore of Distant Horizons. The tour was meticulously organized and offered unparalleled access to knowledgeable guide, tours, museums, restaurants, etc. Janet's strong connections with individuals who lived through the Civil Rights era and those still navigating their ongoing struggles today, enriched our journey with firsthand accounts and deep understanding.

Before our journey commenced, we received a detailed itinerary along with excellent reading resources and other essential travel information. Her thoughtful preparation significantly eased our travels from Jackson to Little Rock, Memphis, Birmingham, and Montgomery. Any obstacles we encountered along the way, though few, were deftly handled by Janet. Despite the challenges of spending long hours on the bus and frequent hotel check-ins (we stayed at five different hotels in the span of a week), Janet's mastery made the journey manageable and enjoyable and fun!

Janet’s strong personal connections were, for me, a highlight of the trip. Sylvester Hoover, our driver and extraordinary guide, made the history come alive. The expertise, organizational prowess, responsiveness, and clear communication fostered a comfortable, transparent, and engaging experience. We were exposed to the bleak history of the slave and civil rights eras and also culturally through music, art, and food.

Michele Gpsf

I just came back from a trip to the Dakotas and Colorado, organized by the Nation magazine listening and interacting with Lakota and Ute people. It was a discovery for me. The tour director, Janet Moore was gracious and efficient, and our guide Dakota was engaging and informative.