FAQs

Question
Are Far Horizons tours fully escorted?

Answer
Every Far Horizons tour is escorted throughout by an experienced, qualified tour escort, whose principal role is to ensure the smooth running of the tour and to take care of all the irksome formalities. This includes the porterage of suitcases, checking-in at hotels and airports, handling of border formalities, tipping, reconfirmation of flights, and any of the other inevitable complications which can so frustrate the independent traveller.
 

Question
Do you employ local agents?

Answer
In each country we visit during the course of a Far Horizons tour, we have appointed a local agent, who is responsible for booking our hotels and restaurants, arranging our transportation, selecting the local guides and arranging our cultural events. Many of these agents are close personal friends whom we have known for many years.
 
Question
How many people do you take on a Far Horizons tour?

Answer    
The maximum number we carry on any one tour is 16. We believe this is the ideal number to achieve the high degree of personal attention and to create a special ambience and camaraderie which is the hallmark of Far Horizons.

Question
How long have you been in business?

Answer
Far Horizons was established in 1976, so this is our 31st year of operation
 

Question
What kind of hotels do you stay at?

Answer
It is our policy to use the best available accommodation throughout each stage of every tour.  In large cities we select hotels which offer a special ambiance and a favourable location. In small towns, where there is often very little choice, the best available is sometimes the "only available" and passengers should be aware that we are not always able to maintain fully international standards of accommodation. Wherever possible in these situations we will reserve superior grade rooms. 

Question
What kind of vehicles do you use?

Answer
Wherever possible we provide a full-size air-conditioned bus fitted with reclining seats. With our small groups of 16 passengers (or less), this allows for plenty of space in which to move around, and a window seat for everyone. Similarly where roads are unsuitable for large vehicles we usually provide air-conditioned 4WDs - with a maximum of three passengers in each vehicle - again ensuring a window seat for everyone. 

Question
What standard of accommodation do you provide?

Answer
Where hotels have rooms of varying standards - (i.e. de-luxe, superior, standard) the rooms reserved for our groups are of the highest grade (provided there are a sufficient number of them) The bedrooms we reserve for you are usually double rooms with either twin beds or one large bed, each with a private bathroom. On the very few occasions in out of the way places where private facilities cannot be guaranteed, this fact is made very clear in the text of our brochure.

Question
What happens with early morning arrivals and late night departures?

Answer
Your room is reserved for the full period of our stay. If an overnight flight means that we reach the hotel before the normal check-in time, then we will reserve your room for the previous night to ensure that you have immediate access. Similarly when our scheduled time of departure from the hotel is later than the usual check-out time, we pay for your room to be available until the last moment.

Question
Can I have a single room?

Answer
Yes - at the appropriate supplement Passengers electing to occupy a single room will almost always be provided with a double room for their exclusive use. In a very few hotels, single rooms are sometimes smaller and less well positioned, but as our tours attract a large number of single passengers, we always go to great lengths to ensure that wherever possible all rooms are of a similar high standard.

Question
Can you find someone for me to share with?

Answer
We will endeavour to match single persons wishing to book on a "share-twin" basis. However, such bookings are accepted on the understanding that the single supplement will be payable in the event of our being unable to find a suitable partner. Passengers wishing to book on this basis will be asked to complete a form to assist us in providing a compatible partner. 

Question
Do you include all meals?

Answer
All Far Horizons tours are inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner on each day of the tour.
Breakfast is usually a full self-service buffet [hot and cold dishes]. Occasionally at small hotels off the beaten track only a continental breakfast is provided - but if extras are available, we will pay for them.
Lunch is usually taken at a convenient restaurant en route to our destination, or at an appropriate break in our sightseeing programme. If there is no suitable restaurant en route we will take along a picnic lunch to be enjoyed at a scenic spot along the way.
Dinner is always taken at the restaurant of the hotel at which we are staying (unless we take the opportunity to visit a speciality restaurant). This is important to know because many tour operators will 'bus' their passengers to a local restaurant to save money. We believe that after an exciting day of sightseeing our clients prefer to relax in their hotel room before dinner.

Question
Are drinks included?

Answer
Bottled drinking water is provided at all times throughout the tour. A supply is maintained in the bus in order that passengers can take a bottle to their room on arrival at the destination hotel. In hotels and restaurants, bottles of water are always provided on the table at each meal. Other drinks are at the passenger's own expense ~ except where tea and coffee are included. In a few countries beer and local wines are provided with meals. Throughout the course of the tour, your tour escort will periodically provide table wines with dinner. On our first evening together you are invited to a welcome pre~dinner cocktail party, and on the final evening drinks are provided with our farewell dinner.

Question
How much spending money should I take?

Answer
This is difficult to answer, as everyone has different spending habits. Our tours are fully inclusive of all items - including airport taxes and gratuities, you need only budget for personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls - and, of course, souvenirs. 

Question
What is the average age of your passengers?

Answer
By their very nature Far Horizons tours appeal mainly to the upper age bracket (65 to 80). Our clients are mainly retired or professional people.

Question
Are your journeys tiring?

Answer
We plan each day's itinerary to avoid early morning starts and late arrivals. (unless we have a flight to catch). A typical day will start at 08.30 or 09.00, with frequent stops en route, a break for lunch at midday, and arrival at our destination hotel before 18.00. Several 2-night and occasional 3-night stays are included at selected hotels to offer periods of relaxation and time for shopping and laundry. However it should be borne in mind that the purpose of our tour is to see as much as possible, in the time at our disposal, so if you are looking for relaxing days around the pool, then Far Horizons is not for you!

Question
Do you allow plenty of time for stops en route for sightseeing and photography?

Answer
Yes

Question
Do you accept Credit Cards?

Answer
All major credit are accepted. However we are obliged to make a 3% surcharge.