We believe that our travellers should spend their time on our trips relaxing rather than reaching in to our wallets. For the Classic Series travellers, who want us to make all the choices for them, this means that we include virtually everything in the trip price, from accomodation to gratuitities. For the Exploratory Series traveller, we have fewer inclusions because we know that these travellers prefer to be more involved in choosing how to spend their money, and thus we leave out a few meals as well as the tips for the Horizon guides.

HOTELS: We generally reserve superior rooms with an attached private bathroom in deluxe hotels on the basis of two persons sharing a twin-bedded room. In more remote areas where there are no deluxe hotels, we choose the best available accommodation. Air-conditioning and non-smoking rooms are offered whenever available. Please note that single rooms must be reserved in advance at a supplementary cost, and specific bed types should be requested at time of registration and cannot be guaranteed. Horizon reserves the right to substitute hotels for those named in the brochure when necessary, and we will always attempt to find hotels of the same or better quality (although this can be difficult, since we are usually already staying in the best).

MEALS: We generally provide three meals per day on an à la carte basis or table d’hôte basis, wherever available and practical. We also leave out some dinners and lunchs in order to allow you the opportunity to explore the regional cuisine on your own. Please consult the specific Travel Series and itinerary to determine the number of meals that are included on the trip. In those few places where à la carte  or table d’hôte is not available or practical, our Trip Planners design a set menu from the best of the regional cuisine. Bottled water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, local beer and local wine is included with most meals.

HORIZON GUIDES: We always provide the companionship, knowledge and services of a Horizon guide, since we believe that our guides are instrumental to your enjoyment of our trips. All Classic Series trips have a minimum of 1 Horizon Guide, while all Exploratory Series trips have either 1 or 2 guides depending on the number of travellers (a second guide is usually added when the number of travellers reaches 15). Please note that all By Water trips only have 1 Horizon Guide. In situations where we would otherwise cancel a departure due to insufficient numbers, we will consider converting the trip to a Independant Journey as a service to our travellers. In these cases (mostly on the By Water and By Rail trips), we would remove all of the Horizon components, including the Horizon guide, and allows our travellers to take the trip as private travellers.

TOURS & EVENTS: We include all English-speaking local guides and entrance fees; all private tours, events & tastings; spontaneous on trip surprises and experiences, and anything else that we have organized on your behalf. If you choose to depart from our itinerary in order to pursue your own specific interests, the costs of doing so are not included. On the Exploratory Series, whenever we offer optional activities as part of the itinerary, the cost of these activies is included in the trip price (in other words there are no hidden costs). 

LUGGAGE: We include all transportation and transfer of two normal-size Pullman suitcases except when mandated by charter air carriers or airlines. On some programs baggage may be limited to 20 pounds. Travellers will be responsible for overweight charges imposed by an airline or air charter company.

GRATUITIES: We include all tips to hotel, cruise, train and restaurant staff and local guides and drivers for normal on-tour services. On the Classic Series, the customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to the Horizon Guide is included (our Classic travellers prefer to have everything taken care of), but the gratuity is not included on the Exploratory Series (our Exploratory travellers prefer to decide for themselves how much the guide deserves).

PORT TAXES: All port taxes on cruise portions of itineraries are paid seperately.

TRANSFERS:  We provide for all transfers on trip, including trains, hydrofoils, planes, boats, rickshaws, minvans, jeeps, helicopters, etc.  Four-wheel-drive vehicles may be used in many locations as necessary, especially in Africa and more remote locations. We provide air conditioning whenever available, and bottled water is always on hand.

AIR PACKAGE: We offer an air package from Canadian gateway cities for our Classic Series travellers which includes an airport transfer (upgraded to a private limousine pick-up at home on request), airport check-in assistance, the companionship and services of a Horizon guide, the flight itself, all meals during the transfer, hotel accomodation where relevant on stopovers, and all tips.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

Air transportation to and from the trip (except as part of an air package); individual airport transfers on arrival and departure flights (although these may be requested at an extra cost), airport taxes; passport and visa expenses; laundry, wines, liquor, and all items of a personal nature; expenses of guides, buses or cars for sightseeing not included in the itinerary; excessive baggage charges; health, accident, baggage, and trip cancellation insurance; gratuity for any personal services; and other items not mentioned as being included.