Our Trips
All WorldwideTours
People often ask what separates Far Horizons from other tour companies. With 40 years in the travel business and extensive first-hand knowledge of our destinations, we are able to provide our clients with unparalleled individual attention, starting with the first phone call or email until you return home, a happy and enriched traveler. We carefully select PhD scholars as our study leaders, renowned specialists who will inform, enlighten, entertain and delight. Traveling with a maximum of only 13 others allows us to stay in elegant small hotels and dine on creative cuisine in distinctive restaurants that do not cater to tour groups. For your enjoyment, you can spread out in the buses we use, relish large rooms even if you are a single, and savor close-up attention from our study leaders who are with you from the first day of the tour until the last – 24/7. The yachts and other vessels we charter offer exclusivity and luxury, and we never combine our groups with other organizations. With our 85% return rate, we are proud that our archaeology tours – learning vacations offer a rich educational experience, the camaraderie with fellow travelers who share like interests, and of course, a healthy dose of fun.
‘It’s hard to return to earth after being in heaven with Far Horizons’ – Alberta Chulick
‘Every time I pass a group of people on one of those traditional tours (30-40 people straggling along behind a tour leader who’s so far ahead of them that the leader is holding aloft a little flag and communicating via a microphone), it makes me think of supermarket bread. Mass-produced. Conveyor belts. Completely unmemorable. Far Horizons trips are like artisan bread – small batches, hand-crafted, full of flavor, meant to be savored’. – Tony Navarrete
The following is a comprehensive list of all our upcoming trips. If you are looking for an itinerary that is unique or not listed here, contact us to discuss our custom tour options.
Central Asia Silk Road Tour of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
September 18 – October 3, 2024 | Jenny Rose
‘Silk Road’ – the very phrase conjures up images of camel caravans heavily laden with precious goods, slowly moving along barely-visible tracks through an endless desert. Conquered by names engraved in history books – Alexander the Great, Genghiz Khan,Tamerlane – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are where empires were born.
Iran Tour: Empires of Everlasting Fires
October 5 – 21, 2024 | Jenny Rose
To many, the word “Persia” evokes a distant land remote in time, the home of ancient monuments and striking works of art: carpets, tiles, fine ceramics, miniatures and metal work. Indeed, Iran is a world both ancient and contemporary, linking the heartland of Asia and the cradle of Western civilization, a bridge between East and West.
Italy’s Tuscany & Umbria: Art & Architecture Tour
May 19 – 30, 2024 | William R Cook
The birthplace of the one of the most significant movements in Western Civilization lies in the heart of Italy. It is here that the Renaissance developed and reached its apex. This fascinating period in history represents a movement in which art, architecture, religion and politics come together to create an everlasting cultural legacy. Join only 13 others on this in-depth 12-day exploration of the evolution of art and architecture in Tuscany and Umbria.
Rome and Southern Italy Tour
May 24 – June 3, 2024 | Steven L. Tuck
Travel to Rome and explore the largest archaeological park in the world, before traveling south to see the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum.
Sail the Sapphire Seas of Turkey
April 28 – May 12, 2024 | Jennifer Tobin
Join only eight others on a 15-day odyssey including eight days onboard a private yacht. Explore the dazzling remains of former civilizations, fascinating crusader’s castles, and remote fishing villages. Enjoy the leisure time to hike, swim in the crystal-clear water of the Eastern Mediterranean or simply snooze on deck. And during the voyage, enjoy informal talks on the culture, archaeology, and history of Turkey. Each day presents a new discovery!
Eastern Turkey Tour
May 13 – 28, 2024 | Jennifer Tobin Rugged, beautiful eastern Turkey offers the adventurer a fascinating past and a cornucopia of historical monuments – the Armenian capital of Ani; the stunning tomb of King Antiochus I on the top Nemrud Mountain; Zeugma’s stunning mosaics; Ayanis, the ancient capital of Urartu; Karahantepe and Göbekli Tepe dating back to 11,000 years ago; and Diyarbakır, one of the oldest cities in the world.
The Archaeology of Greece
June 2 – 17, 2024 | Thomas F.X. Noble
Travel through northern Greece and the Peloponnese Peninsula to view both celebrated and more remote remains. Along the way, see ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Thessaloniki’s Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments, Philippi, Aigai, Delphi, Olympia, Mystras, Mycenae, Tyrns, Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, and Athens’ Acropolis.
Italy: In the Path of the Etruscans
June 3 – 14, 2024 | Steven L. Tuck
View four UNESCO World Heritage sites as we travel from Rome to Orvieto and Cortona hill towns. See the necropolis at Cerveteri and Tarquinia, the Volumnus Hypogeum in Perugia, Volterra’s Etruscan Museum, and Glorious Florence.
England’s Cathedrals, Abbeys, and Medieval Painted Churches
July 20 – August 3, 2024 | William R. Cook
Tour England’s Cathedrals, abbeys, and medieval painted churches From Durham Cathedral, to Fountains Abbey, to churches in tiny villages that harbor exquisite medieval paintings. Far Horizons 2 week itinerary travels from the far north, west to Bath, and to the far southeast to Canterbury and includes 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Mexico’s Yucatan Tour – Off the Beaten Path
February 16 – 26, 2024 | Stanley Guenter
Travel deep into the remote southern area of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula where recent excavations have exposed remains of pyramids and cities that, until recently, were nearly impossible to reach. Hieroglyphic texts found here are changing our knowledge of the Maya by revealing history that has been silent for more than one thousand years!
Artistic and Architectural France Cathedral Tour
August 19 – 30, 2023 | William R. Cook
Join a 12-day exploration of the art and architecture of the Cathedrals of France! Enjoy three nights in the center of Paris and view the stunning architecture of Chartres, Bourges, Vézelay, Troyes, Reims, Soissons, Laon, Beauvais and Rouen. Along the way, see eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Epernay’s Avenue de Champagne.
Capital Cities of the Ancient Maya: Honduras, Guatemala & Mexico Tour
February 2 – 15, 2024 | Stanley Guenter
Explore the capital cities of the ancient Maya and view four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Begin at magnificent Copán and Quiriguá. Walk through lush tropical forest at Tikal to view towering temples, and end up in Palenque, arguably the most beautiful of the ancient Mesoamerican cities.
Greek Isles: Cyclades, Santorini, and Aegina
June 17 – 30, 2024 | Robert Garland
The isles of the Aegean offer travelers a unique perspective of Greece, ancient and modern. A wealth of archaeological sites set in stunning locations reveal the myth and history specific to each island: Tinos, Mykonos, Delos, Despotiko, Paros, and Naxos in the Cyclades archipelago, and then Santorini and Aegina.
The Wonders of Tunisia
October 14 – 29, 2023 | Jennifer Tobin
On this 16-day tour experience Tunisia’s riches from Phoenician remains, Roman amphitheaters and aqueducts, Arab fortresses, and Jewish synagogues, thousand-year old mosques, and vibrant Berber (Amazigh) fortified villages. And see all seven of Tunisia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Dougga, Kairouan, the medinas of Sousse and Tunis, the Punic remains of Kerkouane, magnificent Carthage, and El Jem, the largest Roman amphitheater in North Africa.
Peru Tour: Inka and Their Ancestors
June 16 – July 1, 2023 | Clark Erickson
From the Moche cities of the north to the fabled Inka sites of the highlands, experience the wealth of Peru’s archaeological past. Caral, ChanChan, Ollantaytambo, and the incomparable Machu Picchu all await, along the enigmatic Nazca Lines and remote Revash and Kuelap. And a highlight will be the Chankillo astronomical observatory built 2,300 years ago.
Undiscovered Egypt Tour & Nile Cruise
Fall 2024 | Study Leader TBA
Explore some of the most historically important, yet often unvisited, sites in Egypt: Alexandria; Amarna (with a private tour led by the archaeologist working there), and recently opened tombs near Saqqara (closed to the public). The trip culminates with a three day cruise down the Nile aboard a traditional Egyptian sailing yacht.
Eastern India: From Bodh Gaya to Kolkata to Puri
January 6 – 21, 2024 | Malcolm David Eckel
An adventure into remote areas of eastern India – from Bodh Gaya where the Buddha attained enlightenment to Patna where a casket believed to contain the Buddha’s ashes was found, to the great city of Kolkata, to Bishnupur’s Laterite Hindu temples, to the Buddhist Golden Triangle of the East, to the intricately carved Jain caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, and to the Sun Temple at Konârak.
South India Tour: Temples and Traditions
January 22 – February 7, 2024 | Paula Richman and Michael H. Fisher
Join Far Horizons on this unusual journey to out of the way areas. Experience fragrant tea plantations to many-hued spice markets, vividly painted and ornate temple facades to the serene backwaters of Kerala. And along the way, visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hampi, Malabalipurum and one of the Greatest Living Chola Temples.
North India: Gods, Temples and Archaeology
February 8 – 22, 2024 | Michael H. Fisher
Journey from Mumbai to Agra to Delhi to Jaipur and see nine UNESCO World Heritage sites: the rock-cut temple caves of Ellora and Ajanta; Khajaraho’s sensuous sculptures; the glorious Taj Mahal; Agra’s Red Fort; the splendid Fatehpur Sikri; the Jantar Mantar Observatory in Jaipur; and in Delhi, Mughal Emperor Humayun’s Tomb and the14th century Qutab Minar complex.
Bulgaria Tour: Land of History
October 1 – 18, 2023 | Vassil Tenekedjiev
Remote, beautiful Bulgaria offers a fascinating past and a plethora of historical monuments – Thracian tombs, gold and silver hoards, medieval cities, rock-hewn churches, the 8th century carved relief at Madara Rider, and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
Tour India’s Gujarat & Rajasthan
January 5 – 22, 2024 | Cynthia Packert
Far Horizons offers 14 participants an extraordinary 18-day tour through Gujarat and Rajasthan: Explore ornate palaces, desert fortresses, Jain sanctuaries, nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the cities of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Khimsar, Pushkar, and Jaipur.
Sri Lanka Tour: Resplendent Land
August 10 – 27, 2024 | Robin Coningham
Circle the lovely island of Sri Lanka and see six UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Old Town of Galle, Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, Anuradhapura, and the Sacred City of Kandy. A highlight will be the Esala Perahera Festival where elephants process through the streets accompanied by a cacophony of percussionists pounding traditional drums, dancers clanging finger cymbals and the rhythmic thumping of mock sword battles.
Tour Jordan and Stunning Petra
April 14 – 27, 2024 | Gary Rollefson
Tour Jordan and explore the Roman splendor of Jerash, the wild beauty of Wadi Rum, impressive crusader castles, the elegant Umayyad palaces scattered in the eastern desert, and the unique majesty of Petra, the marvelous repository of Nabataean culture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way gain an understanding and appreciation of the country and its compelling history.
The Archaeology of Cambodia & Laos Tour
Dates TBA | Damian Evans
A 17-day journey to Cambodia and Laos that includes five full days exploring the great Khmer city of Angkor, including glorious Banteay Srei and remote Beng Mealea. Led by archaeologist, Damian Evans, enjoy an insider’s view of the most recent discoveries. In Laos, see Vat Phou, certainly one of the most spectacular of the Khmer cities, and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang.
England’s Castles, Battlements, and Stately Homes
July 27 – August 9, 2024 | Patrick N. Allitt
Impregnable fortifications, fairy-tale castles, and opulent Great Houses await you while traveling from The Borders to the city of London. During the trip, learn about England’s medieval history and endeavors to protect this island nation from foreign invaders. Walk through Durham Castle and Cathedral, Tower of London, and Blenheim Palace, all UNESCO properties, and spend the night in an 11th century castle.
The Remote Caucasus: Tour Georgia and Armenia
Dates TBA | John France
Tour Georgia and Armenia: These two countries, tucked east of Turkey and south of Russia, have much to offer the intrepid traveler. Although way off the tourist trail, six fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites are found here. Walk through intriguing stone circles from the Iron Age, splendid churches built more than 1,000 years ago, and gaze in awe as we traverse the magnificent mountain scenery.
Cyprus, Rhodes & Malta Tour
Spring 2024 | John France
Follow the Path of the Crusader Knights across three Mediterranean islands: Cyprus, Rhodes, and Malta. Led by a renowned medieval specialist, begin in Cyprus where the Crusaders fled after the fall of Jerusalem. Continue to Rhodes where the knights created a stronghold against the Ottomans, and then to Malta, where they remained until the island fell to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798.
Easter Island Tour Including the Tapati Festival
February 1 – 12, 2024 | Sidsel Millerström
Travel to one of Polynesia’s most fascinating islands – enigmatic Easter Island where we will explore immense stone statues, perplexing petroglyphs, and vibrant cave paintings. The trip is timed to include the island’s wonderful Tapati Festival, a time of revelry and feasts and of honoring the culture – both past and present!
Scandinavian Tour: The Vikings of Denmark, Germany, Norway & Sweden
June 30 – Jul 14, 2023 | Steven Ashby
More than 1,000 years ago, the Vikings dominated northern Europe from their base in Scandinavia. Travel through Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden to view the remains of this culture including wooden stave churches, petroglyph sites, pre-Christian stone ship graves, Viking fortresses, and six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sudan Tour: An Exploration of Ancient Kush
Dates TBA | Study Leader TBA
Travel by 4-wheel drive along the Nile and through the deserts of northern Sudan where towering pyramids, painted rock-cut tombs, and ornately carved temples await discovery. . Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Meroe and Jebel Barkal, and enjoy specially-arranged, private tours by archaeologists at Tombos, El Kurru, Kawa, the Temple of Mut at Jebel Barkal, and Old Dongola’s Monastery of the Holy Trinity.
Himalayan Kingdoms: Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan Tour
September 21-October 10, 2024 | Malcolm David Eckel
Travel through the three Himalayan Kingdoms of Ladakh, Sikkim, and Bhutan to explore elaborately decorated Buddhist monasteries and formidable fortress-palaces built by former monarchs. View snow-topped Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third tallest mountain in the world, and enjoy these highland cultures including the Gangtey Tshechu honoring the 8th century guru who brought Buddhism to Bhutan.
Mexico Tour: In the Path of the Ancient Olmec
Dates TBA | Study Leader TBA
Much of the imagery still present in modern Maya iconography had its genesis in Olmec art. Travel from Villahermosa to Chalcatzingo to visit the birthplaces of that art, where the colossal heads and finely carved sculptures emblematic of the Olmec style were found. Also enjoy the spectacular Olmec artifacts on display in the Anthropology Museums of Villahermosa, Xalapa and Mexico City!
The Majesty of Egypt Tour
March 3 – 16, 2024 | Salima Ikram
Travel from Cairo to Luxor to Aswan to Abu Simbel, and along the way experience awe-inspiring events as Far Horizons opens sites closed to the public – the pyramid of Unas, the richly-painted tomb of Nefertari, and the tomb chamber of the Great Pyramid. Join Far Horizons as we travel in the footsteps of the pharaohs!
Guatemala & El Salvador: Lost Cities of the Ancient Maya Tour
Dates TBA | Stanley Guenter
Journey with Far Horizons on an 11-day expedition through out-of-the-way areas of Guatemala and El Salvador, and discover some of the most influential cities of the ancient Maya, including Dos Pilas, Aguateca, Tazumal, and Joya de Cerén, buried under layers of ash from an eruption of a volcano and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Ireland Tour: The Archaeology of Éire
June 10 – 25, 2023 | Enda O’Flaherty
The Emerald Isle has a rich history dating back over 9,000 years, when Mesolithic hunter-gatherers migrated to the island. The various populations that have inhabited this territory have all left their imprint on the history of this fascinating country! Today Ireland is home to the greatest surviving concentration of field monuments in Europe. Enjoy Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Early Christian, Medieval, Early Modern and Modern sites!
The Archaeology of Belize Tour
Dates TBA | Stanley Guenter
Join Far Horizons on this 9-day trip to explore lost Maya ceremonial centers, meet people from the country’s varied ethnic groups, while seeing spectacular wildlife that other countries around the world label ‘endangered’. Travel from the Maya city of Lamanai in the north to the remote ceremonial centers of Lubaantun, and Nimli Punit in the south.
Christmas in Oaxaca Tour
December 2024 | Guy David Hepp
Join a very special nine-day Christmas trip to Oaxaca that highlights the colorful celebrations of the season. View exquisite colonial architecture, the archaeological sites of Mitla, Yagul, and Lambityeco, and the unique folk art of the nearby villages. Walk through the lovely historic center of Oaxaca and explore Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec-Mixtec capital, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Voyage through History: The Dodecanese Islands of Greece
September 17 – 30, 2023 | Robert Garland
Greece is a land of rugged beauty that includes over 2,000 islands stretching from the Ionian Sea in the west to the Aegean Sea in the east. Beginning and ending in Turkey, cruise by private yacht through eight Dodecanese Islands – Pátmos, Kalymnos, Kos, Nisyros, Tilos, Symi and Rhodes, plus Samos.
American Southwest Tour to New Mexico, Colorado, Utah & Arizona
September 1 – 10, 2023 | Stephen H. Lekson
Tour the Four Corners of the American Southwest: Aztec, Hovenweep, Salinas Pueblo Missions, Laguna and Acoma pueblos, and the UNESCO sites of Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. Join a Native guide to travel by four-wheel drive vehicles into the hidden areas of Canyon de Chelly and Ute Mountain Tribal Park. And enjoy the raucous festivities at the Navajo Nation Fair and Rodeo.
Hidden Mexico Tour: El Tajin to Cantona to Guanajuato
Spring 2024 | Karl Taube
Travel from the Gulf Coast lowlands to Mexico’s Central Plateau, and along the way see nine UNESCO World Heritage sites – Tlacotlalpan, El Tajin, Sanctuary of Atotonilco, the Padre Tembleque Aqueduct, El Camino Real Tierra Adentro, and the historic colonial cities of Puebla, Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, and Mexico City. Added highlights are the rarely visited archaeological sites of the Bajía region.
Tour the Baltics In the Path of the Northern Crusades
June 2023 | John France
Delightful medieval towns, fairy-tale castles, verdant forests, and wild coastlines with shifting sand dunes await while traveling through these three fascinating countries on the shores of the Baltic Sea. And during the trip, learn about and witness the interesting local traditions, and taste luscious cuisines inspired by the multitude of civilizations that have streamed across these lands.
Wales and Roman England Tour
June 2 – 16, 2023 | James Bruhn
Travel through the Welsh and English countryside to view the remnants of prehistoric, Roman, medieval and industrial sites. Explore the World’s largest prehistoric copper mine, Great Orme; Segontium Roman Fort; medieval St. Davids Bishop’s Palace and Cathedral; and the Castles and Town Walls of Edward I at Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech, all UNESCO sites.
Through the Glass Darkly: An Archaeological Pub Crawl of England
September 17 – 29, 2023 | James Bruhn
With only five others, travel from northern York to the Salisbury plains. Explore prehistoric stone circles, glorious abbeys, Hadrian’s Wall, medieval castles, and enjoy a private tour of Vindolanda Roman Fort. Meals and overnights in traditional pubs and historic inns, where we will touch pint mugs with local people while we savor delicious regional delicacies, washed down with the region’s best samples of the British brewer’s art.
Tour Ethiopia: The Wonders of the Horn of Africa
Dates TBA | Luisa Sernicola
Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world. Perched atop Africa’s highest plateau, Ethiopians developed a written language and a sophisticated culture based on a deep love of religion. . The trip itinerary is planned around the Meskel celebrations which take place throughout the country. No trip to Ethiopia would be complete without visiting Gondar and Bahir Dar or the famed rock-cut churches at Lalibela.
Sicily Tour: Art & Archaeology
September 8 – 22, 2023 | Thomas Noble
Join Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural Trips on a 15-day journey around Sicily. Here, monumental evidence of waves of conquering armies covers the landscape. As we circle this lovely isle, view marvels from the past and beauties of the present – Syracuse, Agrigento, Segesta, Cefalù, and Taormina.
Western Turkey Tour
May 27 – June 12, 2023 | Jeremy McInerney
Far Horizons offers 14 travelers an incredible 17-day archaeological tour that includes nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and specially arranged private tours with archaeologists at five of the most important archaeological projects in the eastern Mediterranean – Hattusa, Ephesus, Perge, Çatalhöyük, and Troy.
The Art of the Silk Road: St. Petersburg, Paris, London
Dates TBA| Jenny Rose
Travel to three European cities – St. Petersburg, Paris, London – to view collections of Central Asia and Persian works of art. Enjoy private viewing of objects not on public display at the Hermitage, British Library, and the British Museum.
Tour Central Mexico’s Toltec Heritage
April 29 – May 9, 2023 | Stanley Guenter
The Toltecs are the most mysterious and controversial group from ancient Mesoamerica and the interpretation of their importance to the greater cultural traditions of this region have ranged from seeing them as the “mother culture”, from which all others sprang, to a group that didn’t even exist historically, and were nothing but a figment of the Aztec imagination.
Mound Builders of the USA Tour
Dates TBA | Timothy Pauketat
Tour the great ancient mounds of the central USA. This unusual ten-day tour travels from the UNESCO site of Poverty Point in Louisiana to the UNESCO site of Cahokia in Illinois, and on to the Newark Earthworks and Great Serpent Mound in Ohio. Along the way, learn about the art and religious beliefs of these mystifying cultures.
Iceland Tour: In the Path of the Vikings
Dates TBA | Elizabeth Rowe Tour Iceland and learn about the people who settled this remote island. On Far Horizons 11-day journey, experience dramatic landscapes, ancient Norse longhouses, and Viking ships. Learn about the adventures, struggles and often bloody feuds of the great families who settled on this remote island as described in the stories in Iceland’s sagas.