Meet Kurt Decorte
Founder of Horizon Impact Travel
Travel has shaped my life for more than two decades.
Growing up I was fascinated by the idea of exploring different countries, cultures, and ways of life. After graduating with a degree in Communications, I finally had the opportunity to turn that dream into reality. What started as a one-year round-the-world trip became the beginning of a lifelong connection with travel and international living.
Today, as the founder of Horizon Impact Travel, a specialist volunteer travel company designed for families, couples, and adults aged 30+, I help people who want to travel with purpose while enjoying greater comfort, privacy, and support.
Our founder in an interview with our local partner in Cambodia.
A Journey That Changed My Life
After graduating from college, I set off on a one-year journey around the world.
Like many travellers, I expected it to be a memorable adventure before returning home and beginning a traditional career.
Instead, it completely changed the direction of my life.
During that journey, I discovered Asia for the first time. I was fascinated by the cultures, languages, history, and everyday life I encountered throughout the region.
Rather than returning home, I chose to stay.
Over the next five years, I lived in Asia, travelled extensively, taught English, and studied both Japanese and Chinese. Those experiences gave me a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspectives while reinforcing my belief that travel can be one of life's most valuable forms of education.
From Asia to London
Eventually I returned to Europe and began a new chapter in London.
For ten years, I worked as a business consultant within the software industry. The experience taught me a great deal about business, communication, and working internationally.
Although I enjoyed the work, my passion for travel never disappeared.
The lessons I learned while travelling and living abroad continued to influence how I viewed the world and the opportunities travel can create.
Building Travel Businesses
The pull of travel eventually became impossible to ignore.
I returned to the travel industry and became one of the first pioneers in the volunteer travel industry, helping travellers access meaningful international experiences.
Over the years I worked with local organisations, volunteer programs, travel providers, and partners across multiple countries.
Those experiences allowed me to see the volunteer travel industry from many different perspectives.
I learned that
- Quality of local partnerships matters.
- Clear communication matters.
Realistic expectations matter. - And matching travellers with the right experience matters.
- Not every program is right for every traveller.
The best experiences happen when expectations, goals, accommodation standards, and traveller preferences are aligned from the beginning.
Why I Created Horizon Impact Travel
The idea for Horizon Impact Travel developed over many years.
While working in the travel industry, I noticed that most volunteer travel companies focused primarily on students, gap-year travellers, and younger backpackers.
Yet many enquiries came from people who wanted something different.
- Families
- Couples
- Professionals
- Retirees
These travellers were often looking for meaningful volunteer experiences, but they also wanted privacy, comfort, quality accommodation, and a level of support that reflected their stage of life.
At the same time, I was watching my own daughters experience the benefits of meaningful travel.
Seeing different cultures, meeting people from different backgrounds, and experiencing life outside their normal environment reinforced something I had believed for years:
Travel can broaden perspectives at any age.
As a parent, I also understood that families often have different priorities from younger travellers.
- They want reassurance.
- They want clear information.
- They want accommodation that suits their needs.
- They want experiences that are rewarding without sacrificing comfort.
That combination was surprisingly difficult to find.
Horizon Impact Travel was created to fill that gap.
What Horizon Impact Travel Stands For
Today, Horizon Impact Travel focuses on helping families, couples, and adults aged 30+ identify carefully selected volunteer programs operated by local program partners.
The goal is not to be the biggest volunteer travel company.
The goal is to help travellers find programs that genuinely suit their interests, travel style, expectations, and comfort requirements.
A Personal Note
If you're considering volunteer travel and are unsure where to begin, I understand.
Choosing the right destination, project, accommodation, and travel style can feel overwhelming, especially if you're travelling as a couple, family, professional, or retiree.
My goal is simple.
To help you find a volunteer travel experience that is genuinely right for you.
If Horizon Impact Travel sounds like a good fit, I'd be delighted to help you take the next step.