Frequently Asked Questions

Our tours always have a Group Leader, and sometimes a Host as well. We believe in empowering and employing people in the communities we visit, so we work hard to find locally based Group Leaders. Western guides may not speak the language or fully understand the culture. Some new tours and cruises will also have a Host who bridges the social gap. Ultimately our goal is to have one or more exceptional gay, lesbian or LGBT welcoming Group Leaders in a destination. Read more about the men and women who’ve become part of the Out Adventures family here.

No. We only train the best guides to be our Group Leaders, and if they happen to be LGBT, fantastic! About half of our Group Leaders are gay or lesbian, and while the rest aren’t, they are allies. They also know all the best local LGBT cafes, bars and points of interest.

This depends on which tour you’re booking. Our lesbian tours typically have more couples than solo travellers, with an average age of 40-55. Our gay tours vary by theme… Active tours attract more solo travellers, with an average age range of 40-55. Meanwhile, our gay cruises and culture tours have a fairly even split of solos and couples with an average age of 45-65.

Our guests are primarily from North America, with a sprinkle of international travellers.

While almost all of our female travellers are either lesbian or bisexual and the majority of our male travellers are gay, we welcome all genders regardless of orientation. Friends and family are always welcome.

We insist on quality experiences regardless of the trip theme. On our camping trips we hire the best guides and porters, rent the best equipment, and cook the freshest meals. Meanwhile, on city tours we slumber in exceptional boutique hotels and focus on gourmet meals. In addition, we also strive to include exclusive activities to make your experience extra special. To sum it up, we focus on quality, we stand proudly behind our tours, and we truly believe that our adventures provide great value.

Don’t let our name fool you. An adventure can be culinary. Or spiritual. Or adrenaline-inducing. If you’re worried about how fit you should be for a tour, reference the ‘Physical Rating’ and ‘Activities’ listed under the tour’s ‘Quick Facts’, or read about them below.

All Out Adventures guests must have a good level of health. All tours, regardless of activity level, involve uneven steps, stairs, walking tours, and you will be required to carry your own luggage from time to time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate individuals with limited mobility unless they are willing to absorb the cost of a private guide/assistant which varies by country and is only possible on a case by case basis. It is also your responsibility to advise Out Adventures of any pre-existing medical conditions that may increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that may affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of the tour by other participants.

Below is a breakdown of our Physical Rating guide.

1 – Relaxing

• Very little or no hiking
• Light activities such as walking, bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
• Low altitude
• Suitable for all fitness levels

2 – Light

• Light walking and hiking (2 hours or less per day and at low altitude)
• Light activities such as bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
• Suitable for most fitness levels

3 – Average

• Light walking and hiking (3 hours or less per day, rarely at high altitude)
• Some activities such as biking, paddling or swimming. Active days are mixed with relaxed days
• Suitable for an average fitness level

4 – Demanding

• Walking, hiking is a component of the tour (can range from 2 hours to 6 hours per day, at various altitudes)
• Activities such as biking, paddling or swimming may be mixed in
• Suitable for a good fitness level

5 – Challenging

• Walking, hiking, biking, paddling or kayaking are the vast majority of the trip (can range from 2 hours to 8 hours per day, generally at high altitude)
• Activities will likely happen day after day with limited rest days
• Suitable for above average fitness level

We use a range of accommodations depending on the locale and theme of your tour. From luxury glamping in the Sahara to a private yacht in Croatia, from a homestay in Cuba to 5-star boutique in Cambodia, we assure you all properties are hand-selected, LGBT-welcoming and locally owned where possible. Be sure to reference ‘Accommodations’ in the ‘Quick Facts’ section of a tour to see the style of accommodation used.

On most of our tours we average two included meals per day, allowing you the freedom and flexibility to break away from the group without missing out on a meal you’ve paid for. Included meals usually don’t include alcohol except for Welcome and Farewell Dinners.

We do our best to ensure dietary restrictions and allergies are managed by your Group Leader. At included meals you’ll be provided with the best possible alternative. We recommend travelling with supplements and snacks if you’re heading for a developing nation where it can sometimes be difficult to meet specific dietary restrictions.

On land tours you can expect 12-14 people, but no more than 16 and no less than 4, plus your Group Leader and/or Host. Our cruises average between 30 and 45 people depending on the vessel. 

Very rarely. But if we do cancel, we’ll do so with 90 days or more notice given and the option of a full refund or a $150 discount to switch to another tour. We require a minimum of 4 guests to guarantee land tours, which is why we offer an early bird discount to the first 4 people who book a tour. To sum it up, we’ll never leave you hanging.

Step 1 – Fill out this fun form. One of our Adventure Specialists will review your submission before getting in contact to review your expectations. From here we’ll put together a suggested itinerary with recommended tours, activities and accommodations based on your outlined interests. It will take about one week to finalize your quote.

Step 2 – Review your quote and provide one round of revisions. Please note: you can make one major revision to the itinerary. If more revisions are required we will ask for a small deposit of $100 before continuing. Once you confirm your itinerary, we’ll create your booking, reserve all guides, hotels and activities as well as collect your 50% non-refundable deposit.

Step 3 – Get ready for your private gay tour! We’ll provide you with key information such as required visas and vaccinations right away. Six weeks prior to your departure date we’ll provide you with further information to help you prepare for your trip such as a recommended packing list. Three weeks prior to your departure we’ll send you your final Trip Documents including a detailed itinerary, guide contact information, tipping recommendations and more.

Step 4 – Enjoy your vacation! When you return home, we’ll do a post-trip follow-up to hear all about the adventure.

To be honest, your expectations will determine the cost of your holiday. We typically like to know which kind of accommodations you prefer, how you like to eat, what your interests are, and if you have a budget in mind. If we can’t meet those expectations upfront, we may ask for some flexibility – budget or otherwise. If we can’t find an ideal middle ground, there’s no stress in walking away.

If you’re travelling solo, or as a couple, we recommend city guides and join-in tours to meet a variety of people along the way. If you’re travelling in a group of 6 or more, we recommend a full-time Group Leader who can manage logistics, provide orientation walks, and keep things moving.

Probably, but your holiday will not include the guides, accommodations, and other suppliers we’ve spent a decade vetting for the needs of gay and lesbian travellers. You’ll also need to navigate dozens of bookings, spreadsheets and emails on your own. Tailor-made vacations require more planning than people realize.

We assure you our exceptional customer service, experienced partners and detailed documents will make you feel your money was well spent.

It’s as simple as providing us with your contact details and agreeing to our booking conditions. Then one of our staff will be in touch to ensure you’ve been matched to the right trip before we collect your non-refundable deposit. At that point, we will collect other necessary information to complete your booking such as passport details and emergency contact information.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express credit cards, as well as personal checks. Your final balance is due 90 days prior to departure, with some trips requiring payment further in advance. If paying by check, it is important to ensure it arrives a minimum of 3 weeks prior to your date of final payment so the funds can clear our bank account in time.

The short answer is no, however if you provide more than 90 days cancellation notice in writing we’ll hold your deposit for one year for a fee of $250 USD per person. We understand things can happen, and that’s why we recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Before booking any of our tours, please familiarize yourself with all of our Booking Conditions.

No. If you’re happy to share a two-bedded twin room with another traveller, you’ll pay the standard double occupancy rate. We’ll pair you based on factors like gender identity and age. If you’d like your own room during the tour, you’ll pay a single supplement. Prices are listed under Dates and Pricing, and on the booking form.

Yes. We are licensed with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, meaning you – and your money – are protected based on strict financial requirements. We hold all funds in trust until payment is due to suppliers, and we do not access profits from your booking until all suppliers are paid in full and your booking is 100% non-refundable.

Not usually. It is rare that we can offer you a better price than the airline, and when things go wrong it is always in your best interest to have booked directly with the airline. However, we can help you figure out complex itineraries. We can even provide specific flight recommendations to help you book on your own.

We will notify you of any required vaccinations, but we are unable to recommend vaccinations or medication. We recommend visiting https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel for a list of recommended vaccinations by destination.

Visas vary based on destination and citizenship. We will do the research for you, and will clearly outline any required visas on your invoice, but obtaining them are your responsibility.

Yes, and no. We are a retail agency/operator licensed with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. We are happy to offer a 10% referral payment for the base tour price, however we must work directly with, and take payment directly from the traveller. All communication will be sent to the traveller, with a CC to you, their travel agent. Think of us as a tool to help you market and sell the trip, and rest assured, even if your client comes back to us in the future, you’ll always receive a referral fee. We do all of the work, and you receive a reward. Win-win, right?