Why follow the crowd when you can set a trend?
From the beginning, we’ve sought to blaze our own trail, exploring every nook and cranny of our vast and fascinating world. Some of our favourite gems are overlooked or underrated. Others are remotely located and difficult to reach. But all of them are beyond rewarding to visit, and it’s been our mission to make these locales accessible while dialing up the fun factor. That’s our secret sauce: finding spectacular spots you’ll fall in love with, even if they were never on your radar. So if you’re feeling special – because you are – here are the ultra-rare LGBTQ+ group destinations you can only experience with Out Adventures!
1. Be mesmerized by Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
This featured stop on our brand new Brazil tour is just so geographically…weird. But in the best possible way. Picture white rolling dunes that resemble bedsheets billowing on a clothesline (lençóis is actually the Portuguese word for linens). Now pepper those dunes with a litany of lagoons.
These crystal clear water features form during the rainy season, stick around for months, and support wildlife ranging from birds to turtles and fish. Even weirder? Those fish burrow into the mud and go dormant during the dry season.
Why is this locale so off-the-beaten-path? For one, it’s nowhere near Rio de Janeiro and Brazil’s popular southeastern coast. And it’s difficult to find a flight to São Luís (SLZ), the closest major airport. You’ll likely have to route through São Paulo or Brasilia. And once you get to São Luis, it’s still a 3-4 hour drive to Barreirinhas, just outside the park. But this is where we shine! Joining our trip makes it easy because you won’t have to worry about these complicated travel logistics. Just show up, be your authentic self, and leave the work to us.
Once we arrive, we’ll spend an entire day in Lençóis Maranhenses. The best way to explore it is by roaring across the sand on a 4X4 adventure that will have you living. For the first half of the day, we’ll be on the renowned Blue Lagoon circuit, which is exactly like it sounds! There’ll be stops at scenic vantage points and dips in sparkling natural pools, all at a relaxing pace. Midday, we’ll stop at a local restaurant for a delicious meal and a shady siesta.
The afternoon brings us to Bonita Lagoon, one of the largest and most beautiful lagoons in the entire park! On summer days, it could almost be considered a pool party, as visitors from all over flock to the crystalline slopes in search of the out-of-this-world experience only Lençóis offers.
Click here for more information about our Brazil: Highlights, Dunes & Lagoons trip.
2. Taste the sweetness of Portugal’s Azores Islands
While we’re not the only LGBTQ+ tour company to venture to the Azores, we ARE the exclusive gay purveyors of two special stops on our tour of the renowned Atlantic archipelago.
On Faial Island, we’ll spend the day visiting the site of Capelinhos, an underwater volcano that erupted for 13 months beginning in 1957. The event dramatically redefined and expanded Faial’s geography, but decimated the population (nearly half the residents fled to North America).
Capelinhos is a monogenetic volcano, meaning it’s part of a volcanic field where each volcano erupts only once in its lifetime. On our visit, we’ll go underground to the interpretation center, which is basically a museum that covers the fiery history of Capelinhos, the Azores, and the history of the archipelago’s iconic lighthouses.
Bonus: Capelinhos is also known as the westernmost point in Europe!
We’ll also have a chance to explore and dine in Faial’s capital, Horta, a town we adore. It has an old-world island charm with unending sea views and hillside houses that could be on a magazine cover.
But our adventure doesn’t stop there! On nearby Pico Island, you’ll have the option to go on a whale and dolphin watching cruise, or join our exclusive gay hike up Mount Pico. It’s Portugal’s tallest mountain…but admittedly, the hike is not for beginners. However, the summit offers one of the most unforgettable and rewarding views of the Azores you’ll ever see.
Click here for more information about our Portugal: The Azores Islands adventure.
3. Live it up in Georgia (not the peach state)
Eastern Europe meets Western Asia on our Crossroads of Empires adventure. We are the only company offering an all-LBGTQ+ tour of this little country known for its heaps of hospitality, and there are a couple of things that make it extra special.
First, the capital city, Tbilisi, has an emerging gay scene with growing support among the general population. Its unique architectural style fuses European Art Nouveau with Soviet-era and contemporary structures.
Secondly, we’ll visit the Caucasus Mountains town of Stepantsminda. Near the Russian border, we’ll have a chance to admire not only the medieval Georgian artistry of the Ananuri Architectural Complex (including watchtowers, arched windows, and views of the Zhinvali Reservoir beyond its fortified walls), but also visit Gergeti Church. Built in the early 14th century, it’s a national symbol that celebrates the country’s reunification and religious revival following the Mongol Invasions.
And did we mention Georgia is literally where wine was invented? If you’re an aficionado, they’ll have plenty of local options to…erm…corkscrew for you.
This adventure also wraps up just before our Baltic trip begins, meaning you can check FOUR countries off your list in one eastern European adventure (five if you include the Helsinki extension).
4. Flirt with Three Baltic Beauties
For our 10-day tour through the Baltics, we’ve planned several special stops. And while we’re not the only LGBTQ+ tour operator to swing through stylish Tallinn or hip Helsinki, the rest of our trip is a scenic blur of Nouveau neighborhoods, seaside strolls, and off-the-map moments you won’t find anywhere else!
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and home to one of the most beautifully preserved historic centres with its own spin on Baroque style. It’s also the only spot in Europe where you can glide over old town rooftops on a hot air balloon. The views will be pristine, and the photos incredible.
The Curonian Spit is a narrow peninsula separating its namesake lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Its massive, ever-shifting sand dunes are among the largest in Europe and even buried villages in the past. Today it’s known as the Sahara of the North (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Finally, there’s Riga. As Latvia’s capital, it offers one of Europe’s largest and most unique food markets (housed in a series of five former Zeppelin hangars), the Dome Cathedral (with a massive organ featuring 6700 pipes), and a taste of Black Balsam, their hometown liqueur.
Click here for more information about our Baltics: Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia tour.
5. Wallow in the cultural might of South Korea
This Asian Republic is an outsized cultural powerhouse that we’ve been eyeing for a while now. It’s one of our founder Rob’s personal favourites to visit (he LOVES bibimbap), and while Seoul stands on its own merit as a queer destination, we can’t wait to introduce you to Busan and Gyeongju on our 9-day tour.
The seaside port of Busan (South Korea’s second-largest city) is one of those rare metropoles filled with beaches to bask upon. Sample the city’s thriving food scene on a street food lunch tour in Jagalchi Fish Market, then find your zen at the seaside sanctuary of Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.
Gyeongju has been dubbed “the museum without walls”. We’ll visit Gyochan Cultural Village, which offers a glimpse into life during the Silla Dynasty. Things will get spicy when we make our own gochujang (the country’s famous fermented chili paste). And we’ll mellow out with a guided meditation led by a resident monk at Bulguksa Temple. Once the sun sets, you won’t want to miss the mystical glimmer of lights on Anapji Pond.
Click here for more information about our South Korea: Busan to Seoul tour.
6. Uncover a lesser-known side of China
Sure, China is one of the largest and most populous countries on Earth, but let’s just say it’s not exactly known for its queer scene. That said, never underestimate the power of a spicy province to surprise you. Enter Chengdu: the laid-back, food-loving, panda-cuddling capital of Sichuan that just so happens to have a growing LGBTQ+ heartbeat.
Chengdu is known for a slower pace than other Chinese megacities, but it’s also surprisingly progressive, with an underground queer nightlife scene, open-minded locals, and a welcoming café culture.
Of course, no trip to Chengdu would be complete without the city’s most famous residents: giant pandas. We’ll visit a renowned panda breeding center where we’ll see these chubby charmers up close as they munch bamboo, nap in absurd positions, and generally behave like the adorable agents of chaos they are. It’s impossible to leave without falling in love, or at least without 3,000 photos you’ll never delete.
But the real star of our trip is Tibet, a region so secluded and epic it practically comes with its own theme music. Our visit includes a guided exploration of Potala Palace in Lhasa. This sprawling, crimson-and-white cliffside fortress once served as the residence of the Dalai Lamas. It contains 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and a staggering 200,000 statues (they’re pretty much tucked into every corner). It’s not just architecture, it’s spiritual maximalism at its finest.
Wandering its labyrinthine halls, we’ll be standing in a place that has witnessed centuries of tradition, resistance, and quiet resilience. And outside, the city is ringed by snow-capped mountains and prayer flags fluttering in the wind, making the whole scene feel like a dream sequence from an indie travel film.
This is a China tour like you’ve never seen it: modern and mystical, ancient and unexpected. And full of pandas.
Click here for more information about our China: Highlights & Tibet tour.
7. Fall for the Philippines
Mabuhay, folks! Welcome to the Philippines, Asia’s not-so-hidden gem, where the beaches are legendary, the hospitality is heartfelt, and the drag queens can lip-sync through a typhoon. While plenty of travellers have dipped a toe into this tropical archipelago, we’re the only ones offering a full-fledged gay tour of the islands.
Our adventure begins in Manila, a bustling capital where Spanish colonial history meets karaoke bars, jeepney rides, and a thriving LGBTQ+ scene that’s equal parts resilience and revelry. You’ll stroll past old cathedrals, hidden cafés, art deco mansions, and rainbow-colored sari-sari shops.
On Bohol, the terrain shifts from beachy to bizarre in the best way possible. You’ll gaze out at the Chocolate Hills, a surreal geological wonder made up of over 1,200 symmetrical mounds that turn cocoa brown in the dry season. (Yes, they’re as weird and wonderful as they sound.)
Then, it’s off to Boracay, Palawan, and 6 other islands that make postcards feel insecure. You’ll sink into white sand so fine it squeaks underfoot, sip mango shakes that might ruin you for life, and toast sunsets so spectacular they might just make you weep (or propose).
But on this one, we crank up the adventure with a remote island escape on Ginto, an uninhabited and absolutely gorgeous island. Our exclusive castaway experience allows you to unplug, unwind, and unapologetically be yourself. Picture mesh sleeping tents, bonfires on the beach, and stars that actually twinkle.
This all-gay island-hopping extravaganza includes multiple boat cruises, blissful beach days, and just the right amount of downtime at handpicked resorts that redefine what “getting away from it all” really means. Bring your sunhat, your best swimwear, and your spirit of adventure: paradise is calling.
Click here for more information about our Philippines: Island Hopping Adventure.
8. Go cruising in Scotland
Our all-inclusive highlands cruise is filled with kilty pleasures! The Isle of Skye is one of our first stops. You can choose between a 2.4-mile (3.8km) hike to visit the famed Old Man of Storr (a jagged pinnacle overlooking the Sound of Raasay). Or you can enjoy a more laid-back coach tour of the Trotternish Peninsula, including Kilt Rock and the Skye Museum of Island Life.
Our journey continues along the legendary Caledonian Canal, the 60-mile waterway that slices across the Highlands from coast to coast. As we cruise, you’ll glide through Neptune’s Staircase, a feat of Victorian engineering and the longest staircase lock in Britain: basically the Highlands’ version of a water elevator. Along the way, we’ll savour whisky at Ben Nevis Distillery and visit the medieval fortress of Urquhart Castle.
Loch Ness needs no introduction. It’s a monster of a destination for a gay cruise. And sure, Nessie gets all the attention, but this vast body of water is impressive on its own, holding more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. We’ll stop in the charming village of Foyers, where you can follow a wooded trail to the thundering Foyers Waterfall, a natural cascade that’s been inspiring poets and painters since the 18th century.
Our final stop (and initial departure point) is Inverness. It includes a visit to Cawdor Castle and Gardens, before a gala farewell dinner featuring bagpipers, Highland dancers, and a Scottish drag queen. That’s so Gaelic.
Our one-of-a-kind gay cruise through the Scottish Highlands only has one cabin left – grab it before it’s gone!
9. Botswana’s Okavango Delta
Safaris. We offer plenty of them. They’re all amazing, but our visit to the Okavango Delta is the safari your inner David Attenborough and your outer glam queen can both agree on.
A bona fide UNESCO World Heritage Site, this sprawling inland delta fans out like a lush green handprint across the Kalahari Desert. There are elephants bathing in the shallows, hippos snorting in the reeds, giraffes gliding past acacia trees, and lions lounging in tall golden grass, living their best “do not disturb” lives.
And while the wildlife is jaw-dropping, the accommodation is show-stopping. Think open-air lounges, private decks overlooking floodplains, and outdoor showers complete with Peeping-Tom monkeys.
It’s nature, elevated. Adventure, without roughing it.
Click here for all the info on our Botswana: Okavango Delta Extension.
10. Cuba
We’ve been running gay trips to Cuba for 15 years now (our inaugural departure was way back in 2010), and it’s continued to be one of our most unique destinations. Today, we offer two distinct tours!
Cultural Cuba is the perfect primer on The Pearl of the Antilles. You’ll wander through Havana’s glittering colonial architecture, breathe in the immaculate air of Viñales, and make fast friends with the lovely locals. Or, if you want some winter sunshine, why not join us when we ring in the New Year with some Havanese flair?
Americans, rest assured, you’re safe to travel with us. Check out this blog post to find out what that entails. In a nutshell, our tours support the people directly, instead of patronizing government-run hotels and facilities.
11. Hike the Balkans
Join us for an active adventure through Montenegro & Albania while you can!
Tour Medieval monasteries and photograph fortified island cities, then visit untouched mountain forests (one of the last reserves for brown bears and wolves on continental Europe). Grab tight to your oar for a thrilling white water rafting experience!
You can even pair it with our flagship Croatian cruise. This is one of the best hiking destinations in all of Europe, but that said, 2026 will be the last year this adventure is offered. So if it’s caught your eye, book it now.
12. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
How do you make one of the most epic hikes in the world even better? With an incredibly supportive team of folks who’ll help you push yourself to the absolute brink. Our Kilimanjaro Climb is definitely not for beginners. But if you consider yourself amongst the boldest active adventurers, it might be right up your mountain!
We begin in lush rainforest, the air thick with mist and monkeys leaping overhead. From there, we’ll ascend through six distinct ecological zones from heather-covered moorlands to alpine deserts stark as Mars. Then, on summit day, it’s a midnight push under a sky full of stars as we make our way to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 m). Expect exhaustion, emotion, and that wild, joyful moment when you look down from the tallest mountain on a continent and think: I did this.
And once you’re done, you can brag that you climbed Africa’s tallest mountain despite being a little light in the loafers.
Ready to book? Just have questions? Click here and let us know what’s on your mind. We can’t wait to make your world a little more gay.
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