Active Gay Tours

Our vibe is casual and comfortable. Think weather-appropriate shorts or pants and a casual button-up shirt when we are in cities or towns, and outdoor wear with hiking shoes or boots for our active treks. Formal wear is never required; you’re on vacation after all! For more specific recommendations, check the Important Information section of each trip page for suggestions on what you should pack. This information will also be sent to you prior to your departure date.

Each of our tours is assigned a physical activity rating between 1 (Relaxing) and 5 (Challenging), which you’ll find in both the Quick Facts and Important Information sections on the trip page. These ratings are designed to give you an immediate understanding of the general intensity of the trip. For active hikes and climbs, we also provide the distance and altitude of each day’s trek. That data can be found in the detailed itinerary on each trip page.

Depending on your fitness level and the tour’s physical rating, we recommend building your fitness and endurance with cardio and stretching in the months leading up to your trip. If you’re joining one of our more difficult active trips, such as our Kilimanjaro Gay Climb, you’ll need to do a lot more preparation, which we will advise on at the time of booking. Most active hikes are best done with a trusty pair of hiking boots, and we recommend breaking in the boots over a few weeks leading up to your trip.

Yes, altitude sickness can affect anyone on high-altitude treks, regardless of fitness level. We take precautions such as gradual acclimatization, frequent hydration, and built-in rest days when possible. Additionally, our expert local guides and support teams are trained to recognize symptoms and minimize the effects. It’s important to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and communicate openly with your guide about how you’re feeling. You should also speak to your primary care physician to determine if there are preventative medications you can take, or if any of your medical conditions could pose a problem at altitude.

We will provide a detailed packing list tailored to the itinerary at least three weeks before departure. Expect to pack versatile, performance-oriented gear suited to the activities and climate. Think moisture-wicking clothing, sturdy hiking shoes, a daypack, a reusable water bottle, sun protection, and layers for shifting weather conditions.

On some tours, we’ll facilitate all gear rentals, some of which may not be included in the price of the tour.

Long story short, it depends on the trip. Sometimes, water is boiled and treated, and other times, our lodges provide it. The one thing we can guarantee is that you will always have a source of safe drinking water.

On active hikes and treks, sleeping arrangements vary by destination. In towns or cities, you’ll stay in comfortable hotels with standard shared-room setups. In more remote areas, accommodations may include mountain refugios with bunk beds or shared dorm-style rooms, and in some cases, tent camping. Full details on accommodations for each trip can be found on the individual trip page.

Our trekking guides and hosts are all first-aid certified, and first-aid kits and emergency medical supplies are always on hand if needed. At the very least, all hikes have one guide and one host, and in many cases, a support team is also on hand, ensuring that assistance is never far away.

Every hike will have a host and a local guide/leader, with one positioned in the front and one bringing up the rear. Our goal is to let everyone walk at their own pace, within reason, assuming they are with one of our team members. Depending on how many hikers and crew we have, there may be an opportunity to split into fast and casual groups so everyone has the best possible hike.