Gay Tours & Companies Organizing Gay Vacations
Booking gay tours with a reputable gay tour company is a popular way for LGBTQ travelers to explore the world in a welcoming, gay-friendly environment. They’re also a fun, easy way to meet like-minded travelers.
Some gay tour companies offer typical day tours and excursions, but many of the companies I mention below organize gay vacations ranging from several days to more than a week.
While some tours focus on LGBT history and gay neighborhoods of cities, many gay tours are simply about providing experiences where gay travelers can explore new places together and feel genuinely welcome.
Here are some of the best LGBT vacation and gay tour companies you should consider while planning your next holiday. I’ll give you a thorough description of each, along with the destinations where they organize trips, and what they’re best known for.
#1 Out Adventures
Out Adventures is the world’s premier gay tour company, offering small-group LGBTQ vacations, cultural tours, and gay cruises.
They’ve planned tons of incredible escapes since 2009 and currently operate gay tours in 35 countries, spanning 6 continents.
Even in less-than-gay-friendly countries, Out Adventures supports the queer communities they visit along the way, noting that we can all still enrich local lives and learn about their experiences.
Every detail of each itinerary is considered. They seek out the best local restaurants, authentic experiences, boutique hotels, and partners that go beyond “friendly” and truly welcome the LGBTQ+ community.
To see the latest from Out Adventures, check out their gay tour calendar.
#2 Detours Travel
Detours Travel is one of the largest gay tour companies, offering over 50 vacations each year. Their diversity of trips is impressive. Choose among all sorts of incredible adventures like a week in Belize, or 12 days in Peru.
One of their longest gay vacations is a two-week adventure through Thailand and Cambodia where you can swim in the magical Phi Phi Islands and explore temples in Siem Reap.
Gay tours with Detours Travel have a “laid-back, no-strings-attached” approach, meaning their excursions offer gay travelers plenty of flexibility along the course of the trip.
They avoid overly structured itineraries, offering everyone the chance to be spontaneous in a relaxed and casual way. Planned excursions are also chosen based on the interests of the group.
In my opinion, this eliminates the stress that comes along with a daunting week-long roster of activities. You can take everything day by day and choose activities you like along the way.
With affordable vacation packages, helpful customer service, and a trustworthy and well-established brand, it’s easy to see why Detours Travel is one of the top gay tour companies in the world.
#3 Pride Sailing Holidays
Pride Sailing Holidays is one of my favorite gay tour companies. Throughout the summer season, they operate gay sailing adventures every week in both Croatia and Greece, as well as select weeks in Italy. No matter when you want to take a vacation, there will be a boat available to join!
I’ve sailed with them many times and the experiences are always magical, authentic, and luxurious. There’s nothing like cruising the open water on your very own sailboat or catamaran.
And with a maximum of 8 guests per boat, the trip feels intimate and you’re able to connect with everyone you sail with.
Most gay travelers who join the 7-day tours with Pride Sailing are solo travelers. Pairs of friends also tend to share cabins. But, if you already have a group of friends in mind, you can reserve your very own private charter to sail wherever you’d like.
See a bunch more awesome details and answers to FAQs on my gay sailing holidays page.
#4 HE Travel
HE Travel is another leader among gay tour companies catering to small groups. They are also a full-service travel agency providing flights, cruises, and customized travel experiences around the globe.
Tours organized by HE Travel are open to all adults, but most participating travelers are gay men. For the more active travelers, they offer cycling, hiking, rafting, and other adventure-oriented gay tours.
Travelers looking for a less strenuous experience have plenty of options too. There’s a wide variety of cultural tours and other excursions through Egypt, Peru, Japan, India, and many parts of Europe.
There are all sorts of other ways to browse their tours as well. You can pick based on the destination, activity level, or categories like biking, cruise, or adventure tours.
The IGLTA (International LGBTQ Travel Association) named their Hall of Fame Award for founder Hanns Ebensten recognizing the first gay tour—a week in the Grand Canyon in 1973. Today, HE Travel still runs Grand Canyon rafting trips with the same partner almost 50 years later!
#5 Everything To Sea
Everything To Sea runs all-male, clothing-optional, small-ship gay cruise tours in Southeast Asia. They’re among the most well-established gay sailing tour companies.
Their trips center around a renewed sense of freedom and male camaraderie, as guys get to encounter astounding nature while in the buff, alongside like-minded men of all ages, orientations, and nationalities.
They have all-inclusive prices including all meals, free-flow alcohol, and even out-of-the-ordinary optional features, such as massages and body shaving.
Men can be naked anywhere on the ship. Highlights include snorkeling nude with manta rays and sea turtles in the most biodiverse marine environment in the world, catching sunsets and starry skies from the roof deck, visiting Komodo dragons in their native habitat, and floating in a bright blue natural pool inside a stalactite-filled cave.
Gay Vacations by Everything To Sea:
The StandardPlus Boat — 7 days of sailing through the Komodo Islands of Indonesia alongside up to 12 other men.
Your Private Journey — 3 guys, 1 ship, no clothes…and Everything To Sea! This is a custom-tailored, private sail for one man to come along with co-founders Max and Dave.
Your Group/Our Ship — An option for pre-formed groups, this option offers benefits such as reduced per-person prices, a free trip for the organizer, or even the ability to earn money for the group.
#6 OUTstanding Travel
OUTstanding Travel is a high-end gay vacation company offering group trips and gay tours in European destinations along the Mediterranean coast. They provide personalized gay vacation packages that focus on the type of experience each gay traveler is personally interested in.
Whether you prefer nightlife-rich destinations, unique culinary experiences, or culture-rich sightseeing adventures, OUTstanding travel’s founder Nadav Perez ensures every potential guest will have an unparalleled experience, exceeding all expectations.
Gay tours of Israel’s Dead Sea, the biggest historic attractions of Rome, or the gay scenes of cities like Tel Aviv and Madrid are just a few options to choose from. You can even book vacation packages surrounding popular gay circuit festival events like XLSIOR Mykonos.
#7 Diva Destinations Lesbian Tours
Diva Destinations is among the world’s leading lesbian tour companies, offering outings for lesbians, LGBTQ women, and non-binary individuals.
For nearly 10 years Diva Destinations has provided their community with a safe, inclusive, and friendly space to enjoy fun, memorable holidays-all while creating amazing opportunities to explore and travel the world
Jen Grant, the founder of Diva Destinations, says “For me personally, one of the most satisfying aspects of any trip is watching our group who have never met before start getting to know each other. From the very first evening, I can see the ice breaking as they talk over dinner, about the day they have shared, and their growing excitement about the trip ahead. I am with the group every step of the way, so there is always a safety net, especially for our guests traveling alone”.
The company’s organizers pride themselves on creating a strong community within each tour group, based on the foundation of friendship, inclusion, acceptance, and fun!
#8 Brand g Vacations
Brand g Vacations recently celebrated its 11th anniversary of operating 5-star gay tours and river cruises. With nearly 20 trips per year, their tours take guests to every corner of the world, including destinations in Nepal, Japan, Ireland, and Africa.
Every gay vacation organized by Brand g is virtually all-inclusive, with unlimited beverages, shore excursions, airport transfers, signature Brand g entertainers, and much more. On every trip, one of Brand g’s three highly experienced and caring gay tour guides makes sure everything is seamlessly executed.
With a 95% repeat booking rate, the company has amassed a passionate fan base of committed and enthusiastic gay travelers. They’re expanding every year too, with 2023 marking their foray into the luxury ocean cruise market.
#9 Zoom Vacations
Zoom Vacations offers unforgettable luxury gay tours for small groups to a range of unique and often lesser-traveled parts of the world. A few notable destinations where they organize vacations include Egypt, Bhutan, Laos, and Peru.
With one look at their itineraries, it’s easy to see how glamorous and well-planned everything is. Booking with Zoom Vacations, gay travelers can expect to stay in upscale, gay-friendly accommodations, have access to a private concierge, and tour local attractions via privately organized and secure transport.
Absolutely everything is taken care of, and the entire vacation feels like an absolute dream.
Their gay tour packages include everything needed for a comfortable and seamless trip, including private airport transfers, daily breakfasts, cocktail hours, and plenty of guided excursions.
In addition to group trips, Zoom Vacation can also custom plan a gay getaway for your own personal group in over a dozen countries worldwide.
#10 Coda Tours
Coda International Tours designs small gay group tours in destinations that appeal to travelers seeking to relax, have fun, and benefit from the experience of being exposed to foreign cultures and people—all with flair and sophistication.
Their trips are built around the cultural hubs and highlights of the world—places everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Coda’s style is elegant without being opulent, refined without being pretentious, and insightful without being tiresome.
Coda is the ideal gay tour company for anyone seeking an all-inclusive travel experience where everything is carefully planned, and the overall experience is maximized. Their excursions cover as much ground as is comfortably feasible at a reasonable.
Gay travelers love booking with Coda because they stay in carefully selected hotels, sample local cuisine, discover hidden gems, and meet other curious people. Plus, it all happens alongside talented tour guides with years of experience.
Popular destinations with Coda Tours change frequently. They offer trips to all corners of the world. If there isn’t an organized gay tour where you want to go, they’ll create a customized private tour for you.
#11 MrGaycation
MrGaycation is a gay tour company that specializes in creating fun and unique vacations tailored for gay men, called gaycations!
While based in the United States MrGaycation organizes trips internationally, all created with gay men in mind.
Their host resorts are all-inclusive, meaning all your food and beverages (and even alcohol) are included! Gay tours with MrGaycation are filled with custom entertainment throughout the week, consisting of comedians, drag queens, singers, cabaret performers, and more.
Daytime activities offered include fitness classes, curated pool parties, and offsite excursions to explore the local area. After dinner, everyone enjoys nightly entertainment followed by epic, themed dance parties.
#12 Italy Gay Travels
Italy Gay Travels is a gay-owned and operated boutique gay tour company. They organize all-gay small group tours and events for international travelers in friendly destinations in Italy and beyond.
Taking pride in serving the LGBTQ+ international community Italy Gay Travels’ mission is to bring like-minded people together to make long-lasting friendships and incredible lifetime memories.
They specialize in off-the-beaten-track unique experiences within Italy, but being such avid travelers themselves, the company’s tour organizers have expanded their reach to showcase even more fantastic destinations.
#13 Cape Town Gay Tours
Cape Town Gay Tours creates bespoke, premier day tours, for gay travelers to Cape Town & South Africa.
Using gay tour guides, Cape Town Gay Tours provides inspiring, tailor-made tours, considering the exceptionally high standards that clients both deserve and expect.
They also offer a range of Garden Route tours and traditional African safaris, all in luxury private game reserves.
Be it a day exploring the Peninsula to the tip of Africa, a day exploring the Winelands, a day in the city and on Table Mountain, a day safari, a week driving the Garden Route, or a few nights on safari, they’re a gay tour company with something for everyone.
#14 Queer Tuscany Tours
Queer Tuscany Tours is a gay tour company founded by Francesco Calanca, a Florence-based licensed tour guide. His gay tours are aimed at rediscovering the neglected aspects of LGBTQ+ features in Renaissance art.
Learn about the history of the gay and lesbian community in Florence as well the love lives of great Renaissance masters like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Donatello.
Queer Tuscany Tours shows travelers the most celebrated museums in Florence, including the Uffizi and the Accademia galleries, the Pitti Palace, and the Bargello among others.
In addition to Florence, they also offer gay tours in Tuscany, Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano.
Looking for more inclusive gay travel experiences? Check out these fun-filled bear weeks all around the world.
Or attend a popular international gay ski week in Europe, North America, or Australia.
Need gay destination ideas? wolfyy offers gay travel guides to destinations around the world.
