Gay Tours and Travel

Before the trip, I did not fully appreciate the role of the tour leader. I thought we would have a few group activities and then be completely on our own. That was not the case (unless you wanted it to be that way). Dan, our excellent leader, asked who wanted to do what optional activities and then tried to schedule so that we could do them together. It made the experience so much richer to be with new friends. Also, he planned group dinners most every night. Everyone didn't do every meal, but when I wanted to be with a group and not have to think about where to go for dinner, I could join the group. Same with going out after dinner. It truly was the best of both worlds -- having social time with friends when I wanted it, but also having the freedom and flexibility to explore on my own or have solo time when I needed that. The tour itself was wonderful, but I think this flexibility coupled with the expertise of the tour leader made Detours unique. I absolutely will travel with them again.

Detours Travel gave me the trip of a lifetime and one of the best weeks of my life in a castle in Italy! I booked this trip for the first time a little less than a year ago based on raving reviews from a friend of mine and Detours lived up to the reviews and then some. Every single detail gets thought through meticulously, leaving me to focus on nothing but relaxing and enjoying the sites. Optional lead tours are available at times, if you choose and each day has the perfect balance of planned activities that you can opt in or out of. I was able to pay for my trip in installments which made financial sense, and any time I had any issue or change needed, a quick email did the trick with no work needed on my end. Travel to and from the destinations are all planned ahead, and trip leaders are knowledgeable, friendly and create an inclusive environment to ensure everyone feels welcome and like friends. The masterminds behind the scenes go out of their way to make sure that this trip is unforgettable, I'm already planning my next one. Thanks Detours!

The Sept. 2024 Greece trip we took with Detours exceeded all expectations! If you are thinking of a Greek Isle trip, do it! If you are thinking about doing it with Detours, do it! We knew we wanted to do a Greece trip, but a cruise didn't seem a good fit. We found Detours and so glad we did.

We didn't really know what to expect in Greece, but were astounded by the beauty of the place. The day sail around Milos is a highlight. The water is unbelievably beautiful. The Santorini villages are amazing, the gay vibe of Mykonos Town & Elia Beach so fun. The Athens acropolis and Delos tours are much more interesting than expected.

Greece is the star of the show, but Detours did a great job facilitating the tour. No way we could have done it ourselves. Detours takes care of so much of the logistics. All the transfers, dinner spots, ferries, the hotels, etc. The pool at the Milos hotel was a favorite.

Darren the trip leader was fun, engaging, and knowledgeable. He made everyone feel included, always there for questions & help. He was awesome.

I just got home from 12 days in Spain with Brandon (and Clay in training)... this trip was nothing short of amazing. It was my first time to all of the locations on the trip. In real life, I like to be in control of everything... but on this trip, I handed it over to the most unflappable, kind, energetic, creative and outstanding team leader (Brandon) that anyone could wish for. There was not a T uncrossed or an I undotted... in the trip descriptions, it appears that you may have to figure out more than you actually do... if you want a trip where you can leave your brain at home, you can have it... if you want a lot of free time, you can do that too. You always have dinner companions, like minded excursion buddies and photographers if you want them. For purposes of anyone who might think they are too young or old, our age group ranged from 30 to early 60's (I am closer to the older side of that group lol), but it did not make a difference! I would say the trip gave me an opportunity to grow, reflect, energize and enjoy. It was truly one of those trips that make you feel even better about life when it was done. I truly cannot thank Brandon enough for his leadership... Clay for his partnership... and the many friends I made on this trip (you know who your are!)... I haven't laughed as much as I did in this trip in a long time... stop pondering whether you should book it, just do it... you will not regret it!

This was our first experience using a company to plan our vacation and Detours has completely exceeded our expectations. I gave them 5 stars because there is no option for 6 or 7 stars. Our group leader Ollie and our tour guide Hend were superb! Hend not only took charge at all the ticket counters facilitating our entry into all the historical sites she provided a wealth of knowledge at each site giving detail explanations regarding the historical information of each site. Ollie kept our vacation rolling smoothly ensuring everyone knew exactly where we were supposed to be and at what time we needed to meet. He kept everything light and fun but was still able to keep 12 gay men on track which can be harder to do than herding cats but he did it and made it fun.

There was one afternoon where we had lunch at a local families house. At first I was concerned about how comfortable I would be going into someone's home but our host Mia and her family not only provided us with a banquet of absolutely delicious local food, all made by her, but gave us all an insight into the life of an Egyptian family. I send Mia 5 stars as well. There were so many memorable moments on this trip they would be impossible to list. Thank you Ollie, Hend and Detours for making this trip so wonderful and memorable.

Wonderfully run tours for gay men. I took their 12 day tour of Spain which included Barcelona, Granada, Sevilla and Madrid.

I enjoyed their helpful yet flexible format so much I'm planning my next tour with them.

Unlike other group tours, you're not stuck on a bus and forced into their schedule. You can go with the group to popular locations or you can spend time on your own, or both! It's really the best of both worlds, having a reliable tour leader to take you to see the sites--as well as having all the free time you want to explore on your own.

There's a walking tour of each city, and a list of the most popular sites. You choose what you want to do, and the tour leader creates a schedule so your interests don't conflict.

You go to big attractions, like Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, as a group because they've arranged for tickets in advance (without which you can't get in).

Our group leader, Dan, was always helpful, organized, kind, cheerful, always calm, and funny. He made sure we got to see what we wanted to see, either as a group or individually.

The 14 gay guys on the trip were all good-natured and easy to get along with.

As well as having a great format, Detours is also an excellent value as travel gets more expensive. You stay at lovely, centrally located hotels, with a buffet breakfast included to keep you going all day. The group meets for dinner which you can attend or not, as always, it's your choice.

Transportation between cities on the tour are also included.

It's a low stress, great fun way to discover the world with like-minded people.

I took my first and certainly not the last Detours trip. It was to Portugal and Morocco, in October. My tour Guides Ollie and Shane were awesome. They helped with any questions and looked into any additional activities that you might want to do. I specifically asked about a balloon ride in Morocco that was one of my highlights. The accommodations were all great. This trip exceeded all my expectations. I have always been a solo traveler and it was nice to share this with fellow travelers. I found I did activities I most likely would have not done on my own. Taking a Tajine cooking class, gone on a camel ride, private dinner for the group at someone's home. This gave me the opportunity to explore and understand the culture and perspective of life that I would have missed otherwise. There were many planned activities but also plenty of down time, to do your own thing. I look forward to many more Detours adventures.

I completed my first Detours trip to South Africa and I'm still in amazement of the experience. South Africa is amazing and so is Detours. Anytime we had a question, Miles or his team was quick to answer and assist in anyway they could. Our trip leader Darren was a complete joy who took the time getting to know each of us and helping us bond. This is the first time I've connected with my tour group and want to stay in touch with them. Several of us are planning future trips together. If you want an amazing experience and do something more than just seeing the sights, do a Detours tour. I'm so excited I took the chance and now part of the Detours family. Detours builds community on their trips so it feels like a bunch of friends decided to go on holiday together.

Just finished up my 9th trip with Detours Travel and it was yet again another incredible trip! My first trip was in Costa Rica in 2015. Since then I have traveled with Detours to Peru, Thailand, South Africa, Croatia, Israel/Jordan, Italy, Scandinavia and New Zealand. If you are looking for a memorable trip with amazing adventures, I highly recommend you book with Detours! I am less than a week from returning from New Zealand and already thinking about my next trip.