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WELCOME
TO OUR WONDERFUL WORLD OF GUIDED TOURS & CRUISES FOR GAY TRAVELERS & OUR FRIENDS |
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| TRIP | DESCRIPTION |
Along Italy's Amalfi Coast: Cooking, Rambling, Relaxing7 days |
Experience the jewel that is Italy's Amalfi Coast — one of Europe's most spectacular coastlines — as we spend a fun-filled week with a true insider's perspective. Local families of the area (including a renowned professional chef) invite us in for cooking sessions, and we also enjoy some easy-going (optional) walks to tucked-away, untrampled points of interest in the dramatic mountains offering stunning views along the coast. Of course, we’ll have to make stops at some of the Amalfi Coast’s most delightful villages — Ravello, Amalfi, Positano. But we’ve also incorporated some lesser-known sights that most visitors will never see. A very special visit to long-famous Capri is also featured where we enjoy the island’s delights in a unique way. |
Andalucia! Soulful Southern Spain 10 days |
This itinerary will take us to some of Spain's grandest palaces -- the stunning Alhambra in Granada and the Alcázar of Seville, plus two of the country's most magnificent cathedrals -- those of Seville and Córdoba, converted from a magnificent mosque. Also featured is the charming country town of old Moorish Ronda with its winding streets perfect for wandering and split in two by a fantastic gorge. And we get caught up in the passions of flamenco music and dancing in the old quarter of Seville. The "Dancing Horses" at the Andalucian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera (world-renowned for its sherry production) is another fun stop on our route! |
La Belle France: From Lyon to the Alps 9 days |
In this unique tour we introduce you to the breathtaking beauty of southeastern France from the culinary capital of Lyon to the magnificent Alps and a plethora of quaint villages and cultural sights in between. You will experience the authentic French life by meeting locals on market day, spending a day at the home of one of our guides, and tasting local products such as Chartreuse liqueur, walnut oil, and chocolate. On day trips, you will encounter the diversity of this amazing region, returning to a wonderful hotel in Aix les Bains at the end of each day. |
| Guatemala 7 days July 6 - 12, 2008 Guatemala & Belize 11 days July 6 - 16, 2008 |
Guatemala's charms are as varied as the riotous colors woven into its famed fabrics. Our journey incorporates the fantastic Maya ruins of Tikal and the colonial splendor of Antigua -- both exquisitely preserved through the centuries -- as well as the breathtaking natural beauty of Lake Atitlán ringed by volcanoes. And then, for those who have a little more time, we cross the border into Belize, journeying through lush rainforest and mountains, observing the wildlife and fauna, and eventually reaching the coast where we can relax in a beautiful beach environment and enjoy this wonderful part of the Caribbean Sea. Throughout our journey we stay in charming, unique first-class lodgings and enjoy fine meals. |
| Provençal
Pleasures: The Beauty of Southern France 8 days September 6 - 13, 2008 |
Romantic landscapes that have inspired generations of artists are only some of what sun-drenched Provence has to offer. Architecture that spans millennia, a fascinating cultural legacy, world-class wines, and superb cuisine make this cultural tour a perfect introduction to the wonders of the south of France. Join us as we explore the tradition, elegance, and warmth of Provence while soaking in the stunning scenery and charming villages. |
| Peru
Explorer: Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon & Lake Titicaca 11 days September 8 - 18, 2008 |
In 2008 we're expanding our Peru itinerary to include not just Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco but also Peru's most handsome colonial city -- Arequipa ("the White City"), the stunning Colca Canyon, and the amazing and beautiful Lake Titicaca! On this tour we will journey back in time to the stone huts, the fields of quinoa, and the brightly clothed Quechuan people first encountered by the Spaniards. We visit the Sacred Valley (paradise on earth for the Incas), the famous, dazzling citadel of Machu Picchu, and the imperial-colonial city of Cusco itself. A visit to Arequipa evokes the Spanish colonial influence in this country with the Santa Catalina monastery one of the highlights. Remote and rugged Colca Canyon is where we will see the great condors fly. We also get to enjoy wonderful hot springs there. And at Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, we soak in the stunning beauty of the snow-capped Andes ringing the lake and witness the traditional way of life of the local culture. |
| Turkish
Delight: Istanbul, the Turquoise Coast & Cappadocia 11 days October 16 - 26, 2008 |
The magic of Turkey bubbles over in its history, culture, gastronomy, humanity, and exotic nature. Turkey bills itself, and rightfully so, as the "Cradle of Civilization," boasting more Greek ruins than Greece and more Roman archaeological sites than all of Italy. We begin in the wonder that is Istanbul, the seat of three former world empires, a symbol of greatness, and coveted through the centuries. The exquisitely beautiful Turquoise Coast is next, where mountains drop into turquoise, emerald and sapphire waters. A highlight of any visit to Turkey, Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient cities on the Mediterranean. We finish in Cappadocia -- a stark lunar landscape, a mysterious open-air sculpture carved by nature. So-called "fairy chimneys" dot the countryside. We visit a sophisticated underground city, troglodyte dwellings, rock-cut churches, and the Göreme Open Air Museum. |
| The
Wonders of Egypt: Featuring a Nile Cruise Aboard our Exclusive "Dahabiya" 12 days December 24, 2008 - January 4, 2009 |
Egypt is a glorious open-air museum of astounding temples and monuments. We take in the full measure of Egypt’s epic 5,000-year-long story from the Great Pyramids to the legendary Nile, where we cruise in the wake of the Pharaohs on our very own Dahabiya. The grand-scale Temple of Karnak, the famed tomb of young Tutankhamen, and the haunting mortuary temple of Ramses the Great are among the wonders of our inspiring journey. We also visit the storied city of Alexandria, once the home of Queen Cleopatra, to explore its marvelous Greco-Roman treasures. |
| Hawaiian
Islands! -- A Luxury Yacht Cruise 8 days February 7 - 14, 2009 |
Discover Hawaii's Old Traditions in a Unique New Way Join us for a unique luxury yacht adventure in America's very own tropical isles. Hawaii's underwater seascape is as spectacular as the lofty and often active volcanoes high overhead. On this exploration you'll see five islands, plus one tiny islet, as you enjoy adventures both in the water and on land. And no worries about inter-island flights, packing and unpacking, and transfers! Each day's itinerary is flexible; whales, wildlife and whimsy all have a part to play. We are not just beelining from port to port or place to place. The relatively small size of the ship enables it to go where big ships can’t! |
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If you'd like to receive occasional announcements about our trips, news, specials, etc., please join our list. Thank you! Following are just a small sampling of some of the other tours we've operated over the years. Should you have your own private group, we would be glad to organize one of these trips for you. (Minimum group size applies.) |
| Great Gardens & Villas of Italy |
A cultural exploration into the passionate soul and spirit of Italy, displayed in magnificent country estates and urban gardens of the Renaissance and other periods set in the glorious landscapes of the late Italian summer . An appealing assortment includes: the gardens of the Lakes Region, Tuscany, the environs of Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and the Bay of Naples. |
| Dutch
Treat: Cycling through Holland |
Summertime cycling through the (flat!) countryside of Holland is great fun, and the towns we roll through are quintessentially Dutch: Edam, Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda, and Utrecht — with their interesting museums, beautiful architecture, picturesque canals, and cheese and craft markets. And of course, enticing Amsterdam — with its annual Gay Pride celebration just before we begin our bike tour! |
| Ultimate Sicily! | Experience this magical Mediterranean island on an intense cultural odyssey exploring the artistic and architectural treasures left by Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, and Spanish influences — along with Sicily’s unique cuisine and gorgeous scenery. Highlights include Monreale’s stunning Norman cathedral; the ancient Greek temples of Segesta and Agrigento; the haunting medieval hill town of Erice; the extensive Roman mosaics at Villa Casale; historic Syracuse; and the beautiful hilltop resort town of Taormina. |
Rome
In-Depth: |
In Rome there is so much to see, hear, eat, smell, and absorb that the city is endlessly exhilarating — and possibly overwhelming. So leave it to us to not only handle the logistics, but also show you much of the Eternal City that most tourists don't ever see! We'll take you on an incredible 2,000-year-old odyssey showing you treasures from the city's Classical and Early Christian periods, to Romanesque, on to Renaissance, and arriving at the Baroque . . . This is La Dolce Vita! |