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Superb Tours for Discerning Gay & Lesbian Travelers Since 1998 |
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ESCORTED SMALL-GROUP
TOURS
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| TRIP | DESCRIPTION | ||
| Southern
Africa Trifecta: Cape Town + Botswana Wildlife Safari + Victoria Falls 11 days May 3 - 13, 2010 |
A fantastic tour that blends a splendid sampling of African
culture, incredible wildlife, other outdoor activities, and gorgeous
scenery -- beginning in Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful
cities and the gay center of Africa. We will cover a vast, majestic
land, and this is sure to be a trip of a lifetime! Luxury camps in Botswana
complement our wildlife safari activities. And witness the majesty of
Victoria Falls -- the greatest show of its kind on the planet! View photos of 2009 trip. |
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| Turkish
Delight: Istanbul, Ephesus & Sailing the Turquoise Coast 10 days May 20 - 29, 2010 |
This amazing trip starts out in fascinating Istanbul -- crossroads of Europe and Asia -- with its tantalizing sights, sounds, and smells. Three nights here are then followed by an in-depth visit to one of the best preserved ancient Roman cities -- incredible Ephesus. We then head down to the sea, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean, and here we board our gulets (traditional Turkish sailboats, now modernized for our comfort) and spend four relaxing days exploring the waters, villages, and ancient ruins of the area while enjoying delicious meals on board. | ||
| Medieval
Hilltowns of Italy 8 days September 18 - 25, 2010 |
One of Venture Out’s most popular tours in our early days (1998-2001) was our “Hilltowns of Tuscany” itinerary. Here’s another take on that with a whole new assortment of amazing medieval towns that you’ve probably never been to but are well worth your while to experience! Our tour meets in Rome before heading north to explore the wonderful towns and cities of Orvieto, Assisi, Gubbio, Perugia, and Spoleto, among others. Also on our program are unique opportunities to visit interesting local artisans’ workshops and a modern art gallery; to go truffle hunting; and to taste superb olive oil at its source! | ||
| Bhutan
- Inside a Himalayan Mountain Kingdom |
Nestled into the lofty Himalaya mountains between Tibet
and India, the kingdom of Bhutan is one of the most exotic destinations
in the world today — a unique place that few outsiders have had
the privilege of visiting. In this mystical and mountainous land of
deities and demons, ethereal fortress-monasteries, red-robed monks,
and a thriving Buddhist culture await. The king decrees "Gross
National Happiness" as the standard by which to measure the country's
wealth. For centuries Bhutan followed a policy of isolation. Only in
the second half of the 20th century did this amazingly beautiful “Shangri-La”
open its doors to the world, throwing off its veil of mystery. The Bhutanese
government pursues a very cautious and controlled approach to tourism
development, as they are extremely keen to safeguard this tiny country’s
environment and its amazingly rich, carefully preserved cultural heritage.
The effort involved in visiting this unique country is well worth it
for the trip of a lifetime! Our cultural tour will coincide with one of Bhutan’s traditional village festivals, where the dances performed bring blessings to onlookers. These are not held as tourist attractions but are genuine manifestations of Mahayana Buddhist traditions hundreds of years old. Outsiders are privileged to witness these sacred and beautiful rituals. |
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| Vietnam,
Cambodia & Mekong River Cruise 15 days November 22 to December 6, 2010 {Cruise-Only Option Available} |
Our journey begins in Vietnam’s bustling capital, Hanoi, followed by an excursion to fabled Ha Long Bay. Said to be the lair of dragons, the bay’s limestone outcroppings provide a breathtaking setting for an overnight sojourn on a luxury junk. The next day, a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, brings us to the gateway of the largest ancient city in the world. Explore Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site laden with magnificent temples that once heralded the grandeur of the Khmer empire. Nearby, Tonle Sap Lake provides the launching point for our graceful and deluxe Mekong River adventure. We cruise in luxury from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), with calls at Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Tan Chau, Sa Dec, and Cai Be. Experience life on the river from small rural villages to the booming capital of Phnom Penh, visiting temples, floating markets, and much more along the way during your unforgettable Mekong River odyssey. | ||
| Indochina:
Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos 14 days February 8 - 21, 2011 February 21 - 24, 2011 (Optional Laos Extension) |
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos are filled with romantic images that transport visitors into the past: gold-leafed pagodas glinting in the tropical sun; handsome French colonial architecture under a canopy of frangipani trees; ornate royal capitals; straw-roofed sampans drifting down languid rivers; young monks draped in saffron-colored robes. Our fascinating journey shows us the irresistible treasures of “Indochina” in settings like breathtaking Ha Long Bay with its emerald waters and stunning rock formations; in Hoi An, Vietnam's beautiful 16th-century trading port; at Angkor Wat, Cambodia's surreal, jungle-shrouded city of temples; and in Luang Prabang, the heart of the old Lao kingdom, with its tranquil rural rhythms and dramatic setting on the Mekong River. | ||
| The
Wonders of Egypt: Featuring a Nile Cruise Aboard our Exclusive "Dahabiya" 11 days February 18 - 28, 2011 |
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 River, where we cruise in the wake of the Pharaohs on our very own 14-passenger 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. | ||
| Lawrence's
Arabia: Historical Jordan 9 days February 28 to March 8, 2011 |
Jordan’s sites of antiquity are straight out of an archaeologist’s wildest dream, including fabled Petra, the long-lost city of the Nabateans and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Jerash, a fabulously preserved Roman city. The ancient legacy of Jordan is rivaled by the stunning beauty of its landscape, from the dramatic desert canyon of Wadi Rum, haunt of T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), to the legendary Dead Sea. World-class snorkeling and diving are on offer at the Red Sea resort town of Aqaba. In addition to all that Jordanians themselves enjoy a reputation for being most hospitable, and along the way we’ll enjoy wonderful interactions with the Jordanian people. | ||
| Medieval
Hilltowns of Italy 8 days May 19 - 26, 2011 |
One of Venture Out’s most popular tours in our early days (1998-2001) was our “Hilltowns of Tuscany” itinerary. Here’s another take on that with a whole new assortment of amazing medieval towns that you’ve probably never been to but are well worth your while to experience! Our tour meets in Rome before heading north to explore the wonderful towns and cities of Orvieto, Assisi, Gubbio, Perugia, and Spoleto, among others. Also on our program are unique opportunities to visit interesting local artisans’ workshops; to have a fun cooking session and enjoy the meal afterwards in a beautiful historic villa; and to taste superb olive oil at its source! | ||
| Turkish
Delight: Istanbul, Ephesus & Sailing the Turquoise Coast 10 days June 2-11, 2011 |
This amazing trip starts out in fascinating Istanbul -- crossroads of Europe and Asia -- with its tantalizing sights, sounds, and smells. Three nights here are then followed by an in-depth visit to one of the best preserved ancient Roman cities -- incredible Ephesus. We then head down to the sea, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean, and here we board our gulets (traditional Turkish sailboats, now modernized for our comfort) and spend four relaxing days on our sailboats exploring the waters, villages, and ancient ruins of the area while enjoying delicious meals on board. | ||
| Southern
Africa Trifecta: Cape Town + Botswana Wildlife Safari + Victoria Falls 9 days September 7 - 15, 2011 Optional Extension to Hwange: September 15 - 18, 2011 |
A fantastic tour that blends a splendid sampling of African
culture, incredible wildlife, other outdoor activities, and gorgeous
scenery -- beginning in Cape Town, one of the world’s
most beautiful cities. We will cover a vast, majestic land, and this
is sure to be a trip of a lifetime! A luxury "camp" in Botswana's
famed Okavango Delta complements our wildlife safari
activities. And we'll witness the majesty of Victoria Falls
-- the greatest show of its kind on the planet! For those who have a
little more time and want a more in-depth safari experience, we have
a wonderful extension to nearby Hwange National Park
-- the size of Connecticut and one of Africa's premier game viewing
regions! View photos of 2010 trip. |
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| Journey
through China 10 days October 12-21, 2011 October 21-24, 2011 (Optional Shanghai Extension) |
Some of us might have visited China’s classic destinations in the 1980s when the sheer majesty and newness (to foreigners) of this once-isolated giant were enthralling. That newness just keeps on getting newer: China is perhaps the fastest-changing country in the world. Even if you went when it first opened up to tourism, chances are a return visit here will be just as eye-popping. Our Journey through China begins with sojourns to the signature monuments of Beijing: the awesome Great Wall, the history-saturated Forbidden City, and the stunning catapulting modern city itself. We head then to the traditional starting point of the Silk Road, Xi’an, where we dally with the haunting Terracotta Warriors. We fly south to Guangxi Province for a lovely float on the Li River, meandering beneath the region’s delicately monumental karsts, some of the most astonishing scenery on earth. Then it’s up to Longji for hikes among the stunning Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, an extraordinary example of extreme rice terracing and very visually captivating. We end with an optional few days’ extension in the beehive megalopolis of Shanghai before heading home. | ||
