Gay Tours and Travel

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.

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.

The 12-day tour of New Zealand was an absolute adventure from start to finish! Exploring Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, and Queenstown provided a diverse and captivating experience that left us in awe of this beautiful country.

Highlights included ascending the Sky Tower in Auckland, where the panoramic views took our breath away. The wine tour on Waiheke Island introduced us to some of the finest local wines in a picturesque setting. Hobbiton was a dream come true for any Lord of the Rings fan, with its charming hobbit holes and lush landscapes.

The thrill of Zorbing in Rotorua was unlike anything we've ever experienced, adding an exciting twist to our journey. And who could forget the majestic beauty of Milford Sound? Flying back from Milford Sound to Queenstown on a Cessna plane was an unforgettable highlight, offering unparalleled views of the stunning fjords and rugged landscapes below.

Throughout the trip, our tour leader, Chase, went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly. From organizing activities to providing insightful suggestions, Chase's expertise and enthusiasm enhanced our experience tremendously.

In conclusion, the journey through New Zealand was nothing short of extraordinary. From its vibrant cities to its breathtaking natural wonders, this tour showcased the best that this remarkable country has to offer. We returned home with memories that will last a lifetime and a deep appreciation for the beauty of New Zealand. Highly recommended for any adventure seeker!

My husband & I recently returned from the October 2023 Spain trip. We really loved our Detour Tours travel experience. Our trip was made up of 16 fellow travelers - 4 couples & 8 singles who were all personable and easy going. We had a wonderful Tour Leader, Scott, who was very knowledgeable, experienced, approachable and looked out for all of us.  He went out of his way to be inclusive and was a great source of information on the local sites and activities.  Detours arranged the hotel accommodations, the airport transfers, and the travel between the 4 amazing cities of Barcelona, Granada, Seville, and Madrid. The tour included walking tours and a major attraction at the start of each destination city, but the rest of the time we were free to explore, join a group activity, or just chill in our hotel room or a nearby cafe. Our favorite experiences were the walking tours because the local gay tour guides were so knowledgeable, informative and personable. We learned a lot about the rich local history and culture of the Spanish cities we visited.  Our second favorite experiences were the fun group dinners and pre-and post dinner drinks that Scott organized and which most of us joined in. Although there was no pressure to join in other optional activities, we ended up signing up for a number of them such as cooking class, watching a flamenco show, and seeing the Prado Museum. They were all memorable and fun. Thank you Scott & Detours. If you are looking for a well run LGBT group travel experience, we strongly recommend Detours Travel. Victor and Jim from Palm Springs CA.

I can't say enough good things about Detours Travel! Every aspect from the pre-trip communications through to the last group dinner was first rate. Our trip leader, Brandon, was outstanding! Very personable, knowledgeable, and highly organized. I especially like that Detours limits the group size to 16. So you get to know and bond easily with a group of like-minded travelers. We have already booked our next Detours adventure and can't wait to join them again!

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.

Choosing Detours Travel was the best decision I have very made seriously, without a doubt the best vacation I have ever had!!!!!

I have never traveled with a group of 16 Gay Men of various backgrounds, interests; to be very honest this was an "out of the box" moment for me which caused much anxiety going in.

From the moment I arrived in Athens a day early I reached out via What's App to see who was in town, hooked up with 3 guys in a few hours and the adventure began.

Our Leader Brandon who was in contact with us as soon as we began the adventure and continued to check on all the group several times either in person or on line, everyday this man is on top of everything!
He instantly wins everyone over with his amazing energetic, positive, humorous, welcoming, kind, warm, personality he knows his business inside and out nothing stumps him he always comes thru even after hours.
What a beyond excellent representative for Detours Travel
Bravo Brandon!!!!!

The trip every detail looked after amazing transfers, hotels, restaurants, scheduled and extra tours offered ( no hard sell just suggestions you may want to pursue or not )

Any of my friends knows I am a tough demanding customer with high standards.
I can honestly say all were met no complaints whatsoever ever I would go on another Detours adventure for sure maybe only travel this way from now on

Two more things I will share:

1/ I had a little incident with an ATV vehicle no injury to me whatsoever Brandon managed me and was the go between with vendor keeping me informed with calming grace and figuring all out.

2/ before reaching our last destination Brandon shared there was problem with my room but assured me it would be handled as it was; when we reached hotel the management was amazing laid out the options which I agreed to - Amazing Property & Service.

That is it...... having a tough time..... without Detours & Brandon getting thru may days without their guidance

Cheers to you all,

A Detours travel experience is like no other and I simply cannot recommend them more highly. If you enjoy well-planned, yet flexible itineraries, experienced trip leaders, knowledgeable local guides, high-quality accommodations, and small groups that breed new friendships, then you'll love Detours.

We've taken 2 trips with Detours. One to Egypt and one to Thailand & Cambodia. In both cases, our trip leader, Shane, was the ultimate host. We've loved every minute of these trips and will go on another as soon as we can. Detours was started ten years ago (we got to celebrate their birthday in Cambodia!) by guys who are passionate about travel and wanted to build a brand that could extend that passion to their guests. They've cracked that code and we are thrilled to have been referred to them by friends.

Detours balances hundreds of factors to build amazing travel experiences that are affordable yet lean into higher quality. This is no budget vacation package but it's also not a luxury package. And speaking of packages, while there is a framework of itinerary and pre-booked activities, there is also a lot of flexibility built-in. With small groups up to about 15 guests, this allows time to go off on your own or in small groups with newly-minted Detourse friends to explore your location. That's perfect for seasoned travelers as well as those who are just beginning to experience international travel.

Happy 10th Birthday, Detours! We are so thrilled to have found you and highly recommend that readers of this review visit your website and find their next trip of a lifetime!

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!