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Frequently Asked Questions

I've never taken a gay tour before. Is it safe?
Our clients are sophisticated travellers who understand that there are many points-of-view around the world and that not all of them are as open to gay lifestyles as Western cultures – at least not yet. Our approach is low-key and we rarely attract any type of unusual attention as a group anywhere we go. That said, in certain places one must take care to bear in mind local sensibilities and behave accordingly. Our Tour Leaders, local guides, and agents are there to ensure that all participants are fully aware of local etiquette and do everything they can to ensure our safety.
Who are my fellow travellers?
Our tours are destination focused and attract inquisitive, often well-educated, well-read and informed travellers who go on vacation to relax, have fun, meet new people, and be exposed to different cultures and points-of-view. Though it's always hard to predict exactly how each group will shape up, our guaranteed share program and reasonable single supplements mean that we get a good number of singles on average. We attract an English-speaking crowd from Canada, the USA, and Australia. Age-wise, our groups are made all the more interesting with a broad range of life experiences. Everyone brings something unique to the group dynamic; though our clients usually fall between 35 and 55, we often get people well outside of this range.
Are OGA's Tour Leaders and local guides gay?
While most of our Tour Leaders are gay, some of them are not (though they should be as they are all just simply fabulous!) Tours that take place in countries where there is a vibrant gay scene will usually have a gay Tour Leader and/or gay local guides. Tours that occur where such things are not so important will enjoy the services of an expert, gay-friendly leader whose main qualification is simply being the best person for the job.
Will OGA find me a roommate? Are there many single travellers?
Yes and yes! We have a share programme whereby we'll happily match you with a same-sex roommate (we never match smokers and non-smokers). If we are unable to find you a share partner, you may end up with your own room at no extra charge (on most tours; a few trips have a "forced" single charge). Though we cannot give out personal information about your potential share partner, we do our best to match ages if possible. If you prefer to have your own room, we can book you on a single supplement basis. Our reasonable supplements and guaranteed share option attracts many single travellers. Though such a thing is difficult to guarantee or predict, many of our trips are comprised of 25-50% singles.
What about flights?
The "Land Prices" shown on this site include any flights that occur within your tour, but NOT international airfare from/to your home airport. Outgoing Adventures has a full in-house flights reservations and ticketing department experienced in booking routings to exotic and obscure (and not so obscure) destinations. Once your chosen tour achieves our minimum numbers in order to operate, we can provide a detailed air quote from/to your home airport. Prior to that, you can refer to your favourite online flights booking engine in order to get a rough idea what you might be looking at in terms of fare and routing. Please note that our quote will likely come in higher than what you might find online; travellers who do book their air with us, however, do so for the "one stop shopping" convenience and for the value of our support in the event that something goes wrong, such as a cancellation of missed connection. Along with your air, we will also provide airport transfers at destination, which we do not include if you book your flights elsewhere.
What's included? What's not included?
Inclusions: Shared accommodation in three/four star hotels (higher in some locales); Breakfast daily. Dinners as per the daily itinerary description; Land transportation while on tour; flights as outlined; Sightseeing and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary; Services of an expert Tour Leader; Gratuities (except for your OGA Tour Leader); Porter service where available (note: not all tours have porter service). Arrival and departure transfers if you book your air though us.

Not included: Airport departure taxes or user fees; Border taxes and fees, if applicable; Visa and permit fees, if applicable; Trip Cancellation/Interruption/Medical insurance; Single supplement charges, if requested; Tour Leader gratuities; Additional exclusions and meals as outlined on our itineraries. Arrival/departure transfers are not included for "Land Only" participants or "Land & Air" participants who arrive early / depart late and do NOT book extra hotel nights though us.

Are there women on your trips? Is it any problem if a straight friend or family member joins me on a trip?
Though most of our trips are largely male-dominated, we welcome gay or gay-friendly travellers of any gender. A mixture of like-minded people make for a more interesting and varied experience overall. If you have a friend who would feel comfortable in such a situation, then we're sure that the sentiment will be mutual.
What is the maximum number of participants on a trip? Is there a charge for small groups (under 10 participants)?
Our land costs are typically based on 10 to 18 full-paying trip members. If there are fewer than 10, fixed costs make the per person trip expenses higher. Our travellers typically prefer to pay a small group surcharge rather than have their trip cancelled. This amount may 10-15% of the land price; this option will be offered to you as an alternative to a full refund.
Do you allow smoking on your tours?
Smoking is not permitted on any group transport or during official sightseeing excursions.

Smoking is permitted in your own designated smoking room, private areas, and in smoking sections during meal times (if available).

Do you have the ability to deal with someone with special meal requirements?
In most instances we can satisfy travellers with special meal requirements. Any dietary restrictions communicated to us are noted with respect to included meals on tour; however, we cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. The best way to ensure a satisfactory experience is to have a word with your Tour Leader upon arrival at destination. If you have any concerns/questions pertaining to meals prior to reservation, please contact us
Are there any specific health requirements for your tours?
For most of our tours, anyone of an average fitness level can participate. Anyone aged 75 or older may be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. Many of our more active trips, and/or tours that occur at high altitudes (ie, Peru) will require a medical questionnaire to be signed by a physician, regardless of age.

No countries require an HIV test for the casual tourist. However, some countries will question anyone arriving into the country who appears ill. All HIV+ travellers must ensure that they have an adequate supply of medicines for the duration of their tour. All HIV+ travellers should discuss protection with their physicians before undertaking any overseas trip.

Can I extend my tour either at the beginning or end? What about stopovers?
Yes, you can extend your tour either at the beginning or the end. We can arrange accommodation in the same hotel used on the tour. Stopovers are often permitted, depending on air routing, though they usually involve a "stopover" fee levied by the airline.
Do you arrange customized trips for clubs, corporate groups, or small groups of friends?
Absolutely. We can customize any of our itineraries, or something unique that you come up with, for a minimum of 10 passengers. Give us the what, when, and where, and we'll do the rest. We reward group organizers with a discounted rate or ever free travel, depending on the number of participants.
How do I make a reservation? How and when do I pay?
The easiest way to make a reservation is via our website; during office hours, you are also more than welcome to contact us by telephone. Most of our tours require a $500 per-person deposit (some trips require a higher deposit) to hold your space, which can be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Your deposit is non-refundable once paid, unless we cancel your tour due to insufficient enrolment. Your final balance is due 60 days prior to departure. A $125 per person discount will be applied to final balance payments made by means other than credit card--cheque, wire transfer, or online bill payment. Once we have received your deposit, we will confirm your space and send you a confirmation package containing important information on how to plan for your trip as well as some simple forms for you to complete and return to us. Your air tickets, final hotel list, and final tour itinerary will be sent approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure.
What are OGA's accreditations ?
Outgoing Adventures, operating under the auspices of our parent company, Adventures Abroad World Wide Travel Ltd, is fully licensed and affiliated with numerous travel industry regulators in Canada, USA and the UK. Click here to review our accreditations and booking terms.
I see that you don't include lunches. How does this work?
On most of our tours, we leave lunches to your own account. Most of our travellers prefer to eat lightly midday and forgo the time and expense of a pre-booked sit down group meal. This also allows for a greater flexibility overall such that we are not slaves to a set reservation time and place. This doesn't mean, however, that no provision is made for lunch. Your Tour Leader will always, of course, factor a lunch break into every day's program. This usually involves an informal stop at a place where several options may be available—you are free to find something to your own liking or, of course, forgo lunch entirely and use the time to explore or shop, etc. In some places where there might be limited choice, your Tour Leader may suggest something that is pre-arranged and paid for by each traveller directly after the meal. Now and then we'll also take a lunch box with us from the previous night's hotel, or enjoy a picnic lunch somewhere along our route. Occasionally, due to logistical considerations, your Tour Leader may substitute lunch for dinner should it better fit our schedule and activities. This will be announced by your leader while on tour.
Do you have a share program?
Yes! If you are single traveller and are willing to share, we will do our best to pair you with a same-gender roommate. On most of our tour, if we fail to pair you, we will absorb the single supplement fee and you will default to a single room at no extra charge. At some destinations, however, where single rooms are not significantly discounted, or not at all, we may apply a "mandatory" single in the event that we cannot find you a share partner. This is usually 50% of the usual supplement, but can be as much as 100%. If applicable, this proviso will be noted on each tour page on this website, on your invoice, and in our tour date/price book (available for download under "Resources").
I am a single who prefers my own room. What is a single supplement?
All of our tours have a single supplement for those who want to be guaranteed their own room at each location. This supplement is a reflection of the fact that most hotels around the world do not discount the regular twin-share rate for a room by 50% for only one person occupying a room. Most hotels will give a break on the price, but usually in the range of 25-30% of the twin-share rate. This difference, multiplied by each night, amounts to the single supplement. The conventional amount can also vary from country to country and some destinations are more expensive than others for single occupancy. In order to be "single friendly," the supplements we apply are not a profit centre for us and we do our best to keep them as reasonable as possible. On most tours we limit the number of singles available, not to be punitive, but rather because many hotels allow for only a limited number of singles; some smaller hotels at remote locations also have a limited number of single rooms available. Please note that most single rooms around the world are smaller than twin-share rooms and will likely have only one bed.