8 Great Ways to Experience LGBTQ+ Adventure Travel

LGBTQ+ adventure travel enthusiasts aren't much different from anyone else when planning a thrill-seeking vacation — heart-pounding excitement, gorgeous natural beauty and a healthy dose of adrenaline are all par for the course. However, an equally important factor that makes this segment stand out is the need to feel welcome, safe, and respected.

Tour operators are responding to that demand. According to last year’s Adventure Travel Industry Snapshot by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, LGBTQ+ travelers are among the groups that tour operators are increasingly focused on as they diversify their market base. 

From whitewater rafting and mountain trekking to jungle hikes and ocean dives, there are lots of ways for LGBTQ+ travelers to turn up the excitement in an inclusive environment. Here are eight noteworthy options around the world. 

Whitewater Journeys with Community Vibes

OARS, a longtime player in the whitewater rafting industry, is offering three LGBTQ+ rafting trips this year that combine outdoor excitement and a sense of community. The multi-day itineraries include Oregon’s Rogue River (June 7-10), Utah’s Green River (July 15-19) and Idaho’s Main Salmon River (August 25-29), and each is staffed by guides who identify either as LGBTQ+ or allies. Members and friends of the queer community are welcome, and the trips include visits to historic sites, Native American cultural sites and natural wonders.

Scuba Diving

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Out Scuba is a nonprofit organization formed by a group of gay and lesbian scuba enthusiasts that organizes outings designed for divers of every experience level in Florida locations like Blue Heron Bridge in Florida’s Palm Beach County and also hosts dives to clean up local waterways. Barnacle Busters, meanwhile, hosts events in California as well as LGBTQ+ scuba vacations to destinations including Cozumel, Mexico (June 7-14, with accommodations at the Fiesta Americana Cozumel) and Palau, Micronesia (November 20-29, with accommodations at the Palau Royal Resort). 

Luxury and Adventure in Tulum

Adventure travel and sumptuous accommodations aren’t mutually exclusive at Casa Xixim, a villa on Soliman Bay in Tulum, on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Soft adventure and luxurious accommodations are complementary draws, and guests can sign up for curated experiences like jungle cenote excursions and guided visits to Mayan ruins and the UNESCO-listed Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. After exploring the region’s vast natural beauty, guests can savor the hotel’s gourmet cuisine. 

Inclusive Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains

In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Magical Mountain Resorts offers an interesting mix of outdoor activities — and the property’s owner, Shannon Moore, aims to create a welcome space for vacationers of all genders, identities and orientations. Moore’s artistic eye is evident in the accommodations, which include a repurposed double-decker bus and “Alice’s White Bunny Cottage,” a cabin inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Soft adventures at Magical Mountain include trout fishing and hiking the Nantahala National Forest and the Appalachian Trail. 

Breathtaking Altitudes at Mount Everest

Those looking to take the concept of adventure travel to new heights might want to consider the LGBTQ+ hike to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, a 15-day trip offered by EveryQueer (November 3-17). The services of an English-speaking local guide, assistants and porters are included, with stops at top sites in the region, including Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the Everest Base Camp, where participants can visit nearby villages. 

Exploring the Pacific Northwest

Oregon and Washington offer plenty of opportunities for queer-friendly adventures. In Bellevue, Washington, top activities include hiking on Cougar Mountain and paddling Lake Washington. For organized group adventures in the region, Queer Mountaineers offers hikes, gym climbs, mountaineering, ice-climbing clinics and other activities in both Washington and Oregon. 

Feeling the Pride in Southern Africa

Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel Inc. and an LGBTQ+ industry expert, heads the Treadright Foundation’s Pride Safaris program, a series of curated journeys in South Africa and Botswana that feature camps, lodges, hotels and guides trained in inclusivity (in some cases, services are run by members of the LGBTQ+ community). Options include a 10-day South Africa’s Natural Wonders itinerary that features a helicopter ride to the Grootbos private nature reserve and the 11-day Platinum Botswana luxury safari, including the Selinda Reserve and Okavango Delta tours. 

Surfing in Punta de Mita

The W Punta de Mita, a Queer Destinations-certified hotel, provides an ideal base for exploring the wonders of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. Guests can take surfing lessons and make the most of the region's best waves. It’s also easy to arrange excursions inland in the beautiful state of Nayarit and boat trips further out into the Pacific for snorkeling and scuba diving at the Marieta Islands. 

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