Let me begin my review with a little background. I have been in the US Navy for 22 years and am used to a rigid, pre-planned schedule in everything I do. I was a little anxious when I first booked the 15 day tour because I didn't see a by-the-minute itinerary for the trip. I also need to mention the excellent customer service from the entire staff of Detours Travel. From the first email to the final goodbye in Bangkok, every single member of the staff I interacted with was friendly, professional, and above all knowledgeable. It is very obvious that the company really enjoys what it does. I wanted a trip that would not just give me a few highlights staying in large branded hotels, but I was looking for a true flavor of Thailand. Detours came up with the goods and not only delivered, but exceeded all expectations. I saw and experienced much more than we would have if I traveled on my own. It was interesting and varied, with "breathing space" between activities, no pressure to do any specific activity, and air conditioned transport when needed.

I went on the tour by myself and left with 4 new friends. It was so easy-going. Every time someone was supposed to be there to pick us up, they were there. Our guide (Miles) was excellent and navigated the group effortlessly. From the moment I arrived in Thailand everything went like clockwork. All accommodation, trains, internal flights, treks, tours, river trips and visits to local attractions were discussed then arranged as promised. The city of Phuket sticks out in my mind because it was fun and we felt very safe (i.e. to stumble home drunk at 2 am and not feel any worry) and entertained (can't say much more than that J) The Cabaret was entertaining and funny, I highly recommend going to see it, a very talented group of people. Another highlight was the cooking lesson in Phuket. We learned to prepare four traditional Thai dishes, all of which were delicious... In every location, the additional activities were fantastic, with no shortage of things to see and do. All in all a very enjoyable experience! The general summary of everyone's experiences at the end was that we didn't want to leave.

The trip is an amazing value; 14 nights in cool and unique hotels (which you would never find on your own), transportation to and from the islands, dinners and the optional trips were unbeatable. What really makes the difference though between an okay vacation and an amazing holiday is the people you are with and lest we forget the tour guide. Miles Mitchinson was ours, and he made the entire experience all the more enjoyable because he was responsible enough to make sure everything was coordinated but also down to earth and enjoying the nightlife with everyone. The trip gives you a unique mix of culture, history and travel, and ensures that you squeeze everything out of each place you visit and everyday that you are out there...This journey was the best travel decision I have ever made; a truly enriching, emotional, amazing and unforgettable experience.

So after completing the trip and looking back on the experience, I can without reservation or hesitation say this trip was everything I was hoping for and by far, the greatest trip, no the 15 days of my life. I will be booking a trip to Costa Rica next year!

I know all the reviews leave you wondering just how honest are they . Well I can tell you they are 110% accurate . Miles was our trip leader fro Thailand July 2017 and he by far exceeded my expectations . From beginning to end the trip was just fantastic and the group of guys I traveled with I can honestly say I now have 7 new friends ! Don't hesitate !! Book it !! You will not regret it

This was an extremely well planned trip. The experience was pretty magical and unique - from trekking through beautiful jungle, swimming in spectacular waterfalls (all off the beaten path) to enjoying natural hot springs in the dead of night, it seemed like the trip was full of never ending adventure. We also went surfing, ziplining and white water rafting. Each of the accommodations selected by Miles was unique and the food and drink was delicious. Let's just say that I was pretty sad when the trip ended - definitely highly recommend this one!

What an amazing experience, Thailand is such a beautiful and amazing country. If this is something that you been thinking of doing it’s a must with Detours Travel and Miles. Miles and his crew went above and beyond with the preparations beforehand and during the trip. If there was ever a problem Miles was able to fit is before the group even knew (Helps to know the local language). We were able to see the country from a local person perspective. From one of the biggest cities in the world to the most beautiful beach sunset you will ever see. Doing this all in a small group setting. We had 6 in our group and already plan to travel again in the future. Everyone in the group had the opportunity to see what they wanted with the flexible schedule and ease of the group. We all got into Bangkok a few days early and Miles had us out site seeing a day early. Thanks again Detours Travel, this has truly been one of the best trips I have ever been on. I am already looking forward to our next adventure.

I had never thought about going to Thailand before this trip. Miles was so patient with ALL my travel questions, bouncing between all 3 of Detours offered locations. At the time my partner and I registered, there was a political situation and Miles assured us that all would be fine. Even though the country was still under martial law when we were there, there was no sign of anything the news tried to portray as bad. All 15 of us got to view Thailand in its true beauty.
Not only did Miles do an amazing job of keeping tabs on 15 guys wandering through a country of 66 million people, but he kept the whole thing together. From vans, to taxis, to planes, yachts, catamarans, hotel rooms, he did it all! To us, it all appeared seamless, even though we knew he fixed it before we knew about it. He was able to organize any event we could think of.
If you are thinking about Thailand, or any trip with a gay company, Detours is definitely the perfect choice. Never once did I feel unwelcome by any of the other travelers and especially Miles. I have made some great friends in a short time, and a lifetime of memories. As I finish writing this, I am reading a testimony of a fellow traveler (Bill). My words cannot compare to his. I cannot begin to thank Miles, Detours Travel, and all of my travel companions enough for such an amazing time. I was able to hold back tears until now, but they are certainly happy ones.

So I’ve been back for a couple weeks now and I’m still riding the waves of the 15 day dream in Thailand. This was my first trip with Detours Travel and I am now a fanatic of Detours. I’m already planning my next vacation with them. My trip leader for our 15 day trip to Thailand was Miles. Miles has such an intoxicating personality and passion for what he does. From the very beginning, Miles was so engaged with you; from the time you initiate the trip on the Detours website to days and weeks after the trip has ended. Miles is so incredibly attentive and in tune with you as an individual and as a group. Not once did I ever feel subjugated to partake in any activity. If you wanted to go off on your own adventure, Miles was your biggest cheerleader and made sure all the proper arrangements were made. My trip started off with the most incredible, memorable New Years celebration I will ever have in my life. We spent New Years on a luxurious, high class rooftop bar where we had a 360 degree view of the party on the streets and fireworks exploding all around us as we released white balloons for good luck. This set the bar pretty high for the rest of the trip and at every turn, my expectations were blown. The hotels we stayed at were incredible, the food we at was even more incredible and I left this trip with a lust for more. Miles had everything structured without a structure. The transition from place to place was pretty seamless and smooth. I didn’t feel as if I was being ushered and rushed from here to there to see experience different things. It was a phenomenal 15 days of fun, laughter, and cultural experiences. There was not one time during the trip and will never be a time where I will ever regret the decision to go on this trip. I began the trip with a bunch of strangers and left with friends.

Africa had eluded us for sometime, until we learnt about the Detours itinerary to South Africa which included Cape Town, the Winelands and Kruger National Park. The fact that Detours is a gay company was all the better and this would be their fifth time in South Africa since starting their tours there in early 2017.  There were fifteen men in the group, the max for a Detours’ adventure and this included a majority from the USA, a few from Canada and ourselves from Australia.  We soon learnt from fellow traveller Stanley, a veteran Detour devotee who had completed all the available itineraries, this travel package came ‘with options’ which we discovered was one of its best features. If we wanted to participate in planned activities like day excursions, dinner each evening and visits to bars, all well and good.  However, if we wanted to do something different, Dan offered his help by suggesting, researching and planning an alternative activity so we all achieved maximum enjoyment. Or we could opt to do nothing at all and relax in the comfort of the hotel.  Would we do another Detours adventure? Absolutely! We’re already planning our next destination.

Put your fears to rest. This group can do no wrong! I was a little hesitant signing up my husband and I on a trip to Greece for our 23rd anniversary. The reviews (all of them) seemed too good to be true. Now that the trip is complete, I can safely say that they are absolutely 100% correct. I loved our tour, our tour guide, and every single one of the brand new friends I met on this trip. It was incredible. I travel quite a bit and have been on organized tours before. This one surpasses them all and just leaves you wanting more. Dan was the perfect host as he was friendly, attentive, and considerate of all the different personalities in the group. When my husband got heat stroke he immediately offered to go into town and pick up some PowerAde so he wouldn't become dehydrated. Also as we ate dinner one night down by the water it got a little chilly. Dan walked back to the hotel and grabbed his entire wardrobe to share with us. Is this guy for real? He was just that wonderful. When I travel to new locations I have to do tons of research, plan out all the details, and get everything in order weeks before I go. I was a wee bit stressed when Miles suggested I let all that go and allow his company to take care of those details. After 63 frantic emails, I decided to relax and go with the flow. So glad I did. Dan provided suggestions for activities the night before to the entire group and allowed us to pick. Most of the time we were all excited to hang out with each other and opted for group activities, but it was nice to know there were other ideas available if we wanted something more specific. We were the only couple out of the group of 11 guys from all over the world. Thankfully the personalities clicked right away and there was never any animosities or trouble for the entire trip. I think Dan had a lot to do with keeping our little group running. He was constantly leading conversations, asking questions, and making sure all of us were interacting. I was surprised with how quickly we passed from awkward strangers to comfortable friends. If I had to say an exact moment it was by the time we walked from our meeting at the hotel to the Rooster bar on our first night. By then we were already joking and laughing and picking out nicknames for each other. Detours has done a excellent job creating this tour company. How soon can I go on another one?

My partner and I joined Miles, his wonderful colleague, Keri, and a wonderful group of 8 other travellers last month (August 2013) for an amazing 12-day vacation in beautiful Costa Rica. My partner and I had a worry-free trip in terms of payment, planning, arrival, bus travel in Costa Rica, accommodations, meals, tours and departure. Miles and his team took care of it all, and if challenges did arise, they were able to resolve any issues professionally and almost instantly. We were able to enjoy some breath taking wonders of nature and spectacular wildlife. With Miles, we were able to travel to areas that are not mobbed by tourists. Miles is a personable, genuine, down to earth soul who works to get to know everyone in his group and tailor the trip to the group’s interests and requests in terms of meal options (i.e. vegetarian/vegan dining), adventure tours (based on ability/interest) or requests for shopping stops. Miles (and Keri) did a wonderful job of looking after all of the travellers in our group. This is an excellent trip for couples to take as there was never any pressure from Miles to participate in planned activities, and my partner and I were able to enjoy several quiet dinners/evenings on our own. Miles (or Keri) would give us several options regarding tours or activities to choose in our next location. This trip included a range of wonderful accommodations and activities in FOUR different regions to enjoy all Costa Rica has to offer, in terms of volcanoes, rainforest, waterfalls, wildlife and night-life. This trip is excellent value for the money and is suitable for travellers with wide range of abilities and interests. We would definitely travel with Miles and his colleagues again. Frank C. and Martin G., Toronto, ON, CANADA.