Detours Gay Travel Blog
What Do We Mean by "Adventure Travel"?
- Detours
- Sep 9, 2025
What’s “adventure travel”? Well… the word adventure means wildly different things to different people, so here’s Detours’ take on it. In a nutshell: this isn’t a bootcamp or some extreme sports meetup. It IS laid-back, flexible, gay group travel that prioritizes getting out there and exploring, often on foot. It's NOT a bus sightseeing tour where a destination is experienced from behind the window of a 50-person coach. 😎
We do weave adventure and active opportunities in different forms into our tours - and for good reason! Detours was founded on the belief that the traditional, rigid group tour model wasn’t our style. Instead, we set out to create trips packed with just the right dose of fun and adventure to ensure our travelers return home with endless stories, new friends, and cheeks sore from laughter. 💓
So yes, there’s plenty of adventure - but always balanced with enough downtime to chill by the pool too. 😉 Below, we answer some of the most common questions about what “adventure travel” means to us. We hope it eases any worries and sparks excitement for your next Detours trip!
What Do You Mean by Adventure?
Well, definitely no summiting olympian-level mountains or taking part in extreme sports (at least, not on Detours time!) 😉 What we mean when we say Detours offers adventure travel is that there is a decent amount of exciting optional activities that are offered on any of our tours to the diverse destinations we travel to, and our awesome travelers are welcome to partake in any, all, or none of them! And rather than sitting on a bus all day, we strive to get out there and savor our destinations in the fresh air often on foot, with those sprinkled opportunities to crank up the energy level too.
Examples of some of the optional adventure activities our travelers partake in include kayaking around the island of Milos on our 11 Days in Greece tour, camel riding in the desert outside of Marrakech on our 11 Days in Portugal & Morocco tour, ziplining in the jungle in Phuket, Thailand, on our 13 Days in Thailand & Cambodia tour, white-water rafting on the Kaituna River on our 11 Days in New Zealand tour, or hot air ballooning over the Nile River on our 10 Days in Egypt tour.
For those looking for a bit more adrenaline, there are some more, well, adventurous adventures. 🤠 For example, there are options to go bungee jumping or paragliding in New Zealand, or to go parasailing and rappelling on our 11 Days in Costa Rica tour.
But for those looking for a more relaxed experience, there are plenty of options, too. On our 10 Days in Australia tour, you can take a day trip to Phillip Island to see penguins or do a wine tasting in the world famous Yarra Valley. In Scandinavia, you might want to hike up Mt. Fløyen or rent a bicycle in Stockholm, Sweden. 🚲
What we’re trying to say is that adventure can vary, and is very much up to your interpretation and personal interests. We aim to provide a lot of options to our travelers, and we tend to get a nice mix of leisure-lovers and activity-seekers. If you’re unsure about what activities might be right for you, you can always speak to your trip leader and of course check through our booklet of suggested activities that we send out as part of your 90-day update email.
Do I Need to Be Really Fit? 💪
You absolutely do not need to be in the best shape of your life, nor do you need to run marathons, partake in triathlons, or have been part of a varsity sports team during college. And remember - most of our travelers are in the 45-65 age bracket so you won't find yourself traveling alongside 20 year old gymnasts doing cartwheels at breakfast.
Still, keep in mind that Detours trips are considered "active." You won’t be on a 50-person coach the whole trip. The vast majority of our trips are made up of small groups, and even without partaking in any of the optional activities, there is a moderate level of physical ability required for certain activities, such as light hiking, long periods of walking, some flat-road biking or transporting your own bags on and off boats and vans and such.
Do I Need Special Travel Insurance?
Everyone traveling on a Detours trip needs emergency medical coverage that will insure them while traveling outside of their home country. This can be arranged through our own insurance page. In some cases, you might already have coverage through an existing credit card, employer, work or school policy, so make sure to check. But whatever the case is, Detours, similar to all other international group tour operators that we know of, requires that all travelers provide proof of medical coverage prior to joining the trip. ✅
Most activities, even optional ones, are typically covered under standard travel medical insurance, however there might be some exceptions. For example, bungee jumping might not be included under standard coverage.
We recommend triple checking your coverage before you go, and making sure that whatever activities you participate in are fully covered under your insurance policy. In some cases, you may need to look into purchasing more comprehensive medical travel insurance, that takes into account the possibility of participating in more extreme adventures.
Do I Have to Go [Insert Adventure Activity Here]?! 🥺
Absolutely not! At Detours, we are all about structured spontaneity. This means that we provide you with the options and the timelines, but you, the traveler, are the ultimate kingmaker. 👑 Maybe you have an irrational (or rational!) fear of camels, and the thought of camel riding in a desert is one of the most terrifying thoughts of your adult life. Take heart - you can absolutely skip it. We have a ton of optional activities on all of our tours, and there is truly something for everyone, even if that’s just relaxing by the pool at the authentic Tuscan castle we rent during our 8 Days in Italy tour! 🇮🇹
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So there you have it, folks! If you’re still unsure of what kind of adventure travel we offer at Detours, please don’t hesitate to contact us between 9–5 PST, Monday-Friday, via the live chat on our website. You can also email us (travel@detourstravel.com) or give us a call (1-800-680-8066)!
Whatever the level of adventure traveler you are, if you travel with Detours, you know you’re guaranteed a unique, unforgettable experience. Hope to see you on our next adventure! ✈️