conxGuide: Alyson Adventures
North America's leading gay travel company	| conxGuide Directory |

Who Goes On Alyson Adventure Trips? While most travellers are gay men (and some trips are exclusively for gay men), lesbians can make up to half of the group on the hiking and less strenuous biking trips. Types of Trips Offered Activity-oriented vacations, usually involving hiking, biking and diving.They also have a series of multi-activity vacations. Destinations Hiking & Cycling: France, Italy and Switzerland Diving: Southern Caribbean Multi-activity: Costa Rica, United States, New Zealand Best Known For Small group vacations, particularly their cycling trips in France Travelling Solo Most people on Alyson trips are travelling on their own. (Many guests are single but many are partnered yet travel independently.) So it's very typical for Alyson to match travellers looking to share with other solo guests on almost all of their trips. If you prefer not to share, a single supplement will apply. Some trips, however, cannot accommodate single travellers and are required to share with other solo travellers. Price Range Prices range widely - from $1,590 to almost $4,000. Hiking trips tend to be less expensive while activity intensive vacations in less-travelled parts of the world tend torward the upper end of the range. All prices are in US dollars and include all taxes.

Not Just For Fitness Freaks

Not all Alyson trips are gut-wrenching physical challenges - but some definitely are. Most are designed so that you can focus on enjoying yourself and forget about some of the more mundane aspects of travel. For example, guests on hiking or cycling trips don’t have to worry about lugging their bags with them as they wander through the countryside. A driver will collect your bags in the morning and have them waiting for you when you arrive at your next destination in the afternoon.

The level of physical activity and challenge can vary greatly from trip to trip. Check the trip descriptions for an indication of the physical fitness required to comfortably enjoy the trip. Many trips only require a reasonable level of fitness. This means you don’t have to be a gym bunny to participate - but you should, at least, exercise regularly.

In order to accommodate a wider range of participants, some trips include alternative routes between certain points for those who would like to try something more physically challenging. Some offerings (such as the sportspecific or multi-sport trips) are clearly designed with a higher level of experience and fitness in mind so some amount of pre-trip training or conditioning may be in order.

Aside from the physical challenge or the charms of a particular destination, the real appeal of this type of holiday is the powerful camaraderie that quickly develops between the people on the trip. Dan DiStasio of Alyson Adventures has seen many great friendships start over a glass of wine after a rainy day’s cycling. “Nature is unpredictable and the travel isn’t always easy. Once you share the experience of overcoming a challenge with a group of strangers, you aren’t strangers any more. You bond and make friends very quickly.” In fact, DiStasio has a group that met each other on a trip years ago who now repeat the same trip annually.

Which leads to - when should I book? Alyson has already released trips for the fall of 2010 because group sizes are small (typically no more than 15 and often smaller) and most trips produce a high "repeat factor" - that is guests end up booking another Alyson trip the following year. As a result popular trips (such as Splash and the French cycling trips) can sell out quickly. "You snooze, you loose" definitely applies here.

Active Adventure

	Splash! July 2 - 11, 2009 August 30 - September 8, 2009 August 12 - 21, 2009 September 4 - 13, 2009 August 26 - September 4, 2009   Raft down the entire 280 miles of the Colorado River, through a hundred whitewater rapids and with a motor to keep you moving so you can relax and enjoy the changing spectacle around you. Explore the hidden side canyons and enjoy waterfalls and swimming holes. In the evening socialize over a tasty dinner with others in the group -- just 16 in total. By night, sleep under a canopy of stars, as the river continues its journey of the ages. July 2 - 11, 2009 Aug 12 - 21, 2009 Aug 26 - Sept 4, 2009 Aug 30 - Sept 4, 2009 Sept 4 - 13, 2009

	Vikings, Volcanoes, & Trolls August 9 - 16, 2009 The friendly blond people, descended directly from Viking explorers; an unspoiled landscape that ranges from lush wilderness to fuming volcanic craters to rainbow-shrouded waterfalls; and a rich history that includes the world's oldest parliament and some of folklore's strangest sagas.

	Rainforests & Rainbows December 28, 2009 - January 5, 2010 This trip is an in-depth exploration of the rainforests and volcanoes of Costa Rica. Unlike Colors of Costa Rica, which spends two days in the rainforest and four days on the coast, this trip will focus on the mountains, rivers and natural beauty of the Costa Rican countryside. This will allow us more time for wildlife viewing, hiking, and other eco-activities, as well as some great whitewater rafting.

	Wild Kiwi February 27 - March 13, 2010 New Zealand offers endless natural splendor, and there's no better way to travel here than with a lively gay adventure group. On this unforgettable trip, you'll become a part of New Zealand's outdoor wonders as you try out the myriad sports that this friendly country offers: Rafting, canyoning, hiking, kayaking, and more.

	Tasmania: Top to Bottom March 11 - 21, 2010 Starting in Melbourne and ending in Hobart, our twelve-day adventure offers a big Tasmanian bite out of the untouched wonders of this island on the edge of the world.

	Paddles October 9 - 18, 2010 Sea kayaking offers a way to explore remote regions that few people ever see. And there's no more beautiful spot to learn this exciting sport than Baja, Mexico!

	Antarctica Adventure December 28, 2010 - January 7, 2011 The coldest, windiest, driest, most remote place on earth—Antarctica is radically different than nearly any experience you may have had in your life.

Cycling

	The Colors of Burgundy June 13 - 20, 2009 Few regions in the world offer such a diversity of natural scenery, fine cuisine, and history as does the ancient kingdom of Burgundy. Join a small, friendly gay group to bike through a slice of history.

	Danube Dreams July 4 - 12, 2009 July 12 - 19, 2009 Your bike tour links three of the most romantic capital cities in Eastern Europe: Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, on an enchanting ride along the Danube. July 4 July 12

	Valley of the Kings August 29 - September 5, 2009 For two centuries, the kings of France outdid one another as they built palaces and chateaus along the Loire Valley. Your bicycling week begins in Blois, at a chateau constructed over four distinct and romantic periods of French history.

	The Flavors of Tuscany September 5 - 12, 2009 Your bike trip begins in Tuscany, in the fabled Renaissance city of Florence, and home of Michelangelo's "David." The next morning, you bike into the heart of Chianti Classico, a region famous for both beautiful landscapes and superior wines..

	Big Loire, Little Loir September 6 - 11, 2009 Here's the perfect introduction to biking in Europe. Many gay and lesbian cyclists couldn't think of anything better than a week on a bicycle. But those with less experience may prefer to start with a shorter trip. This 5-day tour, which combines nicely with a few nights in Paris, is the perfect solution.

	Road to Rioja September 12 - 18, 2009 Explore the beauty and charm of the Rioja region of northern Spain, as deep and rich as the wine for which the region is famous.

	The Provencal September 19 - 26, 2009 The countryside of Provence is ideally suited for a biking vacation -- and there's no better way to travel here in southern France than with a gay and lesbian group.

	Wheels North: Montreal & Quebec September 26 - October 3, 2009 Wheels North offers relaxed but spirited rides through some of the oldest and most beautiful scenery in North America. If you like great food, occasional forays into exciting gay nightlife and most important - exhilarating bike routes - this tour is for you..

	Cycling Vietnam November 8 - 19, 2009 Ypu start with a night in Hanoi, then start riding the next day into the hills and through remote and charming mountain villages on your way to the Sapa hill station.

	Biking the Blue Coast May 22 - 29, 2010 The Costa Azul, also known as the Blue Coast, is a long and beautiful stretch in southwest Portugal. The pristine countryside follows the Atlantic coast where caravels sailed off to make the greatest of the 15th and 16th century New World discoveries.

Diving

	An Octopus's Garden January 16 - 23, 2010 Dive into the tropical waters of a gay-friendly island paradise, and discover the colorful world beneath the waves. Far from the usual vacation spots, the Dutch island of Saba, in the Caribbean, is known to scuba divers worldwide for its spectacular underwater landscapes.

	Deep Blue April 10 - 17, 2010 Curaçao is a gay-friendly oasis in the colorful Caribbean. Our land-based week-long holiday is based in Curacao’s newest luxury resort, Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club, a secluded beachfront hideaway situated on the Island’s West End.

Hiking

	Inca Trail July 11 - 20, 2009 Few places in the world offer the combination of natural beauty, history and enchanting mystery that is found in the area surrounding the Inca Trail in Peru. A haven for serious hikers and explorers, the natural surroundings, Inca treasures, temples and villages are truly remarkable.

	Edelweiss Sept 12 - 19, 2009 With 388 kilometers of unforgettable hiking trails, criss-crossing the valley below Switzerland's soaring Matterhorn, the old European village of Zermatt richly deserves its reputation. A renowned ski vacation center in winter, base camp for intrepid summer mountaineers, Zermatt provides the perfect base for this gay and lesbian getaway.

	Tuscan Trails Semptember 13 - 21, 2009 Youur hiking week in Italy begins with a night in Florence, complete with dinner and an informal walking tour of the city, then four nights in the fairy-tale village of San Gimignano, a perfectly preserved Renaissance town perched on a hill here in Tuscany.

	Rapa Nui Adventure October 11 - 17, 2009 For the truly adventurous, an in-depth exploration of Easter Island is here! This far flung island in the South Pacific is a great destination for a hike-bike-relax vacation.
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