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A
decade ago, "gay adventure
travel" was an unknown concept. Now, an increasing
number of gay travelers report that such trips are "the
best vacation I ever had." What happened? Two new concepts
have combined into a third, which is even newer.
Gay
travel: Gay people have traveled for as long as we've
existed, of course. But the concept of gay travel -- a group
of gay people, as such, enjoying holidays together because
they wanted the comfort and camaraderie of a gay group --
was unknown until the 1970s, when Hanns Ebensten created
the earliest organized gay tours. A decade later, RSVP Travel
took it a step further, chartering entire cruise ships and
bringing in their own entertainment for customized gay vacations
and holidays.
Adventure
travel: Likewise, explorers have been climbing the Himalayas
and venturing into the wilderness for generations. Extreme sports
have been around for centuries, if not always under that rubric.
But only with the baby boomers have there been significant numbers
of people who wanted to spend their limited vacation trying new
activities, perhaps pushing their limits, rather than simply soaking
up rays on the beach. This is the generation that has created
the category of "adventure travel."
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These
two new travel concepts didn't always mesh well. A typical
"adventure travel" group attracted many engaging, friendly
people who enjoyed the outdoors, but it also drew macho types
who just wanted to boast about their "extreme sports"
prowess. Gay travelers weren't always welcome in these settings.
Alyson
Adventures, which sponsors this site, was created so that
gay men, lesbians, and our friends can enjoy the challenge
of new outdoor activities, and the excitement of exploring
other cultures and countries, in a comfortable, friendly,
small-group atmosphere. Please join us!
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